Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Revelation 12
Set – 2 Chronicles 36; Revelation 12
Go! – 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12
Revelation 12
1 As I looked, a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman came into view clothed in the radiance of the sun, standing with the moon under her feet, and she was crowned with a wreath of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was painfully pregnant and was crying out in the agony of labor. 3 Then a second sign appeared in heaven, ominous, foreboding: a great red dragon, with seven crowned heads and ten horns. 4 The dragon’s tail brushed one-third of the stars from the sky and hurled them down to the earth. The dragon crouched in front of the laboring woman, waiting to devour her child the moment it was born.
5 She gave birth to a male child, who is destined to rule the nations with an iron scepter. Before the dragon could bite and devour her son, the child was whisked away and brought to God and His throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place of refuge and safety where she could find sustenance for 1,260 days.
7 A battle broke out in heaven. Michael, along with his heavenly messengers, clashed against the dragon. The dragon and his messengers returned the fight, 8 but they did not prevail and were defeated. As a result, there was no place left for them in heaven. 9 So the great dragon, that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was cast down to the earth along with his messengers. 10 Then I heard a great voice in heaven.
A Voice: Now the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Anointed One have come.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who relentlessly accuses them day and night before our God,
has been cast down and silenced.
11 By the blood of the Lamb
and the word of their witnesses,
they have become victorious over him,
For they did not hold on to their lives, even under threat of death.
12 Therefore, rejoice, all you heavens;
celebrate, all you who live in them.
But disaster will befall the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to your spheres,
And he is incredibly angry
because he knows his time is nearly over.
13 When the dragon realized he had been cast down to the earth, he pursued the mother of the male infant. 14 In order to escape the serpent, she was given the two wings of the great eagle to fly deeper into the wilderness to her own special place where she would find sustenance for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a raging river that chased after the woman, trying to sweep her away in the flood. 16 But the earth came to her rescue. It opened its gaping mouth and swallowed the river that spewed from the dragon’s mouth. 17 As a result, the dragon was enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children—those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus.
18 And the dragon stood waiting on the sand of the seashore.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
Satan is already defeated. He doesn’t want to admit it, but it is true nonetheless. John saw his ultimate defeat in the vision I gave him of the end times as Satan tried to devour the newborn child, then Michael and his cohorts defeated Satan and his forces. The defeated Satan and his forces fell to earth in a last attempt to devour My children.
An important point I want you to hear from Satan’s defeat attests to the method used for this victory over him. Listen again. “A Voice: Now the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Anointed One have come.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who relentlessly accuses them day and night before our God,
has been cast down and silenced.
By the blood of the Lamb
and the word of their witnesses,
they have become victorious over him,
For they did not hold on to their lives, even under threat of death.”
You see, it was the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witnesses that defeated him. Speaking about what I have done on your behalf. Proclaiming My salvation to you and My Spirit living in you defeats the evil one and keeps him at bay. With Me in your life, he cannot overcome you because I have already defeated him.
This is the secret to abundant living now. Don’t hold onto your life, give it to Me. Trust Me with all of you, even your life. Trust in the saving power of My blood, shed for you on the cross. Then boldly share your faith with others. As I prompt you to speak with someone, just do it. I will give you the words. Just take the first step. Don’t be silent. Your witness defeats Satan and his forces. Your salvation and that of others is at stake. When I prompt you, speak up. You won’t be sorry.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.