Category Archives: Christian

Where do you focus, vengance or praise? (Revelation 19), September 14, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 19

Set – Ezekiel 36; Revelation 19

Go! – Ezekiel 36-37; Psalms 110; Revelation 19

Revelation 19
1 The scene changed. After this, I heard the great sound of a multitude echoing in heaven.
Multitude: Praise the Lord!
Salvation and glory and power truly belong to our God,
2 for true and just are His judgments.
He has judged the great whore
who polluted the entire earth with her sexual immorality,
And He has vindicated the blood of His servants, which she shed.
3 Again praise spilled from heaven.
Multitude: Praise the Lord!
The smoke rises up from her ruins forever and ever.
4 And the twenty-four elders and four living creatures fell on their faces and worshiped God who reigns on the throne.
Four Living Creatures and 24 Elders: Amen, Praise the Lord!
5 A Voice from the Throne: Give praise to our God,
all of you, God’s servants,
All who reverence Him,
small and great.
6 And I heard what seemed to be an immense crowd speaking with one voice—it was like the sound of a roaring waterfall, like the sound of clashing thunder.
Multitude (in unison): Praise the Lord!
For the Lord our God,
the All Powerful, reigns supreme.
7 Now is the time for joy and happiness.
He deserves all the glory we can give Him.
For the wedding feast has begun; the marriage of the Lamb to His bride has commenced,
and His bride has prepared herself for this glorious day.
8 She had been given the finest linens to wear,
linens bright and pure,
woven from the righteous deeds of the saints.
Guide: 9 Write this down: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb.” What I am telling you are the true words of God.
10 At that, I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he refused my praise.
Guide: Stop it. Don’t you see? I am a servant like you and your brothers and sisters, all who hold fast to the testimony of Jesus. Address your worship to God, not to me! For the testimony about Jesus is essentially the prophetic spirit.
11 I looked up and saw that heaven had opened. Suddenly, a white horse appeared. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with righteousness He exercises judgment and wages war. 12 His eyes burn like a flaming fire, and on His head are many crowns. His name was written before the creation of the world, and no one knew it except He Himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name He was known by is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, outfitted in fine linen, white and pure, were following behind Him on white steeds. 15 From His mouth darts a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule over them with a scepter made of iron. He will trample the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God, the All Powerful. 16 And there on His robe and on His thigh was written His name: King of kings and Lord of lords.
17 Then I looked up and saw a messenger standing in the sun; and with a loud voice, he called to all the birds that fly through midheaven.
Heavenly Messenger: Come. Gather for the great feast God is preparing for you 18 where you will feast on the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the rich and powerful, the flesh of horses and their riders—all flesh—both free and slave, both small and great.
19 I looked down, and I saw the beast I had seen earlier and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered together to wage war against the One riding the white horse and His heavenly army. 20 The beast was soon captured along with the false prophet, the earth-beast I had seen earlier who performed signs to deceive those who had agreed to receive the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its detestable image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And all who remained met death at the blade of the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One riding on the white horse. All the birds feasted fully on their flesh.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Which part of what you just heard did you focus on? Was the first thing that came to your mind the rider on the white horse that would come to slay the beast and the kings of the earth? Did you focus on the blade that proceeded from his mouth and the blood that runs in the street at his coming? Or did you focus on the multitude singing praises to Me in heaven? Did you think first about “Praise the Lord! Salvation and glory and power truly belong to our God.”? Did you remember the praise or the in My throne room or the slaughter on the earth? Does that say anything about your focus? Do you want to praise Me more than you want to see Me avenge those who wrong you? Do you want to see salvation for the worst people you can think of? Do you really love your enemies?

I commanded you to love your enemies and do good to those who wrong you, remember? Love like I love, then you’ll focus on the praise instead of the avenger. It’s much more fun and much more productive.

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.

Sheep and shepherds (Ezekiel 34:1-24), September 13, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ezekiel 34:1-24

Set – Ezekiel 34; Revelation 18

Go! – Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

Ezekiel 34:1-24
1 The word of the Eternal came to me with a message for Israel’s leaders.
Eternal One: 2 Son of man, preach against Israel’s shepherds! Speak directly to the shepherds and tell them this is what the Eternal Lord has to say: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel whose only concern is to protect and nourish themselves! Isn’t a shepherd’s job to look after the sheep? 3 Yet you exploit them in every way. You devour their fat, make soft clothes and blankets out of their wool, and slaughter the best sheep for your table. Meanwhile you don’t take care of the sheep at all. 4 You have not sought to nurse the weak. You have not gone out to tend to the sick. You have not bandaged the injured. You don’t bring back the strays or look for the lost. You have led them with neglect, ruled them with harshness, shepherded them with cruelty! 5 They had no real shepherd, so they have scattered; the entire flock was prey for wild beasts. 6 My sheep drifted aimlessly through all the mountains and up and down every hill. My flock was scattered all over the world, scattered like the stars in the night sky, and not a single shepherd went looking for them.”
7 Now pay attention, shepherds, to My word: 8 As surely as I, the Eternal Lord, live, because My sheep are without a shepherd, because they have become prey for all the wild beasts to feed upon, because my shepherds have not gone in search of My sheep but have only looked out for themselves and not watched after and cared for My flock; 9 I encourage you, shepherds, to listen to the word of the Eternal.
10-11 Those self-centered shepherds are My enemies! As far as I am concerned, they are no longer shepherds. They will not help themselves to My sheep any longer. I will recover My flock from those corrupt shepherds. I will snatch My sheep from their mouths! My sheep will no longer provide milk, clothing, or meat to them. I will personally go out searching for My sheep. I will find them wherever they are, and I will look after them. 12 In the same way one shepherd seeks after, cares for, and watches over his scattered flock, so will I be the guardian of My sheep. I will be their Rescuer! No matter where they have scattered, I will go to find them. I will bring them back from the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13-14 I will call them out from the nations, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them in the high mountain pastures and meadows of Israel. I will feed them on good pastures; they will graze on the mountain heights of Israel. They will lie down to rest on this good ground, and they will feed on succulent grasses in bountiful pastures on the slopes of Israel’s sanctuary mountains. 15 I Myself will watch over My sheep and feed My flock. Whenever they are tired, I will lead them to rest on the cool mountain grass. 16 When they are lost, I will seek them and bring back every last stray. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. However, I will destroy the fat and powerful. I will feed them a healthy portion of judgment.
17 As for you, My flock, this is what the Eternal Lord has to say: “Watch carefully! I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and male goats.” 18 Are you not satisfied grazing in blooming pastures, feasting off rich mountain lands? Do you have to trample all of the pastures with your feet? Are you not satisfied drinking out of clear mountain streams? Do you have to muddy all of the mountain streams with your feet? 19 Why should the rest of My flock have to graze on trampled pastures and drink from muddied streams because of your careless feet?
20 So this is what the Eternal Lord has to say to them: “Watch carefully! I will personally judge between the fat sheep and the skinny sheep.” 21 Because you fat sheep bully the weak, push them around, and threaten them with your horns until you scatter them to distant mountains, 22 I will step in and save them. I will rescue them, and they will no longer be hunted and hassled. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will designate one shepherd over the entire flock: My faithful servant, David. He will watch over them and care for them. He will be their shepherd. 24 I, the Eternal, will be their God; and My faithful servant, David, will be their prince.
I, the Eternal One, have spoken.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You can learn much from the metaphor you just heard. The shepherds didn’t do their job and I expelled them. So if you are in a leadership position, remember that I hold you responsible for leading My sheep well. Care for them and nurture them as I command. If you are one of My sheep, remember that you are not privileged and should not take advantage of the blessings I give you. Just because I take care of you doesn’t mean you should trample on others. Remember that I created all humankind. Don’t muddy the water or trample the grass for those that come behind you. Take care to preserve the message of My salvation and share your blessings with those needy around you. Finally, remember there is only one shepherd. Me. I came in the flesh to be your shepherd and care for you. You need look nowhere else to find guidance for your life than to Me. 

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.

God places people in power (Daniel 4:19-37), September 12, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Daniel 4:19-37

Set – Daniel 4; Psalms 81

Go! – Daniel 3-4; Psalms 81; Revelation 17

Daniel 4:19-37
19 As the interpretation of the king’s dream became clear, Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar) became visibly upset for a while. His thoughts troubled him. The king noticed, and he spoke to Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar: Belteshazzar, don’t let my dream or its meaning alarm you. Tell me what you know.
Belteshazzar: My lord, I wish the dream described those who hate you and its meaning concerned the fate of your enemies! 20 The tree you saw in your vision, the one which grew tall and strong so that its top reached up to the sky and could be seen from one end of the earth to the other, 21 the tree whose leaves were beautiful and fruit plentiful and provided sustenance for everyone, the tree under which the wild animals came to rest in the cool shade and in which the birds built their nests on its sturdy branches— 22 that tree is you, O king! You have become great and strong. Your greatness has grown tall and reached the sky; your authority and power extend to the end of the earth. 23 But that is just one part of your dream. The king saw the messenger, the holy watcher of heaven come down from heaven and declare, “Cut down the tree, and destroy it, but leave its stump intact, its roots in the ground, strapped down with iron and bronze, surrounded by the tender grass of the field; let the dew of heaven fall heavy on it every night and make it wet, and let him live among the wild animals off the plants of the earth, until seven times have come and gone.” 24 Here is the interpretation, O king. It is a decree the Most High God has issued against you, my lord and king. 25 You will be driven away from all that is human and live in the company of wild animals; you will be forced to eat grass like oxen, and night after night the dew of heaven will fall on you and make you soaking wet. Seven times will pass until you learn your lesson and acknowledge that it is the Most High God, and no other, who is the true sovereign over all kingdoms on earth, and He grants authority to anyone He wishes. 26 The watcher’s order to leave the stump and roots of the tree intact means that your kingdom will be restored to you when, and only when, you acknowledge that Heaven alone is sovereign over the earth. 27 So, O king, please accept my advice to you. Make a clean break with your sins and invest in what is right. Bring an end to your wicked deeds and show mercy to those you have beaten down. If you do, perhaps your future will be different and your prosperity will continue.
28 But King Nebuchadnezzar forgot Daniel’s advice, so everything Daniel had predicted happened. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was strolling across the roof of his royal palace in Babylon, 30 the king uttered foolish words:
Nebuchadnezzar: Isn’t Babylon a great city? I have built this royal residence from the ground up with my own might and ingenuity to honor my own majesty.
31 The words had scarcely left his lips when another voice thundered from heaven.
Voice: King Nebuchadnezzar, these solemn words are for you. The kingdom has been taken away from you. 32 You will be driven away from all that is human, and you will live in the company of wild animals. You will be forced to eat grass like oxen. Seven times will pass until you learn your lesson and acknowledge that it is the Most High God, and no other, who is the true sovereign over all kingdoms on earth, and He grants authority to anyone He wishes.
33 Instantly the heavenly decree against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from all that is human and began to eat grass as oxen do. The dew of heaven fell and drenched his body. In time his hair grew as long as the feathers on an eagle and his nails grew long and curved back on his hand like the claws of a bird.
Message: 34 When these days of exile came to an end, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven and came to my senses. I blessed the Most High God and praised and gave glory to the One who lives eternally:
“His reign will endure forever;
His kingdom will last from generation to generation.
35 Among all the people of the earth,
there are none who compare.
He does as He wishes with the armies of heaven
and those who live on earth.
No one can stop His hand from acting;
no one dares to ask, ‘What have You done?’”
36 It was in that moment that I came to my senses. Soon my honor and splendor were restored as Daniel predicted, and the former glory of my kingdom returned. Those who had served me before, my advisors and officials, sought me and returned me to the throne of Babylon. In time my kingdom and power grew even greater than it was before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, acknowledge the true King of heaven. I praise, lift up, and glorify Him because all He does is true, all His ways are just, and He is able to cut down those who strut about in their pride.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Many like Nebuchadnezzar assume their power and position comes because of their own greatness. They couldn’t be further from the truth. Every leader has their place only because I allow it. I give promotions and I take them. I put people into power and I can remove them. Nebuchadnezzar forgot that most important piece of information even after Daniel reminded him as an interpretation of the dream I gave him.

Nebuchadnezzar found out quickly how dangerous taking credit for my work can become. He found himself living in the wild, eating grass, acting and looking more like an animal than a man. Those who refuse to acknowledge My handiwork in their lives often appear the same to Me because I look at your heart, not at your outward appearance. All of the rhetoric about giving in to your natural instincts and succumbing to your base desires makes you no better than Nebuchadnezzar when I banished him to the fields.

I made you to rise above the other animals of the fields, though. I made you with a moral choice. You do not need to lower yourself to the level of the animals of the field. You are human. My highest creation. You can live the way I want you to live…with My help. Choose to be the human I made you to be. Rise above the base wickedness Satan would pull you into with his lies.

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.

God never fails (Daniel 2:24-44) September 11, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Daniel 2:24-44

Set -Daniel 2; Revelation 16

Go! – Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

Daniel 2:24-44
24 So Daniel went back to Arioch, the officer charged with rounding up and executing all the wise men in Babylon, and tried to stop him.
Daniel: Stop what you are doing. It is not necessary to execute the wise men of Babylon. Instead, take me to the king, and I will tell him what the dream means.
25 Arioch did not waste any time in bringing Daniel before the king.
Arioch (to Nebuchadnezzar): Mighty king, I have found a man from among the exiles from Judah who says he is able to tell the king what the dream means.
26 The king turned to Daniel, who you remember had been given the Babylonian name, Belteshazzar.
Nebuchadnezzar: So, Belteshazzar, are you able to tell me what I dreamed and what it all means?
Daniel: 27 The Chaldeans were correct. There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or sorcerers in all the world who are able to reveal the mystery the king requested. 28 But there is a God in heaven who can reveal such mysteries. The dream you dreamed and the visions you saw, King Nebuchadnezzar, unveil the future and disclose what will happen at the end of the age. Now I will tell you what you dreamed and the visions you saw as you slept in your bed.
29 Good king, as you lay in your bed that night, thoughts about the future sprang up in your mind, and the revealer of all mysteries unveiled to you what is going to happen. 30 I am here today, not because I have greater wisdom than any other in the land, but because God in His wisdom has revealed this mystery to me. It is God’s plan that the king knows the meaning of this dream and understands the thoughts that raced through your mind.
Daniel: 31 In your dream, you were looking, O king, and suddenly a great statue of what appeared to be a man stood before you. It was enormous in size, shining bright as the sun at midday. Its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of the statue was fashioned of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its trunk and thighs of bronze, 33 its calves of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you were watching, a special stone was quarried and cut, but not by human hands. The divinely hewn stone began to move; it struck the statue on its iron and clay feet and smashed them to pieces. 35 Suddenly the entire statue collapsed—its iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were all broken into pieces and turned to dust, like the chaff carried away by the wind from the threshing floors in summer. Soon not a trace of the statue was left. But the divinely hewn stone that struck the statue became a mountain that filled the whole earth. 36 That, good king, was your dream.
If you allow, we will now tell you what it all means. 37 You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has conferred upon you the kingdom you now rule, along with the power and strength and glory to subdue it. 38 He has placed all people everywhere and all the beasts that roam the fields and all the birds that fly in the sky under your control. He has made you ruler over them all: you are the head of gold. 39 After your reign is over, another kingdom will rise, but its glory will never match yours. This lesser kingdom is the chest and arms of silver. When that kingdom has come and gone, a third and even less majestic empire will rise, which will rule over the whole earth. This kingdom is the trunk and thighs of bronze. 40 Then, when those days are past, a fourth kingdom will come to power with the strength of iron, though lacking in grandeur. Just as iron breaks and shatters everything, so this kingdom will break and shatter all these former realms. 41-42 But as you saw in your vision, this kingdom will be divided, with feet and toes made of both clay and iron. The strength of iron runs through it, but as the toes are made partly of iron and partly of clay, the kingdom, too, will be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 Your dream envisions that this kingdom of iron mixed with clay will be of peoples mixed but not united, the kingdoms joined in the bonds of marriage but not true allies, for iron and clay form no alloy.
44 In the days when these kings of iron and clay reign, the God of heaven will set up another kingdom, a kingdom that can never be destroyed, a kingdom that will never be ruled by others. It will crush all the other kingdoms and bring them to an end. This kingdom will last forever.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. I gave it to him to tell him what the future held for him and his descendants. I also used it to let him know wisdom doesn’t lie within the hearts and heads of men, but within Me. When Daniel came to Nebuchadnezzar with the knowledge of the dream and its interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar assumed the knowledge came from within Daniel. Daniel set him straight.

He said, “There is a God in heaven…” Daniel knew Me and knew My wisdom. He had relied on Me before. Daniel knew I wouldn’t fail him. I won’t fail you either if you will tune your ears and your mind to Mine. Get into My word and listen to My voice. Then obey My commands and you will find I won’t fail you when you need Me. 

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.

All will bow (Revelation 15), September 10, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 15

Set – Lamentations 3; Revelation 15

Go! – Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

Revelation 15
1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing: seven messengers with seven plagues—plagues that marked the end. With these the wrath of God reached its end.
2 And then I saw something like a sea made of glass mixed with fire flashing through it. Those who had been victorious over the beast, its image, and the number of its name were standing on the sea of glass, holding the harps of God in their hands. 3 As they stand and play their harps, they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.
Victors: Great and amazing are Your works,
Lord God, the All Powerful.
Right and true are Your ways,
King of all nations.
4 Who will not fear You, Lord?
Who will not glorify Your name?
Because You alone are holy,
all the nations will come
and worship before You,
For Your righteous judgments have been revealed.
5 After I had taken all this in, I looked again; and the inner part of the tabernacle of witness opened in heaven. 6 Out of the temple came seven messengers, clothed in pure linen, bright and shining, their chests clad in a golden sash, carrying seven plagues. 7 Then one of the four living creatures stepped over to give to the seven messengers seven golden bowls brimming with the wrath of God who lives throughout the ages. 8 The temple was full of the smoke billowing from the magnificent glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers accomplished their God-ordained end.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Before the great day of My judgment, the victors over sin, those believing in the blood I shed for your forgiveness, will sing a song of praise to Me. It is an old song that reverberates through the heavens from the mouths of all who have known My saving grace.

“Who will not fear you, Lord? Who will not glorify your name? Because You alone are holy, all the nations will come and worship before You.” Of course, after My plagues descend on the earth and the wicked feel My wrath, they too will know that I am holy and all nations will begivn to fall at My feet. Still many will fail to worship Me. Many will still wallow in their sins and selfishness and think they know better than Me. They will curse Me and cry out thinking their punishment isn’t deserved.

But I am a holy God and before anyone can come into My presence, their sins must be washed away by the blood of My sacrifice. Many will think it foolish and refuse. Many will continue to follow their sinful ways and die. Many will refuse to accept Me to their own eternal destruction. My mercy and grace has stayed My hand of wrath for centuries, but I will not hold it back forever. It will come. I have told you and I always keep My promises.

I long to see you among that throng of victors singing the song of Moses, a song of victory and praise. At judgment, many will bow to Me as Lord and Savior. The rest will bow to Me as Judge and Executioner. Be in the first group instead of the second. All will bow to Me. It’s your choice to make as to which group you will belong to. Choose the right one. 

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.

What kind of book is Revelation (Revelation 14:6-20), September 9, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 14:6-20

Set – Lamentations 2; Revelation 14

Go! – Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

Revelation 14:6-20
6 I saw another messenger flying through midheaven. He carried an eternal gospel, bringing good news to all the citizens of the earth—every ethnicity, nation, language, and people.
Heavenly Messenger (with a loud voice): 7 Fear God. Give Him glory, for the time of judgment has arrived. Worship the One who fashioned heaven and earth and created the seas and the springs.
8 Another messenger, a second, came along.
Second Messenger: Fallen, fallen is Babylon, the great city! She has intoxicated all the nations with the wine of the wrath of her sexual perversion.
9 Another messenger, a third, followed.
Third Messenger (with a loud voice): Those who worship the beast and its image, and all who receive its mark on their foreheads or on their hands, 10 will be forced to drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured out undiluted into the cup of God’s anger. And they will face the torment of fire and the agony of sulfurous flames before the holy messengers and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise throughout the ages for eternity. Day and night will come and go without pause or cessation. There will be no end to the torture experienced by those who worship the beast and its image and by those who receive the mark of its name.
12 Here is the patient endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and remain faithful to Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice call out from heaven.
A Voice: Record this: “Blessed are the dead who have died in the Lord from now until the end.”
Spirit: Yes, they will rest from their labors because their deeds remain with them.
14 Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, a golden wreath atop His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 Another messenger proceeded from the temple and called with a loud voice to the One who sat on the cloud.
Heavenly Messenger: Take Your sickle and reap the harvest, because the harvest of the earth is full and ripe and because the time to harvest has come.
16 Then the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth gave up its harvest.
17 Just then another messenger proceeded out of the heavenly temple. He also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another messenger (the one with authority over fire) came out from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle.
Messenger of Fire: Take your sharp sickle and gather together the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for the grapes are ripe and ready for harvest.
19 So the heavenly messenger swung his sickle over the earth, gathered the fruit of the vine from the earth, and threw it into the great winepress, which is the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside of the city, and blood flowed from the winepress. The blood ran deep. It reached as high as the bridle on a horse and ran for the distance of about 185 miles.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

For centuries men have tried to unravel the mysteries of the end times. When will I return to take My children to be with Me through eternity? When will I finally pour out My wrath and avenge the evil prosecuted against those who bear My name? How long will I stand by and watch the evil in this world continue before I call an end to it all and call My faithful home? You read Revelation and see the punishments and the wrath and want it to come to join Me soon.

Many see Revelation as a vision of My wrath and fury, of final judgment against the evil of the world. They recite the judgments, the plagues, the battles that John relates in the visions I should him during his exile on the Isle of Patmos. But the book is so much more than a recitation of My judgments. Look deep into its verses.

Even in what you heard today, the book is filled with recognition of who I am. John acknowledges Me as the one True God, worthy of blessings and honor and glory. The Holy One who will provide rest for those who labor justly and rightly in this world. I am the One who avenges those abused by evil men. John’s Revelation has much to say about My wrath, vengance, and the devastation that will lay waste the world at the end of time. It also has much to say about the glory I will receive, the praises I you will sing, and the wonders of heaven you will enjoy. It is a book of mystery and worship.

Read it with the praise of My people in mind the next time you pick it up.

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.

Korah knows Jerusalem’s strength (Psalm 48), September 8, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 48

Set – Psalms 48; Revelation 13

Go! – Jeremiah 42-44; Psalms 48; Revelation 13

Psalms 48
1 The Eternal is great and mighty, worthy of great praise
in the city of our True God, upon His holy mountain.
2 Situated high above, Mount Zion is beautiful to see,
the pleasure of the entire earth.
Mount Zion, in the north,
is the city of the great King.
3 In her palaces, the True God
has revealed Himself as a mighty fortress.
4 Not long ago, enemy kings gathered together
and moved forward as one to attack the city.
5 When they saw Mount Zion, they were amazed;
amazement became fear, then panic. They fled for their lives.
6 They were overtaken by terror, trembling in anguish
like a woman in childbirth.
7 God, You shattered the ships of Tarshish
with the mighty east wind.
8 As we have heard stories of Your greatness,
now we have also seen it with our own eyes
right here, in the city of the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly armies.
Right here, in our God’s city,
the True God will preserve her forever.
9 We have meditated upon Your loyal love, O God,
within Your holy temple.
10 Just as Your name reaches to the ends of the earth, O God,
so Your praise flows there too;
Your right hand holds justice.
11 So because of Your judgments,
may Mount Zion be delighted!
May the villages of Judah celebrate!
12 Explore Zion; make an accounting,
note all her towers;
13 Reflect upon her defenses;
stroll through her palaces
So that you can tell the coming generation all about her.
14 For so is God,
our True God, forever and ever;
He will be our guide till the end.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

My city. Zion. The City of God. Jerusalem. The place goes by many names, but I know it as My home on earth. The place where My Temple resided for centuries. It was the capital of My chosen people. The place I established the religion that I wanted to share My message of hope and grace. Unfortunately, My people became self-absorbed and wanted a human king like all the nations around them instead of the theocracy under which I wanted to rule them.

Under the kingship of many who failed to follow Me completely, My people no longer worshiped Me but instead worshiped the material things around them. They began to think their city more important than Me. Their material luxuries became their goal and their military prowess grew to expand their borders rather than being content with the land I gave them and the riches I placed in their hands and their hearts.

Korah sang about the strength and power of the city. Those who came after Korah forgot that its power rested solely in Me. When Nebuchannezar’s forces destroyed it and turned it to rubble, they learned a terrible lesson. All who think their power rests in the instruments and strength of man find they put their faith in the wrong thing. Nothing can stand against Me. Nor can anything stand in the way of My plans. I can heal and I can destroy, but My greatest desire is to have you follow Me.

Satan tries to tell you that your power lies within you. He tries to disguise My protection and My good gifts as his own or tell you it comes from your strength and wisdom. It does not! You can do nothing apart from Me. After all, I’m the one who gives you breath. I’m the one who allows your heart to beat each beat in rhythm. How would you accomplish anything if suddenly I decided to strip the air from the earth? What would your focus become if suddenly your heart stopped beating?

So much of what society then and now focus on is temporal. It doesn’t last. Even the ancient city of Jerusalem crumbled to nothing and has been built upon century after century. Acheologists find ruins of the old city, but most of what was there when I gave it to My people in the years of the birth of the nation crumbled to dust. What is left are long faded memories of people long dead. The only things that really last are the intangibles of life, the relationship you have with Me and those who follow Me.

I only include the group of those who follow Me as relationships that will last because in the final judgment, if banished to an eternity without Me, you will find yourself in an eternity alone. An immortal soul longing for companionship but unable to find anyone to console you. You will be isolated from Me and so isolated from those who live with Me. You’ll also be removed from any love. Completely isolated. Completely alone. I didn’t create humankind to be alone. I created you with the need for relationships. The worst part of hell will be the isolation you feel from every other person.

Don’t pay the price by failing to listen to My voice and following Me. You can choose to believe My word and obey My voice. I want you with Me. Make the right choice.

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.

Speak up! (Revelation 12), September 7, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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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.

God’s witnesses are always here (Revelation 11:1-14), September 6, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 11:1-14

Set – Ezekiel 31; Revelation 11

Go! – Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

Revelation 11:1-14
1 Then I received a measuring rod. It resembled a staff, and I was commanded to take measurements.
A Voice: Get up, and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 However, do not measure the court outside of the temple. Separate that area out because it has been handed over to the nations. They will trample over the holy city for 42 months. 3 I will authorize my two witnesses to prophesy for 1,260 days dressed in sackcloth, the clothes that mourners wear.
4 These two witnesses are the two olive trees and two lampstands standing in front of the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone wishes to harm the witnesses, fire spews out of the witnesses’ mouths and consumes their foe in flames. Anyone who wishes to harm them is destined to die this way. 6 They have the authority to shut up the sky so that no rain may fall during the time of their prophecies. They also have authority to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with any plague whenever they desire.
7 On the day they finish their testimony, the beast from the abyss will declare war on them and win victory by killing them. 8 Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city (which, spiritually speaking, is called Sodom and Egypt) where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days, representatives of the peoples and ethnicities, languages and nations stare down at their lifeless bodies and refuse them a proper burial. 10 Because these two prophets tormented the earth dwellers by speaking God’s message, the people will rejoice over their dead bodies and celebrate their deaths by exchanging gifts with one another.
11 At the end of the three and a half days, the spirit of life that comes from God entered their corpses, raising them, and they stood again on their feet. Those who looked on were terrified by what they saw. 12 Then they heard a great voice from heaven.
A Voice: Come up here!
Their enemies watched the spectacle as the witnesses ascended into heaven in a cloud.
13 In that same hour, a great earthquake shook the earth causing one-tenth of the city to crumble into dust, and 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. Then the rest who were left alive, quaking in fear, turned and glorified the God of heaven.
14 The second disaster has passed; watch as the third disaster comes quickly.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

My prophet Isaiah wrote these words as I inspired him. “So it is when I declare something. My word will go out and not return to Me empty, But it will do what I wanted; it will accomplish what I determined.” I send My prophets out to declare My word. Despite humanity’s efforts to stop it, those efforts always fail. My word will always create the results I want. People will hear My message. They will know what I want them to hear.

Throughout the ages My prophets have been ridiculed, beaten, stoned, shunned, executed, crucified, martyred, misused, misunderstood. They have taken abuse at every turn. They have been ignored and people have tried to discount the message they spoke on My behalf. I have always had witnesses and prophets speaking on My behalf. Even at the end of the age I will send two witnesses to speak My truth to those that remain to give them the message of salvation and try to win them back to Me.

John saw the vision of the end times that during the time My witnesses return to declare My message there will be few that heed their warnings. They will declare the truth of My word and call all nations to repentance, but as with the prophets before them, most will ridicule them, hurl insults at them, and try to destroy their message. In fact, some will try to destroy My witnesses, but those that try will only serve to destroy themselves. Until they have accomplished the mission I gave them to do, they will have My hand of protection on them and no one will harm them.

Then they will die at the hands of evil men. But like My resurrection 2000 years ago, they will find life filling them again three days later and will ascend on clouds of glory in the sight of those who killed them. No one will be able to explain their resurrection and ascension except as by the power of God and many will fall on their face in recognition of My position as God of all creation.

To the very end My desire will always work to bring men back to My saving grace. You have the choice to believe in Me, to follow My commands, or not. Make the right choice before it’s too late. 

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.

Avoid the coming wrath (Revelation 10), September 5, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 10

Set – Ezekiel 28; Revelation 10

Go! – Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

Revelation 10
1 Then I saw another extremely powerful messenger descending out of heaven. He wore a cloud wrapped around him, and a rainbow was covering his head. His face shone like the sun, and his legs blazed like columns of fire. 2 In his hand, he held a little scroll that had been unrolled. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on dry land; 3 then he shouted with a voice that sounded like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders answered with their own rumbling voices. 4 As I was about to record the thunders’ answer, a voice from heaven stopped me.
A Voice: Seal up all the seven thunders have spoken; do not write it down!
5 Then the messenger, whom I saw standing on the sea and on the dry land, raised his right hand into heaven 6 and swore an oath to the Eternal One—who always lives, who created heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them.
Heavenly Messenger: Time has run out. 7 Whenever the days arrive and the seventh messenger sounds his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished just as He announced to His servants, the prophets.
8 Again, the voice I heard from heaven addressed me.
A Voice: Go. Take the little scroll that is unrolled in the hand of the messenger standing both on the sea and on the dry land.
9 I then went to the messenger and asked him to give me the little scroll.
Heavenly Messenger: Take it, and eat it. Although in your mouth it will be sweet to taste, sweet as honey, it will become bitter when it reaches your stomach.
10 I took the little scroll from the hand of the messenger and ate it. In my mouth, it was sweet like honey, but my stomach became bitter after I swallowed it.
Heavenly Messengers (repeating): 11 Once again, you are to prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I gave John a most difficult task. Many of the things he saw as I showed him how the future would unfold were more than he could take. He describes how it took the touch of My angels to give him the strengths to continue at times. He saw the glories of heaven that overwhelmed his senses with indescribles scenes. He wrote the letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor describing the conditions of the eras of the ages that would come before My coming again.

John saw the pouring out of My wrath on the unsuspecting masses of humanity that failed to call Me Lord. The plagues and punishment that came to humankind because of their apostacy was beyond the measure of his understanding as he watched in horror. Nothing could stop the movement of My armies as they marched across the world to do My bidding in the destruction of those who failed to follow Me.

John was known as the disciple who loved and to see the mass destruction of so many because of their failure to listen and follow the pleas of My prophets was traumatic for him. But he also understood the cause of the punishment and destruction as he saw My holiness and the glory of My presence. John understood why things will unfold as they would, but like Me, he felt the pain of the judgment that would fall upon humankind.

He heard the messenger’s words and the answer of seven spirits that sounded like thunder, but the words were too ominous to write down. They will complete the mystery that voices the sounding of the seventh and final trumpet that heralds the end of time. Words you do not want to hear because the outpouring of My final wrath will be more than those who remain can endure. The wailing and gnashing of teeth discribed in the scriptures only begins to touch on the torment the souls of those lost to Me will endure.

My words are still true. My prophecies still come true. My salvation is still available to all who will accept it, though. All you need to do to escape the coming wrath is believe in Me for salvation and follow the commands I give you. My commands are not burdensome. They just ask you to give Me Lordship, control, ownership of your life. I ask you to let Me remove the selfishness from the core of your self and replace it with love for Me. 

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.