Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Revelation 14: Two Camps

The picture I get from Revelation 14 is that there are really only two options: you either belong to God and the Lamb, or to Satan and the beast.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Revelation 13: 666

Revelation 13 is the stuff of nightmares.  I remember being a very young Christian and enthralled with its gruesome depiction of beasts and horns and heads and marks and numbers.  As you might imagine, there is a lot of speculation about just what all these things mean, or will mean.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Psalm 9: God of Justice!

Coming from a New Testament perspective, we sometimes forget that one of the chief characteristics of God is His justice.  Psalm 9 is a tribute to this quality of God.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Revelation 11: Echoes

I don't have much to offer in the way of prophetic interpretation of Chapter 11, other than to point out how important it is to grasp the totality of the Bible when studying Revelation.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Revelation 10: Mysteries

"Mystery" is a technical term in the study of biblical prophecy.  In vs. 7, we hear that the mystery of God will be accomplished.  We will see the term "mystery" again in Revelation.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Revelation 9: Hardened Hearts

A lot could be said about the judgments accompanying the next two trumpet blasts in Revelation 9.  From the nightmarish appearance of the locusts to the vast army of horsemen, it is clear that horrible times have befallen the earth.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Revelation 8: Out Of The Frying Pan...

If you thought the seven seal judgments were bad, just wait 'til you see what happens when the seven angels start blowing on their seven trumpets!

Psalm 8: The Majestic Psalm

Psalm 8 is one of my personal favorites.  It begins with the familiar words (that I often can't help singing): "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Revelation 7: God's People

Revelation 7 showcases two groups of God's people: the 144,000 sealed from the 12 tribes of Israel and an innumerable multitude that has come out of the great tribulation.  I have less to say about the former than I do about the latter.  

Revelation 6: The Four Horsemen...And More!

Revelation 6 tells us what happens as the Lamb opens the first 6 seals on the scroll.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Revelation 5: The Lion Who Is The Lamb

Revelation 5 introduces a problem: Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?

Revelation 4: Casting Crowns

Buckle your seat belts.  Revelation takes a turn in chapter 4 and ventures into a view of history (and future) that may strike you as bizarre, mysterious, and even terrifying.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Psalm 7: God Of Justice

As Christians, we frequently think of God and His mercy, compassion, and love.  Today's psalm reminds us that He is also very much a God of Justice.

Friday, February 10, 2017

Revelation 2: WWJS?

Ever wonder "What Would Jesus Say?"  Revelation 2 and 3 helps provide an answer to that question as Jesus dictates letters to 7 churches of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Revelation 1: A Peek Behind The Curtain

The Book of Revelation has the capacity to blow your mind.  It is a very different kind of literature than we normally read.  It is apocalyptic which means it is heavy on symbolism and the revealing of hidden things.  Some of the "peek behind the curtain" that we receive in Revelation is about future things; some of it is also a different way of looking at past and present (to John) events.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

II John: Earning His Nickname

John has sometimes been called "the Apostle of Love."  With writings like II John, it's easy to see why!

Monday, February 6, 2017

I John 5: So That You May Know

In I John 5:13, John reveals his purpose for writing this letter - "to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."  You can be confident, assured, convinced of this truth!

Psalm 6: The Lord Hears

Psalm 6 is an earnest prayer for deliverance.

Friday, February 3, 2017

I John 4: Johnny One Note?

I always loved hearing this gem from church history about the end of the apostle John's life:

Thursday, February 2, 2017

I John 3: Christ = Change

The basic message I get from I John 3 is pretty simple: Christ will not leave you the way you are.  If you're going to come to Christ, you're going to change.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

I John 2: Words From A Gentle Shepherd

Maybe it's because I'm named Jon, but I've always felt a kinship with John.  Reading over the encouragement found in I John 2 reminds me why.