Revelation 16:1-21 In the midst of these plagues being poured out on the earth, “…they blasphemed the name of God… [and] …they did not repent…” (vv. 9, 11, 21) So sad…! More connections to the crucifixion: It is done. (v. 17) Those were also Jesus’ last words: When Jesus had received the sour wine, He …
Author Archives: Fred
December 24 / Revelation 14:1-15:8
Revelation 14:1-15:8 I was struck today by the beauty of the angels, the Lamb, the Son of Man, the heavenly worshipping bodies – in contrast to the past few days where we’ve seen evil in the person of Satan, the dragon, and the two beasts. Today was a much more fun read!! Six different angels …
December 23 / Revelation 12:1-13:18
Revelation 12:1-13:18 I was struck by verse 12:11b: …for they loved not their lives even unto death. I sense that “loving not their lives” means that their earthly lives were nothing compared to their hope of eternal life with Jesus – that martyrdom was preferred to whatever else the world or their accuser offered. Again, …
December 22 / Revelation 11:1-19
Revelation 11:1-19 Two witnesses are mentioned in verse 3 – unusual. We often see 1, 3 and 7, 12 and 40 as common Biblical numbers. So two is unusual. So who are the two witnesses? My Study Bible said that many scholars suggest Moses and Elijah, the two Old Testament prophets who stood with Jesus …
December 21 / Revelation 9:1-10:11
Revelation 9:1-10:11 Yeah, I’m a numbers person – and Revelation is full of numbers. Initially we see seven seals, then seven trumpets and three woes within those seven trumpets, then later we’ll get seven bowls. But there are other unnamed numbers, four sets of which we find in today’s reading: three plagues on mankind – …
December 20 / Revelation 7:1-8:13
Revelation 7:1-8:13 It’s a strange listing of the Israeli tribes in 7:5-8. Dan is missing while Levi is included. Joseph is included, as is his son, Manasseh, but his son Ephraim is not included. You may recall in the division of the Promised Land back in Joshua that twelve tribes were given land. Levi was …
December 19 / Revelation 5:1-6:17
Revelation 5:1-6:16 The end of today’s reading leaves us hanging – six of the seven seals have been broken; what of the seventh? We’ll have a one-chapter interlude until we get to that seventh seal. But at that point we’re only at the beginning of the end since there will still be seven trumpets (Rev. …
December 18 / Revelation 3:1-4:11
Revelation 3:1-4:11 I know this sounds judgmental, but the church in Sardis (vv. 1-6) reminds me of the church that Carol and I left behind in Richmond: …you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die … Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not …
December 17 / Revelation 2:1-29
Revelation 2:1-29 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. (v. 4) I’ve read these messages to the churches many times and two stick out for me – this message to Ephesus and the one to the lukewarm church at Laodicea. I always remember this partial verse …
December 16 / Revelation 1:1-20
Revelation 1:1-20 So now, the book of Revelation… It is difficult to simply read through this book without notes on the meanings of many of the words and images contained in each verse. So I would encourage you to grab your Study Bible, if you have one, or to go buy one if you don’t …