I love reading (in the Holy Bible) what GOD says about His Son! When I consider all the evil and wickedness rapidly intensifying in this world - it is calming to know that there is TRUE HOPE!
As we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas time, I am so very thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ: His first coming with His life, death and resurrection, and His upcoming return, a.k.a "the DAY of the LORD." The Old Testament prophets spoke and pointed to both the "Lamb" and "Lion" of God Almighty.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. Of the greatness of HIS government THERE WILL BE NO END. HE will reign on David's throne (earth's Jerusalem) and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS from that time on and FOREVER. The zeal of the LORD ALMIGHTY will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7
"Salvation belongs to our GOD, who sits on the throne, and to the LAMB." Revelation 7:10
"John (God's servant and cousin of Jesus) sees Jesus coming to him and says, 'Behold the Lamb of God, the One taking away the sin of the world'.....And John bore witness saying, 'I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon Him. And I did not know Him; but the One having sent me to baptize with water, He said to me, "Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, He is the One baptizing with the Holy Spirit." 'And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.'” John 1:29-34 (the Lamb)
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called FAITHFUL and TRUE. With justice HE judges and wages war. (The last war on earth.) His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is the WORD OF GOD. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean (the holy people Rev. 19:8). Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations (that are against Him). 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of GOD ALMIGHTY. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16 (The LION)
"Look, the LION of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:4
As you read on from Revelation 19 we learn all that the LORD does to end all evil and rebellion on the earth and in the heavens, starting with Satan (personified - false Messiah) who has begun to rule the world from Jerusalem on David's throne as the one whom the deceived world has been hoping for. But his reign is cut short (7 years) by the return of the SUPREME KING our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan and his false prophets and his beast, along with all people/organizations/systems/governments that were united against the LORD with Satan's "mark of the beast," worshipping its image (the false messiah), are permanently forever dealt with as described in Revelation 19 and 20.
Ahhhh, and finally "the new heaven and earth!" (Revelation 21) "The old order of things has passed away....the ONE seated on the throne said, 'I AM making everything new!" "I AM the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End." "Those who are victorious will inherit all this: 'God's dwelling is now among the people, and HE will dwell with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain.'" "BUT the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice witchcraft/sorcery/magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Rev. 21:1-8)
The first death if our physical death, but the second death is for those who rejected the grace of God that had 'continually' (Titus 2:11) appeared to them with the gospel of His Son - for them to put their faith in. But for those who believed in the Savior of the world - were filled with Christ's Holy Spirit: "...to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." John 1:12
The "second death" is what we should be more afraid of! So afraid that we do not resist God's Spirit of grace with the gospel of Christ.
"Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was physically seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followersd at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw Him. For I, Paul, am the least of all the apostles." 1 Corinthians 15:4-9
Jesus is the TRUTH, the WAY and the LIFE! He is the RESURRECTION, and the 'firstfruit' of it. He appeared to His disciples after His death to confirm what He promised them, and all of us who believe on His Name. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3
"I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]." John 10:14