Ni90: Revelation 19-22, Proverbs 30

In these final chapters we see a couple of things that are exciting to note.

First, there is the praise to God for His judgment against all wickedness. Yes, as we discussed, this is a point of praise. We do not bemoan this as if it were tragic; rather, we rejoice because God’s justice prevails.

Second, there is the glorious coming of Christ. At His advent, He came as a humble, suffering, servant. At His next coming, He will return as a conquering King riding in victory.

Third, all people’s will stand before Christ, but those who stand before Him here in 20:11-15, do so not as believers but as those who have rejected God’s grace. They will give account according to their deeds..and then will be judged for their unrighteousness. The only way to not experience the judgment is to hove your deeds recorded in the Book of Life, not in the other books.

Next, we have the establishment of New Jerusalem…the place where God and man enjoy eternal and unmitigated joy in fellowship together.

22:7 should not be overlooked. Blessed is he who hears and observes these things written in the Book. The one who does not, will be destroyed, but he who heeds, will experience eternal life.

Proverbs 30:4 is the takeaway today. “Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends fo the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!”

CONGRATS on finishing the NT in 90 Days!!!

Ni90: Revelation 16-18, Proverbs 29

Day 89 of the 90 days through the NT challenge. For some who have been read the NT along with me, this may be the first time you have ever read it through. For others, this is the first time you have done it consistently for 90 days! I am proud of you. Great job. One more day to go!

These three chapters have a singular theme and two responses. The theme is judgment. God executes judgment against all that opposes Him…against the spiritual forces (the devil and his demons) as well as against the “system” of governments and the people who comprise them. Every one who has not repented and yielded control of their lives to God is experiencing unmitigated justice against their sins.

Two responses can be found to this justice…

First is the response of the saints. All of heaven praises God for His “righteous” judgment against the sin and the sinners who perpetrated it (16:5,7). How is it that heaven could rejoice of judgment against people? This is a difficulty people have. We tend to view things from our own perspective, not the perspective of God. We see sin and we look at it from the context of our own sinfulness. In doing this, we lose sight of sin from God’s perspective.

There is a point of Christian maturity where we start to view sin from God’s point-of-view. We start to see it as it is…rebellion against a Holy and Just God who graciously loves people…yet they spurn Him. This is the point of the proclamation of heaven at the destruction of the wicked that we see here. (Note: It is also the attitude seen throughout the Scriptures. No one sheds tears for Judas. No one cried for Nadab and Abihu- Leviticus 10, the sons of Aaron who sinned. We find no tears for the sons of Korah).

How can loving people not weep over the destruction of other people. Here it is: We must love justice and holiness more than anything…because they are essential characteristics of who God is. YES…we were unholy and unrighteous…but God provided HOLINESS (the imputed righteousness of Christ) through the judgment of Christ in our place! We applaud the mercy we receive…but we must also see that God demonstrated justice at the same time…then extended forgiveness by grace.

The second response to God’s judgment is seen in those who are judged. They cursed and blasphemed and refused to repent (16:9,11,21). This action is actually what kept them at arm’s length from the mercy of God to start with. They hated the judgment of sin…not loved it. Believers love it because it is essential to God’s nature. We, as believers, just recognize that without God’s mercy, His justice would have consumed us as well.

One can either love God and His righteousness…or love himself and his own pleasures which war against God. There is no logical connection between carnality and self-pleasure and a proclamation that we love God and are His people. When we view sin as He does, we will hate it and long for the days when God ultimately destroys all sin BECAUSE it is the antithesis of who God is and the glory that God deserves.

Proverbs 29:2 is the takeaway today. “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan.”

Ni90: Revelation 13-15, Proverbs 28

In these chapter we see an increased intensity of persecution and tribulation on the earth. The antichrist and the false prophet do great destruction and pour out destruction after having gained a following through both the performance of signs and through coercion. These event happen (in my opinion) during the last half of the seven year tribulation period (13:3-5). Two observations that I think were key to me today.

• First, the antichrist is given authority to “make war” with the saints (i.e. those who became believers on earth during the first half of the tribulation) and to overcome them…wherever they existed globally (13:7). Why do I think these are only believers who became believer during the first half of the tribulation period? First, because I believe in a literal seven year tribulation. Second, because I come from a position of a “pre-tribulation rapture” of the chruch…meaning I believe that those who are believers will be raptured/caught up to meet the Lord in the air before the rise of the antichrist. (Yes, similar to the view made popular several years ago by the Left Behind series). Then those who become believers during the advent of the antichrist’s power will face intense persecution with the FULL KNOWLEDGE and WILL of God. [NOTE: Some will need to chew on this for a bit since your view of God is such that you cannot see how He could allow such persecution of His people. My question for your consideration would be..."how do you reconcile a position of His sovereignty during the times of persecution up to this point...not to mention the suffering endured by His beloved Son, Jesus?"]
• Second, there is an example for us in the 144,000 Jewish evangelists who were faithful to the end (14:1-5). These became true believers during the tribulation. They are from the 12 tribes of Israel. They remained faithful during the tribulation and were committed to the cause without reservation. The were blameless (not sinless) (14:5).

I think we lose the significance sometimes of faithfulness to God. We have a relatively comfortable existence as Christians here in the West. Rarely do we see intense persecution here of biblical proportions. Truthfully, much of what we call persecution is really consequence of our own action or inaction…stuff we bring on ourselves. SInce we are so relatively comfortable…we don’t see the cost or value of fidelity to Christ. We see our unfaithfulness/sinfulness as minor and repentance as easy.

Fidelity to God and to His calling on our lives [which we all have since He both saves us from something (sin) and to something (purpose)], should be of ultimate importance. I love the military because it gives us a great analogy to understand this. We would consider a soldier to be a “coward” if he abandoned his place on the line, leaving his comrades behind, in order to protect himself. We would think him a horrible person. Yet, there are many of us who at times do just that in a spiritual context. We abandon the call to seek our own comfort or pleasure or our own security.

Faithfulness is a beautiful and necessary component of the Christian existence.

Proverbs 28:7 is the takeaway today. “He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.”

Ni90: Revelation 10-12, Proverbs 27

Wow. These chapters are full of intense images that have been and continue to be interpreted in various ways! Understand…as with all things pertaining to the Revelation of God in His Word…there is only one factual interpretation, even though there are many different interpretations offered. Netting out the “truth” of what is the accurate understanding requires diligence, insight, and a strong hermeneutic (interpretation rules and process). Sometimes, you are left with a good interpretation and find that others make good arguments as well. That is ok. When you find the Scripture to be somewhat ambiguous, you need to back off of dogmatism and not make YOUR VIEW a test of fellowship. You should not “lash out” at others because they do not share your view. At the same time, you do not have to abandon your view simply because someone makes a good argument for a different interpretation. It is ok to “not fully know” everything. Where the Scriptures display certain mystery…hold onto your views loosely. You may be wrong. [NOTE: This is only where the Scriptures are mysterious. There is no mystery, by the way, about the identity or role of Jesus. There is none about God's heart to save or His sovereignty in the Universe. There is no mystery about the fact that christ will return. The details of His return may have some mystery, but He is coming back.]

My observations today:

• 11:8. The great city of Jerusalem…the city set aside for the Glory of God and the place where God met with His people in the Temple, is called here “mystically” both Sodom and Egypt. (Egypt is a nation by the way…so look past the name to what each of these represent.) God’s Holy City was now known more for its abased worship of pleasure (Sodom) and abandonment of God…as well as its independence and persecution of the people of God (Egypt). What was once wholly set apart for the Lord is now at full rebellion against and at enmity with. [POINT: If we think that a church or a nation or even a family that was once established with a strong faith cannot fall...just look at this picture of Jerusalem. Fidelity to God requires intense devotion, diligent effort, and constant examination.]
• 11:17-18. God’s sovereignty is unquestionable. Though the nations rage against it, His rule and dominion are still true. His sovereignty is ultimately revealed in His judgment of the rebellious and in rewards for the faithful.
• 12:11. (A great verse for a notecard on your visor!) The saints throughout the ages are those that overcame by Christ’s blood (Saved by grace), who are also those who did not consider their lives something to be grasped, but surrendered themselves to Him who is Worthy of all praise! Christ is more significant than themselves! They live for Him and not for themselves alone.

Proverbs 27:7 is the takeaway today. “A sated (satisfied) man loathes honey, but to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.” [Our own comfort may work against our joy in life. Sometimes what we need most is to lose everything to truly appreciate what we have.]

Ni90: Revelation 7-9, Proverbs 26

The imagery here in the vision of John is intriguing. Remember that this genre of writing is apocalyptic in nature, plus John is seeing something prophetically. Describing the vision is limited somewhat to the semantic range of his context. [NOTE: A number of sensationalists in the modern era can somehow turn these visions into modern-day weapons of warfare. The point being, John spoke with what he knew and we do the same...but no one clearly knows and understands exactly what these visions will finally be except for God].

Two things are prominent to me as I read this.

First, the destruction of the judgment of God is overwhelming. There is tremendous death, suffering, and angst in the world. “All hell has broken loose” in a real way. Those who have yet to yield their lives to Christ are experiencing the full onslaught of the wrath of God.

OBSERVATION: I think sometimes that we might lose sight of the fact that our “forgiven status” carries with it the reality of a substitutionary death. We forget that our salvation required the shedding of blood by another. We miss the fact that for our freedom, Jesus paid with His life. We like to think of the soft-spoken Jesus who says, “Come to me all of you who are weary…and I will give you rest,” forgetting the fact that this same Jesus was nailed to a cross…naked, beaten, bruised, and mocked…in our place.

I say that because it expressed God’s utter and complete disdain toward sin. God abhors sin. He despises it. To JUSTIFY us and to remain JUST…God could not overlook or mitigate His hatred of sin…He had to find a substitute to absorb His wrath. None of His Creation could do it, so He gave His only Son to stand in our place.

The wrath we see poured out here in Revelation is wrath against sin. It is wrath against the sin which was never confessed…the sin that was continually perpetrated against God. In it, we see a picture of our DESERVED/MERITED state.

At the same time (my second observation), we also see the redeemed that are cleansed, saved, restored, and reunited with God. Their salvation is provided by God. These have overcome the tribulation (7:14), and are forever in the presence of God…people from every tribe tongue and nation!

Sometimes we can get out of balance…focusing on one aspect of God’s judgment or the other. We focus on the wrath alone and presume that God is vengeful; or, we focus on the salvation of the lost and think that God is somewhat “soft” on sin. The truth is that a proper view of God requires that we hold both aspects in a divine tension…God is both JUST and the JUSTIFIER…a picture made clearly here in these chapters.

Proverbs 26:12 is the takeaway today. “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

Ni90: Revelation 4-6, Proverbs 25

Chapters 4-6 give us a vision of John of heaven and of those things that would come in the Day of the Lord before the establishment fo the millennial Kingdom. One of the significant things about these chapters is that they portray the reality of two very different eternities.

For those who have not yielded their lives to Christ…have not experienced the grace of His work on our behalf…have not known the redemption that comes through His sacrifice…there is JUDGMENT and suffering and death. This is the guaranteed fate of all those who have not yielded their lives to Him as Lord.

[NOTE: This is vastly different from saying a prayer in a church service or asking God to keep us from going to the "bad place." This is a volitional act of trusting God with everything...with our sin, our shame, our eternity, even our very lives. It is a singular decision and an ongoing decision. Why do I seek to clarify this? Because I think there are some who say that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works (Eph 2:8-9) but fail to realize that this salvation is "unto the will/work of God" (Eph 2:10) and that a faith that saves is a faith that works to do the will of God (James 2:24,26). Some may say, "Pastor, you might cause people to be shaken in their faith if you make them doubt their decision like this." Dear friend, you cannot make me doubt my faith because it is testified to by the works in my life. How could I make you doubt your faith if there is the same testimony of a yieldedness before God?"]

The Lord Himself will initiate the judgment that is to come. Yes…a person living apart from God is already condemned and is suffering the torments of the enemy even today. But there is a judgment and tribulation to come that makes the trials of this life pale in comparison. The Lord will bring this judgment because we have chosen a life separated from Him.

The other side of the picture is presented in the first part of the chapters. John sees the magnificence of the throne of heaven and the Book in the hand of God. There is no one…not any man…not Muhammad, nor Buddha, nor Oprah, nor Joseph Smith, nor any secularist, nor any religious Jew, nor any devout animist in all of God’s creation past, present, or future that could open the Book. John…wept (5:3-4).

The angel who guided John told him not to weep because the same Lion of the tribe of Judah that would judge the world, was also the Lamb of God who gave His life on behalf of all the world…that the world through Him might be saved (5:5-8). This One is the One who was slain (that is Jesus) and He is God [Notice the worship He receives just as the Father received worship in Ch. 4].

6:9-11 is a beautiful picture of the Sovereign control of God over all creation. As the souls of the martyrs cried out for justice, they were given forgiveness and a promise that when the number of them was fulfilled, their justice would come.

We live daily in the prospect and awareness of these two eternities. The price necessary to experience forgiveness has already been paid. The only thing required is our yieldedness to Him in trusting in His completed and sufficient work.

Join with the song of those who worshipped in these chapters…(5:9-10, 12-13).

Proverbs 25:21-22 is the takeaway today. “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” [Our kindness toward our enemies is a tool of conviction in the hands of God and He rewards us for our obedience to Him.]

Ni90: Revelation 1-3, Proverbs 24

Today is the first day of the last week of the 90 day challenge. We begin one of the most misunderstood books fo the NT. It is the proof text of agenda preaching (i.e. if you want to prove that Jesus is coming back on the 14th of November 2014…somewhere along the line you will find a word that’s letters translate into a coded message that tells you it is going to happen…and the tantalizing mystery of it will gather a crowd. Someone once said, “If you want to fill up a church on a Sunday…teach on Revelation.” Probably true.

What makes this book so odd for the modern reader is the twofold nature of its genre (apocalyptic literature) and prophecy. Since we have little familiarity with either, it makes this book mysterious. The same RULES apply though…understand the book as it is written and from the perspective of the original audience; then, apply its principles to modern circumstance.

The first three chapters cover the introduction to the revelation given to John while he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, as well as 7 specific letters written to 7 actual churches in 7 real contexts. Some scholars have convincingly argued that John may also have prophetically been addressing to 7 ages of the church…the last one being the current age…the age of lukewarmness. Here is what we know with a high level of certainty…the letters were written to actual churches in the first century and we can certainly make a good argument for different eras that seem to correspond to the churches throughout history. At the end of the day though, we would do well to read this while asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and apply the text to our minds…that we might be INFORMED, and that our new information might TRANSFORM us to more greatly reflect the Lord Jesus.

My observations for today:

• 1:17-18. When John saw Jesus as He is…he was terrified and fell before him as though dead. Jesus lifted him up! (You cannot be lifted up until you first get down on your face before Jesus. Further, if you can’t get on your face before Jesus, you haven’t seen Him as He is!).
• 2.1. John writes to the ”angel” of the church. This is not a creature with wings and a halo…it is the pastor. God most often brings the Word He has for the church through His appointed pastor [Literally: angel, Greek Word "Angelos" meaning messenger]. So, beware of the guy who has clear understanding of what God wants to do in His church when the guy is coming from a completely different direction than the pastor. He may be right…but not if the pastor is walking with God and is called by God to lead that congregation. If the pastor is called and is walking consistent with that calling, he is the messenger God has given to the church to lead, guide, oversee, and shepherd.
• 2:2-4. It is not enough to be doctrinally faithful. You must also be in love with Jesus. This church had the first but had walked away from the last. As such, they were called to account and called to repent.
• 2:9-10. Smyrna was complimented and never criticized. They were also told that they would experience a coming tribulation that would test them. Be faithful…adn you will overcome.
• 2:14-15. Pergamum had come to tolerate false doctrine. They were called to repent of their tolerance for false doctrine. [God doesn't tolerate false doctrine. Universities and cultures do, but God does not.]
• 2:19-20. Thyatira had sin in their midst unchecked. The church would not call sin…sin. As such, many stumbled due to their silence in their midst. (Note: the sin referred to is not cultural but is in the church itself.) Repent.
• 3:1. Sardis was dead. She had a name that she was a church but had no works that spoke of her faith…just membership cards. Where is the fruit? A few were unstained, but most were dead. Where is the fruit? Where is the fruit? She was called to repent.
• 3:11-12. Philadelphia had fruit and they were undergoing tribulation. Be faithful and you will overcome.
• 3:15-18. Laodicea had a tepid faith. They were neither hot for God not cold to God. God was there but His presence made little difference to the church. Therefore, they could expect God’s reproval and discipline…and they were called to repent.

God calls us to repent when we are not as we ought to be. He does not just give up on us. At the same time, He doesn’t just excuse us and accept our actions as the best we have to offer. He calls us to become as we ought.

Proverbs 24:1-2 is the takeaway today. “Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.”

Take Two: Revelation 22, Proverbs 19

As the story comes to a close, a couple of prominent features come to mind. First, in the opening of the chapter, we see the river of life flowing from the throne of God. In the new world, God is positionally and practically central to everything. All of the sustenance necessary for life…flows directly from His throne. And, therefore, all those with Him worship Him and are identified with Him…without any exception. Notice though…that the worship spoken of is actually their service to God (v.3).

NOTE: I know that many have the idea that heaven is all about floating on clouds and doing nothing all day long. That is not the picture. Heaven is about pure worship in the presence of God and without any restriction…and that worship is not a relationship of equals…but one of bond servants and the Lord Jesus. Our heaven is one of worship and praise and service to the God who loves us and demonstrates that love toward us daily.

The second feature that stands out…is the overt assurance of the truthfulness of the testimony (v.6). This is not an academic letter, but a promise regarding the things to come. The promise is backed by the full weight of the throne of God.

The third and final feature…is the threefold admonition from Jesus, “I am coming quickly.” Jesus is not to be disregarded, dismissed, or delayed. He is coming…quickly. We refer to this belief as the imminent return of Christ. IOW: There is nothing yet to be fulfilled that prevents Jesus from coming. It could happen today, next week, or in three generations. Most folks defer to the latter, but what if it was today? Would you be standing ready? Is there anything undone? Is there anything incomplete? Why not do it…that…today?

Proverbs 19:9 is the takeaway today. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish.”

NOTE: For those keeping up, we have finished reading the NT together. Congratulations. We have now read 53 books together (if my math is correct) and read the Book of Proverbs some 25 or so times. We have thirteen books to go…and they are all in the OT. I want to move to the book of Numbers tomorrow. I expect that we will continue to alternate back and forth between the OT and the NT. In about another year…we will be able to say that we read the entire Bible through…and the NT a couple of times. For some…this will be a first. I am proud of you.

Just as one more final note: I love to hear how the Scripture strikes you. Let me encourage you to share your insights in the comment sections of the devotionals. We ALL are encouraged when you share your thoughts.

Take Two: Revelation 21, Proverbs 18

The description in this chapter is such that it presents the people of God and the city of God as essentially one and the same. John describes the vision with many uses of the word “like” or “as.”

The main idea of the description, is not to specify exactness in dimension, construction, or materials; rather, it is to communicate the overwhelming nature of the new city. Here are the main points that “jump out” at me. (Yours may be different.)

First, the point of the city, New Jerusalem (v.2) is not the city but the fact that it is the place where God “tabernacles” among His people. The point is God’s presence. There He is…and there His people are…in His presence.

Also, one cannot miss the images of purity. The gold is so pure it is transparent (v.21). The walls of the city are precious and valuable, made with pure stones if unspeakable value.

Further (and to the point), the inhabitants of the city are as pure and holy as God. There are no liars in heaven. There are no murderers or idolaters, or immoral people (v.8). How is that possible?

Well, this is a place where some believers get goofed up. They see themselves as whitewashed sinners…not new creatures. They miss the fact that the redemption provided in Christ’s activity makes us new and holy. How do we miss such a truth? Simply stated…because we know us…and we know the struggle with our own flesh every day. We know our lusts and temptations and wars within. So, we see ourselves as sinners…not as saints.

Perhaps the greatest pleasure in heaven is being in the presence of God without any of the guilt and shame of our sinful shortcomings. We will see Him as He is…and ourselves as we are in Christ. We will stand (or lie prostrate) unashamed in His presence.

Toe population of heaven will include all nations (ethnic/people groups) (v.24). While John sees this city as New Jerusalem…(city of peace), it is not a “Jewish thing” but a “Jesus thing.” Everything is about God there…not which flavor of peoples you have in your pedigree. Only One name matters…and it is the one on your spiritual birth certificate (See 1 John 3:1).

The standard for entrance? The LAMB’s BOOK of Life (v.27). Selah….

In this place, there will be no tears or regret…because there will be no sin and no suffering. BTW: There is also no ESPN or Publix or Walmart or Beach. We won’t be running from place to place looking for answers to Bible trivia or seeing if we can locate a friend. Our all-consuming passion will Be the Lamb and His throne and His glory and His pleasure…and His grace, by which we have standing.

Are you ready? Likely…not. And if you were, there are billions who are not. And, we are singularly tasked and focused on preparing them for His presence on that Day and this end. So, are you ready?

Proverbs 18:17 is the takeaway today. “The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.”

Take Two: Revelation 20, Proverbs 17

Revelation 20 speaks of the binding of Satan, the millennial reign of Christ, and the judgment of those who died without Christ. While (as before) many scholars have sought to bring a coherent sequence to the events of Revelation, there is still LOTS of room for honest men to come to different conclusions.

In the same way that sovereign God simply took the antichrist and the false prophet into custody and cast them into the Lake of Fire, Satan falls the same way (vv.1-3). No fanfare about a struggle…no contest…it is just done. [NOTE: It is good to know and trust in the fact that God is not ever at a loss against the enemy…and in Christ, we are never ultimately at a deficit either.]

Following the binding of Satan, comes the millennial reign of Christ. Some seek to understand this as symbolic or indefinite, but…without biblical warrant, there is no reason to conclude anything but a literal 1,000 year reign on earth. [Those who dispute this do so on the basis of “logic” or (in my opinion) because they are predisposed to a system of thought where a millennial reign doesn’t compute. At the same time…this doesn’t mean they are heretical in their beliefs or anything like that. Their theology led them to a different place. At some point in the future, God will demonstrate the one, valid interpretation of the texts…and we will all likely have to adjust some things.]

Curiously, after the millennial reign, Satan is freed to deceive and gather the nations against Christ again. (NOTE: I don’t understand this…I just accept it.) Soon thereafter, He is again defeated and this time…destroyed and cast into the Lake of Fire (v.10). This initiates the great white throne judgment.

This draws my mind in. Listen carefully. The dead (that is, the dead who are unredeemed) are resurrected and stand before Christ the King at the White Throne judgment. The Book of Life is opened and their names are absent. So, the books of deeds are opened and they are judged according to their works on earth (v.12).

This presses down on me. The small and great of the earth have to give an answer to their rebellion against God. They may argue that they were basically good…or had a good heart…but Jesus will focus on their deeds. Every lie, every idolatrous action, every malicious…gossipy thing they ever said…will be presented against them. Then…they will have to give an account…KNOWING that had they simply trusted in Christ as Lord…the very nail scarred hands that pointed at them now, would have gathered them to His side.

Judgment is pronounced (vv.13-15). All unrighteousness and the consequences of unrighteousness are cast into the Lake of Fire.

My point. I am so very humbled and thankful that I do not give an account for my sins on that day. I avoid this judgment because Christ took my judgment for me and welcomed me as I repented and trusted in Him alone. The outworking…I long to see my neighbors, my nation and the nations experience the same forgiveness, the same peace for eternity, and the same sense of value and purpose.

Proverbs 17:3 is the takeaway today. “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts.”