Category: Revelation–BibleTrekToday
Day 2–The Greatest Lover
Scripture reading for February 3: John 10:11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 15:12-13 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Scripture reveals through the words of Jesus that He is the greatest Lover of all mankind. Our faith works by love. (Galatians 5:6) Jesus did not just tell us about love and then command us to love one another, He demonstrated that love;“. . but God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) He acted for the highest good of all people by providing for them a full payment for their own sins. He willingly took our sins, personally and corporately, in His own body on the cross and gave His life blood as a payment sufficient for all. Our response is to willingly accept His payment and Him as Lord through confession and forsaking of our sins. This is how we are born again.
When we choose to believe in Christ, God saves us from the penalty and eternal punishment for our sins. We can only say ‘thank You’ to the Lord Jesus. Jesus had the power to willingly lay down His life for all sinners and because He was Himself, sinless, He had the power to take up His life again, defeating death, hell and the grave. (John 10:17-18) He demonstrated God’s love by His faithful sacrifice.
The very nature of our emergency response network and those who work in it is our willingness to lay our lives down for the sake of those in danger or trouble. Behind this response is human compassion–love coming from God towards the hurting and wounded. This love takes on a new dimension when we receive Jesus Christ’s love and allow Him to dwell in us.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Love to us in Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ! That You would lay down Your life for me, a sinner, is amazing and humbling. Thank You for cleansing me through Your shed blood and for praying for me now and always. Teach me today how to love You and allow Your love to flow in me. Amen.
Week 2–Day 1–Jesus Loves the Hurting
Scripture reading for January 5: “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn and live.” Ezekiel 18:31-32
Man’s biggest need is forgiveness for sins and transgressions. We have all broken God’s laws or crossed over His boundary lines. When we fall into sin, we are separated from God and damage our relationship with those around us. Our own soul becomes clouded in darkness. Scripture declares that all have sinned or transgressed and all have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
But God the Father sees everything and knows every heart, thought, and transgression. He loves each person and desires that none die for their transgressions. In today’s passage, God sent Ezekiel to His people with a call to repent. Repentance is a change of mind that precedes a change of direction. If we continue in sin, it will lead to our ruin. If we will confess and acknowledge our sins and turn from them in biblical repentance, God is faithful and will forgive us. Turning to God saves us from ruin and death.
As first responders to the calls of hurting people for help, we must always keep God’s love for hurting people as a foundation for our response. We enter each incident responding to people God loves and desires to help. We would do well to start each day with humble repentance and invite God to lead us in His ways to provide the help called for. We represent Him and are sent as an act of God’s love. He wants no individual to die or come to ruin.
Father God, thank You for Your love for each person, desiring their highest good and meeting their deepest needs. Search my heart today and reveal anything that displeases You. Fill me with Your love to respond to others who are in need. Amen.
“Come Lord Jesus!”
Scripture reading for December 30: Revelation 22
“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. He who testifies of these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:17-21
We wrap up this trek through the New Testament with the final words of Jesus Christ: “Surely I am coming soon.” This is to be the mindset and world view of every born-again child of God. We must never forget that we belong to Jesus Christ as members of His bridal company. It is by grace that we have received the invitation to the wedding supper of the Lamb. It is by grace through faith that we wait and look forward to Christ’s return for us. It is by grace and faith that we can daily drink of the Water of Life without charge.
The final prayer of the Bride, Christ’s Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit is “Come!” God the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell us while on our trek to Father’s House empowers us. God’s Word transforms us into a glorious Bride, taken from Christ’s spear-pierced side and dressed in the white linen of Christ’s righteousness and good deeds. As believers, we are reminded that every Word of God’s Word is truth. We cannot add to or take away from what God has decreed! We can only say “Amen!” “Come Lord Jesus!” Those who try to change what God has written will suffer great eternal loss. This is the vision and warning of Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of Lords!
Prayer: Father God, we say “Amen!” to all of Your eternal Word and to Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh! Help me to hear and live out Your Word today in humble submission and worship and holy expectation of Your Son’s return. I pray with Christ’s Bride: “Come!” Amen! Come Lord Jesus!
Behold The Bride–Wife of the Lamb!
Scripture reading for December 29: Revelation 21
“Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:9-11
“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day–and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:22-27
God lifted the curtain on His completed world view for the beloved apostle, John. One of the seven angels who had poured out the wrath of God on the earth invited John to behold the Bride of the Lamb. John was taken to a high mountain and saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. This glorious city sparkled like a rare jewel and was illuminated with the glory of God and the lamp of the Lamb. All nations were represented as believers from every tongue and tribe filled the city in the dwelling places provided by the Lamb.
The angel emphasized that nothing unclean would ever be allowed in this city, only those who had been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb would have their names inscribed on the register of the New Jerusalem, the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who refused Christ’s offer of mercy must instead be cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15) There they would suffer eternal fire and separation from the Lamb.
How does this vision of the reward of those who have believed on Jesus Christ help you to continue in faith? Is it comforting to know that members of every tribe and nation will be part of the Bride? Do you understand the justice of God in punishing those who refused His Son?
Prayer: Father God, You are just and true to Your Word and deserve our eternal worship and humble service. I ask for mercy for all my children, grandchildren, and relatives yet to be born. May they hear the Gospel and their names be written in the Book of Life. Amen.
The Devil’s Lake of Fire
Scripture reading for December 26: Revelation 20
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”” Revelation 20:7-10
Every story has a villain and Satan, also known as the devil, is the ultimate villain in God’s Story. The villain was allowed to deceive the nations and blind those who refuse salvation through God’s Son. The devil provided people with a clear choice between God and eternal life or the devil and eternal torment. But he was apprehended and imprisoned in the pit for a thousand years while the saints ruled the earth under Jesus Christ. Jesus’ throne was in the ‘beloved city’ of Jerusalem. He was released from his prison and again was allowed to deceive the nations and those born during the thousand-year reign of Christ. Satan gathers the unbelievers for battle and surrounds the camp of the saints and Jerusalem confident of victory.
But Jesus Christ sends fire from heaven and consumes them. The devil was then thrown into his final place of judgment and eternal torment, the lake of fire and sulfur. The beast or antichrist, and the false prophet were also thrown there to suffer eternal torment. John was shown the ‘Great White Throne”, the place of final judgment by Jesus Christ for those people who had refused the Gospel of grace through faith. Books were opened and each person was judged by his deeds. (Revelation 20:12-15) Those not found in the “Book of Life” were cast into the lake of fire to suffer eternal torment with the devil and his cohorts. This vision of eternal justice and judgment is meant to warn us of the need to choose today.
Have you ever thought of the devil as just a cartoon character who was created just to scare us? Has anyone ever told you they wanted you to go to hell? If these descriptions of hell and those who will go there are true, do you need to make some changes in your life?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You have stated that You desire none to go to hell or the lake of fire. I have received Jesus Christ as Lord and trust His promise of eternal life in His blessed kingdom. I look forward to the thousand year reign with Jesus in peace on earth. Use me to share the Good News! Amen.
All Heaven Rejoices!
Scripture reading for December 25: Revelation 19
“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for His judgments are true and just; for He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of His servants.” Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God Who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” Revelation 19:1-4
John now hears a great multitude in heaven crying out loudly in worship of God. They ascribe to Him salvation, power and glory and praise Him for His judgments. They marvel at the just judgment of the great prostitute who had corrupted the earth and its inhabitants with immorality. They are praising God for judging and avenging justly the murder of the saints. They worship God for the eternal smoke that ascends from the place of the wicked. They are joined by the twenty-four elders and four living ones in agreement and worship.
“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”–for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”” Revelation 19:6-9
A further cause for worship and rejoicing comes as God the Almighty reigns and decrees that the time for the marriage of the Lamb has arrived. The Bride is the great multitude of redeemed clothed in fine linen. John was told the fine linen was the righteous acts of the saints. John was told to write down a decree from God: “Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” This blessing was an invitation for all to come for the banquet was now ready! However, not all willingly come.
Do you trust God to have true and just judgments? Have you forgiven all who have wronged you and entrusted them to God for mercy instead of judgment? Are you among the ‘blessed’ who are invited and have accepted the invitation to the wedding banquet?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the gift of righteousness through faith in Your Son, the Lamb of God. Thank You for insight into Your just and true judgments and Your great mercy. Use me to extend the Gospel invitation to those needing Your blessing of eternal life in Your family. Amen.
A Sudden Violent Destruction
Scripture reading for December 24: Revelation 18
“Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” Revelation 18:21-24
As John was shown the judgment of the great city, Babylon, he saw a ‘mighty angel’ taking up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea. This vision mirrored the prophet Jeremiah’s prophetic pronouncement of Babylon’s final judgment given over 600 years before. (Jeremiah 51:62-64) Babylon was the name God chose for the wicked world system that enslaved men from all nations through sensuality, sorcery, and murderous violence. As a city, it appeared to be organized and civilized with normal activities taking place like marriage, musicians, commerce and night life. John was told that all these activities would come to a halt and destruction would be swift and final.
The millstone was originally used in grinding grain but was also used as an example by Jesus Christ when warning those causing young children to go astray. He said it would be better that a millstone be tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea than causing a little one to sin. Jeremiah the prophet sent a scroll of the prophesy of Babylon’s destruction dictated by God and commanded it to be read those in Babylon. After it was read, it was tied to a rock and thrown into the Euphrates river where it made a big splash and sank surely to the bottom. Babylon would be judged with swiftness and finality because in that wicked world system was found those guilty of murdering God’s people.
As you read of Babylon’s sure destruction prophesied by Jeremiah and now to John, how does that give new understanding to your world view? Have you heeded God’s call to ‘come out of her’? What hinders people from taking action to leave this system and join Christ’s kingdom?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for using illustrations that are easy to picture and understand concerning the fallen world system described as Babylon. Help me to stay free from the enticements to sin and compromise my faith. Use me to share the Gospel with those blinded to this wicked trap. Amen.
The Great Prostitute
Scripture reading for December 23: Revelation 17
“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 impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a 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.” Revelation 17:1-6
Following the seven bowls of God’s wrath and the declaration “It is done!”, one of the seven angels called to John to witness the judgment of the ‘great prostitute.’ This ‘woman’ is described by the angel as seated on many waters. These waters are the nations of the earth and she is described as committing sexual immorality with the kings of the earth and offering the wine of sexual immorality to the dwellers of earth to make them drunk. This ‘woman’ was an enticing deception leading to drunkenness and death.
In this vision and description, God is using what is common on the earth among the unsaved ‘earth dwellers’ and their rulers: beautiful women to entice them into sexual immorality. Gold and jewels entice people to false worship and idolatry. The wine of alcohol and intoxicants frees inhibitions and creates a false sense of pleasure and reality in a state of ‘drunkenness’. This is the essence of sin and rebellion, for in reality, the woman is a prostitute. Her rich clothing and jewels are a covering for her nakedness and rottenness. The cup of wine in her hand is really a cup of abominations. The mystery of her identity is revealed by the angel: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” She was drunk on the blood of Jesus’ martyrs.
Have you ever been enticed by the ‘great prostitute’? How does this description help you to understand the current world system and its rulers? Why does this world system persecute and kill those who choose to follow Jesus?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for delivering me from the enticement of this ‘great prostitute.’ Help me to see those in need of deliverance from her wine and immorality and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. I want them to be in the bridal company of pure virgins awaiting Jesus’ return. Amen.
“It is Done!”
Scripture reading for December 22: Revelation 16
“The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been on earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.” Revelation 16:17-21
John observed as the seven angels poured out their golden bowls of God’s wrath on the earth. As the seventh angel poured out his bowl on the air of earth, a loud voice from God’s throne announced, “It is done!” This announcement reminds us of Jesus’ last loud cry from the cross, as He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)(Matthew 27:50) This final bowl produced amazing judgments on the earth. There was a tremendous earthquake that leveled all mountains and submersed all islands. The great city, Jerusalem, was split into three parts and the cities of the nations fell. The world system of antichrist, Babylon the great, was made to drink the final cup of God’s wrath. John saw hailstones weighing about one hundred pounds falling on people of the earth. Instead of repentance, they cursed the God of Creation.
God desires that no man would be lost so He provided His Son to take His wrath against sin. He invites all mankind to receive this mercy and has sent His believing children to share the Gospel. John is allowed to witness the final wrath poured out on those refusing His Son. He sent three angels to invite and warn mankind one last time. But those on the earth refuse repentance and curse God for their hopeless plight. They have believed the lie and are damned.
Have you considered God’s just and true judgments outlined here for us to receive warning and escape? Have you considered your own appointment with death and judgment? What are you doing to help others escape these judgments?
Prayer: Father, thank You that “It is finished!” I receive the finished work of Jesus Christ as my gift of mercy and forgiveness. I don’t want justice, but need mercy. Help me to live by faith and share the Gospel of grace with a world in darkness. Amen.
The Song of the Lamb!
Scripture reading for December 19: Revelation 15
“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire–and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You Alone are holy. All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”” Revelation 15:1-4
John described another sign: seven angels coming from the sanctuary holding seven golden bowls of the wrath of God which were the seven last plagues. After the pouring of these bowls, the wrath of God against sin and rebellion would be finished. Along with John, there was a great multitude of the redeemed standing there with golden harps given by God. This group had conquered the beast, his image, and resisted the mark (666.)
This multitude began to sing a song, the Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-11), that became a new song, the Song of the Lamb. This Song extols the justice and truth of God’s amazing judgments. Moses, the great prophet of God, had led Israel to freedom through God’s judgments on the gods of Egypt. He had mercifully delivered them by the blood of a lamb. He led them to victory through baptizing them in the Red Sea, which closed over their enemies. They worshiped singing the Song of Moses. But the judgment of man’s sins was laid on God’s own Son, and given as a gift of mercy to all who would repent and believe, Jew or Gentile. Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave through humble submission to God’s will. Now in heaven, the ‘Song of the Lamb’ is sung by redeemed saints!
Has your world view been expanded to include joining this great multitude in worship singing the Song of the Lamb? Do you gather with others of faith each week to sing songs of worship to the Lamb?
Prayer: Father God, just and true are Your amazing works and judgments! Thank You for Your amazing mercy to those who humbly receive it. May the nations all come before You in worship and surrender, singing the Song of the Lamb! Amen!