Tag: end times

Cold War

Leviticus 12-13

*Psalm 10

*Matthew 24

  Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

          Does anyone remember the “cold war”?  It was a time in our history where we publicly acknowledged that even though we weren’t “weapons hot” in direct combat with an opponent, we were still actually fighting in a secret war.  The term was a little misleading because while there was all sorts of nefarious activity going on, it was mostly kept out of the public eye, or fought in other places.  The exact number of men who died during the Cold War is not definitively known, as the conflict was primarily geopolitical and indirect, involving proxy wars, political repression, and nuclear threats rather than direct large-scale battles … However, estimates of total deaths linked to Cold War-related conflicts range from (according to a Quora analysis) 10.8 million to 25 million. Stop for a moment and think about that.

            We are similarly involved in a spiritual “cold war” right now. People are dying as you read this, because most of us are too scared to acknowledge that it is going on, and those who understand that it’s going on are too scared to get directly involved.  Fear is one of the greatest tools used by our enemy(ies) to keep us in line, and from becoming a threat.  We’ve been divided into different “denominations”, and told that we should only socialize with folks who think exactly like we do, because we (insert your denomination here) are the only ones who have rightly understood scripture and everyone else is wrong, and therefore, the enemy.  Even though we are told repeatedly in scripture that our standard of measure is our love and unity, not necessarily agreement mind you, but love and unity. We never even stop to think about the hard, cold fact that the first tactic in almost any military incursion is to isolate, misinform, divide, and conquer.

            Our reading today of Psalms 10 lets us know that this isn’t a new problem.  This has been going on since just after the creation, but if you pay attention, you can see that it’s ramping up now.  Our reading of Matthew 24 gives us an idea of what more is coming, and how it all ends.  Whenever my wife sees something on the news that is shocking and appalling, and gasps “Can you believe that?” to me, I always respond by saying “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”.  We know that when our King returns, it will get better…but it’s going to be tough until then.

            “Why do You stand afar off, O Yahweh?…” (Ps 10:1, LSB).  Sometimes it seems that way, but know that He does not.  That is a deception by the enemy.  If you are alive, right now, it is because the breath of your God is in your lungs.  He is with you, and beside you, all around you, and within you.  God tells us directly (through Jesus) that the tares must be allowed to grow alongside the wheat (Matt 13:24-30), and also that it is through many trials and tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).  We’re at war, did you expect a cake walk?  Toughen up, soldier.  We have a mission.

            “For the wicked boasts…and the greedy man curses and spurns Yahweh.  The wicked…does not seek Him.  All his thoughts are ‘There is no God.‘” (Ps 10 3-4, LSB).  It becomes easier to do what you know is wrong if you deny the fact that there is a Creator, and that this Creator will one day bring forth His justice, His salvation…His Yeshua (seriously, look it up.  The name Yeshua, or “Jesus”, means the “Salvation of God”).  Many people turn to alcohol or drugs to help them forget this, even if it only works for a little while, and then you need more.  Foolishness.  God will judge the earth, so every action you take in your lifetime should be to offer a good accounting of yourself during that judgment, if you are wise.  We will be judged by our fruits, we need to get to planting.

            “He sits in the places…where one lies in wait; In the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.  He lies in wait…to catch the afflicted…and the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.  He says in his heart, “God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.” (Ps 10:9-11, LSB).  Folks, this is still going on right now.  I knew some of those guys.  They’re bad guys. 1 Peter 5:8 depicts the devil as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Whether or not you believe in a personal Adversary, understand that there are bands of men doing this right now for a livelihood, in your town.  Stay alert, and live a righteous life.  Shema!  If you succumb to your vices, they will consume you.

            “O Yahweh, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will cause Your ear to give heed.  To give justice to the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror” (Ps 10:17-18 LSB).  If you have read and believe in the scriptures, you know how this story will end.  No matter how bad it looks right now, we know that we have a hope.  We await the salvation of God, His Yeshua, to come and judge this earth in righteousness and equity, to “break the arm of the wicked (Ps 10:15) and to seek out his wickedness until none is found”.

            “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated…and at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.  Many false prophets will arise and will deceive man.  And because lawlessness is multiplied, most peoples love will grow cold.” (Matt 24 9-12, LSB).  God have mercy, it’s going to get worse.  If we are hating each other, or betraying each other, or our love grows cold…we will have lost the battle, and we will die forever.  Guard your heart above all else, because when your love grows cold, so will your life, and your hope for a life in the kingdom.  Do all that is within your power to prevent this, seek ye first the kingdom of God, love Yahweh God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.  Don’t you see that your enemy is trying to kill you right now?  Wake up, and FIGHT!

            We have some specific signs and indications that tell us of the coming of the Son of Man in Matthew 24:29-31. There is a reason that at this time “the tribes of the earth will mourn” (Matt 24:30), because the time has come, there is a God, and the judgment of the wicked has come upon them. No man knows the time or the hour (not even Jesus at the time), but only the Father (Matt 24:36); but we see in the parable of the fig tree in Matt 24: 32-39 that when we see these things, we should understand that the time near. 

            My friends, look around you.  The time is near.  Now is not the time for distractions and diversions, but for a redoubling of focus and effort. Our king is returning, and soon!    Do not think proudly that you have already attained admittance into the kingdom, but humble yourself before God, ask God for wisdom, pray, fast, read scripture, do all that you can do to restore and renew your relationship with your God.  If you do, who knows?  Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the earth who have worked His justice, Seek righteousness, Seek humility.  Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh’s anger (Zeph 2:3, LSB).

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. As Christians, how can we fight in this war? 
  2. What are some of our offensive weapons?
  3. What are some of our defensive weapons?
  4. Are we utilizing them effectively, and why or why not?

PRAYER

Father God, thank you.  You have given us life, breath, and all things.  Our enemy seeks to destroy us, Father protect us.  Lord God, may your will be done in my life. When you return to judge the earth, have mercy on me on that day, and let me humbly seek to please you until I go to rest in the ground to await You.  Please grant me wisdom, and grant me Your spirit to guide me and protect me.   May the lips of all of Your creation offer you up the praise that you deserve, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Take Heed! Be on the Alert!

Mark 13

Gone are the days when the majority of households across the United States and Canada left their homes unlocked day and night.  The idyllic scene of a squeaky screen door being pushed open and banging closed, has faded even in small town America.

The first home security system was invented in 1966 and patented in 1969 by Marie Van Brittan Brown.  Marie’s husband often traveled for work, and she didn’t feel secure answering the door in his absence. The system she created consisted of two peepholes, a TV monitor, a two-way microphone and a sliding camera.  Marie could see who was at her door and interact with them from inside the safety of her home.

From that time to the present, home security has been revolutionized.  Wireless technology, video surveillance, integration with smart devices, AI, and cloud -based systems seamlessly work together to provide protection and peace of mind for countless households. 

But what about when you step out your door?  One of the tenets of personal safety, away from your home, is to be aware of your surroundings.  Pay attention when you’re walking down the street, loading packages into your car in the Mall parking lot, or even sitting in a restaurant.  Don’t have your face riveted to your phone.  Look up!  Pay attention!  TAKE HEED! 

The last two-word warning, “TAKE HEED,” was used by Jesus four times in Mark 13, KJV.  Other translations, such as the NIV or the NASB, translate the phrase “watch out,” “see to it,” and “be on guard.”

Mark 13 is known as the Olivet Discourse, (also found in Matthew 24 and Luke 21.)  Jesus begins teaching his disciples after they mention the temple’s majestic buildings, and he answers that these magnificent structures will be destroyed.  Peter, James, John and Andrew ask Jesus when this is going to happen, and what needs to happen first. 

Jesus’ response includes a discourse detailing persecution, and current, continuing and end-time prophecies.  And throughout this dialogue, he warns, “TAKE HEED!” 

“And Jesus began to say to them, ‘TAKE HEED that no one misleads you.’” (Mark 13:5)  Many individuals will claim to be Christ.  Various wars and natural disasters will happen.  This is just the starting point.

In verse 9, Jesus warns the disciples to look out for their personal safety.  “TAKE HEED, for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.”  He reassures the disciples not to be anxious when they are arrested, for the Holy Spirit will speak through them. 

Jesus continues in the succeeding verses, sharing details of a terrible time of trouble and suffering, ending with “TAKE HEED” in verse 23.  “But TAKE HEED; behold, I have told you everything in advance.”

Finally, after unparalleled occurrences in the skies—darkened sun, falling stars and more—Jesus tells his disciples he will return with great power and glory.  No one but God knows when that will happen.  Not the angels, not even Jesus.

“TAKE HEED, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.”  (Mark 13:33)

Jesus expands on this warning by giving an example of a man on a journey, away from his house, who instructed the doorkeeper to stay alert.  The doorkeeper did not know when the man might return.  Perhaps he would be found asleep, not ready for his master’s return. 

Jesus ends his teaching with authority.  “Be on the alert!”  (Mark 13:37b)

Unlike the doorkeeper in Jesus’ example, (verses 34-36), who might not be ready, Marie Van Brittan Brown, the inventor of the first home security system, wanted to be prepared if someone knocked on her door.  She wanted to know who was on the other side. 

You can know who is waiting patiently to enter the door of your heart.  Just listen. 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”  (Revelation 3:20,21)

Luke 21:28, (also the Olivet Discourse) says, “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Let’s face each day with a head lifted up in praise of our Creator, and a heart prepared and anticipating the return of our Savior.  Come Lord Jesus! 

Reflection Questions

  1. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would speak for the disciples after they were arrested.  How has God’s Spirit spoken through you in times of trial?
  2. Think of a time when you were “on alert” in your life.  How did God help you?
  3. How are you preparing each day for Jesus’ return? 
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Ready for the Day. And Ready for the Night.

Old Testament: Exodus 23 & 24

Poetry: Psalm 29

New Testament: Matthew 25:1-13

Are you ready for the day? Do you have clean clothes to wear, you have your keys, phone and wallet, your homework is done, you have prepared for the meeting or test, and you remembered to brush your teeth before leaving the house. It’s a good feeling to be ready. 

When was the last time you were caught unprepared? You scrambled to put together a clean (maybe matching) outfit because the dirty hamper was overflowing, the teacher gave a pop quiz, visitors found a messy house, you didn’t have the project complete when the boss wanted it, the bill wasn’t paid by the due date, and in the rush to get out the door you forgot to brush your teeth. It’s no fun not being ready. 

In Matthew 25 today we read of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, or Bridesmaids, depending on which version you read. They are all anxiously waiting for the bridegroom’s arrival and they all have a lamp/torch/light with them as it is day now but they don’t know when he might come, so they (seem) prepared to wait even if it grows dark. And it does. 

Jesus tells us five of the virgins (typically referring to purity) were wise and five (still, pure virgins) were foolish. And since they all had their lamps with them and were anxiously awaiting the bridegroom’s (Jesus’) arrival I feel it is safe to say that all ten would call themselves “Christians” or Jesus followers. The five foolish aren’t chasing after the world and doing immoral, evil things. They have their lights and are waiting, right along with the five wise.  I think they are even sitting in the church pew and doing all the right things right along with the wise, all day long.

And then it grows dark. BOTH the wise and foolish get drowsy and even begin to sleep. BOTH are wakened with the great news, “The Bridegroom is coming!” But now we run into trouble. Well – half of them/us do. 

Five of them didn’t bring oil to keep their lamps burning, their lights are going out, and they haven’t seen the bridegroom yet. They desperately demand to get some oil from the five wise who brought oil with them, but the wise know they don’t have enough oil for both their light and another light. In the final moments the foolish run off scrambling to go buy more oil. And it is in those final moments that the long anticipated arrival of the bridegroom takes place. He finds the five wise waiting with their lights burning bright and he ushers them into the wedding feast. The door is shut and the party begins. 

In the previous chapter Jesus had just warned of the darkness that would proceed his second coming: increased wickedness, love of most growing cold, many deceived by false prophets and false christs, war, famine, earthquakes, and persecution. He warned that during that time of darkness many Jesus followers will fall away. They are the 5 foolish. They are the ones who won’t have enough fuel to keep their light burning through the darkness. They are the ones who will miss the party and be left out in the dark and will hear the Savior say, “I don’t know you.” 

Each person needs to be prepared – and stay prepared – even in the final dark days/moments/hours. Just having a light in the daytime is not enough. Just walking with the wise, right crowd is not enough. It won’t work to get into the Kingdom with a spouse, parent, grandparent, pastor, or friend who is prepared. You need your own light – AND the oil to keep it burning bright all night long if needed. 

Which half will you be a part of? Are you prepared? Are you ready? Do you have your light with you? That’s a good first step! But are you also prepared for the coming darkness that will indeed come before the Savior arrives? Do you have enough fuel to keep your light burning bright until you are ushered into the great wedding feast? Are your ready for the day? Are you ready for the night?

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. First off, are you a Jesus follower, waiting for his return, prepared with a light?
  2. Are you prepared to keep your light burning in the darkness?
  3. What part of the darkness scares you most (wickedness, deception, natural disasters, famine, persecution)? How can you work on strengthening your stand now and preparing for the darkness so you won’t fall away in the darkness? 
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This World Stresses Me Out

Old Testament: Nahum 1-3

Poetry: Psalm 138

New Testament: Matthew 24

Wars, diseases, crime, hate, famines, earthquakes, hurricanes, and a bunch of other bad stuff can really stress you out these days.  It really seems to have gotten worse lately.  I am 58 and a half years old, so I was growing up in the 70’s when nuclear weapons became a big topic of the day.  Many Christians I knew were saying that we were in the end times then.  In fact, I remember one person predicted that Christ may be returning in 1982.  Clearly, that wasn’t a very good prediction and it taught me not to make predictions about such things, but I do think events are a lot more aligned now with scripture and the end times could be starting now or soon.  Matthew 24 talks about the end times when things are going to get bad, really bad, but it also gives those who can persevere a lot of hope.

I am not going to review all the signs of the end times mentioned in Matthew 24 here; you can read those yourself.  However, my quick summary that I already mentioned is that it will be bad, really bad.  Jesus warned us in verse 6 that we will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but he also said that we should not be alarmed because these things need to happen before the end comes.  He went on to describe a lot of other disturbing events that will take place.  He was warning us of what is going to happen so we can stay chill during that time.  Unfortunately, he also told us that many would turn away from the faith at that time.  If we didn’t have this warning, I do think it would be difficult to keep our faith when we see the whole world crumbling before our eyes.  But c’mon, if you say you have faith now when you know these bad times are coming, it is not much faith if you abandon it when you see exactly what you already knew was going to happen.  It should increase your faith when you start to see events that were written about 2,000 years ago actually occurring.  That’s impressive.  Moreover, we already know how this story ends, and it is amazingly positive for those who keep their faith to the end.

It is true that some will lose their faith because they just can’t handle all the bad things that are going to happen, but Jesus has another warning for a different group of people.  He talks about a group of people that aren’t ready for his return.  They are people that even believe in Jesus, but they start thinking that he has been gone a long time, so they have more time before they need to get their lives in order.  They think they can live for themselves a bit longer before they need to repent and start living for God.  There are two major problems with that thinking.  First, your life could end today, and you will have missed your chance to be saved.  Second, only God knows when Christ is going to return, and it is going to surprise many people.  Jesus told a story about a master of a servant who will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.  There will be people that put off the decision to live for God because they think they have more time, but instead will find themselves in the place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  It will be too late the same way it was too late for all the people in Noah’s time who didn’t believe Noah until it started raining.

This has all been explained to us in scripture so you really shouldn’t be surprised when it happens.  It was explained to us beforehand so we can stay calm and know that once this happens, we will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

Reflection Questions:

Does this world stress you out or do you realize that God is in control, and everything is going to turn out great in the end for His people?

Are you glad Jesus warned us of the bad things that are going to happen or would you rather have not known and be surprised when it happens?  Do you think it would be easier to keep your faith in the end if you knew what was going to happen or if you were in the dark?

-Rick McClain

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The Marriage Supper of the Lamb AND The Great Supper of God

Old Testament: Ezekiel 31-32

Poetry: Psalm 104

New Testament: Revelation 19

     At the start of Revelation 19 heaven rejoices over God’s actions regarding Babylon the great. Soon we hear about the coming of the marriage supper of the lamb, and John is informed that the bride is clothed in fine linen which “is the righteous acts of the saints” (v. 8). He is also told to write that those who are invited to the wedding supper are blessed. This feels a bit like when Jesus commented in 16:15 “I am coming like a thief,” drawing our attention forward to coming attractions rather than remaining in sequence with events.

     The voice which spoke about the marriage supper came from God’s throne, and hearing it speak caused John to fall and want to offer worship. John is corrected for this and told that only God is to be worshipped (v. 10). But it seems like in this case he made an understandable error. Throughout Revelation voices come from a variety of exalted sources, among them angels, strong angels, mighty angels, an angel standing in the sun, the Temple, the altar, and the horns of the altar. For John it may have been like experiencing holy surround sound, never knowing where the next proclamation would emerge from. Maybe degrees of grandeur are indicated by who spoke from where, giving different impacts to their statements. It wasn’t always clear to John what the intention was.

     The message of the chapter proceeds, announcing the arrival of Christ, and of the armies of the world gathered for Armageddon. In fact, the word “Armageddon” is only named back in 16:16 where its origin is explained. Here the battle is previewed as “the great supper of God” – a supper for the birds, to eat the carrion it will provide, in contrast to the wedding supper of the lamb (v. 17‑18). With Jesus on the move there is no contest (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Jesus seems to be given credit for the entire victory: the gathered forces “were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.” That is, except for the beast and the false prophet. Those two are removed from the scene and dropped into the lake of fire, receiving their punishment for serving the dragon and for deceiving the nations.

     The description of Christ includes having “a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself” (v. 12). Note that this mirrors part of Christ’s letter to the third church, Pergamum. There Christ said he would give overcomers a white stone with a new name written on it, which only the recipient would know (2:17). (That same letter identifies Christ with the sharp two-edged sword, shown in John’s opening vision sticking from Christ’s mouth, much as in chapter 19; 1:16; 2:12.) I like the idea of these names which are known only to oneself. I wonder if I am being fanciful in thinking this new name involves having a sense of your own identity. You won’t need to share that with anyone else. There will be no need to. There will no longer be self-doubt, rivalry, jealousy, any of the potential bitterness that plagues our current lives. It will be a wonderful time. I hope to see you then.

     Lord, I look forward to the day when your kingdom has come on earth as you now reign in heaven. You have been waiting for a long time, allowing more people to be saved through the grace of your son. May your glory and your majesty be shown in my life while I wait for that day. Let me be empowered and enthused to perform righteous actions that will please you. Let me set my mind on the things of the Spirit, live as your humble servant, and exalt you. Let my light so shine before men that they will glorify you. Let me present my body as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to you. Renew my mind, so I may prove what your will is. Thank you, my God. In Jesus’ name I pray these things, Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you ever think about the fact that it is our opportunity, and honor, to clothe the bride of Christ in righteous acts?
  2. Who are some of the people you want to sit with at the wedding supper of the lamb? What do you think you will talk about there?
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She Falls

Old Testament: Ezekiel 29 & 30

Poetry: Psalm 103

New Testament: Revelation 18

     Revelation 18 pictures the shock of those who supported and gained from the success of Babylon the great, and then see it destroyed. As others have said, true wealth is found only in Christ, so those who tried to gain from corrupting themselves with Babylon did so at the cost of their lives (Matthew 16:26). When the voice from heaven warns to come out of Babylon it isn’t just about leaving before the city falls if you happen to be there, but to avoid contamination with its practices lest we fall as well (compare 2 Corinthians 6:17).

     It is again difficult to decide whether some details in the chapter were meant literally. Does Babylon engage in sorcery, or does that express its evil influence on those caught up with it? Which of the trade goods listed are we to think Babylon truly receives – the list wasn’t going to include modern luxury items, but is it just trying to give the feel of wealth based on first century items? Is it in the slave trade, or does it wreck people’s characters? Some will ask if Babylon is a port city at all, or a system with a global reach. Is Babylon destroyed and burned in a single hour, or does it just suffer a rapid fall? (In Revelation 17:12 we were told that the ten kings shared their power with the Beast for one hour, so we may have a reason to see this time reference as metaphorical. Contrast for example the effort taken in the text to show that three and a half years / 42 months / 1260 days is a precise figure.) That last point would be simple to explain in our modern society, however, as a collapse after a single hour which leaves fire behind could refer to a nuclear attack.

     You might hear part of this chapter and think you were in the Old Testament (for example you could compare Ezekiel 27). There is that feel to it. You could imagine Jonah saying these things about Nineveh. It’s all from the same God. Sometimes God gets to show mercy, but when judgment is called for God does not hold back. In fact, after recounting the despair of the kings and merchants and sailors who sinned with Babylon, the chapter calls on God’s servants to rejoice in what has come about. In Revelation 18:21 a strong angel announces Babylon’s permanent fall and punctuates the point by throwing “a stone like a great millstone” into the sea. Jeremiah never went to Babylon, but he sent a scroll there with Seraiah describing the fate of the city and told him to read it aloud, and then tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates (Jeremiah 51:63). The judgment of God was being left to sink to the bottom, like the city would sink. As I said, we are reading words in a familiar style.

     I’ve long been struck by cases where God set up instructions that don’t seem to have end conditions. How long was the Garden of Eden guarded by an angel with a flaming sword (Genesis 3:24)? Perhaps it was until the flood of Noah’s day destroyed it, or it could have all withered away first. And while the millennium brings grace across the world, will the former site of Babylon the great sit as a blighted patch reminding people of old evils? That may be its fate. As the angel said, no more will the sounds of music, work or happiness be found in her. But then “in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.” It seems like Babylon the great is worthy of the treatment it receives. We would do well to learn its lesson in advance and turn our backs on all its ways and put our hearts fully toward that other city (the one with foundations; Hebrews 11:10).

     Lord, thank you for sanctifying us by the Spirit and faith in the truth. Thank you for teaching us to take pleasure in righteousness. Thank you for disciplining us for our good, so that we may share in your holiness. Thank you for giving us sound words through your servants. Please help us to listen, and to reflect on what you have said. Help us to grow in your will. And in everything we do, in word or deed, may we do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Through him we give thanks to you, dear God. Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

1.  When you envision God, do you see God as preferring to show mercy or to give judgment?

2.  What do you find yourself most valuing about your life as a Christian?

3.  What do you most look forward to in your future as a Christian?

4.  What do you most appreciate being able to share with others as a Christian?

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One Bad Woman

Old Testament: Ezekiel 27 & 28

Poetry: Psalm 102

New Testament: Revelation 17

     Revelation 17 begins a section about “the great harlot,” or Babylon the great (17:1) which finishes in chapter 18. One of the seven angels from the seven bowls introduces the topic, and later John is shown the bride of Christ, meaning the new Jerusalem (21:9‑10, perhaps by the same angel). So, in these chapters John sees two cities portrayed as women, one a pure bride partnered with Christ, and the other an immoral prostitute partnered with the antichrist. God is making the sides in the conflict clear and wants us to be clear about our choice.

     Babylon’s fall had been announced in 14:8 and 16:19 – from those verses alone we know that it made nations drunk on the wine of its immorality and was given the wine of God’s wrath to drink. Revelation is picking up from Old Testament texts about Babylon with a somewhat different feel, there Babylon brought punishment on countries for God in war. Babylon was described as itself being the cup of God’s wrath which those nations drank from, maddening them. But after its work was done God turned against Babylon, and the city was also defeated (Jeremiah 25:15ff; 51:7, 11). With Revelation Babylon the great’s immorality is key, and it brings destruction to others by association; it is then destroyed for what it did to God’s servants, and the destruction comes at the hands of its allies.

     The vision shows Babylon as a wealthy, richly dressed prostitute, drunk on the blood of God’s servants and offering her immorality from a valuable cup. She is sitting on “a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns,” which is a simple depiction of the Beast from Revelation 13:1. We may be meant to see Babylon as trying to use the Beast, in riding on it, but the Beast uses Babylon, gaining influence from it. In 17:18 we are told that Babylon is the “great city” that reigns (or “has a kingdom”) over the kings of the earth. The identity of the city remains in dispute, but like so much about Revelation it should become much clearer later. The city is presented like an imperial capital, though some authors want to treat it as a culturally unifying site important for its influence in other ways.

     People often question how ‘literally’ to take things in scripture, particularly if they don’t see how events favor a near-term fulfillment. The reestablishment of Israel in 1948, for example, was highly significant for earlier generations in the Church of God but many other groups doubted it would ever take place. As another example, when the two witnesses die their bodies are seen by “the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations” and “those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them” (11:9, 10). In 1962 the communications satellite Telestar I launched, and it was hailed as allowing live broadcasts to be relayed around the world. A few years earlier people would have thought in terms of the witnesses’ photos being published in newspapers. And technology keeps advancing, along with the speed at which changes increase. The iPhone was introduced in 2007, and it is thought that already over two‑thirds of the world’s population has a smartphone – a much simpler way for ‘everyone’ to be shown events happening anywhere in the world. I’ve begun to wonder if the fact that those devices permit use of translation services, which at least partially undo God’s choice to confuse the languages at Babel/Babylon (the name through Hebrew and Greek) could end up relevant to the fact of Babylon the great being the name given for the city, and an aspect of its influence. What is a global false religion without the ability to communicate globally, after all? It’s just a thought.

     I find it disturbing to think that the corruption pictured in Revelation 17 with Babylon the great could come to pass through human failings. But I think that may be part of what God wanted us to recognize, that even before any supernatural power got involved the situation was awful. And that could be why the end of the age comes when it does, because things reach the point that it is time for change.

     Lord, I do not feel endangered today, where I am, but I know you have servants who face risks in many countries around the world today. Please strengthen the hearts of your people, and protect them. They are faithful, help them to remain faithful. Let them trust you and stand firm. Keep them from the evil one, and sanctify them in the truth. And Lord, as I do not feel endangered, let me be bold for you. Let me not forget what your son has done for me. In his name I pray this, Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you ever struggle over whether a scripture ought to be seen as literal or figurative? What helps you to make up your mind about that?
  2. Is there a Christian or a ministry that you regularly pray on behalf of? If so, consider writing them a note today to share your appreciation for them. If not, consider saying a prayer today for someone whose ministry matters to you who you haven’t seen in a while.
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7 Bowls

Old Testament: Ezekiel 25 & 26

Poetry: Psalm 101

New Testament: Revelation 16

     I tend to think of the seals, trumpets, and bowls of God’s wrath as a sequence, but when I’m away from reading Revelation for a while I can lose track of how late in the book the bowls appear. Way back at the sixth seal we are told of God’s wrath, and that people would try to hide from it in caves and beneath rocks (6:15-17). Now, in chapter 16, that wrath comes. Its targets, as Paul stated, are not Christ’s followers (1 Thessalonians 5:9); they are people who served the Beast, killed God’s servants, and would not repent. Considering the nature of some of the bowls, it may be hard to imagine how anyone is protected from their impact – but during years of drought God made sure that Elijah ate and drank.

     Several bowls seem to build on earlier parts of Revelation. While the second and third trumpets affected just a fraction of the sea and rivers, they are fully affected by the pouring of the second and third bowls. With the fifth seal a vision came to John of those who died for the word of God, crying out for judgment (6:9‑10), the angel of the third bowl declares that such judgment is happening and is fully justified (16:6). Those with only blood to drink had poured out the blood of the righteous. The comment “they are worthy” is ambiguous, it may describe the martyrs as worthy of being avenged, or their killers as worthy of this punishment. Either interpretation may feel different than how “worthiness” was discussed in chapters 3-5. There worthy believers were dressed in white. There also a great search took place for one worthy to open the seals on God’s scroll, and the lamb was found. But God does not just watch over the righteous, He also does not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:7).

     Part of the effect of the fourth trumpet was to bring darkness in a third of each day. The fourth and fifth bowls of wrath initially scorched with the sun those who defy God, and then plunged them into darkness. In both cases the people chose to blaspheme God, rather than repent. (I bypassed the first bowl, and the sores it brought; those sores remind me of Job. I see these people as anti-Jobs, beyond trust or accepting help, who simply lash out.)

     The sixth bowl involves the river Euphrates drying up, as preparation for eastern armies to reach the site of Armageddon (in the north of Israel). That is as opposed to the sixth trumpet when an army tied to the Euphrates killed a third of the population (9:15). Also, evil spirits come from the dragon and the two beasts to gather the kings of the world to Armageddon. When the seven seals and seven trumpets were listed there was a lengthy pause after each of the sixth entries, and there is also a pause after the sixth bowl, but this one is fairly short, just a brief comment from Jesus about his coming like a thief.

     With the seventh bowl the fall of Babylon begins (see chapter 18). The worst earthquake in history occurs, and Jerusalem splits in three. Language about the islands and mountains moving (Revelation 16:20; 6:14) suggests there is overlap between the seventh bowl and the sixth seal. Overlap of language also seems to link the seventh bowl with the seventh trumpet (16:18, 21; 11:19). Even if we can tie the timing together for those two moments we can’t say much about the overall chronology of the seals and trumpets. Some of those events are stated to take months or years, and God may just want us to know about all of them but not to understand interconnections.

     The famous four horsemen from the first four seals collectively tie to the devastation of humanity. Whatever it is the “victors” of such conflict may think they have gained, they do not possess the wisdom to avoid fighting the army of Christ. The battle of Armageddon will be massive and destructive, but it will at least be decisive, and it launches a time of peace and restoration on earth.

     Also mentioned with the seventh bowl is hail the weight of a talent (v. 21), which may mean it is a hundred pounds. The heaviest recorded hailstone so far is 2.25 pounds. A bit lighter case, 1.9375 pounds and the size of a softball, left a ten-inch pit where it struck. Why will God use such large hailstones? If the goal is to impress, why not just have a lot of hail? But that has been done. The hail accumulation record is from 1959, when a 54-square-mile section of Kansas received a 19-inch covering of hailstones. I find that much hail difficult to envision already. Amassing a hundred pounds of ice layer by layer in the clouds may only be feasible with a miracle of air pressure. Penny-sized hail requires 40-mile-per-hour updrafts. Grapefruit-sized hail requires 98-mile-per-hour updrafts. Tornadoes do achieve winds over 300-miles-per-hour, but anyway I think you see the issue. Just referring to the weight of the hail may lead us to underplay in our minds the significance of the storm itself.

     But still, why 100-pound hailstones? Perhaps because God will be dealing with people who would seek to hide from judgment beneath rocks, and in caves. And at least some portion of those refusing to acknowledge their sins will be the world’s most powerful and haughty, those who were content with their actions and amassed huge wealth in service of the Beast and Babylon. Some of them might even be sealed in bunkers when the bowls of God’s wrath are tipped out. Perhaps they will check in on events through video, and then just turn off the screens. But God does not intend for anyone to remain comfortably oblivious to the truth, or even comparatively so, in whatever hideaways they find for themselves. A hundred pounds of ice will put a hole in quite a lot of concrete, steel, and pretension. And God has excellent aim (Joshua 10:11).

     Lord, let me not be complacent, comparing myself to those who will one day go far astray. Truly, without your grace, I would be quite different. But no one sets out to be deceived and destroyed. Please help me be observant of others’ needs, not inattentive. The world is a less distressing place than it will be, but even now there are issues I feel I can only bring to you in prayer. Let me pray, but also show me where I should act. Please help me to trust in you, and to keep my compassion and hope. You are a great God, and you continue to work powerfully. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

  1. Revelation 16 describes the last plagues God enacts in this age, which finish His wrath (15:1). What do you think it shows us about how God views wickedness? How do you think it might have affected people over the centuries?
  2. Are you sometimes comforted by considering God’s promises to bring judgment on the wicked? Maybe, like you see a rainbow and remember God’s mercy, you can see hail and recognize that He won’t just let things go on forever.
  3. Revelation 6:16-17 refers to people who wished to hide from “the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come.” (Revelation 15 and 16 don’t refer to matters that way.) Do you find it jarring to think of Jesus expressing the wrath shown in the chapter?
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Your Role in Revelation

Old Testament: Ezekiel 4-6
Poetry: Psalm 92
New Testament: Revelation 7


My apologies, I messed up the schedule and talked about Revelation 5 rather than 6 yesterday, so today we’ll get a lot of Revelation! I am writing this from somewhere in the middle of Indiana with about 27 of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray for all those going to ReFuel South. Please pray for our safety and great blessings to those hosting it! I also pray the worship and preaching will glorify God and encourage the walk of faith for all attendees!


Most little girls love horses. Horses are beautiful, graceful, and strong. I, however, have a healthy fear/respect for horses. A long time ago, I volunteered with a program that matched horses with kids with disabilities. I loved the kids. However, I spent most of the time grooming a horse that knew I feared him and took every advantage of that… including releasing some methane every single time I brushed his backside. Ugh. So you can imagine I find the visions of the four horses of the apocalypse especially disturbing. In fact, most of yesterday and today’s reading was pretty gruesome. Ezekiel starts out eating scrolls that taste like honey but ends the reading with foretelling about the great destruction of Israel. One third is killed by fire, one third is killed by the sword, and one third will be saved but scattered across the nations. Keep this in
mind for tomorrow’s reading in Revelation. Revelation starts with the horses representing the conqueror, death, famine, and war along with the seals representing the martyrs and terror.


Thankfully, we move on to the 144.000 chosen from the tribes of Israel. But then, THEN, WE are mentioned!!! Starting in verse 9, WE are “ the every nation, tribe and tongue,” wearing white robes shouting, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”


When the reading of the Old Testament and Revelation gets a little frightening, It is these promises of God to which I cling… Much like on the few occasions I ride a retired horse on a worn park trail!

-Maria Knowlton

And the editor apologizes for yesterday missing that we are starting Ezekiel with 3 chapters for the first few days in order to get the rest of the Old Testament to squeeze into the rest of the year. So you might need to play a little catch-up to get in Ezekiel 3. Sorry. But, while we are talking schedules, I am starting to put together the Bible reading plan for next year. If you have a preference on what that might look like (chronological, 1-3 readings a day, etc…), leave a comment or let Marcia know. Thank you for Seeking, Growing & Loving with us!

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you prepared for your role in Revelation? Do you know and confess the ones who hold Salvation?
  2. How can you practice for your part today?
  3. Why do you think God gave both Ezekiel and Revelation to the audiences they were originally written for, as well as saved for you and I?
  4. What do we learn about God in our reading today?
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Visions of God

Old Testament: Ezekiel 1 & 2

Poetry: Psalm 91

New Testament: Revelation 6


There are so many reasons I am so thankful for the Holy Word of God. I don’t really have enough time to tell you all about them right now but there was one I just thought of while reading today’s scriptures…

Revelation describes some fairly scary creatures and situations. I am very glad that I get to read about it and know what is going to happen first!


Both Ezekiel and Revelation reveal visions that are wild, brilliant, and fascinating….. But lead to very different ramifications for the people to whom God revealed it.


Ezekiel was given the vision because of the oncoming punishment He would send to the rebellious people of Israel (thankfully God gave them hope for the future as well but that is in a future reading).


Revelation is very different… the visions and prophecies are for those who love the Lord and follow the teachings of Christ. Revelation 5 is a beautiful vision of introducing the only one who is worthy of opening the seals of the scrolls, Jesus Christ, the lamb who was slain.


I’ve been a little too busy this week, working my job and preparing to go to ReFuel South (Whoo Hoo) so I didn’t do a lot of research on the meanings of all the visions I read about today. I cannot even pretend to understand it all, but I do know this one thing. I want to be on the receiving end of the Revelation vision… not the Ezekiel vision. Sadly, there is a vision of the future for those who do not want to be with Jesus in the coming kingdom. There is no coming
back from the second death. Not only do I not want to die that second death, I want to be with Christ! I hope to see you there!

-Maria Knowlton

Reflection Questions

  1. What similarities and differences do you find between Ezekiel and Revelation?
  2. What hope do you find in God’s Word for the future?
  3. What do you learn about God from His Word today?
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