The Enclave

 

 

I know of an enclave

Unlike any other,

It was provided for me

By my Heavenly Father.

 

It is in this world

But not a part thereof,

It’s really the New Jerusalem

Coming down from above.

 

The Apostle saw it

On the Isle of Patmos,

In a vision most clear

When he saw Jesus.

 

It replaced the old one

Covenanted to the Jews,

This one includes you and me

As the Father did choose.

 

Unless there was an old

They can’t be a new

I am speaking of Jerusalem

I trust you catch the view.

 

The old Jerusalem

Has come to an end,

Now there is the New Jerusalem

That the Father did send.

 

 

It is finished, said Jesus,

The old covenant went out,

And with it, the old enclave

It is the new we are about.

 

We don’t have to run in

If we are already inside

For already in Christ,

The believer resides.

 

There is no mix within

As there are in the world,

There is just one in Christ

As shown in the Word.

 

No Jew and Gentile

No black and/or White,

But those indwelt by the Spirit

Having come to the Light.

 

In there we find refuge

During the storms of life

And there, we have the solution,

Re the problem of world-strife.

 

It is God’s kingdom

That is present on the earth

And the entry qualification

Is the new birth.

 

It is the light in the world

And also, the salt,

And if you are not a resident

Then, that is your fault.

 

But that can be corrected

Just respond to the call

That says, “Come into the enclave.

Why do you yet stall?”

 

If your name is whosoever

There is room for you,

And it doesn’t really matter

If you are Gentile or Jew.

 

Come in today

Do no longer delay,

Just heed what the Spirit says

And He’ll show you the way.

 

Stewart Russell © June 2020

 

The Bible in Poetry: Revelation

Extracted from the Bible In Poetry

From Genesis to Revelation
 

This is the revelation of Jesus that was given to the apostle John,

Concerning the end of time and the advent of a glorious new dawn;

John was on the isle of Patmos where he was banished from society,

It’s there that Christ would meet him and give him the final prophecy.
 

It’s a letter to some churches that were located in the Asian kingdom,

A message from the One who is and that was and now is to come;

I am the Alpha and Omega says Jesus, the Beginning and the End,

Write all that you see, John, and to the seven churches in Asia send.

To the church at Ephesus write, they from their first love had rested,

While to those at Smyrna write some of you will be greatly tested;

To the church at Pergamum Jesus said they had held fast his name,

But the way that some were going Balaam’s teaching was to blame.

The church at Thyatira: I know your deeds of love faith and service,

Tolerating Jezebel and misleading my servants is really taking risks;

To the angel of the church at Sardis, some of you think you are alive

But immorality and eating the food of idols you have taken a dive.

To the church at Philadelphia, I know in my word you are resting,

Since you have persevered I will keep you from the hour of testing;

To the angel of the church at Laodicea you are neither cold nor hot,

Though you have great wealth you are a wretched and miserable lot.

Then the chants repeated: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!

Worthy art Thou, Our Lord, to receive honour and power and glory;

To Him who sits on the throne; to the Lamb be glory again and again,

Many angels joined in the chorus: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
 

Then there were the seals opening one through six then seven,

Followed by the seven trumpets all God’s judgment from heaven;

Then a woman, a great red dragon and beasts rising from the sea,

The beast having great authority blasphemed God most arrogantly.
 

Then the angels with their bowls did pour plagues upon the earth,

From the first angel until the seventh, this was no matter of mirth;

Next judgment against immorality; the woman on a scarlet beast,

Drunk with the blood of the saints she enjoyed a gluttonous feast.
 

An angel came from heaven saying Fallen is Babylon the great,

Her sins had piled to heaven but with judgment she kept her date;

Woe to the city of Babylon; the moment of her judgment had come,

God did judge her great wickedness by the power of His kingdom.
 

Finally the marriage of the Lamb; the bride has been approved,

Next appears a white horse on which sat the Faithful and True;

The beast and the false prophet were thrown in the lake of fire,

The rest of the dead provided a meal satisfying the birds’ desire.

After one thousand years is passed evil will be banished forever,

But the blessed redeemed of the Lord will part from Him never;

There, there’s no need for the sun or moon for Jesus is the Light,

Come Lord Jesus come, we pray, let our faith become our sight.

Conclusion

He who is the way and the truth is coming again some day,

It matters not the views and opinions or what the critics say;

Some say he was coming so long that maybe He has forgot,

Repent is the word that comes to them or hell will be their lot.

True as there’s a sky above there’s heaven and there’s hell,

Many arguments will ensue and will take some time to quell,

But faithful is He that has promised and faithful is he to fulfill,

Do give Him your all today while He is pleading with you still.

Stewart Russell © 2013