Category: Revelation

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 19:11-21, 20:1-10 (day four)

Deception…it is one of the key weapons or strategies that Satan uses.  Think back…it was deception that led Eve to sin…Delilah used deception to defeat Samson…Ananias and Sapphira sought to deceive the church…the list goes on.  For a thousand years (20:2-3), while Satan is bound, the earth will be free from deception.

We are not there yet!  Deception is all around us.  How can we possibly know what to believe?  We know what to believe because we can know Truth.  Truth is a person, not a concept.  19:11 tells us one of Jesus’ names is Truth.  John 14:6 tells us:  (Jesus speaking) “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…”  We can know Truth because we know Jesus.  The disciples never had to ask Jesus which way to go.  They just looked to see where Jesus was going and stayed close to Him.  Get close to Him and stay there!

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 19:11-21, 20:1-10 (day two)

“King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”  This name is another take on the name God reveals to Moses: I AM THAT I AM.  To make the claim that the triune God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—is merely the strongest being of all fails to articulate the necessity of God.  We don’t need a cosmic bouncer who’s got our back.  We need our existence—and the existence of all things—made possible in the first place.  God is the source, the ground, the origin, the finale.  Nothingness is the only alternative to God, but even that is sheer nonsense, because we can’t even envision the concept of nothingness without relying on God who makes such envisioning possible.  It isn’t for nothing that Paul calls him the “all in all.”  Now that’s [R/r]evelation.

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 19:11-21, 20:1-10 (day two) “After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” vs 1

Psalm 136 is known as the Great Hallel (the singular form of the more familiar Hallelujah). This word can be translated “Praise.” There are several portions of the book of Psalms that, depending on your translation, begin “Praise the Lord”, or “Hallelujah.” The over-arching theme of the psalter one of praise, and as you move toward the later chapters it is inescapable. What is even more profound is that even in the psalms of lamentation there is some element praise. There is a recognition of God’s ultimate sovereignty in all things, and that in all circumstances we are to praise him. Psalm 136 is a great reminder of that. After every verse is the refrain his love endures forever.

How appropriate then, after the fall and destruction of Babylon, and the pouring out of God’s righteous wrath upon the world, the multitudes shout Hallelujah! God is sovereign. He is in control. Set your gaze not on what is falling apart, but on his face, and then Praise! Hallelujah!

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 19:11-21, 20:1-10 (day one) “And I saw heaven opened up, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True.”–19:11.

Our Lord, Jesus Christ is faithful and true to the promises He made.  None of His declared purposes will fail.  He will “FULL fill” them all.

“I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and receive you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”–John 14:2-3  Faithful and true to that promise.

“When the Son of Man COMES IN HIS GLORY and all the angels with Him. . .He will separate (the nations). . .the sheep on the right, the goats on the left.”–Matthew 25:31-33.  Faithful and true to this one too.

Over time, some will begin to doubt.  Bad idea.  When He comes, the world will recognize that He has kept His promises.  All of them.

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 17 – 18 (Day seven)

“You surely will not die”, said the snake. (Genesis 3:5)

It is a long strategy of our Enemy.  Time-tested.  He convinces men that there is no danger.  “You are a good person.”  “No one believes anymore in a God who sends people to Hell.” ” I have received Christ”.  Swallowing the bait, we ignore God’s word, God’s warning when it comes.  Never even consider it.

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”–Philippians 2:12.  What could that possibly mean if (as Satan whispers) there is nothing to fear?

“Do not be deceived ( seeing the pattern?) God is not mocked!  Whatever a man sows, this we he also reap.”–Galatians 6:7.

Today, we read Revelation 17 and 18.  As promised, Rome falls!  What else would we expect?  Immorality, cruelty, unbelief, self-glorification reaches beyond the mercy of God.

Lord, give us ears and urgency and the courage to act!  Our enemy has deceived many, saying that there is nothing to fear.

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 17 – 18 (Day five) 

Revelation 17:8 And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

Been thinking about these people a lot this week.  Those who “dwell” on the earth.  Another version used the word “belong” instead of dwell.

Scripture teaches this world is not “home” for believers.  Jesus says in John 18 John, “My kingdom is not of this world.  Those who have been saved through faith are citizens and members of God’s Kingdom.   I did some heart searching, asking the question, “How much do I dwell/belong to this world?”

Here’s where I checked:  Attention (What occupies my thoughts, dreams, perspective?), Affection (What activities, opportunities, and priorities capture my heart? Energy (Are activities and motivations more defined by work/productivity or ministry and service?) Passion (What is it that I want to be and do more than anything?) Longing (Are my values deeper, higher, and eternal?)

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 17 – 18 (Day four)

The great city of Babylon represents the spirit of worldliness…the spirit of wealth and power…merchants taking advantage of the greed and fear of buyers to enrich their own pockets…deception and fraud for the purpose of personal gain.  There will be great mourning on behalf of all who have partaken in this immorality and idolatry.  When God brings judgment, there will be great lament.

Do the conditions of the end times sound familiar today?  Have you witnessed a culture that gives hearty approval to this distortion of God’s provision?  Chapter 18 says that in a day, it will all end.  God’s judgment will come swiftly and finally.  Scripture says all the nations have been deceived…the great leaders of the world have fallen for the deception of Satan.  Those whose names are written in the book of life will stand apart…holy and separate for God.  Guard carefully against envious eyes…place your trust in God’s provision.

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 17 – 18 (Day three)

“Come out of her, my people.”  We read here a violent tempest of condemnation: “abomination”, “blasphemies”, “drunk with blood”, “impure spirit”, “excessive luxuries”, “God has remembered crimes”, “plagues will overtake”.  Right in the middle of that storm of wrath, there lies the tender call of God.  He calls those who count on him to make their way to safety under his sovereign care.  The juxtaposition of such tenderness and fury does not reveal favoritism of a petty God towards the “in” group.  It reveals love.  This is the God who has warned and shouted and divided seas and saved widows and sent prophets.  This is the God who has served and healed and fed and bled and died.  The. World. Is. Ending.  Only those who hear and heed will survive.  This is love.  Are you listening?

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 17 and 18 (Day Two) “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.” 18:3

Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought together out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom whose to whom in they Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

BCP 820