Odor Removed

Odor Removed

Revelation 8: ³ Another angel, who had a gold incense container, came and stood at the altar. He was given a lot of incense to add to the prayers of all God's people and to offer it on the gold altar that stands before the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the burning incense went up with the prayers of God's people from the hands of the angel standing before God. ⁵ Then the angel took the incense container, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. There were rumblings and peals of thunder, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

 

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Enraged at a neighbor, a sibling and I went close to the kid’s house. He wore a brace to straighten his legs and was limited to his yard. He kept saying the most irritating things. We caved in to his taunts and decided to threaten him, from across the fence between us. Later in life, I talked to him and realized he was a great person.

 

• I was mad at him and did not want the best for him.
• I heard hurtful things, and wanted him hurt.
• I did not have the right words to pray, or the right attitude.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw another angel who received a gold incense container. The angel mixed the incense with the prayers of GOD’s people, probably to make the ugliest prayers into something fragrant to GOD. Both the incense and the prayers were added to the altar and offered to GOD as a burnt offering, similar to the sacrifice of an old testament  lamb to cleanse sin.

 

My Observations:

• GOD knows when I pray with the wrong motive.
• GOD knows when I pray selfish prayers.
• GOD loves when my prayers are purified by HIS SON’s forgiveness.

 

Even my prayers can stink! I mean, in the moment of hurt or anger, I may not be willing or able to be as forgiving as GOD. I may want my enemies hurt or at least, taught a lesson. I may put some things before GOD that truly stinks and needs cleansing. GOD accounted for that.

 

HE takes the prayers I pray with the right motive and mixed it in with my prayers that may have a selfish motive and cleanses them to be acceptable to HIM. HE knows the root of the prayer and also knows that HE wants all people saved. HE sees those who have tried to harm other people on purpose and has a plan for that. My job is to align my prayers to GOD’s desires.

 

Challenge

• Do you think the prayers of GOD’s people that the writer mentions, contain words of hurt from people who do not know GOD and caused harm on purpose?
• What result do you notice?
• Will you align your prayers to the example of JESUS, who cared for HIS enemies and said “FATHER, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing?”

Shhh

Shhh

Revelation 8: When the Lamb broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. ² Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

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When the door opened, the laughter and playing stopped. Moments before, everyone was up chattering and doing the opposite of what we were told. “Stay in your seats” the teacher said before leaving. When she got back, we hurried to our seats. There was silence.

 

• Our silence could have been followed by someone saying “Uh-oh!”
• Our silence was to see what would happen.
• Our silence was not going to be broken by us, but by the one in authority.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the LAMB open the seventh and final seal. Every being in heaven stopped whatever they were doing to become silent for about thirty minutes. Then the seven angels were given seven trumpets. Something was about to happen.

 

My Observations:

• Silence in heaven showed a transition in tone.
• Silence meant something serious was about to happen.
• The seventh seal being opened meant the sentence was fully in affect.

Quieting down is sometimes hard to do. I mean, to escape the worries of the world, I use noisy things like movies, TV or music to drown out thoughts of problems and troubles. In fact, I was afraid of turning off music or talking when driving my car. BUT GOD enjoys when I can be silent with HIM.

Silence is important. There is a tone of serenity with silence, but in this case, it was to mark the start of the end of Satan’s full sentence. GOD’s people do not have to worry about this sentence, because JESUS has saved all who believe in HIM.

Challenge

• What do you think the writer was doing in that half an hour period?
• Have you ever been in a noisy crowd that suddenly got silent?
• Will you take some time to become silent before the LORD so you can hear what HE has in store for you today?

Safely Through

Safely Through

Revelation 7: ¹³ One of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?”
¹⁴ “I don't know, sir. You do,” I answered.
He said to me, “These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ That is why they stand before God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will protect them with his presence. ¹⁶ Never again will they hunger or thirst; neither sun nor any scorching heat will burn them, ¹⁷ because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

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Hearing the announcement did not put my mind at ease. “This is your captain speaking. We will be experiencing some turbulence. Fasten your seatbelts.” The message came suddenly and the flight attendants scurried to their seats. A few minutes later, the plane shook violently and did a sudden dip!

 

• I was alarmed a little when I heard the warning.
• I was more alarmed when I saw how fast the flight attendants ran to their seats.
• I was even more alarmed when the plane went through the turbulence, but afterwards things got calm.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, is asked a rhetorical question from one of the twenty-four elders who sits before GOD’s throne. “Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?” He is given an unexpected answer. “These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution”

 

My Observations:

• GOD is with me when I am persecuted.
• Persecution for preaching JESUS is seen by GOD and HE allows me to go through it, not around it.
• Coming safely through persecution means I can receive the benefits of GOD’s protection.

 

Going through difficult times stinks! I mean, who wants to face persecution from people who could care less about GOD? Unfortunately, this is a reality that believers must face. Persecution cannot be prayed away or wished away, because even JESUS went through it.

 

HE faced persecution from HIS own creation who murdered HIM for HIS love and kindness. HE sent a COMFORTER, because HE knew we would need comfort from persecution. The HOLY SPIRIT is there to stand with me when I face turbulent times.

 

Challenge

• What encouraging message did the writer get from the conversation?
• Have you ever felt like asking “Why me?” when facing a difficult time?
• Will you know that GOD is going through the difficult time with you and is giving you the strength to hold on so you can make it “safely through” the turbulence of life today?

Exhilaration!

Exhilaration!

Revelation 7: ⁹ After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ They called out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!” ¹¹ All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!”

 

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Having only been to local carnivals, I was excited to go to one of the more famous amusement parks. I had never been at this park so I did not know what to expect. At a certain time, everyone stopped as a parade went through the crowd. There was singing, laughter and smiles!

 

• For a moment, I was excited!
• It seemed like everyone was excited with me.
• People from every race cheered and celebrated for a small moment.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, is shown the throne of GOD one more time. This time he sees “an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people!” Everyone gathered to worship GOD voluntarily and without holding back!

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s love allows me to choose HIM or not.
• When I choose GOD’s love, I am never be disappointed.
• I look forward to every race, tribe, nation and language celebrating together without holding back.

 

Celebrations are fun! I mean, when I celebrate, I forget all about the cares and worries I carry. But one day there will be no worries, only celebration!.

 

GOD wants us to be with HIM voluntarily. This provides a way to celebrate with choice. A number of people that cannot be counted will be celebrating. I cannot wait!

 

Challenge

• Can you see the excitement from the writer?
• Have you ever been part of a celebration?
• Will you give your life to GOD so you can me part of a family that is so vast that it cannot be counted?

Roles Identified

Roles Identified

Revelation 7: After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so that no wind should blow on the earth or the sea or against any tree. ² And I saw another angel coming up from the east with the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given the power to damage the earth and the sea. ³ The angel said, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we mark the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.” ⁴ And I was told that the number of those who were marked with God's seal on their foreheads was 144,000. They were from the twelve tribes of Israel, ^5-8 twelve thousand from each tribe: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

 

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At the event we were told to “Find your leader.” The instructions were clarified by having us find the person wearing a certain tee shirt color and carrying a pennant with the group name we were splitting up into.

 

• I found my leader easily.
• I was able to find my group easily.
• I was also able to separate from the larger crowd to form a smaller group.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, sees various roles identified for a special purpose. First he saw powerful angels who could damage the earth and the sea, but were told not to by another angel, who had an important role. This angel gave instructions to mark 12,000 people with GOD’s special seal that may be used for protection and as well as an identifier.

 

My Observations:

• It’s amazing that GOD kept HIS promise to never leave the twelve tribes, even though they did some terrible things, like trying to kill Joseph.
• GOD has a very specific plan with specific roles and specific numbers.
• Another part of dismantling Satan’s temporary kingdom is to damage the earth and sea.

 

GOD is methodical. I mean, HE orchestrates plans for you and me that are precise. HE knows the numbers HE wants to use and when HE wants to use them. GOD’s power is shown through HIS angels, who could hold back wind.

 

HE does things for a reason, many times we don’t understand. Fortunately for us, HIS plans are to prosper us, not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer list the tribes of Israel?
• Have you ever had a special role?
• Will you accept JESUS as your Savior so you can be adopted into HIS family and given a role to play today?

Unprecedented

 Unprecedented

Revelation 6: ¹² And I saw the Lamb break open the sixth seal. There was a violent earthquake, and the sun became black like coarse black cloth, and the moon turned completely red like blood. ¹³ The stars fell down to the earth, like unripe figs falling from the tree when a strong wind shakes it. ¹⁴ The sky disappeared like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. ¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the rulers and the military chiefs, the rich and the powerful, and all other people, slave and free, hid themselves in caves and under rocks on the mountains. ¹⁶ They called out to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the eyes of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb! ¹⁷ The terrible day of their anger is here, and who can stand up against it?”

 

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Asleep one night, we felt something. “Was that an earthquake?” I asked. I had never experienced an earthquake, so it was hard to describe the sensation of everything shaking without a storm being present. It was a small earthquake.

 

• I was somewhat curious about an earthquake.
• I wondered what an earthquake felt like.
• I went right back to sleep because nothing was disturbed in the house.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the LAMB open the sixth seal. Immediately there was an unprecedented violent earthquake. that shook the entire planet. As volcanos erupted, the sky would be filled with ash causing the sun to look dark and the moon to appear blood red. Possibly, fragments blown in the sky rained down like fiery stars. No one would mistake this Day.

 

My Observations:

• The Day of the LORD will not be mistaken.
• People will see GOD’s power unlike never before.
• No one will have to guess if GOD is angry, because HE will display it with unmatched fury!

 

Talking about the wrath of GOD is quite unpopular, but necessary. I mean, we want GOD to be nice, gentle and forgiving, which HE is. BUT HE also revealed what HE would do to Satan’s kingdom and that we should not ignore it like it will not happen.

 

In this sixth step of tearing down Satan’s temporary kingdom, GOD shows power that every nation would see and feel. No place would be spared. The Good News is, JESUS is not angry with those who believe in HIM. This HE promised.

 

Challenge

• Is the description the writer gives, frightening?
• Have you ever said “I wonder if this situation came from GOD?”
• Will you seek to understand why GOD showed us HIS wrath so you can be guided to be protected from it today?

Until

Until

Revelation 6: ⁹ Then the Lamb broke open the fifth seal. I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because they had proclaimed God's word and had been faithful in their witnessing. ¹⁰ They shouted in a loud voice, “Almighty Lord, holy and true! How long will it be until you judge the people on earth and punish them for killing us?” ¹¹ Each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the complete number of other servants and believers were killed, as they had been.

 

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Waiting to go have some fun, I looked at the time and wondered why we hadn’t left. “We are waiting on the rest of the people to get here before we leave” was the statement I did not want to hear.

 

• I wanted to go have some fun right then and there.
• I wanted to start the enjoyment.
• I could not resolve waiting on people who I had no idea when they would arrive.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, witnessed the fifth seal being broken open by the LAMB. This time he saw the souls of people who had been killed because they proclaimed GOD’s word and were faithful in their witnessing. “How long?” was the question, not of impatience, but possibly out of weariness.

 

My Observations:

• Persecution from the world can make believers of CHRIST weary.
• GOD is protecting those who have been persecuted because of their belief in JESUS.
• GOD has extreme mercy, so HE is waiting until the last person who will believe in JESUS to be saved, before HE pours out HIS judgment.

 

When will all of this be resolved? Is my question I ask GOD. I mean, I know HE is sovereign, so asking “why?” will usually be met with silence. But asking “How long?” is a question that aligns me to HIS will, knowing HE can and will take care of the mess the world is in.

 

GOD sees and cares, despite our disbelief. HE knows who belongs to HIM and who will persecute HIS believers. HE is not concerned about death because it does not stop HIM from having an eternal relationship with you and me. How long? Until we find the last person to be saved.

 

Challenge

• What conversation is the writer listening in on?
• Have you ever thought that GOD is not in control because of all the things going on in the world?
• Will you place your trust in GOD, because HE knows what is going on and is in total control of your situation today?