Category: Revelation–BibleTrekToday
Victorious testimony
Scripture reading for December 16th: Job 8-11, Revelation 12
Key Scriptures: Revelation 12:7-11 “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 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 earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and 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 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 even unto death.”
John had a ring-side seat to a war in heaven–of all places! Angels were fighting one another with Michael, Israel’s chief angel, fighting against the ancient serpent, Satan. Satan was the deceiver of the whole world and the accuser of God’s people. He lost the conflict and was cast out of heaven and down to earth along with his other rebellious angels. A loud voice in heaven made a declaration of victory: God’s salvation and kingdom had come and Christ was in authority. All Christ’s brothers (and sisters) now conquer the accuser, Satan, through the blood of Christ Jesus–the Lamb of God and by the word of their testimony of faith in Him. Victory is assured, even in their death through martyrdom!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the victory won for us who believe in You on the cross of Calvary and Your own blood. Help me to faithfully declare my testimony of faith in You and Your shed blood with the lost that they also might conquer their fallen adversary and know eternal life and Your steadfast love.
Job 10:12 “You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.”
The appointed time!
Scripture reading for December 15th: Job 4-7, Psalm 99, Revelation 11
Key Scriptures: 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 rewarding Your servants, the prophets and saints, and those Who fear Your Name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
John recorded the seven angels blowing the seven trumpets that followed the time of silence in heaven. There were loud voices declaring the victory of God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of their eternal reign over all creation. The elders around the throne fell on their faces and worshiped God for Who He is and was and will be and for the time of judgment coming for the dead and reward for the saints. God is just and will justly judge all and destroy those who reject Jesus Christ and destroy the earth. Those who honor Him will be fully rewarded for their faith.
Psalm 99:4-5 “The King in His might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He!”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I worship You as the eternal King of kings. I look forward to the appointed time of the judgment and reward! You are just, righteous and holy and my confidence is in Your Word! Help me to share Your Word enabling all to find reward at judgment day.
Job 4:6-7 “Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?”
Mystery of seven thunders!
Scripture reading for December 14th: Job 1-3, Psalm 29, Revelation 10
Key Scriptures: Revelation 10: 1-4 “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”
When God speaks, even through a powerful angel, His voice thunders from heaven. John recorded such an incident that he observed and heard while caught up in heaven. John saw an amazing angel, with a face so brilliant it resembled the sun. He was crowned with a rainbow and wrapped up in clouds. This mighty angel held a small scroll that was open in his hand. He spoke as he stood on both sea and land with a voice roaring like a lion. One wonders if this was the Lamb Who was the Lion of the tribe of Judah! In response to his roar, seven thunders sounded back to him. A voice from heaven told John to seal up what these seven thunders had spoken and not to write it down. There are still mysteries that God has in store for the earth during this period of judgment that will not be reveal just yet. But God is in control of everything. Nothing will be left out but revealed in His timeless way.
Psalm 29:3-4 “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking clearly to us through Your Son Jesus. I trust You with the things to come, even though some are known only by You. Seal me for Your eternal glory as one blameless and upright through faith in Jesus!
Job 1:1 “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”
Repentance resisted!
Scripture reading for December 11th: Malachi, Psalm 2, Revelation 9
Key Scriptures: Revelation 9:20-21 “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 their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
John recorded the seven trumpets and their woe brought upon the earth as the scroll had been opened and God’s final judgments were being poured out on the earth. One of the curious truths John recorded was that although many of earths final group of people were killed by the judgments, the rest refused to repent. They clung to their idols and worshiped demons and continued to flaunt the breaking of God’s holy commandments. Neither positive miracles nor the calamitous judgments of these last days could penetrate the hardened hearts. Although they knew the judgments were from God, they refused to ask for His mercy.
Psalm 2:12 “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.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I am in awe of Your great mercy towards me and my family. Thank You for Your love and mercy. I pray that all of my offspring will “kiss the Son” of God, Jesus Christ and take refuge in Him.
Malachi 4:1-2 “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 like calves from the stall.”
Prayer shakes the earth!
Scripture reading for December 10th: Nehemiah 10-13, Revelation 8
Key Scriptures: Revelation 8:1-5 “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.”
As John looked, the Lamb opened the seventh and final seal of the scroll, thought to be the title deed to the earth. This caused a holy hush that lasted a half-hour to come over all in heaven around the throne. Seven angels who serve God were then given seven trumpets and prepared to sound them. Another angel stood at the altar of incense and with a golden censer, offered incense along with the prayers of the saints before God. The angel then took the empty censer and filled it with fire from the altar and in response to the ascended prayers, cast the coals of fire upon the earth with dramatic consequences. Powerful effects of prayer are felt on earth!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, we are told in Scripture to be still and know that You alone are God. We are also told to pray without ceasing. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers that rise with sweet incense before Your throne. Shake the earth and heaven for Your saints!
Nehemiah 12:43 “And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.”
How long?
Scripture reading for December 8th: Nehemiah 4-6, Psalm 98, Revelation 6
Key Scriptures: Revelation 6:9-11 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”
The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, opened the scroll given Him by His Father and began to break open the seven seals. Each seal brought new revelations of judgments falling upon those on the earth. The fifth seal brought a revelation of souls of martyrs resting under the altar in heaven. They were crying out to God, asking how long before the judgment of those on earth would be final. The Lord then gave them white robes and told them to rest a little longer. There were others on earth who would also join them there, resting and clothed in white. The time of the end-time judgments would require patience during the process and testing.
Psalm 98:8-9 “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing the judgments of the last days to Your Bride, the Church. Help me to fight for my brothers, my sons, my daughters, wives and homes, even if great suffering or even death comes because of it.
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 the Worthy One!
Scripture reading for December 7th: Nehemiah 1-3, Revelation 5
Key Scriptures: Revelation 5:11-13 “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 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!”
Worship in heaven is awesome to behold and enter into. John was shown the throne room of heaven and the activity going on there. There was a seven-sealed scroll in the right hand of God. The question went out as to who was worthy to open the scroll and break the seals. No one in heaven or on earth was able to open the scroll or look in it. Then one of the elders spoke, “Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.” As John looked, he saw “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,” the Lord Jesus Christ alone was worthy! Worship flowed as Christ Jesus took the scroll!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are worthy to receive all my worship, allegiance, and service, now and forever and ever! You are the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the Lamb slain for my sins and the sins of the world.
Nehemiah 1:5-6 “And I said, “Oh Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God Who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those Who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant that I now pray before You day and night for the people of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against You. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.”
“The “Upper-taker!”
Scripture reading for December 4th: Ezra 7-10, Psalm 97, Revelation 4
Key Scriptures: Revelation 4:1-4 “After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.”
John was exiled in a prison colony on the Isle of Patmos and was worshiping the Lord when he had a divine revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus appeared and spoke to him and told him to write down everything he would be shown. Following letters dictated to John’s seven churches, Jesus called John through an open door to heaven itself. The voice of Jesus was like a trumpet, calling John heavenward. Jesus wanted to show John the events that would transpire in the future and have him write them down for all believers. Immediately, John was transported in the Spirit from earth to heaven where he was shown God’s throne in all its glory and the events to come. This call heavenward is a foretaste of the Rapture of the saints, also initiated by a trumpet sound.
Psalm 97:1, 6 “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! . . . The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I await the trumpet call for Your people to come to You and to behold Your glory forever and ever. Help me and my family to faithfully successfully complete my journey to You and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Ezra 8:21 “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for ourselves, our children and all our goods.”
Patient endurance rewarded
Scripture reading for December 3rd: Esther 7-10, Revelation 3
Key Scriptures: Revelation 3:10-13 “Because you have kept My Word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down from My God out of heaven, and My own new Name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Jesus dictated this short letter to the church at Philadelphia. These faithful followers had kept Jesus’ Word about patient endurance as they lived in a world and culture that was hostile to the believers of Jesus. In response to their faith, Jesus promised them escape from the final hour of trial that would ultimately come upon the earth in the last days of the last days. Jesus stated clearly that He was coming soon. They must continue to hold fast to their faith for a crown awaited the overcomers. Jesus would make them strong like a pillar and give them an everlasting inheritance which would never be taken away.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, open my ears to the Spirit’s voice and Your truth. Help me to have the patient endurance of those who fully trust Your Word. I want to be a pillar in Your holy temple and be marked with Your Name. Help me to proclaim Your Name to the nations!
Esther 8:15-17 “Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.”
Eternal Glory and Dominion
Scripture reading for December 1st: Esther 1-3, Psalm 139, Revelation 1
Key Scriptures: Revelation 1:4-7 “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, the Ruler of kings on earth. To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.”
John was imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos for preaching the Gospel. He was likely in his late eighties at this time and had been an Apostle of Jesus Christ, a missionary and church planter and now an overseer. Writing to the seven churches he oversaw, he described God the Father and Jesus Christ to them. They are the eternal Ones, having past existence, present reality and perfect future existence. Jesus Christ, the Son, loves us now and demonstrated His love by giving His blood for our freedom. He made us part of His kingdom and priesthood. To Him and the Father belong eternal glory and dominion. Jesus is coming soon and every eye will behold Him!
Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, You have redeemed me by Your blood and freed me from my sins by Your divine grace and favor. Guide me today to fulfill Your will and prepare me for Your soon return.
Esther 2:17 “. . the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”