Daily Encouragement

August 9, 2009 - Take Heed To Prophecy

The book of Revelation was the revelation to the Apostle John by Jesus so to tell us what John had seen, what were the conditions of and teaching to the seven churches in Turkey, and what would take place in the future. Some of the prophecies were not easy to understand. And there have been different interpretations concerning these prophecies. Some people have taken the attitude of avoiding it. It seems that some churches do not even talk about it or preach on it. I believe that this should not be so.

Listen to what God's word says in verse 3, "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (NIV)

There are blessings for those who read this book, and for those who hear the reading of this book as well as internalize this book of revelation. God has said that the time of Jesus' coming is near. The events presented in Revelation are coming soon. The New Testament has numerous references to the coming of the Day of the Lord. We should therefore pay attention to this book as well as watching for His coming. Those who do are blessed!

August 10, 2009 - Jesus' Personal Words To The Churches (I)

Meditation on Revelation 2

Chapter two and three is the letter to the seven churches by Jesus through John. Christ, the head of the church walks among the churches to examine them. (v. 1) Generally scholars take the descriptions of these seven churches as representation of the conditions of the churches throughout history. We must take heed of the warning as well as the commendations and commands of Christ to the churches.

The four churches in chapter two are the church at Ephesus whose love to the Lord grows cold, the church at Smyrna, the suffering church, the church at Pergamum, who compromises with the worldly teaching and immorality, and the church at Thyatira who tolerate a false preacher and her cult.

As you read about these churches, you undoubtedly would have learned so much about Christ's teaching, concern and encouragement of His churches. Allow me to just emphasize the warning for the Ephesian church. This was a great church at the beginning. It had great preachers and pastors who ministered to them including the apostle Paul. Most likely, it was a mother church of the rest of the churches in the neighboring towns. They kept sound doctrines and had perseverance in the faith. Yet Christ said that they had left their first love. (v. 4)

A church may be faithful in their tasks yet are cold toward the Lord and the brethren in reality. Christ notices that. He wants that kind of church to remember where they have fallen, and repent and do the deeds they did at first. Or else he is coming to remove their church before Him.

May we love the Lord with fervent heart today.

August 11, 2009 - Jesus' Personal Word To The Churches (II)

Meditation on Revelation 3

The rest of the churches receiving the letter from Jesus through John were the one at Sardis, the church that was dead except a few members who were alive in the faith, the church at Philadelphia, who was faithful to the word of God, and the church at Laodicea, the lukewarm church that was neither cold nor hot.

Let me just pay attention to the church of "brotherly love", the meaning of Philadelphia. This was a church that had been granted an open door for mission. (v. 8) In fact, they were able to win the Jews to the Lord so that they could become true Jews spiritually. (v. 9)

Since they were able to keep the word of God, Jesus has promised them that they would not go through the coming tribulation upon the whole world. (v. 10)

"I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown." Jesus said to them. (v. 11 NASB)

This church likes all others had to overcome all the trials by faith. (v. 12, cf. 1 John 5:4) Jesus has promised them also that they will be in the new Jerusalem with a new name of Jesus written in their hearts. (v. 13) Would you like to be a part of that kind of church?

August 12, 2009 - A Scene Of Heaven

Meditation on Revelation 4

There have been some descriptions by people who claimed that they had dreams of heaven. But the real picture of heaven was described by the Apostle John here in Revelation 4. Any thing else that is devious from John's description should not be taken for real. What John saw was shown by Jesus Himself for the purpose of revealing God's program to us. (v. 1)

Immediately we are impressed with the scene of God's throne and the thrones around Him. God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. His throne is awesome. And there were twenty four elders who sat on the twenty four thrones assisting Him to rule too. Bible students have had interesting discussions on the identity of these elders. I take them as the representatives of the Old Testaments and New Testaments saints. They all clothed in white garments which meant that they had been washed by the blood of the Lamb and had the robes of righteousness in Christ. (v. 4) Notice that they had golden crowns on their heads. That indicates that they were kings reigning with Christ. (Revelation 3:21)

The second impression one would get is the four living creatures around the throne. The description of these all seeing creatures is some what similar to the ones the prophet Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 1. I think that these living beings are the representatives of all other created beings in the universe. Their job is to proclaim the holiness and praise of God.

Then the most important teaching in this account is the absolute joy and necessity to praise our Lord and our God. We will all be praising Him in heaven forever. He is our creator and ruler. He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power. So today you and I must learn how to praise Him daily and especially in the public assembly as these elders and creatures in the heaven.

There are a lot more amazing things you can learn from these passages to be sure. May God bless your study.

August 13, 2009 - The Only One Who Is Worthy

Meditation on Revelation 5

After the scene in heaven, John continued to describe the dramatic occurrence from the throne, the right hand of God was holding a book which was sealed up with seven seals. These seals indicated that the content of the book was like a contract in the ancient Rome. The one who could open the seals was the one who had the authority to rule over the property and manage the contract.

John was comforted to see that the slain Lamb from the root of David was able to open the seals. He was worthy because He had purchased for God by His own blood men from all tribe and tongue to be His royal priests in His kingdom. Obviously Jesus would be the one who would be worthy to dictate the future of the earth and He allowed John to see what was going to happen.

Certainly there were great praises in heaven from the four living creatures, the elders, the myriads of angels, and every created thing in the universe. Many of us would recall the climatic passage of Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah which sing with inspired harmony, "Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessings." (v. 12 NASB) We praise God that He has answered the prayers of the saints (v. 8) and will finally bring judgment upon the earth and rule it forever and ever.

August 14, 2009 - The Six Seals

Meditation on Revelation 6

As the Lamb opened the first seal, the scene has turned from heaven to the earth. This chapter described the opening of just six of the seven seals. Each seal unfolded the coming judgments upon the earth.

The first four seals related to four horses and their horsemen. Evangelical scholars have commonly interpreted the white horse as the deceptive world peace before the coming disasters. The red horse is indication of wars among the nations of the world. The black horse depicts the coming famine worldwide. And the pale horse predicts the vast amount of death due to the famine, pestilence and possibly the infectious diseases originated from the wild animals. These would be the beginning of the tribulation that shall come upon the people of the earth who have rejected God.

The fifth seal referred to the great numbers of the saints who would be martyred for their faith during this period of tribulation. There will still be many people who turned to the Lord during this time because of the witnesses God will specially provide. But those who will not be able to escape persecution will suffer death in the hands of the rulers and governments who will believe the Antichrist, the dictator of the world at that time. These saints who will have been slain cry out to God for vengeance. (v. 10) And God will answer their prayers.

The sixth seal described the great earthquake as well as the showering of meteors and asteroids that will come so that the sun will become black and the moon will become like blood. Every continent of the earth will be affected. It will be a time of terror such as never happened before. This is due to the wrath of the Lamb. (v. 16)

Will current Christians go through this judgment? I believe not. Remember the church of Philadelphia? They were faithful to God's word and persevere; God says He will keep them form the hour of testing. (Revelation 3:10) By then, the believers will have experienced rapture to be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) But the people who are left behind will go through such time and will be deceived by the coming lawless one, the Antichrist. (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)

Oh, how we need to escape the coming judgment by accepting Jesus and living for Him now.

August 15, 2009 - God Will Preserve His Own

Meditation on Revelation 7

There will be an interlude between the sixth and the seventh seal. Before the opening of the seventh seal, an angel of God commanded the four angels of judgment to wait until the bond-servants of God will have been sealed with the mark of the living God. This seal on their forehead would protect them from God's coming judgment during the time of tribulation.

Verses four to eight identifies that these servants as the people of Israel. The specific references to the twelve tribes and numbers indicate that these people will truly be the physical Israelite. This passage of Scriptures implies that Israel will turn to the Savior whom they have pierced as the prophet, Zechariah had predicated. They in fact will become God's bond-servants who will proclaim the saving message of the Lord Jesus Christ. During this hard time of tribulation, many will be saved through these witnesses form Israel.

But thousands and thousands of people who turned to Christ will be persecuted during the great tribulation. They suffered hunger and thirst and hardship during their flee from prosecution of the Antichrist. Multitude of them will be martyred. They are from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues. In John's vision, he saw them already standing before the throne worshiping and serving God. (v. 9-17)

God will protect His own people as He has been throughout the biblical history. Or He will just take them to their heavenly home to be with Him. If God leaves His servants on earth, He will have something for them for service. What is your responsibility for Him today?