Daily Encouragement

December 27, 2009 - Two Power Evangelists

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!

December 28, 2009 - The Seven Bowls

Meditation on Revelation 16

The seven bowls poured by the seven angels will be a sequence of final plagues upon the earth. They will be God's righteous judgment on the worshipers of the beast and his image. Man's physical bodies will suffer pain from malignant sore. Sea and water, the vital resources of the earth will all become blood. The sun will emit torching heat and then become total eclipse. Under such sever judgments, people still would not repent their sins but blaspheme God instead. Under demonic influences, all the military powers of the world will gather together at Armageddon to fight over Palestine. Even those military armies from the East will come by land because the Euphrates River will be dried up.

God's voice will say "It is done." when the seventh bowls poured out upon the air. There will be the greatest earthquake the world has ever experienced. All the land masses will be affected. The Bible specially points out that great city of Jerusalem will be split into three parts. (v. 19, cf Revelation 11:8) The city of Babylon will also fall which will be described in detail at later chapters.

God's counsel for all is that He is coming quickly and unexpectedly like a thief. Those who have put on the garment of salvation provided by Jesus Christ will not be ashamed. (v. 15)

Blessed are those who are alert for His coming for they will not be punished.

December 29, 2009 - The Re-Entry Of Christ

Meditation on Revelation 19

The first time Jesus came in the form of a baby through the Virgin Mary. He was the Word who became flesh. He came to be the Lamb of God who died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. After three days he was resurrected and later ascended into heaven. Now in Revelation 19:11-16, He came back to earth from heaven as the Glorious King of kings and Lord Almighty to rule over the whole world. Both Matthew 24:27-31 and Zechariah 14:3-5 described this tremendous event.

Preceding His second coming to earth, the Apostle John revealed something happened in heaven. There would be thundering Hallelujah choruses by all the people and other living creatures in heaven. (v. 1-6) Then there would be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Jesus, the bridegroom and the church, the bride would have a wonderful time of feasting together. Christians of various degree of service will be rewarded by Christ.

Then we would all come back to the earth together with Christ as Jude 14-15 also indicated. The Lord and His angels would destroy all the enemies of Christ and the beast at the battle of Armageddon. (v. 17-21) Most likely this scene were also recorded in Revelation 16:12-16, Ezekiel 39:17-22, Joel 3:1-2, 9-17, and Zechariah 12:1-9.

As the Scriptures have indicated, Christ's justice will avail all over the world. Those who worship Him now will be rewarded.

December 30, 2009 - The New Heaven And New Earth

Meditation on Revelation 21

This is such a beautiful chapter to meditate upon. It tickles our imagination for the new heaven and new earth that God has prepared for the believers through out the ages. The old earth that is polluted will pass away. God Himself will dwell among men. And there will be no more death, mourning, crying, and pain. God will rule and make all things new without decay. The citizens in this new earth will be those who have thirsted for eternal life desperately. They are those who have overcome the sinful world by faith. But the ones who do not take the courage to commit their lives to Christ and repent of their sins will be cast into the lake of fire. That is the second death. (v. 1-8)

Then John was carried to a great and high mountain to see the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. This will be the dwelling place of the bride of Christ, the church. It seems that the New Jerusalem will be hanging there in the sky. I think that it would be like a satellite circling around the new earth at that time. It will have the glory of God and it will be brilliant. John described it to be in the shape of a perfect cube which has great and high walls with three gates on each side. He gave us the specific dimension like ours. It is about 1,500 miles in length, width, and height. Since this will be in the outer space with an entirely different atmosphere created by God, we can assume that many billions of people will be able to live in there with great rooms to move up and down, back and forth for each person. Just the wall itself is seventy two yard thick. Its material is jasper. And the city is pure gold. The foundation stones of the city wall are adorned with twelve kinds of precious stones with various shining colors. Each of the twelve gates is made of a single pearl! There needs no light for this city of God. For the Lamb is the light. There will never be darkness anymore. (v. 9-26)

Once again, John emphasized that no unclean and untrue things can enter into this city but only those whose name are written in the Lamb's book of life. (v. 27)

Are you meditating on heaven? Only those whose minds fix on heaven will be able to do something really good on earth for others. But those whose minds only fix on earth can hardly do much good for others at all! (Colossians 3:1-3)

December 31, 2009 - Don't Add Or Subtract

Meditation on Revelation 22

We have been comforted by God's word concerning the new heaven and new earth and new Jerusalem. Verses one to five in this chapter continues to give us the grandeur picture in the new city prepared for those who have their robes washed and are thirsty to take the water of life without cost. Their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. There is a river of the water of life in this city of God. On either side of the river was the tree of life bearing twelve kinds of fruit every month. The tree leaves are for the therapeutic, health giving of the people there. All occupants will worship God and reign with Christ forever.

But we should pay special attention to the emphases in verses 6 and 18 to 19 on the characteristics of the word of God through John.

First, "And he said to me, 'These words are faithful and true'; and the Lord God of spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place." (v. 6 NASB) God's word including John's prophecy is always true and will never change.

Second, "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them or take away some words form the Bible, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book." (v. 18-19 NASB) John's prophecy is the last portion of the New Testament. After his, there should be no more prophecy adding to the Bible. Any one or any religion or cult that adds so called word of God to the New Testament is going to be judged by God severely. This person, or religion, or cult should not be accepted by Christians at all. Any one who disregards and takes away some words from the Bible, this person will not enter the kingdom of God either.

So we should avoid those who advocate and believe in adding to or subtracting from the book of Revelation and even the entire Bible, the word of God.