Category: Revelation–BibleTrekToday
The Adulterous Wife
Scripture reading for September 4: Hosea 1-3
Hosea was a unique prophet called by God to let his whole life, his marriage, and his children be a prophetic word to God’s people. Hosea was told by God to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. God’s plan was to show Israel how they behaved toward Him and give them a visual picture of His love for them. (Hosea 1:2) The children’s names also were prophetic and would remind the people of the consequences of their sins. God’s ways are often above our ways and He will go to great lengths to reach His people. Those whom He called to be His prophets had to be willing to obey His instructions, even in their personal lives. We are not our own, we are bought with a price! (1st Corinthians 6:19-20)
Hosea married Gomer and took her as his wife. She conceived and bore him a son. The Lord told Hosea to call the son “Jezreel”, because He was going to punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel and put an end to the kingdom of Israel. (Hosea 1:4) Gomer also had two daughters and they were also named by the Lord. One was Lo-Ruhamah which meant “no love left” and the other was “Lo-Ammi” which meant “not my people”. God was telling the Israelites about a coming judgment on their nation because of their sins of idolatry and spiritual adultery. He wanted them to be reminded every time they saw the prophet and his family of their own state and through those children’s names. (Hosea 1:4-8)
As I reflect on this story, I am reminded we are just like Gomer in our ways. We have been in spiritual adultery and unfaithful to God in many ways. We have not obeyed His command to be filled with His Spirit and to go out into the world and be His witnesses. We have run after other gods of pleasure and ease instead of wholeheartedly keeping ourselves for Him. Just as Gomer ran after other lovers who offered her food, and clothes and drinks, so we have not walked faithfully before our God. (Hosea 2:5-6) We have not recognized that God is the real provider of all the good things that we have and instead have used them to serve ourselves instead of Him. (Hosea 2:8)
However, as Hosea was commanded to take back his unfaithful wife and buy her back from the slave market, so God has done the same for us! (Hosea 3:1-2) He died for us in payment for our sins and deliverance from slavery to demonstrate His love for us! (Romans 5:8) Hosea did tell Gomer to leave her life of adultery and live free from that bondage and he would live with her. God tells us to depart from sin and live a holy life. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord! (1st Peter 1:14-15) Are you ready? Your loving Husband could come today!
The Book of Life
Scripture reading for September 3: Daniel 10-12
There is a Book that should be a top priority to every human being. It is the Book of Life found before the throne of God. In that Book are written the names of all who have been adopted into the family of God by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of Man and Son of God. (Daniel 12:1) (Revelation 20:12, 15) If your name is written in that Book, you will be delivered from the coming wrath against sin that flows from the Ancient of Days! (Daniel 7:10) (Revelation 20:14) It doesn’t matter if you are sleeping in the dust of earth or still alive when the day of judgment arrives, there is going to be a resurrection of all men with rewards for those who by faith have trusted in Christ as well as punishment eternally for those who have rebelled against God. (Daniel 12:2-3) (Revelation 22:12-15)
The righteous are promised eternal glory for their obedience. (Revelation 22:1-6) (Daniel 12:3) They will shine like the stars of heaven forever and ever! They will live in the heavenly city where God Himself and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, are the source of all light! They will behold Him and see His face!
Daniel was told to seal up the Words of his Book for the time of the end. (Daniel 12:4) He was told that many people would go to and fro throughout the earth and that knowledge would increase as time went on. People would be seeking this knowledge but only the wise would find it. The wise were those whose names were written down in that special Book of Life!
John was told in Revelation 22:10, not to seal up the words of his Book of prophecy because the time was near for it’s fulfillment! Jesus Christ is coming soon to reward each one who is living by faith and has his name in His Book! Are you sure your name is in the most important Book in the universe? Why not honestly check your heart today for faith in Jesus Christ? Have you repented? Are you living a righteous life by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit?
“Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this Book, because the time is near. Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.” “Behold I am coming soon and My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Revelation 22:10-12
The eternal kingdom of the Ancient of Days
Scripture reading for September 2: Daniel 7-9
Some of these prophesies have ties to King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2 as well as to the New Testament Book of Revelation and some of the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels. The vision in Daniel 7 dates back before the record of Daniel 5 where Belshazzar sees the handwriting on the wall.
Daniel saw the four winds of heaven stirring up a great sea and out of the sea came four great beasts. These beasts were like animals, great and ferocious. The first was like a lion and the second looked like a bear. The third beast was like a leopard and the fourth beast was something terrifying. It had iron teeth and ten horns on it’s head. It was devouring it’s victims and crushing them. (Daniel 7:4-7) These beasts correspond to the dream of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 and represent the kingdoms that followed that time, starting with Babylon, the lion, and moving to Persia, represented by the bear. The leopard was Greece and the ferocious beast was the Roman Empire of Jesus’ day. (Revelation 13:1-4)
Daniel saw another horn, a little horn that came up among the ten horns of the last beast. This horn had eyes like a man and a boastful mouth. (Daniel 7:8) Many commentators think that this horn is the evil ruler of the last days that will be known as Antichrist. (Revelation 13:5-7)(2nd Thessalonians 2:8-10)
In the midst of this vision of world history, political power and evil beasts, Daniel’s attention was taken to thrones that were set in place. One came and took His seat Whose Name was the “Ancient of Days”. This Ancient One had clothing that was brilliantly white and hair that was white like wool. His throne was ablaze with fire and full of wheels of fire, and a river of fire was flowing out before Him. There was a host attending Him that could not be numbered. This Ancient One was the judge in a court and there were books present that were opened. (Revelation 20:11-12)
As Daniel watched, the boastful horn was still speaking. Then the beast that the horn had come from was slain and thrown into the blazing fire. The other beasts had been stripped of their authority. Then, suddenly, before Daniel was one like a ‘Son of Man’ coming on the clouds of heaven. (Mark 13:26) He approached the Ancient of Days and was given glory, authority, and power over all nations and men. All worshiped Him in an everlasting kingdom that would never end! (Daniel 7:11-14)(Revelation 5:11-13)
A River to Swim in!
Scripture reading for August 29: Ezekiel 44-48
As we close out Ezekiel, we come to the vision recorded in chapter 47. Ezekiel was taken by the man with the measuring line to the entrance of the temple facing east. There he saw a stream of water coming down from the south side from south of the altar. He then took Ezekiel out the north gate to the outside of the east gate and measured off a thousand cubits (450 meters or 1500 feet). Ezekiel found the water there to be ankle-deep. Another thousand cubits and the water was knee-deep and another thousand the water was waist-deep. A final thousand cubits and the water was so deep that he could not cross it by walking. Along the banks of the river, a great number of trees were growing. (Ezekiel 47:3-7)
Ezekiel was told by the man that the water entered the Dead Sea and there those waters became fresh. The waters were full of swarms of living creatures and large numbers of fish. Fishermen stood on the banks and cast their nets harvesting the fish. Fruit trees grew along the banks and they were always green and yielded fresh fruit each month. This fruit would be for food and the leaves of these trees would bring healing.(Ezekiel 47:8-12) Following this vision, there were detailed instructions about how to divide the land among the twelve tribes. Finally, the city of Jerusalem has 12 gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel. The name of that city will be “The Lord is There”. (Ezekiel 48:30-35)
This vision is similar to the Apostle John’s vision in the book of Revelation. John saw an angel with a measuring rod of gold who was measuring the city, it’s gates, and walls. (Revelation 21:15-21) The walls were made of precious stones and the gates were made of single pearls. The street of the city was pure gold! God’s presence filled the city with light and there was no need of sun or moon because of this glorious light! There was a river flowing from the throne of God down the middle of the street with trees bearing fruit each month. (Revelation 22:1-5) The leaves of these trees were for the healing of the nations! Best of all, God and the Lamb would be with His people and they would behold His face!
Do you have this river flowing in you? Come to Jesus Christ and drink freely of this water of life! Your Heavenly Father wants you to have His Holy Spirit filling your life to overflow. You will be eternally satisfied! (Revelation 22:17)
“Flee from Babylon!”
Scripture reading for August 15: Jeremiah 46-52
“Flee from Babylon! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of her sins. It is time for the Lord’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves. Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord’s hand; she made the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore they have now gone mad. Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken. Wail over her.” Jeremiah 51:6-8a
God has promised to watch over His Word to perform it. Jeremiah ended his book with the story of God’s dealing with Babylon because of her treatment of the people of God. Babylon was to be destroyed suddenly and the people who would do it are named by Jeremiah seventy years before it happens. The Medes and Persians would carry out God’s purposes and be His war club! (Jeremiah 51:11, 20) Jeremiah had earlier told the people that the captivity would last seventy years! (Jeremiah 25:11-12)
Through Jeremiah God called to His people to flee from Babylon. Although they would live there for seventy years, they must be ready to return to Jerusalem. The end of Babylon would come suddenly. Jeremiah foretold how Babylon would fall. In Jeremiah 51:36-40, he stated that God would dry up the sea or springs. The officials of Babylon would be aroused and drunk at a feast. They would be shouting with drunken laughter and suddenly they would die! This Word was known by Daniel and likely helped him interpret the handwriting on the wall the night that Babylon fell! The Babylonian officials were drinking from the golden goblets from God’s House in Jerusalem when the handwriting of God appeared on the wall. (Daniel 5) Daniel was called to interpret and God’s judgment fell before morning! (Daniel 5:30) It is said that the Medes damned up the river and came in under the wall, taking the city from within!
This prophecy about the destruction of Babylon was to be read aloud to the captives in Babylon by Seraiah, an aid to King Zedekiah. When he was finished, he was to tie a rock on it and throw it into the Euphrates River. It would sink to the bottom as a symbol of how Babylon would sink at the appointed time! (Jeremiah 51:59-64) For a real rush of adrenaline, turn to Revelation 18 and read the whole chapter in light of Jeremiah’s prophecy.
“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. . . .Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her; death, mourning, and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” ” Revelation 18:4-5,8
Lesson of the dirty underwear
Scripture reading for August 6: Jeremiah 11-15
Object lessons employ the principle that a ‘picture is worth a thousand words’. God has always given object lessons through His prophets, and some are pretty graphic. In today’s reading God instructs Jeremiah to go and buy a linen belt and put it around his waist. This belt was a type of underwear that Jeremiah would wear close to his body in the most intimate place. He was to wear it for a period of time but not wash it in water. (Jeremiah 13:1) Can you just imagine body sweat and the dust of the daily walk on the roads of that day causing the white linen underwear to soil?
The next thing God instructed Jeremiah to do was to take the underwear and hide it in a crevice of a rock. After many days he was to go and retrieve it. (Jeremiah 13:3-6) There were no surprises; the linen belt was ruined and completely useless. What was this object lesson meant to teach God’s people?
God said that His people were like the white linen underwear. He wanted to keep them close to Him in intimacy and as a special treasure. They refused to listen and instead were filled with stubborn pride and rebellion. The went after other gods and worshiped them and became useless, just like the linen undergarment. They were supposed to be God’s people for ‘renown, praise and honor’, but fell far short of their calling. (Jeremiah 13:11)
God’s Word contains another statement similar to this in the New Testament book of 1st Peter. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1st Peter 2:9-10) Another version uses the term “peculiar people”. This term speaks of a special treasure–pocket change that God can use for His special purposes. We belong to God and must choose to stay close to Him. Intimacy requires purity! He dresses His saints in pure white linen! (Revelation 19:13)
Walls of Salvation–Gates of Praise!
Scripture reading for August 1: Isaiah 58-62
“”No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” Isaiah 60:18-19
There’s a song out that uses the thoughts of these verses of Isaiah. Chris Tomlin sings “My Deliverer” and I love the chorus about the walls and gates of the New Jerusalem! This passage and chapter of Isaiah have many similarities with Revelation 21 and the vision of the Apostle John and it is exciting to see that God’s plans are firmly established and moving forward.
Our nation and world are in deep darkness. The peoples of the earth for the most part are living in ignorance of the Lord and His light. It was the vision of Isaiah that as the world lay in darkness, a call to arise and shine would be given to God’s people. (Isaiah 60:1-2) This might refer to the rapture of the Church at the end of time as well as when Jesus first appeared. The Glory of the Lord will rise upon the earth and nations will come to the brightness of that new dawning. Jesus Christ came into the darkness of this world and proclaimed that He was the light of the world! (John 8:12) Whoever would follow Him will never walk in darkness but would have the light of life! At the end of time we will shine like the brightness of heaven and the stars! (Daniel 12:3)
From the witness of the light of God within His church, Jesus Christ is populating the New Jerusalem. It’s walls are salvation. We are protected by God’s saving grace through the gift of forgiveness. We are saved from the penalty of our sins and eternal judgment in the lake of fire and outer darkness. It’s gates are praise! Those who enter come singing and praising the One who gave them life and eternal light! God is their light and they have no darkness in them! There are no more tears, crying or pain. Eternal light from God’s glory fills the city and it’s inhabitants!
When this will happen is not known by any man. But the Lord tells us that in it’s time, it will be done swiftly! We must be ready and watching! “I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” (Isaiah 60:22b) “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon. (quickly)” (Revelation 22:20)
Don’t bet on the horses!
Scripture reading for July 25: Isaiah 31-35
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek help from the Lord. Yet He too is wise and can bring disaster, He does not take back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked, against those who help evildoers. But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together.” Isaiah 31:1-3
Our city, state and nation are obsessed with gambling. Our state governor and some elected officials are constantly trying to find a way to institute more revenue through gambling. Betting on the horses, casinos, lottery or any other human scheme is a futile endeavor.
Now I know that Isaiah wasn’t writing about gambling. He wasn’t writing about horse racing either. He was writing to God’s people who had a tendency to trust in man and man’s ways rather than in the Lord and His ways. It was a problem in Isaiah’s day and is still a problem today. Trusting in man and horse-power is folly. Man and horses are flesh. The flesh profits us nothing; it is the Spirit that will bring life and peace. (Romans 8:6-8) Isaiah went on to tell the people the real key to all that they needed. If they would just fear the Lord, they would have all the treasures of security, righteousness, justice, wisdom and knowledge. (Isaiah 33:5-6)
If you want a real tip for a winning ticket for life, don’t bet on the horses or lottery! Fear the Lord and humbly trust in Him and He will bless you with all your heart desires and far more!
“The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:5-6
From the ends of the earth: singing!
Scripture reading for July 23: Isaiah 24-27
Isaiah broke forth in a dissertation about the coming “day of the Lord”. The watchman of Israel was given a description of that day to warn the people of Israel to be ready for what was coming. God’s people are set apart from this day of wrath and welcome it with singing and joy. (Isaiah 24:14-16) The people of earth without a knowledge of the Lord and faith in Him are filled with terror! (Isaiah 24:11-13)
Let’s focus on those who know the Lord! Out of this vivid description of the terror for the lost comes bright rays of hope for those of faith! Isaiah heard shouts of joy for the glory and majesty of the Lord arising from the East and West! He heard singing coming from the islands of the sea and the ends of the earth! God was bringing His people together! (Isaiah 24:14-16) God would reign in their midst on Mt. Zion and His glory would radiate through and in His people! (Isaiah 24:23)
In Isaiah 25, Isaiah broke into praise for His fulfillment of God’s Word! God spoke His plans from ancient days and then brought them to pass! He humbled the proud and exalted His humble people! He cared for the poor and needy and defeated all their enemies! Isaiah saw the Lord preparing a banquet of rich foods for all peoples! On Mt. Zion, God would destroy the shroud that enfolded all peoples and swallow up the ‘swallower’ of His people! Death would be defeated and tears wiped away!
The Apostle Paul quoted these truths in 1st Corinthians 15:50-57 to describe the resurrection body that would be given to each believer at the coming of Jesus Christ! They were referred to by the Apostle John in his vision from the island of Patmos in Revelation 21:1-5 as he described the new heavens and new earth as the believer’s eternal home! Revelation 19:6-9 describes the wedding supper of the Lamb! When we receive Holy Communion, we are proclaiming that Jesus’ death destroyed the shroud of death over us and our hope of eating at that great banquet!
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:3-4) Put your trust in Jesus Christ again today! He is our Rock eternal! From your end of the earth let songs of worship resound and rest in Jesus!
God’s plan for ‘Babylon’!
Scripture reading for July 19: Isaiah 13-16
Babylon was an ancient kingdom in the time of Isaiah. It rose to world-dominating status a few decades after the ministry of the prophet. As a city, Babylon rose to legendary status with it’s walls surrounding it and it’s hanging gardens an imitation of God’s garden. It was located in the present-day country of Iraq and was near to where the Garden of Eden was originally located. Babylon was characterized by pride, false religion, idolatry and man-centered achievement. Isaiah brought God’s Word to those in Babylon.
God has an army of “holy ones” who will carry out His wrath and judgment, (Isaiah 13:3)and in mercy warned the Babylonians that His judgment was coming. God’s army would bring “the day of the Lord”, a day of wrath against sinners. (Isaiah 13:6-9) This judgment will put an end to pride and arrogance and the evil of the wicked. It would be a day of trembling heavens and shaking on the earth! (Isaiah 13:11-13) This army of “holy ones” will be none other than the Medes in the immediate fulfilment! (Isaiah 13:17) Isaiah prophetically predicted what God would do over 150 years before it happened! Daniel the prophet got to read the handwriting of God on the wall of Babylon the night it fell to the Medes! (Daniel 5:25-28) The city would be like Sodom and Gomorrah, never to be inhabited again! (Isaiah 13:19-20)
But God is a God of hope and vision. Isaiah saw a day when God would have compassion on Israel and settle them in their own land. (Isaiah 14:1-2) Others would join themselves to Israel and Israel would possess the nations that took them captive! God’s foresight revealed brings faith to endure!
The rest of Isaiah 14 is a taunt against the “king of Babylon” to be spoken by God’s people in the day they were set free! God, Himself, would break the power of this wicked king. He would be brought down to the grave and maggots and worms would cover him. This prophecy prefigures the final destruction of Babylon and Satan foretold in Revelation 18 and Revelation 20:1-3 and verse 10:
Behind all earthly power and humanistic pride lurks the evil influence of Satan! God will judge Satan and those under him. We must be born again to escape! God has provided the way out in Jesus Christ! Can you take up the taunt against the “king of Babylon” today! God’s Word declares His ultimate defeat!