Thursday, December 17, 2009

Rev 18 describes the doom and fall of Babylon, the home of demons, foul spirits, those drunk in sin, and the worldly kingdom of the Antichrist. "'Woe! Woe, O great city... In one hour she has been brought to ruin! Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you."

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Rev 17
"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers."

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Rev 16 discusses the seven "bowls of God's wrath" that are poured out onto creation. An angel says to God after the third bowl, "You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged... Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments ". After the seventh judgment bowl was poured out, there was another voice that announced "It is finished" and there was immediately thunder, lightning, and a tremendous earthquake. Reminds me of when Jesus was at the end of His life and announced the same while he was on the cross ( "It is finished") and an earthquake followed immediately. Both events mark historically a beginning and and end to life as we know it and have absolute and eternal consequences both physically and spiritually for all of mankind.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Rev 15
"Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed."

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Rev 13 discusses two more evil beasts, one who rises from the sea and the other from the earth. They are allowed to speak great blasphemies against God and deceive all the people who belong to the world. They were allowed to wage war against God's holy people. The people of the world, those whose names were not written in the Book of Life, all worshiped the beasts. John tells us also that the beast's number is 666, which has some mysterious relevance to Satan's attempt to undo Chris's work.
Rev 14 describes the destiny of the body of believers who have endured persecution on earth and will soon enter eternity of blessing and glory with Him, and forever "will rest from all their toils and trials". Jesus is described as having separated the "harvest", which is a "ripe crop" among the whole earth. Believers will receive their long-awaited reward and God's wrath and judgement will be proceed against the unbelievers, symbolized by imagery of grapes being trodden and blood flowing from a winepress.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Rev 12
"It has happened at last--the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ! For the accuser has been thrown down to earth--the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night. And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die. Rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice ! But terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time."

Friday, December 11, 2009

Rev 10-11 tells of another "mighty angel coming down from heaven" to announce the final judgements on all creation. Then the seventh angel will sound his trumpet and the whole world will "become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he will reign forever and ever".