Revelation - Week 25

Day 1

Babylon Is Fallen

READ

Revelation 14:8

8 Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality.”

Another angel announces that Babylon is fallen. This is given in more detail in Revelation 18. Note the reason for the fall of this great city—“because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality.” This reveals the extent to which God hates immorality. Some see no problem with it; God sees it as an evil.

REFLECT

Think how the judgment falls on an entire city because of its immorality. What do you see occurring around you? Should where you live be surprised if God’s judgment falls?

RESPOND

Take the time to read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 that tells why believers in Christ should not be involved in sex outside of marriage.

Day 2

The Wine of God's Anger

READ

Revelation 14:9-11

9 Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand 10 must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”

This passage reveals how God’s anger will be expressed toward those who worship the beast and his statue and receive his mark. The wine of God’s anger will be poured full strength into His cup of wrath. During the Tribulation God will pour out his wrath on those who refuse to worship Him and instead worship Satan’s person, the Antichrist. The Christ rejecters will be separated from God forever and they will have no relief day or night.

REFLECT

Think of the serious consequences of denying Jesus as your Savior. The heavenly Father did all He could do in sending His own Son as a sacrifice for sin. Those who refuse the gift of salvation will experience horrible consequences.

RESPOND

Read and think on Romans 5:8 and 6:23. God has done all He can to provide satisfaction for the sins of humanity. Those who refuse to accept the pardon He has offered will face the consequences.

Day 3

Blessed Indeed

READ

Revelation 14:12-13

12 This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

The sobering message for the faithful is that they need to suffer persecution patiently. They are also to obey God’s commands and keep their faith in Jesus. A voice from heaven commanded the apostle John to write that those who die in the Lord are blessed. This is especially true during this time of Tribulation, but there are other promises in God’s Word about believers who die throughout time.

REFLECT

Do you have loved ones who believed in Jesus and have passed away? They have actually gone to be with Jesus.

RESPOND

Examine verses of comfort for those who have had fellow believers in Jesus pass away. Read and think about Psalm 17:15; 116:15; and John 11:25. For those who sorrow, read Psalm 34:18.

These are verses that can be sent to sorrowing loved ones. Select one to send to a friend.

Day 4

Swing the Sickle

READ

Revelation 14:14-16

14 Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” 16 So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.

A sickle was used for reaping at harvest time to cut the grain. Here the Lord Jesus appears with a sharp sickle to bring judgment. The sickle is swung over the entire earth so it is a worldwide judgment of unbelievers. In coming to the end to the seven-year Tribulation, things are common to what Jesus said in Matthew 24 and Luke 21.

REFLECT

If you have trusted in Jesus as Savior, you are assured there will be no future judgment for you, as mentioned in John 3:18 and Romans 8:1.

RESPOND

For similarities of Revelation 14:14-16 and what the Gospel writers recorded of the words of Jesus, read Matthew 24:30-31 and Luke 21:25-28.

Day 5

Ripe for Judgment

READ

Revelation 14:17-18

17 After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, who had power to destroy with fire, came from the altar. He shouted to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgment.”

It is impossible to read these passages in Revelation without realizing it will be a terrible time of judgment. There is no way to explain away the overall message of persecution and judgment. Although God is a God of love, He is also a God of justice. The qualities of His nature are clearly seen in the events being revealed to John in his visions as he was on the isle of Patmos.

REFLECT

Do you understand you serve a God of love as well as justice? To fear God is to have reverential fear and respect for Him.

RESPOND

Various passages in Scripture refer to the justice of God. See Hebrews 1:7-9 for what the heavenly Father says about His Son.