Tag: Revelation 20:12-15
Behold The Bride–Wife of the Lamb!
Scripture reading for December 29: Revelation 21
“Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:9-11
“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day–and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:22-27
God lifted the curtain on His completed world view for the beloved apostle, John. One of the seven angels who had poured out the wrath of God on the earth invited John to behold the Bride of the Lamb. John was taken to a high mountain and saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. This glorious city sparkled like a rare jewel and was illuminated with the glory of God and the lamp of the Lamb. All nations were represented as believers from every tongue and tribe filled the city in the dwelling places provided by the Lamb.
The angel emphasized that nothing unclean would ever be allowed in this city, only those who had been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb would have their names inscribed on the register of the New Jerusalem, the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who refused Christ’s offer of mercy must instead be cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15) There they would suffer eternal fire and separation from the Lamb.
How does this vision of the reward of those who have believed on Jesus Christ help you to continue in faith? Is it comforting to know that members of every tribe and nation will be part of the Bride? Do you understand the justice of God in punishing those who refused His Son?
Prayer: Father God, You are just and true to Your Word and deserve our eternal worship and humble service. I ask for mercy for all my children, grandchildren, and relatives yet to be born. May they hear the Gospel and their names be written in the Book of Life. Amen.
The Devil’s Lake of Fire
Scripture reading for December 26: Revelation 20
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”” Revelation 20:7-10
Every story has a villain and Satan, also known as the devil, is the ultimate villain in God’s Story. The villain was allowed to deceive the nations and blind those who refuse salvation through God’s Son. The devil provided people with a clear choice between God and eternal life or the devil and eternal torment. But he was apprehended and imprisoned in the pit for a thousand years while the saints ruled the earth under Jesus Christ. Jesus’ throne was in the ‘beloved city’ of Jerusalem. He was released from his prison and again was allowed to deceive the nations and those born during the thousand-year reign of Christ. Satan gathers the unbelievers for battle and surrounds the camp of the saints and Jerusalem confident of victory.
But Jesus Christ sends fire from heaven and consumes them. The devil was then thrown into his final place of judgment and eternal torment, the lake of fire and sulfur. The beast or antichrist, and the false prophet were also thrown there to suffer eternal torment. John was shown the ‘Great White Throne”, the place of final judgment by Jesus Christ for those people who had refused the Gospel of grace through faith. Books were opened and each person was judged by his deeds. (Revelation 20:12-15) Those not found in the “Book of Life” were cast into the lake of fire to suffer eternal torment with the devil and his cohorts. This vision of eternal justice and judgment is meant to warn us of the need to choose today.
Have you ever thought of the devil as just a cartoon character who was created just to scare us? Has anyone ever told you they wanted you to go to hell? If these descriptions of hell and those who will go there are true, do you need to make some changes in your life?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You have stated that You desire none to go to hell or the lake of fire. I have received Jesus Christ as Lord and trust His promise of eternal life in His blessed kingdom. I look forward to the thousand year reign with Jesus in peace on earth. Use me to share the Good News! Amen.
There was no remedy!
Scripture reading for May 1: 2nd Chronicles 33-36
“The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and His dwelling place. But they mocked His Words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.” 2 Chronicle 36:15-16
The period of the Kings and Chronicles ends with the declaration about the futile state of God’s people. God had sent messengers again and again. His mercy had suffered long with this people. He had loved them and provided for them. He had driven out their enemies and delivered them miraculously time after time. He had given them His presence in their midst in the Temple and a way to return to Him. But they mocked His Words and mistreated the prophets that were sent to them. This aroused God’s anger and He decided to allow the consequences He had promised to fall upon them. There was no remedy!
But God is faithful, even when we are faithless! (2 Timothy 2:11-13) God allowed the consequences of their own stubbornness to fall on them. They would see the destruction of their temple and go into captivity. The land would enjoy it’s sabbath rests that they failed to give in accordance with God’s Word. (2 Chronicles 36:21) Seventy years would pass in captivity as decreed by Jeremiah, the prophet. (Jeremiah 25:11-12) After this time of captivity and punishment, God would again restore the nation to their land and rebuild the temple. Isaiah the prophet correctly named Cyrus as the ruler who would give the decree to rebuild Jerusalem more than 150 years before it happened! (Isaiah 44:28) The Book of 2 Chronicles records the last Word of God concerning this rebuilding. It is as a word of hope to all who would trust God and follow Him through the captivity! (2 Chronicles 36:23)
God is merciful even in judgment! God has a plan and is working it out. Another day is coming when there will be “no remedy” for those who reject Jesus Christ! (Revelation 20:12-15) Have you applied God’s “Remedy” for sin in your own life? Are you listening to God’s messengers sent to call you to repentance?
The Book of Life!
Scripture reading for September 4th: Daniel 10-12
I love books! I have a great library and it is always growing! The Apostle John said that if all that Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain all the books that would be written! (John 21:25) Volumes of books have been written, but the most important book on earth is the Holy Bible!
The Bible speaks of another book that should be important 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) There will be a resurrection of all men with reward for some and punishment for others. (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, is 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) People would be seek this knowledge but only the wise would find it. The wise were those whose names were written down in that special book of Heaven! But 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!
“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