Collected or prepared by Pastor Wilfred Chung

August 16 - August 22, 2009

August 16, 2009 - The First Four Trumpets

Meditation on Revelation 8

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. This indicated something very serious was about to happen. The opening of the seal introduced the seven trumpets of judgment which would be sounded by seven angels. The mention of the prayers of the saints and the golden censer before the judgment implied that these judgments were related to the answer of prayers by the martyred saints during the tribulation period.

Those judgments on the land, the sea, the water, the sun, the moon and the stars corresponding to the sounding of each trumpet were catastrophic. The ecology of the earth was greatly damaged. Great amount of resources on earth were destroyed. Giant meteorites and asteroids from the sky came down on earth. The water of the earth became bitter. Many people on earth died as a result.

But these damages were far from the severity of the coming judgment from the last three trumpets. What John saw will certainly happen to the independent earth who do not trust Him.

Let us fear God.

August 17, 2009 - Demonic Attack

Meditation on Revelation 9

The Scriptures tells us that Satan has power to hurt people when God allows him to do so. (e.g. Job 1:12-19).Satan's kingdom has ranks and files. (Ephesians 6:12) So during the time of the great tribulation, we see the great forces of Satan's followers at work. When the fifth trumpet sound, one of the fallen angels came down to open the bottomless pit. And great smoke came out which darken the sun and the air. With it came demonic locusts with stings that can hurt men who would not have the seal of God on their forehead. But they will not be permitted to kill anyone except to torment them with extreme pain for five months. These locusts will be like an army led by a specific general whose name means destroyer in Hebrews and in Greek. (v. 1-12)

Then the sixth trumpet sound, the four demonic angels who have the territory around the river Euphrates will be released to kill a third of mankind. They would arouse two hundred millions of horseman to cause three deadly plagues through fire, smoke and brimstone out of their mouths. The tails of these horses are like snakes with head to harm people.

Even with these devastating judgments, most people on earth at that time would not repent their sins of idol worship, demon worship, murders, sorceress, immoralities, and thefts. How sad it is!

August 18, 2009 - Eat The Little Book

Meditation on Revelation 10

Before and after the sounding of the seventh trumpet, John described how he received further revelation and a lot of things happening upon the earth before the judgment of the seven bowls coming down. (Revelation 15:6f)

In this chapter, John told us a strong angel who had authority over the land and the sea cried out words liked seven peals of thunder. But John was forbidden to record them.

Then John was commanded to take the little book from the angel's hand and eat it. He did, and felt the sweetness in his mouth but later his stomach was made bitter.

The content of the book was obviously referring to the prophecies of God. It was sweet like honey because it was the word of God. But it was also bitter for John because those words had to do with judgment and tribulation upon those who rejected God.

The psalmist told us that the word of God is sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10b) Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel had mentioned that they tasted the sweetness of the word of God.

We are not only to hear God's word but also to digest it and taste it. Only after we taste the word of God in our own lives then we can share it with others like the prophets and John did.

August 19, 2009 - Two Power Evangelists

Meditation on Revelation 11

Before the seventh angel sounded the trumpet, John was asked to measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worship in it. This implied that the temple of Jerusalem would be rebuilt in the future, and the Jews will be worshiping there. Also John was told that the Gentiles would attack the city even to the court outside of the temple in the future.

Then it was revealed to John that there would be two witnesses to preach to the people of Israel as well as to the entire world. They would have the power of God as it was indicated by the representation of the two olive trees and lamp-stands (Zechariah 3:8-10). They would be able to perform miracles and destroy those who would try to hurt them. Their prayers would be like those of Elijah and Moses. But they would be killed by the representative of Satan.

Their dead bodies and resurrection after three and half days would be seen by the whole world. After their ascension, there would be a very strong earthquake on earth.

Though most people of the world rejected the messages of these two power evangelists, there would be some who will praise God for them. (v. 13) I believe many Jews will be saved and the nation of Israel will turn to God totally as a result of their witnesses.

Then the seventh trumpet would sound and proclaim God's final judgment upon the earth and His kingdom will rule over all. God will destroy those who have been trying to destroy the world from the beginning. He will also reward all God's saints from the small to the great.

Jesus Christ will rule over all one day! And that day is coming!

August 20, 2009 - Conflict Of The Ages

Meditation on Revelation 12

The apostle John turned to describe the war between Satan and God throughout the ages up till the time of the great Tribulation. He saw a great sign appeared in heaven. Evangelical Bible scholars have long identified the woman in that sign as Israel since her appearance correspond to the dream of Joseph in Genesis 37:9-11. The nation of Israel had been labored with pain to give birth to the Messiah, the seed of a woman promised in Genesis 3:15.

Then another sign appeared in heaven to show a red dragon who had ruled over the kingdom of the earth. He could be identified as Satan, the ancient enemy of God. The fact that the dragon's tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth would imply that a third of angels became fallen angels and therefore demons on earth. Also Satan had been waiting and plotting throughout the ages to destroy the line and birth of Jesus. But Jesus was born to accomplish His mission of salvation and had assented into heaven. (v. 6)

And there was war in heaven between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his fallen angels. Michael won and Satan and his followers would be cast down upon the earth. Then the saints would proclaim that salvation and kingdom and power and the authority of Christ had finally become realized. For the saints on earth could also overcome Satan completely because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of the testimony of the saints. (v. 10-11)

During this tribulation period, Israel would be protected from Satan's attack by God to fly away to an unidentified wilderness for three and half years. The dragon would try to flood them. But he failed and turned to attack other believers on earth. Certainly Satan would be defeated too because the believers would obey God's command and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (v. 17)

Praise the Lord, your testimony for Jesus and His blood would give you victory always.

August 21, 2009 - Temporal Satanic Rule

Meditation on Revelation 13

It seems that John was describing the darkest hour of the mankind. The images of the two beasts here did not indicate the situation of the Roman Empire or certain period of history as some commentators suggested. The reasons are that though the description was symbolic, they did imply a universal rule by these beasts. John mentioned in verse seven and eight about the first beast from the sea, "He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world." (NIV) Furthermore, a specific time of three and half years was allowed for this beast to rule. (v. 5) And the next beast was given the power of performing extraordinary miracles. (v. 13-15) These kind of things we have not seen happened in the history yet.

Therefore I believe John was predicting that there will be a time of great tribulation on earth when the representatives of Satan will control over the whole world even in the matter of economy and identity of each person. (v. 16-17) These successive governments will be like a beast which have no mercy but would be very deceptive and demand worship and loyalty. Those who would come to know Christ at those hours would be either martyred or needed great endurance and patience on earth. (v. 10)

How we need to have our names recorded in the Lamb's book of life right now! (v. 8) Jesus has died for your sins and shed His blood on the cross for you. Accept Him as your savior and Lord and He will grant you the right to be His children. (John 1:12)

August 22, 2009 - The Triumph And Preservation Of The Saints

Meditation on Revelation 14

Though in the darkest hour of the world, God will have preserved the 144,000 Jewish believers to persevere to the end of their faith in the Lamb of God. They will sing a new song before the throne that no one else will be able to sing. They would be loyal to the Lamb, tell no lie and will be above approach. They were martyred but resurrected before the Lord. They will be able to keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus because God will preserve them. (v. 12) Therefore God will say to John, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." (v. 13 NASB)

At the same time, three angels will be preaching across the sky. They give glory to God, proclaim doom to Babylon and the immoral nations, and announce the judgment of fire and brimstone upon those who would worship the beast and his image. (v. 6-11)

In the final scene in this chapter, John saw the angel's sharp sickle of wrath gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe. And the angel threw them in the great wine press of the wrath of God. The wine press would be trodden outside the city of Jerusalem and blood came from the wine press and will spill to four feet high for a distance of two hundred miles. (v. 14-20) This situation I believe is depicting the final battle of Armageddon as all the unbelieving nations gather together to fight against the Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation 16:12-16 and 19:11-21. It will be like a blood bath.

We must thank the Lord that all believers will be preserved by God even in the toughest time because of God's promises in the Scriptures and His great grace. God will triumph and his saints with Him. He will destroy all enemies at last in answer to the prayers of His saints.