FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

The Look – pt 1

What a dramatic experience it must be for an infant to be born into this world! Leaving the security and warm comfort of its sanctuary just below its mother’s heart, the child is thrust suddenly into the noisy activity and bright lights of a completely different existence…in a whole new world.

How comforting and reassuring it must be for that tiny new being to look up into the face of its mother and gaze into the kindest, most loving eyes it has ever seen. There is grateful acceptance and a joyful welcome in that face, and that first look of love, I believe, is so important that it helps shape the entire life of that youngster. That look should-and usually does-carry special, deep meaning right on through all the child’s years on planet earth.

Sadly, for many children who enter the world these days, that look isn’t there. They never look up and see a gentle expression that says, “I’m glad you’re here.” Such deprivation, it seems to me, must have a negative impact on their early sense of security and well being, and may even affect their ability to relate to others in the critical growing-up years.

I got “the look”

I’m so grateful that I did read that overwhelming welcome in the eyes of my mother and father. As early as I can remember, that look of pride, joy, and approval greeted me every time I looked up at them. And I learned to check for “the look” as a reference point to help me along as I explored the world and ventured out to find my place in it.

When I was trying something new, or attempting to do something on my own, I could read in mother’s eyes-“Yes, go ahead,” or maybe, “Hey, you’d better be careful and hold back just a little bit.” My father was also a great source of guidance and encouragement just through “the look.” My parents never really had to say very much for me to understand where I was headed. I could always read their expressions…especially their eyes.

When I was a child, “the look” helped give me the courage to do my best in performing. I started singing in public when I was just five years old, and there were about 1,500 people in the church we attended. But if I felt a bit apprehensive while standing up before the crowd, all I had to do was look down at my mother. Her eyes would tell me, “You can do this…I’m so proud of you!”

At the end of a musical solo, Mom’s eyes might convey to me, Oh, honey, that’s the best you’ve ever done!

Of course, if I looked at my father, I would always see tears rolling out of his eyes. His eyes were always dripping with love, approval, and caring that said to me, “I can’t even begin to express how I feel, Rexella-I have to do it this way!”

Learning from “the look”

In high school, I was also very active in drama as well as music, and in my academic studies. The experience of introducing my songs before an audience gave me the confidence to try acting in plays. I found that I enjoyed learning to communicate from a different perspective.

But whether a solo performance, a choral concert, or a dramatic production, the first people I looked to after my performance were my parents. I could always determine if I had done a good job or not by “the look” I read in their eyes. Their expression would tell me, “Oh my, we certainly approve.” Or if I hadn’t done as well, I would read that in their expression. Of course, the tears rolled down my dad’s face at school, too-he could never control his emotions when it came to his daughter doing something.

This approval/caution feedback extended on into my adult life. I learned to recognize “the look” on other people’s faces and to be sensitive to their needs and feelings. After I was married and Jack and I were traveling the nation in evangelistic crusades, I found that I could stand before an audience and read body language and facial expressions like a book. In their eyes I saw the true identification of their hearts, and it revealed so much.

There might be thousands of people in an auditorium or stadium, but I could sense the people who needed to be there-those who needed the Lord. There was tremendous communication between them and me just through “the look.” When I stood up to sing, I could tell if they were truly receiving the message of my song or if they were just enjoying-or enduring-the performance.

I especially enjoyed interacting with the children. Youngsters are so openly honest and direct that it is usually easy to tell what they are thinking and how they feel. In more recent years, when we had an open house at our ministry headquarters and invited friends to come, the children would always attract my attention. I felt so free to get down and look into their faces to search out what they wanted to express. Often it was a look that said, “Thank you, Rexella, for having us today. I love being here!”

We will continue with our look at The Look in our next newsletter.

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

Revelation 18: 1-7

In the twenty-four verses of Revelation 18, we shall witness the destruction of political Babylon. This Babylon is different from the one just discussed. Chapter 17 concerned religious Babylon, whereas chapter 18 pictures political, or commercial, Babylon. Religious Babylon was called “mystery Babylon,” but commercial Babylon is referred to as “Babylon the great.” Religious Babylon was presented as a woman or a mother, while commercial Babylon is portrayed as a city-a great city, a mighty city, and eventually a burning city. Religious Babylon was situated on seven hills, whereas political Babylon is visible from the sea (see verses 17, 18, and 21). Religious Babylon was destroyed by the kings of the earth (17:16), but political Babylon will be destroyed by horrendous judgments from the hand of God. When religious Babylon was destroyed, the kings rejoiced. When political Babylon is demolished, however, the kings and merchants of the earth lament [and weep] for her (18:9, 15). Let’s study political Babylon.

Verse 1: And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

John says, after these things. After what things? After the fulfillment of religious Babylon’s destruction. John’s statement is further proof that the two Babylons are entirely different and distinctive of one another. Only after the events of chapter 17 does John see God’s judgment upon political Babylon in the verses that follow.

The angel bringing the warning of impending judgment is powerful and glorious. His appearance lightens the entire globe. Quite possibly, this is a christophany or appearance of Christ, as He is the light of the world (John 8:12).

Verse 2: And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

God’s judgment of commercial Babylon has begun. The angel’s cry is, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. Why? She has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every [evil] spirit imaginable. She is a cage containing every vicious, filthy, and hateful bird in existence.

A walk through New York City, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hollywood, or San Francisco would be helpful at this point. America’s major cities-and minor ones as well-are loaded with lust-ridden sinners seeking sex thrills through prostitutes, R- and X-rated movies, and pornographic bookstores. Our beloved America could possibly fit the description of political Babylon as a cage [containing] every unclean and hateful bird controlled by foul spirits and demons who inhabit the land and its people. God help us to have an old-fashioned, Holy Spirit-empowered revival in “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Otherwise, God’s judgment may soon fall.

Verse 3: For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Just like religious Babylon, this political system has turned to idolatry and fornication. As we saw in chapter 17, these terms refer to the worship of strange gods and a love of this world’s material goods. Seeking prestige and power, commercial or political Babylon has promoted and joined ungodly world alliances. The text states that the nations of earth have partaken of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed [spiritual] fornication with her for gain. Hence, the merchants of the earth have become exceedingly wealthy by “wheeling and dealing” with this nation who is superabundantly loaded with delicacies.

Verse 4: And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Verse 5: For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

The believers of the Tribulation hour-those who trusted in the shed blood of the Lamb and refused the mark of the beast-are told to come out of her [and partake not] of her [evil deeds]. They are to live holy lives in the midst of a cage [full of] unclean and hateful bird[s] whose sins have reached unto heaven and caused an abominable stench in the nostrils of the Almighty. They are to be careful of materialism and to refrain from illegal gain through the love of the delicacies of this world.

Verse 6: Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Verse 7: How much she hath glorified herself and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Here we see God’s law of sowing and reaping coming into effect: They that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same (Job 4:8). Humanity cannot get away with sin forever. God hates sin. It is inconsistent with His holiness. Except for God’s mercy, most of us would have been dead and in hell long ago. His grace, however, passes all human understanding. The Lord is…longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Still God cannot tolerate sin forever, and the reaping of political Babylon’s iniquity must finally take place.

What a terrible experience as Babylon receives a double portion of judgment. Literally, the verse should say, “The double is to be doubled?’ This was the punishment under the law of Moses (see Exodus 22:4, 7). Now God says, “Double the judgment upon Babylon according to her works. Reward her even as she rewarded you.” Babylon has glorified herself and lived deliciously. Her wealthy became wealthier and her poor became poorer. As a nation, she did not care about the poor, for she said, “I am a queen. I shall see no sorrow. I do not want to look at the needs of the impoverished.”

There is a possibility that James 5:1-6 predicts the judgment administered in Revelation 18:1, 7: Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped [the poor] are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

The end of the age will not see communism enthroned. Instead, capitalism will be the ruling power as ten Western nations bleed the world’s inhabitants of their possessions. Now, don’t misunderstand. I hate the atheistic, godless monstrosity called “communism.” It will be destroyed, as will Russia, in the Middle East (see Ezekiel 39:1, 2). However, “double trouble” is also coming for those exploiters of the masses-the rich who starve the poor-according to the verses just investigated. Their judgment takes place as Babylon is burned.

We will continue our look at Revelation 18 in the next newsletter.

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Hello Dr. Rexella. I just wanted to write and say thank you! I’ve watched your program for many years. Back in the late 80s and early 90s while taking care of my grandfather, I watched. God has called your ministry. I know that Dr. Jack has gone home, but in the end of days your Ministry has become even more front line and important in the harvest of souls. I’m so praying for you. I’ve dabbled in volunteer time with Christian Media Ministry. I just want the Lord Jesus to come and take His children home. I’m looking forward to the celebration reunion when the Lord comes! Praying and watching always, God has your Ministry in His hand. Do not ever forget that. God bless you and keep you until He touches His foot down on The Mount of Olives.

Don M.

Dearest Rexella:

I just want you to know because of you and your husband I became a born again Christian and became drawn back to Christ. I love you both so much and I want to thank you for your gift to me. I miss seeing you both on TV every Sunday. I am extremely saddened for your loss. You are loved and appreciated more than you know. Forever in my heart. Thank you.

Dana D.

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