Reading
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Truth for Today
Despite all the terrifying judgments, which by this time all people will acknowledge to be from God, and the worldwide preaching of the gospel (Matthew 24:14) by the 144,000 and others, people will still refuse to believe. It seems incredible that, having experienced the fury of God's judgment and having heard the message of salvation, people will stubbornly cling to their sin. But the sad truth is that "...that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (John 3:19-20).
The unbelieving world rejected Jesus when He came, it rejects the life-giving message of the gospel now, and it will continue to reject the truth during the future outpouring of God's wrath and judgment. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (Hebrews 10:26-27).
Reflecting on the Text
1. What gives you hope, knowing that so great a judgment of God will come in the future?
2. The merchants and businessmen served money as their god, and they lost everything in these heavenly scenes of destruction. How can you be a wise steward of the money with which God has entrusted you, without becoming caught up in the "materialistic Babylonian spirit" that permeates contemporary culture?
3. If the current world system is doomed and destined for destruction, what practical steps can you take to make sure you and your family can live "in the world" and not become ensnared by its values?
Friday, April 10, 2009
Destruction and Devastation! - Part 5 - Devo for 04/10/2009
Reading
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Going Deeper
The book of Daniel records several visions of the end times. The king of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar, asked Daniel to interpret a dream he had about an image of gold with feet of clay that was broken in pieces by a stone. Read Daniel 2:36-45.
Exploring the Meaning
1. What will happen to Nebuchadnezzar's powerful Babylonian kingdom?
(Verses to consider: Daniel 5:30-31)
2. What insight does Daniel's vision give to the meaning of the beast and the seven kings in Revelation 17:3, 8-16?
3. How does Daniel describe God's ultimate kingdom (v. 44)?
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Going Deeper
The book of Daniel records several visions of the end times. The king of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar, asked Daniel to interpret a dream he had about an image of gold with feet of clay that was broken in pieces by a stone. Read Daniel 2:36-45.
Exploring the Meaning
1. What will happen to Nebuchadnezzar's powerful Babylonian kingdom?
(Verses to consider: Daniel 5:30-31)
2. What insight does Daniel's vision give to the meaning of the beast and the seven kings in Revelation 17:3, 8-16?
3. How does Daniel describe God's ultimate kingdom (v. 44)?
Destruction and Devastation! - Part 4 - Devo for 04/09/2009
Reading
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Questions
1. How do the kings and merchants respond upon hearing the news of Babylon's destruction in chapter 18? In what did they have their security?
2. What is God's message to His own people in chapter 18?
(Verses to consider: Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 50:8; 51:6-9, 45; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 John 2:15)
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Questions
1. How do the kings and merchants respond upon hearing the news of Babylon's destruction in chapter 18? In what did they have their security?
2. What is God's message to His own people in chapter 18?
(Verses to consider: Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 50:8; 51:6-9, 45; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 John 2:15)
Destruction and Devastation! - Part 3 - Devo for 04/08/2009
Reading
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Questions
1. The scene in chapter 17 opens with the image of a harlot. What does it mean to commit spiritual adultery?
(Verses to consider: Jeremiah 3:6-9; Ezekiel 16:30; 20:30; Hosea 4:15; 5:3; 6:10; 9:1)
2. What title did John see written on the harlot's forehead and what does it mean?
3. List all the images of final destruction that you find in these chapters.
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Questions
1. The scene in chapter 17 opens with the image of a harlot. What does it mean to commit spiritual adultery?
(Verses to consider: Jeremiah 3:6-9; Ezekiel 16:30; 20:30; Hosea 4:15; 5:3; 6:10; 9:1)
2. What title did John see written on the harlot's forehead and what does it mean?
3. List all the images of final destruction that you find in these chapters.
Destruction and Devastation! - Part 2 - Devo for 04/07/2009
Reading
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Keys to the Text
Babylon: In the book of Revelation this name refers to the entire worldwide political, economic, and religious kingdom of Antichrist (see Revelation 16:17-19 for details of its fall), not to a real city in John's time. The original city of Babylon was the birthplace of idolatry where the residents built the tower of Babel, a monument to rebelliousness and false religion. Such idolatry was subsequently spread when God confounded humanity's language and scattered them around the world (see Genesis 11:1-9). This passage pictures Babylon causing the world to become intoxicated with her pleasures and enter with excessive indulgence into rebellion, hatred, and idolatry toward God. "Fornication" means spiritual prostitution to the Antichrist's false system.
1. What are some towers of idolatry in your life?
2. How has God had to work in your life to get rid of these things?
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Keys to the Text
Babylon: In the book of Revelation this name refers to the entire worldwide political, economic, and religious kingdom of Antichrist (see Revelation 16:17-19 for details of its fall), not to a real city in John's time. The original city of Babylon was the birthplace of idolatry where the residents built the tower of Babel, a monument to rebelliousness and false religion. Such idolatry was subsequently spread when God confounded humanity's language and scattered them around the world (see Genesis 11:1-9). This passage pictures Babylon causing the world to become intoxicated with her pleasures and enter with excessive indulgence into rebellion, hatred, and idolatry toward God. "Fornication" means spiritual prostitution to the Antichrist's false system.
1. What are some towers of idolatry in your life?
2. How has God had to work in your life to get rid of these things?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Destruction and Devastation! - Part 1 - Devo for 04/06/2009
Reading
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Drawing Near
1. Thinking about the reality of evil helps open our eyes to see the very real spiritual battle we are engaged in every day. What evidences of this spiritual battle have you seen lately in your life?
2. What resources have been most helpful to you in fighting the good fight?
The Context
Revelation reminds us that there is a cosmic battle going on now and will be going on in the future. No one can be neutral. Each of us is either part of the domain of darkness or part of the kingdom of God. As we yield to one sphere or the other, we become the companions of God or the companions of Satan. To doubt this reality is the gravest mistake any of us can make, because making the wrong choice results in eternal disaster.
God offers all people the life-giving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan and the forces of hell lure people to their destruction by dangling before them the "passing pleasures of sin" (Hebrews 11:25). There is coming a day when the siren call of hell will be so loud as to be all but irresistible. This passage tells us that people of that time will ignore the repeated powerful preaching of the gospel and the warnings conveyed by the terrifying judgments from God. Having rejected all offers of grace and mercy, they will see death come upon mankind on a scale unprecedented in human history. Yet even then they will not repent; in fact they will curse God. People at that time will have made the irrevocable choice to side with the forces of hell.
This section (chapters 17-18) reveals the dark destiny of this satanic kingdom - called by the symbolic name "Babylon" - and the beast who leads it. We see God's judgment on religious Babylon - the evil "religious" system of the end times, and the destruction of the beast's vast economic and political system.
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Drawing Near
1. Thinking about the reality of evil helps open our eyes to see the very real spiritual battle we are engaged in every day. What evidences of this spiritual battle have you seen lately in your life?
2. What resources have been most helpful to you in fighting the good fight?
The Context
Revelation reminds us that there is a cosmic battle going on now and will be going on in the future. No one can be neutral. Each of us is either part of the domain of darkness or part of the kingdom of God. As we yield to one sphere or the other, we become the companions of God or the companions of Satan. To doubt this reality is the gravest mistake any of us can make, because making the wrong choice results in eternal disaster.
God offers all people the life-giving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan and the forces of hell lure people to their destruction by dangling before them the "passing pleasures of sin" (Hebrews 11:25). There is coming a day when the siren call of hell will be so loud as to be all but irresistible. This passage tells us that people of that time will ignore the repeated powerful preaching of the gospel and the warnings conveyed by the terrifying judgments from God. Having rejected all offers of grace and mercy, they will see death come upon mankind on a scale unprecedented in human history. Yet even then they will not repent; in fact they will curse God. People at that time will have made the irrevocable choice to side with the forces of hell.
This section (chapters 17-18) reveals the dark destiny of this satanic kingdom - called by the symbolic name "Babylon" - and the beast who leads it. We see God's judgment on religious Babylon - the evil "religious" system of the end times, and the destruction of the beast's vast economic and political system.
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