Monday, August 21st 2017 Revelation 11:15-19

Monday, August 21st 2017

Revelation 11:15-19
key verse: 15

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

Ch 11:15 proclaims the day when Jesus will come back to impose his reign on the nations. It is introduced to us in the context of chapter 19. According to John's inductive method, after this proclamation, he presents us chapter 12-19 where the events stagger: the terrestrial reign of the Antichrist (12-13), the celestial visions (14-15), the terrestrial jugdments (16-18), before Christ's Second Coming. When the wedding feast of the Lamb will be prepared, Jesus will come on white horseback. 

This word proclaims, not whatever gathering, but the coronation of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Satan is excluded and the divine peace reigns. It's the coming of the eternal kingdom of Christ. Paul speaks about the millenium kingdom of Christ: "be unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: who, in his time, will show the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Ti 6: 14-15). Not the kingdoms but the only kindgom. History tells us that all the attempts to corner the world power have failed. The Antichrist reigns for a moment, but Christ reigns under the aegis of the universal government. His kingdom is united, indissoluble and submitted to his rod of iron, which means a balanced division of power between the Father and the Son. Therefore, the attempt of Satan to skew the power of the Son to have the world power is annihilated. So the celestial army shouted out in praise (16-18). The nations were angry (Ps 2:1-4) but the Lord comes to manifest his wrath which will have consequences forever and ever. He speaks about "the small and the great". The Lord will remember small and humiliated people who the great of this world haven't ever taken care of.

Among all this deployment of activities, God doens't forget Israel. So, the ark of the Covenant (alias Old Testament) appears. Jesus is guarantor of the New Covenant in which he makes God's celestial people enter. So, the Old Covenant is forgotten (predicted by Jr 3:16) and the New Covenant appears in the sky and a new temple whose God opens the door. The ark predicts the events for Israel which are described in the next chapters, but above all the ark reminds us of God's loyalty towards his people in the past. God's loyalty is manifested in an infinite concern for Israel during the reign of the Antichrist, whereas the opponents to the Jewish people will suffer the effects of the divine wrath (flashes, voices, thunderclaps, earthquakes, hail).

Key Verse Revelation 11v3

THE TWO WITNESSES

Key Verse Revelation 11v3

The two witnesses are dressed in sackcloth in order to lead everyone into the act of contrition and repentance during 1260 days (three and a half years. Two witnesses are sufficient to condemn the Anti-Christ. These two ressemble Joshua and Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4v14 in that they were constantly « standing before the Lord » as those who withheld the power to control the heavens. They also take over the Earth (like the strong angel Revelation 10v2 who take over the planet Earth and John who measured the temple and took it over as well. This will give rose to a lot of hate and threats from their enemies. Who can these two witnesses be ? 1) Enoch and Elijah who died without experiencing a physical death. ( ?) 2) Moses and Elijah. Moses because the Word tasks about « turning the seas into blood… the earth struck by a series of plagues. » Elijah because of the miracle that he did by closing the heavens for 1260 days. These reasons make these the most probable persons chosen as these two witnesses. (also see Matthieu 17v3).  Many people believed the Elijah had to come before Christ. The big beast will arise from the abyss, kill them and put their corpses on display (Revelation 11v7-8a). The once great city of Jerusalem will be renamed Sodom and Egypte, the city of debauchery and of cursed slavery. Did the Lord not say that « the disgusting thing that causes desolation will be standing in the sanctuary ». After having worked wittingly to undo the enemy’s plan, these two of God will have to face the Anti-Christ’s fury and they will gave way under his mighty arm in Jerusalem. Those who live there will not allow their corpses to be put into graves. Hate and rejection of God will see the light at last. « They have given the dead body of your servants as food to the fowls of the heavens ,The flesh of your loyal ones to the wild beasts of the earth. »(Ps 79 :2). 

Behold, after their death ,the two witnesses small arise from the dead. At the time when we least expect it and while the TV cameras film the two corpses, a God’s Spirit of life will fall upon them. A big earthquake will strike Jerusalem and 7000 of the most doubtful will fall. The others will be stupified thus praise God, not because of contrition but because of fear.  Thus the importance of the new and sinister warning «  the second woe is past. The third woe is coming quickly. » The first woe was the opening of the well to the abyss and the locusts invasion. The second was this woe with a part of Jerusalem being destroyed by an earthquake. The this woe is three and a half more years of Satan’s reign against Israel. If we add that all up we reach a total of 7 years of tribulation.

Revelation 11:1-2 (Daily Bread of 18/8/2017)

Friday August 8th 2017

JOHN HAD A VISION OF THE TEMPLE

Bouclay, a scholar of the 19th century, says that chapter 11 is the most important and the most difficult to explain. 

1. John measures the temple (11:1b-2)

It's not the temple of Solomon nor the temple of Zorobabel, nor of Herod, all of which are destroyed. It's not the temple of Ezekiel, which is contradictory to John's vision (Ez 48:35 vs; Rev 11:8). It's maybe the fourth temple of Jerusalem. The courtyard of the Pagans will be separated from the courtyard of the Jews by a wall, like in the temple of Herod. The prophet Daniel speaks about the alliance between Satan and the elected people in the first half of the 70 weeks or during three and a half years. Israel will enjoy relative prosperity. It's possible that the three monotheistic religions (Christians, Orthodoxes, Muslims) in Jerusalem occupy the forecourt, whereas the Jews will occupy the temple itself. In their blindness, Israel will make an alliance with the Antichrist (Ez 28:14-15) with a guarantee of safety. After three and a half years, the Antichrist will break the alliance and betray Israel. He will make the offering stop and will soil the sanctuary. But this proof will lead Israel to real repentance (Ez 28:16).

2. A reed given to John (11: 1a)

The reed, a measuring instrument, given to John, has the shape of a board, symbol of punishment. When he measures, he passes judgment, maybe about the fifth temple which will be built. The city will be judged before being measured with the divine cord in the reign of God's Son. Meanwile, the Antichrist will wreak havoc proclaiming himself God (2 Th 2:4). Then, the Lord will purify the place. According to some people, the physical temple will be destroyed to build a new one for the Lord. According to other people, it's a symbol, the Antichrist will dominate in the shadows, and the Christ will inaugurate his reign in a purely spiritual house.

Prayer: Lord, make me fear your judgment which is formidable. You will judge the people before glorifying them in your new temple.

Bottom line: reed and board

Revelation 9:1-21 (DB of 16/8/2017)

Wednesday August 18th 2017

key verse: 1

THE FIFTH SCOURGE

What is the first formidable calamity ? Today's word tells us the scourge of the fifth angel which devastates the earth through the agents of devil. 

1. The locusts come (1-12)

When the fifth angel blew the trumpet, the key which is given to him opens the abyss. The devastating locusts with fumes. They reveived the order to attack only humans and torment them during six months. Their suffering is very great so they search death but don't find it. Their aspect is formidable like horses of war; their heads are like gold, their faces like a man, their hair like a woman's, their teeth like a lion's, their chest like a breastplate, their wings like a rider tank (7-10). But we must know that behind there is a king who governs them, he is the angel of the abyss, Satan. His Greek name is Apollyon.

2. The untied angels (13-21)

When the sixth angel blew the trumpet, a voice called out from the altar. The voice says to untie the four chained angels on the river Euphrates. When they were untied, those angels killed one-third of all men. The cavalry on horseback has a formidable breastplate and from their mouths come three scourges: fire, fumes and sulfur. They poison the people with their tails with heads. The people who survive don't repent, in spite of the severity of the judgment. Their hearts are hardened. They are worshippers of idols. They don't want to change their unholy way of life, in spite of the imminent calamity. 

Prayer: Lord, your jugment is formidable, so that I can't even receive death. Lord, help me to fear you and live according to your truth, repenting of my sins everyday. 

Bottom line: Satan, the instigator of the death of mankind 

Revelation 7:1-17 (DB of 14/8/2017)

Monday, August 14th 2017

Revelation 7:1-17

key verse: 17

THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE OF GOD

This word is a kind of intermission between the opening of the six seals and the seven seal. This
part is often misinterpreted by sectarians. But the meaning is important. What is John's vision?

1. 144000 people who precede the crowd (1-12)

There are 4 angels who trap the winds and who trap those who announce the imminent calamity on
the earth. Then the fifth angel appears holding the seal of the living God. He cried to the others not
to touch the earth and the other things until enough names had been marked by the seal. There are
144000 elected people. This number means 12x12x1000 which represents the perfect achievement of
God's will for the future. Or maybe it's the number of the elected people in the past history of the
Israelites. Nothing is certain. But, in the time of God, after them, countless people will be saved. They
will be gathered before God's throne and they will cry to their God: "salvation belongs to our God, and
to the Lamb". Then, all the angels will bow down before the throne and they will worship God "Blessing,

glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be unto our God". Amen !

2. The white robes (13-17)

Those countless people are all dressed in white robes. What does that mean ? says the angel, but the
angel knows it. They are the people who havesurvived the great tribulation. Then, they washed their
robes in the blood of the Lamb, until their robes were fully white. The Lamb of God purifies all the
people by his blood poured on the cross. So, they will worship God day and night, remaining in his
house. God rejoices in them and protects them (15c). They will be delivered from all the calamities of
the earth and they will feel full peace in their souls. Because the crucified Lamb will feed them, he will
quench their thirst and he will take away their sadness. 

Prayer: Lord, you are the crucified Lamb for mankind. Thanks to you, I am saved from my sins and I
am among the worshipping crowd before your throne. Constantly feed me and quench my thirst by
your word. 

Bottom line: the white robe washed by his blood 

JOHN SEES THE SEALED BOOK

Friday August 4th 2017

Revelation 5:1-14

John sees in the celestial vision the sealed book with seven seals. It's a book in which is writen the mystery of the fate of the earth. It is hardly accessible. Who can open it ?

1. The sealed book (1-8)

No one can open this book, so the author cries. Only the One who is worthy will open it. Who is worthy ? An elder says "He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David". He is the Lamb of God seated on the throne, who resembles a sacrifice. He has sacrified his life with his blood, which make him worthy of opening he book. The 4 beings and the 24 elders hold each a harp and a golden cup which is the prayer of the saints. When our prayers are sincere they go up to heaven and are contained in the golden cups of perfume. They make God's work progress toward the end of the times. The Last Judgment will be formidable because the righteous have suffered injustice in the world for a long time.

2. The new hymns (9-14)

The beings before and around the throne sing the new hymns. They praise the sacrified Lamb who is worthy to receive and open the book. Because he has saved by his blood men from all tribes and all languages and made them a kingdom of high priest to reign on the earth. Now they spiritually reign on the earth, then during the millennium they will reign on the earth up to when the new heaven comes. The multitude of the angels sing around the throne for the sacrified Lamb. So all the creatures on the earth and in sea sing in unison to glory, honour and power of the sacrified Lamb. Our Jesus, God's Son, the Lamb is worthy of praise by all mankind, because he has shed his blood on the cross for their salvation. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank your for being the sacrified Lamb for me. Thanks to you, I am saved from calamity. Make me sing to God's Lamb with new hymns. 

Bottom line: the book that only Jesus can open

I AM COMING SOON, HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU HAVE

Wednesday August 2nd 2017

Revelation 3: 7-13

Among the seven churchs, the church of Philadelphia is worthy of receiving our praise and our appreciation because Jesus fully appreciates it. What is their strong point to be worthy as a model of the church ? 

1. He is Holy (7)

Jesus is described with several names: first, he is the Holy One, he that is true. Jesus is the only truth for mankind. Without him there is no truth. He is thrice-holy. He is the one who has David's key, he is the door of salvation. No one comes to the Father except through him. There is no other name on the earth given to mankind by which salvation comes. Jesus has opened this door for the Philadelphians because they kept God's word all the way with perseverance. Those who kept God's word all the way are the most loved by God. God will make them win against the backstabbers who are Satan's synagogue. The persecutors will recognize that they are true and that God loves them.

2. Hold on to the word of perseverance (8-13)

As they keep God's word, Jesus promises to keep them in the end. The hour of trial wil come for all the inhabitants. Those who firmly hold on can survive. They will have the crown of life. which can't be ripped off. God will make the winner a pillar in the temple of God, in the holy city, New Jerusalem. So they will not move, they will be unwavering. They will constantly praise and worship the Lord. The name of God, the name of the new city and the new name of Jesus will be marked on them. 

Prayer: Lord, you are Holy, please make me at all cost keep God's word, so that in the fight against the backstabbers I can win. Make me be marked with your name because of my loyalty before entering God's kingdom. 

Bottom line: be a model like the Philadelphians