"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.

Malachi 2:17-3:5

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. Malachi 3:1-3

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book as my focus remains Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. Today my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Malachi 2:17-3:5. The commentary emphasizes the main idea is one where God's people question Him whether He is a God of justice as they perceive His delight in wickedness (3:17).  God of course, in the same verse, shares how He is annoyed and frustrated by such a perception.  The commentary then shares how he will send His messenger (Christ) to "purify the priesthood and judge Israel."  Here are excerpts from the following divisions provided for the text:

• Israel Accuses God of Injustice for Allowing the Wicked to Prosper (2:17): "Basically, the people are becoming impatient with the rampant immorality and the political corruption in Israel. They say, in essence, “God, why are you making the wicked prosper? Do you find joy in their transgressions? Where is your justice?"  Of course, believers should understand that God alone is judge and His justice both perfect and in His time (see also Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35). Believers should also be careful in accusing God of lacking justice because we all sin and the wages of sin are death so Israel would have been justifiably wiped out if God was not a God of grace and love and patience with Israel's questioning.    
  
• God Defends His Justice, Promising Vindication through His Appointed Messenger (3:1): Christ is described as God's Messenger: "So, who is the approaching “Messenger of the covenant?” He is the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, God incarnate. Jesus’ entry into the temple precincts during the week of His passion is the fulfillment of this prophecy. John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord by summoning the people of Israel to repentance. With the scene set, God, in the form of man, enters His temple and evaluates His people."  The text alludes to Christ's judgement of how in the temple He judged the money-changers in the temple (see also Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-47, John 2:14-16).  
  
• God’s Promised Vindication Begins with the Purification of Israel’s Priestly Leadership (3:2-3): God's people are molded into His image, often through trials and suffering - see also Hebrews 12:5-6, 11, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).  Although Malachi's messages was intended primarily for the priesthood, we as believers are also urged to examine our own lives for sin and to assess our spiritual condition. The commentary shares: "praise God for purging us through suffering. The goal of God is to conform us into the image of His Son. It is not to make us happy. It is not to keep us healthy. It is not to make us wealthy. It is to conform us into the image of His Son (see also Romans 8:29)."  
  
• God’s Promised Vindication Culminates with the Judgment of His People Israel (3:4-5):  God makes explicit how He will judge all, not just the priesthood.  The commentary shares: "the fear of the Lord preserves us for the Day of Judgment. It teaches us to live in light of God’s grace and mercy. Without this proper fear, we are prone to forget the radical nature of the good news of the gospel and to wander from our covenant God. If we lack fear, we may be judged through fire to be lacking worth, showing that we had never truly surrendered to God in the first place." 
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for providing scripture to help reveal sin in my life.  I want to please honor and glorify You.  You are worthy!  I, on the other than, remain broken and sinful, and undeserving of my salvation and grace - which You pour out daily.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for the grace You pour out daily that never ceases.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.

Malachi 2:17-3:5

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. Malachi 3:1-3

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book as my focus remains Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. Today my focus is an unassisted review of Malachi 2:17-3:5.  Here God continues to deliver words of admonishment to His people who have offered imperfect sacrifices (priesthood), who treat each other poorly and who is faithless in marriages. Now in 2:1-2 God speaks rhetorically to His people who are questioning why He is angry with them - as Israel demonstrates a remarkable lack of self-awareness of their sin, which for any reasonable observer would be clear about such sin.  Then God in vv1-5 shares how He is returning, including a reference to how God will send His Son Jesus as a messenger, and how ultimately Jesus will be coming again in the final days and this will be a difficult time for those who do not believe to endure His wrath.  God refers to how He is a refiner's fire and how He molds us into His image, often through trials and suffering.  As we become more like Him, our lives will be pleasing to Him. Believers lives should reflect love and reverent fear of God and also reflect Jesus in our love of others - otherwise we will be tossed aside and into the fire of judgement during the final days.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who molds me into more of Your image, demonstrating incredible grace and patience.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace and certainly not my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind an love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message to me today and every day.

On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land.

Zechariah 9:14-17

On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. Zechariah 9:16

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 9:14-17, which the commentary outlines as the third of three divisions for the text 9:1-9:17 (9:1-8, 9-13, 14-17).  Here, building on the previous division (see yesterday and previous day) that includes one of scripture's most well known messianic prophecies (v9), here we see a more ominous prophecy - one suggestive of Christ's return during the final days.  V14 includes imagery of lightning, a trumpet sound, and marching armies. V15 shares how God will protect His people and how His people shall devour - assuming their enemies.  V15 also includes how His people will wield sling stones - the same weapon David used to overcome the seemingly more powerful Goliath (see 1 Samuel 17:50). The imagery from v15 of how God's people will be "full like a bowl, drenched like the corners of the altar," is particularly ominous given the Old Testament altar was sprinkled with blood as part of offerings to God. Vv16-17 end on a less ominous note as God's people experience victory over their enemies and how this brings both glory to God and prosperity to His people.

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My Prayer: Father God, You are SO good! I know and can take comfort that You have already sealed the final victory over sin and death and You both saved me and saved a place for me in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

Isaiah 25

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. Isaiah 25:3

Today, I pause once again my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, where today John Piper seeks to encourage those who may be feeling as though their work in service to God may be in vain - for whatever the reason.  Piper uses Isaiah 25:3 where Isaiah prophecies final days (Revelation 21) where we see the New Heaven and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem - where all of God's people are with God forever in perfect harmony.  Believers should all know that this victory over sin and death is already won - through Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection - but these final days represent the fullness of this victory.  We should have confidence that this victory is already won and that we will be with God as Isaiah prophecies because God keeps His promises (see post yesterday). John Piper concludes the devotion by encouragement for those feeling as though they are working in vain: "[n]ot one life spent in the cause of world evangelization is spent in vain. Not one prayer or one dollar or one sermon or one letter of encouragement or one little light shining in some dark place — nothing in the cause of this advancing kingdom is in vain."  Press on - continue running the race with endurance!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Yes - You have already defeated sin and death and we can be confident of our salvation and being with You in Heaven for eternity.  What a glorious thing this will be!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

 Revelation 5

 I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:4-5

This morning, I pause once again my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today offers believers a glimpse of the final days and Heaven from Revelation.  John writes how he is distraught about how the scroll with seven seals cannot be opened because there is no one worthy.  But one of the elders tells John that Jesus is able.  John Piper shares how, "[b]y dying on the cross, Jesus had earned the right to open the remainder of redemptive history and lead his people victoriously through it...So, now the Lamb is worthy to take the scroll of redemptive history from God’s hand and open it. This is such a kingly act that the twenty-four elders of heaven (God’s worship council, as it were) fall down before the Lamb in adoration."  Piper not only wants us to see this picture of Jesus victorious over sin and death in Heaven, worshiped by all creation, he also wants us to see how God is pleased by the pleasant aroma of the saints' prayers in v8 as he shares that "[he is] strengthened and encouraged to pray all the more often and all the more vigorously when [he] thinks that [his] prayers are being assembled and stored up in heaven and offered to Christ repeatedly in heavenly acts of worship." We are encouraged to rejoice and God's victory, know that the victory is already won on our behalf, and to keep praying!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am strengthened by knowing You have already won the victory over sin and death - for me and all believers.  I am also strengthened and encouraged by how You hear and enjoy our prayers as pleasantly smelling incense.  Thank You for the strength and encouragement You provide with my salvation, Your Word, etc.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

 2 Thessalonians 2

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

I continue my pause on my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, my focus once again is 2 Thessalonians 2, and I lean on DesiringGod.com's Ask Pastor John feature where someone poses the question who is "Who is the Man of Lawlessness" discussed in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12. 

Piper attempts to avoid that which is less certain and focuses instead on what the text describes and is more certain: 

• man; "a human, not an angel, not a demon" (v3)
  
• quintessentially lawless, subject to no law or lawgiver/authority (v3)
  
• claims to be god, but opposed to all things God, and so the anti-christ (v4); see also 1 John 2:18
  
• quintessentially doomed (v3)
  
• not Satan but animated by, and in the service of Satan (v9)
  
• as a man he has supernatural power, albeit in service of great falsehood (v9)
  
• unparalleled in his ability to deceive (making unrighteousness a pleasure) (v10, 12)
  

Piper goes on to say that Paul's words here describe and unpack Jesus's prophecy from Matthew 24:10-13. Piper concludes by sharing that "I think some people try to get around this text by saying, 'Oh, there’ve been lots of men of lawlessness. They’ve cropped up in all kinds of seasons of history.' Well, that’s true, but it’s irrelevant because this man of lawlessness is going to be destroyed by the final fiery second coming."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good to me - I know that all I have is from You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 24-25

The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Isaiah 24:5

I return to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 9, Day 3, the focus continues with Isaiah 24, where we see God's judgement on the whole earth. We examine parallels between the flood and subsequent covenant God made with Noah and his descendants in Genesis 7-9.  God once again unleashes His wrath against sinful humanity in Revelation - and here in Isaiah 24 God seeks to warn Israel about its unfaithfulness, and all the nations for its sin. Such warnings of course are not unique to Isaiah, and my study points out prophecies from Zechariah 14 that warns of "The Coming Day of the Lord." As a posted a couple of days ago, believers should be expectant of such a day, prepared, anticipating, and enduring faithfully. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God whose judgement and justice is perfect.  In Your judgement and justice, we see Your holiness, Your grace, and Your love.  Thank You for saving a place in Heaven for me.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Chapter 44: Pages 621-630

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter forty-four "The Triumph of Missions and the Coming of Christ".

Here Piper focuses on the certain victory that awaits believers persisting in the current age: "[n]ot one Christian is made perfect in this life.  God's way is to magnify the patience of grace through the persistence of sin.  We have not yet seen the climax of God's saving achievement." As believers await victory and glorification (final day), Piper describes how "[t]he Lord of the harvest will catapult his workers to the nations" and "His mission cannot fail". Piper goes on to say that "[w]hen the gospel has done its appointed work in all the nations, the end will come (Matthew 24:14)."  But Piper continues (using Matthew 24:30-31), encouraging us to not see this as the end but instead as the "beginning of something radically new....Jesus is coming with power and glory to 'gather his elect'.  He is not gathering them for nothing....This is the consummation of what he has been doing for the elect during all of redemptive history.  He has predestined his elect, called them, justified them and sanctified them, and now he is gathering them for the eternal future of their glorification." Piper provides 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 as another example of the ingathering and states that "[t]his is a work of omnipotent providence.  No one but God can do this.  Just as the flood swept the old world clean of sinful people, so the resurrection will fill the new world with the redeemed and renewed people of God."

Piper wraps us up this description of the ingathering by ending on a somber note as both joy and sadness accompanies this time because not all will be save but instead some will perish - "conscious misery forever."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is saving a place for me in Heaven and You promise to gather me and all believers to bring us there - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin does continue...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Revelation 14-19:5

 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Revelation 16:15

Day 364 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with Revelation as I reach the final days of my chronological study of the Bible. This morning's reading focuses primarily on God's wrath of those who refused to repent of their sins to follow Him.  These people allowed themselves to be carried away by their temptations, desires and their sins with no regard to the everlasting consequences, which John now describes in detail as God's wrath is poured out.

This morning's reading includes a description of Satan as a thief who pounces on those who are not prepared or ready.  We must all be ready and submit to God.

See also John 10:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, and 2 Peter 3:10.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has sealed me for eternity and saved a place for me in Heaven.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I worry, and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21

 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

Day 314 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning focusing once more on the Tuesday before the crucifixion and Jesus' prophecy of the temple's destruction in 70 A.D., of the end times and how we are to be watchful and ready. 

Jesus' warning to us to be ready is core to the reading this morning.  As part of this warning, we are to live lives as God commands us and to be on guard against actions and lives that are not glorifying to God.  DesiringGod.com helps me see how Jesus' Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) warns against pride.

The words "be ready", "keep watch", "be on guard", and "be alert" appear no less than six times in the NIV version of this morning's ready. 

Pride for me is certainly a sin for me to be on guard for in my life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have transformed my heart and life - it has not be easy, but I am grateful for all the blessings and grace You have poured out on my life.  Thank You Jesus - I know this is more work to do and the race is not over. My sin continues and refinement and transformation continues.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.

Exodus 12-13:16

When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. Exodus 12:23

Day 25 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on God's wrath on Pharaoh and all of Egypt as He delivers the Israelites out of bondage.

Just as God passed judgement on the Egyptians (Exodus 12:12) and protected the Israelites so will He protect His servants once again in the final days when Jesus returns (see my notes from David Platt's study on Revelation) - see also Revelation 7:3 as an example.

We all sin and need a Savior - I am grateful that God protects me from the destroyer.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has protected from the destroyer now and in the final days - thank You Jesus.  I know You provide victory over sin and death - thank You.  I am not deserving of such a gift. I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others a You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message to me today and every day.

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:6-21

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. v14

Session #13 of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 22.  The title of the session is The End of the Beginning - this is the final session of the series.

The end of Revelation is just the beginning of a story where every chapter is better than the one before. Recap of Revelation:

• Not intended for hopeless speculation about the future; purpose is to fuel hopeful obedience in the present - 2 Peter 3 is another example of an exhortation of hopeful obedience.  We should undergo major examination of our lives.
• See the world in all of its deception; do not put your hope in government (the beast); do not put your hope in religion (false prophets); do not put your hope in material affluence and social acceptance (the prostitute) - don't base your life in things that don't matter!
• See the Christ in all of His glory; fully human and fully divine; fulfillment of prophecy and the final high priest; infinitely old and wise; sees all knows all and reigns over all; cannot hide anything from Him; purity has no error and His power knows no equal; His voice resounds with authority and His face radiates with light; He was dead for a time but He is alive for all time; He is the conquering Lion and the slaughtered Lamb; His worth is undisputed, His work is unforgettable, and His worship is universal; his birth declared the death of ancient serpent, His death deranged the adversary, and His resurrection demolished every accusation against the church; He is faithful and true; He is the righteous Judge and Messianic warrior;many crowns adorn His head and much mystery surrounds His name; He conquers God's enemies and He reveals God's Word; His grace is free and His joy is full!  He is the Savior who came once, and He is the Sovereign who is coming back soon (mentioned 3x in this chapter and time is near); He is the King of kings and Lord of lords; no one and nothing compares to Him.
• See the church in all her beauty; we are His body and bride.
• See your life in proper perspective; fight against sin! resist compromise; refuse complacency; God promises blessing for faithful and judgment for those who fall away; endure amidst suffering - do not be surprised by it; do not be overcome in it; Jesus is present with you, possesses you, has a purpose for you; proclaim gospel is Christ to everyone You know, to ends of earth; hasten the coming of Christ - give us unwavering holiness in this world with unshakable hope in the world to come!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are unshakable hope - thank You Jesus for the hope that You provide.  I am not deserving for the blessings You pour out for me, including the hope and peace You provide.  Please forgive me for my sin...it is daily.  Help me turn from my sin towards You and help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. v6

Session #11 of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 20.  The title of the session is What Ultimately Matters Regarding the Millennium.

This chapter is widely disputed and is possibly THE most widely disputed in this book. There are many aspects of this the chapter where meaning and interpretation are difficult to discern - yet once again we should not miss the broader theme or core messages of this book.

Where we need to start today:  it is sanctifying to disagree about the millennium. Greats have all disagreed about these things and we should approach this chapter with humility.  It is sin to divide over the millennium.

Uncertainties about this chapter (additional perspectives by John Piper) and the millennium:

• are these passages arranged chronologically or cyclically?
• is the millennium before Christ's return or after; is it now/in the present or in the future?
• is the millennium 1000 years?
• will the millennium involve a spiritual resurrection of Christians to reign on earth or Heaven during the millennium?

For certain:

• Christ has come once and Satan has been bound/restrained; saints - you are not defeated! Satan could not stop Christ and cannot stop Christians (Revelation 12)
• We are IN the millennium; Christians who are alive now reign with Christ on earth; Satan cannot keep the church from proclaiming the gospel, and he cannot keep the nations from believing the gospel.
•  Christians who have died now reign with Christ in Heaven; they are worshiping God as priests while they rule with Christ as judge.
• Christ will come again, and Satan will be obliterated - Revelation 20; after the final period of revolt, there will be a final point of Satanic defeat.
• The return of Christ will usher in full and final judgment, once and for all.

What is absolutely clear in God's word forever:

• God is sovereign
• Satan is subordinate; he limited and bound, and doomed to be defeated
• Gospel will advance through the church
• Jesus will return for the church
• Every single will one of us will be judged by God - Revelation 12:12; two questions will be prevalent - (Book of Deeds and Book of Life ) (1) did we put our faith in Christ's work? (2) was their evidence (fruit) of faith in our work?  Were we faithful in our worship, witness? Did we fight against sin? Did we trust amidst suffering?  Two destinations await = either eternal torment OR everlasting joy with Him forever.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You reign - in the beginning, in the past, now, in the future and forevermore!  You died for me and all of humanity - after living a perfect sinless life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name.

Revelation 15-16

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. Revelation 15:1-2

Session #8 of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 15-16.

Quick Review of book and what has been covered so far in Revelation - apocalyptic visions filled with prophetic pronouncements written as letter to 1st century church.  Climax of all prophecies in the Bible.  Implications for all churches throughout history.  Not intended to create divisions in the church through various interpretations, instead to provide unshakable hope and encouragement as we endure to avoid sin and seduction.  It refutes deception and encourages mission.  The book should drive us to Christ.

These visions include various symbols and numbers (which often lead to various interpretations) - we should avoid too much focus on any interpretation but instead grab hold of the core truths of this book and gospel - to which we should all agree.

Visions are arranged cyclically, not chronologically.  Seven letters, seals, trumpets, visions, bowls...with each cycle things intensify.

God will one day pour out His wrath fully and finally on the earth and everyone will drink His judgement forever.

How do we worship God in His wrath?  We can understand in the following context.

1. We must start with a high view of God; song in Revelation 3; God is sovereign over all.
2. God is feared by all.  King of all nations.  
3. God is glorified above all.  
4. God is Holy in all of His attributes.
5. God is righteous in all of His ways.
6. God is loving toward all His creation.

We then move to a humble view of man (who has denounced the sovereignty of God, who has disregarded the fear of God, who has defamed the glory of God, who has dishonored the holiness of God, who has despised the righteousness of God, who has denied the love of God) leading us to a view where God is infinitely worthy of eternal worship! Man is infinitely deserving of God's eternal wrath!

Land on the hope of the gospel!  God has sent His Son - Jesus Christ - who died for sinners.  God expressed His wrath towards sin so that believers would be spared.  At the cross, God has endured His wrath against sin, enabling salvation for sinners.

Don't underestimate the seriousness of Your sin - repent!

Followers of Christ - walk in purity and endure!  Witness with urgency. Worship with sincerity!  His wrath is not just evidence of His anger but also His love.  God's love without wrath would be indifferent.  Love requires wrath - to oppose that which destroys what we love.  God's justice without wrath would be ineffective. God's love, justice and wrath together are indescribable.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is worthy of worship indeed both because of Your love and Your justice - both of which are perfect and Holy.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and saving me from eternal damnation.  I am not deserving.  I gossip and have other sin - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Revelation 12-15

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” Revelation 14:12-13

Session #7 of  David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 12-15.

Broad reflections from Platt's recent mission trip as context and as lead for this study today: We are ordinary believers doing extraordinary things with God's Word for God's glory...making disciples, multiplying churches.  The point is not to coast out our comfortable Christian life! We must multiply...knowing the cost is great!  Just like the 1st century church who serves as the original audience for Revelation...believing that the reward is great.  We cannot do business as usual.

Revelation "pulls back the curtains" to help us understand that nothing in this world happens naturally and that scientific explanation is not the key to all dilemmas most importantly sin and salvation; all is controlled by and tied to a supernatural being - God Himself.  We are caught up in a cosmic battle between God and sin. Chapters 12-15 include seven visions or signs that play out in this battle:

• 12:1 and 12:3 Satan has been conquered by Christ the Savior and is being conquered by Christians as they suffer.  Woman is the picture of people of God (church) spanning the Bible (OT, NT).  The child is Jesus.  Red dragon is Satan (evil).  Birth of Christ declares the death of the ancient serpent (from Genesis 3).  Satan kept trying to disrupt God's plan to defeat sin but the death of Christ defanged the adversary; and the resurrection of Christ demolished all his accusations against the church. From the very entrance of sin, God promised to send His Son to defeat evil and sin and Jesus accomplished what no one else could do.  Satan goes after the church (12:13-17) but is defeated! When Satan attempts to use suffering and persecution to defeat Christians, he ultimately contributes to their eternal delight and his own eternal destruction (Philippians 1).
• 13:1 Satan works through government that functions as divine authority instead of divine authority; God permits the beast to curse His name, crush His people, and control the nations (13:5-7).  But we should be encouraged - see 13:8-10; Satan deceives through teachers who look like friends (13:11 - "like a lamb") yet speak like enemies, stimulating idolatry while slaying the innocent.  He massacres all who refuse him.  But remember, there will always be a price to pay for believers who refuse to worship the ways of this world.  He (Satan) marks (with an incomplete number 666 vs 7 that represents Jesus) all who follow him. 
• 14:1 Faithful followers of Christ will one day stand boldly with Him, sing loudly to Him and be satisfied completely in Him (14:4). This is the reward of uncompromising purity in the world. 14:5 This is the reward of unapologetic proclamation of the gospel.  Who we worship on earth determines where we go in eternity. 14:6 All who indulge in the enticing wine of this world will one day drink from the everlasting wrath of God. 14:9-11 Wake up non believers to what awaits you eternally!  Yet hope for believers - All who endure amid the trials and temptations of this world will one day enter into the rest and relief of God.  14:12-13
• 14:14 The judgment of God is inevitable and intense. He will harvest all the saints who trust in Him. He will tread every sinner who turns from Him.  Everyone will one day come face to face with God.
• 15:2-4 Soon all saints throughout history will rejoice together in the song of the redeemed. Conquering Christians will shout as they consider God's incomprehensible works. Conquering Christians will sing as they behold God's incomparable worth.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is with us TODAY to help with our struggles against the forces of this world and You have saved believers from the wrath promised during the end times - thank You Jesus for adopting me into Your family.  I am not deserving of such a gift - I continue to gossip, worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply your message for me today and every day.  Help me also snatch others from the fire!

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. v8

As Paul begins to wind down his final words to Timothy, he focuses once again on the final days (v3-4) and how Timothy (we) is (are) to "keep [our] head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of [our] ministry." (v5)

Our circumstances and the world around us will continue to change and often be very difficult, but God does not change, He is always with us and our focus should not change which is to glorify God and do so until we meet Him in Heaven.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who is my rock, will never leave me and is SO full of grace, compassion, etc.  I cannot exist without You - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such a God.  I am harsh with my words and thoughts.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.