December 28-December 31

Revelation: A Celebration That Will Never End
Revelation 17-22
Brian Magnuson, PhD
Dothan, Alabama


It is amazing what impresses people today. It has always been that way. Revelation 17 acknowledges that many nations were “intoxicated” (2) by Rome’s affluence (4). But this lavish lifestyle was built upon the backs of the poor and downtrodden and for that Rome will be judged harshly. Rome will also experience God’s severe hand because she is, “drunk with the blood of the saints” (6). As the persecution against Christians in Asia Minor continues, God proclaims his intolerance with such behavior. Many nations will ally themselves with Rome but they will suffer the same fate of the mighty empire; that is, “the Lamb will overcome them” (14) and with God will reign all of those who have not given up but have endured with Him to the very end.

The evidence of Rome’s downfall is recorded in the 18th chapter as a funeral dirge is offered on her behalf. The warning to Christians is once again announced, “Come out of her, my people” (4), a warning against compromise and assimilation. The sadness at the funeral of Rome shows the confused state of life without God. Many mourn for the once mighty empire but their sorrow is not so much for Rome as it is for their own lost opportunities to make a profit.

While there is sadness on earth over the destruction of a once mighty nation, chapter 19 announces rejoicing in heaven. “Salvation, glory and power” (1) were once claimed by the Roman Emperor but now only belong to God. All that is left of Rome is “smoke” that goes up for ever and ever (3). A multitude of martyrs shout, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory” (7). They can rejoice because Jesus is seen riding on a white horse. He takes the beast (Roman Emperor) and false prophet (Local authorities) and throws them into the “fiery lake of burning sulfur” (19-20).

Chapter 20 shows us the next series of events that take place, revealing the ultimate rule of God. Satan is restricted by God from being able to carry out persecution on the church for a limited time (1000 years). This 1000 years is symbolic of a time of rest for the church at the conclusion of Satan’s torture by Rome. Those who have been beheaded (i.e. the martyrs) are privileged to go immediately and reign with God (4). The rest of the dead will wait for the general resurrection (11-15). The great revelation of God now moves from the history of man on this fallen earth to the end of time. Satan is flung into hell where all of those who have followed him will spend eternity (7-10).

For those whose names are written in the Book of Life, they are pictured as a beautiful city coming down from God. Chapter 21 expresses the greatest joy of heaven; eternity in the presence God (3).

The Tree of Life, once forbidden in the Garden of Eden (Genesis) now is offered freely in heaven (Revelation 22:2). God concludes this wonderful letter the way it started. He sees the plight of His people, cares very much and is moved to action on their behalf. God will not tolerate sin, rebellion and persecution. He will come soon to relieve their suffering in this life and ultimately will reward them for their faithfulness.

[Dr. Brian Magnuson lives in Dothan, Alabama where he preaches for the Westgate Church of Christ. Prior to moving to Dothan, Brian preached for the McKnight Road church in St. Louis. He is the proud father of two children, Destin and Kade.]

December 21-December 27

The Battle of Armageddon
Revelation 8-16
Brian Magnuson, PhD
Dothan, Alabama

As trumpets are used in our day to get ones attention and announce the arrival of important persons, so God uses trumpets in the book of Revelation to announce his verdict and judgment against an ungodly nation that has persecuted His church. The 8th and 9th chapters of Revelation picture God’s judgment upon the Roman Empire by means of internal corruption (9:1-11) and external forces (9:13-16).

Often it appears that evil is winning and that God’s purposes are being forted. In the midst of such pain and uncertainty, what are Christians to do? That answer is given to us in chapters 10 and 11. As for John, the messenger of God, he is to consume the word of God. It was sweet as honey because it was a message from God but it also turned his stomach sour because it was a message of woe and punishment against the ungodly persecutors (ch.10). As for the church, they were to remain faithful to God and proclaim His word to any who would hear (ch. 11). This would become a very difficult task at times but God is faithful and will restore and resurrect any child of His that may fall under severe persecution (11:11-12).

A graphic picture of this persecution is given in the 12th chapter. A woman is prepared to give birth (physical Israel). But a red dragon (Satan) is waiting to kill her child (Jesus). The child is snatched up to God and the dragon pursues but Satan is met at the gates of heaven and thrown back down to earth. Frustrated, the dragon turns to the woman (spiritual Israel = the church) and tries to destroy her but the gates of hell will never be able to stop the Kingdom of God. Unable to destroy or even stop the church, the dragon does the only thing left for him; pursue individual Christians (17). We stand at this moment in time when Satan tries to destroy the sheep that have wondered off from the fold. Christians must stay together in community lest we be picked off one by one by the evil one.

Knowing his time is limited, the dragon (Satan) enlists the help of anyone who will allow him space to move in their life. Chapter 13 details his success in recruiting the Beast of the Sea (the Roman Emperor, :1-10) and the Beast of the Earth (local authorities throughout Asia Minor that carry out Rome’s edicts :11-17). The evilness of men’s hearts is reflected in the number 666 symbolizing Nero and all that is evil and vile within a rebellious man (18).

The destiny of those who persecute the people of God as well as the triumph of those who remain faithful to Him are spelled out in the 14th and 15th chapters.

God’s merciless anger is poured out upon Rome in the picture of a battle called Armageddon (ch.16). At this “battle”, the dragon (Satan), the beast (Roman Emperor) and the false prophet (local authorities) are all present (13). From a literary perspective, it is obvious that Armageddon has already been fought; that is, it is behind us, not a battle at the end of time. This is made clear when one examines the rest of the revelation given by God. In chapter 19 the beast and false prophet are thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Then a thousand years pass (20:1-6) and finally the Book of Revelation depicts the end of time. At this moment only Satan is left and he is thrown into the lake of burning sulfur (20:10). At the “Battle of Armageddon” all three are present. At the end of time only Satan is present. Armageddon has already been fought.

The picture is clear, in the course of human history, there are times in which Christians are persecuted because of Satan’s evil desires. God sees what happens to His people, cares very much and may even decide to step in and stop it; such as in the case of Roman persecution in the first and second century.



[Dr. Brian Magnuson is the Senior Minister for the Westgate Church of Christ in Dothan, Alabama.]

December 14-December 20

History Repeating Itself
Brian Magnuson, PhD
Dothan, Alabama

It is unfortunate that when many people come to the Book of Revelation, they simply throw up their hands and surrender to the fact that the book can not be understood. This is in fact unbiblical for Jesus promises a blessing to anyone who would, “read…hear…and take to heart what is written” (Rev. 1:3). The Book of Revelation is the best commentary on the history of this fallen world. Its message is filled with hope and certainty. God reveals that He sees the suffering of His people, hears their prayers and is deeply moved when Christians suffer for their faith. He further reveals that He is prepared to step in and stop those harming the Christian community. But He also gives clear instructions to all Christ followers, “Be faithful even to the point of death” (Rev. 2:10); that is, a Christian must not assimilate into his culture no matter what the cost.

With this strong warning given to the churches that are experiencing such persecution (i.e. seven churches located in Asia Minor, ch. 2-3); God reveals His majesty and power through a frail messenger, John. John has been banished to an Island in the Aegean Sea called Patmos. There, he will be invited to see the plight of sinful rebellious man and the hope and security of those who choose to follow Jesus Christ.

In ch. 4 a glimpse of the Presence of God is given to the world. His Presence is pictured with bright lights, precious stones and host of worshippers celebrating God’s holiness and power. Persecuted Christians are not looking for a gentle Savior but a triumphant warrior able to avenge, restore and deliver. Such is the appearance of Jesus the Son (ch 1:12-18) and God the Father (ch. 4).

In chapter 5, the worshippers in heaven sing a song of praise to the Father for the triumph of His beloved Son. The words to describe Jesus are endless but so appropriate, “worthy, power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, praise, for ever and ever…” (12-13).

Beginning in chapter 6, the sad history of mankind is revealed complete with wars (2), bloodshed (3), famine (6) and death (8). A martyred saint asks how long these types of things must continue to happen to the people of God (10)? At this point a glimpse into what God is prepared to do is given; a scene of the Roman Empire coming to an end (which ultimately took place in 476 AD.) The picture of God’s anger and wrath against this proud nation is so horrific the question is asked, “Who can stand” (17)?

At this point a pause in the unveiling of God’s punishment against Rome is offered. A chance for the saved to be reassured that their salvation is safe and their future is certain. Chapter 7 reveals that God knows who His people are, for they have been marked or sealed. A similar word play is used in Ezekiel 9 to say that God knows those who have not assimilated into their cultures but have remained faithful, even to the point of death. This is not a literal mark, but simply a way for God’s people to know that the Father has not forgotten them, in fact, he knows them by name. They are the Israel of God, the church (Rom. 2:28-29, Gal. 6:13-16).

[Dr. Brian Magnuson is the Senior Minister for the Westgate Church of Christ in Dothan, Alabama.]

Revelation 1-Revelation 8

Revelation 1
Prologue
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and doxology
4John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

One like a Son of Man
9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"[b]dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[c] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Footnotes:

Revelation 1:5 Or the sevenfold Spirit
Revelation 1:13 Daniel 7:13
Revelation 1:20 Or messengers

Revelation 2
To the church in Ephesus
1"To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
To the Church in Smyrna
8"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
To the Church in Pergamum
12"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
To the Church in Thyatira
18"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
27'He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery'[b]— just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Footnotes:

Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9

Revelation 3
To the Church in Sardis
1"To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b]of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Philadelphia
7"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Laodicea
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Footnotes:

Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
Revelation 3:1 Or the sevenfold Spirit

Revelation 4
The Throne in Heaven
1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

Footnotes:

Revelation 4:5 Or the sevenfold Spirit

Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"

13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!" 14The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Footnotes:

Revelation 5:6 Or the sevenfold Spirit

Revelation 6
The Seals
1I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

5When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart[a] of wheat for a day's wages,[b] and three quarts of barley for a day's wages,[c] and do not damage the oil and the wine!"

7When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

12I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

15Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

Footnotes:

Revelation 6:6 Greek a choinix (probably about a liter)
Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius


Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb." 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying:
"Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"

14I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

3Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

The Trumpets
6Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

8The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

12The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

13As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"

Footnotes:

Revelation 8:11 That is, Bitterness

December 7-December 13

Contending For Our Faith
Jayson Vincent
St. Louis, Missouri

Our book of consideration at this time is Jude, a short book towards the end of our Bible, that great collection of books saved for us that allows us to know our God more and more and more. The author is Jude, and he refers to himself as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. His immediate acknowledgement is that his life is not his, but rather he submits his life as a slave to the One who came to live, to love, to suffer, and to die for Him. It is in this devotion of submission and service that we find Jude living out an example of a great friend, and of a great brother and sister in Christ. We find him in thought about others who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ, as he is writing to them about the salvation that they share (v.3). While writing to them, Jude says that he felt it necessary to appeal to them to earnestly contend for their faith (v.3). It is Jude’s desire that they are shown great mercy by God, and that God blesses them with more and more peace, and with abounding love (v.2).

Jude has learned that certain individuals and groups of people have crept in among the children of God will ill intentions, and that they’ve done so unnoticed (v.4). He lets them know that the very fact that these people would come to deceive and to harm the faith and the lives of God’s people is something that has been known from a long, long time ago (v.4), and something that has been spoken of even recently by the apostles (v.17). He states that these people turn God’s grace into licentiousness, and that they deny Jesus Christ.

Jude proceeds to use a great strategy in order to help the children of God to escape the deception and harm caused by these ungodly penetrators, he calls them to “be reminded” (v.5). Let’s give proper credit to God for this example of strategy, as the one who created Jude and who is orchestrating His work through his devoted life. Jude proceeds to remind them of the fact that many people (and angels also) have found themselves in the favor of God and in the presence of God’s miraculous works and indescribable presence, only to still fall away at a later time (v.5+). Others have found themselves committing continous evil in God’s sight, and their corresponding punishment has been shown as an example (Sodom & Gomorrah in this case) of how God hates ungodliness, and how He will indeed one day punish those who will not turn from it. He reminds them of the conduct of esteemed angels, like Michael (v.9), who I have called esteemed because of his recorded obedience in my reading of the Scripture, and he brings to light some of the actions that these ungodly, deceiving, false-teaching men have conducted in order to show how out of place their conduct (v.4, v.10) truly is.

Jude closes his letter by teaching his beloved in Christ how to “contend for their faith” in the midst of their present adversity, and I believe that there is understanding for us to learn from here, also.

As he shows them how to contend for their faith (v.20+ follows here), he asks them to do the following:
- Keep building yourselves up on your faith
- Keep praying in the Spirit
- Keep yourselves in God’s love (to my understanding this means keep believing in what Christ has done for you, keep considering both this and all of God’s love, keep reminding yourself of these, keep looking forward to Christ’s return, and keep longing for God’s presence in this life)
- Wait anxiously for His return
- Help one another out during this battle (and a difficult contention this is…)
o Some will require mercy, as they struggle with doubting
o You’ll be able to snatch some out of the fire
o You’ll need to have mercy on some, and keep fear in front of you so that you may properly see and hate the effects of sin on both yourselves and your brothers & sisters.

Jude closes his letter with what I think is the greatest encouragement. He encourages them to trust and focus on Him who is able to keep them united to Him, ready to stand blameless in His presence, and able to stand with great joy upon His return (paraphrased v.24). And may that be the case with each of us, my beloved.
I sincerely believe that through meditation upon Jude’s counsel of “contending for our faith,” we can truly increase our discernment, protecting ourselves from false teaching, and directing our minds to focus upon the love and hope in Jesus Christ. In our world, discernment is needed in order to keep us in His love, as we also deal with that same devil (that same roaring lion) who existed with causes to destroy and deceive in the presence of these children of God. I also believe that there is great fruit to be reaped from us taking the time to “remember,” and to “remind” ourselves of what God has done. Let’s have some joy and depth with this and remember the details along with the stories that we’ve heard many times. Let’s rejoice with Him in what He has done. Lastly, it is with great joy that we can relax in His ability to bring us home. Even amidst our strivings for understanding and obedience, and amidst our struggles and frustrations as we live in this world attacked by a common enemy and limited by common flesh, He is with us now and is able to bring us home. He is able to bring us home, He is able to bring us Home, He is able to bring us home! May that echo in your heart, and in mine, amen.

[Jayson Vincent is a member of the McKnight Road Church of Christ in Saint Louis, Missouri. Jayson is a Modeling & Simulation Software Engineer at The Boeing Company and is working on his MBA at Webster University. Jayson is involved in the teaching ministry at McKnight Road Church of Christ, and is part of a wonderful core group of young professionals that meet for dinner & bible study on Sunday evenings.]

Jude

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by[a] Jesus Christ:

2Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

The sin and doom of Godless men
3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4For certain men whose condemnation was written about[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

5Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord[c] delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

8In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them.

11Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.

12These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." 16These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

A call to persevere
17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Doxology
24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Footnotes:


Jude 1:1 Or for; or in
Jude 1:4 Or men who were marked out for condemnation
Jude 1:5 Some early manuscripts Jesus

1 John-3 John

1 John 1
The Word of Life
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our[a] joy complete.

Walking in the light
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.

8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Footnotes:


1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
1 John 1:7 Or every

1 John 2

The Word of Life
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our[a] joy complete.

Walking in the light
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.

8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Footnotes:


1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
1 John 1:7 Or every

1 John 3

1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

4Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Love one another
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Footnotes:


1 John 3:2 Or when it is made known

1 John 4
Test the Spirits
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

God's Love and Ours
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Footnotes:


1 John 4:6 Or spirit
1 John 4:9 Or his only begotten Son
1 John 4:10 Or as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away

1 John 5

Faith in the Son of God
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

6This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Concluding Remarks
13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

16If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Footnotes:


1 John 5:8 Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the sixteenth century)

2 John

1The elder,
To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth - 2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

12I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.

3 John

1The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.