Today’s reading is Revelation 15:1-16:21.

This probably jumped out at me because just before reading today’s scripture, I was responding to a question about revenge and retaliation based on one of my sermons. How providential is that a few moments ago, I was reading and commenting in an e-mail about Romans 12:17-19 and then I come to Revelation 16:5-7.

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord’” (Romans 12:17-19).

“And I heard the angel in charge of the waters says, ‘Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!’ And I heard the altar say, ‘Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!’” (Revelation 16:5-7).

Men will do evil against us from mocking us to betraying us to killing us. However, it is not our job to seek vengeance. That is God’s job. We can trust Him to accomplish it in His time. Let’s live in peace as much as depends on us and let God do His job when He deems it is the appropriate time.

***Question: What practical things do you do to help you avoid seeking vengeance?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 13:1-14:20.

Perhaps because of my Granddad’s recent death, I’m struck by Revelation 14:13. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’”

For God’s child, meeting death is not frightening as it seems to most. Death is not a mystery. It is a door into eternity with the God we’ve been glorifying in our lives. It is the opportunity to be able to fully accomplish what we’ve been desperately striving to do in this life. We will be taken to paradise and then on to heaven at the judgment. In those arenas, we will gather around the throne of God and glorify Him with our incorruptible bodies, our new voices, and our perfect unity. 

I also can’t help but notice it says then we’ll rest from our labors. That means it is not time to rest from my labor today. Today, while I still have breath, I need to labor for the Lord. A rest is coming. It will be a glorious rest. But to prepare for that rest I need to labor now.

Let’s get to work for the Lord today.

***Question: What do you do to labor for the Lord each day?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 11:1-12:17.

Many who call themselves Christians today seem to be trying to figure out a way to be Christian but also have the world like them. I can’t help but remember Joel Osteen on Larry King Live trying to agree with a woman who claimed salvation was only in Jesus but still have Larry King (I believe he’s Jewish) and the “non-Christian” viewing population still like him by saying that even though he agreed with the caller who was he to say how God is going to save someone.

This is a losing proposition. Jesus told the truth and ended up on a cross. Do we think we can do much better? Do you think we can teach about Jesus and have the world like us?

Revelation 11:1-14 tells about two witnesses who teach the truth about Jesus. They end up being killed. But note specifically Revelation 11:9-10:

For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.

No doubt, some will believe the message of those who testify of Jesus. For the rest, as amazing as it sounds, the message of Jesus will be a torment. There is no middle ground to avoid this. If we find some middle ground in which the world does not feel tormented by the truth of Jesus, then we aren’t really teaching the truth of Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying be vicious and hateful in your evangelism. I’m simply saying that no matter how we tell it, if we are telling the truth, those who don’t want to believe will be tormented by what we say. That may even cause them to attack us verbally, emotionally, and perhaps even physically.

But the glorious message of these two messengers is that even though it appeared that the world had defeated them, after three and a half days, God raised them up. They were victorious. That is the message of Revelation. God wins. We want to be on His side no matter how anyone else responds.

***Question: How do you maintain faith in the face of opposition?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 9:1-10:11.

Revelation 9:5 jumped out at me today.

“They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them…”

That reminded me of God’s instruction to Satan about Job in Job 2:6, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

The difference between Job and the folks in Revelation is that Job hadn’t been living in sin before this, but by the time he was done with this temptation he repented of the sins he had committed (Job 42:6). The folks in Revelation didn’t repent no matter what discipline they saw, even after another trumpet was blown and plagues killed mankind.

“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21).

I can’t help but think of some of the devastating things that happen in our world. I’m not saying that tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes are the direct judgment of God (though they might be). However, there is no doubt that God allowed them to happen. These great displays ought to cause those who remain behind to repent and turn to God, seeking the life and salvation He offers. Sadly, it seems that most often these cause folks to become more entrenched in sin believing God must not be out there. That is really not logical. It is as if folks believe because God allowed something they don’t like, He must not exist. That is no evidence either way. The thing we need to see is that life is a vapor. Death is coming. It may come from cancer. It may come from a car wreck. It may come from a hurricane. It may simply come from old age. But it is coming. Repent now. Glorify God now. Turn from idolatry now. Do these things while there is still time for you to glorify God and draw close to Him. Remember what we learned yesterday. He is the one who holds salvation.

***Question: What forms of idolatry still plague the world today?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 7:1-8:13.

Revelation 7:10 shows a great multitude crying out: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

What a powerful statement. What a directive statement. Think about it. This says salvation does not belong to me. I can’t own salvation in the sense that somehow I get it for myself. Salvation is God’s. Salvation is the Lamb’s. If I want salvation, I have to go to God and the Lamb to get it.

So, what should be my top priority today? Trying to get salvation from me and my effort? Absolutely not. I can’t get it that way. Instead, my top priority should be striving to get close to God and the Lamb. They have salvation. If I am in them, then I’ll have salvation.

***Question: What do you do to get close to God and the Lamb?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 5:1-6:17.

Yesterday, I saw that the Father was worthy of worship because of His creative power. Today, I see the Son. He is also worthy. The text says, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). The text goes on to say, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13). Then the elders fell down and worshiped. In context, they were worshiping both of those they claimed to be worthy of honor and glory. They worshiped Father and Son. The Father is worthy of worship because of His creative power. The Son is worthy of worship because of His life giving work on the cross.

Revelation 5:9-10 says, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Jesus didn’t die to save the Jewish nation. He was sacrificed so people from all tribes and nations could be saved through Him. I’m thankful. That includes me. 

Today, I need to honor and glorify Jesus because of the life He has given me. I need to acknowledge Him. I need to thank Him. He is worthy.

***Question: What do you do to honor Jesus every day?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 3:1-4:11.

The very last sentence of today’s reading caught my attention.

The 24 elders around the throne cast down their golden crowns and worship God saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

Why is God worthy of glory, honor, and power? Because He created all things. He did not evolve all things. He did not set the plan in motion and the world naturally produced all things. He created all things. 

I am becoming increasingly convinced that a new battle is waging between the world and Christ’s people. It is an old battle, but it seems in the past few years to have reached a new intensity. Sadly, some want to characterize it as a battle between science and faith. That just isn’t true. It is a battle between two systems of faith. One is a faith that the universe is governed by random chances. The other is a faith that the universe is governed by an all-powerfully intelligent being. 

Regrettably, some who believe in the all-powerfully intelligent being are wanting to please both sides. They want to be seen as people who believe in God, but also people who believe in evolution. Richard Dawkins and I agree on one thing. You can’t have it both ways. If God guided what is here, then it didn’t get here by natural selection. If natural selection is the mechanism by which all of life is here, then it wasn’t God. You just can’t have both.

Revelation 4:11 demonstrates the importance for the Christian believing in God’s creative power. It is that belief that promotes worship. It is that belief that promotes submission. To the degree that we lose faith in God’s creative power and work and increase faith in the randomness of the universe, we’ll diminish our worship of God. 

After all, if God didn’t create all of this by His own power, of what worship is He worthy?

God is the creator. Everything is here because of God. Be amazed at His handiwork and how it is perfectly suited for you and me to exist and continue existing. Don’t give honor to the random chance of the universe. Honor God, casting down your crown. Worship Him.

***Question: How do you honor God on a daily basis?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 21:1-22:21.

One of the most repeated themes of the Bible is of God’s children leaving, wandering, being disbursed and then returning.

Abraham traveled into Egypt from the promised land and then returned. Jacob went to Paddan-aram but later returned. Joseph went down into Egypt, but his body was later returned. Jacob’s family went down into Egypt, but later returned. Naomi went into Moab, but later returned to Judea, bringing Ruth. David fled Jerusalem before Absalom, but later returned in victory. Israel was led captive into Assyria and Judah led captive into Babylon, but later returned to Judea under Medo-Persia. Even Jesus’ story begins as He was taken down to Egypt, but then later returned to Nazareth.

Over and over again, God’s people are sent away from their home and later come back. Really then, it should be no surprise to see how Revelation ends. It is not just a fitting end for Revelation but for the whole Bible. In Genesis 3:222-4, God’s children were sent out of their home. God had made a garden. In the midst of the garden was the tree of life. God sent His children away from that tree. However, in Revelation 22:1-5, they return. God’s children are able to drink from the river of life and eat from the tree of life. 

It was a long time coming. It took tremendous planning. It took tremendous time. It took the sacrifice of God’s Son and the surrender of our lives to Him. However, in the end, we will return home. Christ is victorious. Satan loses. The battle began in the beginning, but Jesus has already won.

If we want to be in that homecoming, we need to be on Jesus’ side. I can’t wait to get home. How about you?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 19:1-20:15.

The Revelation 19:11-16 description of Jesus is not the picture we like to think of very often. But there it is.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Wow!

He judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire. His robe is dipped in blood. A sword comes from His mouth. He rules with a rod of iron. He treads out fury of God’s wrath. Armies follow behind Him. 

That is our Savior. That is a far cry from the Casper Milquetoast fellow so many make Him out to be. Today we are told Jesus just loves so much. How could He possibly judge anyone? Even when we see this picture, we rather like to think of Him as only behaving that way toward the really, really bad people, at least the people who are worse than us.

Basically what I get from this is I want to be on His side. I don’t want to be on the receiving end of the sword and trampling. I want to be following along behind. The issue is not really how good I am. The issue is have I surrendered my life to Him. He wins. I better be on His side.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 17:1-18:24.

Babylon, the great, the city which was the center of attack against Christianity is fallen. Among those who realize this book is about the persecution those early saints were facing, some suggest this city is Jerusalem and others Rome. Sadly, some today are trying to figure out which city of our future this will be. That is a mistake. But no time to discuss that now.

What I couldn’t help noticing was why so many were enamored with the city. I couldn’t help noticing why so many chose this prostitute over the holy mother of Revelation 12. 

Revelation 17:11-17 shows the merchants mourning because there was no more cargo. The delicacies and pleasure were gone. We are often enamored with the harlotry of sin because of the momentary pleasures. Let’s face it. Sin is fun. It’s exciting. It offers a lot in the moment. We may even hang out there a while enjoying the spoils and pleasures of our immorality. But its end is death and judgment. Don’t be fooled.

Revelation 17:17-20 shows the shipmasters mourning because they could no longer get rich off the cities harlotry. We are often enamored with the harlotry of sin because it can grease our pockets with material goods. I can’t help but think of the e-mail I received this morning about Apple accepting pornographic apps for the iPhone now. Very sad. Folks don’t traffic in this harlotry because it is healthy, they do so because it can make them wealthy and they know it.

The key, however, is that all those who are enamored with this harlotry will be judged in one hour. One hour they will be living the high life (maybe) and the next, they will be judged.

Of course, there is an interesting verse in Revelation 17:16. “And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire…” That is interesting because these are the ten kings are integrally connected with the prostitute. They hate her but they will mourn for her in Revelation 18:9. How does this make sense? I see it as the trap of sin. It promises so much and so we are enamored with it, but it delivers so little. Therefore we hate it. But we keep thinking the next trick will provide the satisfaction. It’s a trap. We hate it and love it all at the same time. When we are trapped in the harlotry of sin, we see the damage it causes and want to stop. But we are enthralled with its promises and so we push farther in it, constantly disappointed. 

So, those enamored with Babylon the Great, may not be living such a high life. They may be caught in the ever spinning ratwheel of sin trying to catch the carrot of sinful satisfaction but only getting exhausted and falling into despair. Yet, they just won’t get off the wheel. Then judgment will come and they’ll mourn.

Remember, sin promises much. It provides little. And if you continue to be enamored with it, you will eventually mourn its destruction and your judgment.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?