“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are giving us as Your church, the complete victory over the enemy. We are to stand on Your victory and then go out to wage war against our enemy, the devil. You have equipped us to wage this war, defeat the enemy and establish the kingdom rule of God, on earth, in each of our spheres of influence. Forgive us, Lord Jesus, that largely, we have abandoned our post. Lord, You are also warning Your enemies that if they do not repent and surrender to Christ, they will be cast into the lake of fire. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen”.
Acts 2:34-36 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, (35) TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL.” ‘ (36) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
The Lord’s heart breaks over His church that we are not engaging the enemy as we should.
Isaiah 59:17-18 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. (18) According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay.
God is full of wrath and vengeance against His enemies and He will fully repay those who rise against Him.
We are familiar with the parable of the ten minas in Luke 19:11-27.
Often, this parable is taught in relation to the use of money and other resources that God has given us, which He expects us to use for His kingdom. We will be held accountable for the resources that He has placed in our hands.
This is the main thrust of this parable but we often do not consider the overall context in which the Lord taught this parable.
The parable begins with a Nobleman who went to a far country, receive a kingdom and return. _(vs 12)_. His citizens, however, hated Him. _Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
Note, that these were His citizens but they were against Him. This is how man and creation are today. We are in a state of rebellion against God, though we belong to Jesus, for He is our creator.
Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
As the parable concludes, after the accounting was done with the ten servants, the Nobleman, settles matters with those citizens, who rebelled against Him.
(27) But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ “
When we study the parable of the ten minas, we must study it within the context of God’s judgement. This is the picture of the final judgement. The first part of the judgement will be for His servants, for the resources that were placed in our hands. Have we used the God-given resources, for the building of His kingdom here on earth?
The second part of the judgement will be for those who did not want Jesus to reign over them. They did not want to come under the Lordship of Christ. The final judgement will be about His kingdom.
We see the picture of the end to all the enemies of God. The end will be the lake of fire, this is the place of eternal torment. Isaiah 66:24 “And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.
This is the place, where three people will be, besides others. They are the devil, the beast, and the false prophet.
Revelations 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
This is the place prepared for the devil and all his angels. Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Death and Hades were also cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:14-15 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Unless our names are written in the Book of Life, we will not escape this dreadful place of eternal torment, the lake of fire. For our name to be written in The Book of Life, we must be found in Christ.
John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”