Rise of the Fallen (46 page)
Read Rise of the Fallen Online
Authors: Chuck Black
And Jesus fulfilled this great love just a short time later when He laid down His life for each of us.
HAPTER 32
The Lineage of Jesus Christ
Danick has spent his entire assignment protecting the lineage of Christ but finally acquiesces to Brandt in regard to changing strategies. It is now time to
protect the saints who are spreading out to the corners of the earth. Lineages in the Jewish culture are extremely important. Matthew 1 tracks the lineage of Jesus through Mary back to Abraham. Luke 3 tracks the lineage of Jesus through Joseph back to Adam and Eve. These lineages are important because God’s curse on the serpent, Satan, in Genesis 3:15 was that the seed of Eve would “bruise your head.” The lineage of Jesus is a direct link to the fulfillment of God’s first hint at a Savior way back in Genesis.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15)
HAPTER 33
Angel of the Church
Teriel is angry because violence has come to the church he is charged to protect. In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus commands John to write seven letters to the seven churches. Each of these letters is addressed, “To the angel of the church in …” There is much speculation about what the word
angel
refers to in this passage. Theologians’ opinions range from the word referring to the church’s primary pastor, to the church itself, and also to literal angels.
Rise of the Fallen
simply entertains the notion and possibility that
angel
may refer to a literal watch-guard angel over each of God’s churches.
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, “These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.” (Revelation 2:1)
Drew Carter pleads with Validus to help him escape from the FBI so he can save Sydney and the Branson children. Validus intervenes by freeing Drew from the handcuffs around his wrists. Although this may seem far-fetched, there are no less dramatic examples in the Bible of angels intervening on behalf of people in peril.
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. (Acts 12:5–7)
HAPTER 34
Persecution of the Jewish People
This chapter deals with the horror of the Holocaust, but the Jewish people have been intensely persecuted throughout history, not just during the Holocaust. Great persecution of the nation of Israel began in AD 70 when Titus and his Roman army utterly destroyed Jerusalem. The dispersion of the Jewish people (the Diaspora) and their persecution have continued ever since. Today we are seeing a resurgence of anti-Semitism. According to the Bible, the Jewish people will continue to be persecuted until they accept Jesus Christ as the true Messiah near the End of Days. As Jesus went to the cross, He warned the people of the difficult days ahead.
And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ ” (Luke 23:27–30)
Throughout Scripture, prophets and apostles plead for the nation of Israel to come to salvation through Christ. We ought to add our prayers for the same.
Validus is grieved to the heart when Danick is dissolved. Any time we lose a loved one, grief is an emotion we must deal with. It is part of living in a fallen world. God knows our pain and our afflictions, and He is able to comfort us in our time of deepest grief.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:2–4)
HAPTER 35
Valiant Leadership
Validus leads his men into Durgank’s stronghold, a place of great peril. Excellent leadership is paramount to being victorious in a battle. Great leaders must have many qualities in their lives to be effective: integrity, vision, selflessness, confidence, humility, and effective communication skills to name a few. However, the true test of great leaders is whether their people are willing to follow them into battle or, at the very least, through difficult times. There are seminars, training centers, books, and a whole plethora of resources to help develop leadership skills, but in reality, the perfect example for us all is that of Jesus Christ. Every single quality required to be an excellent leader is perfectly modeled in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And in the end, His followers went to the ends of the earth and laid down their lives in service to Him. Here are a few verses that demonstrate the fundamental qualities of leadership in Jesus.
The integrity of Jesus: Hebrews 4:15
The vision of Jesus: Luke 19:10
The selflessness of Jesus: John 10:15
The confidence of Jesus: Matthew 7:29
The humility of Jesus: Philippians 2:8
The communication skills of Jesus: Matthew 5
HAPTER 36
The Nation of Israel Reborn
In spite of nearly two thousand years of persecution and global dispersion, on May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation once more. On the same day of their declaration as a sovereign state, they were attacked by multiple Arab countries and yet were victorious. This biblically prophetic event was prophesied in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, and Zechariah and is a dramatic sign that the End of Days may be near.
It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:11–12)
It is hard to say what the role of the United States of America will have in the End of Days, but there is a symbolic reference in Revelation regarding the nation of Israel as the days become difficult for them. Perhaps the “wings of a great eagle” are the United States.
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)
HAPTER 37
Courage and Mercy Found in Unlikely Places
Validus marvels at the courage and the mercy demonstrated by the boys in the favela. God sees that potential in all of us, but potential and action are two completely different things. What turns potential into action is choice. We must choose to allow God to transform our potential into active, vibrant, faithful action. James tells us not to be hearers only but doers also. That happens with a decision … our decision.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)
HAPTER 38
When Good Men and Women Fail
Validus fears that he has disobeyed God and failed Him. Although angels are sinless, this scene depicts the appropriate response of a person who has failed in his or her walk with the Lord—repentance. A genuine understanding of our frailty and sinfulness is the beginning of greatness. Even Daniel, whom Gabriel says is “greatly beloved,” prays a prayer of intense repentance and includes himself.
And I prayed to the L
ORD
my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.” (Daniel 9:4–5)
From Genesis to Revelation the message to man is clear: repent! Then and only then can God work mighty deeds in the earth.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)
A BATTLE RAGES AROUND US—
A BATTLE ONLY DREW CAN SEE.
Faced with tragedy and loss, Drew Carter has no choice but to move on. But when he starts to see things that are hunting him down, he needs the help of his new friends and their strong faith to save himself and the world from the intruders.
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