Tag: Revelation 12:11
The prostitute? Or the Bride?
Scripture reading for December 28: Revelation 17-19
Would you rather be part of the prostitute or part of the bridal company? The analogy in these next chapters is between the promiscuous prostitute or the purity of a long term covenant relationship of love, respect and intimacy. The prostitute ends in woe, smoke, and eternal torment. The Bride enjoys a great wedding banquet and eternal honeymoon, living happily ever after!
John next visited with one of the seven angels who poured out the judgments. This angel showed him the punishment of the great prostitute who sat on the many waters. This prostitute had committed adultery with the kings of the earth and the earth’s inhabitants were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries. (Revelation 17:1-2) John saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, dressed like a prostitute with a golden cup in her hand. This cup was filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY– BABYLON THE GREAT–THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (Revelation 17:5) This prostitute was drunk with the blood of the saints, those who bore the testimony of Jesus! (Revelation 12:11)
Right before the judgment of this prostitute, angels announce the fall and warn God’s people to come out of her! (Jeremiah 51:6, 45) (Revelation 18:4) The ruin of this prostitute comes quickly–in one hour! The kings, merchants, sea captains and sailors all mourn her destruction. A final angel pronounces the judgment with the hurling of a large boulder into the sea mirroring the words of Jeremiah 51:62-64. (Revelation 18:21)
All heaven erupts with shouting! “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are His judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” (Revelation 19:1-2) Three more “Hallelujah’s” resound through heaven, the final one announcing the wedding of the Lamb!
John listened as the angel spoke to him again. “Then the angel said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” and he added, “These are the true Words of God.”” (Revelation 19:9) “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. . . .He treads the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-12, 15b
The power of a testimony!
Scripture reading for November 13: Acts 21-23
Have you had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ? How did it impact your life? The Word of God tells us that we overcome the accuser, Satan, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony! (Revelation 12:11) Our testimony helps us and God uses it to reach others. Many people have been won to the Lord through the power of a testimony!
Paul had gone to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost and had taken Trophimus the Ephesian with him. He went through the temple purification rites for seven days and went to the temple to verify that the appropriate offerings had been made. There Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul and Trophimus and began to stir up a riot. They aroused the city and men came running and seized Paul and drug him out of the temple, and began to beat him, intending to kill him!
The Roman guards heard the commotion and stopped the beating, putting Paul in chains. The commotion of the crowd was so great that they had to literally carry Paul back to the barracks. The crowd was shouting, “Away with him!” (Acts 21:33-36) Paul asked the commander of the guard permission to speak to the crowd. He gave Paul permission to address the crowd.
Paul simply shared his testimony of his own encounter with Jesus Christ. These were his people and quite likely some of the same people who had earlier demanded the death of Jesus Christ. Many were likely their descendants for this was over twenty years later! In sharing his testimony, Paul told this hostile crowd about his own anger against Christ and His followers. (Acts 22:3-5) He told them how he was struck blind and Jesus spoke to him, giving him instructions. He told them of his healing and call to go to the Gentiles. At this point, the crowd turned on him again and demanded his death!
What can we learn from Paul sharing his testimony? We remember that Paul, himself, was touched by Stephen’s testimony on the day he was martyred! (Acts 22:20) We learn how our testimony helps others to relate to us and us to them. It offers us a way to share our personal encounter with Jesus Christ. The results are always up to the Holy Spirit and often they may not appear positive at first! Try sharing your testimony with someone today as the Holy Spirit directs! You will be blessed and obey Jesus!