Archive for the ‘Revelation--BibleTrekToday’ Category

Scripture reading for December 31st: Revelation 22:1-21

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.  On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be any curse.  The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.  They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:1-4)

As this magnificent vision came to a climax, John again viewed the throne of God, this time in its setting of the New Jerusalem.  Here the throne had a river flowing from it, coming down the main street.  Along its banks stood the tree of Life, bearing fruit each month.  All His servants would serve God and have access to the water and tree of Life!  They  would see God’s face and reign with Him forever and ever!

“Behold, I am coming soon!  Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Revelation 22:7)  John was informed of the truth of these words and reminded of the urgency of the message of the book he has written down.  As the promise of blessing was given to those who would read and obey in the beginning, it is now repeated as the vision ended.  (Revelation 1:3)

“Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”  “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of Life and may go through the gates into the city.  Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:12-15)  Jesus Christ is coming soon!  This is repeated three times!  Some would enjoy blessing and reward, others would be left outside.  Will you be ready for your part in this abundant life? My prayer is that you can say with John and me: “Amen, Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b)

Scripture reading for December 30th: Revelation 21:1-27

After the punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire, John watched the passing away of the first heaven and earth and a new heaven and earth appeared!  What an experience that must have been!  The view from heaven of this drama unfolding must have amazed and frightened John.

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” God’s desire has always been to dwell in the midst of His people.  Sin brought separation of man from God, but God’s Son overcame and holds the key of death and Hades! (Revelation 1:18)

Now John sees a new heaven and earth and a Holy City, the new Jerusalem.  This place will be the dwelling place of man with God Himself as all he needs.  Death, sin, crying, and pain will be gone forever!  God will wipe away all tears and fill each one with eternal joy in His presence!  “You have made know to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

“He said to me: “It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.  He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be His God and he will be My son.  But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolater, and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This is the second death.”" (Revelation 21:6-8)  There are two possible outcomes for any man.  Those who overcome Satan and his lies will inherit the new Jerusalem and new heaven and earth.  Those who don’t believe will get the lake of fire!

Scripture reading for December 29th: Revelation 20:1-15

Not all are part of the heavenly army of the King of Kings.   The first to be dealt with was the dragon, Satan.  He was bound by a great chain and thrown into the Abyss to keep him from deceiving the nations.  The set time was a thousand years or what we would call a millennium.  (Revelation 20:1-3)

Next John witnessed a resurrection of the souls who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus.  These souls came to life and were given authority to judge on the earth and reign with Christ for a thousand years.  ” (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.  The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:5-6)   This is the fifth ‘blessed’ statement of Revelation.  These martyrs are now rewarded with rulership with Christ on the earth for his thousand-year reign.

The ’second death’ is a term defined in this chapter for John.  At the end of the thousand years, the devil is released for a short time.  He goes out and deceives the nations again and the gathers them for battle.  Fire comes from heaven and devours those who are deceived and the devil is thrown into the lake of fire along with the beast (anti-Christ) and false prophet.   This lake of fire and burning sulfur is the ’second death’.  (Revelation 20:14)  This lake of fire has been long prepared for the devil and his angels who rebelled against God.

However, there will be multitudes of people who will also go to this horrible place of  burning sulfur.  John saw a great white throne and God as judge.  Death and Hades were opened and a second resurrection company of those who had died in their sins were brought before the judge.  Books were opened that held the record of their evil deeds and sins.  Another book, the Book of Life, was examined to find their names.  “If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)  Each person answered personally to God!  Is your name in His Book of Life?

Scripture reading for December 28th: Revelation 19:1-21

Following the announcement of Babylon’s sudden fall, John heard the roar of a great multitude in heaven 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)  Heaven’s multitudes rejoiced in God’s judgments.  These had come out of the tribulation and had remained true to God and now were seeing God’s justice in action.  The elders around the throne agreed with this worship and cried, “Amen, Hallelujah!”

Next, John heard a great multitude shouting in response to a command from the throne to praise God, “Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Revelation 19:6-8)   The next event was the wedding of the Lamb and the bride was made ready.  The wedding garments of fine linen, were the righteous acts of the saints!  The deeds of this great multitude would be their clothing at the event.  No one would be allowed at the wedding supper without a proper garment!  (Matthew 22:11-14)  Those invited to this banquet would be blessed!  (Revelation 19:9)

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider was 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 has a name that no one knows but Himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. . .On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

The heavenly Bridegroom comes on a white horse.  He is no longer the Lamb, but now is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  He will rule the nations and judge those who have not come under His authority.  Is He your King?

Scripture reading for December 27th: Revelation 18:1-24

John’s visit to heaven continues with the appearance of a shining angel with great authority.  This angel announced the fall of Babylon the Great.  God’s judgment would come upon her because she had become home to every demonic power and had used her evil to cause all nations and kings to become drunk on her evil wine of adultery.  This is the spiritual adultery of idolatry!

“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)   God called His people out of Babylon.  Babylon was to be suddenly destroyed.  In just one day her plagues would overtake her.  She would be given back double for all her sins! This verse echoes the warnings from Jeremiah six hundred years before Christ!    ” Flee from Babylon, run for your lives! . . .Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken.” (Jeremiah 51:6-11)

John next heard the report of the kings of the earth mourning because of the fall of Babylon.  They would see the smoke of her burning and weep and lament over her downfall: “Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power!  In one hour your doom has come! (Revelation 18:10)  The kings of earth now speak of this destruction taking place in one hour!  In just one hour all the glittering wealth of Babylon had come to ruin and the world system of humanistic power and trade was gone forever.

The saints were called to rejoice because of the judgment of God on the system that had mistreated them.  “Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:  With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.” (Revelation 18:21)  John saw this mighty sign in heaven and was probably reminded of the prophesy of Jeremiah.  He also had something similar to do in Babylon with his prophesy.  (Jeremiah 51:59-64)  The end of all will come suddenly and violently for those who are in rebellion against God!

Scripture reading for December 26th: Revelation 17:1-18

“One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.  With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”" (Revelation 17:1-2)    John was carried away in the Spirit to a desert where he saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.  She held a golden cup full of  “abominable things and the filth of her adulteries”.  This woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and had a name on her forehead:   MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:4-5)

This woman and beast were a picture of something God wanted to share with John and the Bride of Christ, the Church.  The many waters that the prostitute was sitting on represented peoples and multitudes and nations that would not repent but followed the beast and received his mark.  This beast would come up from the Abyss and go to his destruction.  He was the one with seven heads and ten horns.  The angel told John that the seven heads were seven hills where the woman sat.  The ten horns were ten kings who would rule with the beast for a short time:  one hour.  These ten kings would give their power to the beast to make war against the Lamb.  The Lamb would defeat them with His faithful followers!  (Revelation 17:8-14)

“The beast and ten horns (kings) you saw will hate the prostitute.  They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.  For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.  The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” The woman (great prostitute)  was the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.  The readers of John’s day would have understood Rome as the city of ’seven hills’.  This ‘city’ is a picture of a humanistic world system that hates God and rules the world in the last days.  God will fulfill His Word!

Scripture reading for December 25th: Revelation 16:1-21

John heard a loud voice from the temple commanding the angels: “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” At this command, each of these seven angels obeyed in sequence.  The first angel brought ugly sores on all who worshiped the beast.  The second angel’s bowl turned the sea to blood and brought death to every living creature in the sea.  The third angel’s bowl turned all the rivers and springs of water to blood.

John heard an angel proclaim: “You are just in these judgments, You who are and who were, the Holy One, because You have so judged; for they have shed the blood of Your saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” (Revelation 16:5-6)   God is the only one who can repay justly, because He is the only One who is Holy and omniscient!  God commands His people not to take vengeance because it belongs to Him alone. (Romans 12:17-20; Deuteronomy 32:35)  His judgment is poured out on those who have shed blood:  they are given blood to drink!

The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun and people on earth are scorched by fire.  Global warming was taking place in this instance and it was caused by God’s wrath against sin on earth!  The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast and plunged his kingdom into darkness.  John notes:  “Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.” (Revelation 16:10-11)

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the River Euphrates, and its water dried up to make way for the kings of the East.  Three evil spirits come from the dragon, beast, and false prophet to draw them to battle with God.  The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a voice from the throne shouted, “It is done!” There was a great earthquake that shook the great city (Rome or Babylon)  splitting it into three parts and collapsed the cities of the nations.  It also leveled the mountains and sunk the islands of the sea!  Hailstones of a hundred pounds fell on men and they cursed God!  The warning:  “Behold I come like a thief!  Blessed is he who stays awake . .” (Revelation 16:15a)

Scripture reading for December 24th: Revelation 15:1-8

Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt about 1500 years before Christ.  After ten plagues that brought judgment on the gods of Egypt and those that followed them, the Egyptian army and Pharaoh decided to attack the unarmed Israelites as they faced the Red Sea.  God, through Moses, opened the Red Sea and delivered His people.  When they were safely on the other side and the Egyptian army was crossing, Moses held up his rod and the sea drowned all those in pursuit.  Moses and Miriam led the people in a song of worship to God for His amazing deliverance!  (Exodus 14-15)(Exodus 15:11)

“And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name.  They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses  the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:  “Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are Your ways, King of the Ages.  who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your Name?  For You alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”" (Revelation 15:2-4)

John saw a company of people who had been victorious over the beast and had not taken his mark.  These had been given harps by God and were singing the song of Moses.  They had overcome by faith, many having been martyred for their refusal to accept his mark.  They sang this song now to God and to the Lamb, worshiping Him for His justice and righteousness in judging the beast and those who refused to repent.  God alone was holy and worthy of worship!

As they worshiped, the tabernacle of the Testimony was opened and the seven angels with the seven bowls of the wrath of God appeared.  The heavenly temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and His power!  As these faithful servants worshiped, God ordered the final seven plagues to be poured on the earth.  God’s plan to eliminate evil and rebellion would take place suddenly and swiftly.  Patient endurance had paid a big reward for those now in heaven.  The worst was ahead for those in rebellion on earth!

Scripture reading for December 23rd: Revelation 14:1-20

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”  “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)  This is the second of the ‘beatitudes’ or ‘blessed’ statements found in Revelation.  It is a curious ‘blessed’, speaking of the dead who die in the Lord being blessed.  As we read this chapter, we come to understand why this is so.

John saw the Lamb and the 144,000 who were marked with His name standing on Mt. Zion.  They were singing a new song that only they could learn.  This special company had been redeemed from the earth and followed the Lamb.  They were holy, having kept themselves from the defilement of sin on the earth, and set apart as an offering to Him. (Revelation 14:1-5)

Next John saw three angels flying in mid-air.  The first angel was proclaiming the eternal gospel to those still on the earth.  “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come.  Worship Him who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7)  God is faithful to warn all men of what is to come.  The first and greatest commandment is to love God and worship Him only.  Men must not worship the creation, but the Creator of all things.  This angelic messenger proclaims this eternal gospel.

The second angel proclaimed the fall of Babylon.  “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (Revelation 14:8)  Those living on earth were drunk on the wine of the evil world system of Babylon.  God announced the fall of this system again during the great tribulation.  He had done this through Jeremiah earlier.  (Jeremiah 51:45-49)

The third angel announced the warning to resist the beast and his mark or face the full fury of God’s wrath!  The penalty was laid out for those receiving the mark, “He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever.” (Revelation 14:10b-11a)  This warning was to call the saints to remain faithful to Jesus and prepare for endurance.  Death would be blessed for those saints who endured!

Scripture reading for December 22nd: Revelation 13:1-18

John describes two beasts who make war on the saints during the time of the great tribulation.  The first beast comes out of the sea.  This beast has seven heads and ten horns.  Each head has a blasphemous name written on it and each horn had a crown.  The dragon had given his power to this beast and the whole world was astonished and followed this beast and worshiped him. (Revelation 13:1-4)  The sea often talks about the peoples of the earth.

This beast was given authority for forty two months–three and a half years.  This beast was proud and uttered blasphemies against God and made war with the saints and conquered them.  He had authority over every tribe, language, people and nation and all the earth worshiped this beast except for those whose names were written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb that was slain!  (Revelation 13:5-8)  This was written to warn the saints on earth at this time to patiently endure in spite of the war against them.

The second beast came out of the earth.  This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like the dragon.  He was under the dragon’s control and made the people of earth worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.  This beast also performed great signs and wonders and deceived the people of earth.  He also forced everyone on earth to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead.  Without this mark, no one could do business.   “This calls for wisdom.  If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is a man’s number.  His number is 666.” (Revelation 13:18)

Much has been written and discussed over the years about this beast and his name and number.  Many people have speculated about who this beast might be or where he will come from.  Some think that we are very close today and that this mark will be some kind of computer chip implanted under the skin of the right hand or forehead.  The main emphasis of this passage is to warn those who believe to use wisdom and stay faithful to God.  God will protect His people and provide for them during this time.  God’s people are sealed with the Holy Spirit and protected by His blood!  They will overcome by standing firm in God!