ONE SCARY NIGHT

We're you ever asleep
And suddenly awoke
To a dream that seemed real
With some monster at your heel?

But this was no dream
Since God touched my eyes
With some giant screen
That dropped from the skies.

I sat there amazed
Like a vision ablaze
There were beasts coming near
And I shuddered in fear
As lions and bears
With leopards around
But no one to rescue
No help could be found.

Then a monster-like Beast
Indescribably cruel
With 10 horns from its brow
Arose to its feet
And like Rome with its iron
In league with the clay
It was weakened in strength
And began to decay.

Looking closer I found
In the midst of the horns
A personage came
With a power so strange
Like a demon from hell
He began to foretell.

The world was amazed
As this Horn moved to Rome
Where the feet from that dream
Faced 10 Nations supreme

Then with miracles seen
And with offer of peace
A treaty was signed
And a Temple was built.

Then the Dragon arose
With its fury unfurled
And destruction and death
Caused a wide-world distress.

Then a Stone could be seen
Like a rock from a hill
Breaking to powder
This Monster at will
For the power of heaven
Made dust of this clod
As the earth saw the birth
Of the Kingdom of God.

Then the heavens rejoiced
As the King took His place
From the throne in the Temple
With the Bride at His side.

For a 1000 year reign
The world will regain
All that was lost
From sin's awful cost.
With Eden reborn.
--B. Pent

HALLELUJAH! HE IS RISEN!

Night had settled in Judea
Death had claimed the crucified
But the stone rent from its mooring
Where the Son of God was held.

Soldiers kept a careful vigil
Pilate's seal could not be torn
But the power of God descended
On that early Easter morn.

Jesus rose the mighty victor
Death no longer held its prey
Captive souls once held in bondage
Were released on Easter day.

Saints and angels join the chorus
Christ has risen from the dead
Heaven echoes back the story
He has risen as He said.

Chorus
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Christ is risen from the dead.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
He has risen as He said.
--B. Pent

REDISCOVERING THE RESURRECTION

Early that first Easter morning the Gospel of John tells of three people coming to the tomb. The first to appear was Mary Magdalene. Verse one states, "early on the first day of the week while it was still dark, Mary of Magdaia went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance." There are three Greek words translated "to see" in John 20. The word "blepei" used by Mary simply refers to a "cursory glance." With the stone rolled away she assumed someone stole His body from the tomb so she runs to Peter with the news, "they have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

Peter and John proceeded to validate her story though they remained skeptical. Since Peter was older, their footrace to the tomb got him there last. John waited at the entrance until Peter arrived. Verse 6 states, "then Simon Peter...arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the stips of linen lying there." The second Greek word "to see" is the word "theorei" from which we get the word "theory." Thus, Peter is seen, like an investigator, assessing the unusual evidences as the strips of linen just lying there like an empty cocoon and the headband carefully folded and separated from the linen. Luke 24:12 completes that story by stating "he went away, wondering to himself what had happened."

The third Greek word "to see" is "eiden," which gives the idea "I see it! I see it!" Verse 8 concludes, "finally the other disciple (John), who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed."

How one "sees" the resurrection of Jesus Christ determines one's eternal destiny. We can celebrate this Easter with a casual glance (blepei) at the resurrection and even deeply ponder its reality (theorei), but until, like John, you (eiden) "see and believe" it will have no life changing effect.

HOW DO YOU "SEE" THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS?

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

In blazing white
This awesome sight!
A throne appeared
For all to see.

It was no dream
That passed my way
When one awakes
The light of day.

No demon there
Now locked in Hell
Can take the blame
For Adam's shame.

Yet in that throng
Where myriads stand
I recognized
My face in hand.

Then from the Throne
A voice so clear
It echoed forth
For all to hear.

In bright array
The Lamb was seen
With nail-scared hands
So pure and clean.

Then He alone
Like thunder spoke
The sound of doom
Raw fear awoke.

The question asked
Was given forth
"What have you done
With Christ, God's Son?"

The wrenching cries
Could then be heard
Man's stubborn will
Reject His Word.

Consuming flames
Sulfuric Lake
All those refused
Will there partake.
--B. Pent