Old Testament: Jeremiah 49-50
Poetry: Proverbs 27
New Testament: Revelation intro – found below
As I was leaving an elderly patient’s room, I told him I’d see him tomorrow. He replied, “God willing and the creek don’t rise!” I whipped back around, “What did you say?” I had never heard that saying before, but I immediately decided this line was going in my personal repertoire of phrases. It aligns very well with Proverbs 27:1 and James 4:13-15. We can make all sorts of plans, but we do not know exactly what God has planned for us tomorrow.
I don’t think anyone in Israel saw the events of October 7, 2023 coming. While there have been skirmishes between Israel and the Palestinians for decades, people were just going about their day. Some were shopping, eating out, or attending a music festival. No one was prepared for the Hamas ground and air attacks that took the lives of over 1,400 with 200 more kidnapped. My first thought when I heard this was – could this possibly be the wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24-6) that could spark the end of this age? That thought led me to the book we are about to enter into: Revelation. I’m gonna be honest, the book of Revelation is scary. The first time I heard a sermon about Revelation, I cried all the way home. Parenting tip: don’t let 1st graders listen to a sermon about the end times, even if it’s their father preaching! But God, through Christ, did not give that Revelation to John to scare us, but rather to prepare us. Even as young as I was, my biggest fear about the end times was if my grandparents had heard about this! I don’t remember all she said to comfort me, but my mom assured me that they knew.
There have been other times when God has given his people warnings and instructions for preparations for His people. In Jeremiah 49-50, God instructs Jeremiah to let Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam and last but not least, Babylon know of their upcoming destruction. He also delivers hope for Israel and Judah to be restored as His holy nation. And all of those events happened.
Both in the past and the end-time prophecies, God has given us these messages so that we can be prepared, and part of that preparation includes letting those we meet know about what is to come. Tomorrow I plan on doing some laundry, dishes, and painting the stairwell and the bathroom, God willing and the creek don’t rise. But if God has something else planned for me, I pray I will be found prepared for what HE wants of me.
-Maria Knowlton
Revelation Introduction
The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation (along with the gospel of John, and 1, 2, and 3 John) to the 7 churches in Asia, while in exile on the Isle of Patmos, “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus”. Our word revelation is translated from the Greek word “apokalypsis”, which means ”revealing” or “unveiling”, but because of the contents of Revelation, the word apocalypse is often thought of as “catastrophe” generally, and “the end of the world” specifically.
Revelation shows the fight between God and his Son Jesus on the one hand, and Satan and his evil followers on the other hand, and shows God’s ultimate complete victory via Jesus over Satan, sin, and death. Much of this is shown by a series of symbolic visions, with many allusions to Old Testament prophecies – making this probably the most complicated and most misunderstood book in the Bible.
Revelation includes successively more intense punishment on the world, starting with 7 seals, progressing to 7 trumpet judgments, and then moving to 7 bowls of God’s wrath. (For those of you worrying, 1 Thes 5:9 reminds us that Christians will not endure God’s wrath, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”)
Jesus is shown returning in glory in chapter 19, where he will make war against the beast, false prophet, and their armies. He destroys the armies with the sword that comes out of His mouth. Chapter 20 then tells about the future 1000-year reign of Christ on the earth before the final great white throne judgment. Chapters 21 and 22 then tell of the eternal Kingdom of God.
I’ll close with my favorite verse in the Bible, Rev 21:4, “He [God] will wipe away 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.”
-Steve Mattison
Reflection Questions
- What is the difference between being prepared for tomorrow and boasting about tomorrow? Where does God want us to be?
- What are your feelings about the book of Revelation? What are your feelings about the book of Jeremiah? Why do you think God gave each of these books to the original audiences – and also to you and I?
- What is the benefit to knowing a storm is coming? How does this relate to the book of Revelation? What is the benefit to knowing a storm won’t last forever? How does this also relate to the book of Revelation?
- What specifically will you do today to be better prepared for tomorrow and for God’s plans for the future? How will you help others be better prepared?
Seek Grow Love 