Good day dear friends.
God wants us to win. Actually, God wants us to go beyond winning, to be "more than conquerors." Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: In the very back of your Bible, please find Revelation 20:7-10 where you find the final battle described in some detail. The interesting thing is that we can tell Satan, “We’ve read the Book and we know who wins! You don’t!” Read this story and decide if you’re on the winning side or not. If you’re not, today is your day of decision to get on the right side with God.
Here is that passage from Rev. 20:7 When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea. 9 They marched up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from heaven and consumed them. 10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The final battle. God wins. The pastor whom I succeeded here at First, told him that in his last year here he got a call from Universal Studios based in Austin. He was suspicious of there being a Universal Studios there, but he took the call and it was a representative from the movie company seeking permission to film inside our historic church. The scene would be a wrestling where Jesus and Satan would have the last wrestling match. And don't worry, the rep said, "Jesus wins!" We, of course, know that already. And no, permission was not given for such a movie to be made inside our sanctuary.
Why did John have this vision of this last battle? To show how powerful and cunning Satan is and will be up until the last day. Notice John writes that the deception will take place even to "the four corners of the earth" and people will still believe him and join his side. Sadly, many do not think they are on Satan's side, and we do our best in trying to keep folks from going that way, but there are those who still do not believe in God that they've decided already and they end up on Satan's side.
This apocalyptic vision shows that the end of Satan is coming. And the end of those who serve him and even fight for him is coming too. That end, as John saw it, is not a pretty one, and the end for all on that side will never come; that is to say their suffering and torment will be eternal.
We need to seek God and to serve God in all we do. We should be those who stand for life and its fullness in Jesus Christ, and try to encourage others to join us. And we do it because we know the consequences right here and now of living a life separated from Christ, and what's to make us think that end will be any different, if not worse? Let us seek today to help others find God's loving and saving grace.
PRAYER: Loving God, let me be on Your side today and all days. Let me bring others to know you and trust you. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
God wants us to win. Actually, God wants us to go beyond winning, to be "more than conquerors." Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: In the very back of your Bible, please find Revelation 20:7-10 where you find the final battle described in some detail. The interesting thing is that we can tell Satan, “We’ve read the Book and we know who wins! You don’t!” Read this story and decide if you’re on the winning side or not. If you’re not, today is your day of decision to get on the right side with God.
Here is that passage from Rev. 20:7 When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea. 9 They marched up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from heaven and consumed them. 10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The final battle. God wins. The pastor whom I succeeded here at First, told him that in his last year here he got a call from Universal Studios based in Austin. He was suspicious of there being a Universal Studios there, but he took the call and it was a representative from the movie company seeking permission to film inside our historic church. The scene would be a wrestling where Jesus and Satan would have the last wrestling match. And don't worry, the rep said, "Jesus wins!" We, of course, know that already. And no, permission was not given for such a movie to be made inside our sanctuary.
Why did John have this vision of this last battle? To show how powerful and cunning Satan is and will be up until the last day. Notice John writes that the deception will take place even to "the four corners of the earth" and people will still believe him and join his side. Sadly, many do not think they are on Satan's side, and we do our best in trying to keep folks from going that way, but there are those who still do not believe in God that they've decided already and they end up on Satan's side.
This apocalyptic vision shows that the end of Satan is coming. And the end of those who serve him and even fight for him is coming too. That end, as John saw it, is not a pretty one, and the end for all on that side will never come; that is to say their suffering and torment will be eternal.
We need to seek God and to serve God in all we do. We should be those who stand for life and its fullness in Jesus Christ, and try to encourage others to join us. And we do it because we know the consequences right here and now of living a life separated from Christ, and what's to make us think that end will be any different, if not worse? Let us seek today to help others find God's loving and saving grace.
PRAYER: Loving God, let me be on Your side today and all days. Let me bring others to know you and trust you. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
