Category: Revelation–BibleTrekToday
Rest or no rest? Eternally!
Scripture reading for December 20th: Job 15-17, Revelation 14
Revelation 14:9-11 “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is the call for endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”
As God prepares the earth for His final judgments, an Angel preaches the eternal gospel to those on earth, calling them to fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come. The call is one of repentance for those worshiping the beast and Satan instead of their Creator. A second angel announces the fall of Babylon the great, who had seduced all nations in sexual immorality. And the third angel warned of eternal torment for those worshiping the beast, its image, or receiving its mark. God does nothing in judgment except He warns people. They will make the choice of eternal consequences in the lake of fire or eternal rest in the presence of Jesus Christ. The call is for patient endurance and faith in Jesus Christ even unto death. The best is yet to come for those who believe!
Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.: Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors for their deeds follow them!””
Prayer: Holy Father, this coming time of judgment and wrath on the earth is a sobering reminder that all made in Your image are eternal beings. I have chosen faith in Jesus and am prepared to endure, even to death of my earthly body. I trust Jesus Christ, as my Witness in heaven, to give me eternal rest with Him in Your presence and give You glory and holy respect now and forever!
Job 16:18-19 “”O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place. Even now, behold my Witness is in heaven and He Who testifies for me is on high.””
The blasphemous beast
Scripture reading for December 19th: Job 12-14, Psalm 100, Revelation 13
Revelation 13:1-4 “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?””
John is given a vision of a beast-ruler rising out of the sea of humanity. This ‘beast’ has ten horns and seven heads and crowns on the heads and blasphemous names on the heads. This beast was a combination of leopard, bear, and lion and was empowered by the dragon, Satan, that old serpent. The beast had a fatal wound but was healed and restored to life and this miracle caused those left on the earth to marvel and worship him. The lie that they believed was that no one could stand against this powerful beast. They exalted him and the dragon that gave him his appearance of power. This was all a description of the war on earth between the dragon and those holding the testimony of Jesus and cleansed by His blood during the final great tribulation.
Psalm 100:1-2 “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He Who made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Prayer: Father God, I joyfully worship You alone and serve You with gladness! You, Alone, are God! You are my Creator, Lord and Savior and I am one a sheep of Your pasture. Through faith in Jesus Christ, I await Your trumpet call and the rapture if I am still on earth or the resurrection of my body. Use me to reach out to those still in Satan’s beastly grasp with good news of a Good Shepherd and rejoicing.
Job 14:14-15 “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come. You would call, and I would answer You; You would long for the works of Your hands.”
Woe on the earth–rejoicing in heaven!
Scripture reading for December 16th: Job 8-11, Revelation 12
Revelation 12: 9-12 “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows his time is short.”
John describes a war in heaven where God’s angels led by Michael fight against the dragon and his angels. This ‘war’ is no contest and the dragon and his angels are cast out from heaven and down to earth. This is the ancient serpent, the one who deceived Adam and beguiled Eve. The announcement of victory in heaven is the declaration that the salvation, power and authority of Christ have come. This is cause for great rejoicing in heaven and all who dwell there. It is a cause of great woe on earth as the devil has come down to torment them. His allotted time, set by God, is short!
Revelation 12:17 “Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You that those who have the testimony of Jesus and the protection of Jesus’ blood are overcomers. Thank You for setting the times and seasons of Your redemptive plan. Thank You for revealing to Your people these plans, even the man of faith, Job. Use me today to declare Your plan of salvation through Jesus Christ that all might be saved from the coming wrath and out of the present war.
Job 10:11-13 “You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and Your care has preserved my spirit. Yet these things You hid in Your heart; I know that this was Your purpose.”
The Time has Come!
Scripture reading for December 15th: Job 4-7, Psalm 99, Revelation 11
Revelation 11: 15-18 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who was, for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but Your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for the rewarding of Your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear Your Name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
God’s mercy is very patient, because He does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance. But John is shown the blowing of the seventh trumpet and heard the announcement that the “time has come.” The King of Kings takes His eternal throne and reigns forever and ever. This causes the rebellious nations to rage with anger and the wrath of the King is unleashed. The time for judgment has arrived! The dead will be judged and the faithless and unbelieving wicked shall be destroyed. God’s prophets and saints will be rewarded! These rewarded will be forgiven of their sins by the King Himself, Who has paid with His blood for their cleansing and reward! This calls for worship in heaven, on earth and universally!
Psalm 99:8-9 “O Lord our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the Lord our God is Holy.”
Prayer: Holy and omnipotent Father, we give You thanks for Who You are, the rightful King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You alone have power without measure to judge the wicked and reward the righteous, saved by Your amazing grace. Thank You for Your declaration of forgiveness for believers and the gift of Your righteousness through Jesus Christ. I am grateful my deserved punishment is now a promise of life!
Job 4:7-8 “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off? As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.”
No more delay!
Scripture reading for December 14th: Job 1-3, Psalm 29, Revelation 10
Revelation 10: 4-7 “And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by Him Who lives forever and ever, Who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as He announced to His servants the prophets.”
John is shown a vision in heaven of a ‘mighty angel’ shining with glory and big enough to plant his feet on the land and the sea. This angel cried out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. In answer to his cry, seven thunders sounded. John was about to write down what they said, when he was told to seal up this revelation and not write it down. This likely indicates that there are some events of the great tribulation that are still to be revealed. The angel announced with an oath taken in the Name of the One seated on the throne, that there would be no more delay. All the mysteries of God written down by His prophets would be fulfilled when this seventh and last trumpet sounded. God does nothing by way of judgment unless He warns His people by His prophets. (Amos 3:7) Soon, no more delay.
Psalm 29:7-9 “The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in His temple all cry, “Glory!”
Prayer: Glory to our Father! Now and forever and ever! Thank You Lord for Your voice that brings Truth and Life. Thank You for creating the heavens and the earth and all life by Your Word. Thank You for sending Your Son, the Word made flesh, to bring salvation. Thank You for sending out Your Word by the prophets and Your Son and those who are His disciples. I look forward to the fulfilment of Your Word!
Job 1:20-22 “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not charge God with wrong.”
Judgment fails to bring repentance!
Scripture reading for December 13: Malachi, Psalm 2, Revelation 9
Revelation 9: 18-21 “By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or thei sexual immorality or their thefts.”
It is a terrifying thing just to read John’s account of these angels blowing their trumpets and the judgments released on the earth that caused the death and destruction of a third of mankind. But is it even more terrifying to be told that those still alive after these plagues and judgments refused to repent. They still clung to their evil and rebellious way of life and chose to follow demons and gods of their own making that allowed them to do as they wanted. It has been said that sin is a form of insanity that takes us further than we want to go and exacts a price higher than we want to pay and keeps us longer than we want to stay. This is amplified during the great tribulation.
Psalm 2:10-12 “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear; and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for warning us by Your unchanging Word of the dangers awaiting those who are proud and arrogant and refuse to repent. No one will have an excuse on the day of judgment for You have shown us all mercy by warning us through the prophets and Your disciples. Use me today to share the warning and call all to ‘kiss the Son’ before the day of His holy wrath.
Malachi 4:1-3 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of Hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of Hosts.”
Prayers affect heaven and earth!
Scripture reading for December 12th: Nehemiah 10-13, Revelation 8
Revelation 8:1-4 “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”
Today’s reading gives us insight on what happens to our prayers in heaven. As the priest went before the altar of incense with prayers and incense in the earthly Jewish tabernacle, so an angel presents our prayers with incense as they are offered before God’s throne. The response to these prayers was the angel taking his censer and filling it with fire from the altar and hurling it on the earth. The result of this response brought thunder, lightning and an earthquake on the earth itself. God is powerful and answers prayers. He is holy and brings justice for those who depend on Him and call to Him. Prayers touch heaven and God shakes the earth in response! What amazing grace!
Revelation 8:12-13 “The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow.”
Prayer: Father God, I love You and depend on Your power and mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Forgive me when I fail to pray about everything or doubt Your hearing or ability to answer. Lord God, remember Your children who are calling on You for help and deliverance from the evil and persecution here on earth. May I fulfill my calling as a priest before you and remember me for good.
Nehemiah 13:29-31 “”Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God for good.””
Multitudes clothed in white!
Scripture reading for December 9th: Nehemiah 7-9, Psalm 140, Revelation 7
Revelation 7: 13-17 “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He Who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.””
In the heavenly vision given to John, he beheld a great multitude of people from every tribe of the earth standing before God’s throne. One of the elders around the throne asked John who they were. John wisely answered, “Sir, you know.” It was revealed that these were those who came out of the great tribulation of the last days. They had white robes because they had repented of sins and come to Jesus Christ for cleansing and His righteousness. They had been martyred and now stood in God’s presence cleansed and satisfied by the Good Shepherd who wiped away every tear and gave them living water! Praise His Name forever and ever!
Psalm 140:12-13 “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.”
Prayer: Father God, I thank You for Your mercy and for Your justice. Thank You for showing mercy in the great tribulation to those from all nations who will repent. I have given my body to you to use for Your purposes of reaching the nations and all lost with the Good News of salvation and righteousness in the kingdom of Heaven through Jesus Christ and His blood. May I worship You through obedience today.
Nehemiah 9:3 “And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God.”
Who can stand?
Scripture reading for December 8th: Nehemiah 4-6, Psalm 98, Revelation 6
Revelation 6: 12-17 “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great Day of their Wrath has come, and who can stand?”
John is given a vision of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) opening the seven seals on the scroll He received from His Father. As the seals are opened, various judgments fall upon the earth and creation. As the sixth seal is opened, a great earthquake rocks the earth and causes such upheaval that the sun is darkened and the moon turns red like blood from all the shaking on earth. During this shaking, those on the earth from rich to poor hide themselves and call to the rocks to protect them from the wrath of the Lamb and God Almighty. This will be known as the great Day of Wrath. The question the earth-dwellers ask is “Who can stand?” Those so hiding have had opportunity to repent and turn to God for salvation but have refused and now rely on the rocks for protection. They cannot and will not stand on the Day of Wrath.
Psalm 98:2-3 “The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing Your salvation and righteousness to me at the ends of the earth. Jesus Christ, Your Son and the Lamb of God is the last and complete revelation to all the earth. Help me today to fight for the souls of my brothers, my sons and daughters, my friends and my compatriots that none may be trusting in rocks but in The Rock, Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord!
Nehemiah 4:14 “And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, Who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Worship of the Worthy One
Scripture reading for December 7th: Nehemiah 1-3, Revelation 5
Revelation 5:6-10 “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who was seated on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
John beheld the throne of God and One seated there holding a scroll sealed with seven seals. John began to weep because there was no one to open the scroll when a mighty angel proclaimed that the Lion of the tribe of Judah was worthy! John looked to see Him, and he beheld a Lamb, standing as if He had been slain! This ‘Lamb” had seven horns and seven eyes and He took the scroll. As He did, all the elders and living creatures around the throne fell down to worship in a new song this Worthy One. He was ‘worthy’ because He had been slain and His blood was the ransom for all the people of God. He ransomed them that they might have the kingdom of God and reign with Him on the earth! This new song brought worship from every creature in every place in the universe! Worthy is the Lamb to rule!
Revelation 5:13 “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them saying, “To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Prayer: Father God, Worthy are You and the Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ, to receive all worship, honor, glory and praise now and forever and ever! You bought us with Your own Son’s blood and by grace and mercy gave us eternal life as priests and kings in Your eternal kingdom. You answer our prayers and grant us power and favor to witness to the lost of Your eternal plan of salvation and build Your church! Amen!
Nehemiah 1:11, 2:8 “O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who delight to fear Your Name, and give success to Your servant today and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” . . .’And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.”