Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+021

 

Chapter 21 (ESV)

¹ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “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. ⁴ 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.”

⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “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 the water of life without payment. ⁷ The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. ⁸ But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” …

²² And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. ²³ And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. ²⁴ By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, ²⁵ and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. ²⁶ They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. ²⁷ But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Close your eyes and visualize the glories of the New Jerusalem. Marvel at it as you thank God for the promise. Even if you still struggle to believe, ask God to help you and strengthen your faith.
2. Try to feel the wonder, power and hope of Christ’s second coming. What difference might be in you knowing that a place where “the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (v23) waits for you?

 

PRAYER:

Dear God! I long to live in the holy city, New Jerusalem, because this is the place You have prepared for me. The most important thing is not its glory and beauty, but Your presence. Please prepare me to move into my eternal home, like a bride adorned for her husband.

 

HYMN:

Hymn Of Heaven – youtu.be/bqxtFUwM3-o

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+020

 

Chapter 20 (ESV)

¹ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. ² And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, ³ and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

⁴ Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

⁷ And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. ⁹ And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, ¹⁰ and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.¹³ And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

REFLECTION:

1. There are many images of eternal punishment in Scripture. But the one that recurs most often is that of a vast, dark, and smoldering pool of burning sulfur (v14).  Jesus spoke of a place of “darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 25:30).
2. Both Old and New Testaments speak of a book in which a record of those who know and love God is maintained. It is the Book of Life.  Being found in the book is the difference between eternal life and eternal death, between eternal life in heaven, and unending existence in the lake of fire.
3. This Judgment scene reminds us of God’s righteousness and justice. It also brings a sense of urgency in the proclamation of the gospel and the evangelization of our kinsmen. Imagine that our loved ones being separated from us in eternity.  How much more should we be on our knees to beseech the Lord for their salvation?
4. Write down the names of those among your family and friends who still do not know Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring up two or three of them in your mind. Begin to pray for them earnestly and faithfully daily for the next three months starting today!

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, thank You for putting my name in the book of life and giving me eternal life. But there are still unbelievers among my loved ones, and it saddens my heart to think that they will face eternal punishment. Please use me to preach the gospel to them and open their hearts to repent and accept You as their personal Saviour and Lord of their lives.

 

HYMN:

People Need The Lord – youtu.be/b7DU3j8ssk8

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+019

 

Chapter 19 (ESV)

¹ After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

“Hallelujah!  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, ² for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

³ Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

⁴ And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” ⁵ And from the throne came a voice saying,

“Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”

⁶ Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. ⁷ 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; ⁸ it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

⁹ And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” ¹⁰ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

 

REFLECTION:

1. The scene here again shifts to heaven. There the fall of Babylon causes rejoicing.  God now reigns.  And all the saints will celebrate at the wedding supper of the Lamb.
2. The symbolism here is powerful. In the Old Testament God is pictured as the husband of Israel.  In the New Testament, Christ is the Bridegroom, the church his chosen bride.  At last Bridegroom and bride sit down together at the wedding banquet.  For all eternity ahead life will be new.  And we will be one with God forever.
3. How do you prepare yourself to participate in this much anticipated universal celebration? The Lord’s coming is fast approaching.  Will you be clothed in holiness and purity to go?  How do you participate in the preparation?

 

PRAYER:

Dear God! How I long to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb on that day! Christ is the bridegroom and the church is His bride. I and all the saints wear fine linen that is bright and pure, and this fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Lord, let this desire be the driving force in my life to strive for righteousness.

 

HYMN:

Refiners Fire – youtu.be/SQclw7Ptxwc

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+018

 

Chapter 18 (ESV)

¹ After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. ² And he called out with a mighty voice,

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. ³ For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
⁵ for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
⁶ Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
⁷ As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’
⁸ For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

⁹ And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. ¹⁰ They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,

“Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. The whole chapter pictures the ultimate collapse of all human institutions (political, financial, etc.) given over to the lust for power and greed. Babylon was used in the Old Testament for the symbol of everything that goes against God, and it was the beautiful city that held captive God’s chosen people.
2. The power and luxuries enjoyed by the men and women of this world are actually devastating to the spiritual life. God has given us all things richly to enjoy. There should be nothing more important to us than loving God and loving our neighbour.  Babylon is condemned because her people value material possession so much that they willingly commit crimes against their fellow man.
3. Meditate on this, “Get out, my people, as fast as you can, so you don’t get mixed up in her sins …” (v. 4). Is God whispering this to you today? Or is He shouting at you?  What does He want you to get out of?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Holy Spirit! Please light up all the dark places in my heart so that I can understand and be willing to obey the Lord’s call to come out of the things that control me. I pray that the Lord will open my mind to think more about the things above, and teach me that loving God and loving my neighbor is more important than the rights and luxuries in this world.

 

HYMN:

You Are My All in All – youtu.be/lie1L61Qnos

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+017

 

Chapter 17 (ESV)

¹ Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” ³ And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. ⁵ And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”⁶ And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

When I saw her, I marveled greatly. ⁷ But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. ⁸ The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. ⁹ This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; ¹⁰ they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. ¹¹ As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. ¹² And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. ¹³ These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. The judgment scene comes to an end with the portrayal of “the great prostitute”, pointing to spiritual infidelity. This figure embodies those people and institutions that, all through the ages, have betrayed the living God and sold themselves to Satan’s forces, doing their bidding in order to enjoy earthly privileges and riches.
2. We, too, are easily seduced into idolatry of one kind or the other. What are some of the temptations that would draw Christians away from God?
3. What are the temptations that you face today? What can help you to remain faithful to the end? Sit quietly before the Lord and pray for His protection and empowerment to stay faithful and resist temptations.

 

PRAYER:

Dear God! Although I am a Christian on the outside, and I often speak spiritual terms, there are still many tangible and intangible idols in my heart that I am unwilling to give up. Please break the idols in my heart so that I will only serve You and be faithful to You.

 

HYMN:

Draw Me Close – youtu.be/h561DdhNutQ

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+016

 

Chapter 16 (ESV)

¹ Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

² So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

³ The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

⁴ The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵ And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,

“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
⁶ For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”

⁷ And I heard the altar saying,

“Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!”

⁸ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. ⁹ They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

 

REFLECTION:

1. In this scene, the seven angels leave heaven to pour out their bowls filled with God’s wrath. The seven bowls, similar to the seven trumpets, are reminiscent of the judgment plagues in Egypt. This reinforces the absolute importance on worship.  The ten plagues came on the Egyptians not because they were extraordinarily evil but for their determination to prevent Israel from worshipping God.
2. It has been said, “The greatest evil that people of faith face from the outside is the obstruction of worship. The greatest evil that they face from the inside is the subversion of worship.”  Can you identify some of these forces in our contemporary society? How should the church counteract these external and internal forces?
3. Have you noticed such forces in you – either hindering your worship of God or corrupt your sense of significance of worship? Have you ever hindered others from worshipping God by your behaviours or attitudes? What do you need to repent, and claim victory in Christ?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, forgive my indifference to worship and not giving You the glory You deserve. My worship is only superficial, and sometimes it becomes a responsibility, and I lose my love for being close to You. I am willing to repent and reorganize my worship life to worship You in spirit and in truth.

 

HYMN:

Open the Eyes of My Heart – youtu.be/Fm-zb-AH8Xc

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+015

 

Chapter 15 (ESV)

¹ Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

² And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.³ And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
⁴ Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

⁵ After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, ⁶ and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.⁷ And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, ⁸ and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

 

 REFLECTION:

1. Those who have died in the beast’s vicious persecution of believers are those “who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name”.   They sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb to God in worship. Worship and spiritual warfare are necessarily intertwined. Praise and prayer are our powerful weapons.
2. In a turbulent world where we are constantly getting disoriented, worship is the way to get us re-orientated. Worshipping God in all areas of our lives—daily giving all of ourselves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)—is our powerful weapon in the midst of a spiritual warfare.
3. In your spiritual journey, how does worship and spiritual battle play a role in your spiritual growth?

 

PRAYER:

Dear God! Living in this world faces spiritual battles every day, trials and temptations come from all directions. I know I can’t overcome on my own, only on You. I will worship, sing, and praise You, for You are the strength of my heart.

 

HYMN:

Mighty To Save – youtu.be/W1jmqVU4RDo

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+014

 

Chapter 14 (ESV)

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth —to every nation, tribe, language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” ⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” ⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” ¹² This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

¹³ 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.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. With humanity deceived by Satan, God sent powerful angels to call on mankind to worship God and make the nature of the impending judgment absolutely clear. The last expression of grace is rejected and all the saints are encouraged to endure.
2. So, even though we live in the world of catastrophes, of greed and lust for power, Christian’s role is to resist the seductive appeals of a culture that glorifies violence and sensuality.
3. Believers will die just as anyone else. And no matter how hard life here may be or how unrewarding it seems to remain faithful to the Lord, we are promised rest in the Lord. And our deeds will not be forgotten, but will follow us to glory.
4. As you struggle to live according to God’s laws, do you ever wonder if there will really be any reward? Will there be any difference between those who love God and those who live their life in rebellion against God’s love?
5. Read v12-13 again and allow it to sink in. Does this bring any comfort and encouragement to you?  How does it help you to face death?  And life?

 

PRAYER:

Dear God! Your promise is true and unchanging. No matter how rough my life is in this world, or my loyalty to You seems to have no effect, but You promised that I will one day rest from my labor in the world and have peace in Your arms. My labor will not be in vain, for You will praise me as a good and faithful servant.

 

HYMN:

Great Is Thy Faithfulness – youtu.be/ErwiBz1QA4o

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+013

 

Chapter 13 (ESV)

¹ And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. ² And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. ³ One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. ⁴ 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?”

⁵ And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. ⁶ It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. ⁷ Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, ⁸ and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. ⁹ If anyone has an ear, let him hear: ¹⁰ If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

¹¹ Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. ¹² It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. ¹³ It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, ¹⁴ and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. ¹⁵ And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. ¹⁶ Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, ¹⁷ so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.¹⁸ 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.

 

REFLECTION:

1. This chapter continues the dragon’s activities through two agents: the antichrist (beast rising out of the sea), and false prophet (beast rising out of the earth) to rally mankind against God.
2. The land beast (false prophet) will dupe us and coerce us into idolatry. On the other hand, Satan tries to deceive us by disguising itself as the world’s saviour, claiming to deliver health, wealth, happiness and immortality.  Do you see Satan’s activities in our society today?
3. The way to be out of Satan’s trap of deception is to fix your trust and confidence in Christ and His written Word.
4. How prepared are you in facing the political persecution, or the economic temptation? How are you engaged in the daily practices of Bible reading and prayer as they are part of the effort toward spiritual maturity, sensitivity and defences?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, the world today is full of heresies and false information, and I can be tempted and deceived if I am not careful. Please help me to be vigilant at all times and not to be fooled by Satan the Devil. I am determined to have spiritual discipline every day, reading the Bible, praying, and meditating on Your words to strengthen my spiritual life, and remind and support each other with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

HYMN:

Cornerstone – youtu.be/Fl15U2ifYzo

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Revelation+012

 

Chapter 12 (ESV)

⁷ Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, ⁸ but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. ⁹ And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. ¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. ¹¹ And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. ¹² Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

¹³ And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. ¹⁴ But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.¹⁵ The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. ¹⁶ But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. ¹⁷ Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Satan is alive and is roaming the earth as “a roaring lion”. His goal is to keep people from coming to know Jesus personally, and to tempt and fool the believers.  How often we fall traps to the tricks of Satan!
2. But Christians are reminded of the victory of Christ over Satan and death. Salvation is assured and God’s rule is intact. No matter how daunting the Dragon is, Christ will prevail.  We believers need to keep trusting God and persist in our witness, proclaiming that Christ reigns.
3. Join the choir of numerous saints with hymns as a prayer to God to affirm your “trusting God and persisting in witness”.

 

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank You for saving me from the shackles of sin and setting me free. I am no longer afraid of suffering, because the Lord is with me, supporting me and giving me strength in times of trouble. I no longer fear death, because the Lord Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. One day the Lord will come and take me to the eternal home, where I will receive the blessings of eternal life with other born-again Christians.

 

HYMN:

Our God – youtu.be/R-JZ9KsI7YI?list=RDR-JZ9KsI7YI