Category: Revelation

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 17 and 18 (Day one)

Revelation 17 and 18 serve as a parenthesis.  In Chapter 16, we hear that the wrath of God is finished.  In Chapter 19, we see the long-anticipated return of Christ in glory.  Between these two events, God pauses to say again, “Babylon has fallen”.

John describes her as a woman dressed in scarlet and purple.  Rich.  Arrogant.  A harlot. Her name is Babylon.  Who is she?  Scholars have long debated the answer.

Some mark her as the apostate Roman Catholic church.  For long periods, history confirms,  she rode the beast of Roman power.  Corrupted by wealth and power,  she “drank” the blood of the martyrs.  Others see her as a future “church” rising up in support of the Anti-Christ.

The angel tells John the answer.  “The woman. . .is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”  (Revelation 17:18)  Those being persecuted needed this assurance. Someday, this powerful, wealthy, cruel city would be judged and destroyed.

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 15 and 16 (day seven)

“These are the last (plagues) because in them the wrath of God is FINISHED.”–15:1.

It is not like God to start something and not FINISH it.  Like me, maybe, but not like Him.  He is faithful.  To promises. . .to purposes.  If He is Alpha, then He will also be Omega.

For 2000 years the church has given testimony to this truth.  A universe with a supernatural beginning (God as creator) will have a supernatural end (God as judge).

The prophets predicted it speaking of”the day of the Lord”.  Jesus spoke of “the day of judgment”.  The Spirit bears witness to it.  Our task is to embrace and believe this powerful truth.

Christian faith causes a person to FINISH his own work because he serves a God of the same character.  Paul said , “I have finished the race.”  What do you need to do today to get God’s assignment for you closer to completion?

 

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 15 and 16 (day five)

Revelation 15:2-3 “those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.  And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,”

There is something remarkable about singing praise to God. It lifts eyes, perspective, and outlook. Regardless of past experiences or current circumstances, praising God creates opportunity for joy, peace, and determination.  The busyness and rhythms of our lives often place praising God secondary. The hymn writer points out that we are often distracted and disrupted (hearts are out of tune) from praising God. “Tune my heart to sing Thy grace, Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.”

The descriptions given by John indicate that in heaven that won’t be an issue. We see in chapter 15, even those who have been persecuted, praise God for His character, sovereignty, and work.

How about you? Will you intentionally sing and praise God today?

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 15 and 16 (day four)

It all depends on your point of view.  Each of us looks at life through different filters.  The experiences of our lives…the relationships we have…the focus of our spiritual eyes…all of these affect how we interpret or respond to the events of our life.  The angels were intent on serving and obeying the Lord.  When they saw God’s hand of judgment, they rejoiced!  It was about time!  Verse 16:5 says they called God holy because He delivered judgment.  “They deserved it,” they said.  The men under judgment experienced the same events and they blasphemed the Lord.  Same event, different perspectives.

How do you respond to the events of your life?  Do you look to see what God is seeking to accomplish through the trial, or test, or even, victory?  If we look through our Holy Spirit filter, we will be able to comprehend the confusion and confliction of today’s world.  Will we thank God for the good and the bad things in our life or will we blaspheme His name.  It’s all in the perspective…and the obedience!

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 15 and 16 (day three)

“God remembered Babylon the Great.”  No matter how powerful a national presence, nor how sophisticated a society, nor how celebrated one’s individual accomplishment, all must answer to God.  And just when one believes that God isn’t aware, that he doesn’t see, God remembers: “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”  No one—no person, no group, no geopolitical entity—will get away with pitting his will against the Almighty’s.  This dreadful reality is actually the hope of those who count on God, just like it was the hope of our Savior, who declared as he stood before Pilate: “You would have no power if it weren’t given to you from above.”  Every power remains only as long as God allows—and no longer.

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 15 and 16 (day two) “They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb.”  vs. 2b-3a

The beast has been defeated. The harvest has taken place. The seven plagues and the bowls of God’s wrath have been distributed. And in the midst of all of this, there is worship. To those who have rightly aligned their hearts and lives with the Lamb, all of these events are no surprise. They are not wavering in their devotion because a lost world is being judged. Those who see a world falling apart around them are remembering the eternal promise of deliverance, and they will not be shaken. Look around you. This world is not our home. Where is your gaze fixed? Set it on the eternal promises of God, and all that is crumbling about you will lose its power to bring you down with it. Worship in the midst of chaos.

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 15 and 16 (day one) 

“I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire”  v 2.

Ever see “Jaws”?  Even without the movie, ancient Hebrews regarded the ocean as a dark and dangerous place.  As John watched in wonder, the Revelation of Christ included a picture of a new ocean.  People were standing on it, and, not only was it solid, it was crystal clear!

For John, it meant that all things that were fearful in this present life would not be in the next. Not for God’s redeemed people!  Even the ocean–“clearly” safe, no hidden dangers.

Interesting, he does note that it is “mixed with fire”.  A testimony that the purity of the coming world will not be achieved without God’s wrath.  God offers no apology.  None is required.

“Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story, of the Christ who died for me.  Sing it with the saints in glory, gathered by the crystal sea.”

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 14 (day seven)

John saw some amazing things as he stood in “awesome wonder” receiving the Revelation of Christ.  Some were terrifying.  An angel calling, “those who worship the beast. . .will drink the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger.”  (v 10)  It’s hard to imagine more sobering words.  Will you read these words again?  Many in our day deny the coming wrath of God. What did John believe/preach?

Some of the sights John saw were encouraging.  A choir of men.  Completely satisfied in Christ.  Joyful.  Transparent. Strong.  They are “all in” for Christ and without any regrets.

As history draws to a close, the separate roads that men will take–toward God in worship or away from Him in pride–will get further and further apart. Different roads.  Different outcomes.  May this warning/this promise give each of us a desire to join that coming choir!

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 14 (day five) 

14:3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.

Even in the end times, there are truths and realities that only believers know, understand, and learn. These lyrics/lessons are counter-cultural to a world where hope, values, and priorities are self-centered and not God-centered. The world won’t “get it”.

That’s always been the case. Look at 1 Corinthians 2:14 “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

Apart from the Holy Spirit’s help, man is incapable of learning these lessons.

Make a list today of the lessons/truths you’ve learned that are counter-cultural.  Here’s a start: Sacrifice, Love, Purity, Perseverance…