Definition of two sides of the same coin : two things that are regarded as two parts of the same thing. (These problems may seem unrelated but they are really two sides of the same coin.)

“The law of The LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of The LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of The LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of The LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of The LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of The LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb,” Psalm 19:7-10.

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of The LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the [rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper,” Psalm 1:1-3.

A coin has two sides on it, as we well know. When a person uses a quarter, sometimes they flip it in the air and if it lands on one side they say, “heads,” and if on the other side, they call it “tails.”

And yet a coin is just an illustration that can be used to make a point, and in this case it involves the contrast of messages that we often hear in this hour.

I have mentioned before about the contrast between words of hope and promise that we find in scripture, with those that also speak of severe judgment and scathing warning as well. And yet these opposites are aptly seen in the different sides of one coin.

I started reading Psalm 91 again the other day and have done so throughout my life because it offers me a sense of protection and hope in this midst of the many troubles that certainly come to all of us.

I say this now, particularly because of the time frame in which we now find ourselves living. Certainly the psalmist found great comfort in penning these words, for they aided him in the myriad of things that came against him as he was King of Israel.

For as friends and family were in opposition to him, he had to go to the rock that was higher than himself, and there we find a man who wrote some of the most beautiful lyrical verses found in The Bible.

And yet they were not meant to just be beautiful verses, but they offered everyone the much needed hope and strength to be found under the wings of the Almighty.

And perhaps just as important is the fact that when we read scathing visuals seen in the many prophecies that come across our screens these days, let us not forget that those same words of warning and judgment have a deep-seated hope and promise also to be found within them.

Of course they must be stated within the words that are given, otherwise the prophet is missing the mark, I believe. But if indeed there is a completeness found within those words, then one finds them as they flip the coin, and see the offering of hope and promise found on the other side.

Dear people of God, see the whole picture that The LORD has for us.

Don’t just focus upon the severe warnings that are now forthcoming, but also include a great anchor of hope that will sustain us as these days grow darker. For I am finding that without this hope we aren’t equipped and strengthened.

The words penned by King David can provide an anchor for us. They provide meat to the bones.

We have but to look at the prophecies of Isaiah. For here we have judgment, mercy, and hope mingled together like a fine wine:

As seen in Judgment: Isaiah 28.

“Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! ² Behold, The LORD hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. ³ The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: ⁴ And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. ⁵ In that day shall The LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, ⁶ And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
⁷ But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. ⁸ For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. ⁹ Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. ¹⁰ For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: ¹¹ For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. ¹² To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. ¹³ But the word of The LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. ¹⁴ Wherefore hear the word of The LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁵ Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: ¹⁶ Therefore thus saith The LORD GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. ¹⁷ Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place,” Isaiah 28:1-17.

As seen in Mercy and Hope: Isaiah 25.

“O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. ² For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. ³ Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. ⁴ For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 5 Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low. ⁶ And in this mountain shall The LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. ⁷ And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. ⁸ He will swallow up death in victory; and The LORD GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for The LORD hath spoken it. ⁹ And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is The LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. ¹⁰ For in this mountain shall the hand of The LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. ¹¹ And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands. ¹² And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust,” Isaiah 25:1-12.

We just must not forget that our Father warns us because He loves us. An earthly father would warn and tell his young child to not venture out into a nearby busy street to protect them.

So we must remember that it is out of love that God tells us even about the dark days that are ahead… He wants us to be prepared and ready.

Can we pray and intercede so that these things won’t come?

I believe that we must continue to pray and intercede for our nation and world of course. I however, truly believe that we’ve gone past the point where those prayers would change what is coming. The safety net has been lifted, and judgment has begun.

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to The LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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