Revelation - Week 19

Day 1

No More Delay

READ

Revelation 10:5-7

5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. 6 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. 7 When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

This angel swore an oath by the one “who created the heavens and everything in them.” This answers the evolutionists about how these things came into being. The announcement that there would be “no more delay” has to do when the “seventh angel blows his trumpet.” This does not occur until Revelation 16. There are many questions people would like to ask God. At this time His “mysterious plan will be fulfilled.” God’s program of the ages will be fully known then.

REFLECT

Do you have several questions you would like to ask God? Many people do. Perhaps when you are face to face with Jesus you will not be in need of more answers.

RESPOND

To get a glimpse of when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, read Revelation 16:17-18. Even though it is not known what all will take place in God’s mysterious plan, Christ-followers can have confidence in Him.

Day 2

Eat the Scroll

READ

Revelation 10:8-9

8 Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!”

This is not the only reference to the eating of a scroll in the Bible. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel was told to eat a scroll and announce coming judgment to God’s people who were not honoring Him (see Ezekiel 3). This had to do with assimilating God’s message. It seems the same is true when Jesus told the disciples to eat His body and drink His blood (see John 6:53-55). He was not suggesting cannibalism, but instead, believing in Him as Savior. To the apostle John in Revelation 10, the message would seem sweet at first but would turn sour as he better understood it.

REFLECT

Think about the times when you have read a book and really absorbed its contents. In that sense you “ate the book.”

RESPOND

Read Leviticus 17:10-12 and Acts 15:19-21 to see both the Old Testament and New Testament prohibition about not eating or drinking blood. This would relate to both before and after Jesus instructed the disciples to eat His blood. The disciples would have been horrified if they thought Jesus was really telling them to eat His blood.

Day 3

Sweet and Sour

READ

Revelation 10:10-11

10 So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

God’s message is sweet as people learn about Jesus shedding His blood for their sins. It becomes bitter, however, when one realizes the judgment that will fall on those who do not trust in Him as Savior. The instructions to John to “prophesy again” relates to the remainder of the book of Revelation as it predicts what will happen to “many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

REFLECT

Have you also found the Scriptures to be of comfort as you learn about what Jesus has done for you? Do you become sad when you realize some of your loved ones have not trusted in Jesus as Savior?

RESPOND

Pray with a follower of Jesus. Thank God for all that has been provided for your salvation. Pray for loved ones and friends who have not yet trusted in Him as Savior.

Day 4

My Two Witnesses

READ

Revelation 11:1-3

1 Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, “Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers. 2 But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.”

In measuring the temple, John was to leave out the outer courtyard where Gentiles were allowed to gather. What is known as the Times of the Gentiles was not to end yet. This time period began when the Babylonians gained control over Israel and continues until the second advent of Christ when He returns to earth at the end of the Tribulation. Two witnesses appear in burlap, the dress of mourning, and give predictions during three and a half years.

REFLECT

As the Tribulation continues in the future, there will be much mourning about the judgment of God that is about to fall. God is holy and just, and cannot allow sin to go unpunished.

RESPOND

Read Luke 21:20-24 to see what it will be like in the Tribulation before Jesus returns to earth. No believers of the present Church age will be present then, but there will be some who will turn to God during the Tribulation. Most will die for their faith.

Day 5

Two Prophets

READ

Revelation 11:4-6

4 These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

There has been much speculation about the identity of the two prophets. Their powerful acts have similarities to other prophets, but similarities are not the same as identity. The Bible does not say who they are, which indicates that what they do is more important than who they are. They have powers given to them by God to consume their enemies and to turn rivers and oceans into blood. They will also bring plagues on the earth.

REFLECT

Think how scary it would be to be living at this future time in history. Some can escape God’s judgment for a while, but it will eventually fall on them if they do not turn to Him by faith.

RESPOND

Join with a fellow Christian and talk about how precious it is to know Jesus as Savior who took your judgment for you. Think also on Hebrews 10:30-31 that tells how terrible it will be to undergo the judgment of God for those who keep rejecting Him.