260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 247 - Revelation 9: 5th & 6th Trumpets

How far will God go to get our attention? As far as punishing His own Son for our sin in order to show how much He cares as well as hates sin.! Today we continue with the trumpet judgments. With the final three trumpets come three “woes.” 5th Trumpet – First Woe: In the first 12 verses God unleashes a horde of supernatural demonic creatures (never seen locusts like this!) who spread as much misery as possible. Somehow they inflict pain on all “who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads……..…for five months.” How bad will this be? “During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.” This will be a painful time for unbelievers and the description of these war-like creatures is difficult to imagine! 6th Trumpet – Second Woe: “Release the four angels……….and the four angels……..were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.” This death toll from this army of 200,000 will be significantly larger than any ever before. And want to talk freakish – they’ll do it with “fire, smoke & sulfur” out of their mouths & in their tails – which were like snakes with heads!~ Wow – fire breathing horses with heads like lions and tails like snakes! What is both shocking, as well as sad, is that even in spite of all this, people still did not turn to God: They “did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” SO WHAT?! *Lets take some time today to thank God for revealing Himself to us and that by His grace through faith we can be saved! *What idols do you & I have? Ok, maybe not statues, but how about money? Academics? Clothes? Trucks? Pleasure? Stuff? iPods? iPhones? iPads? Idomtknow?!~ Anything that we give more attention to more than God. Lord, help me to make you #!1 in my life each day!

260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 246 - Revelation 8: Seventh Seal & First Four Trumpets

Yeah, yeah, so my title is not that creative, but it IS what happens in this chapter! Anyway, take the next 60 seconds and be absolutely quiet. Our scene has shifted back to the throne room of God – and there is silence for 30 minutes - a reverence to God. This is the calm before the storm. The opening of this seventh seal contains the seven trumpet judgments, which will make the previous judgments look puny. First off, an angel delivers the prayers of the saints and they are offered to God as a sweet aroma. It’s amazing to think that our prayers are sweet to God! “Then 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.” Look out, here it comes… 1st Trumpet – 1/3 of Vegetation Burns Up: “…hail, and fire mixed with blood” is sent to earth. God is using nature to punish mankind. These are the judgments that are held back in 7:3. 2nd Trumpet – 1/3 of Sea Life Destroyed: “…something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea.” Fish can’t live in blood and ships burn from this mountainous size chunk. And remember, we get much of our oxygen from algae & stuff in the sea. 3rd Trumpet – 1/3 of Fresh Water Poisoned: “…a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.” There will be a water shortage and many people will die from the lethal & bitter poison of the wormwood. 4th Trumpet – 1/3 of the Heavenly Bodies are Darkened: “…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.” Imagine the affect on agriculture, navigation, human health, productivity, etc… The chapter ends with yet another announcement, this time by an eagle: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!” Let me translate – It’s gonna’ get worse. SO WHAT?! *There is a lot of similarities in the seals & trumpets to old testament plagues & prophecies that are too numerous to go into. But this I know. This is God’s judgment on a world that didn’t want Him. How about you & me. Do we “desire” God more than anything else. Well, probably not, at least not on our own. But by His Holy Spirit we can! Lord, we love you, we need you and we don’t stand a chance without you!

260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 245 - Revelation 7: 144,000 & Those in White Robes

“After this…” This chapter represents another new vision for John. It answers the question in 6:17, “Who can withstand it?” It’s kinda’ like a parenthesis between the 6th & 7th seal and it contrasts the preparedness of God’s people with the panic of the unprepared world. So, you have four angels with power to destroy, covering the whole earth (4 corners = 4 directions on the compass) and for now, holding back. Why? Because God has to put His seal on them first. Only the true servants of God, who are sealed, can be protected from this judgment! We are then given the exact number – 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes. We believe this group of 144,000 will carry God’s message to the world during the difficult days of the tribulation. This is not ALL the faithful, bust a specific group of them given this responsibility to witness at this time. Most likely Christian Jews. The next thing John sees to write down is “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” This group of people have be cleansed of their sins (white robes) and are praising God big time! I love this next part – one of the elders asks John “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” Like John really knows, so he replies, “Sir, you know.” And he does! “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.” These are Jews & Gentiles who have turned to God in the tribulation and died. As a result, they too have been washed of their sins! SO WHAT?! *God knows & seals those who are His! Once you are a child of God, you can never not be! How awesome is that?!~! Are you “Hizkid?” *Yes, there will be a multitude of those who get left behind in the rapture (if you’re pre-trib) that turn to God. It will cost them their lives, yet it will happen. But why put off believing? A heart attack, a car wreck or whatever can always occur at anytime and then it will be too late. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 244 - Revelation 6: Seal Judgments

What is the worst thing you’ve ever had to endure? Being picked on, beat up, having a close friend die or something worse? As painful as these things are, none of these will even compare to the devastating judgment God will unleash in the future. (At this point, I’ll interject my personal timeline thoughts. I believe the rapture - 1 Thessalonians 4 - occurs before chapter 6, probably after chapter 3. This would make me a pre-trib rapture hopeful ‘til further notice – LOL!) We’ve come to the portion in Revelation where God begins judging a sinful world. This is the first of three seven part judgments – 7 seals, 7 trumpets & 7 bowls. The seventh one of each opens the first one of the next. The scene now shifts from heaven to earth. 1st Seal – Conquering Power: “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.” I believe this first rider represents the anti-christ and the forces of evil. He & his evil regime will deceive many, appear as counterfeits (white = counterfeit purity), everyone will like him at first and he will attain worldwide domination. But it will only be be temporary. 2nd Seal – War & Bloodshed: “Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.” Red symbolizes slaughter & he’s given a sword because the number he kills will be so great. And whatever restraints there have been up to this point are removed and peace is no more. 3rd Seal – Famine & Poverty: “I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.” With this judgment comes the scarcity of food. It will be both difficult to find and so expensive that poverty will come upon many. 4th Seal – Death: “There before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death…..they were given power……to kill….” Pale = sickly, look of terror and hell is the horse of death! The magnitude of this catastrophe can hardly be grasped. ¼ of the people of the earth (over 1.6 billion right now) killed?!~ 5th Seal – Martyrs & Vengeance: “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. They called out…..“How long, Lord ……..until you judge the inhabitants of the earth?” God will not forget those who paid the price for Him……and it will only be “a little longer.” 6th Seal – Earth & Universe Collapse: “There was a great earthquake, the sun turned black, the whole moon turned blood red, the stars fell to earth, the heavens receded and every mountain & island was removed from its place.” Wowsa - a galactical catastrophe of this kind is unfathomable – but it WILL occur just as written! What will all of this do? Although some will survive these events, this devastating terror will bring fear to every category of humanity! People of all kinds will hide and wish they were dead rather than facing the wrath of God. SO WHAT?! *What emotions do the events of this chapter bring you? Even as a believer, I have fear – fear for my friends and family members who have not yet believed & received. Lord, please turn this fear into an urgent compassion that results in me sharing Jesus with them – even before the end of this year! *God is serious about sin. His judgments are complete and no one can hide from Him. YET HE IS SO LOVING that He offers us a way to be made right with Him through Jesus Christ! If you have never put your trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins and eternal life – now is the time! “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 243 - Revelation 5: Seven-Sealed Scroll of the Lamb

Worthy-ness is also a theme of Revelation – because God alone is worthy. The contents of this scroll will take up the remainder of this book - and our brains! So here’s my disclaimer: As we dive in deeper in each of these devotions, just remember, they are devos, not in-depth Bible studies of the end times! Just sayin’… John now notices a scroll in the right hand (power) of God and an angel asking who can open it. This bums out John because no one is found worthy until an elder says “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.” Jesus takes the scroll and immediately the 4 creatures & 24 elders are thrilled to fall down in worship and begin to sing (1st choir)! They give the reason Jesus is able to open it, “because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Then an angelic choir (yes - really, they were angels) joins in song, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (2nd choir) Then everyone else joins in, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (3rd choir) SO WHAT?! *What if Jesus had not died for my sins and been resurrected? Could He have opened the scroll? (1 Corinthians 15:14-19) When Jesus took that scroll from his Father’s hand all those around the throne were ecstatic! It should thrill us as well to know that He is worthy and that what Jesus did for us was enough! *How’s your worship? Privately – do you spend time daily with Jesus? Then publically, how do you treat Sunday morning worship services? Are you bored or thrilled?!~! Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 242 - Revelation 4: The Throne in Heaven

A few years back I attempted to draw (I have artistic deficiency) this chapter on a sheet of paper. I know, crazy exercise, but it helped me to try to get an idea of what John was seeing. Just as John’s first vision ends, he is summoned for a second one “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Remember our structure: chapter one = “what was”, chapters 2-3 = “what is” and the rest of Revelation is “what is to come.” Not maybe, not could be, but fixed and certain, these things literally “must” happen. “Throne” is used 37 times in Revelation (13 in this chapter). That’s because it represents authority & rule and when we talk about God we are talking about the one who is in control and ruling! John is attempting to describe the indescribable God. So, if you don’t totally get it, join the club! God the Father’s appearance is awesome! (Check out Ezekiel 1 too). And so is His throne room! So you’ve got God on His throne, and it’s surrounded by four creatures that you won’t find at your local zoo! In front of them are 7 blazing lampstands and some kind of amazing looking sea encompassed by some kind of round rainbow. Around all of these are 24 “elders” (men or angels I’m not sure) who are in white, each have thrones and are repeatedly laying down their crowns, bowing down and telling God He is worthy! And all of this with quite the pyro-tech show of lightning & thunder. Pretty clear huh?!~! Oh, and God the Father is holding a scroll – oops = next chapter! SO WHAT?! *The picture of God on His throne brings numerous applications: 1 - God is in Control: As much as you & I like to be control freaks, it’s only perceived control. Only God is truly in control. “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.” 2 - The throne represents judgment. In the remainder of this book we will read of God’s judgment on those who reject Him. For now, we live in an age of grace where God is offering opportunity for all to believe, but this time period will end. So - Don’t be that guy! Put your trust in Jesus today. *3 – A response of reverence is given by everyone. Many today blow off and mock the things of God. Some day that will all change. Every knee WILL bow and every tongue WILL confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Let’s make Jesus known so people can confess Him now & receive eternal life, instead of judgment when it’s too late.

260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 241 - Revelation 3: Complacency, Deliverance & Luke-Warmness

John continues in this chapter to bring Jesus message to the remaining three of the seven churches. SARDIS: Complacency – This was a church that had grown careless and indifferent to spiritual things, they had gotten “comfortable” in their spiritual lives. “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” You can’t live off of past spirituality! There is no neutral in the Christian life. It’s an uphill road and if we put our life in neutral we will actually backslide. The cure? “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die.....Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.” Yet, not all those in Sardis had fallen like this. PHILADELPHIA – Promised Deliverance – Jesus said of the faithful in this church, “you have kept my word and have not denied my name….. you have kept my command to endure patiently.” Wow – wouldn’t we love to hear this from Jesus about us!~ As a result, Jesus promises them “an open door, that their enemies will bow down to them and that He will deliver them from the hour of trial.” Hang in there Philadelphia! LAODICEA – Luke-Warmness – Jesus’ most scathing rebuke is given to this church. They were not commended for anything – yikes! These people, by their own self-evaluation were rich and didn’t need anyone’s help. They “had it all.” But God’s evaluation was quite different, “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Not that they didn’t have lots of “rich” stuff, but Jesus was addressing their spiritual condition! Rich in resources is not equivalent to rich in heart. These people were not on fire for God, and yet, they had enough good looking deeds to not be considered cold – they were lukewarm. Ever drank lukewarm water? Disgusting! And that is what God thinks of people like this, “I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” The cure? “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here 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 that person, and they with me.” Jesus is waiting for us to come to him in humility and repentance! SO WHAT?! *Have you watched God doing amazing things through you and to you? I hope so! The danger is if we live on that experience and never see God do anything more. I once heard it said, “If you’re not as close to God today as you were yesterday, guess who moved?” It’s stuck with me. God’s work in lives is always meant to be fresh. Let’s not be complacent and lets stick close to God each day so we can experience & share His fresh work. *What are you facing that is tough and overwhelming? Go to God during those times, keep His word and don’t become bitter. If you do, then be assured that God will deliver you! *How’s you walk with Jesus? Hot? Cold? Or puke-warm?!~ We get one chance to live this life for Him – let’s not be lame!