Bitter-Sweet Experience (Rev. 10:8-11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

07/18/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Bitter-Sweet Experience

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 10: 8-11

 

Message of the verse:  “8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, ‘Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.’  9  So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he *said to me, ‘Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.’  10  I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.  11  And they said to me, You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.’”

John again hears the voice for heaven and this time the voice tells him to go and get to book from the angel, and then the angel tells him to eat the little book which will be bitter in his stomach, but sweet in his mouth, and then he is to prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.  What does all of this symbolism mean?  Well this is not the first time that a prophet of God has been told to eat the Word of God, for Ezekiel was also told to do this.  I believe that Jeremiah was also told to do this when he wrote Jer. 15:16  “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”  From this passage the idea can be seen that this picture of eating the Word of God is reading it and making it a part of a believers life and this is done by spiritually digesting it and assimilating it into your life in the same way that when a person eats food it is first chewed and then digested and then it is assimilated into their body to actually becoming a part of their body.

The question as to why it would be sweet in John’s mouth and bitter in his stomach seems to mean that a person can get very excited about reading and understanding the prophetic Word of God, but after thinking about how wonderful this will be for all of the believers in Christ they also think about how awful it will be for those who have never accepted this grace that God has offered to all and will end up in the Christ-less eternity of hell.  This was the message that John was to pass on and it was very hard for him to do so because of his understanding of its outcome.

 

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that I have done a fairly good job in reading and studying the Word of God since I have become a believer, but not so good a job in assimilating it into my life especially when it comes to the problem areas of my life where I believe that God’s Word teaches me to memorize these verses that pertain to the problem areas and then meditate on them and have them become a part of my spiritual life.

 

The Word of God has been very, very challenging to my heart as I read it, and it was also very convicting to me too.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to begin to memorize the passage in 1 Thes. that I have tried to memorize and meditate on before, and by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit I will do a better job at it this time.

           

Announced Beforehand by God's Prophets (rev. 10:5-6)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

07/15/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Announced beforehand by God’s prophets

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 10:5-7

 

            Message of the verse:  “5  Then the mighty angel standing on the sea and on the land lifted his right hand to heaven.  6  And he swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, ‘God will wait no longer.  (NKJV)  7  But 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.”  (NLT)

            Dr. Wiersbe points out that this section of Revelations is the middle of the tribulation period and when the seventh angel blows his trumpet the last half of the tribulation period will begin and the judgments that will take place then will be even worse that those of the first half of the period.  There is kind of a laul at this point as far as the judgments are concerned and while this is going on this Angel, who is believed to be the Lord Jesus Christ swears by and oath in the Name of the God of creation that God will wait no longer and that the things that will soon be fulfilled have been announced by the prophets of old.  One of the earlier judgments saw those who have been murdered for their faith in heaven asking God how long it will be before He judges those who had murdered them, and the answer to that question is found in Peter’s writings where he writes, “9 ¶  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  Actually the whole chapter of 2Peter 3 is a good reference to answer those martyrs questions. 

            I want to focus in on the word “mysterious” of “mystery” as to how it is used in Scripture.  This word is not used in the same way one uses mystery in our English language where it means that the outcome is not know.  The word as used in the Bible means that God’s people know what is going on but those of the world system do not have a clue as to what is going on.  Jesus spoke of God blinding the eyes of some of the Jewish leaders when He was on earth, and it seems that they were blinded so that they could not understand these mysteries that were spoken of by the prophets.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It seems to me that some of what is spoken of in this section is about being patient and be willing to wait for God’s perfect timing, and this is what I have been trying to do when it comes to our investments with Andrew and also the money that Tim owes me.  God has a plan in all of this and it seems to me that part of that plan is to understand how He would want us to use these funds if the do indeed come in, but it also seems to me that God is saying to me that He is in control and I am to exercise my faith in this situation to make it stronger so that throughout all of this I will become more like my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

The Word of God has given me a challenge today as I studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord for His plans are perfect.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Philippians 4:8

 

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

           

God Does Not Always Tell Us Everything (Rev. 10:2a-4)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

07/14/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  God does not always tell us everything

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 10:2a-4

 

            Message of the verse:  “He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3  and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.  4  When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.’”

            It could be interpreted that when the angel put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land that He was claiming all of the earth.  The crying out like a lion shows power and as far as having the seven peals of thunder speak this could be God speaking, because the Scripture tells us that God’s voice is like the thunder.  As far as having what the seven peals of thunder sealed up something like this happened in the 12^th chapter of Daniel when he was told to seal up the book of prophecy.  “8  As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, "My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?"

9  He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.”  In the book of Deuteronomy chapter twenty-nine and verse twenty-nine we can learn that God does not tell us everything, however what He does tell us we need to follow. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am sure that there have been some people who have tried to figure out what it was that the seven peals of thunder spoke, but if God would have wanted me to know what it was that they spoke I am sure He would not have sealed it up and so I must trust Him in this just like I must trust Him when He does not tell me other things that He is doing in my life like this situation with my investments. 

 

 The Word of God was certainly a challenge to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord with all of my life including what is going on in Canada and what is suppose to go on in the Middle East that all has to do with our money.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Philippians 4:8

 

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there anything excellent and anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

The Lord Visits the Earth (Rev. 10:1-2)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

07/13/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  The Lord visits the earth

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 10:1-2

 

            Message of the verse:  “1 ¶  I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 2  and he had in his hand a little book which was open.”

            There is some controversy as to who this strong angel is, but some of the authors that I have read have said that this is the Lord Jesus Christ. There are reasons as to why some think this is the Lord and there are reasons as to why some think this is just another angel.  Dr. Macarthur believes this is an angel because of the wording in the Greek for the word translated another, for he says this means another of the same kind.  Dr. Wiersbe’s and Jeremiah say that because of the description of this angel that this is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is described as being clothed in a cloud having a rainbow around His head, with a face like the sun and feet like pillars of fire.  He also has a little book in His hand which contains more judgments for the earth and it was written in the fifth chapter that only the Lord Jesus Christ had the authority to open the book that contains the judgments that will come upon the earth.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  There are some things in the Word of God that seem to cause an argument like this passage.  There are some things in the Word of God that are worth stating your case about, and perhaps this is not one of them.  It is a good idea to stand up for the more meaningful things in the Scriptures like the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the type of baptism to be used, the tongues issue, the issue of not loosing your salvation.  I want to stand for the truth of the Scriptures and not get so upset about some of the things that do not matter as much.

 

The Word of God has challenged my heart today as I read it.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Trust the Lord to help me get along with my wife.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Philippians 4:8

 

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.       

           

No Repentance (Rev. 9:20-21)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

07/12/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  No Repentance

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 9:20-21

 

            Message of the verse:  “20  The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21  and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.”

            It is very hard for me to understand how the people of this time period, who have seen all of these things happen to their world, and they realize down deep in their hearts that God is the One who has brought all of these things upon the world, will not repent of the evil things that they have been doing, things that are described in these two verses. 

            As I look at our nation and in particular the liberal movement, I can see the very same thing happening, and not only in our country, but others around the world. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I must not look at this verse and see myself as a much better person than these, for if it were not for the grace and mercy of God I too would be in the same position as these people.  I must also learn from this verse that when I sin I need to confess and repent from the sins I have committed. 

 

The Word of God was convicting to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

 

 

 

Memory verse for the week:  Philippians 4:8

 

Finally, brethren whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

More Plagues (Rev. 9:18-19)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

07/08/2005

 

 

My Worship Time                  Focus: More Plagues

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 9:18 & 19

 

            Message of the verse:  “18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.  19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.”  (NAS95)  “18  One-third of all the people on earth were killed by these three plagues—by the fire and the smoke and burning sulfur that came from the mouths of the horses.  19 Their power was in their mouths, but also in their tails. For their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people.”  (NLT)

            The population of planet earth is shrinking because of these plagues, but these plagues only affect those who have turned their backs on Christ and have not sought Him out for the forgiveness of their sins even though they all know in their hearts that God is the One who is behind all of these judgments.  One third of mankind will be killed by these demons who are riding demonic horses.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “A couple of the things that I seen in these verses are that God will judge the ungodly people, even though at this time that I am living in now it does not seem that this will happen, and I believe the reason for this is that God’s cup of wrath is not full yet and it is not the time yet for all of this to happen.  I also see in this that God will take care of His own children, because they will not be affected by these plagues; however there will be many who will be killed by antichrist and his men, but not by these plagues. 

            I am thankful that the Lord is in complete control of all things, including those things in my life that do not seem, at this time, to be going well.

 

The Word of God was challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  As my temper seems to be getting shorter because of all of the challenges that I am facing, I need and want to again completely trust the Lord for His guidance and for His peace that passes all understanding and will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Philippians 4:8

 

And finally brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Horses & Their Riders (Rev. 9:16-17)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

07/07/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Horses and their riders.

 

Bible Reading & Meditation Reference:  Revelations 9:16 & 17

 

            Message of the verse:  “16  The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.  17  And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.”

            There has been some debate as to whether these horses and riders were human beings or whether they were some sort of demons like the ones that were described earlier that came up out of the pit and stung people.  Some believe that these are the armies of China, for China has boasted to have an army of two hundred million soldiers as far back as forty years ago. John says in verse 16 that someone gave him the number of two hundred million.  John again uses similes to describe the riders of the horses and also the horses themselves.   

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  There are many verses in this wonderful book that I do not understand, yet one thing is for sure and that is God is in control of all of these things that will take place, and He is also in control of all of the things that will take place in my life as well, and I can trust Him.

 

The Word of God was a challenge to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Because I believe that God is in control of all things in my life, I believe that He is also in control of the money that is owed to me by different people, and that He will work this all out for my good and for His glory.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Philippians 4:8

 

Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, and if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.