BIBLE READING: Revelation 13-14

Revelation depicts the dichotomy of good and evil. There is no gray area where some ride the fence and swing their loyalty just enough at the end. Those who realize victory and vindication from Jesus are those who have committed themselves to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus (12.17; 14.1-5). They have struggled against Satan and his forces, even to death (6.9-11). Everyone else, whether deliberate or deceived, will incur the wrath of God (11.10; 13.4, 14; 14.9-11).

The stark contrast represents true reality. The world will say truth is subjective and enlightenment comes through many paths. Philosophy and psychology always seem to come up with new explanations for what life is about and how to do it right. Like the early believers John wrote to, we are influenced by cultural bias and sometimes become lax or discouraged in our faith. John’s vivid language is intended to wake us up to reality and prompt urgency. In fact, John makes a point to step aside from his apocalyptic language to offer clear calls to action:

“Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints… “those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 13.10b; 14.12)

“This calls for a mind with wisdom…” (Revelation 13.18; 17.9)

Some of these calls are for the immediate readers, as they would soon experience these things (Revelation 13.9-10). But these are also for believers of all time. We too will be confronted by a world that is still subject to the power and deception of Satan. Until Christ returns, Satan’s focus is to destroy those loyal to Jesus. What this means is Revelation must be considered and acted upon. Its goal is to motivate faithfulness, in our lives, until the very end (Revelation 14.13).

Trials cause frustration and distress. Life causes apathy and discouragement. Some of this is the nature of the world, but some of these are Satan’s tactics to distract our loyalty to Jesus. Here is a call for endurance. We need to make the best use of our time and commit ourselves to Jesus in every way. In our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. In our relationships, work, and families. Following Jesus is all in, all the time. We must be sober minded about this reality and live today with purpose and conviction.

“…you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10.36)

""...blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Revelation 14.13)

BIBLE READING: Revelation 12

The major message of Revelation begins in chapter 4 with the introduction of God on his throne. Everything else up to this point was preparatory as John is about to witness the “Drama of Redemption.” We are introduced to Jesus as the living, victorious Christ (Revelation 1). The audience this drama is to benefit is presented in Revelation 2-3 with all their vices and virtues. Revelation 4-5 settles our attention on God and sets the tone for all that follows. God reigns supreme and his dealings with humanity find purpose and meaning in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (4.11). He alone is worthy to unveil the mystery hidden for ages because he fulfilled the redemptive purposes of God towards man (5.9-10).

Revelation is not intended to be read as a linear timeline but rather as a mural depicting the various elements of redemptive history. In this book we see the hand of Christ opening the sealed book of God’s dealings with men and giving clarity to God’s actions.

As the seals are broken and trumpets are blown, we see wickedness and corruption increase throughout history (Revelation 6). Evil gains prominence and the world becomes an apparent wasteland, ruled by wicked leaders, and filled with unrepentant peoples (Revelation 9). This culminates in apparent victory for evil (11.7-10). But throughout there are constant reminders of God’s power and presence to redeem those who are his (see 6.9-11; 7.9-17). These events are within the bounds of God’s power as it is his messengers who usher the timing of their occurrence (marked by angels blowing trumpets, pouring bowls, etc).

When all hope seems lost, the tides suddenly turn. The murdered witnesses revive (11.11), and the apparent kingdom of the world becomes “the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” (11.15). The temple is opened (11.19) indicating universal access to God.

But this is not the end of the story. At this point we must turn our attention to the enemy at large. Satan has been cast down and he knows his time is short (12.9, 12). He is furiously working to make war on “those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (12.17). In the chapters that follow, Satan’s ferocity and tenacity are intimidating and, for many, convincing. He is relentless because he has no time to waste. “…But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short” (Revelation 12.12).

This is the time in which we live. Satan operates openly and covertly. He manipulates people and situations to take our attention off Jesus. This is not some childish apparition; We have an enemy who is out to get us (1 Peter 5.8). Every day we must live with this awareness and prepare our minds to engage. He has no time to waste… and neither do we.

"Let no one deceive you… walk as children of light… look carefully how you walk… making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5.6-16)

BIBLE READING: 2 Peter 2-3

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” (2 Peter 2.1)

You expect the church to be a safe space where you can trust people. But even Satan finds his way in sometimes. We shouldn’t mistrust one another, but we should be on guard for Satan’s schemes. He works through personal agendas, greed, and other means that are sometimes undetectable to the spiritually immature.

Passages like this reveal and ugly reality of life that we wish didn’t exist. For some it may plant ideas in the mind that cause anxiety, worry, and doubt. Can I really trust anybody? While uncomfortable to consider, it is this thought that drives us to the need for a standard outside of ourselves. In addressing these concerns Peter would say this:

“…I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles…” (2 Peter 3.1-2)

Peter’s remedy for identifying false teachers and establishing our faith is this: Listen to the predictions of the prophets and follow the commandments of Jesus and the apostles. For both, he says “remember,” meaning not just recollect, but to consider their application to the present. To explain, he gives a practical example for how this works.

People in the first century would question the return of Jesus in judgment— “where is the evidence? Nothing like this has ever happened before.” But they’re wrong. God judged the world in Noah’s day with a flood, destroying everyone but the righteous. This stands as a witness to God’s ability to bring another judgment in the future which will happen. (2 Peter 3.3-7, paraphrased)

It is the prophets who give power to the words of Jesus and the apostles (Romans 15.4). This is why we need to know the Old Testament. God’s prophets weren’t making stuff up. They spoke as they were moved by God, often in ways they didn’t understand because they were serving future generations (Consider Amos 3.7; 1 Peter 1.10-12; 2 Peter 1.21).

We may not always be able to trust one another, but we can trust the apostles, prophets and Jesus. Our commitment must be to believe their predictions and adhere to their patterns. Without these, we can easily be led astray by things that sound good or by people that appear trusting (1 Timothy 4.1-2). I pray God that does not happen to us! Let us then commit to have a fellowship “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2.20).

“…we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you would do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place…” (2 Peter 1.19)

BIBLE READING: Amos 5

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5.24)

A primary complaint from the prophets was the lack of justice. The rich oppressed the poor. The widow and fatherless had no advocate. Those in authority corrupted what was right. And nobody was doing anything about it. For their injustice to one another, God would bring judgment (Amos 4.1-2).

We need to understand how motivated God is by injustice. It is the primary reason Amos offers for God’s judgment on the nations (Amos 1-2). Jesus echoes the OT prophets when he calls out the Pharisees for neglecting “justice and the love of God” (Luke 11.42). Justice holds a central place throughout his teaching and ministry. For Jesus, a lack of concern for the marginalized is not a minor oversight but reveals that a person is at odds with God. This is illustrated in the parable of the sheep and goats where the true sheep are those who have a heart for the hungry, the stranger, the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned (Matthew 25.35-36).

Many social and political movements operate under the guise of justice while promoting an agenda. But true justice is motivated by righteousness and concern for others. That’s because justice is rooted in the character of God. He is a God who loves and gives (John 3.16); who seeks and serves. Justice comes from a just God who could not overlook sin, but also would not allow us remain in our helpless state (Romans 3.10-27).

Christians cannot be ambivalent to the need for justice, for it is the reason Christ died for my sins (Romans 5.8). Therefore, how we “do justice” (Micah 6.8) is a direct reflection of how we view God’s mercy and grace towards us. As we look at our world, we must be people motivated to do justice: to help the helpless, defend the weak and provide for those in need. Not for the sake of creating societal equality – that is never the point of justice! – but to show the same concern God shows for all humanity. Let justice roll down through your life! 

There will always be those who are helpless and marginalized. And while we seek to serve them, we must always point them to the justice we all receive from Jesus. In him, God is not only “just but the justifier of those who have faith in Christ” (Romans 3.26-27). In what small ways we can, let us honor him by seeking to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6.8).

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely” (Proverbs 28.5)

…learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1.17)

BIBLE READING: Colossians 1

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you…” (Colossians 1.3)

Praying for one another is a powerful and necessary activity we should do for one another in Christ. Paul would describe it as a struggle he has in his efforts to bring other believers to maturity through his ministry (Colossians 2.1)

In Christ, I grow when we grow. God is glorified as we become closer knit together as a single body, working in harmony and love (Ephesians 3.10, 4.11-16; Colossians 2.2). We need to constantly pray for one another towards this end (Colossians 1.9).

How can you pray for others in the body of Christ? We sometimes relegate these prayers to physical needs (health, reprieve from physical challenges) as they are evident; but we must remember that we are bound together as spiritual people. While needed, Paul reminds us of specific things we need to pray for one another:

1. “That you may be filled with the knowledge of his will” (1.9). We sometimes grope for direction and meaning in life. For the body to grow and my faith to be strengthened, we all must grow in our knowledge of God’s will. It changes us in hope (1.5-6) and continues to alter us, ultimately directing us to please God (1.10). When I pray this for others, it benefits them and opens my heart to ways I can serve them (2.1-2).
2. “[that you are] strengthened with all power… for all endurance and patience with joy” (1.11). The struggle between the Spirit and flesh bombards the life of every believer (Galatians 5.16-26). Conforming to Christ causes struggle, leading many to doubt, despair and even to leave their faith. But “we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and preserve [our] souls” (Hebrews 10.39). “We can do all things through the strength of Christ” (Philippians 4.13). Those in the body need prayers to “patiently endure tribulation (Romans 12.2) as we “to press on towards the goal” (Philippians 3.12). “You have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Hebrews 10.36).

When we pray for others, we become more aware of God’s will. We learn more about his desire for all people to be saved and come to repentance (2 Peter 3.9). We recognize the need for his people to grow into maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4.15; Colossians 1.28). We begin to see the brokenness of the world through his eyes and develop desires that are aligned with our God and Father; who loved me, even when I was an enemy of his, and gave himself for me (Romans 5.8; Galatians 2.20; 1 John 3.1).

Have you prayed for others today?

“…from the day we heard [of your love in the Spirit], we have not ceased to pray for you…” (Colossians 1.9)