Category: Revelation–BibleTrekToday
Wrestling with God!
Scripture Reading for January 12: Genesis 32-36
And God said to him, “I am God Almighty, be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and community of nations will come from your body. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” Genesis 36:11-12
Have you ever felt that God has told you to do something difficult? Our first move away from home to pastor our first church in Washington was like that. Our daughter just ready for her senior year in a good Christian high school. We had always lived close to family and our church family. This new church was in a different culture and was two thousand miles away. We had told God we would go anywhere, but not necessarily this far! But we are so thankful for obeying God! Our lives were made rich in His plans!
Jacob faced just such a challenge in Genesis 31:13. God commanded him to go back home after twenty years in exile. Jacob had taken his brother Esau’s birthright and stolen his father’s blessing. He had just upset his father-in-law by leaving with his family and herds acquired by his shrewdness. Jacob sent his family across the Jabok, a tributary of the Jordan River. He heard reports that Esau was coming with 400 men and he stayed behind to pray.
That night Scripture says “a man wrestled with him until daybreak”. (Genesis 32:22-31) This “man” touched Jacobs hip socket and put it out of joint. But Jacob would not let him go until this “man” blessed him. The man asked Jacob his name–“Jacob” (cheat, supplanter). The man changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” (wrestled with God and men and have overcome.) Thus the nation of “Israel” was born out of this amazing wrestling match!
Have you ‘wrestled with God’? Is there something that God is asking you to do that is troubling or dangerous or causes fear? Confess your old ‘name’. Persistently seek the Lord for His provision and blessing and humbly receive His new name for you!
“He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
The wonderful laughter of faith!
January 9th Scripture Reading: Genesis 21-24
In 1992 while attending a pastor’s conference in California, a man gifted in prophetic ministry gave my wife and I a word from the Lord. He told us we would have children in our later years and that they would be a blessing. Several months later at our home church, a visiting evangelist picked us out of 700 people and gave us the same word. At this time, we already had three children and had no plans for more. We chuckled a bit, but mostly wondered at these interesting words. Seven years later, in August of 1999, we traveled to Russia and adopted two daughters! As we prepared to do this, we had forgotten the prophecy. Our son reminded us and I found in my file one of these words that had been typed out for me, confirming God does know the end from the beginning! (Isaiah 42:9)
God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah in their later years. They waited 25 years and the promise finally came to pass. God waited until it was impossible for them to have a child and then did the impossible! Sarah had laughed at the angel’s announcement a year earlier. Abraham named the child “Isaac” which literally means “laughter”. In their old age they experienced the sound of laughter–the laughter of faith.
Have you ever had to laugh at the amazing fulfilment of God’s promises? Have you ever received a word from God that has come to pass? Or is still awaiting fulfilment?
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead, since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver in unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:18-21
“Come.”
Scripture reading for December 30th: Revelation 22:17-21, 2 Peter 3:10-13
Revelation 22:17-19: The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” and let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of Life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of Life and in the Holy City, which are described in this book.”
The final words of this prophecy received by John and the final warning of Peter before his martyrdom are our closing thoughts on this past year. John records the final invitation and promise of Jesus Christ: “Surely I am coming soon.” In response to this short and plain announcement, the Spirit, indwelling every believer echoes the call to “Come.” Those filled with the Spirit, having made themselves ready for the Day of Christ, here are called the “Bride.” The Bride is calling out in agreement with Jesus Christ and the Spirit, “Come.” Peter’s final warning before he is crucified upside down, is for believers to remember the promises of Jesus Christ about His return and the judgment of the earth and those refusing grace. God will destroy the earth and heavens by fire in that final judgment. But God’s people, the “Bride”, will be actively awaiting the new heavens and new earth and the righteousness of King Jesus! Amen! Come!
2 Peter 3:11-13 “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the Day of God because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
Revelation 22:20-21 “He Who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! Thank You for Your unchanging Truth given to us through Your eternal Word and Son Who was and is the Word made flesh. Help me to patiently wait, do the works You have prepared for me, and be ready for Your promised return. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and use me to reach others with the Good News of Christ’s coming! “Come.”
The King on His Holy Throne!
Scripture reading for December 29th: Revelation 22, Psalm 110, Ecclesiastes 12
Revelation 22: 1-4 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. 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.”
The end of the matter has been recorded by the King and sent to us through the apostle John from his visit to the throne room of heaven. The King reigns in Zion over all His enemies! We were all once His enemies, but have been made righteous by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings! His Name is on our foreheads! God provides for all the water of Life, flowing as love from His Son’s eternal throne. The nations are healed of their enmity through the Tree of Life and nothing accursed will ever be found again. The night is gone and the Lamb is our eternal Lamp! We have been given grace to be transformed from ‘enemies of God’ to ruling sons and daughters, reigning with Christ Jesus forever and ever! Amen!
Psalm 110:1-2 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion Your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!”
Prayer: Father God, I respond to this revelation of the end by holy reverence, awe, and worship! You have done it all! You have provided eternal life to me, an enemy, through grace! You have saved me from the judgment by paying for my sins through Jesus’ shed blood. You heal me and make me holy and give me a place in Your eternal family and holy city! You are my Light, my Life, and my Salvation forever and ever!
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or bad.”
Conquer by faith or die!
Scripture reading for December 28th: Revelation 21, Psalm 109, Ecclesiastes 11
Revelation 21: 5-8 “And He Who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these Words are trustworthy and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. which is the second death.”
There is a glorious throne in Heaven, with One seated on it holding all power and authority to do as He pleases. When He speaks, His Words are trustworthy and true. We can write them down and act on them by faith. John heard God speak and command him to write down the Words of God. “It is done!” Everything necessary for salvation has been accomplished! Those who live by faith and trust in God’s Word and His Son, the Word made flesh, will have an eternal reward. They will be allowed to drink of the spring of the water of Life eternal by God’s grace alone! They will know adoption into God’s forever family as full-fledged sons and daughters! Those who shrink back in fear or rebellion to God’s laws, will suffer eternal destruction in the Lake of fire. This is the second death from which there will be no escape.
Psalm 109:30-31 “With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.”
Prayer: Father God, You Alone have provided for such a wonderful salvation! Thank You Lord, I boast in Your amazing grace through Jesus Christ! In Him, I am more than a conqueror! His love and mercy have delivered my soul from falling into the eternal fires of judgment and condemnation! I have the water of Life eternal and God as my Father and Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! I am blessed beyond measure!
Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God Who makes everything.”
The Thousand-year Reign of Jesus!
Scripture reading for December 27th: Revelation 20, Psalm 108, Ecclesiastes 10
Revelation 20: 4-6 “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
Following the return of the King of Kings, John observes the binding and imprisonment of Satan in the pit, locked away for a thousand years. Then thrones for judgment were set up and the souls of the martyrs came to life and reigned with Jesus Christ for the thousand years. These who were restored to life were part of what Scripture calls the ‘first resurrection.” This first resurrection company had remained true to Jesus Christ, even unto death and were rewarded with priesthood and rulership along with Christ in the kingdom of peace established by Him on the earth. Death did not have the final say! Faith in Jesus Christ will bring deliverance and full reward! Happy is the land that has the Son for King!
Psalm 108:5-6 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth! That Your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by Your right hand and answer me!”
Prayer: Father God, we Your people long for the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings! We long for peace and justice on earth, as only You can give. We pray that Jesus Christ be exalted over all the earth and His glory will fill the heavens and earth as He restores His people to their full salvation! How blessed and holy are those who will share in this first resurrection!
Ecclesiastes 10:17 “Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!”
Behold the King of kings!
Scripture reading for December 26th: Revelation 19, Psalm 107, Ecclesiastes 9
Revelation 19:11-15 “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The One sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a Name written that no one knows but Himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the Name by which He is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has a Name written, King of kings and Lord of Lords.
As John’s visit to heaven comes to a climax, he hears a great multitude in heaven crying out in worship to God for His great power, salvation and glory, and for the justice and judgments poured out on the earth and on those who killed the saints. It was a time of great celebration and rejoicing, as this great multitude prepared for the marriage of the Lamb! The Bride was ready, clothed in pure white linen. John was told specifically to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” After this, heaven was opened and John beheld a white horse, and the Rider, the Lamb of God, clothed in a blood-dipped robe and having a sharp sword coming from His mouth. He is coming with the armies of heaven, clothed in white linen–His Bride! His title is written on His thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Psalm 107:42-43 “The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this amazing vision given to John for Your people of all generations! I look forward to Your return and to being part of the bridal company! I have heard the Gospel invitation and humbly accepted Your steadfast covenant love for eternity! I wait patiently for Jesus Christ and the white horse of my King of kings! Open doors for me to share this Good News today that all may hear!
Ecclesiastes 9:17-18 “The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”
Gone up in smoke!
Scripture reading for December 25th: Revelation 18, Psalm 106, Ecclesiastes 8
Revelation 18:8-10 “For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God Who has judged her. And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.””
John saw another shining angel come down from heaven and illuminating the earth. This angel decreed the fall of Babylon the great. From these verses, we understand that Babylon represents the great demonic religious and economic system of Satan that has taken men on earth captive through immorality and greed. Another voice spoke from heaven, calling God’s people to come out before the final collapse. The decree is that in a single day Babylon will fall due to God’s judgment and His power to exercise it. In fact, in one hour, Babylon goes up in smoke! All vanity of man and rebellion of Satan is reduced to ashes and smoke! No one on earth will have the power to stand on that day without Jesus Christ as Lord.
Psalm 106:10-12 “So He saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed His Words; they sang His praise.”
Prayer: Father God, I take heed to these words of warning given to Your people. Those living by faith in Your Word hear Your heart and understand how temporary are the vanities of earth and how our power to save ourselves is futile. Use me today to warn those of Your people of Your coming judgments and their need to come out of the wicked world system that relies on human greed and pride.
Ecclesiastes 8:8-9 “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.”
The drunken prostitute
Scripture reading for December 22nd: Revelation 17, Psalm 105, Ecclesiastes 7
Revelation 17:1-6 “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute, who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”
John encountered one of the seven angels who had poured out the bowls of wrath on the earth. This angel invited John to see the judgment of the great prostitute who was seated on many waters. Earlier, we found that the waters were the peoples of earth. This prostitute had committed ‘sexual immorality’ with the kings of the earth and the inhabitants of the earth. The immorality represents acts of rebellion against God, His Word and His people. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and impurity. In fact, John saw that this prostitute was drunk on the blood of God’s saints and martyrs! (Remember the night of the fall of the Babylonian empire described in Daniel chapter five.) This ‘woman’ is the world system of humanism and self-gratification, named “Babylon the great” . She defiles everything, offering intoxicating and defiling pleasures that kill and destroy. She has lived in luxury, but now suddenly falls under God’s wrath.
Psalm 105:7-8 “He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, the Word that He commanded, for a thousand generations, . . .”
Holy Father, I thank You that You are Lord of Heaven and Earth and my Lord. I thank You that all vengeance and justice belong to You Alone and You will judge justly those who have rebelled against You and mistreated Your people and murdered them. Use me to warn those still under the sway of the seductive prostitute. May none perish in Your wrath, but may they come to repentance and life.
Ecclesiastes 7:26 “And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.”
Believers stay awake and clothed!
Scripture reading for December 21st: Revelation 16, Psalm 104, Ecclesiastes 6
Revelation 16: 12-16 “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and the water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
As the sixth of seven bowls are poured out on the earth, events are put in motion to bring the beast and it’s kings and armies to the place of judgment. The beast, dragon and false prophet are all speaking words of blasphemy and boastfulness and vanity. John sees these words as unclean spirits, like frogs, coming from their mouths. These words gather the rebel nations of earth and their armies together in a united effort to do away with the holy city and God’s people. Sounds much like the time we are living in! But the righteous who live by faith in God’s Word, are not sleeping or overcome with fear. They are clothed in Christ’s righteousness and covered with His blood. Their minds are centered on Christ and they will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony of faith!
Psalm 104:34-35 “May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!”
Prayer: Father God, I meditate on Your Words and on the purposes of Your heart. These end-time bowls of wrath surely call for me to be awake and clothed in Your righteousness. I intercede for my family, friends, and neighbors who still do not know You or humbly follow You. Send laborers to share the Good News of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ. Here I am, Lord, send me if no one else will go!
Ecclesiastes 6:10-11 “Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?”