The Wicked Strut - For Now!

                                         "Help, LORD, for the godly are no more;
                                          the faithful have vanished from among men.

                                          Everyone lies to his neighbor;
                                          their flattering lips speak with deception.

                                          May the LORD cut off all flattering lips
                                          and every boasting tongue
                                          that says, 'We will triumph with our tongues;
                                          we own our lips -- who is our master?

                                          Because of the oppression of the weak
                                          and the groaning of the needy,
                                          I will now arise, says the LORD,
                                          'I will protect them from those
                                          who malign them.'

                                          And the words of the LORD are flawless,
                                          like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
                                          purified seven times.

                                          O LORD, you will keep us safe
                                          and protect us from such people forever.

                                          The wicked freely strut about when what
                                          is vile is honored among men."
                                                                             Psalm 12:1-8



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          It seems almost every day lately, those who are wicked, those who oppose God,
     and mock Him and His Word, have prospered more and more.

          Even many churches are embracing immorality, consciously disobeying God,
     and bringing condemnation on themselves.

          The righteous, those who are in Christ, appear to be on the losing end of each
     important issue that comes up.

          The evil refuse to give the honor and glory He deserves, while promoting every
     wicked behavior imaginable.


          However, it won't always be that way!

          God will punish the mockers and reward those who have trusted in Him.


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                                       "Then I saw a great white throne and him who
                                         was seated on it.  From his presence earth and
                                         sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
             
                                         And I saw the dead, great and small, standing
                                         before the throne, and books were opened.
                                         Then another book was opened, which is the
                                          book of life.

                                          And the dead were judged by what was written in
                                          the books, according to what they had done.
                                          And the sea gave up the dead who were in it.

                                          Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them,
                                          and they were judged, each one of them, according to
                                          what they had done.

                                          Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
                                          This is the second death, the lake of fire.
                                          And if anyone's name was not found written in the book
                                          of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
                                                                                     Revelation 20:11-15


                                          "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

                                                       'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
                                                        He will dwell with them, and they will be his
                                                        people, and God himself will be with them as
                                                        their God.

                                                        He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
                                                        and death shall be no more, neither shall there
                                                        be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
                                                        for the former things have passed away.

                                                        But nothing unclean will ever enter it (the city),
                                                        nor anyone who does what is detestable or false,
                                                        but only those who are written in the Lamb's
                                                        book of life.

                                                        They will see his face, and his name will be on
                                                        their foreheads.  And night will be no more.
                                                        They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the
                                                        Lord God will be their light, and they will reign
                                                        forever and ever."
                                                                                        Revelation 21:3-4,27
                                                                                                          22:4-5