Antichrist's Speech (Rev. 13:5-6)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08/16/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Antichrist’s speech

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                             Reference:  Revelations 13: 5-6

 

            Message of the verse:  “5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.”  (NAS-95)  “5 The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months.

6 It yelled blasphemies against God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already dwelling with God in Heaven.”  (Message)

            Again it is good to be reminded that all of these things will happen in the second half of the tribulation, or the “Great Tribulation,” and also after Satan is expelled from heaven.  I would like to go back to a statement that Dr. Wiersbe made concerning the possibility of Satan being in heaven when the “Judgment Seat of Christ” was going on, as he would be accusing the brethren at that event.  If you couple that with a phrase in verse six, “Blaspheme…those who dwell in heaven,” this all begins to make more sense, for if Satan was at the Judgment Seat of Christ accusing the brethren and was then kicked out of heaven after that event then it would make sense that he would be blaspheming those who were at that event because his accusations did no good. 

            Verse five conveys that the antichrist is going to be a very arrogant person who will rule the earth for 3 and ½ years and will pretty much have his way while doing this as he will be able to kill anyone who gets in his way and there will probably be some from Israel and also Tribulation Saints who will give him some trouble, however he will not be able to kill all of them, as God will protect these believers.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Even though antichrist will be ruling this world when he comes to power, God will have him on a short leash so that he will not be able to do anything without it going through the sovereign fingers of God.  This is also true today and I can take great comfort in knowing this.

 

The Word of God a challenge to my heart as I read and studied it this evening.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Even though the news from Canada was not so good, I still trust the Lord will get us through this trial in a way that will be pleasing to us and also glorify the Lord.

A Fierce Beast (Rev. 13:2)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08/14/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  A fierce Beast

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 13:2

 

            Message of the verse:  “2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.”

            This verse gives a description of this beast and also who it was that gave him so much power.  Some of this description is similar to what Daniel has given of this beast from his writings.  John says that he is like a leopard, and a leopard has great speed and quickness so this could refer to antichrist’s ability to get things done in a hurry.  His feet are like a bear’s feet, and a bear has great strength, so this could show the strength of antichrist and his government.  His mouth is like the mouth of a lion, and a lion does a lot of growling with his mouth in order to frighten whatever is around him, and this could be the same thing that antichrist will do.  The verse goes on to say that it is the dragon or Satan that gives antichrist all of his power and authority.  This future antichrist will be possessed by Satan himself and so it will be like having Satan in a human body walking around the earth, for Satan will not be allowed in heaven from the mid-point of the tribulation on. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Satan is only a counterfeiter, in that he tries to do the things that only God can do and so as I live my life here on planet earth involved in the spiritual battle that is going on unseen around me I must be sure to put on my spiritual armor each and every day for Satan is always trying to trick those who are followers of Jesus Christ.

 

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

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord with all of the things going on in my life, and trust Him to get me to church this morning without any stomach troubles. 

Antichrist the Beast (Rev. 13:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08/13/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Antichrist the beast

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Revelations 13:1

 

            Message of the verse:  “1. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.”  (NIV)

            In the AV account the word “I” is used in place of the word “dragon” and is some of the other translations the word “he” is used.  It seems that most translators believe that it was Satan who was standing on the shore of the sea.  The “sea” in many parts of the Scriptures means the nations or the Gentile nations as in a sea of humanity.  The next part of this verse speaks of a beast coming up out of the sea so this would mean that this beast is coming up out of the Gentile nations, and because he is described as a beast he cannot be a nice person, for this is the description of Antichrist.  This beast is described to have ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns.  Horns usually represent power, political power, when used in the Bible and this person will have very much power.  These ten horns represent ten nations, and most feel this is speaking of a re-built Roman Empire.  I believe that the seven heads represent seven nations, for when antichrist comes into power three of the nations will not want him as their leader but he will force them to come under his power.  There are ten crowns on his horns that represent the ten rulers. As this vision of the beast, (antichrist) continues in the later verses of this chapter it will become clearer.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  God has allowed His readers to have a glimpse of what will happen in the future through the writings of John in this wonderful book of Revelations and it is important that I do not get so caught up in what the possible meaning of this book is, even though that is important to know, and to focus on what God would have me to do each day of my life.  Prophecy is a very important part of God’s Word, but it is important to see the whole picture and not just get caught up in what the prophecy is all about.  Jesus Christ and the salvation He has provided is the central theme of the Bible and I must keep my focus on that, and prophecy is a part of that.

 

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

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord, knowing that He is the One who is in control, trust Him to do the things that James wrote about in the first chapter of His letter:  2  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  4  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  (James 1:2-4)

 

God Is In Control (Rev. 12:15-16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08/12/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  God is in control

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 12: 15-17

 

            Message of the verse:  “15  And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.

16  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17  And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

            There are times in this wonderful book that it is difficult to understand for sure whether John is giving the picture of using descriptive language that is just symbolism and that is the case here, at least, for me.  The spiritual truth that I gain from this section is that God takes care of His own people no matter how much Satan tries to destroy them, and if one looks at history one can see that the Jews have been targeted by Satan ever since they were a small family living only in the Middle East. 

            I will give only one explanation as to what the flood and the earth opening it’s mouth to swallow up this flood might mean.  John could well be speaking of a flood of people, or an army that antichrist will send after these Jews, and it could be that there will be an earthquake that will happen to swallow up this army that is sent to pursue Israel.  If one looks at different Scriptures from the OT there are word pictures that describe similar things.  Isaiah 59:19  “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”  (AV)  Numbers 16:31 “ Then it came about as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground that was under them split open; 32  and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah, with their possessions.” (NASB)  Numbers 16 speaks of the rebellion of Korah and the results of their rebellion are seen in these two verses.

            Satan became very angry when the Lord protected Israel, so he went off to cause much trouble with the rest of the offspring of Israel.  It is possible that there will be many in Israel who did not choose to go to this place where God will care for those who have gone there and so these are the ones who Satan will try and destroy.  It is also possible that Satan will be going after the “Tribulation Saints” too, and tries to destroy them.  At any rate Satan realizing how little time he has and will try and destroy as many as he can, however if we look at Rev. 6: 11 “And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”  Only so many will die for the cause of Christ during the Tribulation Period, and according to this verse God has that number already taken care of.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  These verses teach me that I, like all other believers, has an enemy that would kill me right now if I did not have the God of heaven protecting me.  I do believe that if I obey God, and do the things that He has prepared for me to do way back in eternity past, (see Ephesians 2:10), and not get caught up in some terrible consistent sin, that God will keep me here on this earth until my task in finished.  My hope has always been ever since I first came to know the Lord was that I would be one of the ones who will go in the rapture alive, as Paul described it in 1Cor. 15 and also 1Thes. 4.

The Word of God has brought refreshment to my heart as I read it this morning, and it has also challenged me too.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Live my life like I realize the truth that God is in control.

Memory verse for the week:  1Thes. 4:3-8

 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor; not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.  For God has not called you for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.  So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

 

On the Wings of Eagles (Rev. 12:13-14)

SPIRITIUAL DIARY FOR 08/11/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  On the wings of Eagles

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations12:13-14 

 

            Message of the verse:  “  13  And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.  14  And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, in order that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.”

            As seen in the last few verses of this chapter Satan has been thrown out of heaven and is now taking out his anger on the nation of Israel and this is exactly what verse thirteen is saying, for the woman who gave birth to the male child is the nation of Israel. 

            All of these events take place at the beginning of the last half of the tribulation period, which is when antichrist goes into the re-built temple in Jerusalem and desecrates it as was told about in the book of Daniel and also in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus was speaking about this in His Olivet Discourse in chapters 24 & 25.  Jesus forewarned the Nation of Israel that when they saw this event happening, that is the desecration of the temple, that they should flee the city and not come back for there would be much trouble going on there for them after this event.  Verse 14 tells that the escape for the remnant of Israel will be on eagles’ wings and that “she” will be taken to a certain place where she will be nourished for three and a half years, or until the end of the tribulation period.  How do we understand what these eagles’ wings are all about?  As I have said before the rest of the Scriptures are the best commentary for the book of Revelations and it can be noted in a number of places that this description was also given to the nation of Israel when God brought them out of Egypt.  Exodus. 19:4 has this to say about it:  “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.’”  How God does this is not as important as the fact that He will accomplish it just as He has said He will.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Dr. Wiersbe said in his book on Revelations about this section that “God cares for those whom He wants to use to accomplish His purposes on earth.”  As a part of the body of Christ, the Church I believe that God will take care of me here on earth until my job is done and then He will take me to heaven to ever be with my Savior and Lord.

 

The Word of God has been a challenge to my heart and refreshment to my soul as I read it and studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  As I look back on the past thirty-two years of living with my wife I can see the faithfulness of God and am thankful for these wonderful memories that have been made.  I can also be thankful that God, according to His Word which cannot be wrong, that God will continue to take care of us and use us for His glory until it is time for us to go home and be with Him forever and ever.  God is faithful and God is in control.

Memory verses for the week:  1Thes. 4:3-8

 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor; not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.  For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

 

The Saints Overcoming Satan (Rev. 12:11-12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-10-2005

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  The saints overcoming Satan

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 12:11-12

 

            Message of the verse:  “11  ‘And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.  12   For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.’”

            This verse and the next continue what is said by the voice that John hears from heaven.  Verse 11 describes how the believers who are on the earth defeat Satan, and they do it because of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In John’s first letter he also deals with a person overcoming by the blood of the Lamb.  These believers also overcome by their testimony, and also because they did not love their lives so much that they were not willing to lie it down for the cause of Christ.  Jesus Christ laid down His life for everyone in the world, and those who have accepted His forgiveness realize this and thus are willing to do the same.

            Verse twelve tells a story of two places and in one there is rejoicing and in the other there is big trouble about to begin.  Rejoicing because Satan was thrown out of heaven and trouble because he goes to earth knowing that there is little time for him left. 

            Going through the book of Revelations this time has given me a much clearer knowledge about the timing of things and all of the things described in these verses happens at the mid point of the tribulation, so that will mean that Satan will be on earth for the last three and a half years of the tribulation period and at the end of it will be thrown into the lake of fire for 1000 years by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I look at these things and think about the song that I heard on the radio this morning, “God is in Control,” and also think of how it seemed so real that God spoke to my heart about this very fact, I can only praise Him for being in control.  As I was listening to the Indians baseball game last night they were down by five runs going into the 9^th inning and it was if the Lord was speaking to my heart that He would show me a sign that he was in control of the investment problems by causing the Indians to will the game and thus I had confidence that they would win and they not only won, but it was the way that they won that convinced me that God was truly causing this to show me that He was indeed in control of these matters.  I said to the Lord that He did not need to do this because I know that He is in control of these matters, but He seemed to say that He would do it anyway.  This is not the first time that this happened to me.  It happened in May of 1981 right before David was going to go in for his open-heart surgery and God seemed to say that He was going to cause the Indians to come back from what was a sure defeat and win the ball game.  I remember that the manager seemed to make a mistake and lost his DH and the Indians picture had to bat and he got a hit, which helped win the ball game for the Tribe.  I told the Lord at that time too that He did not need to give me a sign because I was not asking for one and trusted Him completely that the surgery was completely in His will, but He seemed to say at that time that He would do it anyway and He did.  All I can say that is in all of this I am thankful for these signs, as they do not happen to often in my life, however I do trust the Lord completely that He is in control of all of these events and just like the horrible events that will take place in the tribulation period He is in control of them too.

 

The Word of God has brought refreshment to my heart as I studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I do trust the Lord, as I know that He is in control of all theses seemingly bad things that going on in my life.  I trust Him to work them out for our good and for His glory.

Memory verses for the week:  1Thes. 4:3-8

 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor; not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.  For God did not call us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.  So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

 

Praise Because Satan is Gone from Heaven (Rev. 12:10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08/09/2005

 

My Worship Time                              Focus:  Praises because Satan is gone from heaven

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 12:10

            Message of the verse:  “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 brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.’”

            This verse makes it a little bit more clearer the things that Dr. Wiersbe has written concerning Satan being there at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because the one who speaks in this verse is said to be in heaven and what is said is praise because the accuser is now gone, and he had been accusing the saints day and night before he was thrown out of heaven.  The first part of the verse is a statement of praise that the kingdom of God and the authority of His Christ have come, and also salvation and power have come.  This seems to be the case for those who are in heaven and the reason is because Satan is gone and will not be allowed in heaven ever again.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This verse is a part of the hope that lies within me, that is that one day I will be with my Lord Jesus Christ in heaven and that my salvation will be complete and lack nothing, and that I will no longer be affected by sin ever again, and that will be a wonderful day indeed.

 

The Word of God was refreshment to my soul as I studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord for His timing on all of the  issues that are going on in my life today.  I cannot be involved in all of this timing for I would only make a bigger mess of things that they already are.

Memory verses for the week:  1Thes. 4:3-8

 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor; not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the manner because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.  For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.  So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.