Investing Our Treasure in Heaven—The Book of Revelation
Rick Joyner
In the last few weeks,
we have focused on the power that enables God’s people to not only overcome the
events of the last days— the events in this unfolding vision—but in all of
life. Many people’s worst Armageddon will come in the form of an accident or
other tragedies and disasters. The principles we’re studying here apply to all
of life, not just the events outlined in Revelation.
The next thing said about those who overcome by the blood of the Lamb is that
they added to this “the
word of their testimony” (see
Revelation12:11).
How does the word of our
testimony help us to overcome?
As Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks” (see
Matthew12:34 NKJV). If
our heart is filled with faith in the Son of God and the power of His cross,
then we will proclaim it. There is power in that proclamation.
Are these testimonies that have caused
many to be martyrs?
Yes.
That leads us to the
third factor of why they overcame in Revelation 12:11: “and they did not love their life even
when faced with death.” To the earthly minded, death is the ultimate
defeat, but to those in
Christ, death is graduation into our reward, and martyrdom is the most
honorable way it can come.
Without question,
death is an enemy and it will be done away with, but in this age it is a
teacher of reality. Life is the ultimate gift, and those who prove willing to
risk it, or give it, for the sake of the Gospel will be great heroes in heaven
and carry great weight with the Lord.
How do we get to the place where
we are willing to risk our life for the Gospel, or gladly suffer martyrdom
rather than deny the Lord? We invest our treasure in heaven, in eternity. Where
our treasure is there will our hearts be also. If we have been “seeking
the things that are above” and are seated with Christ in the heavenly places,
then we will gladly sacrifice anything in this life for the eternal purposes of
Christ. So an important question is whether we are earth bound or heaven bound,
and this is determined by that which has our devotion and worship. Such a
devotion is helped by what is stated in Revelation 12:12:
"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and
you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come
down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."
From the point when the accuser is cast
down to the earth, the experience is going to be different depending on where
we are dwelling. When the devil is cast down, he comes with great wrath and
will take it out on all that he can. At this time, the only safe place on earth
will be abiding in Christ and doing His will.
The devil cannot strike Christ again, but Christ can strike the devil and
destroy any of His works at any time. The devil would not be able to release
his wrath on the earth if the Lord did not allow it, and He will for a short
time. This too is working toward the ultimate purpose of the Lord to show the
clear contrast between following the devil and his ways or following the Lord.
After this history of the earth has been completed, all of creation, in every
realm, will know what a huge mistake it is to not obey the Lord in all things,
and worship Him alone.