WEEKEND READING – 12-31-22

“For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem” Joel 3:1 NKJV

How many symbols are in this chapter that we have read in Revelations? The grapes of wrath, wine presses, and even the river of life!! How many more can you find?

RELATIONSHIP:

Do you already have a relationship with a powerful God who cares about your every need because He loves you? Did you know my God can communicate with you and protect you – He has a plan for you to prosper if you just submit to His will and let His plan play out in your life!!! God wants a relationship with you and has already made a plan for your life. He loves you so much He sent His son to this world, to die as a sacrifice for your sins and rise from death with victory over sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with you.

Do you want to know truth? Be able to discern lies? Know how to figure it all out in these confusing times and have peace? The Bible says Jesus is the truth. I have experienced it and it has changed my life. I was once a hot mess of sin, promiscuity, drug and alcohol use and so much more. But I was lost and when I could not find my way, or find a truth, I numbed it with bad choses. When I found Jesus, and truth – I found peace and deliverance from those things.

If you want a relationship with God without truth you will get the counterfeit, hypocritical Christianity that has kept some of you away for too long. You need truth and relationship. You need to be honest with yourself and God (including honest repentance) and God will reveal truth to you. It becomes the two way, interaction that your relationship with God is built on. This is why Jesus is called the truth, because he is our only way to the Father.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NIV
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Jesus, I believe you are the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father. I believe you are the son of God, you came to Earth and lived. That you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, and rose again so that I may be saved from my sins and be able to get to know you. I declare: Jesus, you are Lord!
Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me of my sins and come into my life. Help me to turn away from my sins and transform me into what you have lovingly created me to be. Help me through a real personal relationship grow and accept your will for my life – that I may live in your blessings. Please walk with me, and talk with me – I accept a relationship with you and with our Father God, through you. In the name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen

BIBLE READING:

Dear Heavenly Father – Please give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who you are, who Jesus is, and who the Holy Spirit is. Open the eyes of our understanding, please, so we may know the hope of our calling and the vast sovereignty and power of the grace of the cross. Please do not let us miss out on what you want and need from us today. Lord, I pray that your word prepares us and not scares us! We forbid the works and influences of fear over your word and our sound mind. And please keep us and bless us and shine your face upon us and pour out grace over us and give us peace! Thank you! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Today’s reading is the Book of Joel chapter 3 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

God Judges the Nations

3 “For behold, in those days and at that time,
When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
²I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.
³They have cast lots for My people,
Have given a boy as payment for a harlot,
And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.

⁴“Indeed, what have you to do with Me,
O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia?
Will you ^[a]retaliate against Me?
But if you ^[b]retaliate against Me,
Swiftly and speedily I will return your ^[c]retaliation upon your own head;
⁵Because you have taken My silver and My gold,
And have carried into your temples My ^[d]prized possessions.
⁶Also the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem
You have sold to the Greeks,
That you may remove them far from their borders.

⁷“Behold, I will raise them
Out of the place to which you have sold them,
And will return your ^[e]retaliation upon your own head.
⁸I will sell your sons and your daughters
Into the hand of the people of Judah,
And they will sell them to the Sabeans,^[f]
To a people far off;
For the Lord has spoken.”

⁹Proclaim this among the nations:
“Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
¹⁰Beat your plowshares into swords
And your ^[g]pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ”
¹¹Assemble and come, all you nations,
And gather together all around.
Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord.

¹²“Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
¹³Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, go down;
For the winepress is full,
The vats overflow—
For their wickedness is great.”

¹⁴Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
¹⁵The sun and moon will grow dark,
And the stars will diminish their brightness.
¹⁶The Lord also will roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem;
The heavens and earth will shake;
But the Lord will be a shelter for His people,
And the strength of the children of Israel.

¹⁷“So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain.
Then Jerusalem shall be holy,
And no aliens shall ever pass through her again.”

God Blesses His People

¹⁸And it will come to pass in that day
That the mountains shall drip with new wine,
The hills shall flow with milk,
And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water;
A fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord
And water the Valley of ^[h]Acacias.

¹⁹“Egypt shall be a desolation,
And Edom a desolate wilderness,
Because of violence against the people of Judah,
For they have shed innocent blood in their land.
²⁰But Judah shall abide forever,
And Jerusalem from generation to generation.
²¹For I will acquit them of the guilt of bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted;
For the Lord dwells in Zion.”

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

***

I also wanted to remind and inform all of you, that instead of writing a book on fasting (since it is the topic I get asked the most about) I have created a Facebook group that is designed to be interactive and give you all the Bible verses on fasting, all the types of fast, and how to fast. In the group are specialist to help us along the way, like the creator of The Fasting Protocol (fasting for health and weight loss; which is part of fasting and important to know about – He can also speak to fasting in a healthy manner). The group is new and other experts are invited, I am hopeful they will join. So let’s join the group and see what we will learn about prayer and fasting. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/509149707741862

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

30 Dec 202230 Dec 2022

The Time is at Hand – 12-30-22

“And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.” Revelation 22:10 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of The Revelation of Christ, chapter 22 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The River of Life

22 And he showed me a ^[a]pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ²In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

The Time Is Near

⁶Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the ^[b]holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.
⁷“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
⁸Now I, John, ^[c]saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
⁹Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. ^[d]For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” ¹⁰And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹¹He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him ^[e]be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

Jesus Testifies to the Churches

¹²“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the ^[f]Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
¹⁴Blessed are those who ^[g]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵^[h]But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
¹⁶“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

A Warning

¹⁸^[i]For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, ^[j]God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God^[k] shall take away his part from the ^[l]Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

I Am Coming Quickly

²⁰He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

²¹The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^[m]with you all. Amen.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

Well now, Revelation wasn’t that scary to read through – even though we see signs and hint at all these things. A modern prophet says something down the lines of it is hard to tell time in the spirit – it is a depth perception issue. He has been talking about the mark of the beast being very close. But when we read revelations we know it both had already happened and John saw it happen outside of time – and we know it will happen… but there certainly seems to be quite a few things between then and now. However the Euphrates river drying up shouldn’t happen until the end of the vials and we already see that happening, seemingly out of order. And if finish this book and think we now know and understand the end times then we missed the WHOLE point of the book – which was to reveal more of Jesus.

In this book we see a side of Jesus we had not yet saw we had met a God of wrath and justice and we see that again here – but we see that also in Jesus. And we see the warrior Jesus. And we see the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s Jesus. We see grace and mercy extend over a great long time and we see the peace that there is ALWAYS a remnant and He always protects and looks out for them. There comes points in all of this that being beheaded or martyred is mercy compared to staying on Earth and I hope that encourages you.
God does not waste anything. That silly distracting selfish thought you briefly had earlier today that was completely human? Well, you reigned it in and God still says you were not wrong to have it and you acted on it appropriately and now he will use it – it did not happen to you, but for you! Yes – God doesn’t waste a tear, not even a foolish one, and it is happening for you benefit!
What should you be getting out of this?! The sovereignty of His provision is not about stuff but so much more and He is in control of it all! God has gone before us and HAS ALREADY made a way. That expensive procedure I am having next week? He has made a way to pay for it even though I do not know what it is. God has made the way.

Revelation is not about end times and He is ultimately victorious – it is about that fact that it is finished and completed and John saw it and bears witness that we win in the end. It mirrors Ezekiel and Daniel and further proves that the little things that trip us up and distract us are meaningless in the grand scheme of things because He already has those cared for and would rather we focus on our assignments here on earth. That is the Jesus who stands at the door and knocks and longs to be known to us. He wants to tell us how to set ourselves up for success in 2023. He wants to sit down and review goals and make some plans (He may change them) but He still wants that time with us.

Today’s reading starts with a familiar scene from Ezekiel, the river of Life.

“¹ And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ²In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

We not only have a better understanding of our sweet savior – but we can almost see the goal for the long run. Does everything stop once we reach that city? Highly unlikely, we’ll be outside of time so that is a dimension we will not worry about – while our lives will become what God wants us to become.

“⁶Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.”

Let me tell you how powerful these words are – whenever I read “faithful and true” in this book I tear up! There is some deep revelation in that – both in the fact that this book is true even when so many think it is a factitious dream, and true that Jesus IS the WORD and He is Faithful and True. So you have Jesus and the Revelation of Jesus and Boom! It’s a deep and powerful saying – May God reveal it to you.

“⁷“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Here it is again. There is an extra blessing for everyone who reads this and keeps Jesus’s words. So you and I will have an extra blessing bringing us into the new year – something to sustain us – a revelation of Christ – one that is not tainted or spoiled. One that is clothed in mysteries we do not yet fully understand – but yet we understand enough.

I do not know about all of you – but I could use all the blessings I can get!

“⁸Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
⁹Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Twice John erroneously falls at the feet of an angel and worships. Both times falling and worshiping is the right response but directed at the wrong being. If I slipped up once in an area like worshiping the wrong thing, many of you would stop reading and following me. I can’t blame you. If I did it a second time I am sure EVERYONE would stop following this blog. I know preachers who were stripped of their ministries over lesser crimes. Yet John, the beloved disciple did this twice!

On the other hand – at a church that a friend pastors, the youth pastor was not young but new to the ministry and he slipped up in a sermon saying that the Bible said something it did not and it was a point in his sermon. I actually was in the audience. I wanted to go speak to the head pastor or do something – but after service was not the time with people milling about. At the next service I thought of it and thought I better get on his calendar – but in the service he told us how he lovingly corrected the youth pastor and now set the record straight so we would not be confused. I loved this merciful approach. The youth pastor did not get many opportunities to preach to the church again after that and if he did it was the midweek services. He was more careful about doctrine from the pulpit as well – however his stinking thinking was corrupting the youth and multiple corrections were made and he responded in humility and continued to get grace and love. However, God stepped in and the man had a stroke. It affected nothing but his speech. God shut his mouth. I do not think my friend was wrong in restoring him as long as he responded in humility – God is still in control and God shut his mouth. I think it is the best example I have ever seen of demonstrating mercy, grace and love to a man who is humble and trusting that God is the final say.
John responds to the angel in humility – Poor John was overwhelmed and emotional. He was not only forgiven, but told what to do with all of this information.

“¹⁰And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.”

The time is at hand – we are looking at the new year. The time is at hand – we know the signs of the time and the hour is late. The time is at hand – and God has called us to rise up, not worry about mistakes – HIS love, mercy and grace will cover it! The time is at hand – and the people are all just being the same and it should not be:

“¹¹He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

They should not be unchanged by grace – they should not be unaffected, unchanged. They should be softening their hearts and not hardening them! They should be sharing the good news of Jesus instead of scared to share. The time is at hand – don’t we understand?!
If it was at hand then – it is SO MUCH MORE SO TODAY!

“¹²“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

He comes quickly! Do you believe he will be here to rapture us before the tribulations? Well, I can draw out proof that it is before the tribulation and that the tribulation is coming quickly – so be ready! Have oil in your lamps! Warn the others He is coming!
If you believe mid-trib – I can give you proof that the tribulation has started! I can show you infallible proof that there are open seals and trumpets – and we are just a tick-tok on the clock away from the mid to end trib mark of the beast. – so be ready! Have oil in your lamps! Warn the others He is coming!

The one thing we know is that we won’t know exactly when. So be ready.

Not in a bomb shelter, eating popcorn and watching the show waiting to be rescued! You are here to save souls! Get soul focused and get out there! Besides the fact that we will be judged by our works – someone’s eternity depends on us!

“¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
¹⁴Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
¹⁶“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

Many are thirsty right now. Tell people. If they reject it – know they reject Christ, not you. Move on and tell someone else. Do not get hung up on it.

“¹⁸For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Godshall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

So you wondered why I left out other teachings and things I have heard about revelations when I discuss it?! It is because of this very warning. Actually I believe this warning applies to the entire Bible. And so I speak carefully letting you know what is opinion and thoughts of people and what is pure Bible. It is not wrong to know many thoughts on it, but I am careful.

This warning should NOT shut you up! You can easily tell people what Jesus did for you and above is a method of walking someone through the prayer. You do not need to know the Bible well and be able to teach it. However, at the same time, you should be studying the word of God. As you study you can share what you know. AND it will make you a better Christian.

“²⁰He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

Have you ever read all the way down to the bottom of these posts? My last words EVERY DAY are “Come, Lord Jesus!” There is a reason for that and now you see why!

“²¹The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

AMEN! Because if not for grace – I would be dead on earth, deceived and headed for death and eternal damnation. I thank God for His grace that transformed me every day!

That concludes Revelation and our read through of the New Testament and all 5 of the wisdom books in one year. Join us tomorrow and we will finish our bonus book of Joel.

On January 1^st I will lay out the idea for the reading plan for next year – I think you will really like it. I have been praying on it and want to make sure I have as many details as possible before I release it.

Everyone have a happy and safe new year’s celebration!

***

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace. Walk in wisdom.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

29 Dec 202229 Dec 2022

All Things New – 12-29-22

“Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of The Revelation of Christ, chapter 21 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

21 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ²Then I, ^[a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said ^[b]to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

⁶And He said to me, “It^[c] is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷He who overcomes ^[d]shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸But the cowardly, ^[e]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem

⁹Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came ^[f]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the ^[g]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” ¹⁰And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the ^[h]great city, the ^[i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. ¹²Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ¹³three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

¹⁴Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the ^[j]names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand ^[k]furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. ¹⁷Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. ¹⁸The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ²⁰the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

²²But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine ^[l]in it, for the ^[m]glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴And the nations ^[n]of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor ^[o]into it. ²⁵Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into ^[p]it. ²⁷But there shall by no means enter it anything ^[q]that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

“¹ Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ²Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Today’s reading is exciting – it is what we all have been waiting for. The New Jerusalem and the temple as Ezekiel saw it, as Daniel saw it, as we know it is and will be when we get there!

“⁵Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

I’ve told you before, I am a crier. I cry just thinking about God because I love Him so much. I cry while singing worship songs, I cry while praying, and I cry while speaking – one reason, I am glad to have a written format (and yes I am still working on doing a spoken version as well – we’ll get there). Meanwhile I read that these words are true and faithful and the faithfulness of God and knowing Jesus IS the word I teared up and now cry.

I know they are faithful words because I was once one way and now I am another – He makes all things new! It is what He does!

“⁶And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”

I was so thirsty and he gave me living waters. These things are done – finished. John even saw them done and so did Ezekiel and Daniel – and while we are trapped in time we can still see and understand the effects of these things! I know them because I have experienced them!

“⁷He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

Overcomes – that does not mean perfectly. I am one of those overachievers but in order to do many things well – I must settle on only doing them well and messing up a lot. Nothing can be done perfectly, or I would never get anything done. Because I am this type of person – I consistently overcome. Not perfectly, and some of the things I must overcome are my own flesh – yet I overcome. God is not looking for perfect – He is looking for process. He is not about the end result – He is about the relationship bringing you to the end result. God is perfect and doesn’t need us to be. So when you feel like you have failed a lot – do not let that voice condemn you, you are an overcomer and continually showing up. I know, because the opposite type of person doesn’t read this blog… or at least get this far down into it! The opposite…

“⁸But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

At the beginning of this book there was black, gray and white – God cleaned up the gray… it is only black and white; all or nothing.

I’ll give you the description of this great city and God in it, without commentary. If you already did today’s reading above, then you will not need to read below.
But I am still feeling very under the weather. The new antibiotics they have me on make me sleep A LOT – like 20 hours a day. Please keep me in prayer. God has overcome this illness and also pray for me for next Tuesday when I will be going through a procedure to try to stop this repeat illness for happening. I am so glad man thinks they have an answer – but I know God is the answer!

Here is the rest of this beautiful chapter and the Glorious New Jerusalem:

“⁹Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” ¹⁰And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. ¹²Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ¹³three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
¹⁴Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. ¹⁷Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. ¹⁸The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ²⁰the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
²²But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. ²⁵Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. ²⁷But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

***

28 Dec 202228 Dec 2022

The Thousand Years before Judgment Day – 12-28-22

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of The Revelation of Christ, chapter 20 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Satan Bound 1,000 Years

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ²He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years

⁴And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for ^[a]a thousand years. ⁵But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Satanic Rebellion Crushed

⁷Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. ⁹They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where^[b] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The Great White Throne Judgment

¹¹Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before ^[c]God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ¹³The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second ^[d]death. ¹⁵And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

On the heels of rejoicing with yesterday’s reading – we can continue with today’s reading as it starts off with the thousand year reign. The “end times” really do take a long time. It is no wonder man, who lives such a short time, cannot comprehend it. Jesus said when he arrived on earth it was the end times and I always assumed it was the beginning of the end. Then for centuries the Christian look to the sky for Jesus’s return and now here we are looking down the barrel of a digital currency to save their man made economic crash – and this currency will inevitably become the mark of the beast, I am sure. And we are still so many incalculable years away from that beast being bound for a thousand year! These things take time. Time that God has, but time that you and I do not have. You and I can find ourselves dead at any moment.

“¹ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ²He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.”

I must remind myself, God’s ways are not my ways. You know God could have destroyed satan instead of casting him out of heaven. So after the judgements and vials and trumpets and seals… any saints left on the planet who survived ALL that and all the saints in heaven get to have 1000 years of peace:

“⁴And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

And those who died during this time have a special blessing and place in heaven. It would seem everyone will know who was beheaded – I wonder if their heads will no longer be attached. But if you were martyred during this time, it would seem everyone will know it and know why – it will be a badge of honor. It will be a treasure stored up in heaven. It should be enough to encourage us to live as if we loved not our lives even unto the death (Rev. 12:11)!

“⁷Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. ⁹They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Why? Oh Why is he released! He goes and gathers another round of people by lying to them – and they rail against God and get tossed into the lake of fire. Oh why?!

I wish he wasn’t lying and deceiving us now. I wish he wasn’t killing and destroying us now. And I certainly do not a thousand year break from it and then a return. It will be so easy to trick us when humanity is out of practice of fighting against the lies. I have to say I disagree with God on this choice – but mostly because I do not understand it.

“¹¹Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”

Lately there is a rise again in a debate in the world with the evangelist speaking out against the concepts of grace being a license to sin and it seems the book of James and the idea of works is getting dusty. One book shows us we get their by grace – but remember grace is a transformational conversion. Not, I said the sinner’s prayer and I have set my mind on believing I am saved… when my actions and my lifestyle do not reflect that transformation and I am not compelled to do the will of my father! You see one book opens and shows that grace soaked all the way into your heart and changed it – shows what man cannot see. Then the next book shows what you did about it.

“¹³The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

It is time for you and I to “go ye therefore” – for us to tell other about Jesus. If for no other reason than, humans can die at any minute and…

“¹⁵And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

***

27 Dec 202227 Dec 2022

Worshipping Jesus – 12-27-22

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For theLord God Omnipotent reigns!” Revelation 19:6 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of The Revelation of Christ, chapter 19 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Heaven Exults over Babylon

19 After these things I ^[a]heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to ^[b]the Lord our God! ²For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” ³Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” ⁴And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” ⁵Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both^[c] small and great!”

⁶And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the^[d] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! ⁷Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

⁹Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” ¹⁰And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Christ on a White Horse

¹¹Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹²His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He ^[e]had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies in heaven, clothed in ^[f]fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵Now out of His mouth goes a ^[g]sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

The Beast and His Armies Defeated

¹⁷Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the ^[h]supper of the great God, ¹⁸that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, ^[i]free and slave, both small and great.”

¹⁹And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. ²⁰Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. ²¹And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

The pastor who led me back to the Lord (he is in another state, but is online for his church) I still follow online. I have such great appreciation for his ministry and telling his members to share the services and be witnesses for Christ! Someone in his congregation obeyed and shared his service – I caught it and looked up to heaven and said: Ok – I surrender. That is a very short version of it. But this time the point is not my encounter with grace, or the fact that it is go time (go ye therefore)! My point is that this man’s ministry is special to me and I pray for him, his ministry and I still follow him on social media.
He has been doing a different book every month all year and he breaks the book out into the number of days. Every day he discusses something that stands out in the reading and then we have a prayer time – it’s a live stream vlog thing. Today as I come to present today’s reading to you – He already spoke about it to me. And of course the thing that stood out what Jesus on the white horse!

We have all come here to see Jesus! This is the Revelation of Christ – isn’t it?! We’ve come for revelation and knowledge and a deeper relationship with Him.

And in this chapter – in today’s reading – Jesus appears again and of course THAT stands out and we cheer! He comes to fight the battle and all he does is appear and the battle is won. It is the victory! It is finished! AND as we keep discussing how John is outside of time seeing this – this has already happened! Therefore at some point it will happen here in the flesh. God is good! This is the key scripture when we are encouraging ourselves in the battle against the enemy and we say – we have read the end! He is thrown into the lake of fire alive by our glorious Jesus on the horse! Hallelujah!

But – this didn’t stand out to me today when I read it. (Even after Pastor Tom’s morning discussion.) I read it and thought, how many time we refer to this chapter and miss the thick and heavy worship??? The battle is won in the worship. Jesus rides out in the worship. The lake of fire swallows up satan while Jesus is worshiped! Let’s look:

“¹ After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! ²For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” ³Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” ⁴And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” ⁵Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, bothsmall and great!”

Praise Him! Praise Him! The victory over the Babylon Spirit (of yesterday’s reading) is still being celebrates as we begin today’s reading. And we go from Glory to Glory!

“⁶And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For theLord God Omnipotent reigns! ⁷Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

I stopped and pictured it. This is where I think I fit into this – probably most of you too! We have prepared here on earth and kept oil in our lamps and we are on our way THERE for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! We will be arrayed in fine linen. Every time I read that I want to make myself clothes of only linen to wear all the time! I know that is not right, but I want so badly to wear a wedding dress of linen and sit at the table prepared for me.

“⁹Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

These are true – the light is shining into the darkness and we see this truth. John understands the need for the exposure of light and the deep riches of truth. Truth is so powerful and bright – John fell on His face and worshiped the angel. Oops!

“¹⁰And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

We have met John through His own words and through the words of Matthew, Mark and Luke. If Jesus had favorites, John was His favorite. John understood Love and God is love – the connection was strong to the Father as well. It is difficult to picture that John worshiping anything other than Jesus. But raw heavenly truth is so powerful – John’s response was correctly to worship! Sadly he screwed up and worshiped an angel instead.

I know many Christians that would have unfollowed and smeared John’s name all over the internet for that! It would have destroyed his ministry. The book he was writing, that revelations book, would never have even been published because all of the publishers would have heard the cries of cancel culture and ‘godly’ men heresy hunt to ‘protect the sheep from false prophets’ because God is unable to protect His own and His word.

This also stands out to me.

The worship, and John getting caught up and shifted his eyes off of Jesus and in the correct response directed it in the wrong direction breaking one of the very ten commandments while he is in heaven! And God did not pour out wrath. God did not move. God did not get distracted from receiving worship. AND Jesus did not move or pour out wrath or come and smite John or kick him out of heaven! Heaven did not shake or tremble.
The Angel quickly and lovingly corrected John and things went on. That is it. It is the very same response ALL servants of God should have when they receive praise or worship – redirect it to the one who is worthy and the one who we are obeying and the one who is doing the actual work!

Now – finally we can discuss the show-stopper: Christ on a White Horse.

“¹¹Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹²His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

I interrupt with a thought – I wonder how many worship songs come from this chapter? I think I am singing a different worship / praise song from my generation with every other verse here – or it seems! Anyway, here is the horse and I am still singing and worshiping! This is why I said worship is what stand out the most for me.

“¹⁷Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, ¹⁸that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”

I have heard so many end time/revelation studies about when the 1/3^rd population dies and then more die and how many crematories will be needed because the bacteria and stench of that many dead being buried will cause more disease and kill many more… and their studies talk about the ripple effects and none of it is in this book. I know if God has a plan for life and death – then he also has a plan for the dead bodies. And sure enough, birds! Now this is the plan for the dead of today’s reading, but if he had a plan for today, then he also has a plan for those previous ones.

“¹⁹And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. ²⁰Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. ²¹And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

So the battle is staged. The enemy and his people all show up. The top false prophet and the beast are immediately taken alive and tossed into the lake of fire. The demons? The principalities? I do not know – but sadly all the people who were deceived and hardened their hearts die in a battle where Jesus speaks death and they therefore die. I imagine he quotes “the wages of sin is death” and they all just drop dead. And the Birds eat their bodies.

I am not sure why the beast and false prophet were sent to hell alive and the rest died then will be sent to hell. I know that death gives them a moment to be judged by God personally as to if they knew Him. Part of me wonders if the eternal hell is less painful if one has died and it is an act of mercy – or on the note of mercy, maybe it gives them moments more to finally turn their hearts over to the King of kings and be saved?

Meanwhile all of heaven is still busy worshiping. I think I will spend some time today worshiping.

***

26 Dec 202226 Dec 2022

Is This a Warning to the USA? – 12-26-22

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” Revelation 18:20 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of The Revelation of Christ, chapter 18 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Fall of Babylon the Great

18 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. ²And he cried ^[a]mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! ³For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the ^[b]abundance of her luxury.”

⁴And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. ⁵For her sins ^[c]have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. ⁶Render to her just as she rendered ^[d]to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. ⁷In the measure that she glorified herself and lived ^[e]luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ ⁸Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who ^[f]judges her.

The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall

⁹“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, ¹⁰standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

¹¹“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: ¹²merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; ¹³and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. ¹⁴The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have ^[g]gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. ¹⁵The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, ¹⁶and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! ¹⁷For in one hour such great riches ^[h]came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance ¹⁸and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’

¹⁹“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she ^[i]is made desolate.’

²⁰“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you ^[j]holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”

Finality of Babylon’s Fall

²¹Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. ²²The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. ²³The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. ²⁴And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas! Yes, mine was well as well. Let me ask for continued prayers as I am still not feeling well and under medical treatments that are not working as we had hoped. Modern medicine, may nt work, but prayer does.

Now on to today’s reading. As we have discussed ALL PROPHECY is outside of time. So if it is Biblical prophecy you will find parts of it reach back into the beginning of time as man knows it and it will apply to the generation it was spoked to and it will apply to future generations AND FINALLY, they always touch the Great Day of the Lord and the reason for this is that they are outside of time. I am always leery of prophecy by modern prophets that do not make points that hit outside of time – as the prophets of the Bible do.

Today’s reading is about the fall of Babylon. Of course we know that represents a false prophet cultural, anti-christ system – possibly a government or a nation although John saw a city.
We see elements of the type of the society of Noah’s day, of Sodom and Gomorrah and of Greek then Roman Empires. We can the trace it through the fall of many governments with similar pride against God throughout time right up and through the fall of Hitler’s regime. In this is a firm and stern warning to the USA of today – it’s a conditional warning, still – at least I think and hope. I pray America humbles themselves and really turns to God.
There will be other great nations that rise up and fall like Babylon – in the same manor and form. We may live to see some of it – but the last and final fall of a Babylon style nation, that is something I hope you and I are in heaven for. As I pray: Come Lord Jesus – I also pray that He holds out so more can be saved.

John probably made the connection between this prophecy and Rome, but Rome did not fall until 476 ad. The United State of America set up its government system with many Roman government elements including the architecture. The USA is a new Rome, yes, a new Babylon. It was indeed (as we can prove in congressional records) dedicated to God, but in duality it also mirrored (not just secular and humanistic ideologies) but a spiritually corrupted Roman government infiltrated with principalities and powers and seeds of the Babylon architype. Oh yes – we can indeed read this chapter (the some of the symbols in the chapters around it) as a stern warning to The USA.

“¹ After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. ²And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! ³For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

When I think of the influence of the USA in my lifetime alone… when I was a child we exported most of the missionaries. By my teen years I started meeting missionaries from other countries who came here to save us!
When I think of our influences – how we used to provide aid and food for children and now we export abortions and push that form of child sacrifice and Baal worship throughout the world.
When I think about our influence – I think of our greatest American Export = the entertainment industry. And how satan himself owns most of it and is demonizing the world through radio waves.
I know I do not get this blunt about things often because people’s convictions and God’s work needs to be respected in this format where you cannot hear the love and compassion in my voice as my heart breaks saying such things. But the truth is the truth and I am pretty well known for holding people accountable, encouraging in the hard things and smacking ya upside the head with a Bible if need be. But we are all grown up here and we live in a world of other people’s imaginations but we are not of that world.

“⁴And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.”

Come out – be set apart – be ye Holy for He is Holy. We are often told we are in this world but not of it. I do not need to introduce myself with a name not on my birth certificate, which sounds more like the name of a demon, and my pronouns – you can go ahead and assume them. Your assumptions do not affect me I know who I am. I am a child of the King – I DO NOT {!NOT!} SELF-IDENTIFY AS A CHILD OF THE KING. I have died to self and myself doesn’t get whatever it wants. My GOD and Father has identified me as HIS! This is an important differentiation as it leaves no room for flesh or the enemy to corrupt what the Lord has done! Glorify His name!

So it is go time – it is come out time – it is Child of the King time!!! IT IS TIME!

“⁵For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. ⁶Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. ⁷In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ ⁸Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.”

Now, be careful. Vengeance is God’s and these judgments are NOT punishment of wrath – we already read the wrath section. These are justice – these are the consequences that the dispensation of grace that covers us now has kept us from in merciful forbearance in hopes that we would repent before the judgment is rolled out.
This verdict in justice is read – not that we render to her the judgment. Oh no. If we were around we might pray for mercy and grace upon them – but the forbearance is over and the debt is due.

“⁹“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, ¹⁰standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’”

I remember where I was on September 11^th 2001, when the Twin Towers fell. I had gone to college and lived in Manhattan and My NYC died that day – it never looked or felt the same again. Anyway – on September 12^th as we wept and mourned – the world in a collective sigh stared in fearful awe of the smoke still rising and the burning and thought: ‘Alas, alas, that great New York City, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

But we did not repent. We did not turn to God. There was no great revival. In New York State in the next 3 years there were more church splits recorded that any other time in my life time. We hardened our hearts. We said we’d build back better – and anthem the USA still touts. A saying full of a mix of humanism and modernism with a great big dose of ancient spirits of pride and defiance towards our creator – a mirror of the original sin. (and we think this chapter is NOT a warning to our Greek, Roman, Latin infused Christian government which has decade into Sodom and Gomorrah – I mean, I am not a prophet, but at what point does God need to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah for forbearing with us so long?!)

“¹¹“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: ¹²merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; ¹³and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. ¹⁴The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. ¹⁵The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, ¹⁶and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! ¹⁷For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance ¹⁸and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’”

I know, I seldom have to call out one Nation – Especially since you are a diverse global community of reader. The world all over is corrupt – and the USA exported so much of it to all of you. My nation and Israel were dedicated to God – but the USA became the harlot so much faster and much more corruptly then the stiffed necked Israelites wandering the wilderness.
So those of you who are outside of the USA are all off the hook today with this prophecy – it would be a stretch to apply it to you. Your line in all of this is:

“¹⁹“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’”

Maybe this is all a bit heavy after saying we celebrate family but revel in the wealth and materialism of the gifts of Christmas. How few actually pointed to the Birth of Christ (never Biblically celebrated) and how even fewer point to the grace of the cross and resurrection that transforms us and can also redeem our nation and save our land!

²⁰“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”

Well – this is weird for those who forgot the big picture. Step back outside of time to the heavenlies where John is in the spirit and seeing all of this happening. The angel speaking this is speaking to the first century church which probably half of were martyred. And speaking to the martyrs throughout time. And speaking to those who were persecuted and oppressed when they were on Earth. The angel is speaking to those who have been raped and abused – to the victims, real victims, of unfair life – and to the aborted babies. And even those of us in a lighter physical persecution (heavier in the psychological warfare) who have been unfairly conditioned and oppressed. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord and you and I were pretty excited about that when the pressure was on us. Now it feel weird to rejoice when it comes. But you see any of this destruction that comes before the Day of Judgment is just conviction and an opportunity to repent and we will still long for God’s mercy on them – but on the final day (as all prophecy point to the end and the beginning) it must be and it will finally be time to rejoice and we will no longer long for mercy – but for God’s will to be accomplished.

“²¹Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.”

As the angel points to the finale of Babylon – we see a symbol we should recognize. There was one in judges, and one wrapped around a person and thrown into the water that Jesus said would be a better fate for someone who turned a child away from God. Milling and their stones are mentioned and implied throughout as well – wheat getting milled and tears getting burned. The milling houses and such in Ruth. The Psalms and Proverbs. It might be fun to take the time and explore all the meaning of this symbol – it is used with meaning in each of these places and threads them nicely together with thoughts of harvest time and the end of a season, with blessings and abundance and with a plant death that means a life of sustenance in the future. Feel free to run with it and go deeper if you want.

“²²The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. ²³The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. ²⁴And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

The USA did not kill all prophets throughout all of time – no one nation or government did that. BUT the same haughty ancient spirit of Babylon that whored itself out in the whole world DID do that. So THAT is the Babylon. It is not one nation it is the nation at any given moment in time that is ruled by that Babylon principality. Early USA was NOT ruled by it, although human and corrupted. But through the slipping and sliding away due to a sleeping church – we have surrendered our authority to: Babylon, they/them.

***

25 Dec 202222 Dec 2022

WEEKEND READING – 12-25-22

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand” Joel 2:1 NKJV

Perfect for the day we remember the Birth of our Lord! Merry Christmas! Blow the trumpet and make the announcement! The Day of the Lord IS at hand! Repent, get humble, and get ready!

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Joel chapter 2 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Day of the Lord

2 Blow the ^[a]trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the Lord is coming,
For it is at hand:
²A day of darkness and gloominess,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains.
A people come, great and strong,
The like of whom has never been;
Nor will there ever be any such after them,
Even for many successive generations.

³A fire devours before them,
And behind them a flame burns;
The land is like the Garden of Eden before them,
And behind them a desolate wilderness;
Surely nothing shall escape them.
⁴Their appearance is like the appearance of horses;
And like ^[b]swift steeds, so they run.
⁵With a noise like chariots
Over mountaintops they leap,
Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble,
Like a strong people set in battle array.

⁶Before them the people writhe in pain;
All faces ^[c]are drained of color.
⁷They run like mighty men,
They climb the wall like men of war;
Every one marches in formation,
And they do not break ranks.
⁸They do not push one another;
Every one marches in his own ^[d]column.
Though they lunge between the weapons,
They are not ^[e]cut down.
⁹They run to and fro in the city,
They run on the wall;
They climb into the houses,
They enter at the windows like a thief.

¹⁰The earth quakes before them,
The heavens tremble;
The sun and moon grow dark,
And the stars diminish their brightness.
¹¹The Lord gives voice before His army,
For His camp is very great;
For strong is the One who executes His word.
For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
Who can endure it?

A Call to Repentance

¹²“Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
¹³So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
¹⁴Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him—
A grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God?

¹⁵Blow the ^[f]trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
¹⁶Gather the people,
Sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and nursing babes;
Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,
And the bride from her dressing room.
¹⁷Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should ^[g]rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”

The Land Refreshed

¹⁸Then the Lord will be zealous for His land,
And pity His people.
¹⁹The Lord will answer and say to His people,
“Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil,
And you will be satisfied by them;
I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.

²⁰“But I will remove far from you the northern army,
And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,
With his face toward the eastern sea
And his back toward the western sea;
His stench will come up,
And his foul odor will rise,
Because he has done ^[h]monstrous things.”

²¹Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the Lord has done ^[i]marvelous things!
²²Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;
For the open pastures are springing up,
And the tree bears its fruit;
The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
²³Be glad then, you children of Zion,
And rejoice in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the ^[j]former rain faithfully,
And He will cause the rain to come down for you—
The former rain,
And the latter rain in the first month.
²⁴The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

²⁵“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming ^[k]locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.
²⁶You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.
²⁷Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:
I am the Lord your God
And there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame.

God’s Spirit Poured Out

²⁸“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
²⁹And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

³⁰“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
³¹The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
³²And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be ^[l]saved.
For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be ^[m]deliverance,
As the Lord has said,
Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:11

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

***

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

24 Dec 202222 Dec 2022

WEEKEND READING – 12-24-22

“Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the Lord your God, And cry out to the Lord.” Joel 1:14 NKJV

Merry Christmas Eve. I take this day to remember and celebrate the birth of my savior, I know many Christian do not celebrate Christmas because of the pagan roots to so many of the things. But I put up a tree and think of my Lord hanging on a tree – the work of grace that will save me. His birth is glorious – but His resurrection is even better! Jesus is the reason for the season!

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Joel chapter 1 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Locust Plague in Judah

1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

The Land Laid Waste

²Hear this, you elders,
And give ear, all you inhabitants of the land!
Has anything like this happened in your days,
Or even in the days of your fathers?
³Tell your children about it,
Let your children tell their children,
And their children another generation.

⁴What the chewing ^[a]locust left, the swarming locust has eaten;
What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten;
And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.

⁵Awake, you drunkards, and weep;
And wail, all you drinkers of wine,
Because of the new wine,
For it has been cut off from your mouth.
⁶For a nation has come up against My land,
Strong, and without number;
His teeth are the teeth of a lion,
And he has the fangs of a ^[b]fierce lion.
⁷He has laid waste My vine,
And ^[c]ruined My fig tree;
He has stripped it bare and thrown it away;
Its branches are made white.

⁸Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth
For the husband of her youth.
⁹The grain offering and the drink offering
Have been cut off from the house of the Lord;
The priests mourn, who minister to the Lord.
¹⁰The field is wasted,
The land mourns;
For the grain is ruined,
The new wine is dried up,
The oil fails.

¹¹Be ashamed, you farmers,
Wail, you vinedressers,
For the wheat and the barley;
Because the harvest of the field has perished.
¹²The vine has dried up,
And the fig tree has withered;
The pomegranate tree,
The palm tree also,
And the apple tree—
All the trees of the field are withered;
Surely joy has withered away from the sons of men.

Mourning for the Land

¹³Gird yourselves and lament, you priests;
Wail, you who minister before the altar;
Come, lie all night in sackcloth,
You who minister to my God;
For the grain offering and the drink offering
Are withheld from the house of your God.
¹⁴Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the elders
And all the inhabitants of the land
Into the house of the Lord your God,
And cry out to the Lord.

¹⁵Alas for the day!
For the day of the Lord is at hand;
It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
¹⁶Is not the food cut off before our eyes,
Joy and gladness from the house of our God?
¹⁷The seed shrivels under the clods,
Storehouses are in shambles;
Barns are broken down,
For the grain has withered.
¹⁸How the animals groan!
The herds of cattle are restless,
Because they have no pasture;
Even the flocks of sheep ^[d]suffer punishment.

¹⁹O Lord, to You I cry out;
For fire has devoured the ^[e]open pastures,
And a flame has burned all the trees of the field.
²⁰The beasts of the field also cry out to You,
For the water brooks are dried up,
And fire has devoured the ^[f]open pastures.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:11

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

***

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

23 Dec 202222 Dec 2022

The 3rd Beast and it’s Destruction – 12-23-22

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of The Revelation of Christ, chapter 17 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast

17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying ^[a]to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, ²with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

³So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. ⁴The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of ^[b]her fornication. ⁵And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH.

⁶I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast

⁷But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the ^[c]mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. ⁸The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to ^[d]perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and ^[e]yet is.

⁹“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. ¹⁰There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. ¹¹The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to ^[f]perdition.

¹²“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. ¹³These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

¹⁵Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. ¹⁶And the ten horns which you ^[g]saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. ¹⁷For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. ¹⁸And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

Note: I am using the Berean Study Bible for today’s discussion unless otherwise noted below this point.

If you know, you know it is an interesting choice. Bereans believe a concept which I will over simplify as ‘once saved always saved’ and I believe when the Bible says our names can be blotted out of the book of life that means we can lose our salvation. I am not willing to get into theology as this is NOT a heaven or hell issues for anyone earnestly seeking God and reading a blog like this. Obviously you are receiving the free gift and being transformed by grace into good works through love. It is an interesting choice of Bible versions because in this chapter we will see that book of life again – one of the passages used to prove or disprove this variant in theology. (Although, one day we will realize we are saying the same thing, we just lacked one piece to make it make since.) Meanwhile, we are Kingdom people – not of a denomination, but souls who are part of the Body of Christ and therefore in unity in Christ to seek what Christ means and wants to tell us. Always put His Kingdom over any theological and denominational difference. Always.

So I chose this version because some days I find it hard to focus and type and something as simple as another version helps. And the Berean version is my go to after the King James and New King James. (And no I was not raised Baptist, but you may think so by the way I approach my Bible. And I did go to a Baptist High School for a short spell.) When I read this version today, I thought – this is what we are going with and then I typed it in… and after realized the irony of the passage.

So – remember a few days ago when we read about the dragon and the two beasts and the second is the one everyone thinks about with that number / mark. Well, the angel brings John back to that scene to see the third beast from that dragon! Yes, a third one! When we hear people talk about the beast system they are usually speaking of buying and selling under the second beast – but maybe they should call it the dragon system and realize it encompasses so much more. This third beast has been around carrying this woman throughout time as we will see and the manipulation and control from it has been shaping nations, civilizations, and commerce throughout time – it is part of the beast system… moreover the dragon’s system.

“¹Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. ²The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

You and I have discussed the Jezebel spirit before it is a control and often time has a perversion with her and doesn’t need to be a female who is hosting or being used by it. I personally, believe this is one and the same. This prostitute is what created what we call the Jezebel spirit.

“³And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. ⁵And on her forehead a mysterious name was written:
BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

I do not know why but in my mind I picture a women dressed in high fashion – but with the still-drunk hang over and falling out of her classy clothes with that heroine party girl, club-kid, look of the late 1980’s early 1990’s, complete with smeared lipstick and runny eyeliner and a smudged smoky eye. She has partied too hard! That might even be vomit on her dress, alone with sweat and body fluids from too many people to count. If you sprayed her with luminal she would glow. Her hair once up in a classy hair sprayed do is matted and bedhead in places.
I know that is graphic – but I like to picture her at that weakened, partied too much, point – because this is that damned Jezebel who is often interfering and causing problems. She is not so impossible now? Is she?

“⁶I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
⁷“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.”

Poor John had never seen the inside of a rave in New York City in the early 90’s – it must have been quite a sight. For those on ecstasy and heroine, it made some sense – but you had to at least be drunk to manage the sights with your eyes. I know, I was there. And if you were sober and from the first century I am sure this raving whore on a red beast in costume coming from her parties was worse than seeing Madonna in her cones in the 80s or Lady Gaga in her meat dress or… well way too many horrific fashions to mention. My point is the word “amazed” used by John might be too simple of a word – add to it shocked, horrified, confused, dumbfounded, bewildered, etc. That heroine party girl, club-kid, look is being picked up and restyled by the modern drag queens who would be inspired by the description of this prostitute on the red beast. So let’s not tell them.

Now back to what that angel was saying:

“⁸The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.”

Hold up – there is A LOT in that! Let’s take it apart and put it back together. Starting with the beast’s timeline. You see that beast was. Then someone sent it to the abyss. Not the prostitute. She was still here, but became less powerful, yet still powerful enough to do the Jezebel thing in governments and churches and in communities. But that beast comes back and she jumps on in full joint power and goes on a joy ride that leads to destruction as all over partying does. Now in relation to the two other beasts – I think they ALL are here at the same time. It is not one after another. And like we see the precursor to the mark of the beast. And we see the precursor to the other beast with the announcement that they are researching how to farm, I mean clone, babies in a lab in an artificial womb and the cyborg technology to make man more machine and “improve” and control men. We also see the precursor to this red beast and the prostitute in the drag queen culture, in porn and in our entertainment (Hollywood). At least we know the end of this beast and we just need to keep focused on Jesus and not on the temptations of perversion.
Hard sidebar – IF you are tempted by perversion and issues of this nature, it is serious. You may have a strong hold. Strongholds can be broken by doing a three day no food fast. (Check out our fasting group for info on it. Group info below.) If you still struggle after fervent prayer, repentance and fasting seek out a pastor or minister who works in the gift of deliverance. Do not continue in this day and age in bondage to it – you will not have a successful Christian life. I love you enough to tell you the truth. God wants you free. He will open doors for you to get free. You must repent and get humble and He will do the rest. Now, if you wish to hold onto it… well, that can pull you away from God is cause you to lose your salvation.

And that brings us to that part about names being written or NOT being written in the book of Life from the foundation of the world. This is an interesting concept. We know it is written that God wishes that NONE perish. So God know who is most likely and predestined to choose Him with their free will. For example I know a man who was born into a destructive home life and before he was two he was abandoned and exposed to more evil than most adults. His whole life has been the enemy attacking and trying to destroy him and seemingly winning. I take one look at him and I see a powerful man of God – but this man is living in sin and not living for God. Once upon a time he gave his heart to Jesus, was not well disciple and has returned to his sins and old ways. You see, He was supposed to be serving God. He might still someday. But there was a plan and the enemy has done everything to try to stop it. Can God turn it around, maybe. We do not know if God knew all of this so the plan doesn’t actually start yet or not. We really do not know much. I know if he never gives up living in sin, and repents, and draws close to God He will never fulfill His calling. I also know that since the women (yes plural) he is living in sin with are witches, that they will pull him away from God. One has already joked that she will get him to renounce God. And that my friends is a sad but REAL example of satan trying to get your name blotted out of the book!

Yeah, the battle for your soul is real and very obvious, when you aren’t in the thick of it – the rest of us can see it.

“⁹This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. ¹⁰There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
¹¹The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction. ¹²The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast. ¹³These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.”

So mankind will see the last kingdom rise who give the beast power under the influence of the prostitute and then its destruction. – will you and I? We are close, the dragon is preparing us for his three beasts. Like I said we have seen precursors for all of them. Biden’s son has already met the prostitute and recorded it on his laptop!

Once these beast rise and that last king rises…

“¹⁴They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

We have not seen the church in this book since chapter 3 – here the church is seen returning with Jesus to accompany him in this war. He is the Lord of lords and King of kings! Yet He is just a lamb, an innocent and slaughtered lamb.

“¹⁵Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. ¹⁶And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. ¹⁷For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. ¹⁸And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Imagine this! Someday everyone will finally take action against unfair government! Right now, over much of the norther hemisphere people just complain on social media and no one takes action. Brazil is another story – we may see a revolt there sooner than later, we are already seeing some rise up. But now is not the time of that third beast. Not yet. Soon, but not yet.

I hear prophets say “One more time” – God will rally. Well yes, a revival or awakening or a giant “Come to Jesus” moment is happening and will grow. But this is not the one last time as implied by that statement. God prolongs this whole thing so that every day is a “one more time” for someone – so each day everyone has the opportunity to turn to Him.

Please join us for some weekend reading presented without discussion and we will begin the book of Joel. Then we will be back here Monday with Revelation!

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22 Dec 202221 Dec 2022

Who Can Survive The Wrath of God? – 12-22-22

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of The Revelation of Christ, chapter 16 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Seven Bowls

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the ^[a]bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

First Bowl: Loathsome Sores

²So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a ^[b]foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood

³Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood

⁴Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵And I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are righteous, ^[c]O Lord,
The One who is and who ^[d]was and who is to be,
Because You have judged these things.
⁶For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
And You have given them blood to drink.
^[e]For it is their just due.”

⁷And I heard ^[f]another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched

⁸Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. ⁹And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain

¹⁰Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. ¹¹They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up

¹²Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. ¹³And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings ^[g]of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

¹⁵“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

¹⁶And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, ^[h]Armageddon.

Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken

¹⁷Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” ¹⁸And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. ¹⁹Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. ²⁰Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

The daylight will begin to be longer the darkest day has passed for this year. Maybe it makes me more cheery, but doesn’t it seem we should be reading the birth of Jesus this month – instead of the judgments from God. Or maybe it is just human nature to want to good parts and avoid the bad. I believe God ordained this reading plan – and so far it has had many words for us pertinent to the current affairs of our world. And I do not dare discuss how the images in this book are seen regularly in our modern world as to not scare anyone who is not yet mature enough to understand. On one hand all these things have happened and John saw them and wrote about them. Therefore it makes since to see hint of them in our world. The enemy is also using them to scare people.

End times are spoken about like it will start and then in 7 years all of this will play out and boom the earth is destroyed. But that is not the case. The end times began according to Jesus when He was walking the Earth. And in the last 2000 years a lot of this has played out to some end. This is a process that God WILL drag out as much as He can to make sure everyone who can be saved is. He WILL give every last mercy and grace. Otherwise there would be no need for a process and God could just take his children home and smite the planet. This process is God’s mercy and goodness. It is important to remember as we learn today what is inside those bowls.

“¹ Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

First Bowl: Loathsome Sores. This is an interesting plague. We see not that many who have been vaccinated and boosted against covid are dying of heart issues. I will not be surprised if whatever technology they use to give the mark will cause sores to happen. Lots of sores – because if you mess with God’s design, He will permit plagues of sores. You see somethings that happen in the spirit realm and seem like magic to our lack of understanding can appear in the physical with a logical explanation and it makes it NO LESS of a miracle, or a curse like these sores will be. I mean, they can come from an outside source and only effect people with the mark, but I think mankind is allergic to that mark and will have a reaction to it, based solely on the fact that it only happens to man with the mark. I know – lots of speculation for someone trying to only use the bible to explain itself. You do not have to accept it.

“²So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.”

Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood – this is a sad event, I cannot imagine what will take place in the natural to cause it. But to lose every living creature in the sea?! The Octopus, the whale, the seahorse, and ALL of the sea creatures?! I wonder about people with fish tanks, will those sea creatures also die?

“³Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.”

When the first temple was destroyed I thought God could have protected HIS place better. And wondered how He could let it be lost. God is outside of time, it is not lost to Him and it will not be lost to us either when we join him. Therefore He has no attachments to temporary things. So if the fish must die, they die – no attachment to them. He is outside of time and can go back and visit them whenever. He also has plans for a new heaven and earth and in it there will be sea life. Except this time it will not be corrupted by the sins of man

Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood – so if any fish remained outside of the sea, I am sure they will soon die as their water must be changed out and replaced by blood. But at this point, we should worry more about mankind than about fish.

“⁴Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things.⁶For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”
⁷And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

How long can a human go without water? According to a quick internet search 3 days without food and water. But without water and still having food which may contains some fluid, mankind can like 5 to 6 days – if they have bottled fluids available to drink, like soda and bottled beverages, maybe a few weeks, depending on the amount of supply they have. Must Americans live is a state of partial dehydration – they will not make it even as long as these guesses. Yeah – we should be more concerned about the people still on earth when this hits! Turn to God already! (And yes I am aware that many of these people, even if they did try to turn to God have crossed a line they cannot return from.)

Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched – but water may be the least of their concerns the next plague will cut their survival time down by at least half.

“⁸Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. ⁹And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.”

Yes – where do you go when outside burns and dehydrates you and the building are also burning? God was slow with the judgments hoping to save lives – but now he is quick with the wrath – which is also merciful.

Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain – what we must remember is that the Bible is clear that His Wrath is NOT poured out on His faithful remnant. So from the 7^th trumpet on, we hear no more about the sealed and protected ones. I have heard some say that is when the rapture will happen – but the scholars who say that are a small group. What you and I should know is that we are safe in His will for our lives no matter what His will is. What we need to know is we should hope and pray for the rapture and for Christ’s return – but be prepared for the tribulation and persecution to come. Otherwise we might feel betrayed and lose our faith in God during the hard times. But the times of the bowls – no Christian, no believer will be on earth for.

“¹⁰Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. ¹¹They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.”

And it will still be nicer than hell. With not feeling well, came incredible headaches about a 10 on the pain scale and I DID chew my tongue because of pain! I do not think it helped, but it did get me through. I cannot imagine pain, more than that headache. Amazingly once they gave me medicine it began to be relieved and ice also helped. But these people will have no relief and darkness – and it will still be nicer than hell will be.

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up – Anyone see that in the news?! It’s already happening! Does the enemy think if he dries it up now that the Lord cannot fulfill this prophecy?

“¹²Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. ¹³And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
¹⁵“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
¹⁶And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.”

First of all, WHO IS STILL ALIVE AFTER ALL OF THAT?! Second of all – aren’t these wraths terribly harsh? Why are the wraths towards all of mankind falling on these last remaining stubborn humans?
Well, you see, time are going to get really bad and these humans are the ones playing gods the ones living in protected bunkers and controlling the narrative – who think they can outlast God and win and repopulate a new post apocalyptic earth. These judgements are bad and growing worse because of the level of grievous sin of these last people and the evil that controls them. All of God’s wrath was turned away from mankind’s sins thanks to Jesus – so this is not God breaking loose after holding back literally forever. This is progressively worse so the wrath fit with the level of evil the man is. Do not think you can mock God and get away with it. Do not think you can play god and get away with it.

Verse 15 seems to be misplaced. Especially since the Bible says His people are not set up for wrath (which is what most people think to mean the tribulation – and it could include the tribulation, but it definitely includes what the Bible calls the time of wrath. So who is left watching and keeping hi garments? Is John speaking to the readers of Revelation reminding them to keep watch because they bad things will happen?! Or will still more turn to God and be saved, even after having endured His wrath?

Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken

“¹⁷Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”

Jesus said it is finished on the cross. At the end of the 6^th day of creation God saw He was finished and took a break. Now God says it is done. Done is done.

“¹⁸And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. ¹⁹Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. ²⁰Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.”

And I am still wondering how anyone is still alive?! But they better collect that hail as water because they should be so dehydrated they are dead. The people left must be extremely wealthy and affluent. They must have literal warehouses of bottled water and drinks.