READING: Revelation 12-18
TEXTS AND APPLICATION: There are those days when the Word of God breaks your heart in two, as the living Sword pierces your soul to its core. Today is one of those days for me.
Let me tell you why.
First, I read these chapters today, and I can rejoice at the victory that Jesus will ultimately claim. He is the King of Kings, and He will in fact reign. We speak and sing those words as believers, but I’ve not meditated on them enough. No matter how messed up this world becomes, God is in charge of history. We who follow Him are on the winning side.
Rev. 12:7-8 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer.
Rev. 17:14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.
Second, I grieve the reality of judgment coming on the world. God will indeed gather around His throne those who follow Him from every people, nation, tribe, and tongue, but many from those same groups will also suffer eternal judgment. Even when God pours out His wrath on them, they will stubbornly refuse to repent and believe. How can I not weep over that reality?
Rev. 16:9 . . . and people were burned by the intense heat. So they blasphemed the name of God, who had the power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give Him glory.
Third, the ones who are “blessed” are those who “die in the Lord” and those who live faithfully every day in preparation for Jesus’ coming — that is, they live in such purity that they are unashamed. I want to be among the blessed, and I want the nations to be in that group as well. Thus, I rejoice and weep at the same time.
Rev. 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: The dead who die in the Lord from now on are blessed.”
Rev. 16:15 “Look, I am coming like a thief. The one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame is blessed.”
ACTION STEPS: From chapters 12-18, here are some application steps to consider today.
- Rejoice that the enemy has never been strong enough to defeat Christ — and will never be.
- Pray for brothers and sisters around the world who face persecution today. Pray they will be faithful to the end, regardless of the cost.
- Pray for those who persecute them. Pray that persecutors will turn to Christ in repentance and faith.
- Grieve and pray over the billions in the world who do not know Jesus today.
- Consider how you would change your life today if you knew that today is the day of Jesus’ return. Make those changes, knowing that His return is always a possibility.
- Read aloud Rev. 15:3-4 in your quiet time. Remember again, blessed is the one who reads, hears, and obeys this book.
PRAYER: “Lord God, true and righteous are Your judgments today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Revelation 19-22