Tag Archive | God

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/7) Mark 2:13-17

Jan7

A 5-day per week study.

January 7 – Reading Mark 2:13-17.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”  Mark 2:17b

 

The Gospel According to Mark 2:13-17

Vss. 13-14.

Jesus is again beside the Sea of Galilee (it was near Peter’s home).  The crowd was coming to him, and He was teaching them. (Standing by the water and speaking up the sloping land made for great acoustics. Many people were able to hear Jesus’ voice clearly.) 

Then, Jesus continued along a certain path, but this time He wasn’t looking at the boats.  He knew where He was going and who He would find there. And as he’d specifically called the two sets of fishing brothers to Himself, Jesus now spoke to a Tax Collector sitting at his tax booth.  

“Follow me,” Jesus said, looking into the man’s eyes.  (I almost expected Him to say, “…and I will make you a ‘Collector of Men’,” but of course He didn’t say that.)  The tax collector, Levi, got up, left his coveted Roman franchise booth, where he’d become a rich man at the expense of his fellow Jews, and followed Jesus.  

Don’t you wonder what Peter, Andrew, James, and John were thinking?  Levi had probably extorted money from their family’s fishing businesses many times. And Jesus was calling… him?  How did the richly ornate robe of the Publican blend with the simple attire of local fishermen?  

(I’m so glad that Jesus calls all types of people to follow Him.)

Like with the fishermen, I believe Levi had heard Jesus speak before as He made his way along the shore of Galilee.  Perhaps he’d witnessed miraculous healings too, as he watched from inside his booth.  Whatever he’d seen and heard, Levi’s heart was now toward Jesus.  The instant the Master called, Levi was out of the booth – leaving the quills, ledgers, and piles of coins behind – and walking with Jesus.

(By the way, this man’s other name was Matthew.  And this careful calculator wrote the wonderful Gospel by his name, specifically to the Jews about their Messiah.)

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Vss. 15-17.

Peter had invited Jesus to headquarter in his home. Now, Levi asked Jesus (and disciples) to a feast at his house. He also invited a bunch of other tax collectors (and “sinners”) that he knew. 

(Another tax collector – Zacchaeus – did the same thing in Luke 19.  This is SO like what happens to a person who has truly been converted. They want to share “the good news” with others. They want friends and family to know Jesus, too.)

Jesus, of course, accepted the invitation. He is comfortable with anyone who truly seeks Him.  Did other “sinners” there believe in Him and follow His way too?  

Outside, the Scribes (probably the same ones who’d observed the paralytic man being healed) had sour faces.  “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  (THEY would never do that!)

Jesus heard what they said as He left Levi’s house.  He looked these self-righteous men in the eyes and said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

Did they understand what Jesus meant?  What DID Jesus mean? 

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Did He truly see these Jewish rulers as “righteous,” not needing forgiveness and salvation?  Absolutely not.  Psalm 14:2-3 says, “None is righteous (good), no, not one.”  Jesus was speaking about the “self-righteous” who “think” they don’t need a savior.

Later, in Luke 18, we will see that Jesus tells a parable about a Pharisee and a Tax Collector. Was He thinking of Levi and these men?   He told this story “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt.”

In the story, the Pharisee stood and bragged of all his good works and accomplishments, and how he had never done such sinful things as the extortioners, adulterers, the unjust, or even… the tax collector…

The Tax Collector, on the other hand, could say nothing but, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”  (Were those Levi’s words that Jesus quoted?)   Jesus told his audience that the Tax Collector went to his house JUSTIFIED, while the braggadocio Pharisee did not.

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Here, in Capernaum, the Jewish leaders were just beginning to spar with Jesus.  It would get worse. Would any of them recognize their lack of true righteousness before it was too late?

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/6) Mark 2:1-12

Jan6

A 5-day per week study.

January 6 – Reading Mark 2:1-12.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  Mark 2:5

 

The Gospel According to Mark 2:1-12.

Vss 1-2.

Jesus, and a few disciples, had been away preaching and casting out demons throughout all Galilee for several weeks or months. Then, after the glorious healing of the leper, Jesus had gone into seclusion for a bit because of the crowds thronged Him. 

Now, He had returned to Capernaum, to Peter’s house, and after a few days … it was reported that He was back.  Immediately many came to hear and be healed. They pushed into Peter’s house till it was packed like sardines, and they crowded around the door to try and hear Him. 

In that crowd, were some Scribes who had mananged to come inside. They were “sitting” and watching Jesus with hawk eyes.  And Jesus preached “the word.”  (The Gospel of grace, faith, and forgiveness.)

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Vss 3-5.

In Capernaum, there lived a man who was paralyzed in his legs. We aren’t told if this was an injury or a birth defect.  But this man was very fortunate. He had four friends, perhaps former co-workers, who cared about him deeply. They heard that Jesus, the miracle-healer, was back in town.  They got a stretcher for their friend and jogged (double-time) to Peter’s house. 

But before they got close enough to even hear Jesus speaking inside, they saw the crowds straining and pushing around the door. 

Perhaps they stopped, took in the situation, speaking among themselves. What to do?  Should they wait outside till Jesus came out?  Did the paralytic tell them to just take him home, that maybe later….

But no!  One had spied the steps leading to the roof of Peter’s house. (It was a flat place where the family could sit or sleep when it got too hot inside.)  The friends nodded. They went around the house and carefully carried their friend up the steps.  Once there, they began removing the roofing material, surely laying it aside neatly so they could later repair it.

Inside, Jesus was aware of their efforts.  Soon everyone was, as an opening appeared in the ceiling. Gasps? Dismay? Outrage? 

But Jesus saw something else.  He saw THEIR FAITH.  And as they let down the paralyzed man, Jesus said to him, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 

(Was there joy on the man’s face?  Was THIS his main problem, the one that haunted him even more than his useless legs? What joy he must have felt!) 

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Vss 6-9.

Ah, but those Jewish scribes.  What were they thinking?  You could tell by their faces they weren’t happy. 

One was thinking, “Why does this man speak like this?“

The second one, “He is blaspheming!”

The third one, “Who can forgive sins but GOD alone??”

Just like Jesus could see into the paralytic’s heart, he saw the darkness in these men’s hearts.

“Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk?’  But, that you man KNOW that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”

The man, whose sins were forgiven, rose and immediately, picked up his bed, and went out before them all.  The parting crowd was amazed and they glorified God.  They said, “We never saw anything like this!’“

 

(And of course, the friends of the man ran down the steps two at at time. The embraced him and joined in glorifying God. 

Yes, I think later they returned and repaired the roof.)

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(Back to the question Jesus asked the Scribes.  “Which is easier TO SAY?”  This is different from, “Which is easier TO DO?”  Anyone could say anything, but did that make it true?   Jesus had backed up His words with actions. The Scribes didn’t believe their EARS, but they had to believe their EYES.

The paralyzed man of course believed his ears at both things Jesus said. And so did his friends.  He was forgiven.  He was healed.   And he had acted on both. He got up and went home, a forgiven man.

Oh, Lord! for FAITH to believe ALL You say to us in Your Word! Like You said to Thomas, ‘Blessed are those who don’t see and yet believe!’)                                       

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/5) Mark 1:29-45

Jan5

A 5-day per week study.

January 5 – Reading Mark 1:29-45.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” Mark 1:38

 

The Gospel According to Mark 

Vss. 29-31. 

In the last reading/study I wondered if Peter & Andrew and James & John had gone into the synagogue with Jesus, heard his teaching and witnessed the casting out of demons from the man.  Well, here, it seems that the four new “fishers of men” disciples had indeed been there, for after the service, they “left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew.”

(Hmmm, brother Andrew lives there too?)

Peter’s mother-in-law (probably a widow) lived with them, and when they came in from the Sabbath Day’s service, they found her in bed and sicker than they left her. (Luke’s gospel [4:38] said it was a “high” fever, maybe life-threatening, and Luke WAS a doctor after all). 

Peter and/or his wife immediately told Jesus about her, and Jesus went to her bedside.  He took her by the hand and lifted her up. At the sight and touch of Jesus, the fever fled, and she was restored to health…so much so that she began to serve them. (A cold Sabbath meal, perhaps?)

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Vss. 32-34. 

Later, after sundown when the Sabbath was over and the people were released from the prohibition of “carrying” anything, they began to bring to the door of Peter’s house, ALL who were sick of various deseases and conditions or were demon-possessed.

Jesus went outside and began healing them (as He had Peter’s mother-in-law).  He met the needs of the people of Capernaum long into the night.

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Vs. 35. 

Very early in the morning, Jesus got up, dressed and left Peter’s home.  In the cool, quiet morning, he walked to a desolate place. There he prayed to His heavenly father. 

In this time of communion with God, Jesus was strengthened, assured, and directed to His next tasks.  He felt joy, and again yielded himself to all God’s plans for Him.

(I imagined that part, but isn’t it what WE feel when we take time, early in the morning, to pray, worship, read the Bible, and commit ourselves anew to the Lord?)

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Vss. 36-38. 

When everyone in the house got up, they found Jesus missing. (Was there a bit of fear in their heart? Where was He? Had he deserted them?)   The four “fishers of men” searched everywhere for Him, and evenually found him in that lonely place.

“Everyone is looking for you!” said Simon.  (Did that mean only those in Peter’s home, or were the needy again lining up at his door, looking for the great Healer?)

Jesus had compassion on the sick and demon possessed.  But sin was at the core of this suffering.  He had come to deal with sin, and He wanted to get to preaching and teaching about his mission, and turning HEARTS to Himself. 

“Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out,” He said. 

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Vss. 39.   

So that is what He did.  And the four men followed Him.  (Did they go back to pack a lunch and get a cloak?  Did Jesus first heal those who had come in the morning?  We don’t know.

But we DO know that from there and at that time, “Jesus went throughout all Galilee, PREACHING in their synagogues and casting out demos.”  (This is but a short verse, but the time frame was probably weeks or even months.) 

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Vss. 40-45.  

Mark records one incident that happened during this time of travel.   It was an astounding healing showing Jesus’s heart and pity for the lost and sick.  It also shows the problem they faced when Jesus did such miraculous healings. 

A leperous man aprroached Jesus.

(Since leprosy was contageous, lepers were required by the Law to stay 50 paces away from other people and constantly call out “unclean, unclean” to warn them.)

But this man, came close to Jesus, kneeling right infront of Him and begging.  “If You will, you can make me clean.”  The man did not doubt Jesus ability, only His willingness to do it.  

Jesus was “moved with pity.”  He reached out and ….. touched the Leper.  He TOUCHED the diseased man!!  And instead of the vile disease passing to Jesus, clean wholeness passed to the leper.  “I will,“ Jesus said. “Be clean.“

And immediately the leprosy left him.

“Now listen,” Jesus warned him sternly. “See that you say nothing to anyone. Go show yourself to the priest, then give the offerings Moses commanded as “proof” of your cleansing.” (See Leviticus 14:1-32)

But, and who can actually fault him, the joyous man began proclaiming far and wide the miracle of cleansing Jesus had done for him.  “I’m clean!  Look at me!  Jesus cleansed me!  Clean!  No more leprosy!  I’m cleannnnnn…..”

And the lepers massed to Jesus, their desperate eyes full of hope. 

No more could He teach or preach in the towns for the lepers and sick crowded and called for healing and pleaded for mercy and tried to touch Him.  (Sigh.)  And so Jesus was forced to go out into desolate places until the excitement died down.  

But some good came of it. It was “alone” time with those few disciples.  And there were sweet times of prayer to His Father. (See Luke 5:16)

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(NOTE: This section reminded me of the stress – body and spirit – that our own ministers and pastors experience in serving and teaching us. There are lots of expectations, needy people, “things to do.”   They can get rung out, desperate for that alone time with God.  Do we allow and foster that for them?  And do we pray for them?  Let’s do that his week.)

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/1) Mark 1:1-15

Jan1

A 5-day per week study.

January 1 – Reading Mark 1:1-15.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“…Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”  Mark 1:14b-15

 

The Gospel According to Mark (and probably Peter)

“John Mark” was a close companion of the apostle Peter. It was to Mark’s mother’s home that Peter went when the angel miraculously released him from prison.  Like Paul with Timothy, Peter called Mark, “my son.” (1 Peter 5:13)

We all remember how the youthful Mark accompanied his cousin Barnabus and Saul on their first missionary journey, and how when the trip had only just begun, Mark quit and went home.  This was a black mark on Mark for Paul, and he said “No,” when Barnabus suggested taking him on the second Missions trip.  Paul ended up taking Silas, and Barnabas took Mark with him to his home on Cyprus.  With a name like “encourager,” Barnabas probably patiently trained and taught the young man to be useful in ministry. 

Mark later became a valuable help to both Paul (Colossians 4:10, Philemon 24, 2 Timothy 4:11) and Peter, who, himself, knew what it was like to fail. It was probably from this close assocation and listening to Peter’s account, that Mark got the details about the life and ministry of Jesus. Peter might even have dictated some of it to John Mark.  Mark is sometimes called “the memoirs of Peter.”  

The Gospel was probably written while both Peter and Mark were in Rome. His gospel was for Roman believers, probably mostly Gentiles.  Since Christians were under intense persecution in Rome, Mark presents Jesus as “the Suffering Servant,” emphasizing Jesus’ deeds and service more than His teaching. 

 

Mark 1:1-15.

Vs. 1. The “gospel” means “good news.” Mark’s book is the good news about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Messiah),

 

Vss 2-3. Right off the bat, Mark quotes Isaiah (40:3) and Malachi (3:1) about the coming of John the Baptist. There is no mention of John’s birth, or the geneaology and birth of Jesus. Mark gets right to the topic.

(You’ll notice that this story moves rapidly. It’s a book of action. Mark often uses the word, “immediately.”)

 

Vss. 4-8. Mark moves quickly from “a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord” to John the Baptist, in the wilderness, proclaiming repentence and baptism as a way to prepare hearts for the coming Messiah. He also portrays John the Baptist as a prophet, looking a lot like Elijah. And, amazingly, “all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem went out to him to confess their sins and be baptised.”

 

Vss 9-11.  And suddenly Jesus shows up.  He walked all the way from Nazareth to the Jordan River in Judea to be baptised.

Now in Mark, we see no objection by John to baptising Jesus.  It’s like Mark is saying, “You can read about that in the other gospels. The main point is that He was and John did it.” 

Oh, and that beaufiful sign of approval from God – the Spirit decending like a dove on Jesus (from a ripped open sky – did you get that?).  It was affirmation that Jesus’ most important, world-changing, 3-year ministry had truly begun.

(And from the other Gospels, we know that the dove also affirmed to J the B that Jesus truly was the “Lamb of God” who would take away the sin of the world.)

 

Vss 12-13.  Mark says that “IMMEDIATELY the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness. (You wonder if he was still dripping wet from the baptism!!)  He was out there 40 days. Satan tempted Him. There were wild animals there too.  Oh, and angels ministered to him.

(There is no mention of Jesus’ powerful, reflecting answers taken right from the Old Testament (See Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.)  I missed that, for it teaches me how to respond when I’m tempted by “the world, the flesh, and the devil.”)

 

Vss 14-15.  With John’s main job done (preparing the way for Jesus, identifying Him, and baptising Him), the prophet is now arrested by Herod, who hated his “yakking about my marriage to my niece!”  (We’ll see more about John and Herod in chapter 6.)

With this, Jesus moves north to Galilee. 

(Jesus did minister some in Judea/Jerusalem before this, including cleansing the Temple, and His midnight meeting with Nicodemus. He also encountered “the Samaritan woman at the well” on His way to Galilee.) 

But Galilee will see the majority of ministry by Jesus, interspersed by trips to Jerusalem for the Jewish Feasts/Festivals, some of which Jewish men were required to attend.  

Here Jesus began proclaiming “the gospel of God,” saying, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.”

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WHAT time was fuliflled? 

Take a peak at Daniel 9:25.   “Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of the Annointed One, a Prince, there shall be seven weeks.“

Seven weeks? That is seven weeks of years = 490 years.   Counting from when God stirred Cyrus, King of Persia, to allow the exiled Jews to return to the Holy Land to rebuild the temple (2 Chronicles 36:22-23), until the coming of the Messiah (Jesus), would be 490 years.  And it was.  John the Baptist had been the first prophet of God to speak to Israel in over 400 years. And he had announced the coming of the Messiah, the Annointed One.

Jesus’ message?  Repent and BELIEVE.

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 365

Dec31

Day 365 – Reading – Revelation 19 – 22

Read and believe in Jesus!

The Revelation 19.

After the horrendous events of the previous seven chapters, we finally see evil defeated and the Lord Jesus Christ victorious.

“Hallelujah!” cry the multitudes in heaven.

“Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just.”

“Amen! Hallelujah!” cry the 24 elders.

“Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, great and small.”

“Hallelujah! cry a great multitude with the voice of thunder.

“For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready;

It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen (the righteous deeds of the saints), bright and pure.”

 

“Write this,” said the angel. “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And John was so overcome, he fell at the feet of the angel and worshiped him.

“You must not do that!” cried the angel. “I am a fellow servant. Worship GOD!”

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Next, John saw the heavens split and a WHITE HORSE gallop out. Riding on it was One called “Faithful and True.”  John recognized Him from His appearance and what He wore.  “It is The Word of God.” (Remember John’s Gospel 1:1?) 

“The King of kings and the Lord of lords!” was written on His thigh.

And with Him were the armies of heaven, dressed in white and pure. These were: the church, the tribulation saints, the O.T. believers, and even angels.

“And the beast was captured, and with it, the false prophet who, in its presence, had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped the image. THESE TWO were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire that burned with (stinky) sulfur.

All the rest of the enemies of God were slain by the sword (the Word) that came out of the mouth of the white horse rider. And all the birds gorged on their flesh.

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Revelation 20.

And the GLORIOUS ACT OF JUDGMENT ON SATAN!! 

“And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit, and a great chain.  And he SEIZED THE DRAGON, THAT ANCIENT SERPENT, WHO IS THE DEVIL AND SATAN, and bound him for a thousand years.  (The Millennium, when Israel will get its time of rule on the earth, with their Messiah reigning as King in Jerusalem.)

The angel threw the devil into the pit and shut it and sealed it so that he might not DECEIVE the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. (And then only for a little while.)

Saints who had been martyred for their testimony of Jesus and the Word of God came to life now and reigned with Him for those thousand years.  (The rest of the dead did NOT come to life until after the 1,000 years.)

When the thousand years are ended … Satan will be released to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth – Gog and Magog – to gather them for battle and “take” the Holy City.  But fire will come from heaven and consume them all.

Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet.  They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. AMEN!!

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THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT.

And then…. John saw a great white throne, and HIM who was seated on it.   From His presence …. the earth and sky fled away and were no more.

Then John saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.  And the books were opened (with the deeds of the people). And another book was opened – The Book of Life.  And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 

(No good works recorded, ever, will grant them LIFE, only if they had trusted in the finished work of Jesus and their names were in the Book of Life.)

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EACH ONE was judged. 

And if his name was not in the Lamb’s Book of Life …

… he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

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Revelation 21.

Then John saw a glorious new heaven and earth, and a new Jerusalem coming down from God like a Bride prepared for her Husband.

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

God said, “I am making all things new.” 

Then to John, “Write this down.  It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.”

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Then one of the “bowls” angels came again to John and said, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”  

And he carried John away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain. He showed him the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God, “having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel like jasper (diamond), clear as crystal….”

And John describes (or tries to describe) what this glorious city looked like. See 21:12-27, ending with “…only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life will ever enter it.”

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Revelation 22.

The angel showed John the river of the Water of Life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the Tree of Life with twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. And the leaves were for the healing of the nations.

No longer will there be ANYTHING accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. And….. They will see HIS FACE!

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the LORD God will be their light.  And they will reign forever and ever.

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Then the angel said to John, “These words are trustworthy and true, to show God’s servants what must soon take place.”

“And behold, I am coming soon.  Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

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John, signing his signature:  “I John, am the one who heard and saw these things.”

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He continued to John, “Do NOT seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.“

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

 

Then, it’s as if Jesus also “signed His signature” as proof of the truths in this book.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches.  I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

 

In response, the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”

 

Then a warning from John.  “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone ADDS to them, God will ADD to him the plagues described in this book,  and if anyone TAKES AWAY from the words of the book of prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life in the holy city which are described in this book.”

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“Surely I am coming soon.”

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

 

 

 

 

 

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In 2026, I hope to do a smaller, simpler study/reading of the four Gospels, beginning with Mark on January 1st.

After Mark, will be Luke (on March 5th) and John (on June 11th). Matthew (on September 7th) will end the year. (The Lord willing.)

This will be in Monday through Friday postings only. (Weekends off)

Join me if you like.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 364

Dec31

Day 364 – Reading – Revelation 12 – 18

Read and believe in Jesus!

The Revelation 12 – 18

The next seven chapters escalate. Satan, the Beast (Monster), the Antichrist appear. The Tribulation escalates. And there is all-out War in Heaven. Michael and his host of mighty angels battle. The seven bowls of wrath and the seven plagues do their worst, and the “great prostitute, Babylon” (who is a dwelling place of demons) appears and …. falls!

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Revelation 12

“And A GREAT SIGN appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

A SIGN:  A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of SEVEN SIGNS in the last half of Revelation. This first sign, the Woman giving birth, represents Israel. 

(There are three other symbolic women in Revelation. Jezebel (2:20) represents paganism, the Scarlet Woman (17:3-6) represents the Apostate Church, and the Wife of the Lamb (19:7) represents the True Church.

The next sign we see is the Great Red Dragon, which represents Satan. He is the woman’s mortal enemy. He has ceaselessly tried to destroy “her” to keep the Savior from coming, but he failed, and then he was unable to kill the baby, despite using Herod to massacre hundreds of infants at the time. Then Jesus did His redeeming work and ascended back to Heaven.

 

Although Satan and 1/3 of the angels (who are now his demons) fell from heaven after they rebelled, they still had access to it. (Remember Job?)  But now, after fighting with Michael and his host, they are THROWN DOWN to earth.  That old ACCUSER OF BELIEVERS who stood to accuse us day and night before God is cast down (and locked out).

Heaven rejoices, but “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down in great wrath, because he knows his time is short.”

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Furious, Satan pursued the Woman/Israel to kill her.  But she was given “two wings” (heavenly protection) and fled to the wilderness, where God kept her safe and nourished her for 42 months.  Frustrated and angry, Satan then went to wage war on the rest of her offspring (believing Jews and Gentiles), “who kept the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Unable to destroy these, Satan went and stood on the sand of the sea………….

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Revelation 13.

…………….. And it seemed he summoned up his strongest and most horrible demon. 

John saw “a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and BLASPHEMOUS NAMES on its heads. And to this monster, Satan (the dragon) gave his power and his throne, and his great authority. 

The whole earth marveled as they followed the Beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the Beast, and they worshiped the Beast, saying, “Who is like the Beast, and who can fight against it?”

The Beast was allowed to exercise authority for 42 months.  It opened its mouth and uttered blasphemies against GOD, blaspheming His NAME and His Dwelling Place.  It was also allowed to make WAR on the saints and conquer them – from every tribe, people, language, and nation.

And ALL who dwelt on the earth… were made to worship it.  ALL whose name was NOT written from before the foundation of the world … in the Book of Life of the Lamb, who was slain.

 

John inserts a warning to his readers:  “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”

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“Then I (John) saw another beast rising from out of the earth.  It had two horns… like a lamb… and it spoke like a dragon.” 

(We now have an unholy Satanic trinity of despicable evil.)

Unlikely as it looked, this lamb-appearing beast is the “enforcer” for the Beast.  It made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.  It also performed great miracles, even making fire come down from Heaven to earth in front of people. It deceived those who dwelled on earth.  It told the people to create an image of the Beas.  And it gave the image … speech.

All who did not worship the image were killed.

All who would not receive the mark of the Beast on forehead or right hand could neither buy nor sell… anything.

 

John again inserts a warning to his readers. “This calls for wisdom; let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is …. 666.”

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Revelation 14.

Then John looked, and in his vision he saw THE LAMB of God standing on Mount Zion, with the 144,000 who had NOT taken the mark of the beast. On THEIR foreheads was written the name of the LAMB and the name of His Father.  These 144K are the first fruits for God and the Lamb.  And a special song was sung to them and about them by the hosts of Heaven.

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Next, John saw three flying heralding angels, each with a message.

  • The first – “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
  • The second – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
  • The third – “If anyone worships the Beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or hand, he also will drink of the wine of God’s wrath … and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

 

John again inserts a warning. “This is a call  for endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

 

Then, a voice from Heaven spoke a chilling statement.  “Write this: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.“

 

Then came angels and One, like the Son of Man, with sickles.  It was the time of THE REAPING OF THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH.  (Remember those parables Jesus told of just such a thing!)  

  • “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.
  • So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 
  • And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 184 miles!”

 

You might be reminded of that old song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic right now.

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. 
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

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Revelation 15.

Then John saw another great and amazing SIGN in heaven – seven angels with seven plagues.  

Here’s how it went down…..

John saw what looked like a sea of glass mingled with fire… and standing next to this sea were those who had conquered the Beast and its image and the number of its name.  They had harps and they sang “The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.”

  • “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!
  • Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
  • Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?
    All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

And as they sang, the Holy Place was opened in Heaven and out from the Santuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues.  One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels the seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God.

And the sanctuary was filled with the glory of God and His power, and no one could enter it until the seven plagues were finished.

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Revelation 16.

The voice came from the Temple, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

  • The first angel – poured out harmful and painful sores on the people who bore the mark of the Beast.
  • The second angel – poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like blood, and every living thing died in it.
  • The third angel – poured out his bowl into the rivers, and they became blood.

“Just are You, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. 

It is what they deserve!”

  • The fourth angel – poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fierce heat.  (And they cursed the name of God. They did not repent. They did not give Him glory.)
  • The fifth angel – poured out his bowl on the throne of the Beast, and its kingdom plunged into darkness. People cursed God for their pain. They did not repent of their deeds.
  • The sixth angel – poured out his bowl on the great River Euphrates, and its water was dried up — to prepare the way for the kings from the east.

(Then John saw coming out of the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and False Prophet, demonic spirits that looked like frogs.  They did miracles and went to all the kings of the whole world to assemble them for battle on THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.  And the assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called … ARMAGEDDON.)

  • The seventh angel – poured out his bowl into the air. And a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “IT IS DONE!”   

 

  • Followed by lightning, thunder, and a great earthquake.  And the great city – Jerusalem – split into three parts, and the cities of the earth fell. 
  • And God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
  • And great hailstones – 100 pounds each – fell from on heaven on the people and they cursed God.

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Revelation 17.

One of the seven angels then came to John and said, “Come, I’ll show you the judgment of The Great Prostitute (remember this represents the Apostate Church) who is seated on many waters (the nations of the world), with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality.”

  • The angel carried John away in the spirit to a wilderness. He saw the Prostitute sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names.  The woman wore purple and scarlet, gold, jewels, and pearls.  In her hand, she held a golden cup FULL of abominations and impurities and immorality. 
  • On her forehead was written: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 
  • And she was drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus…….

The angel then explains the “mystery” about this woman and the beast with its multiple heads and horns,  and what they mean.

  • The multitude of the nations and people hate her and plan to kill her and burn her with fire, and hand over her royal power to the Beast until the Words of God are fulfilled.  That woman is … the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth … Babylon the Great.
  • These kings also plan to make war on the LAMB, but the LAMB will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those fighting with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

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Revelation 18.

After that private lesson from one of the angels, John saw another bright and mighty angel descended from heaven and call out,

FALLEN, FALLEN IS BABYLON THE GREAT, the haunt for every demon, every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, every unclean and detestable beast!

 

And the rest of the chapter goes on to describe this great and evil nation…. her sins, her false evil glories, her deceptions, her evil fruit, jewels, and gold with which she deceived the nations, and made them rich. How the world will mourn her destruction, and how they will miss her wealth.

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Then the mighty angel said,

“And so Babylon, the great city, will be thrown down with violence and will be found no more.” 

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her.

 

Whew!

 

Tomorrow we finish THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.  It is a beautiful ending of what heaven will be like without the devil, sin, and sorrow.  The glorious new Jerusalem. Seeing God face to face.  I can’t wait.

The last book in the chronological study/reading, and the end of the year.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 363

Dec29

Day 363 – Reading – Revelation 6 – 11

Read and believe in Jesus!

The Revelation 6.

After all the glorious praise and worship, that John couldn’t have endured if he hadn’t been “in the Spirit,” Jesus, the Lamb, began opening the seals on the scroll. The first four loosed the “Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse.”

  1. The first seal – A white horse whose rider had a archer’s bow in his hand and was given a crown. He came out to CONQUER.
  2. The second seal – A bright red horse whose rider was given a sword. He came out to TAKE PEACE FROM THE EARTH, so that the people would begin killing each other.
  3. The third seal – A black horse whose rider had a pair of scales.  He would bring such FAMINE, that a day’s wages would not even buy 4 cups of wheat.  (ONE day’s work would provide only enough food for ONE person for ONE day.)
  4. The fourth seal – A pale horse (ashen-greenish like a decomposing corpse) whose rider was “DEATH and HADES.’  He was given power to KILL with a sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts.

The fifth seal revealed all the martyrs who had been killed for the Word of God and for their witness. They were under God’s throne (finally protected).  They cried for judgment and vengeance from the Sovereign God.  They were given WHITE ROBES and told to rest a little while longer until the others who were to be martyred were killed. 

The sixth seal was opened and catastrophic things began happening on earth.

  • a great earthquake
  • the sun darkened like sackcloth
  • the moon red like blood
  • the stars falling from heaven (asteroids and meteors)
  • the sky rolling up like a scroll
  • every mountain and island moved from their places
  • absolute terror on the kings, the great ones, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave or free. All ran into caves or called on mountains to fall over them and hide them from “HE WHO IS SEATED ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB.

This begins the “great and terrible” Day of the LORD, and those experiencing it ask: WHO CAN STAND?

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Revelation 7.

This chapter is a parenthesis between the Sixth and Seventh Seals.  It answers the question posed at the end of chapter six. We will see the TWO GROUPS who will “STAND.”

The scene: GROUP ONE

  • Four angels are standing at the “four corners of the earth” holding back the four winds. 
  • Another angel descends with “the seal of the Living God.” 
  • This angels says, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. 
  • 144,000 were then sealed (protected), (12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel).

(It is interesting that Judah is listed first in the order.)

The scene: GROUP TWO.

  • This group “could not be numbered.” 
  • It was a great multitude from every nation, all tripes. peoples, and languages.
  • They stood before the throne and the Lamb.
  • They were clothed in white robes.
  • They had palm branches in their hands.
  • They kept crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
  • And they fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying…

 

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!  Amen!

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  • An elder: “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have them come?“
  • John: “I don’t know.”
  • The elder: “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation (the converts of the 144,000 evangelists). They have washed their robes and made them WHITE in the BLOOD of the Lamb.”

And such rewards they received!!

  • They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night
  • God will shelter them with His presence
  • They will never humger or thirst
  • The sun will never burn them
  • The Lamb will be their shepherd
  • He will guide them to springs of living water
  • God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

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Revelation 8. (end of parenthesis)

Jesus, the Lamb, breaks the SEVENTH SEAL. (It contained the SEVEN TRUMPETS.)

Silence.

Then seven trumpets were given to the seven angels who stand before God.

Another angel brought a golden censer with much insence to offer on the Alter of Incense before the throne of God, and with it, the angel offered the prayers of the saints. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the saints, ROSE BEFORE GOD.

Then….. the angel filled the censer with fire from the alter and flung it on the earth.  Peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightening, and an earthquake broke forth.

THEN… the angels with the trumpets prepared to blow them.

  • The first angel blew – and hail and fire, mixed with blood were thrown down upon the earth. A third part of Earth was burned up.
  • The second angel blew – and a great “mountain” burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third part of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures living in it were destroyed.
  • The third angel blew – and a great star fell from heaven like a burning torch.The star was named “Wormwood,” and a third part of the fresh waters became bitter like wormwood.
  • The fourth angel blew – and a third part of the sun, the moon, and the stars, so their light became darkened.

Then an EAGLE flew overhead crying aloud, “WOE, WOE, WOE to those who dwelll on earth, for the last three trumpets are about to be blown.”

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Revelation 9.

  • The fifth angel blew – and a star (an angelic being) fell to the earth.  He had the key to the bottomless pit and he opened it.  Out came smoke like a great furnace and darkened the sun, and clogged the air. 

Then from the shaft came locusts on earth, but they were no normal insects. THESE had the stinging power of a scorpian.  They were not to harm the trees or grass, but to attack people, and torment them for five months.  It was so painful, the people tried to die but couldn’t.

These demonic locust-scorpians had a king over them.  His name was Abaddon (destroyer). This was either Satan’s most trusted leaders, or possibley Satan himself.

  • The sixth angel blew – and the four “demonic” angels who were bound at the great river, Euphrates, were released to kill a third of mankind. 

The “troops” of these angels numbered “twice 10,000 x 10,000. They were super scary and terrifying, with smoke and sulfer coming from their mouths. And a third of the remaining mankind was killed.

The rest of the mankind who were not killed….

  • did not repent of the works of their hands,
  • did not give up worshiping demons and idols,
  • did not repent of their murders or sorceries or sexual immorality or thefts.

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Revelation 10.

Chapters 10 and 11 are an “interlude” between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgments. The parenthesies and interludes are ways that God encourages and comforts his people in the middle of all this fury. They give a  minute to take a breath and KNOW that God is sovereign. He remembers His people, and they will ultimately be victorious.)

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Next we see one of the highest ranking angels in heaven, wrapped in a cloud with a rainbow over his head, and legs like pillars of fire.  (Whoa!)

This angel had a small open scroll in his hands, and he placed one foot on land and one foot in the sea.  Then he called out with a roar like a lion.  And the seven Thunders answered him. 

John was about to write down what the Thunders said, but a voice above him stopped him, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and DO NOT write it down.”

Then John saw that super-angel thrust his fist towards heaven and swear by Him who lives forever (God) that there would be NO MORE DELAY.  The seventh trumpet would sound and THE MYSTERY OF GOD THAT HE’D ANNOUNCED TO THE PROPHETS WOULD BE FULFILLED.

Then that voice behind John spoke again.  “Go, take the little scroll that is in the hand of the angel. Take it and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet.”

John obeyed, and then the voice said, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”

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Revelation 11.

Then John was given a measuring rod and told to go measure the Temple building (Holy Place and Most Holy Place), but not the outer court of the Gentiles (because they will “trample” over it for 3.5 years under the Antichrist.)  

NOTE: Since the Temple that existed during the time of Jesus (and John, the disciple) was destroyed in 70 A.D,, this must be the one rebuilt in time for the Tribulation. 

John is then told about God’s two “witnesses.” He calls them two olive trees (for oil) and two lampstands that stand before the Lord.  These two will have power to stop the rain, and to turn the water to blood and strike the earth with plagues.

(Many believe from this, that the two “witnesses” are Elijah and Moses (who also represent the prophets and the law).)

John is told that “the Beast that rises from the pit” will make war on them and kill them.  BUT!!! after three days they will rise again… and then ascend to Heaven, their job done.  After this happens, a large earthquake will hit Jerusalem and a 10th of the city will be destroyed.  7,000 people will die.  

And then a strange note: “…and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of Heaven.”  Who are these people, so UNLIKE all the rest who refused to repent and forsake their sin, no matter what happened to them.  These are Jews who have a genuine experience of salvation. (Zechariah 12:10 and 13:1)  WOW!

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  • And finally, the SEVENTH angel blew his trumpet. (This is hard to understand, because it includes the seven bowl judgments that follow and all the things that lead up to the establishment of Jesus’ Millenial Kingdom! 
  • Loud voices in heaven proclaim:  “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
  • And the 24 elders fall to their faces, worshiping God and thanking and praising Him 1) for His great power, and 2) for rewarding the prophets and saints, and 3) for destroying the destroyers of the earth.

THEN – and this is really glorious and wonderful – “God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple.”

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 362

Dec29

Day 362 – Reading – Revelation 1 – 5

Read and believe in Jesus!

The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Yep, that’s the full title of the book. 

“Revelation” means “an uncovering,” “an unveiling,” or “a disclosure.” What this book reveals is Jesus Christ in glory.  The truths about Him and His final victory that the Scriptures allude to become visible in this book. 

(Visible, but “through a glass darkly,” at least for me.)

The Apostle John is the author. He is the only one who refers to Jesus as “the Word” and “the Lamb” both in his Gospel and this book.

The spiritual decline of the seven churches of Asia Minor tells us that John wrote this book last, after his three letters.  He is a very old man, the last of the original apostles, and he’s in exile on the small, barren island of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea just southwest of Ephesus.  He’s been banished there for his faithful preaching of the gospel.  While there, he received this vision.

This is a message of hope to the faltering churches experiencing persecution. God is sovereign in all the events of history, and though evil men often seem all-powerful, their ultimate doom is certain. Christ will come in glory to judge and rule.  (I wonder how the churches responded as this letter/book was read to them.)

In The Revelation (past the messages to the seven churches), we “learn about:

  • the final political setup of the world;
  • the last battle of human history;
  • the career and ultimate defeat of Antichrist;
  • Christ’s 1,000-year earthly kingdom;
  • the glories of heaven and the eternal state;
  • and the final state of the wicked and the righteous.

God rules over the kingdoms of men and will accomplish His sovereign purposes regardless of human or demonic opposition.  Hallelujah!  Praise Him forever!

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Revelation 1

God gave this revelation first to His Beloved Son as a reward for His perfect submission, to show Him His future glory.  It was then given to John to share abroad.

BLESSED is the one who READS ALOUD the words of this prophecy (Go ahead, do it!).  And BLESSED are those who HEAR it and KEEP what is written in it.  (What promises!!)

And so John begins the most magnificent letter of revelation that he’s ever written.   

“To the seven churches that are in Asia.  Grace to you and peace from Him, who IS and who WAS and who IS TO COME, from the seven-fold Spirit before the throne, and from Jesus Christ, faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, and ruler of all kings on earth. And behold, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him.”

What a salutation!!

Then a side note from John, who tells how it happened.  I’m your brother in tribulation, and while I was in exile on Patmos, I had this vision and commission. 

“Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 

Now if you look on your Bible map, you will see these churches form a loose horse shoe shape, curving up, around and then back down again.  A perfect order for circulation.

Then John turned around to SEE who was speaking the voice that he had HEARD.

  • One like the Son of Man,
  • Clothed with a long robe with a golden sash around his chest,
  • The hairs on His head white as wool or snow.
  • His eyes like a flame of fire,
  • His feet like burnished bronze,
  • His voice like the roar of many waters.
  • In his right hand, seven stars.
  • From His mouth, a sharp two-edged sword,
  • His face like the sun shining at full strength.

This was no humble carpenter from Nazareth!!  When John saw Him, he fell at His feet like a dead man.

“Don’t be afraid, said the exalted Jesus. “I am the first and last, the living one. I died and behold I am alive forever.  And I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

And this glorious Savior-God tells John to write down what he’s seen, what things are, and those things that are to take place after this.   Then a hint at what John saw already.  The “stars” you saw in my hand are the angels (perhaps the key elders) of the seven churches, and the “lampstands” are the seven churches.”

So John takes up his parchment and quill and prepares to write…

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Revelation 2 & 3.

Chapters two and three are the personal, individual messages to those seven churches.  These were ACTUAL churches, with the problems listed. But, they can also represent the “types” of churches that have existed throughout the church age.  What the glorified Jesus says to them, is relevant today.

In each, Jesus identifies Himself in a particular way.  He reveals what He knows about the churches, both the good, bad, and the ugly. He sometimes commends them. He often scolds and warns them. And He usually gives an ultimatum and/or a promise.  LOOK FOR THESE as you read.

EPHESUS:

(Jesus, the One who holds the seven stars and walks among the lampstands.) 

Jesus knows how hard they are working and enduring, and that they hate the “Nicolaitans.” (False teachers leading the people into immorality.)  However, they “have lost their first love” towards Him. He calls for them to repent. and promises the Tree of Life in Paradise if they do.

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SMYRNA

(Jesus, the first and last, who died and came to life.)

Jesus tells this persecuted church that He KNOWS their tribulation, and the slander hurled against them by Jews who are really Satan’s emisaries.  Jesus warns them that they will be tested severely, imprisoned, and martyred.  “Be faithful to death and I will give you the Crown of Life. You won’t be hurt by the “second death.“

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PERGAMUM

(Jesus, who has the sharp two-edged sword.) 

Jesus tells this church that He KNOWS they are situated right in the center of Satanic activity and false religions. (On the acropolis was a giant alter to Zeus. A god of healing, represented by a snake, was also associated with Pergamum, and the “medicine men” forced the sick to lie in the temple with snakes crawling over them!!!)  Immorality was also rampant.  Jesus tells them to REPENT!  If they obey, He will give them some of the “hidden manna” (spiritual bread of life), and a “white stone with a new name on it” (symbol of reaching the winner’s circle.

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THYATIRA

(Jesus , the Son of God whose eyes are like fire and feet are like fiery bronze.)

Jesus, the Son of God, tells this church He KNOWS about their love, faith, service, and patient endurance. However, He is NOT PLEASED with how they tolerate the woman called Jezebel, who says she’s a prophetess, but who teaches and seduces them into sexual immorality.  Just reprisals will be laid against her and all who follow her.  BUT, to those who resist her teaching, Jesus says to “hold fast until I come,” and He will give them authority over nations to rule. He will also give them the “morning star” (Christ Himself.)

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SARDIS

(Jesus who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.)

Although this church had the reputation of being alive, Jesus knows they are DEAD. “Wake up!” He says. “Remember what you received and heard. Keep it, and REPENT!  If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief against you.”  And yet…. Jesus sees a few in Sardis who have not “soiled their garments” (Not stained their characters, but remained godly).  THESE will walk with Jesus in white. He will never blot their names out of the book of life, but confess them before His Father.”

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PHILADELPHIA

(Jesus, the holy One, the true One, who has the key of David, who opens and shuts and no one can undo it.) 

Jesus knows this church’s works. They have little power, but have kept His word and not denied Him. “I have loved you. And because you have kept my word, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.  I’m coming soon!  Hold fast to what you have!”  To those who conquor, Jesus promises to make them a “pillar” in the Temple (a secure place in the presence of gGod). He will write the Name of God on them, and His own New Name.”

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LAODICEA

Jesus, the “Amen (so be it.), the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s Creation.)

Jesus knows the lukewarmness of this church. They are neither cold or hot, but a sickening blah taste.  Jesus says, “I will spit you out of my mouth!”   “You say you are rich, prosperous, need nothing…. but you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy GOLD REFINED IN THE FIRE, and WHITE GARMENTS, so the shame of your nakedness may not be seen.  Be zealous and REPENT!!  And if they truly do, Jesus promises them they will sit with Him on His throne. 

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!”

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Revelation 4.

After John finished writing these notes to the seven churches, he looked up and saw…. “Behold, a door standing open in heaven!”   Then John heard the invitation, ““Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

And immediately, John was “in the Spirit.” 

He saw a glorious throne and the God of Heaven seated on it. He describes it, much like what Ezekiel and Daniel and Isaiah wrote.  Glorious colors and light, a crystal sea, emerald rainbows and loud thunderous sound.  Elders and angels and amazing creatures all singing praise and falling down in worship.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; who was and is and is to come.”

The elders cast down their crowns before such a One.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things and by Your will they existed and were created!”

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Revelation 5.

Then John saw in God’s right hand a scroll written on both sides and sealed with seven seals.  An angel called, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?”

Silence.

And John began to cry loudly.

Then an angel come to him and told him NOT to weep for THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID has conquored, and HE can open the scroll and seals.”

A lion….. but when John looked, it was a Lamb, standing there, looking as though it had been killed (bloody).   He walked to the throne and took the scroll….

And immediate praise erupted. Music and incense, and a NEW SONG sung.

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open it seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe , language, people, and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

At that, John saw many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands all saying with a loud voice,

‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

And answering them was “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is them,

“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.”

Then the elders responded with “AMEN,” falling down before Him in worship.

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I mean, WOW!

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 361

Dec27

Day 361 – Reading – 2 John and 3 John.
Read and believe in Jesus!

2 John 

These two letters are “short and to the point.”  The apostle wrote 2nd John to a specific church that he knew and loved.  Perhaps for protection in a Christian-persecuted world, he disguised their identity.  He calls this beloved church, “the elect lady and her children.”   

This church faced some of the same challenges that the churches John wrote to in his circulating sermon/letter of 1 John. Mainly, the false teachers, whom he calls deceivers and antichrists.

But first, he tells this church how much joy it brings him to know that “some” of the members (her children) are walking in the truth.  He reminds them to continue loving one another, as the basic command “from the beginning.”

Then, as in 1 John, the old Pastor warns this church about those “who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh.”  This is a basic tenet of true Christianity, for if Jesus was not wholly “man” as well as wholly “God,” He could not have died in the place of sinners like you and me, and “paid” the sin-debt we owed. 

Then a stern command: If some of these deceivers come to you, DO NOT RECEIVE THEM INTO YOUR HOUSE (church), or even give them a greeting!  “For whoever greets these people takes part in their wicked work.”

(WHOA!  Does this apply to those from “other” cults and beliefs coming to our doors today?)

John signs off on this brief letter by saying he wants to visit in person. It would fill him with joy. Okay, a letter of ink on paper is good, but a personal vision and touch is the best! 

(I’m thankful John wrote these letters, or else we wouldn’t have had them, too.)

John then tells them the members of their sister church (Ephesus) greet them, too.

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3 John

Here’s another very short letter from John. It is actually less than 300 Greek words, so it could have fit on a single sheet of papyrus.  This letter is the most personal of the three, sent to a sole recipient – his “beloved Gaius.”  He was a member of one of the churches overseen by the aged ‘Pastor John’.  Sadly, nothing else is known about this faithful man.

John gives a personal prayer to this man, “I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”  

(What a wonderful prayer and example for us to pray!)

John was also so grateful that his man was “walking in the TRUTH,” and not the prevailing false teaching. John exclaims, “I have no greater joy to know my children (converts) are walking in the truth.”  

Then he commends Gaius for his hospitality towards the men he sent to the church, and encourages him to “send them on their way” when the time comes. (In other words, to help them financially and materially as much as he can.) 

THESE MEN are different from the false teachers John tells the other church NOT to greet or help.  THESE MEN are missionaries. They are going out “for the sake of “the Name.” (For God’s glory and not their own.) John tells Gaius that when he helps men of God, he is actually sharing in that ministry.

Then John candidly tells Gaius that he’s written to the church and to the leader, Diotrephes (who likes to put himself first), but the man has ignored John’s instructions. He could have been supporting the false teachers!  “I’ll deal with him when I come!” was John’s assurance.

Then he testifies about Demetrius (possibly the one delivering this letter to Gaius), and tells Gaius he is worthy of support and hospitality as well.

John ends with his desire to visit him “face to face.”  How much better than a missive of pen & ink!

Greet all my friends there!

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NOTE: It makes you wonder if the aging John ever got to visit these churches. He is probably in his 90’s by then, and his last years have been hard. (Imprisonment, torture by Nero)  Some time after he wrote these letters, the Roman authorities arrested him and exiled him to the island of Patmos, where he received the inspiration for The REVELATION.  That book was also sent to be read in these churches in Asia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 360

Dec26

Day 360 – Reading – 1 John  1 – 5
Read and believe in Jesus!

1 John

(An aside: I just noticed that this is Day 360. 360 degrees is a perfect circle. That’s interesting because John writes this letter/sermon in a very circular manner, returning to and repeating things he’s already said, but in different ways. See if you notice it as you read.)

The author is John, the “beloved disciple” of Jesus.  He’s already written the Gospel of John.  He will write this letter/sermon, two more very short letters, and the massive book, The Revelation.   The Gospel and these letters were probably written while he was at Ephesus.  The Revelation was written while he was in exile on the island of Patmos.  John was an old man when he became an author. He was the last remaining “eyewitness” disciple of Jesus.

After the threat of “legalism” in Paul’s day, it is “Gnosticism” that now threatens to destroy the churches. It’s the belief that matter is evil and spirit is good. This means they taught that Jesus was God but not human (to preserve Him from that evil).  However, if Jesus were not human, He couldn’t have died as the redeemer of humanity. John emphasized that Jesus WAS human.  John was an eyewitness. He saw Him, heard Him, and TOUCHED Him. A test of a true believer was someone who would affirm that “Jesus has come in the flesh.” (1 John 4:2-3)

Also, since “the body” was evil, it didn’t matter what sins it committed. Indulgence and immorality were permissible. They could deny that sin even existed.  John boldly confronted this idea. (1 John 1:8-9. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us…..But if we confess our sin… )

1 John is a call “back to the basics of Christianity.”  God had preserved John for such a time as this, and he wrote with true apostolic authority. 

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1 John 1.

Credentials:   “That which was from the beginning (Jesus), which we have HEARD, which we have SEEN WITH OUR EYES, which we looked upon and have TOUCHED WITH OUR HANDS….” The word of life — that which we have seen and heard, we PROCLAIM to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us.“

And what did John (and true believers) PROCLAIM?  

  • “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
  • If we SAY we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie…
  • If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all SIN.
  • If we SAY we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
  • If we CONFESS our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us… and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
  • If we say we have NOT sinned, we make Him a liar, and the truth is not in us.”

John’s first “chapter” refutes Gnostic beliefs.

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1 John 2.

John speaks more about sin.  It’s a real thing. It is against God’s laws.  His readers (and we) DO IT. And it’s wrong.

“Little children, I’m writing these things to you so that you may NOT sin. But IF anyone does sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father: Jesus Christ the Righteous.  He is the PROPITIATION (appeasement) for our sins.”

John offers some proofs that they really “know” Christ (and are saved).

  • “If we keep His commandments, we know “we know” Him.
  • Whoever says he knows Him, but does NOT keep His commandments, is a liar.
  • Whoever KEEPS His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.
  • Whoever SAYS he abides in Him ought to WALK in the same way in which He walked.”

John does a little wordplay with “old” and “new” commandments from Jesus.

  • The “old” commandment is still the same:  LOVE.
  • Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
  • Love “others’ as (you love) yourself.

Jesus raised the standard of love for others to a new level for His followers.

  • Love “others” as “I have loved you.”  (Sacrificially, to the death if need be.)

Again, SAYING and DOING make all the difference.

  • “Whoever SAYS he is in the light (saved) and yet hates his brother, is still in darkness (unsaved).
  • Whoever loves his brother, abides in the LIGHT, and there is no cause for stumbling.”
  • But… whoever HATES his brother is in the darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.  (Speaking about false teaching.)

And more on what NOT to LOVE.

  • “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD, or the things of the world. 
  • If you do, the love of the Father is not in you.”
  • Everything in the world (lust, greed, and pride) is NOT from the Father and is passing away.
  • Whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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Next, John warns them about the false teachers, liars, antichrists, and deceivers.

Many antichrists have come already!  They are already here, in the form of those who would lead them astray.

“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?

If you confess the Son, you have the Father too, and eternal life.  You also have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, who teaches you what is true.  Abide in Jesus, so when He appears, you may have confidence.

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1 John 3.

“What love the Father has for us – that He calls us His children.  We are His children now, and when Jesus appears. we shall be like Him, because we shall SEE Him as he is.  WE have this HOPE, and it makes us want to live pure lives, as He is pure.

In Him, there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either SEEN Him or KNOWN Him.   Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil!  And the reason the Son of God appeared was TO DESTROY the works of the devil. NO ONE BORN OF GOD practices sinning.

Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God….. nor is anyone who does not love his brother. (Anyone who hates his brother – like Cain – is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal LIFE dwelling in him.)

Instead of killing, we should be “laying down our own lives” for the brothers.  And we should be loving, not in “talk” only, but in DEEDS and truth.

This is His commandment, that we BELIEVE in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Faith, love, and obedience.

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1 John 4.

Warning: Do NOT believe EVERY spirit, but TEST the spirits to see whether they are from God.  By THIS you will know the Spirit of God – that he confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

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“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

(Yes, I sang the song as I typed that!)

“And this is how the love of God is made manifest (evident) to us, that God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation (appeasement) for our sins.”

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1 John 5.

  • “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.
  • Everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him.
  • By this, we KNOW that we love the children of God, when we LOVE God and OBEY His commands.
  • Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the World.
  • He who overcomes the world is the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 

John says three things testify that Jesus is the Son of God.  It’s the SPIRIT and the WATER and the BLOOD. The witness of God via the Spirit at Jesus’ baptism, and His blood shed on the cross for the redemption of sinners. 

HE IS GOD. HE DID COME IN THE FLESH. IN THE FLESH HE DIED AS THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TOOK AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD. HE AROSE, ASCENDED, AND NOW INTERCEEDS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN HIM BY FAITH.

  • We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning.
  • We know that we are from God, and the world lies in the power of the evil one.
  • We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding to know Him who is true.

Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.