Maranatha

This word, “Maranatha”, that is the name of our Missionary School in Argentina and that our preachers in Congo exclaim every time they stand at the pulpit, while the congregation answers “Amen” is an Aramaic term–the language in Palestine at the time of Jesus. The word means, “The Lord is coming!” It appears in the Bible only once, in 1 Corinthians 16:22 in the following context, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” Anathema means curse.

No wonder the brethren in Congo say, “Maranatha”, “Amen.” They just express their love for the Lord, their expectation and joy in the hope of His coming.
In Revelation 22:20 we read, “Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,”–in other words, Maranatha.”

If people who loved the Lord at the time of John said “Amen, come Lord Jesus”, how much more should we all follow the example of our brethren in Congo and say “Maranatha” from our pulpits and the congregation should answer “Amen”, full of enthusiasm and joy!

Most prophecies have been fulfilled, people are as they have been described by Paul in his epistle to Timothy. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, , boasters, proud, blasphemers,disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form ofgodliness, but denying the power thereof…” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Therefore, the invitation to all mankind is, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:7.

The previous verse to this one says, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” It is interesting; John sees three angels, one after the other, but they all have a message that is related to the previous one and has to be given to the whole world. This message is called the everlasting gospel.

According to the Bible, the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:6 Christ came to save His people from sin. The definition of sin is the transgression of the law; in other words, Christ came to make us turn to obedience to the law. The three angels’ messages do not speak about God’s love for mankind, the blood of Jesus that washes our sins and all those things that can move people’s hearts; but they warn and call to repentance. True love speaks the truth, even if this can cause pain or fear.

The world and the churches have spoken and still speak much about love and all Christians have heard about the love of Jesus. Many people have had the experience of conversion, as they understood that our Saviour gave His blood because of our unrighteous deeds, our pride, our hard words and moved by this message they changed their life and became new creatures. Such a power has the sacrifice of love done for us in Calvary! But these angels do not speak about these things, although they ply the skies to give their messages. They speak about judgment, God’s wrath, about the mark of the beast, fire and brimstone. They do not speak about grace, but they warn and threat. No joyful message. Is that actually the gospel?

Maybe, as we read these messages we remember Paul’s warning to the Galatians, “But though we, or an angel from heaven,  preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8. The message of the gospel is love, and those who do not love the Lord Jesus are “anathema”,
accursed. Why are these messages of a totally different kind?

If we read the following verses we can better understand why. “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having  on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:14-16.

The Son of God, Jesus Christ is coming in the clouds of heaven to harvest the earth.
The time of grace is over and this chapter speaks of another angel that gathers “the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” Rev. 14:18. Chapter 15 of Revelation presents seven angels holding golden vials with the wrath of God–the plagues—that are to be poured upon the earth. No more grace.

This has nothing to do with us, because as children of God who have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour we want to live and die under grace. All children of God, all born again Christians who live in His grace have the law in their hearts, they do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not covet, do not kill or practice idolatry and they have the privilege to bring to the world the message of salvation. Before the time of grace is over, all children of God have to
come under His protection and be sealed as His property. This seal is, as we all know, the Sabbath day.

Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.” John 10:16. The Holy Spirit living in us is the voice of the Lord calling the sheep to His fold, through us, His instruments. The Holy Spirit in us is to give the three angels’ messages to the world. The Lord has given us His Spirit and as we fulfil our duty toward Him and mankind, we shall receive ever a greater measure to call people to God’s rest.

The Sabbath is the spiritual ark of our time and the invitation has to be given to all believers who are still in Babylon so that they may join the crowd that will be translated to heaven when our Lord comes.

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work-…” Exodus 20:8. This is the message, that God’s church,–the angels of Revelation 14 has to give the world so that the sheep that already belong to the Lord and are still grazing on foreign fields may join us and all together may say: “Maranatha!”
May the Lord grant us a greater measure of His Spirit so that we may fulfil the commission given to the angels.
AMEN.