Good day dear friends.
I shared with you sad news about Kit Tomlinson's uncle dying unexpectedly yesterday afternoon. He was in his 50s and in good health, Friday he felt the flu coming on and thought that's what he had. The family had to call EMT to take him to the hospital and he died Wednesday. Please pray for the family of Jay Ribble. Also, continued prayers for the missionary hospitalized in San Antonio battling a brain tumor. And for Darrell Patillo, who is fighting cancer.
Our study guide on winning seems a bit long today, at least the recommended texts, but they take us to the Final Battle. I've shared the recommended texts below in The Message, a very easy to understand version of the Bible. What should be our hope in reading these passages is the knowledge of the Victor at the final battle. Think about it, how can the Creator of all things possibly lose to one of His own creatures? John's vision included this final battle and while it may mean many things to many others, for us it should mean whatever battle we may fight, with God on our side, we cannot lose. And when the days do come to an end, our God of life will be still alive, giving life to those who in Him trusted. A word of caution, any time we read the Word of God we must begin with prayer, so please say your own prayer, then read the passages. Let God speak to you today.
Here's our study guide:
Thursday: Read Revelation 19 and 20. This may be a lengthy reading, but it’s an apocalyptic reading about the final battle. The main message of the passage for us today is the victory that is God’s when it’s all said and done. This is an eternal victory. Compare the struggles of today versus the ultimate victory. How does your faith allow you to read this passage?
Here are those two chapters in The Message format of the Bible:
1 I heard a sound like massed choirs in Heaven singing, Hallelujah! The salvation and glory and power are God's - 2 his judgments true, his judgments just. He judged the great Whore who corrupted the earth with her lust. He avenged on her the blood of his servants. 3 Then, more singing: Hallelujah! The smoke from her burning billows up to high Heaven forever and ever and ever. 4 The Twenty-four Elders and the Four Animals fell to their knees and worshiped God on his Throne, praising, Amen! Yes! Hallelujah! 5 From the Throne came a shout, a command: Praise our God, all you his servants, All you who fear him, small and great! 6 Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder: Hallelujah! The Master reigns, our God, the Sovereign-Strong! 7 Let us celebrate, let us rejoice, let us give him the glory! The Marriage of the Lamb has come; his Wife has made herself ready. 8 She was given a bridal gown of bright and shining linen. The linen is the righteousness of the saints. 9 The Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!" 10 I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn't let me. "Don't do that," he said. "I'm a servant just like you, and like your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 11 Then I saw Heaven open wide - and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. 12 His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that's known only to himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as "Word of God." 14 The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. 15 A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. 16 On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords. 17 I saw an Angel standing in the sun, shouting to all flying birds in Middle-Heaven, "Come to the Great Supper of God! 18 Feast on the flesh of kings and captains and champions, horses and their riders. Eat your fill of them all - free and slave, small and great!" 19 I saw the Beast and, assembled with him, earth's kings and their armies, ready to make war against the One on the horse and his army. 20 The Beast was taken, and with him, his puppet, the False Prophet, who used signs to dazzle and deceive those who had taken the mark of the Beast and worshiped his image. They were thrown alive, those two, into Lake Fire and Brimstone. 21 The rest were killed by the sword of the One on the horse, the sword that comes from his mouth. All the birds held a feast on their flesh.
Chapter 20:1 I saw an Angel descending out of Heaven. He carried the key to the Abyss and a chain - a huge chain. 2 He grabbed the Dragon, that old Snake - the very Devil, Satan himself! - chained him up for a thousand years, 3 dumped him into the Abyss, slammed it shut and sealed it tight. No more trouble out of him, deceiving the nations - until the thousand years are up. After that he has to be let loose briefly. 4 I saw thrones. Those put in charge of judgment sat on the thrones. I also saw the souls of those beheaded because of their witness to Jesus and the Word of God, who refused to worship either the Beast or his image, refused to take his mark on forehead or hand - they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years! 5 The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were up. This is the first resurrection - 6 and those involved most blessed, most holy. No second death for them! They're priests of God and Christ; they'll reign with him a thousand years. 7 When the thousand years are up, Satan will be let loose from his cell, 8 and will launch again his old work of deceiving the nations, searching out victims in every nook and cranny of earth, even Gog and Magog! He'll talk them into going to war and will gather a huge army, millions strong. 9 They'll stream across the earth, surround and lay siege to the camp of God's holy people, the Beloved City. They'll no sooner get there than fire will pour out of Heaven and burn them up. 10 The Devil who deceived them will be hurled into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the three in torment around the clock for ages without end. 11 I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. 12 And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there - before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. 13 Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. 14 Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death - Lake Fire. 15 Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire.
PRAYER: Come Lord of life to my life today and speak words of victory in all I face. Speak Your word of comfort and love to those mentioned above especially those who have lost loved ones. Remind us over and over again that there is no death for those who die in You. And we pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day.
e.v.
