Devotion 1 of 2: Ps 111
This psalm emphasizes the works of the Lord in the past and how important it is for believers to study and learn from them. Let’s just look at 2 verses in this psalm about the works of God.
“He has made His wonderful works to be remembered” (v.4a). So, God doesn’t want us to forget His works, but to remember and study them to discover the wonderful treasures He’s hidden in them!
“He has declared to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations” (v.6). God is showing His power to us through His works in the OT, and by studying His works, we realize God wants to give us our nation as our inheritance!
Let’s just look at one example of how this applies, using the story of Esther. It is a prophetic story of Haman plotting to destroy the Jews, but Esther, through the guidance of Mordecai, makes the decision to risk her life and go before the king to save her people. The king accepts her, and she manages to overcome Haman’s plot and save the Jews, resulting in many Gentiles becoming Jews!
This story is a prophetic picture showing how AC will persecute the church in the endtime, but God wants to empower the church to overcome AC and bring forth a great revival in the land! The key is the church’s willingness to fervently intercede before Jesus to save their nation!
By studying the work of God in Esther, we can receive the faith and power to bring God’s plan of revival to pass in Japan! Let’s go for it!
デボーション1/2：Ps 111
この詩篇は、過去における主の御業を強調し、信仰者がそれを調べ、学ぶことがいかに重要であるかを述べている。神の御業について、この詩篇の中の2節だけを取り上げて、見てみよう。
「主は、その奇しいわざを記念とされた。」(4節A)。つまり、神は私たちが神の御業を忘れるのではなく、覚えて研究し、そこに隠されている素晴らしい宝を発見することを望んでおられるのだ！
「異邦の民のゆずりの地を、ご自分の民に与え、彼らに、そのみわざの力を告げ知らせられた。」（6節）。神は旧約の御業を通して私たちに御力を示しておられる。また、その御業を学ぶことによって、神が嗣業として私たちにこの国を与えたいと願っておられることがわかる！
このことがどのように当てはまるか、一つの例、エステル記の物語を使ってみよう。これは、ハマンがユダヤ人を滅ぼそうと企む預言的な物語だが、エステルはモルデカイの導きによって、自分の民を救うために命をかけて王の前に出る決心をする。王は彼女を受け入れ、彼女はハマンの陰謀を打ち破ってユダヤ人を救うことに成功し、その結果、多くの異邦人がユダヤ人となった！
この物語は、終末の時代に反キがどのように教会を迫害するかを示す預言的な絵なのだが、神は教会が反キに打ち勝ち、この地に偉大なリバイバルをもたらす力を与えたいと願っておられる！重要なのは、教会が自分たちの国を救うために、イエスの御前で熱心に執り成そうとする意志である！
エステル記における神の御業を学ぶことによって、私たちは、神のリバイバルの計画を日本に実現させるための信仰と力を受け取ることができる！頑張ろう
この箇所の日本語訳はまだありません。英語の原文を表示しています。
Devotion 2 of 2: Rev 9
In this chapter we see the result of the 5th and 6th trumpets. Once more, I believe nuclear war most fits the descriptions in this chapter, so I will interpret the events as a nuclear war. When the 5th trumpet sounded, a star fell (v.1). This might be nuclear missiles. A bottomless pit was opened, smoke like from a furnace came out darkening the sun and sky (v.1-2). This is nuclear radiation.
Locusts came out of the smoke. They didn’t harm plants but only men who didn’t have the seal of God on their foreheads (v.3-4). They didn’t kill people but tortured them for 5 months (v.5). This also sounds like radiation. The locusts are described in v.7-11, and they appear like how people of that day would describe missiles and bombsl
When the 6th trumpet sounds, 4 angels are released from the Euphrates River, and 1/3 of mankind is killed (v.13-15). An army of 200M soldiers is released (v.16). Once more, their description sounds like nuclear missiles and bombs (v.17-19) and results in the death of 1/3 of humanity. Sadly, despite the horrendous terrors of this nuclear disaster, the rest of mankind do not repent of their sins (v.20-21).
Chapters 8-9 seem to be showing us a preview of the dreadful calamities that will happen during the last half of the tribulation. It will be a horrific time on earth. We want to avoid it at all cost. The only way is to believe and follow Jesus with all our hearts. If we do, I believe we will be raptured in the middle of the tribulation. But let’s pray for the unbelievers around us. Let’s pray for a great anointing so we can do the works of Jesus and lead many thousands of people to salvation in Christ. Let’s rescue AMAP (As Many As Possible) so they don’t enter T2. Lord, have mercy on mankind!
— Pastor Elmer Inafuku