Zealous for HIS Glory! Blog | WORD Center Ministries | Sharon Jensen

No matter who wins… No matter who loses… It’s time to pray to the LORD God… and confess.

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 12:31:32 -0500

“Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps Your covenant and lovingkindness for those who love You and keep Your commandments, we, WHO CALL OURSELVES BY YOUR NAME, have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.

Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord. You are holy, pure, and true. You created creation for Your glory! You demand obedience, reverence, and praise from all of creation. From those who have called themselves by Your name, worship is due and payable now! You are the LORD, that is Your name! You will not give Your glory to another, nor Your praise to anything else!

Open shame belongs to us, O LORD, to the Pastors, the Elders, the Deacons, the Teachers, to all parts of the body of Christ—the people who call ourselves by Your name, the ones who are to represent You—because we have sinned against You. We have called ourselves by Your name, yet, we will not walk according to your Word. Indeed, we will not listen to You.

Revelation 22:6-21 Because He is Coming Quickly...

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:50:58 -0400

From Revelation 21:1 through Revelation 22:5, God shows us the zenith of our future; the new Jerusalem. In Revelation 22:6-21, He now takes us back to our present time and says, "In the light of all that I have shown you (the entire book), here is what you need to do." He has given us spiritual disclosure; He will now give us divine exhortation. Let's prepare our hearts for His words.

God of the heaven and the earth, dearest Father, please speak to us in this final chapter of your word. Both in the book of Revelation and in the Bible itself. You sent your angel to show your bond-servants the things which will quickly take place. Please open our ears to hear You. Open our minds to understand what You are saying to us. Open our eyes to see You. Cause us to bow our hearts and our knees to Your will and Your Word. You are faithful and true; so are Your words. Please keep us faithful and true to You and Your Word.

And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. Revelation 22:6

Revelation 22:1-5 New Jerusalem from the Inside

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 16:21:06 -0400

The video of the city, which began in Revelation 21:9, is still playing. The angel has shown John some unbelievably breathtaking sights—the ultimate tour! John must be exhausted by this time! Maybe some fresh, sweet, cold water would help!

Speaking of water... (I admit it, as far as segues go, that one was… bad.)

Take note that Revelation 22:1-5 is part and parcel with Revelation 21. There were no chapter divisions when God wrote this book for us. They were added by men to "help" us; sometimes, they don't. Revelation 21 shows us the outside of the new Jerusalem. Revelation 22:1-5 shows us the inside. It's that same "zooming in" pattern we have seen before.

Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1-2

Revelation 21:9-27 New Jerusalem From the Outside

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:34:50 -0400

Remember the pattern? First, a panoramic view, then zoom in, then zoom in again for even more details? We were introduced to the sweeping view of the new heavens, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem. Now it's time to zoom in and take a much closer look at the New Jerusalem.

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. Revelation 21:9-11

The descriptions of the angel who showed John the judgment of the great harlot (Revelation 17:1) and this angel are almost identical. Could they be one and the same? Quite possibly, even probably, but it could also be a different one from the seven.

Revelation 21:1-8 GOD Dwells With HIS People

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 17:12:03 -0400

John has seen some fantastic visions since he first heard that loud voice telling him to write down what he saw, but what he is about to see will absolutely take his breath away! In contrast to his last vision, one of terror and torment, this one will be unbelievably delightful and satisfying!

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. Revelation 21:1

The old heaven and earth have passed away; they are gone. The sight before John is astonishing; he sees their replacements; a new heaven and a new earth. The Greek word for new is "kainos" and means new, especially in freshness. What he sees is so very different from the old; it is absolutely, qualitatively brand new, something never seen before. This won't be a revised version or a transformation of the old; this heaven and earth will be just what God says, "New!"

There is no longer any sea. Think about that for a moment. Sometimes we just slide right by the fact that there is no sea! None! What is the present earth's surface mostly made of? Water! When you look at pictures of the earth taken from outer space, you see mostly water. But what John sees doesn't include any water at all; he just sees land. Whoa, this new earth is definitely not like the old one!

Revelation 20:11-15 The Great White Throne Judgment

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 15:19:46 -0400

We so often hear people claiming they know specific details concerning the end of the earth, either believing they know when it will end or how it will end. Let me be clear, "Do not listen to them!" They are either lying or flat out wrong, probably both.

Truth comes from God through His Word. Period. If you want to gather information about the end of the earth, go to God's Word! The world is not going to end because we humans are bad stewards; it's going to end because God ends it. Period.

In our study of Revelation, we just happen to be on the cusp of heaven's and earth's demise, (along with some more judgments, and some more inhabitants moving into the lake of fire and brimstone) so let's open the book of Revelation!

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. Revelation 20:11

The next thing John sees (after the devil is thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone) is a great white throne. The word for great is "megas" and means exceedingly large in size, enormous in dignity and significance. The Greek word for white is "leukos" and is the same word for white that we saw used for the white horse the Rider sat on in Revelation 19:11. This cosmic throne is a brilliant white, a bright, lustrous, gleaming white. Thrones always indicate power and dominion; this one, the greatest of all.

Revelation 20:7-10 Satan is Released

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 15:03:02 -0400

Intrigue. Conspiracy. Betrayal. Deceit. Treachery.

Can you tell when someone is lying to you? There are usually tell-tale signs whether we notice them or not; most people don't. And when you consider the fact that most people are liars, the chances of being deceived once in awhile are relatively high.

Even professional experts in the area would have a hard time telling when they are being deceived by Satan; after all, he has spent all of eternity sharpening his duplicity skills. However, he will be forced to give up his deceit addiction because he will have to go cold turkey in the abyss when he has absolutely no access to the nations. He will spend those 1,000 years plotting and strategizing his master scheme. He will deceive again; it will be his grand finale. His game plan is ingenious and will work just as he designed it. But it seems he forgets about Just. One. Little. Thing.

When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. Revelation 20:7-8

Revelation 20:4-6 The First Resurrection

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 16:49:58 -0400

There is a first resurrection and a second resurrection? Two resurrections? There is a "first death" and a "second death?" Two deaths? Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Lions and tigers and bears!!! Oh, my!!!

Okay. I admit it. This scene might seem a little puzzling, but that's alright. I'll walk you through it slowly and carefully. You'll get it in no time! This part of Revelation might be new territory for some of you, but there is nothing to fear. Except that you might have to let go of a preconceived notion or two to learn what God is teaching us here. Don't worry! The Word speaks for itself! We're going to stick 100 percent to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is your Resident Teacher. Be sure and ask God in prayer to open your eyes to behold wonderful things from His Word. (Psalm 119:18) Remember, we want to know the truth more than we want to be right! Right? Right!!!

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4

Revelation 20:1-3 Satan Bound for 1,000 Years

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 14:13:45 -0400

In the Great War of God, the Almighty (Revelation 19:11-16), the world's armies are decimated. Yes!!! The beast and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone! Yes!!! But we are left with a cliffhanger regarding the demise of the dragon. Although it seems like a cliffhanger, it really isn't. Chapter divisions are man-made; they are not inspired by God. The story continues on in the next chapter; all we have to do is keep reading! So, let's read on!!!

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Revelation 20:1-3

The birds are stuffing their beaks and bellies as the next scene materializes. John's gaze leaves the carnage on the blood-flooded ground and returns his eyes toward heaven. He sees an angel coming down from heaven. The angel is holding two things in his hand; the key of the abyss and a great chain. Notice the word "hand" is singular; he will be using his other hand for something else.

Revelation 19:17-21 The Supper of God

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 14:28:49 -0400

Food is supposed to be satisfying, isn't it? And, for the most part, it is. We all have favorite restaurants we visit time and again, or a favorite meal we like to prepare and serve to those we love, right? And most likely, we also have the opposite; the restaurant we never want to see again, or the meal we dread, knowing that Mom is it making for supper. Again.

John is about to get a look at the menu for the great supper God is preparing. I can almost see the look on his face. And, take it from me, none of us want to be invited!

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men, and slaves, and small and great." Revelation 19:17-18

John witnessed the King of kings and Lord of lords riding majestically toward earth on His white horse with His armies following him in like manner. Being told the King will strike down the nations. As he continues to look toward heaven, he sees one angel standing in the sun. The angel has taken a position "in the sun" or the highest point of midheaven from which he can command the birds which fly below him in midheaven. From his location, all the birds of the sky will see him and hear his directive. His voice is loud and mighty as He roars out an invitation for them to come (their presence is mandatory) and convene to eat the feast God will prepare for them.

Revelation 19:11-16 The WORD of GOD Comes!

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 17:17:44 -0400

All stories have essential elements, like characters, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution. Some of our favorite stories are so because of a specific scene that seriously moved our emotions. Many times that scene was when the hero arrived and obliterated the enemy (judgment and victory all in one fell swoop), ending the conflict forever.

If the account is based on real-life events (and it moves you to emotion), then it is compelling to contemplate how the real-life characters must have felt in that exhilarating moment. They would most definitely be applauding and cheering on the hero. The onlookers would be joyously hugging and celebrating with one another, all the while pointing to the one who was accomplishing this glorious turn of events.

If the account is given in advance of the actual historical event, like the event in Revelation 19:11-16, the building anticipation will inevitably result in an even greater display of joy upon its fulfillment.

And if the situation, the conflict, is greater than anyone has ever seen or imagined, as it will be in That Day, isn't it safe to assume the relief will be greater?

Revelation 19:6-10 The Marriage of The Lamb

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 18:30:36 -0500

Wow! The praise from that last scene was good! I hope you have been joining in on the worship as we are journeying through Revelation 19! We are beginning God's Grand Finale! It's the culmination of God's oh, so sweet and righteous plan for His glory! He is getting close to putting all things in their places for the duration of eternity, which never ends!!! So shout out loud and praise Him with all you have in you as we walk through these last few chapters!!! Listen, and maybe you can hear me! I'm singing and shouting and praising and dancing to our God!!!

Okay, settle down, Sharon. One scene at a time. Take a long, deep breath and let it out slowly… slowly…

… I'm fine now.

John has been listening to God's heavenly assembly commanding praises to God! Saints and creatures in heaven praise Him in all His grandeur over His judgments of destruction because they are righteous. The precursor to all this spectacular veneration of our God was His destruction of Babylon. I want to ask you a question. Do you praise God for His judgments of ruination, devastation, and death? In our culture and society, including, and maybe especially, in the church, have you been made to feel that God's wrath is a negative, rather than positive? Are you ashamed of His anger? Don't be! Don't ever be! Ever! The saints of God are to delight in His wrath and final judgments! They are faithful and righteous! Don't ever forget that! Believe what God, the Creator, says, not what you hear from men, who are only the creation.

Revelation 19:1-5 Reaction to God's Judgment on Babylon

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 11:54:17 -0400

After these things… After what things???

After the seals, trumpets and bowls are finished! After God’s wrath has been completed. After the great city Babylon has been judged and destroyed forever!!!

In sharp contrast to the weeping and wailing of the kings and the merchants of the earth over Babylon’s demise, we now hear shouts and exclamations of praise and joyous adoration to the One Who does all these things…

After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; Because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.” Revelation 19:1-2

After these things John hears something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and Glory and Power belong to our God!” God has judged the ungodly and saved the godly!

Revelation 18:1-24 Description of the Fall of Babylon

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 17:03:52 -0400

You can’t get away from the fact that God uses two full chapters in the book of Revelation to make sure we understand what He is going to do to Babylon… What’s important to God must absolutely be important to us. So let’s listen to Him carefully.

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. Revelation 18:1

After what things? In the semi-expanded context of Revelation 16, John has just seen the seven bowls poured out on the earth; in the more immediate context of Revelation 17, he has witnessed the identification of the great harlot and her judgment. Now, in Revelation 18, he sees another vision which entails the description of the fall of Babylon the great.

John sees another angel (not the same one who spoke to him in Revelation 17:1) coming down from heaven. The fact that the angel is said to have come down from heaven is enough for us to assume the angel comes at the bidding of the God of heaven, but, in addition, we are told that he has great authority. As if to validate his great role, the angel is surrounded by a glory so bright that it illumines the entire earth. Wow! This is one very significant angel.

Revelation 17:1-18 Judgment of the Great Harlot

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 16:47:01 -0400

The next two chapters in Revelation seem like an interlude, and they are… kinda…

At this point in Revelation the Lamb has broken all the seals of the book, and the very last seal (the seventh seal is the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet is the seven bowls) has been fully revealed (the seven-sealed scroll has been completely read, so to speak). The final bowl (which we just observed in Revelation 16:17-21) included Babylon the great being remembered before God—she is given the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath!

The timing of the great harlot’s judgment is this: it takes place during the seventh bowl, but before the second coming of Christ and the ensuing battle for Jerusalem (remember that the gathering for this war takes place during the sixth bowl).

Now John is going to go into detail for us about the great harlot’s judgment and fall. Chapter 17 shows the judgment, while chapter 18 is more focused on her destruction or fall; a slight delineation, but important nevertheless.

Bitterness to Sweetness

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 15:40:27 -0400

Noah, my middle son, used to bring me bittersweet from our woods when he was very little. He would say, “I love you, Mommy! Here are sweetberries for you!” To this day, whenever I see bittersweet I think of how my beloved son, out of his love for me, turned the bittersweet into sweetness.

I am also reminded of how God used His Beloved Son to turn the bitterness of death into the sweetness of Life Eternal with Him—out of his love for us.

Inside the bright red berries is the seed of the plant which brings life—in the case of the bittersweet plant, more bittersweet. The seeds, though, have to die and be buried before they can sprout into a harvest of new life.

Jesus Christ is The Seed promised in Genesis 3:15 to bring the harvest of Life. In His case, to bring His Life—a life lived unto God. Death, burial and resurrection to the harvest of new Life all came from Him, The Seed. Christ’s perfect deep red blood was given so that new Life could begin. The Seed did not fail…

Tale of a Whale

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 15:13:04 -0400

I took this shot while whale watching out on the Pacific Ocean during a vacation on Maui. Little baby whale is a three month old making one of her first breaches. She was around 1,000 pounds at birth, and here, about three months later, she is approximately 4,000 pounds of miraculous marvel! Notice Mama whale is right beside her carefully watching all she does.

God’s creation is beyond magnificent! We cannot fathom its staggering wonders! How much more phenomenal and astounding is The Creator, Himself, than all that He has made!!! He is, in fact, incomprehensible… and yet He has invited us to know Him in His Word and through His Spirit... WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!

Oh, Lord, how many are Your Works! The earth is full of Your possessions! In wisdom You have made them all! There is the sea, great and broad, in which are swarms without number, animals both small and great. There the ships move along and Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it. Psalm 104:24-26

I Believe Every Bit of It!

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 12:36:36 -0500

I believe everything God says in His Word...

Everything in the Bible is written by Him and He used men through His Holy Spirit to write it. I am personally convinced that studying the Bible inductively, one book at a time, is the best way to study His Word. And yet, despite man’s responsibility to diligently study God’s Word, ultimately God must open your eyes, ears, and mind to see, hear, and understand the things He says in His Word.

The Bible is the full revelation of God, Himself, and His ways. There is nothing that can be known about God in this present age that is not taught in the Bible. By full revelation we mean that it is complete and nothing can ever be added to it. It is also full in the sense that it is everything we need to know about Him, although it is not all there is to know about Him. True Believers will someday be with Him, and will then see and know Him as He is.

God is the only God and yet He exists in three persons. God is the true God, the living God, the everlasting King. God is eternal and before He ever created His universe He existed in His Glorious Glory beyond the horizon of eternity past.

Revelation 16:17-21

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 12:39:20 -0500

One last angel… one last bowl… the grand finale of God’s wrath…

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” Revelation 16:17

The bowls of the previous six angels have been poured out on the earth, the sea, the rivers and springs, the sun, the throne of the beast, and the great river Euphrates—the bowl of the seventh angel is now poured on the air.

A loud voice comes out of the temple from the throne where God the Father is sitting which declares, “It is done.” In the Greek this reflects a certainty of finality. It means, “it has happened” or “it is over”.

What is done? God asserted in Revelation 15:1 that in the seven plagues His wrath would be finished—when the seventh bowl is poured out there will be no turning back.

Think, for a moment, of the times when a work of God has been finished. The first time was when God completed His creating work. “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:1–3

Revelation 16:12-16 The Sixth Bowl Judgment

Wed, 25 Nov 2015 13:39:13 -0500

The treacherous trio of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet… the infamous battle of Har-magedon… Awfully famed and familiar? Yes… Always factual and faithful to the text? Perhaps not...

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. Revelation 16:12

The sixth angel pours his bowl on the great river called the Euphrates. The result? Its water dries up. The dry riverbed is not the end of the judgment though; God has plans for that riverbed and He will prepare it to fully execute His will. God will turn it into a great thoroughfare which the kings from the east will traverse.

The source of the River Euphrates is in Turkey; it flows through Syria and Iraq. It joins the Tigris before emptying into the Persian Gulf. It is important to note that Babylon is situated on the east bank of the Euphrates—we will see much about Babylon in the coming chapters.