Unamazed

Unamazed

Revelation 17: When I saw her, I was completely amazed. ⁷ “Why are you amazed?” the angel asked me. “I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast that carries her, the beast with seven heads and ten horns. ⁸ That beast was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up from the abyss and will go off to be destroyed. The people living on earth whose names have not been written before the creation of the world in the book of the living, will all be amazed as they look at the beast. It was once alive; now it no longer lives, but it will reappear.

 

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Seeing the card trick performed in front of me, left me amazed. “How did you do that?” I asked. When I learned the secret, it didn’t seem so amazing, but I learned how to “amaze” other people.

 

• I was fooled into being amazed.
• I thought something amazing had happened, when it was only a trick.
• I learned the trick and wanted to “amaze” people.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the future which held a great city that was amazing. He also caught a glimpse of the beast who was from Satan. This being would act like JESUS and die and be raised from the dead. Everyone whose names have not been written before the creation of the world in the book of the living, will be fooled and amazed.

 

My Observations:

• Satan will try to mimic GOD, even by having a being die and be raised from the dead.
• GOD’s people have been saved, even before they were created.
• People who believe in JESUS will not be fooled by a being who is raised from the dead, who curses GOD.

 

People are amazed easily. I mean, there are videos that show people throwing a ball through tiny holes from great distances. But when people find out the video is fake, they quickly become unamazed. Same with the beast. When the angel explained that he will “reappear” it was to explain that nothing can mimic the resurrection of JESUS.

 

The Savior was and is GOD who became a human to die for the sins of humanity. HE lived a sinless life and was blamed and murdered by HIS own creation. HE was raised from the dead, giving everlasting life to those who believe in HIM for salvation. I will not be fooled.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer was amazed at seeing a futuristic city?
• Would you be amazed if someone were raised from the dead today?
• Will you seek wisdom that comes from GOD to understand who JESUS is, to believe in  HIM for salvation and to be guided by the HOLY SPIRIT today?

No Secrets

 

No Secrets

Revelation 17: ³ The Spirit took control of me, and the angel carried me to a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a red beast that had names insulting to God written all over it; the beast had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and covered with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup full of obscene and filthy things, the result of her immorality. ⁵ On her forehead was written a name that has a secret meaning: “Great Babylon, the mother of all prostitutes and perverts in the world.” ⁶ And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's people and the blood of those who were killed because they had been loyal to Jesus.

 

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Wanting to be “successful” I took classes and obtained mentors to guide me to the top. Little did I know that in order to be in the “in” crowd”, I would be subject to secrets. One guy would use the company jet to bring prostitutes to private islands.

 

• I had to decide if the climb was worth keeping the secret.
• I had to decide to align with people who did things that were against my beliefs.
• I had to decide if I would join in, or look the other way or leave.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, had the HOLY SPIRIT take control of him and was allowed to be carried by the angel to a desert where he saw a great city that fooled people into their lustful actions. The woman (city) was drunk with the thought of GOD losing HIS power because of the death of HIS people.

 

My Observations:

• GOD can see my hidden motives to take control from HIM.
• GOD can see my innermost desires, not matter how disgusting they may be.
• GOD can see anything hidden, and HE will make it known, even the things that fool me.

 

There is nothing hidden from GOD. I mean, even when I try to fool myself, GOD sees the deep rooted hidden desire and exposes it. Since I can be fooled and I don’t know my motives, what hope is there for me? Plenty!

 

GOD wants me to know myself enough to confess where I fall short so I can confess this to HIM, so HE would cleanse me of the things I can so easily fall into. HE wants me to have HIS name on my forehead, carrying HIS message boldly so all can see it and return back to HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the HOLY SPIRIT wanted to show the writer this image?
• Have you ever been in a situation where if you kept a secret you would be paid, even if it went against your morals?
• Would you be willing to trade your morals to fit in or would you stand firm for what GOD wants from you today?

Looking for Amazement

 

Looking for Amazement

Revelation 13: Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads; on each of its horns there was a crown, and on each of its heads there was a name that was insulting to God. ² The beast looked like a leopard, with feet like a bear's feet and a mouth like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave the beast his own power, his throne, and his vast authority. ³ One of the heads of the beast seemed to have been fatally wounded, but the wound had healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. ⁴ Everyone worshiped the dragon because he had given his authority to the beast. They worshiped the beast also, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?”

 

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Hearing the smooth talker, I was amazed at what he said. I observed his style and noticed he said what people wanted to hear, no matter if it were true or not. “That’s it!” I thought to myself. Maybe I can “win” people over by saying whatever it took, even if were a lie, to get what “I” wanted.

 

• I was willing to walk away from the truth to manufacture a lie.
• I was willing to side up with people who seemed to be “winning” but were losing due to their harmful methods.
• I wanted to get “my” way so badly, that I was willing to do some things that I shouldn’t have been doing.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved saw the dragon, Satan, give his power to the beast. At this time, “everyone” worshiped the dragon, because of the ability to make the beast powerful, as if to say, Make me powerful too.” The whole earth was amazed and willing to follow Satan.

 

My Observations:

• People who belong to JESUS will never bow down to Satan.
• GOD’s people, who remained faithful, following HIS commands and pacing his or her trust in JESUS as the Savior, will never bow to Satan.
• Only those who remain in their unbelief can be deceived to follow Satan and worship him.

 

Why in the world did GOD give the most important message that could send people to heaven or hell, to unreliable humans? I mean, humans are inconsistent, hypocritical and selfish, all of us! GOD even said “No one is righteous.” BUT HE made a way that HE would not wipe out HIS creation. JESUS.

 

Believing in JESUS cleanses me of all unrighteousness. HE sends the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me to guide me in the way GOD wants me to live. HE gives me purpose to make HIM special, not myself. I am amazed at the grace of JESUS. HE is my hope.

 

Challenge

• Do you think the writer had a hard time describing what HE saw?
• Have you ever wanted to be in power so badly that you were willing to leave GOD to follow human “success?”
• Will you be amazed at GOD’s grace for you and HIS power and authority today?

Undisciplined Celebration

Undisciplined Celebration

Revelation 11: ⁷ When they finish proclaiming their message, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will fight against them. He will defeat them and kill them, ⁸ and their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, where their Lord was crucified. The symbolic name of that city is Sodom, or Egypt. ⁹ People from all nations, tribes, languages, and races will look at their bodies for three and a half days and will not allow them to be buried. ¹⁰ The people of the earth will be happy because of the death of these two. They will celebrate and send presents to each other, because those two prophets brought much suffering upon the whole human race. ¹¹ After three and a half days a life-giving breath came from God and entered them, and they stood up; and all who saw them were terrified. ¹² Then the two prophets heard a loud voice say to them from heaven, “Come up here!” As their enemies watched, they went up into heaven in a cloud. ¹³ At that very moment there was a violent earthquake; a tenth of the city was destroyed, and seven thousand people were killed. The rest of the people were terrified and praised the greatness of the God of heaven. 

¹⁴ The second horror is over, but the third horror will come soon!

 

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“No talking during library time” were the words of doom. Who wants to spend 30 minutes being quiet? First a note was passed, then a giggle would happen. Soon a word or two would come out, then full conversations. The battle of quiet to noise went on. Months later, the library teacher left and we celebrated! But another was put in place. This one was more strict and would enforce discipline.

 

• We wanted to do what we wanted to do!
• We wanted the teacher to be stopped by any means necessary.
• We celebrated the teacher’s abrupt departure, only to be met with a more strict teacher.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the “beast” rise from the abyss. This being was able to kill the two prophets of GOD. People around the world celebrated, unknowingly siding with the beast, who could be classified as the second part of the unholy trinity with Satan. All seemed lost, BUT GOD intervened.

 

My Observations:

• GOD has total power over life and death.
• GOD has a specific time in which HE does everything.
• GOD has a plan to tear down Satan’s kingdom, so celebrating against GOD would not be wise.

 

Getting my way may not be good for me. I mean, when I want something that is not good for me, I may put my desires over GOD’s. HE may even allow me to get my way, but I may not want what I get. Trouble follows a celebration of my being undisciplined. BUT GOD has a remedy.

 

“Surrender” is something I need to do in order to truly change. HE wants me to surrender my life to HIM by believing in HIS SON, JESUS, who died for humanity and was raised from the dead. Only JESUS can cure the mess humans have made.

 

Challenge

• Does the writer seem as if he was writing a horror movie of today?
• Have you ever celebrated something you were clearly doing wrong?
• Will you ask GOD to guide you away from the things you were or are doing, that are against HIM, so you can have a loving relationship with HIM today?

Believing the Delusion

Believing the Delusion

2 Thessalonians ⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

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Meeting with the new leader, I quickly understood where he stood. He wanted to use his work title to have wild parties at any occasion. I wanted to move up, so I turned my head to the drunken, lewd, insatiable comments to the staff. But then, the requests to make the parties happen left me with a paradox. Either I cave in or get another job.

 

• I really wanted to get a promotion.
• I thought that I could overlook something that was wrong, as long as I wasn’t participating.
• I figured I could remain unstained by “helping out” and ensuring the “bar and the babes” were available after the conventions (my part was to get the business suite someone else did the rest).

 

Paul mentions some very difficult realities revealed to him by the LORD. He spoke about the coming of the False Prophet that was part of the unholy trinity This being will oppose everything JESUS stands for. Unfortunately, there will be some who will believe in his lies and will perish due to “strong delusions.”

 

My Observations

• JESUS is the only Savior for me to put my trust in.
• Lies, deception and twisted thinking will be exposed by JESUS, so I must confess to HIM I need HIM.
• Receiving the “love of the truth” may be difficult for me, because sometimes my desires match what the world has to offer.

 

What is scary is GOD allowing people to believe in lies and deceit. I mean, can’t GOD just make everyone believe in HIM? HE doesn’t seem to work that way. In fact, HE created humans to have “free will” which is the only condition where love can exist. GOD doesn’t coerce anyone to love HIM, It has to be voluntary.

 

JESUS volunteered to be a sacrifice and save humanity from death. This was a very difficult thing to do and may have been very hurtful to the FATHER. BUT HE allowed it. HE wants all to believe but it has to be a choice. I gladly believe in JESUS and accept the truth of HIS love.

 

Challenge

• Who does the writer speak of when he says “GOD will send them strong delusion?”
• Is there something that you have done or believed in that later you realized was wrong?
• Will you examine your beliefs and see if they align to the salvation, love and truth of JESUS today?

Don’t be fooled

Revelation 13: ⁸ All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

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Pondering GOD’s love takes me down two paths, why me or why not me. When I go down the “why me” path then I blame GOD for everything that is wrong and I refuse to see HIS mercy. When I go down the “why not me” path then I accept my responsibility and understand I have to account for every action in my life. Both paths have their own destination.

• Either GOD has the authority to place my name in the Lamb’s book of life or I can blame HIM for having harsh rules that are impossible to follow.
• Either GOD has the supremacy to place my name in the Lamb’s book of life or I can fight and say HE doesn’t exist because “how can a god allow all these problems?”
• Either GOD has the sovereignty to place my name in the Lamb’s book of life or I can deny HIS claim that it takes belief in JESUS’ death and resurrection and authority.

I chose to believe!

• Do you believe your name is written in the Lamb’s book if life?
• Have you accepted JESUS’ authority over your life?
• Can you seek HIM today?