Devotionary

As the second of the three woes is pronounced, John is going to get a ring-side seat to mankind’s sin-hardened heart. The dreadful wrath of God will fall on men, in the form of three devastating plagues that kill one-third of the earth’s population. But as incredible as this sounds, the more amazing thing is that those who survive this unbelievable event, will still refuse to turn to God in repentance. Revelation 9:13-21 provides a sad indictment on humanity and its stubborn refusal to acknowledge God as the one true God. The people who will be alive on the earth during these final days of the tribulation will reflect the same attitude that the rest of humanity has displayed for generations. In spite of God’s judgment against them, they will refuse to give up their false gods and arrogantly persist in doing things their way, seeking help and hope in anything and everything but God. And the list John provides of their false gods, includes demons as well as idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood. None of

forgiveness for their sins and eternal life rather than eternal punishment? We call this offer the good news, but to many it is anything but that. In their darkness and sinfulness, they hear the words regarding God’s gracious gift of salvation and they reject it as unnecessary and undesirable. And as John will discover in today’s passage, even those going through the pain of God’s unrelenting judgment will continue to reject Him and refuse to turn to Him. Revelation 9:1-12 reveals the first of the three woes that are going to fall on the earth in the final days of the tribulation. Demonic activity will run rampant on the earth, with the forces of Satan tormenting all those who live on the earth who wear the mark of the beast. These will be all those who have refused Christ as their Savior. And their torment will be so great that they will wish for death and even attempt to take their own lives, but fail in their attempt to do so. They will be stuck in their misery and pain, completely unable to do anything ab

With the trumpet judgments, John is given a vision of the wrath of God as it is poured out on the fallen world, in a succession of devastating supernatural events. And accompanying their arrival, John hears the sound of a voice calling out, “Woe, woe, woe.” This will be a sorrowful time, filled with unrelenting pain and suffering upon the unbelieving world. And while we may find these judgments to be harsh, we must never forget that they are anything but undeserved. God has shown patience on sinful mankind for centuries, allowing them to continue to reject His sovereignty as God, and to refuse His gracious offer of salvation and forgiveness of sin made possible through His Son’s sacrificial death. Even during the tribulation, while some will respond to God’s offer and place their faith in Christ, the vast majority of people living during that time will worship the Antichrist instead. They will become part of an apostate church that no longer acts as the bride of Christ, but the sad victims of the great prosti

So much of what we read in the book of Revelation seems far-fetched and impossible to fathom. It reads like some kind of a sci-fi fantasy novel, complete with fantastic creatures, supernatural events, otherworldly imagery and apocalyptic scenes. Many have struggled with the book of Revelation, refusing to see any of its words as literal, preferring to interpret that book as allegorical and metaphorical. It is merely the attempt of John to describe events in a way that provides symbolic imagery that tells a hidden and mystical story. But if our refusal to take this book literally is because its content is too difficult to believe or explain, we fail to recognize that it tells of events that are the work of Almighty God. In Revelation 8:1-7, John is shown the opening of the seventh and final seal, and with it, he is given a glimpse into the beginnings of the judgments associated with the blowing of the seven trumpets. With each trumpet blast, a new and ever-more intense judgment is poured out on the earth and i

The tribulation is going to be a very difficult time. And John is being given an up-close and personal look into just how difficult it is going to be. But in Revelation 7:9-17, John is provided with a glimpse into a heavenly reality that is meant to bring him hope. In the first eight verses of this chapter, he was shown the 144,000 Jewish converts to Christianity who are back on the earth. They represent a remnant from every tribe of Israel, who have been graciously and miraculously called by God and made followers of Jesus Christ. Their witness on behalf of Christ will have a major impact on the unbelieving world, resulting in many coming to faith. And John is shown some of these very same individuals standing in the throne room in heaven, as they sing praises to God for His salvation. They are clothed in white robes and waving palm branches. They are expressing their gratitude to God for their presence in His Kingdom and their deliverance from the persecution of the Antichrist. Each of them is a martyr, who

God keeps His promises. He is a covenant-keeping God who never fails to follow through on His commitments. And that is an important lesson found within the pages of the book of Revelation. Every aspect of the vision given to John was prophesied well in advance. The Old Testament Scriptures are full of God’s promises regarding His plans for the people of Israel and for the future judgment of the world. And yet, there are many who seem to believe that God is done with the people of Israel. There are those who read the book of Revelation and see all the promises described as being fulfilled for the nation of Israel as actually referring to the church. They interpret many of the references to the salvation of Jews as being symbolic of God’s ongoing redemption of man through the salvation made possible in Jesus Christ. And while there are many who will come to faith in Christ during the days of the tribulation, we cannot overlook the fact that God will do a unique work among His chosen people, the Israelites. And

One of the most difficult things to come to grips with when reading the book of Revelation are the many references to believers being martyred for their faith. During these dark and difficult days, it will be extremely risky to be a confessing believer in Christ. The world’s animosity toward Christians will reach an all-time high. The Antichrist will be on a mission to eliminate any and all Christians from the face of the earth. And while the church will have already been raptured long before these events take place, there will be many who come to faith in Christ during the seven years of the tribulation. And, as we have seen before, many of these believers will become martyrs, for refusing to the take the mark of the beast and for worshiping Christ rather than the Antichrist. Revelation 6:9-17 reveals that, at their deaths, the souls of these martyred men and women will be ushered into God’s presence where they will call out to Him for justice and vengeance against their murderers. But God will give the surp

Three more horses carrying three more riders. That is what John sees as Jesus breaks the seals of the scroll and the content of the judgments are revealed. John will ultimately see four horses and their riders, each slightly different than the one before it. And each brings with it a different judgment to be meted out on the earth. This will be the beginning of God’s judgments upon the earth and its inhabitants, signaling that He is getting ready to bring to an end the reign of Satan on this earth. He will also judge all those who stand opposed to His will and in rejection of His Son as Savior. Revelation 6:3-8 signals the arrival of war, famine and death. These will be difficult days on the earth, with God bringing His long-anticipated judgment to bear on all those who are His enemies. With the breaking of each successive seal, a new aspect of God’s righteous wrath will be manifested on the earth. And we will see that one-fourth of the earth’s population will suffer death because of all that is going to happ

In Revelation 6:1-2, we see the breaking of the first seal and the beginning of the judgments of God. With the first seal, we are introduced to yet another key character in the tribulation storyline. It is an abbreviated description, but when combined with the rest of the book and other prophetic passages of Scripture, we can piece together a fairly clear image of who this individual is and what his role in the end times will be. He will be the first a several riders who appear riding various-colored horses. There is a sequential nature to these seals, as each one reveals yet another aspect of God’s coming judgment, each following the other in chronological order. John is being given a glimpse into the future, and he shared all that he sees with us, his fellow members of the church of Jesus Christ. As we will see, these images are not meant to scare or intimidate us, but to inform us about all that God has planned. They are also intended to produce in us a growing faith and confidence that our God is in compl

What John sees and records in this section of his book is pivotal in terms of the outcome of the rest of Revelation. God is holding in His right hand the scroll sealed with seven seals. There is a period of silence and tension-filled anticipation as the entire citizenry of heaven await the coming of the one worthy to take and open the scroll. And then John was introduced to “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.” It is Jesus, the Son of God. And John sees Him in the form of a Lamb, a designation that brings to mind His sacrificial death on behalf of mankind. And John points out that the Lamb was “standing, as though it had been slain.” He is the crucified and resurrected Lord, who because of His willing obedience to offer His life as payment for the sin debt of humanity, is worthy to take the scroll from His Father’s hand and begin the process of opening it and revealing its content. Revelation 5:6-14 begins the release of God’s judgments upon the world. And it will set the stage for all that is

We saw in chapter 4 that God is holy. The entire scene in heaven is a symphony of sights and sounds, declaring the holiness of God. And now, John is going to be introduced to another key player in the end time scenario: Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David. And while chapter 4 spoke of God’s holiness, Revelation 5:1-5 is going to focus on Jesus’ worthiness. He is the only one worthy to take the scroll from the hand of God, open its seals and reveal its content. At this moment, that scroll remains sealed and unopened. Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father in heaven, but the time has not yet come for Him to take the scroll and begin the process of unleashing the judgments contained within. But He is fully worthy to do so. Because He is the sinless Lamb of God. He has earned the right to do what no one else in heaven or on earth can do. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah and the future King of the universe. That scroll bel

John is seeing things that no man has ever seen before. He is undergoing a relentless assault on his senses, with sights, sounds and smells coming at him in rapid succession. And to his surprise and wonder, he finds himself standing in the throne room of God in heaven, surrounded by amazing imagery that defies human logic and description. But the most memorable aspect of this particular vision is the sheer volume of clues that point to the holiness of God. Yes, John is being given an opportunity to see “what must take place after this.” In other words, he is being provided with a preview of coming attractions – the events associated with the last days. But in spite of the fantastic nature of all that John is about to see and hear, what stands out in this chapter is the holiness of God. His very appearance is that of precious jewels. He is surrounded by colors and a host of characters who focus all their attention on Him. There are flashes of lightning and the sounds of thunder. John sees torches of fire and w

Self-sufficiency isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can lead to an attitude of independence and result in an unhealthy dose of pride. It is especially dangerous for believers, because we are meant to find our strength in Christ, not ourselves. It is when we become self-confident and seemingly autonomous, that we run into problems in the Christian life. And Jesus had some strong words to say to the final church on His list. This time, He is addressing a church that seems to have it all. In Revelation 3:14-22, John records the words of Jesus to the church in Laodicea. They were a relatively wealthy congregation who evidently saw themselves as relatively self-sufficient and in need of nothing. They had gotten cocky. Unlike some of the other fellowships, they weren’t having to deal with persecution or financial difficulties. Jesus accuses them of thinking too highly of themselves, claiming to be rich, prosperous, and in need of nothing. But they were actually blind to their true spiritual condition. And their

Philadelphia is known as the city of brotherly love. But it wasn’t the first city to have that designation. All the way back when John penned the Revelation, he included a section that was addressed to the church of Philadelphia in his day. It was one of the seven churches for which Jesus had a personal message. But the local congregation wasn’t feeling the love in Philadelphia. In fact, the synagogue in Philadelphia was treating the believers like second-class citizens and making their lives miserable. But Jesus encouraged them to keep up their morale and their morality. They weren’t to give in to the pressure or allow themselves to fall short of God’s expectations for them as a fellowship. And in Revelation 3:7-13, Jesus conveys some amazing good news to this struggling church. While they were experiencing their fair share of persecution and difficulty in this life, He assured them that they would be kept from the hour of trial that was coming on the earth. This is a reference to the seven years of tribulat

Spiritual deadness. What does that look like? It doesn’t sound too appealing though, does it? And when Jesus Christ accuses you of being spiritually dead, it’s not exactly a complement. But that’s exactly what the congregation in Sardis heard Jesus say about them. They had a reputation for being alive, but were really dead in the water spiritually. They were like a lifeless cadaver, painted up to look alive and well, and good enough to impress everybody but Jesus Himself. He saw through their hypocrisy. And He called them out for it. It wasn’t that the whole church was spiritually dead and without new life in Christ, but they had allowed the walking dead in their midst to have a negative influence on their congregation. And Jesus was particularly put out with the leadership in the church. They were responsible for the health and well-being of the church. But they had let their guard down and the unbelievers in. But while these lost individuals were giving the impression that they were saved, they were actuall

The world is full of temptations of all kinds, and it is constantly casting its deceptively-enticing lures our ways, in hopes of distracting and catching us in a down moment. Even the body of Christ, the church, can find itself lured away from trusting in Christ alone through faith alone, and accepting Satan’s offer of satisfaction without sanctification, and happiness without holiness. In Revelation 2:18-20, Jesus is going to address yet another congregation, both commending and condemning them. He will applaud them for their faith and endurance, but warn them against their unhealthy toleration of immorality in their midst. Jesus is going to have some fairly serious words for an individual in their local congregation who was leading the fellowship astray. He would pull no punches or spare no pains in pointing out this woman’s evil influence on the flock. And He was not too happy with the church body for allowing her to have a platform from which to spout her false doctrine and spread her deadly influence on

Compromise. It has always been a potential danger for the child of God. And compromise almost always takes a subtle form. It’s rarely blatant and obvious. Like Adam and Eve in the garden, our disobedience tends to be appear more like a form of clarification of the truth. Satan led Eve to compromise by questioning the word of God. He slyly asked her, “Did God actually say?” And she took the bait. She opened herself up to his deceptive reasoning. And the next thing she heard from the enemy was, “You will not surely die.” Satan flat-out denied the word of God. And he caused Eve to doubt God. In Revelation 2:12-17, Jesus addresses the church in Pergamum, and His primary bone of contention with this local fellowship is their spirit of compromise. Some within the church had allowed their convictions to cave in and they ended up selling out. But Jesus calls the rest of the church to remain faithful and true. He encourages them conquer, not compromise. And He lets them know that those who endure to the end can expect

It’s easy to get discouraged. Even as believers in Jesus Christ, we can find ourselves hammered by the circumstances of life and begin to lose hope. This can happen churches as well, as is illustrated in Jesus’ words to the church in Smyrna reveal. Revelation 2:9-11 gives us a bit of insight and encouragement regarding churches that find themselves going through difficult days. It’s not always easy. The world doesn’t always like us or welcome us with open arms. And the church in Smyrna was a struggling congregation that was surrounded by worldliness and suffering from constant persecution. On top of that, they were poor. They were a financially strapped church made up of members with limited resources, but plenty of problems. So, what does Jesus have to say to these people? Well, He doesn’t assure them that everything is going to be okay. In fact, He’s going to tell them that more suffering is headed their way. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. He doesn’t promise them immediate relief or a miracu

If Jesus was to write a letter to your church, what do you think He would say? Would it be filled with words of commendation and congratulations for a job well done? Would He shower your local congregation with accolades for all their generous giving and selfless serving? Or do you think He might have a few words of criticism and critique? Well, you don’t have to wonder or conjecture, because Jesus has spoken to His church. And we find the content of His message in chapters two and three of the book of Revelation. In these two chapters, Jesus addressed seven different churches, expressing words of commendation and exposing acts deserving of condemnation. And lest we think these messages have nothing to do with us, Jesus makes it perfectly clear that His Words are timeless in nature and limitless in terms of their application. They are for all churches in all times. And in Revelation 2:1-7, we will find that His words for the church in Ephesus have an irrefutable and unmistakable ring to them. If we look close

John was exiled on the island of Patmos when he received his vision. One minute he was on this small, virtually uninhabitable island, and the next thing he knew he was transported into the very presence of God. And not only would he see God the Father face to face, he would be reunited with his friend and Savior, Jesus. But this would be a remarkably different Jesus than the one he remembered. His last glimpse of Jesus had been as He ascended back up to heaven. But standing before him in the heavenly throne room was a drastically different man than he once knew. And the shock left John flat on his face, worshiping His Lord and Savior. But Jesus calmed his fears and prepared him for the job for which he had been chosen: To write down all that Jesus had to say to the seven churches. John was to act as the Savior’s amanuensis or personal secretary. And one of the first things Jesus wanted to drive home to John was the reality of His resurrected state. He described Himself as the first and the last, the living on