WEEK 21 MEMORY VERSE:
”Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Revelation 16:15

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Revelation 15:1-8
A Proper Fear
The interlude in this progression is now over, and the angels are ready to complete the judgment cycle with the final seven plagues, or bowl judgments. There is a bit of chronological confusion inherent in this narrative, as the last chapter made some statements that seemed to indicate the finality of the judgments mentioned there. Hence these seven bowls of wrath are either poured out AFTER the events of the previous chapter, which would give credence to more of a “mid-trib” view of the rapture, OR these chapters are not meant to indicate a chronological sequence – so the description of the bowl judgments that follow would simply be a more detailed explanation of the final judgment introduced in chapter 15. Either way, we know that these last seven plagues carry a sense of finality, and that they will be more severe than the earlier episodes of judgment.
It is interesting to notice the specific words of the victorious saints this time: “Who will not fear you or give glory to your name?” The focus on the “fear” of God is fitting here, because in many ways their triumph during the time of tribulation is due to their ability to fear (respect, honor, and hold in awe) God more than they fear the pressure and persecution that is mounted on them by the world in which they live. May we have that same awe and reverence, along with a sincere and deep love for God that motivates us to live for him even when under pressure.

Prayer Starter:
Lord, thank you for the example of these saints who will be faithful to you during the most intense period of danger the Church has ever known. I know that those who harden their hearts and will not give you the reverence due you will face horrendous suffering as a result. Help me today to follow the former, and not the latter.

WEEK 21 MEMORY VERSE:
”Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Revelation 16:15

Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Revelation 14:6-20
Judgment on the Beast’s Followers
In stark contrast to the previous scene of celebration of those who have been faithful to the Lamb, today’s passage introduces the judgment of those who have been seduced by the Antichrist and rejected the rule of God in their lives. Dark phrases pepper this whole passage: “Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries”; “he, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury….He will be tormented with burning sulphur”; “the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night…”; “They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.”
This is a horrifying conclusion, and should simply reinforce for us the truth that the realities of life on this earth, both now and during the tribulation period, are strictly temporary. We must not let the pressures of this world to conform overcome us, even if that pressure includes the threat of death, for the truth is clear – eternal joy awaits those who are faithful to Christ, and eternal torment for those who bow down to idolatry of whatever form.

Prayer Starter:
Thank you, Lord, that as your child I am eternally delivered from the wrath and justice of God, which will eventually win the day. Help me not forget the awful eternity that awaits those who reject you in favor of the spirit of this age.

WEEK 21 MEMORY VERSE:
”Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Revelation 16:15

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Revelation 14:1-5
Triumphant Over the Beast
Here we see the scene of 144,000 redeemed followers of the Lamb on Mount Zion, standing with the Lamb amid the singing of a song of worship before the throne of God by an angelic chorus. The number 144,000 is again probably symbolic as opposed to being an exact count. This is the same multitude that was sealed back in chapter 7 for protection during the Great Tribulation. Remember that they were protected from the judgments of God upon the earth, but they have faced martyrdom during the tribulation period because they refused to receive the mark of the beast. Now they have come through the Great Tribulation and they stand on Zion, which symbolizes the defeat of God’s enemies and the salvation of his people. They are said to be undefiled and pure, probably a reference to rejecting idolatry. They are triumphant over the beast not as warriors, but as those who have repeated the victory of the Lamb over the enemy by their submission. Allow the victorious scene here to inspire you today. Even if we live into the tribulation and face severe hardship, persecutions, and execution for our loyalty to Christ, remember that the ultimate victory belongs to the Lamb and his followers.

Prayer Starter:
Lord, please help me to be faithful to you. Help me to follow the example of these martyrs and to remain faithful to you, confident of the ultimate victory of Jesus and those who follow him.

WEEK 21 MEMORY VERSE:
”Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Revelation 16:15

Monday, August 3, 2009
Revelation 13:1- 18
Patient Endurance
The main theme of this chapter is the continuation of the persecution of the saints, this time by two beasts that are energized by the dragon. During this drama, a contest is going on to seduce all people – even those who follow Jesus – to worship the dragon and the first beast. They are successful in deceiving the whole world to worship them and temporarily defeating the saints. The second beast (from the earth) joins their conspiracy and further encourages allegiance to the beast by introducing the “mark of the beast”, a visible mark on the hand o forehead. This mark is a sign of allegiance to the beast, and will be required for carrying on business through conventional channels in the world. Some take the Antichrist, represented by the first beast, to be a literal, physical, individual person, while some take it to be more as a general reference to the spirit embodied in any and every system throughout history that has set itself up to destroy the followers of Jesus or to entice them to become followers of Satan through deception, idolatry, blasphemy, and spiritual adultery. Perhaps this spirit will climax in a final, utterly devastating manifestation in one man or system, but perhaps we cannot know for sure. What we do know is the truth John proclaims in verse 10: “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Ask God for patient endurance and faithfulness in your own life today, whether or not the spirit of the Antichrist reaches apocalyptic proportions in your lifetime.

Prayer Starter:
Lord, I know that there is an enemy whose opposition to you, and to me as your follower, is very real even now. Help me to be faithful to you no matter what hardship or trial I may face because of the spirit of the Antichrist at work in this world. Help me to resist the temptation of worshiping the beast and to remain true to you.

WEEK 20 MEMORY VERSE:
”For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17

Sunday, August 2, 2009
Revelation 11:15- 12:14
The Woman, the Baby, and the Beast
With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, a scene of worship around the throne again ensues, and the time for ultimate judgment and reward is announced, yet an intermediary section follows which will last 3 chapters before the final “bowl judgments” are unleashed. In chapter twelve, the highly symbolic narrative of the woman, her child, and the dragon is put forth. This imagery seems to represent the whole of redemptive history (not necessarily in strict chronological order), as the child undoubtedly represents Christ, the dragon represents Satan, and the woman represents the community of faith from which Christ sprung, and which continues to be harassed by the enemy. We see symbolically represented the expulsion of Satan from heaven; the birth of Christ and his finished work of crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension; and the persistent attacks of Satan upon the community of faith, primarily through persecution. Three realities stand out and challenge us today: 1) Satan is always threatening the purposes of God within human history; 2) Jesus won the ultimate victory over these threats through his death, burial, and resurrection; and 3) both now and throughout human history there will be persecution and opposition to God’s faithful people, inspired by the dragon, which will cost some believers their lives – but the Church will ultimately have victory.

Prayer Starter:
Lord, please teach me how to be faithful amid the opposition that exists now to your truth, and prepare me if I live in the generation that will see in intensify to apocalyptic proportions. Thank you that ultimate victory is assured, and that the dragon will not triumph! Keep me far from his ways.

WEEK 20 MEMORY VERSE:
”For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17

Saturday, August 1, 2009
Revelation 11:1- 14
The Two Witnesses
This passage has been considered by many the most difficult to interpret in the whole Book of Revelation. It is uncertain how much of it is to be taken as symbolic and how much literal, and it is likewise uncertain how this relates to the entire context and the progression of the seals, trumpets, and bowls. What is for sure is that in the midst of this period of radical judgment and radical hardness on the part of humankind, God raises up a faithful source of testimony to the truth. Many believe these two witnesses are symbolic of the testimony of all true prophets or of the entire church during this period rather than two literal men. No matter what the specific interpretation, the encouragement we can draw from this account is that 1) even in the darkest days the truth will continue to be proclaimed; 2) the world will always stand in opposition to this proclamation and gloat when it is quelled; and 3) God will always ultimately vindicate his servants who speak and live according to the truth, as symbolized by the resurrection of the two witnesses. The church will ultimately have victory over the death blow of the beast. Today, ask God to make you a faithful witness, even if there is a bit of discomfort and persecution at stake. The ultimate victory lies with those who overcome through Christ!

Prayer Starter:
Lord, whether these witnesses are literal or figurative, may I model my own life after them. Help me to boldly live my life for you, realizing that while there will always be opposition to the truth, there will also be ultimate vindication and victory for those who are faithful to you.

WEEK 20 MEMORY VERSE:
”For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17

Friday, July 31, 2009
Revelation 10:1- 14
The Hard Assignment
In this interlude between the sixth and seven trumpets, John is given a scroll to eat, which symbolizes receiving God’s word into his innermost being so that he could truly proclaim it with confidence. The announcement that “there will be no more delay” is a promise that the final purposes of God about to be accomplished. The time has com to judge the dead, reward those who follow Christ, and to destroy those that have destroyed the earth as his instruments of judgment. The seventh trumpet introduces this final progression of the events of the book – the final judgments of the bowls and the establishment of God’s rule on the earth. The bitterness of the scroll in John’s stomach signifies the distastefulness of being the one to proclaim a message of ultimate judgment, even though it at first tasted sweet (the joy of receiving any message from God). This chapter strongly confirms John’s prophetic call to bear this message of what is going to happen. Sometimes God might give you and me a task that is distasteful to us, as well. Even though the message John needed to deliver was heavy and unpleasant, he obeyed God so that God’s purposes could be fulfilled. We need to show the same kind of dedication, even when the tough assignment comes our way.

Prayer Starter:
Lord, thank you that you choose to use not only great apostles like John, but also ordinary people like me. Help me today to have courage when you lead me to do something that challenges and stretches me. And help me to get the maximum amount of personal growth in the experience.

WEEK 20 MEMORY VERSE:
”For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17

Thursday, July 30, 2009
Revelation 8:1-9:21
The First Six Trumpets
The seals, the trumpets, and the bowls of Revelation are connected in that the seventh seal reveals the trumpets and the seventh trumpet reveals the bowls. Therefore it makes sense to consider the first six trumpets together. The plagues represented by these trumpets are reminiscent of the plagues that came upon Egypt preceding the Exodus. The first four of these plagues are extraordinary natural disasters (hail, fire, earthquakes, meteors, darkening of the sun, moon, and stars), and the last two are the attacks of two armies, thought by some to be demonic hordes and by others to be modern armies with the implements of modern warfare. Whichever interpretation one chooses, it is certain that all six of these trumpet plagues are a judgment on humanity for their willful choice of idolatry – and that even when they undergo these horrendous judgments they by-and-large refuse to repent, leaving further judgment as the only option. These plagues are meant by God to offer societies the chance to turn away from their sin and toward him. The fact that they do not do so, but instead continue in their hardness, shows us the incredible capacity for hardness of the human heart. Pray today that God will continually grant you a softness of heart and humility so that you life will in no way resemble the foolish victims of these plagues.

Prayer Starter:
Lord, the things described in today’s passage are horrific and unthinkable. Allow me the wisdom to see all the insights these events can offer me – my (and all of humanity’s) smallness and helplessness in the face of your wrath; the need for my heart to be submissive and teachable before you rather than stubborn and hard; and the certainty of judgment that s to come upon the earth and those that reject your ways.

WEEK 20 MEMORY VERSE:
”For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Revelation 7:9-17
The White-Robed Multitude
In today’s reading, John introduces a second group of followers of Christ. This group is “a great multitude…from every nation, tribe, people and language….wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.” This group stands in marked contrast to the first group – innumerable as opposed to 144,000; and from all nations as opposed to just from Israel. Interestingly, though, they are thought by many to be essentially the same group of people. Remember that the number 144,000 is thought to be symbolic, and that “Israel” represents the Church, and this makes perfect sense. This second image is a snapshot of this group AFTER they have come through the tribulation period. They join together in a chorus of praise to God. Perhaps the most moving part of this chorus is the promise that “he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” Rejoice today in this glorious promise, and in God’s ability to make it so!

Prayer Starter:
Thank you, God, for your ability and willingness to wipe away every tear from my eye in the final day. Help me to live as if I believe totally in your ultimate deliverance and protection, and that nothing I go through (even if it is the Great Tribulation itself) will separate me from your loving-kindness.

WEEK 20 MEMORY VERSE:
”For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17

Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Revelation 7:1-8
The 144,000 Sealed
In this interlude between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals, John introduces us to two groups of saints, and we look today at the first group – the 144,000. John sees the angels who will unleash destruction upon the earth being restrained until these 144,000 servants of God from every tribe of Israel are “sealed”. This sealing indicates ownership of these by God and the Lamb, and it offers protection to them, not from persecution by the enemies of Christ, but from the wrath of God. This group is said to be from Israel, by which John means the “spiritual Israel”, the church. The number 144,000 is widely held to be a figurative number representing all the Christians who are going to face the “Great Tribulation” period. This language of “sealing” assures us as the people of God of his special concern and plan for us. Even if we are the ones who will face the Great Tribulation, with persecution and martyrdom at the hand of the beast, we can be certain that no plague from God will touch us. We also know that we will be in his presence forever because we are his very own possession.

Prayer Starter:
Thank you, Lord, that you take the ownership and the protection of your people seriously. Thank you that I personally am a cherished possession of yours, and that I am ultimately sealed in you and protected forever from your wrath. If I am to face the Great Tribulation, or just the normal trials of living in this fallen world, help me to hold steadfastly to my hope in you.