Author: Don Guthrie

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 14 (day one)   

“The angel swung his sickle to the earth, and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God.”–v 19.

It is where John Steinbeck took the title for his famous novel.  It is where we get the image of the “grim reaper” with a sickle in his hand.  It’s a line we recognize from”The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.  “He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.”

Ancients were familiar with a wine press.  When ripe, grapes were gathered, dumped together and trampled so that something better could be produced. (wine)  Ruthless process!  Good result.

When the sins of the earth are “ripe”, an angel will give a similar command. This “harvest” will begin.  Rebellious men will be trampled.  The earth will get its first taste of the sweet wine of God’s approval and presence.

Re:Verse passage: Revelation 12:1-6, 13-17; 13:1-4, 11-18 (day seven) 

“They did not love their life even when faced with death”–v 12:11.

In peacetime, “loving life” is a virtue.  At least, some think so.  “enjoy oneself in all one’s labor. . .during the few years that God has given”, said Solomon as he tried to discern the way of wisdom. (Ecclesiastes 5:18)

In time of war, this “virtue” is replaced by another–that of “NOT loving life”.  When war comes, the man who seeks safety and pleasure or profit is rightly judged as small and selfish.  He is a traitor.

In the cosmic war that history is, God’s heroes are marked by unselfish courage.   “They did NOT love their lives.”  They do not seek safety or success.  They realize that they must enter the struggle even if it costs them their life.

Jesus knew this truth.  He lived it.  In wartime, loving your life is not a virtue.  Not loving it is.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 12:1-6, 13-17; 13:1-4, 11-18 (day one)

In Revelation 12, John’s vision continues to grow (in complexity and in tension).  He sees a gloriously clad woman who was “with child”.  Standing in front of her is a dragon, waiting for the child to be born so that he might “devour” the newborn. (v 4).

The dragon represents Satan (v 9).  The woman (some say) is Mary, and the baby is Jesus.  (But what, then, does it mean that she fled to the wilderness for over one thousand days?)  Others say the woman is the church.  (But Christ gave birth to the church, not vice versa).  The best explanation is that the woman represents true Israel, Israel of faith.  From her came the Savior.  Against her, the wrath of Satan is poured out.

At the end of time, God will still be dealing with Israel.  Calling them to salvation in Christ, protecting them.  Long struggle.  Not over yet.  Someday soon, we hope.  Someday soon!

Revelation 10:1-9; 11:1-15 (day seven)

“Take it and eat it.  It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”  v 10:9.

Strange image.  Not unusual in the Bible.  The strong angel tells John to eat the scroll!  “Your words came to me, and I did eat them.” said Jeremiah.  The idea (clearly) is that Scripture must “get inside of me” to have its powerful effect.  I digest it.  It becomes part of of me.

It will not always be fun to do so.  As sweet as God’s word can be (to my guilty soul or confused mind) it is, just as often, a bitter pill.  My stomach turns sour as I struggle to apologize, to confess sin, to wait on the Lord as His word instructs.

“They word is a lamp unto my feet” says the scripture to God.  True, but it also can be a pain in the belly.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 10:1-9; 11:1-15 (day one)

“And he swore . . .that there shall be delay no longer.”–10:6

Ever seen a football team try to win a game in the last few seconds?  The clock ticks away as they march down the field.  A field goal or a touchdown needed to claim victory?

Often, time runs out before they can achieve their goal.  The team still has plays left to run, energy and ideas but the last seconds have ticked away.  “Game over” says the referee.

Revelation 10 is a similar picture related to a much more important endeavor.  After multiple moments of God’s patience, after many delays as He waits for men to repent, the angel suddenly announces “there will be no more delay”.

Literally it reads, “there will be no more time (chronos).”  No more seconds on the clock.  No more opportunities to get it right.  The judgement comes swiftly now.  Game over.  The world has run out of time.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 8 and 9 (day seven)

“And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions.”–9:3

Been to Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico?  Remember the story of its modern discovery? In 1898, Jim White was a seventeen year old cowboy. Looking for stray cattle. Saw instead a cloud rising from the desert hills.  But it wasn’t a cloud, it was bats! Swirling upward, spreading out for a night of doing what bats do.

In Revelation 9, John sees something similar.  A cloud of smoke rising up out of the Abyss. From the smoke,  a swarm of locusts.

Normally, locusts eat vegetation and leave people unharmed.  Not these.  They symbolize God’s wrath on the race of men who have resisted and rebelled past the threshold of His patience.

Is wrath real?  Are people and nations moving toward an encounter with an angry God? John says yes. Jesus says yes.  What do we say?

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 8 and 9 (day one)

“And when He broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half of an hour.”–8:1.

In previous visions, the vast expanse of Heaven is FILLED with sound.  Thunder.  Voices.  Commands.  Singing.  Shouts of worship.

Suddenly, without warning, as the Lamb breaks the seventh seal on the scroll, Heaven falls silent!  Profoundly silent.  “Could have heard a pin drop”.

There is nothing left to say.   That’s what the silence means.  Jesus quotes Abraham, “if they will not believe Moses and the prophets, they will not believe even if a man should rise from the dead.”–Luke 16:31.  True.  Sadly.   The silence of God reminds men that we have been adequately warned!  “What more can He say than to you he hath said?” says the familiar hymn.

The silence also symbolizes patience.  Restraint. The seal is broken. The inevitable end is near.  Again, Heaven pauses. Still willing for men to be saved.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 7 (day seven)

Know what a “Running W” is?  It’s the brand of the King Ranch–the largest ranch in Texas.  Since the 1800’s, it’s been the symbol burned on the hide of cattle to mark them as belonging to and therefore protected by the King family.

In Revelation 7, as judgement begins, God pauses.  A great angel stands and restrains the violent destructive winds.  He commands that the  bond-servants of God be marked or sealed or “branded”.  Ouch!  (And Hurray!)

Like the vision in Ezekiel 9.  Like the homes marked with blood on the first Passover, God keeps careful count of the people who belong to Him.  Even in a time of judgement, He watches over them.  Marks them, sets them apart for different treatment.

“God’s solid foundation stands, SEALED with this inscription, ‘The Lord knows those who are His’ and ‘Let everyone who confesses the Name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.’ “–2 Timothy 2:19

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 7 (day one)

“These. . . have come out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”–v 13-14.

It is not unusual for me to use my difficulties as an excuse for spiritual or moral failure.  I had a rough day.  I am frustrated.  The implied argument? I not responsible for being grumpy or ungrateful or unfaithful.  Sound familiar?

The narrative of scripture allows no such escape or excuse.  All believers ( in every age) have had tribulations to face and conquer.  “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God”–Acts 14:22.  The cross I carry is not unique and mild compared to that of others.

Struggle is not the story!  Christ is!  He is worthy to RECEIVE, receive from me, and no level of difficulty can ever change the fact that my robe, my actions, my ambitions, my choices must be washed white in His blood.

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 6 (day seven)

I am a wimp.  Pain-complaining, excuse-making, comfort-seeking.  At least, I was until I met Jesus.

For forty years, like a marine drill instructor, the Lord has been toughening me.  Training me to accept a threshold of pain that is higher than I would have ever expected of myself.

I whine and expect pity.  I make MUCH of my burdens.  HE calls them “temporary and light afflictions”–2 Corinthians 4:17.

I’ve come to see that He is right.  My burdens ARE light compared to the dangers ahead for the ungodly. (Revelation 6) His call to holiness is hard, but ultimately a great mercy.  My burdens ARE light compared to those that other Christians carry. (1 Peter 4:12).  My burdens ARE light compared to the glory that will be revealed.

“Godliness is profitable. . . since it holds promise for the present life and ALSO FOR THE LIFE TO COME.”–1 Timothy 4:8

Following Christ has been harder than I expected.  And better.