Rest and No Rest

Rest and No Rest – The restlessness of the unsaved

Revelation 14:9-11
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: [11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

Howl! Cry! Shout aloud! For “…they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

If ever I’ve had a vision or a revelation of Hell, I envisioned it to be a place where there are people restless. If ever I’ve had the knowledge of the life of a sinner, it is a life of restlessness, overworked by the devil. The devil is a task master and his followers have no rest from their labour neither here nor hereafter. While they’re still in one level of bondage, he introduces another – he has no pity. He rules them with the heavy tides of his rivers. Sometimes, they want to come out, but they can’t. They are overflown, they are overburdened, they have no option and just obey!

Ah! Overladen and filled with his ways are they. They go from craziness to craziness, indeed they are crazy with the heavy burden of their task master – the devil

The law of sin

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. [16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” – Romans 7:15-16,19-24

The occupation of the task master

What is the occupation of the task master? The devil has two main occupations, the first is, going to and fro in the earth, and the second, walking up and down in it. Job 1:7

What he commands his followers

There are many things he occupies those that follow after him – knowingly and unknowingly – with. He tells them, “go and steal”, “kill that man”, “go, commit fornication – you need it”, “commit adultery”, “pierce your ears, your nose, eyes, your body”, “marry that man – gay”, “turn yourself into a woman”, “marry that woman – lesbianism”, “torment yourself”, “tear your clothes – it’s fashion”, “style your hair like that of a horse – I want you to look like a horse this week”, “leave your sleep and go to the club house and start dancing for me – dance out your life!”, “Be drunk – that’s not enough, pass out!” … Until they close their eyes in death – and the work continues…

The Mighty to save

Before the point reaches when a man closes his eyes in death, there is always a chance, and an opportunity to surrender to One Man, the One that has the power to liberate from the hands of the task master. He is the Mighty to save

“When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: [22] But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.” – Luke 11:21-22

Today, that Stronger than the strong man is here. His name is JESUS, the Mighty to save. It’s another opportunity. He has come to deliver you from the task master and to set you free from sin and bondage before you close your eyes in death. When he saves you, you will experience peace, joy unspeakable and rest. In him is rest for your soul, a refuge and the hope of LIFE.

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”