EPHESUSSTANDSI

NJUDGMENT!

Ephesus,
youst
andi
ntheJudgment
!Yourhourofr
eckoni
nghascome.
Ephesus,whathasbecomeofy
ou:how y
ouoncebl
ossomedi
ntoabeaut
if
ulv
irgi
n
undert
hedi
l
igentwor
kandexempl
aryact
ivi
tyoft
heani
mist
ichel
per
s;y
oudev
eloped
i
ntoani
nval
uabl
ecor
ner
stoneofsubsequentcr
eat
ion,i
ntoawor
ld-
regi
ont
hatj
oyf
ull
y
mai
ntai
nedaspect
acul
arr
hyt
hm i
nor
bit
;then,y
ouwer
eunencumber
ed;f
loodsoft
he
pur
estpowerf
rom Hi
m whocr
eat
edandkepty
ouf
resh,
sucht
haty
oushoul
dnev
ert
ir
e
orwear
yiny
ourcy
cle,
beguni
ntheEt
ernal
Law,
theWi
l
lofGod.
Ephesus!Formi
l
li
onsofy
ear
s,y
oupur
suedy
ourcour
se,al
ongt
hesunny
,radi
antpat
h,
comi
ngofagei
nthel
ovi
ngl
ycar
ingandpr
otect
ivehandsoft
heel
ement
albei
ngs;t
hen
camey
ournemesi
s.
I
nsci
nti
l
lat
ingbr
il
li
ance,spi
ri
tualseedshadr
aineddownf
rom t
heheav
ensi
ntot
he
gr
eatcosmos;spar
kli
ngl
i
ght
-poi
ntsdescendedi
ntomat
ter
,whi
chy
ear
nedt
osoakup
t
hesespi
ri
tspar
ksasapr
eci
oust
oni
c,f
oranewl
easeofl
i
fe,
tost
rengt
hent
hei
nti
macy
oft
hebondbet
weent
hewor
ld-
regi
onEphesusandt
heLi
ght
,cement
ingi
tsol
i
dly
,such
t
hatt
heLi
ghti
ntur
n,woul
dbr
ingi
tnewupwar
dimpet
us,l
ett
ingi
twaxst
rong,av
ert
ing
t
hel
i
stl
essnesst
hatbr
ingsdecay
.Wi
tht
hehel
poft
hespi
ri
tualseed,i
twoul
dbl
ossom
i
ntoamat
uref
rui
t,t
her
ewi
thf
ulf
il
li
ngt
heWi
l
lofGod,
sucht
hati
tmaybepl
easi
ngi
nthe
si
ghtoft
heCr
eat
or,
andgl
ori
fyHi
m.
Ephesus,
oncesopower
ful
l
yper
meat
edby
,andf
ullofr
obustener
gyandr
adi
antv
ital
i
ty,
andov
erf
lowi
ngwi
tht
hej
oyofy
ourani
mist
ici
nhabi
tant
s.Yourpat
hwasast
hecr
ow
f
li
es,abee-
li
net
owar
dst
hel
umi
nousspher
es,andy
our
ejoi
cedi
nthel
umi
nousr
ainof
spi
ri
tualseed– t
oday
,youar
ebutal
onewander
er,apov
ert
y-st
ri
ckenandwear
y
t
rav
ell
er,st
ruggl
i
ng al
ong wi
th what
everr
esi
dualener
gyy
ou st
il
lhav
elef
tiny
ou,
st
rai
ningasy
oudr
agy
ourponder
ousandunr
esponsi
vemassal
ongi
ntheuni
ver
se.
Yourmov
ementi
snow downwar
ds,andt
hej
oyf
ulact
ivi
tyof
fal
lcr
eat
ureshasl
ong
si
ncet
urnedi
ntoast
ruggl
eforsur
viv
al;at
erseandt
ort
uousst
ruggl
etoekeouta
meagr
e,mi
ser
abl
eandwr
etchedexi
stence.

Thest
ream ofspi
ri
tspar
ksnow emi
tsdar
kray
s,spr
eadi
ngapoi
sonousf
umewhi
ch
at
tacksal
lthatst
il
lhasl
i
fe,sappi
ngi
tofi
tsener
gies,ener
vat
ingandr
ender
ingi
t
def
encel
essoncei
thasenv
elopedandsmot
her
edi
t,t
henabandoni
ngi
ttof
all
headl
ong
i
ntot
heembr
aceandhor
ror
soft
hebot
toml
esspi
t,Hades.
1
Ephesus,
wher
eist
hepr
ideandgl
oryofy
ourmi
l
li
onsuns,
wher
etheoncev
ivi
dcol
our
s
ofy
ourf
lower
s,t
her
obustj
oyofl
i
feofy
ourani
mal
kingdom?Whydoest
hel
i
ghtofy
our
st
arsf
li
cker
,whydo t
heybur
n so unst
eadi
l
yasi
faboutt
o quench,whyal
lthe
subt
err
aneanr
umbl
i
ngandear
thquakeswhi
chr
ocky
ourenor
mousbodysoof
tenand
sof
ri
ght
ful
l
y?Youwobbl
eatt
heknees,y
oust
aggerandst
umbl
e,t
umbl
i
ngal
ongwi
th
f
lai
l
ingar
msasi
ftopr
otectanddef
endy
our
sel
f,asi
fyouwer
est
ruggl
i
ngt
ori
dyour
sel
f
ofandcastof
fadr
eadf
ulbur
den,butt
onoav
ail
.Yourf
everspasmsnowconst
it
utea
sour
ceofwor
ryandanxi
ety
,theycauseuneasi
nessandt
ensi
oni
n,andpl
acet
heent
ir
e
uni
ver
seundernot
ice.
Ephesus,
iti
stheDi
vi
neJudgment
,thel
astj
udgment
!That
,ist
heSwor
dofDi
vi
newr
ath
whosest
rokesbor
eint
oyou,t
ear
ingopen,dest
roy
ingandscat
ter
ingi
nthewi
nd,t
he
Luci
fer
ianbr
ood,whi
chpul
l
syoudownwi
thasi
nist
erdesi
gnandanev
ildesi
re,hopi
ng
t
ocasty
oui
ntot
hedr
eadf
ulagonyandt
ormentofspi
ri
tualdeat
h,t
hel
ossofy
ourego-
consci
ousness.
Man,
iti
syout
hatbr
oughtaboutt
heev
ilf
ate,
allt
hehor
ror
sandt
ri
bul
ati
onswhi
chnow
st
ri
keEphesus!Youf
orwhom t
hiswor
ld-
regi
onwasnur
tur
edassoi
lfordev
elopmenti
n
peacef
ulv
ent
ures;gi
vengr
aci
ousl
yfort
her
eal
i
sat
ionofy
ourper
pet
uall
ongi
ngand
wi
sht
oemer
gef
rom t
heunconsci
ousst
ate,sucht
haty
our
ecei
vef
ulf
il
mentoft
his
wi
shbywander
ingt
hrought
hesoi
lofmat
ter
.Itwasy
ouandonl
yyou,Omanki
nd,who
pl
ungedt
hiswor
ld-
regi
oni
ntot
hedept
hofdespai
randdar
kness,f
arawayf
rom t
he
pat
hor
dai
nedbyGod!
Gr
ave,v
erygr
avear
etheaccusat
ionswhi
chmountagai
nsty
ou,br
oughti
nbi
tt
erness
andj
ust
if
iedr
agebyal
ltheani
mist
iccr
eat
ureswhol
eadal
umi
nousandLi
ghtwi
l
ledl
i
fe,
andwhohav
eagai
nandagai
nendur
edunt
oldi
ndi
gni
tyandsuf
fer
edgr
eat
lybecauseof
y
ou,y
ouwhosogr
eat
lydi
stancey
our
sel
vesf
rom Godi
nyourdeedsandact
ions.I
n
r
eci
procalact
ion,t
het
readmi
l
loft
heCr
eat
or’
simmut
abl
eandi
rr
evocabl
elawsnow
conf
ront
syou,y
oumustf
acei
t,y
oucannotescape,andi
fyouhadt
hewi
ngsoft
he
mor
ning,i
twoul
dav
aily
ounot
hing,f
or,t
hesel
awsar
efor
midabl
e,t
heybeart
heWi
l
lof
God,
andt
heynowar
rai
gny
ou,
andexactabi
tt
er,
ver
ybi
tt
err
evengeupony
ou,
avengi
ng
y
ouri
niqui
ti
es.
Yournar
row-
mindedness,y
ourf
il
thy
,sor
didsensual
i
tyandmor
bidt
hought
s,y
ourbase
v
ani
tyandunt
owar
dar
rogance,andy
ourper
pet
uali
ncl
i
nat
iont
owar
dst
heper
pet
rat
ion
ofev
il
,hav
esucceededi
nder
ail
i
nganent
ir
ewor
ld-
regi
onf
orci
ngi
tof
fit
scour
se,
whi
ch

2
t
husbecamedi
amet
ri
cal
l
yopposedt
othewayt
opar
adi
se,wher
easi
toughtt
ohav
e
at
tai
nedt
hemostgl
ori
ousbeaut
yandbecomeaspi
tt
ingi
mageofheav
enl
yspl
endour
.
Now howev
er,i
tishumbl
ed,br
oughtt
oit
skneesandcov
eredbyni
ghtanddar
kness,
soi
l
edbyev
il
-mi
ndedcr
eat
ures,andv
iol
ent
lyt
ornawayf
rom t
her
adi
antandl
umi
nous
ci
rcl
eoft
hecr
ossofCr
eat
ion.
How coul
dyoui
dlywat
ch,spi
ri
tofman,wheny
ououghtt
ohav
eputt
hisv
erysame
power
,whi
chy
out
urnedagai
nsty
our
sel
fasacour
se,t
ogooduse,t
ransf
ormi
ngy
our
t
hought
sint
othepur
estandnobl
est
,themostl
umi
nouspossi
ble.I
ndeed,af
ract
ionof
t
hispowery
ouputt
o ev
iluse,coul
dhav
e,wi
thagoodv
oli
ti
on,br
oughtabouta
mi
racul
ousascenti
ntot
hel
andoft
hebl
essedspi
ri
ts.

Howev
er,
thi
sfal
sel
ydi
rect
ed,
vil
elyappl
i
edandgr
ossl
yabusedpoweroft
heLi
ghtnow
t
ransf
ormsi
tsel
fint
oonesi
ngl
eli
ght
ningf
lash,
and,
inr
eci
procalact
ion,
descendsupon
manki
nd,shaki
ngupandpur
if
ying,andi
nnosmal
lmeasur
e,r
aini
ngdest
ruct
ionupon,
andcr
ushi
ngt
hisdecadentanddegener
atecar
icat
ureoft
hehumanr
ace.
Man,t
hedayofr
eckoni
nghascomef
ory
ou!Judgment
!Whataser
iousandf
ri
ght
ful
wor
d,br
ashl
yitt
akesy
ourbr
eat
haway
,andl
i
keabur
den,
wei
ghsheav
il
yuponspi
ri
tand
soul
.
Al
lthatl
i
esi
nitwi
l
lnow becomeev
identt
omant
hroughper
sonalexper
ience.Hi
s
deedsf
rom pastmi
l
lenni
anowcomet
oli
fe,
theyr
esur
rectf
ort
heal
might
yreckoni
ngi
n
t
her
ayoft
heSwor
dofJust
ice.
Eachandev
ery
onewi
l
lbesei
zedbyt
hei
nvi
nci
blei
rongr
ipoft
hel
awofCr
eat
ion,
whi
ch
wi
l
lrat
tl
eandj
olthi
m awake,
ort
readhi
m underf
ootandcr
ushhi
m.
And i
ftoday
,manypeopl
e,i
n comf
ort
,read newsr
epor
tsofwarand f
ami
ne,of
pest
il
ence and di
sease,ofv
iol
entand dest
ruct
ive st
orms and r
avagi
ng f
ir
es,of
ear
thquakesandv
olcani
cer
upt
ions,di
smi
ssi
ngt
heser
epor
tswi
thawav
eoft
hehand
andameasur
eofsy
mpat
hy,
ifanyatal
l
,fort
hesor
eaf
fl
ict
ed,
per
hapsev
enr
evel
l
ingi
n
asenseofwel
l
bei
ng,
aft
eral
ltheyt
hink,
theyar
esaf
efr
om,
andar
espar
edsucht
err
ibl
e
mi
sfor
tune;soon,muchsoonert
hant
hesei
nsensi
ti
veonesi
magi
ne,i
twi
l
lbecome
abundant
lycl
eart
othem,
thatt
hismodeoft
hinki
ngandf
eel
i
ng,
suchcal
l
ousnessi
nthe
f
aceoft
hegr
iefofot
her
s,i
sli
tt
lesui
tedt
o,i
snott
ober
econci
l
ed,
nori
siti
ntunewi
th
t
heneedsoft
ruespi
ri
tual
ascent
.
Gr
eat
lyhor
ri
fi
ed,t
hesespi
ri
tual
l
yindol
entoneswi
l
l,ov
erni
ght
,recei
vear
udeshock,be

3
r
udel
yawakenedf
rom t
hei
rspi
ri
tual
slumber
,thei
rsel
f-
compl
acency
,sel
f-
decept
ionand
del
usi
on.Theydonotwi
sht
orecogni
set
heher
aldsoft
heend-
ti
meandt
hegr
eatwor
ld
j
udgment
,conv
ulsi
vel
yshut
ti
ngbot
hey
esandbot
hear
s,gl
ossi
ngov
ert
hemostst
ri
ki
ng
ofev
ent
snow t
aki
ngpl
ace,i
nst
eadofbei
ngunset
tl
edandr
att
ledbyt
hem,r
efl
ect
ing
ov
ert
hem,andacknowl
edgi
ngt
hatt
hest
art
li
ngr
ateofoccur
renceoft
hesenat
ural
,
sci
ent
if
icandt
echnol
ogi
caldi
sast
ers,
hasnev
erbeenwi
tnessedorexper
iencedi
nsuch
r
ecor
dnumber
ssi
ncet
hebegi
nni
ngoft
ime;t
heyar
ethehar
vestoft
heconsequences
ofseedssownov
ert
housandsofy
ear
s,whi
chnowf
all
due.
Man,y
ou hav
e wor
ked assi
duousl
y agai
nsty
our
sel
f,knot
ti
ng t
hese t
hreads of
damnat
ion,
stubbor
nlyandr
elent
lessl
y,atf
ir
stf
ull
yawar
eoft
heconsequences,
theni
n
t
ime,pl
ungi
ngheadl
ong,i
nbl
i
ndf
uryandwi
thr
eckl
essabandoni
ntocal
ami
tyandr
uin.
Youhav
ewov
enandpr
epar
edt
heneti
nwhi
chy
ouhav
enowf
all
enandcaughty
our
sel
f.
Theswor
dofDomocl
eshangsov
ery
ou,
andt
heagent
sofdar
kness,
thenef
ari
ousgang
ofspi
ri
tualbandi
tsnowdescendupony
ou,
reachi
ngf
ort
hej
ugul
ars,
snuf
fi
ngoutt
othe
l
astbr
eat
h,what
everl
i
fewasst
il
llef
tiny
ou,andsqueezi
ngt
hel
astdr
opsoft
hel
i
fe-
j
uiceofego-
consci
ousnessoutofy
ourv
eins.Onl
yver
yfewst
il
lposesst
hest
rengt
hof
l
ongi
ngt
ofr
eet
hemsel
vesf
rom t
hisgr
isl
ynetofdoom.
Spi
ri
tofman!Cany
ouheart
hev
oicesi
nthewi
nd?Atf
ir
st,onl
yamur
mur
,whi
cht
hen
swel
l
sint
oami
ght
ythunder
ingchor
us;
“Gui
l
ty,
youar
egui
l
ty,
youmustnowhar
vestt
he
hor
rorofet
ernal
deat
h,y
ourev
ilv
oli
ti
onf
orcedt
hej
udgmentuponEphesus”
.
Justopeny
ourey
eswi
def
oronceandseet
hehel
l
-hol
eofhor
ror
s,t
heci
tyofsi
n,
Baby
lon,
thathasar
iseni
nthemi
dstoft
hepur
estbeaut
yofawor
ld-
regi
on,
becauseof
man’
sev
il
-doi
ng.
Li
stent
othesoundsi
ntheuni
ver
se,heart
het
rumpet
sofj
udgmentast
heybl
are,t
he
war
-cr
iesoft
hewar
ri
orsofGod,andt
hel
ament
s,andt
hedi
str
esscal
l
sofal
lani
mist
ic
cr
eat
ures.
Justl
ook,andl
i
sten!Theomi
nousr
umbl
eoft
hunderappr
oaches,t
heskyi
sov
ercast
wi
tht
hickdar
kcl
ouds,
andshr
il
landangr
yli
ght
ningf
lashesbodei
l
l;i
tisani
l
l-
windt
hat
soundswar
ningsofi
mmi
nentdest
ruct
ion!Ther
ear
eear
thquakes,
vol
canoeser
upt
,and
f
oami
ngf
loodwat
ersunl
eashdest
ruct
ionandl
aywast
eent
ir
eregi
onanddensel
y
popul
atedar
eas.
I
tist
her
iseoft
heel
ement
sagai
nstacr
eat
uret
hatper
jur
edt
hel
awsofhi
sCr
eat
or.
Thati
sther
ight
fulr
evengeofanat
uret
hat
,fort
housandsofy
ear
s,wasoppr
essedand

4
shackl
edbyhumanspi
ri
ts!
And,hangi
ngov
erev
ery
thi
ng,ar
adi
antSwor
dspi
tsf
ir
eandbr
imst
one,demandi
ngand
f
ullofaccusat
ions,
itpoi
ntsatascal
ethathasbeencompl
etel
ythr
ownoutofbal
ance,
t
ippedov
erf
art
oonesi
de.Thescal
eisdr
yandempt
y,asar
ethesoul
sofmen.Sof
ew
ar
ethegooddeedsmanhast
owei
ghi
n,t
oshow f
oral
lthet
housandsofy
ear
sof
exi
stencei
nsubsequentcr
eat
ion;hi
sinexpl
i
cabl
eav
ersi
ont
ogoodi
nhi
slament
abl
e
decl
i
ne,i
snownearpat
hol
ogi
cal
,and,al
ongwi
thhi
sinv
eter
ateandshocki
ngpenchant
f
orev
il
,hi
sbl
ant
antr
efusalt
owal
kther
ightpat
hst
eadf
ast
ly,i
tnow conspi
reagai
nst
andder
ail
shi
m,sucht
hathei
svi
rt
ual
l
yunabl
etot
ipt
hescal
einhi
sownf
avourev
enby
somuchasahai
r’
sbr
eadt
h.Al
lhehast
oshowf
oral
lthi
sti
me,i
sal
ongcat
alogueof
gr
avesi
ns.

The Av
enger
’sSwor
d ofJudgmentnow st
ri
kes,i
tfor
cest
he empt
yscal
e down,
l
evel
l
ingi
twi
tht
heot
hersi
dei
nwhi
cht
heCr
eat
orpl
acedal
lthet
ool
sHehadgr
aci
ousl
y
gi
vent
hehumanspi
ri
tfori
tswander
ingsi
ncr
eat
ion.Forav
ery
,ver
ylongt
ime,at
ime
t
hatwoul
dseem i
nfi
nit
elyl
ongf
ort
hedespai
ri
ngmanki
nd,
theSwor
dwi
l
lhol
dthescal
e
st
eady
,unt
ili
tisf
il
ledwi
thgenui
nehumanr
ecogni
ti
onofGodandhear
tfel
tgr
ati
tudei
n
humi
l
ity
,butev
enso,mancoul
dindeedofhi
sownaccor
dnev
err
ecov
ert
henecessar
y
bal
ance,i
ftheLov
eofGoddi
dnott
akepi
tyonhi
m andbest
owuponhi
m,onceagai
n,
ani
mmeasur
abl
eGr
ace.TheLov
eofGodnowi
nter
venes,andt
hrowst
hef
inalwei
ght
onhi
sbehal
f,r
est
ori
ngandr
est
abi
l
isi
ngt
hel
ast
ingequi
l
ibr
ium t
hatbr
ingshi
m sal
vat
ion,
andr
edeemshi
m.Man,gi
vet
hankst
otheLor
d,f
ort
rul
y,y
ouhav
enotdeser
vedt
his
gr
ace.
Ephesusshal
lnowal
sober
edeemed!Al
ready
,thet
hickenv
elopeofdar
knesshasbeen
cl
eav
edatapoi
nt,
brokent
hroughandr
ippedwi
deopenbyashar
p,f
ier
ybeam ofLi
ght
whi
chpenet
rat
edi
tvi
ctor
iousl
y.Onel
astpower
fult
hrust
,onesi
ngl
eov
erwhel
ming
st
rokeoft
heSwor
dofJust
ice,
andt
hel
astv
est
igesoft
her
epugnantcl
oakofdar
kness
wi
l
ldi
si
ntegr
ate.
Then,y
oushal
lbef
ree,Ephesus,f
reeasabi
rd;happi
l
yyousoaral
oftonceagai
nint
o
t
hesubl
i
mehei
ght
s.Unencumber
ed,y
ou r
ise,r
egai
ning y
ouroncel
umi
nousor
bit
,
pur
if
iedandpenet
rat
edbynewst
reamsoff
ir
ewhi
chsust
ainandnour
ishy
ou,br
ingi
ng
y
ouatl
astper
fectbeaut
y,asapur
eandcol
our
fulf
lower
,thatt
hri
vesr
adi
ant
lyi
nthe
et
ernal
cycl
eoft
hiswor
ld.

5
How coul
dwor
kbecomeadr
udger
ytoman?Wor
kthatshoul
dbr
inghi
mful
fi
lmentashe
pr
oudl
yandent
husi
ast
ical
l
yexhi
bit
sandgi
vesofhi
sGod-
giv
ent
alent
s,i
rr
espect
iveofcal
l
ing,
v
ocat
ion,occupat
ionorpr
ofessi
on,r
egar
dlessofposi
ti
onorst
andi
ngi
nthi
sli
fe,r
eapi
ngand
r
ecei
vi
ngabundant
lyi
nex
changef
rom gr
atef
ulr
eci
pient
soft
hisser
vicet
hati
ssoexper
tl
y
r
ender
ed and cheer
ful
l
ygi
ven.Man,who oughtt
o begi
n each new daywi
th a cheer
ful
demeanour
,asmi
l
eonhi
sli
ps,andaspr
ingt
ohi
sst
ep,now i
nst
ead,onl
y‘manages’wi
th
consi
der
abl
epai
nandagr
eatdealoft
roubl
e,t
oear
nanunsat
isf
act
oryl
i
ving,andmustof
ten
psy
chhi
msel
fupj
ustt
ogot
owor
k,gi
vi
nghi
sser
vicesgr
udgi
ngl
yrat
hert
handut
if
ull
yandi
n
l
oyal
ty,t
hespr
ingi
nhi
sst
epshav
ingbecomeal
i
tanyofsel
f-
abusesandat
aleofwoe,ashe
shuf
fl
eswear
il
yal
ong,l
ooki
ngt
oear
lyr
eti
rementt
o‘escape’l
i
fe’
stor
ment
sandhar
dshi
pand
‘
end’hi
sagoni
esandmi
ser
y.Thought
sofj
oyf
ulact
ivi
tyl
ongev
apor
atedandsi
ncebur
ied,he
woul
dresor
tev
en t
o cr
ime,st
eal
i
ng and engagi
ng i
n al
lmannerofcr
imi
nalact
ivi
ty,
shamel
essl
yrecei
vi
ngst
olengoods,
wher
eiti
snotot
her
wisepossi
blet
omakeagood,
decent
,
andhonestl
i
ving.Thesmi
l
ingf
aceandoncecheer
fuldemeanourhasbeendi
spl
aced,
repl
aced
byanunpl
easantandgr
im count
enance.Rat
hert
hant
hehel
pinghandi
nnei
ghbour
lyl
ove,
what
pr
evai
l
stodayi
sthedoct
ri
neofDar
win,
thepr
inci
pleof‘
sur
viv
aloft
hef
it
test
’.