Day 251/260: Read Revelation 13

Context is so important when studying the final book of the New Testament. The symbolic language has been abused by religious leaders throughout the years, and has led to great confusion. This chapter especially, with the “mark of the beast” and the “number of the beast,” has spawned many fanciful theories.

The mark of the beast was not a physical, literal mark. It was an act of submission to the evil authorities by those in the first century, the original audience of this inspired book. Those who submitted were permitted to take part in marketplace activities; those who refused were not allowed to buy and sell.

The number of the beast is also taken out of context, being applied to individuals throughout history such as the Pope, Hitler, and Ronald Reagan. None of those individuals fall under the scope of the message of Revelation.

There is a strong case for the number 666 to be applied to Nero Caesar. He was an early enemy of the church and fits into the historical context of Revelation. Some commentators make the case that the number simply signifies any evil when raised to its highest power.
Be careful when studying, and keep Biblical texts in the proper context.

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

Revelation 14:13. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Pray

Pray for strength when faced with evil authority.

Day 250/260: Read Revelation 12

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” What a tribute to these faithful martyrs, persecuted by evil forces!

There is something greater waiting for us on the other side of this life. We may have it bad now, but God will reward faithfulness in eternity! Even if we have a great life full of physical blessings here, it won’t compare to what God has in store for us!

Think back to the letters to the churches and the promises given “to him who overcomes”:

• “I will give to eat from the tree of life” (2:7)
• “Shall not be hurt by the second death” (2:11)
• “The hidden manna to eat”” (2:17)
• “Power over the nations” (2:26)
• “I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life” (3:5)
• “I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God” (3:12)
• “I will grant to sit with Me on My throng” (3:21)

I can’t wait to get there, can you? We must be faithful, we must overcome.

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

Revelation 11:17. “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.”

Pray

Pray that God gives you the wisdom and strength to “not love life to the death.”

Day 249/260: Read Revelation 11

The power of Revelation 11:3 refers to the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit in God’s inspired preachers of the first century. Jesus told His disciples that even when they are “brought before governors and kings…do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:18-20).

This applied only to those who were inspired in the first century, and not to us today. When we have an opportunity to speak to someone about the gospel, whether it is in a Bible class, a sermon, or a private study, we must be prepared through a study of the Word.

Going into a situation without proper preparation can be dangerous, and often leads to more spiritual harm. The Spirit does not operate in the same manner today; they did not have the completed written Word until at least the second half of the first century.

Today, we have no excuse if we are unprepared to have spiritual conversations. Let us better prepare ourselves by spending time in God’s inspired record daily.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Revelation 11:17. “We give You thanks, O Lord God ____________, the One who is and who was and who is to ____________, because You have taken Your great power and ____________.”

Pray

Pray for opportunities to prepare and opportunities to share the gospel with those around you.

Day 248/260: Read Revelation 10

Peter proclaims that God “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). In other words, God tells everything we need to know in His revealed Word. That does not mean every curiosity is answered, however.

Luke tells of the time that Jesus traveled to the temple with Mary and Joseph, and was left behind. In our next encounter with the Lord, He is an adult. What happened in Jesus’ earthly life between age twelve at the temple and age thirty when His public ministry began?

When the scribes and Pharisees brought an adulteress before Him in John 8, Christ refused to answer their question of how she should be punished. Instead, He “stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger” (John 8:6). What did He write?

The voice from heaven told John the Revelator, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” Am I the only one curious about what was uttered?

The bottom line is this: we don’t need to know. If we needed it, God would have told us! Let us be content with His Word, obedient and faithful to what He has revealed, and not worry so much about those things we don’t and can’t know.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Revelation 11:17. “We give You ____________, O Lord God Almighty, the ____________ who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great ____________ and reigned.”

Pray

Pray for increased trust in God’s Word, and opportunities to obey and teach others about Him.

Day 247/260: Read Revelation 9

The siege upon Jerusalem was a devastating blow to what was once a proud and powerful people. Many souls were lost eternally because their hearts were not right with the Almighty Jehovah. Not every Jew in the city was killed, but even those who survived refused to repent. They continued their idolatrous ways.

The Old Testament is full of examples of idolatry, and the practice continues even to this day among God’s people who should know better.

The apostle Paul identifies covetousness as idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5), and it is not difficult to find even modern-day examples of otherwise religious people who put material desires above spiritual needs. The same was true in first-century Jerusalem; consider the attitude toward tax collectors and money changers and the warnings against exorbitant usury.

Where do we seek value? Do we equate our own worth to our bank account? Our possessions? Or do we understand the words of Jesus: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

Revelation 11:17. “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.”

Pray

Pray that you may recognize your soul’s worth, as well as the eternal worth of those around you.

Day 246/260: Read Revelation 8

What a scene depicted in Revelation 8! Immediately following the worship of chapter 7, with the angels and elders and four living creatures falling before the throne, the seventh seal is opened and “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” One commentator called this period of silence “solemn reflection,” while another said it was “a waiting awe.”

Seven angels are given seven trumpets, and again the “prayers of all the saints” are lifted, and the power of God is unleashed. “Noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.”

The Jews had been God’s chosen people through whom He brought the Savior into the world, but they had presumed a superiority over other nations that was never intended. Thus, in 70 AD, Jesus came in judgment against the Jewish nation.

Regardless of our heritage, who our ancestors may be, let us never forget that we have a personal responsibility to faithfully obey what God revealed. The Jews rejected the Christ when He came and dwelt in the flesh; may we take heed that we do not reject Him in our actions today, else we be punished eternally.

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8-9).

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

Revelation 11:17. “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.”

Pray

Pray for opportunities to confess Christ both in word and deed today.