Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, special ones.

Becki and I have a plan to do our little walk/jog routine in about 20 minutes. We already spent a lot of time this morning in dialogue. That excursion will offer time for more.

I suppose it’s time for me to purchase a Christmas tree, hang up some lights, and conform to some of our cultural traditions. I can understand how the Christmas Season can be more depressing for many than joyous…driven by the pressure of these traditions. And I can’t imagine a greater contradiction than to be striving for peace on earth and good will toward men when there is a general rejection of the Prince of Peace and the pursuit of His good and perfect Will.

Oh my…I’ve taken too long here…I see Becki heading this way…ready for our excursion.

Have a great day!

Love, Dad/Ray

The “he” of this statement is, of course, “the antichrist” who is here called “the beast”—scheduled to arise on the international scene to wield world-wide power and control. (I sure see a lot of evidence that the world is ripening for his emergence.) The phrase to which I want to give further attention is “was given.” It is repeated 3 times in this paragraph (vv. 5, 7). Question: Given by whom? I believe the answer is in layers. I would peel the onion something like this: (1) Political power. That would mean that his position and opportunity for gaining such control was actually granted to him via the popular votes of the people. Understand that corrupt people naturally vote in corrupt leaders. (2) Diabolical power. Behind the political scenery are evil spiritual forces. Verse 2 says that “the dragon (Satan) gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.” Verse 4 says that “men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast.” (3) Divine power. Behind the realm of spiritual darkness is the Transcendent and Sovereign Power and Will of God. His Will WILL be done. The Almighty is the real source of all lesser “mighties.” And the strong inference throughout Scripture is that the measure of His control is determined by the quality of choices men make within the freedoms He allows. My reading today in Proverbs 21 gives support for this: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases”(v.1). And consider again verse 30: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”

I don’t have to wonder who the ultimate winners are—or what side I want to be on. And it doesn’t really matter how things play out—whether or not we are to be snatched out of here by a secret rapture before all this horrific persecution breaks out. The end of verse 10 still remains a bottom-line requirement for all believers everywhere in all time—“This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.”