SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08/31/2005
My Worship Time Focus: Another angel speaks
Bible Reading &
Meditation Reference:
Revelations 14:9-11
Message of the verse: “9 Then another angel, a third one, followed
them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image,
and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath
of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the
presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up
forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and
his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’”
It will be
good to mention that this message follows the first angel’s preaching of the
gospel and the second angel’s warning of the destruction of antichrists kingdom
so when this third angel gives his message concerning the wrath of God it
cannot be said that these people did not have these two final warnings.
It is
difficult to talk about the wrath of God and if one looks back to the scroll
that John was instructed to eat that made his stomach sour after tasting good
in his mouth it can be seen that John must have had trouble writing these words
too. God’s wrath is not something that is His anger getting
even with sinful man, but God’s wrath is a part of His Divine character. Because of God’s character sin must be
punished and the sad fact for these people is that God took His wrath out on
His Son Jesus Christ for the payment of their sin if only they would have
accepted that.
Another
thing needed to be said here is what is said in verse nine: “If anyone worships the beast and his image,
and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand he also will drink of the
wine of the wrath of God.” The Greek
text reads: “If any man continues to
worship the beast,” “suggesting that there is still opportunity for repentance and
salvation.” (From Dr. Wiersbe’s
book: “Be Victorious”) The question here
is if someone receives the mark of the beast does he have a chance in God’s
eyes to renounce it and turn to God for salvation? My answer is that this could be possible, but
I would not think that this would be normal by any means, but possible. With all of that been said I believe that
God’s Word teaches here that those who have received this mark are the “earth
dwellers” through and through and are in total rebellion with the God of Heaven
and thus will follow antichrist to the very end.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Each day I have choices to make that will
affect my life and even though I have made the correct choice on the most
important issue that I will ever face, and that is what to do with Jesus
Christ, I still have choices to make each day and I need the Lord to guide my
steps in these choices. (Proverbs 3:5
& 6.)
The Word of God has challenged my heart as I read and
studied it this morning.
My Steps of Faith
Today: Trust in the Lord with all of
my heart and lean not upon my own understanding, in all of my ways acknowledge
Him and He will direct my paths.
Memory verse for the week: Psalm
27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; who shall I
fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my
life; of whom shall I be afraid?
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