Tag: overcome
The overcoming Blood!
Scripture reading for December 21st: Revelation 12:1-17
A great drama with interesting characters was the next sign seen in heaven by John on his tour of the throne room. Images have powerful ability in the hearts of men to convey truth or to deceive. Those who have been redeemed now have hearts that are teachable and open to truth. John wrote of these characters to describe the things God showed him that were yet to come.
“A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a Son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her Child was snatched up to God and to His throne. (Revelation 12:1-5)
The Jewish believers of that day would recognize the character of the pregnant woman as the nation of Israel. The twelve stars were the twelve sons of Jacob. The child was the promised ruler from the line of Judah. Psalm 2:9 described this ruler as One with an ‘iron scepter’ to rule the nations of the earth. Believers would recognize in the description of this child being ‘snatched up’ to God and His throne, a picture of Jesus Christ who is ruling in heaven until all his enemies be put under his feet. (Psalm 110:1-2, 5-6)
The dragon is the old serpent from the Garden of Eden, Satan. He was kicked out of heaven and a third of the angels who rebelled with him fell also. (Ezekiel 28:12-18) The dragon has been at war with the seed of woman since the Garden of Eden where God told him of his end. (Genesis 3:15) In this cosmic contest, devouring mankind is now the dragon’s interest. Believers overcome him by their confession of trust in the blood of the Lamb! (Revelation 12:11-12) All heaven rejoices because the dragon’s time is short!
Jesus warns the Church!
Scripture reading for December 10th: Revelation 2:1-17
As John has been assured by Jesus Christ not to fear, but to write what he heard and saw, John was given a word for each of the seven churches under his oversight. We read, listen, and prepare to heed the words John wrote!
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: . . .”You have persevered and have endured hardships for My Name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”” (Revelation 2:1a, 3-5) This first prophetic word was written to a church founded by the apostle Paul. (Acts 19-20) Paul had left this church warning them about an invasion of false teachers that would try and destroy them. John received this warning from Jesus Christ to further remind this church of their need to keep love for God and Jesus Christ foremost in their agenda. They had stood against false teachers, but loving Jesus was their primary duty and that was being neglected! Jesus would remove them from their place of bearing His light if they failed to repent!
To the church at Smyrna, Jesus gave a word of encouragement. He told them of a time of suffering and testing that would come through Satan. They were to remain faithful, even to the point of death, and Jesus would reward them with the crown of life! How thoughtful of our Lord to remind suffering believers of their reward!
The church at Pergamum existed in a dangerous place. This was a city where Satan had his throne and believers were maintaining their faith. Yet Jesus gave them a warning because He loved them and wanted them to overcome! “You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore!” (Revelation 2:14b-16a) These false teachers were going to lead this church astray. They must take action immediately to avoid Christ’s intervention! These words are life-giving rebukes to those with ears to hear!