Category: Revelation–BibleTrekToday
Come out of Babylon, My People!
Scripture reading for December 24th: Revelation 18, Psalm 139-40, Proverbs 9
Key Scriptures: Revelation 18:4-7 “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, My people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back other, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, . . “
God’s heart is that all made in His image would not be found in the wicked city of Babylon, involved in its false religion and materialism. John heard a voice from heaven calling out to God’s people and giving stern warning of the impending doom of that city and its residents. God remembered their sins and was about to repay. In contrast, the sins of God’s people had been cast away and carried away by their Savior, the Lord Jesus.
Faith Confession: I am thankful that I heard the call from heaven to come out of ‘Babylon’ and look for God’s City–the New Jerusalem. I thank God that He graciously forgave me through the sacrifice of His Son and remembers my sins no more! Hallelujah!
Proverbs 9:10-11 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by Me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.”
Beware of the drunken woman!
Scripture reading for December 23rd: Revelation 17, Psalm 137-38, Proverbs 8
Key Scriptures: Revelation 17:3-6 “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’s vision portrayed a great scarlet beast that was carrying a woman decked out as a prostitute with a golden cup full of abominations. Abominations are sinful acts that God detests and are in direct rebellion against His holy Word. This woman had caused the downfall and destruction of many men and women on earth and had also orchestrated the persecution and death of the followers of Jesus. She was drunk with their blood!
Faith Confession: I believe the warnings of Scripture and ask my Lord Jesus to keep me safe from the seductions of this evil world system of Babylon’s false religion and humanism. Give me wisdom and let my mind never stray from You and the holy city of Your habitation.
Psalm 137:4-6 “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!”
Blessed, dressed and awake!
Scripture reading for December 20th: Revelation 16, Psalm 135-36, Proverbs 7
Key Scriptures: Revelation 16:13-15 “And I saw, coming 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 angels of God’s wrath poured out the sixth of seven bowls on the earth, John saw in the spirit unclean demonic spirits released through the mouth of the false prophet. These evil spirits would be sent to the kings of the earth to deceive them into assembling on the great day of the Lord for the battle of Armageddon. Those who believe in Jesus are warned to stay awake and be clothed in righteous garments when that day arrives. It will come upon the world as a thief, but believers will be ready!
Faith Confession: I trust God to keep me safe from deception and will do my part to stay in faith in Christ Jesus and wearing the robe of His righteousness, alert for His soon return. Lord help me to warn those who are not dressed and awake!
Proverbs 7:24-25 “And now, O sons, listen to Me, and be attentive to the words of My mouth. Let not your heart turn aside to her (the adulteress) ways; do not stray into her paths, . . .”
Beast-conquering worshipers!
Scripture reading for December 19th: Revelation 15, Psalm 133-34, Proverbs 6
Key Scriptures: Revelation 15:2-4 “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 marvelous 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.””
John again sees the redeemed in heaven around a sea of glass mingled with fire. These are those who have conquered with the blood of the Lamb and their testimony and they are singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. They worship God for His marvelous deeds of deliverance and judgment of the wicked and His kingship over all nations. They will worship the Holy One forever!
Faith Confession: I praise my Lord Jesus for His marvelous salvation and the gift of righteousness through faith. I proclaim and confess Jesus as King of Kings over all nations and choose freely to worship Him now and forever!
Psalm 133:1, 3 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! . . . It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”
Virgins for the Lamb!
Scripture reading for December 18th: Revelation 14, Psalm 131-32, Proverbs 5
Key Scriptures: Revelation 14:2-5 “And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first-fruits for God and the Lamb, for they are blameless.”
John heard a multitude in heaven, 144,000, singing around heaven’s throne. They sang a new song which no one but them could learn. These are those redeemed from earth who had been fully devoted to the Lamb Christ Jesus. They had followed the Lamb and sought His righteousness therefore they were considered blameless and were in God’s presence singing in worship and adoration. They represent the full number of dedicated saints of all times.
Faith Confession: I look forward to being among this number one day. Lord, help me to fully follow Jesus and live a blameless life through Your grace through Christ’s blood and to learn the new song of the redeemed!
Proverbs 5:20-21 “Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.”
Written in the Book of Life!
Scripture reading for December 17th: Revelation 13, Psalm 129-30, Proverbs 4
Key Scriptures: Revelation 13:5-8 “And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming His Name and His dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain.”
During the great tribulation, God will grant the antichrist authority to rule on earth for forty-two months. His rule will be blasphemous of God and His people. He will be allowed to make war on God’s people and to conquer them. This beast ruler will demand and receive worship from all who dwell on the earth whose names are not written in the Book of Life. Believers on earth during this time are to listen and beware.
Faith confession: I believe in God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, who is King of Kings and rules over all the kings and beasts of this earth. Everything He does is righteous and just and He will keep all promises to His people who are written in His Book. The wicked will get their due.
Psalm 129:4-5 “The Lord is righteous; He has cut the cords of the wicked. May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!”
Confident Overcomers Rejoice!
Scripture reading for December 16th: Revelation 12, Psalm 127-28, Proverbs 3
Key Scriptures: Revelation 12:10-12 “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 even 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 that his time is short!””
Believers in Jesus Christ can rejoice in the victory already won for them by their Lord Jesus. He vanquished the devil and death when He went to the cross for us, shedding His own blood in place of ours. Our testimony is our identification with Jesus in His death for us and resurrection from death. In our identification, we are seated in the heavens in Christ. We can be confident now no matter what happens.
Faith Confession: I identify with Jesus Christ and trust in His shed blood to give me victory over the devil, sin, and the world. I am seated with Jesus in the heavenly realm and look forward to enjoying the full victory in eternity.
Proverbs 3:25-26 “Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”
The Seventh Trumpet
Scripture reading for December 13th: Revelation 11, Psalm 125-26, Proverbs 2
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.””
The drama in heaven was coming to a glorious conclusion. The seventh angel blew the seventh and last trumpet causing the announcement of the completed conquest of the kingdom of the world by the kingdom of the Lord Jesus. The Lord took the throne and would reign eternally! The elders worshiped God and thanked Him for His glorious rule, righteous judgments and rich reward!
Faith Confession: I wait expectantly for this final trumpet and the completion of salvation for the saints and prophets as well as the judgment of the wicked. Our God reigns forever and ever!
Psalm 125:1-2 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forevermore.”
No more delay!
Scripture reading for December 12th: Revelation 10, Psalm 123-24, Proverbs 1
Key Scriptures: 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, that there would be no more delay, but 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.”
After the sixth angel blew his trumpet, John saw another angel with a small scroll come down from heaven and call out with a loud voice. This angel’s voice was answered by seven thunders. John was about to write down their message, when a voice from heaven told him not to write. Some surprises will remain for those on earth during the judgments. There would be no more delay and every prophetic Word of God would be fulfilled during the seventh trumpet call. What God has said He will do!
Faith Confession: I am thankful for God’s Truth and the revelation of prophesy. I believe that every Word of God will be quickly fulfilled in its appointed time and my God will keep me safe.
Proverbs 1:32-3 “For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to Me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Warnings to heed!
Scripture reading for December 11th: Revelation 9, Psalm 121-22, Proverbs 31
Key Scriptures: Revelation 9:15-16, 20-21 “So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. . . .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 was shown the horror of the woes coming on the earth as the seven angels sounded their trumpets announcing the plagues of judgment upon the wicked. There was a specific day, month, hour and year designated by God. One third of the earth’s population would be killed by these judgments! The astonishing truth was that those who were not killed refused to repent of their idolatry and the worship of demons and their great immorality and breaking of God’s commands. Sin has consequences–a price higher than we should want to pay.
Faith Confession: In light of this prophetic Word, I choose to respect and honor God and His Word by praying for the unsaved and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit enables and directs.
Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”