Earth Dwellers (Rev. 13:7-9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08/17/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Earth Dwellers

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 13:7-9

 

            Message of the verse:  “7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.  8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.  9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.”

            Antichrist will have the power to make war with the saints who are on the earth when he comes into power and he will kill some of them, but even in death they will have victory.  There is a difference between the people of God and the people who are “earth dwellers,” and that difference shows up in their worship.  Verse eight shows this difference for it says that those who dwell on the earth will worship this beast, those whose names are not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.  This verse gives a powerful wittiness to the sovereignty of God, that God has chosen those for salvation and that the Son has died for this salvation and the Spirit has called those to this salvation.

            Verse nine gives the statement that if anyone is truly has those spiritual ears to listen to this he should do so.  This statement was also at the end of each letter that Christ wrote to the seven churches; however it also included “what the Spirit says to the churches” in it.  I think because the Church is in heaven at this time there was no need in adding the last part of this statement here.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The Bible makes it clear that there is a difference between those who believe that God has provided salvation for them totally and those who do not believe this.  There is no gray area when it comes to a person’s salvation, they are either saved or they are lost.  There may be some who are saved who lived like they are lost, and Lot comes to mind here, but believers are to live like they have had their sins forgiven by the grace of God and this is what I want to do.  I am not of this world just as Jesus said that He was not of this world.  I do not want the world system to pressure me into it’s mold as Paul spoke of in Romans 12:1-2, but I want to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ as spoken of in Romans 8:29, and by God’s grace this will be true in my life.

 

The Word of God has challenged my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I do not want the world to squeeze me into it’s mold, but I want to continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so that I may be conformed to His image.