The Daily Dose

Worship Him

They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.  Revelation 14:3

 I love to sing worship songs. In fact, I look forward to the worship at our weekend services just as much as I do the message from the word of God.  There is just something about lifting my hands and singing praise to God that makes my heart smile.  I’m sure it is something that God put inside me but having that time to turn all my attention to Him and turn off the noise of life puts me in a place of contentment and joy to be ready to receive what the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to my heart in the word of God coming up.  Of course, I don’t always wait until Sunday to praise Him with song.  I have worship music playing in my home and work place all day long most of the time.  It is not unusual for me to stop in the middle of whatever I am doing to lift my hands in worship to my Father in heaven.  He is so wonderful and worthy of all my praise!

Having worship music around me all the time is also something I use to keep myself from being distracted with cares and burdens that life wants me to take on.  Not only that, but music is so powerful that it can change my whole attitude in a matter of seconds.  That is true with the wrong kind of music also, If I do not keep my heart guarded against the wrong rhythms and words, I can easily get sucked in and become stained with the world’s ways, words and deceptions.  Our enemy loves to use a “catchy” tune to get us speaking words that are contrary to God’s word.  In the world we live in today, it has become one of the greatest tools to lure people into agreement with the world culture that we live in.

In today’s reading, we see again the hundred and forty-four thousand that were back in chapter seven.  John sees this group again standing on Mount Zion with a Lamb, the Lamb of God.  John heard a loud voice from heaven like many waters and thunder.  Then he heard music playing harps.  Suddenly, this group of one hundred and forty-four thousand have been redeemed from the earth and singing a new song before the throne of God, before the four living creatures and before the elders at the throne.  These have kept themselves undefiled and are the firstfruits to God and the Lamb and there is no deceit found in them, being without fault before the throne of God.

The passage doesn’t say that it is because of their worship in song that they have kept themselves from being defile when they were in the world, but I know that it did help them.  Worship is one of the sure ways to put your heart in the right place and keep it out of the wrong places.  In heaven, these sang a new song that no other could learn or sing.  It is a special and unique tune that only this group is able to offer to the Lord on His throne.  As they kept themselves in praise and worship in the world, they kept themselves from being spotted by the world’s corruption. 

Today I want to encourage you to praise and worship Him often.  You don’t have to wait until Sunday to lift up your voice in song.  You can praise him in the morning and the evening, even all day long.  Surround yourself in worship music throughout your day and pause once in a while to thank Him for His loving kindness and tender mercies.  I like to put myself on a praise fast meaning I fast all worry, anxious thoughts and unsettled feelings and instead take a time to worship, praise and thank Him for how He is working all things for good in my life when fearful thoughts come.  It helps me to stop those worried thoughts and turn my attention to giving my care over to Him because He cares for me! You can trust Him with your care today too and lift up a song of praise in place of your concerns!

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:1-5 

1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 

3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 

4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 

5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Don’t be deceived

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.  Revelation 13:14

I remember once when I was in junior high school hearing a teacher talking about being deceived.  I don’t even remember the context in which he was talking about it, but I do remember a girl in my class whom I thought of as very smart and very grounded in her faith for her age saying, I hope it never happens to me.  I remember thinking, what?  Why would you even say that?  Then I thought. . . “That will never happen to me.”  Exactly, that is what I said in my head and in my heart.  I still remember it and that was over 40 years ago.  It wasn’t long after I graduated from high school before I fell into a great deception.  I had always thought that I knew exactly what I was doing and I should never have gone the direction I went back then or made the decision I made that led me into a deep pit of circumstances.  Though, within the last ten years of my life, the holy Spirit revealed to me that I had been deceived and drawn away by my immature way of thinking.  When I think back about it all now, I see that I truly was deceived into thinking that I was ok even when I was so far from God’s plan for my life.

It reminds me of a warning that Jesus gave to his followers in Matthew chapter 24.  He said  “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”  He wasn’t talking about in the tribulation times, He was warning then that even in their time many had risen up to collect a following of people who believed they were going to be delivered from the Roman oppression that they were experiencing.  Many had already come and gone before Jesus was even born and many have come and gone since He left this world.

In today’s reading, THE anti-Christ, the devil incarnate comes to power and deceives everyone in the day of his leadership. Even though there are some in the world at that time that do not fall for his devises, they will be forced out of civilization and out of the culture of the day.  They will not be able to participate in the “life” that this world leader creates without receiving His mark on them.  That mark will identify all those who belong to him.  Those with the mark will worship him and the images he builds that represent him.

In the world we live in today, there are deceptions all around us.  Hopefully we, as God’s people are wise enough to not be taken in by the enemies tricks and traps.  Sadly, many people, even though they are Christians, are lured from standing for God and for good by the distractions and fears that this world offers.  Many believers believe more in the enemies power to hurt them, than God’s power to protect.

The solution is to stay close to your heavenly Father, spend time with Him each day and ask Him to keep you in all your ways.  Hide His word in your heart so that you will not live your life against His ways. Acknowledge Him in all your ways so that you are not pulled away by material things and pleasures that the people of the world chases after.  Lastly, surround yourself with friends and a community that will keep you accountable to stay on track in your faith and daily walk with God.

Today I want to encourage you to not let yourself fall into the deceptions of this life.  Be aware of the subtle ways the enemy sets up circumstances to turn your heart away from God’s perfect plan for your life.  Whether it is with things or attitudes of the heart, don’t let Satan’s ways be your ways.  Press into your Father each day so that when this great deception of the Revelation times comes, you won’t be anywhere around to be drawn in or to run away.  You will already be at home with your Father in heaven.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 13:11-18

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 

12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

The Beast

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.  Revelation 13:1

 I have always struggled with disturbing images in movies or pictures.  Once I see something, my brain or mind or whatever takes hold of the image and doesn’t let me forget about it.  For that reason, I am very careful about what I look at and the programs that I watch.  Especially right before bedtime.  If I see something that is intense or scary, I will almost certainly dream about it or even worse, not be able to sleep at all.  Over time, it feels like I can hit a delete button in my head, but when I try to do that right after first seeing something, it just doesn’t seem to work.

In today’s reading, the apostle John, now back on earth in his vision, sees quite a disturbing image.  He describes a beast rising up out of the sea that has seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns on those ten horns.  This beast has blasphemous names on its heads.  John describes the beast that he saw like a leopard having feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion.  He identifies the source of this beast’s power coming from the dragon, which we already established is Satan, and the beast is given great authority in the world.  The next part is even more chilling.  One of the beasts heads had been mortally wounded with a deadly wound, but was healed, which make the entire world marvel and follow the beast.  Not only follow it, but even worship the dragon who gave the beast it’s authority.

Through this entire description, John never expresses any personal feelings.  He doesn’t talk about how the image made him feel like he did when he ate the little book.  He simply related what he saw with no sign of fear or terror in his report.  Certainly, this was an unsettling thing to witness, even if John didn’t feel the threat of it at the time.  He didn’t ask any questions and he wasn’t asked any questions as in other parts of the experience he was writing about.

As I read this passage again, it occurred to me that John’s reaction should be exactly the way we view these passages and every disturbing image that we encounter. When we know who we have become in our salvation in Christ Jesus and we understand that with Him, He will work all things together for our good as we love Him, we don’t need to be afraid, or even phased by treacherous times or current events in the world around us.  John’s account sounds like something that plays out in a horror movie, but even on the daily news in our current surrounding, we hear about wars, famine and pestilence that can cause panic and strike fear in to the hearts of those who don’t have hope beyond the earthly circumstances.  So when you sense that fear, anxiety and distress is trying to plague your thoughts, remember instead Who you belong to and Who is watching out for you.  The One who died the death of separation so that you don’t have to and the One who carried away your griefs, sorrows, transgressions, iniquities, and put peace and healing in their place.  He has not given you a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.  You have no reason to fear any evil because He is with you and comforts you.

Today I want to encourage you while reading through this passage to remember that your Father in heaven is with you and guiding you through all of life’s disturbing and fretful ways.  You don’t have to be anxious or afraid because He is your Shepherd and the One who is looking out for you and providing everything you need during treacherous times.  No matter what you see on television or social media, His overriding truth is your comfort and your peace.  Trust that He has your best interests in His heart and He is leading you step by step through the dark valleys to get you to your green pastures and still waters.  Lastly, remember that your name has been written in the book of life and no beast can take that away. 

If you have never received God’s great gift of salvation and His peace and comfort that comes with it, pray this prayer today and invite the Lord Jesus in to be your Savior and Lord over all.  He will come in and lead you on paths of rightness.

Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 13:1-10

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 

2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 

6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 

10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Pray in secret

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6

Apparently, in Jesus’s day, the religious leaders liked to get attention by praying loud and long, but Jesus said that is not the right way to pray.  Jesus explained to His disciples to go to a quiet place and pray in secret not out on the streets to show how spiritual you are.  He also told them they don’t need to repeat the same things over and over again or use a lot of words.

Then Jesus gave them a model for praying.  A structure and order of how to have an effective prayer life.  Ironically, today, this prayer is repeated over and over even after Jesus said vain repetition is not the way to pray.

So He breaks praying down into sections in verses 9-13 of Matthew chapter six.  He said, pray in this way or manner:

Start with praise and worship: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name

Pray for God’s will: Your kingdom come. Your will be done in the earth just as it is in heaven.

Pray and belief for God’s provision for today: Give us today and the “bread” we have need of.

Receive and give forgiveness: forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Pray for deliverance from the enemy: do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Seal your prayer up with thanksgiving: Yours is the kingdom and power and glory forever.

Using this format, our praying can look something like this: 

Precious Heavenly Father, Holy and Wonderful is Your name (Psalms 139:14.  Thank you for bringing Your kingdom to this world through empowering us to do your will here today.  Thank you for providing all that we need today to live life abundantly as You have planned (John 10:10).  And for your forgiveness in Christ Jesus our Savior. Strengthen us to extend that forgiveness to those who hurt or offend us (Eph. 4:32).  Keep us far from temptation and deliver us from any traps the enemy tries to catch us in.  Because this is Your world and kingdom, We give You all our power and glory to complete Your work in this world for all eternity!  Amen

Of course, your prayer will not be just like that, but you pray from your heart in the areas Jesus highlighted.  That doesn’t mean those are the only areas you pray about.  We bring all things to our Heavenly Father.

Today I want to encourage you to spend some time praying in your secret place.  Set aside special quiet time to talk to your loving Father.  Take time to listen to the soft words He whispers to your heart.  Then write down those things so you can be praying oven them in the days to come.  Make your time with God the most precious time of each day and He will see you in secret, but your reward will be open for all to see the goodness of God’s love working in your everyday life.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:5-15

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Be good to others

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Matthew 6:3

Have you ever done something good or nice for someone and then nobody even notice or acknowledged it.  Maybe you felt slighted or maybe you let others know, because you wanted to make sure others knew what a good person you are?  If you have, you are not alone.  In fact, most people want to be notice when doing good and most people are willing to let everyone they talk to know just how wonderful they are.  You might even go so far as criticize others for not thanking you or rewarding you because of your good behavior.

Well, in today’s text, Jesus taught His disciples that charitable (good) deeds should be done in secret.  What?  Nobody should know about them?  That’s right.  Jesus said that if you are doing good things just so others will notice you or when others are looking, that is all the reward you will get for those deed.  He will not acknowledge them, and they will have no eternal value.

However, He continues in this teaching by saying, when you help others in secret, just because you care about people, then He will personally reward you openly.  The important part is putting your focus on helping others, not on how good you are. 

The fact is that when you do good things just so other can notice you or compliment you, your works are full of pride and self-serving.  Your goodness has little to do with who you are helping and is all about you stepping in to look like a hero that everyone should admire.

Lastly, maybe you are that someone who is going through a crisis and think “I can’t even think about doing a good deed because of my situation.  I am stuck in a mess, and that is all I have time to focus on right now.”  In reality, turning your focus to help or encourage someone else in their struggle also comes with the reward of giving you a different and new perspective on your own circumstances.  When you purposefully put aside your own concerns, and secretly decide to comfort a friend through their dilemma, your problem will no longer be the main event in your life.  It has to take a back seat to the person you are helping, and now your purpose in life, at least for a little while becomes supporting others in their struggle.

Today I want to encourage you to do good for others.  Watch for opportunities to step out and help people throughout your day.  Not because you want to be the hero and be recognized as a do-gooder, but because you care about people and want to show them how much God loves them by loving them, yourself.  Then keep it a secret.  Pray for those you have helped in private and then watch how your reward and recognition comes directly from heaven.  Your heavenly Father is depending on you to help grow His kingdom, and it can only be done when you focus on others instead of yourself.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:1-4

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Go to the place prepared

But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.  Revelation 12:14

Since the beginning of 2024, there have been a number of my friends who have told me that they are feeling like they need to pull back for a time.  They all seem to have the same reason of retreating for a time to separate from the world to have a quiet space with God.  While I do agree that it is important to have that quiet time with God, I also believe it should be a daily thing, not just for a season of hiding. 

There is great danger in retreating from people, especially when you pull back from the body of believers.  It’s like your ear saying, “I need to step away from the body for a time because I need to be build up and encouraged.”  If the ear separates from the body that it belongs to, it becomes a dead piece of flesh that no longer has the life of the entire body in it.  Likewise, if during a time of separation, you retreat from the place that God has prepared for you to be encouraged and refreshed, you will also become just another dead piece of flesh in the world.  We need each other and not only that but God designed our gifts to work with other people’s gifts and we are to come together regularly to that place where we will be pulled in closer to each other and to God.

In today’s reading in Revelation twelve, the women in the sign that John saw in heaven, represents a whole group of people, the Jewish nation.  We pick it up in this chapter in verse 13 where she is given two wings of a great eagle to fly into the wilderness to a place, that back in verse six tell us has been prepared ahead of time for her by God.  This is a time of retreat and hiding for the women, but she doesn’t go off on her own to try to figure out how to survive.  She goes right to the place that God has already prepared for her to be nourished and protected. Verse six of chapter twelve says Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

You have a place that has been prepared for you too.  God has prepared a place for you to retreat to for nourishment and restoration and that place is in the body of believers.  God never designed us to pull away from that body and be isolated from the very place that was prepared for us to grow and flourish in.  We are to come together regularly in weekend service and meet together in groups beyond those service to build one another up and serve others.  The truth is that when we pull back from church and small groups, we are cutting ourselves off from God’s best for our lives.  Hebrews 10:38 says: Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”  When we draw back from those God has called us to, there is no longer pleasure in Him for us.

Today I want to encourage you to, yes!  Spend quiet time with God each day. Retreat from the activities of the day to press in and hear what the Spirit of God wants to speak to your heart.  Retreat and refresh by spending time in His holy Word and in prayer and make that precious time each day a priority in your life.  But don’t pull back from the body you have been called to.  We need each other and when we come together with other believers, we gain new life and energy that is created by the love and encouragement we give each other.  If you are currently in a place that does not produce the life that He has for you, press in close to Him to make sure you are in the place that has been prepared for your nourishment and protection.  Don’t let the hurts of the past pull you away from the very people that God has prepared for you to worship and serve along side.  Instead, let that be your place of cleansing and wash away all the bitterness and fear that are the source of you running away in the first place.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 12:13-17

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 

14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 

15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 

16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 

17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Be an overcomer

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11

As I read the next portion of Revelation twelve, I initially thought this was when Lucifer tried to exalt himself to be like God in the beginning.  However, after looking a little more closely, I realize now that it is a future event.  We know that even after Lucifer was cast out of heaven, he still had access to it.  Job 1:6 says that Satan talked with God in heaven about Job.  In other passages it says that he stands before God accusing the brethren. So, the apostle John is watching at the time of this writing, a future war that will take place in heaven at the beginning of the last three and a half years of the world as we know it today.  At this point, there is no longer a place found for Satan and his demonic forces in heaven.  John heard the announcement that Satan, the accuser of the brethren has been cast down to the earth, for good.

The next verse in this passage is where I want to focus my attention today.  It says that the people of the world overcome the accuser by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.  Satan, now releasing all he has got on the people of the world because he knows his time is about up and yet the very thing that will overcome him in that day is the same thing that we overcome him with today.  The shed blood of Jesus and the Word of God in our testimony of salvation. 

In the world we live in right now we can see the effects of demonic oppression on the earth and we can even feel the pressure of the curse of sin.  The good news is that we do not have to be crushed by that pressure.  We can overcome with the blood of the Lamb and the word of God in our salvation story.  As we push back on the pressures of life reminding ourselves that we are cleansed unto salvation in the blood of Jesus and the devil has no authority to touch us, we can also remind him of the promises that God has given to every child of God in His holy scriptures.  We speak God’s word to not only reinforce our faith in our own heart, but also to let those around us know that our hope is in the Lord of hosts.

We have promises like: He has made me more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me (Romans 8:37). Greater is He that is in me than anything in the world (1John 4:4).  My faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).  I give thanks to God because He always gives me the victory through Christ Jesus my Lord (1 Corinthians 15:57).  The Lord is my strength and strong tower (Proverbs 18:10).  The list goes on and on.

So today, I want to encourage you to stand against the pressures of life that try to weigh you down and the enemy that tries to take you out of the race.  Strengthen your faith by speaking out loud the promises that God has given you in His word. According to Romans 10:17, your faith grows my hearing and hearing the word of God, so proclaim it out loud each day to resist the devil and it is guaranteed that he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 12:7-12

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 

8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

A Sign

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.  Revelation 12:1

As we finished up chapter eleven of Revelation, the seventh angle had sounded, and the kingdoms of the world became the kingdoms of our God. Now as we begin chapter twelve, there is a shift in heaven.  A sign.  The apostle John’s attention was turned to a sign or symbol of something happening in the spirit realm.

John saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head was twelve stars.  She is ready to deliver a child and is in pain because of it.  Immediately after that, John sees another sign of a fiery red dragon waiting for the child to be born so he can devour the baby as soon as he is delivered.  This infant will grow up to rule all nations with a rod of iron and before the dragon can get to him, he is caught up to be with God in heaven.

After that, the woman flees to the wilderness to a place that has been prepared by God for her to be fed for 1260 days.  This is the amount of days that are referred to in previous chapters as the last three and a half years of the tribulation period.  Although the beginning of this vision has already happened, the last part will be during those last bit of time in this present world.

So just a brief explanation of the vision is the woman is the nation of Israel that Jesus the Messiah was born out of.  He is the only one in scripture that it has ever been described as a Ruler with a rod of iron.  Of course, the dragon is Satan, the enemy of God who killed the King of glory but could not hold Him down.  He rose up from the grave and ascended into heaven to be with His Father for ever more.  This all has already happened.  Now the dragon is enraged and is looking to torment the woman that has been left to endure.  Although her child is now in heaven, the enemy of God will seek to devour her.

This entire picture reminds me of a scripture in 1 Peter 5:8 that says that we are to always be on the look out for our adversary the devil who is looking for those he can devour.  In John’s vision, the woman seems unaware at the time that there is an enemy waiting to devour her child, but God isn’t.  He watches over her and protects her child.  He also prepares a place of provision for her to escape to as the enemy tries to overtake her.

That same enemy is trying to devour today.  He is after all those who love God but is only able to get to those who are not pulling in close to His protection and provision and are drawn away from God by Satan’s traps and tricks.  If we are not constantly on guard, being sober and vigilant to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit, we will be unaware of the traps that the enemy is setting daily to take us out.  That dragon is still after God’s throne, and He is still trying to turn the world against the love that God has for us all people.

Today I want to encourage you to press in and stay close.  Talk to your heavenly Father today bout the plans, mission and direction he has planned for your life.  As you follow the path that He has designed for you, you will not be lured away and devoured by the enemy of your soul.  Trust your heavenly Father today and thank Him that He is always watching, providing and protecting you through every assignment He has given you to complete.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 12:1-6

1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 

2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 

4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 

5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 

6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

The Seventh Angel

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelation 11:15

Try to imagine this scene:  The seventh angel sounds and then there is a great announcement in all of heaven.  Suddenly, at this very moment in time, the kingdoms of the world have now become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His anointed Son, Jesus.  The King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.  But wait, don’t the kingdoms of this world already belong to our God?  I mean, the entire earth is His, right?

Well, according to this passage, at the time when the seventh angel sounds, that will be the final battle cry when God takes back the kingdoms of the world from those who have possessed it over the millennia.  Think about the resistance that will rise up as the rulers of the world at that time will try to hold on to their nations, but to no avail.  They will be stripped of their titles and their lands.  The passages says they are angry that God’s wrath has come and the time of judgement.  But in heaven, it is a great celebration.  So much so that the temple of God is opened in heaven and the ark of His covenant is seen in the temple with great lightnings, noises, thunderings and an earthquake with great hail.

This is the turning point in this seven-year tribulation period.  After God’s two witnesses are taken up to heaven, it is time to take the earth back from His enemy.  At this point, it is time to clear the land and prepare the way for the King of kings to sit on His through here in this world. This explains the intensity of the rest of this period of time when things take a turn for the worse.  Satan will fight to try to keep these nations.  His leaders will try to rid the world of God’s representative and keep dominion.  even in all the details to come in this book, we cannot even come close to picturing the devastation that will break out on the earth and in the spirit world over this great reclamation of what God has place in the hands of man at the beginning of time, His planet earth.

This is a great victory that we all will get to take part in.  Just as the elders give thanks to God and worship Him saying: “We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One Who is and Who was and Who is to come.”  So we to can rejoice, even today.  We can be thankful that we can read the end of the book and know that with Him, we will be victorious.  We have a renewed hope in the future as God’s people and family.  We are taking it all back and He will reign forever more and we will be with Him in all His glory.  This event is the great fulfillment of His plan.  The only thing left to do is to clean up and take out the trash!

Today I want to encourage you to celebrate God’s plans to come in the end time days that we live in, look forward to His promises kept in your life, live in holy fear and awe of His great power each day, seek His wisdom and guidance for His purpose for you and embrace the reality of His soon return.  These practical everyday habits encourage us to live by faith, purpose and devotion to God’s mission, trusting in His plan and resting in His unfailing love.  The time is closer than ever before for His return, don’t waste another day without walking out your assignment.  Get the details today and then ask Him for His empowering grace to get the job done.  We all have a mission to complete, but it is up to each one of us to find out what it is everyday that we wake up on this side of heaven.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 11:15-19

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 

16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 

17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Be children of God

That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  Matthew 5:45

Have you ever thought about this?  Why does God let His sun rise on evil people just the same as it does on the good?  What about the rain?  He sends rain on the just and the unjust.   Have you ever considered that God doesn’t send different outward circumstance for different people.  That’s because He loves us all and He wants good for all people.  The truth is that all people belong to God, but His enemy stole them away from Him.  Now He has made a provision to get them all back.  The only problem is that we are the ones that have to choose to step into His provision to be saved from His enemy.

Today’s scripture is about loving people that are not God’s people, but they are God’s creation.  Jesus told His disciples to love their enemy and bless those who cursed them and do good and pray for those who hated and used them.  He said this is how you can be identified as a child of God.  Because if you only love those who love you, you are no different than everyone else.  If you only greet and associate with other believers, there is nothing different about you.  However, when you love all people because you are a child of God, not because of how good someone is, you are different because you love like God loves.

This message is the same for us today.  What sets us apart from the rest of the world?  It is the way we love all people.  Not just the nice- and good-looking ones, but all people no matter what race, no matter what their past is and no matter how bad they are.  They are still God’s created beings in His image, and He wants them all back from His enemy.  That is what He has called each one of us to do . . . love them with the God kind of love, so they will know that the God of creation wants them to choose to come back to Him through His great salvation.

Today I want to encourage you to love your enemies. Bless those who curse you and do good to those who hate you.  Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you so that you can be seen by the rest of the world as a child of God.  Become the ambassador He has assigned you to be and show the world around you that the God of heaven loves them and wants them back in the family.  The family of God!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 

47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.