What a wonderful way to end the year, with a reminder of our glorious hope and future in Christ. We see in Chp 19 the marriage supper of the Lamb, Christ’s love for His bride, the church. (Eph 5:25-33) We see a new heaven and earth. We see a rider on a white horse, the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, dressed in fine linen white and with the armies of heaven following Him. We also see Satan’s outcome and doom.
Things seem to have come a full circle with the book of Revelation to end off the Bible. There is a strong contrast between the first three chapters of Genesis and the last three chapters of Revelation.
God created heaven and earth in the beginning (Gen 1:11), and we see that God will create a new heaven and earth when Christ comes again. (Rev 21:1) In fact, God will make everything new. (Rev 22:5) The pain and curse of the Fall, of our sin, taken away for good! (Rev 22:3)
Imagine, a place with “…no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 22: 4) No more tears because God will personally wipe them away. No more good-byes, no more heart-aches. God will dwell with men then and men will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. (Rev 22:4) God with us! The intimacy of fellowship with God that He has created us for!
This is God’s promise to all the saints who patiently endure and remains faithful
“He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
(Rev 21: 7)
Revelation closes with Christ’s thrice-repeated promise: “Behold, I come quickly” (Rev 22: 7, 12, 20) Even as we mark the passing of another year and usher in a new year, does it feel like the second coming of Christ is becoming nearer? How do you feel about that? Do you, like John who wrote Revelation, eagerly anticipate His coming again with a “come, Lord”? Or have you lost that love or even longing for your Lord? Is your mind and heart occupied by something else?
Start the New Year right, begin it with the Lord. Do a “spring-cleaning” of your heart this day. Leave behind and let go of all the baggage and burdens of worry, unforgiveness, discouragement, pain and sin. Start the New Year right. Will you be like the five foolish virgins or five wise virgins? (Matt 25: 1-13) Would you be prepared when Jesus comes again?
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Revelations 12 - 18 (30th December) - Weiling
The chapters ahead in Revelations may seem a little abstract, filled with seemingly mythological creatures. It is sometimes hard to confirm exactly what some of the creatures represent. Some are prophecies of the end time that we will only know when it unfolds. I will not attempt to interpret all of it but to just highlight some interesting points :)
This is how we overcome
In chapter 12, we read about a woman giving birth to a son and a dragon that threatened to devour the child. It is not immediately clear who the woman is, or who she represents. However, we know that the dragon is Satan as it was pointed out. The woman’s child is likely referring to Jesus; a male child “who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter”. (Ps 2:9; Rev 2:27) We see that the dragon “went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (Rev 12:17) Satan is on the war path, because “…he is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” (Rev 12:12)
But we know that the victory is in the Lord and that we shall over come. Satan shall be overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the saints’ (that’s us) testimony. (Rev 12:11) Indeed, let us also be aware of the spiritual realm of things aside from the physical of what we can see and touch. Let us be alert to stand firm and pray and resist the devil.
Patient endurance and faithfulness
“…This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” (Rev 13:10) “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Rev 14:12) We can see a similar call to the saints in these two verses to be faithful and to patiently endure; which can only mean that there will be tough times. But we see that from Rev 15 on that God will mete out judgment and that He is in control. We have the final victory!
This is how we overcome
In chapter 12, we read about a woman giving birth to a son and a dragon that threatened to devour the child. It is not immediately clear who the woman is, or who she represents. However, we know that the dragon is Satan as it was pointed out. The woman’s child is likely referring to Jesus; a male child “who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter”. (Ps 2:9; Rev 2:27) We see that the dragon “went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (Rev 12:17) Satan is on the war path, because “…he is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” (Rev 12:12)
But we know that the victory is in the Lord and that we shall over come. Satan shall be overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the saints’ (that’s us) testimony. (Rev 12:11) Indeed, let us also be aware of the spiritual realm of things aside from the physical of what we can see and touch. Let us be alert to stand firm and pray and resist the devil.
Patient endurance and faithfulness
“…This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” (Rev 13:10) “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Rev 14:12) We can see a similar call to the saints in these two verses to be faithful and to patiently endure; which can only mean that there will be tough times. But we see that from Rev 15 on that God will mete out judgment and that He is in control. We have the final victory!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Revelations 6 - 11 (29th December) - Sky
Revelations 6
Here there were 7 seals released although only 6 were revealed in this chapter, each with a different impact, different disaster.
1st seal- We see here a conqueror bent on conquest, it probably paint a picture of a powerful, destructive force of military conquest. The three riders the conqueror is grouped with here is violence, famine and death.
2nd seal – this seal a red fiery horse, the rider was holding a large sword was released, whom brought chaos among the world.
3rd seal – this seal a black horse, the rider was holding scales who brought famine to the world. V6 describes how terrible the famine will be.
4th seal – Now we see a pale horse and its rider has a name call Death. ¼ of the earth will be killed by him by the sword, famine and plague.
5th seal – these souls were perhaps the martyrs, one early Christian interestingly wrote “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
6th seal – you see nature destructive self
Revelations 7
In this chapter we see 5 angels, 4 is to destroy the land while the 5 has the seal to save the servants of our God. As servants of God we have been promises protection from his wrath, though not necessarily from all physical danger. Interestingly, later in revelation a similar marking indicates the followers of the beast who will be singled out to receive God’s fury.
Revelations 8
The last seal is being released we see an angel taking a golden censer filling it with fire and sending destruction to earth.
Angels given the 7 trumpets, each trumpet when blown will have a different disaster or impact.
1st trumpet – probably a hailstorm burning up 1/3 of the earth
2nd trumpet – huge mountain thrown into the sea killing 1/3 of sea creatures and turning the sea into blood
3rd trumpet – water was undrinkable causing death
4th trumpet – the sun, moon, stars all turned dark. 1/3 of the days were without light
Revelations 9
5th trumpet – the opening of the abyss causing suffering among the people who do not have the seal of God
6th trumpet – killing 1/3 of mankind by three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur.
Revelations 10
Another angel came down with a scroll for John to eat. Eating a scroll symbolizes accepting the scroll’s message. The message is sweet, because it announces salvation and bitter because it proclaims harsh judgment to the world.
The mystery of God being accomplished here usually refers to God’s strategy to redeem people through Christ. His purpose in history that the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord.
Revelations 11
The 2 witness bring to my mind is Moses and Elijah who were able to turn the waters into blood, call down the fire that devour their enemies and shut up the sky so that it will not rain. Moses and Elijah represent the Law and prophecy, both of which give testimony to Christ. The Hebrew people held that at least 2 witnesses were needed to establish the truth of legal testimony.
The 7th trumpet was sounded here and the judgment was over. The people in heaven were to give thanks and to declare Christ reign for ever and ever on the Kingdom of the world.
Here there were 7 seals released although only 6 were revealed in this chapter, each with a different impact, different disaster.
1st seal- We see here a conqueror bent on conquest, it probably paint a picture of a powerful, destructive force of military conquest. The three riders the conqueror is grouped with here is violence, famine and death.
2nd seal – this seal a red fiery horse, the rider was holding a large sword was released, whom brought chaos among the world.
3rd seal – this seal a black horse, the rider was holding scales who brought famine to the world. V6 describes how terrible the famine will be.
4th seal – Now we see a pale horse and its rider has a name call Death. ¼ of the earth will be killed by him by the sword, famine and plague.
5th seal – these souls were perhaps the martyrs, one early Christian interestingly wrote “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
6th seal – you see nature destructive self
Revelations 7
In this chapter we see 5 angels, 4 is to destroy the land while the 5 has the seal to save the servants of our God. As servants of God we have been promises protection from his wrath, though not necessarily from all physical danger. Interestingly, later in revelation a similar marking indicates the followers of the beast who will be singled out to receive God’s fury.
Revelations 8
The last seal is being released we see an angel taking a golden censer filling it with fire and sending destruction to earth.
Angels given the 7 trumpets, each trumpet when blown will have a different disaster or impact.
1st trumpet – probably a hailstorm burning up 1/3 of the earth
2nd trumpet – huge mountain thrown into the sea killing 1/3 of sea creatures and turning the sea into blood
3rd trumpet – water was undrinkable causing death
4th trumpet – the sun, moon, stars all turned dark. 1/3 of the days were without light
Revelations 9
5th trumpet – the opening of the abyss causing suffering among the people who do not have the seal of God
6th trumpet – killing 1/3 of mankind by three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur.
Revelations 10
Another angel came down with a scroll for John to eat. Eating a scroll symbolizes accepting the scroll’s message. The message is sweet, because it announces salvation and bitter because it proclaims harsh judgment to the world.
The mystery of God being accomplished here usually refers to God’s strategy to redeem people through Christ. His purpose in history that the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord.
Revelations 11
The 2 witness bring to my mind is Moses and Elijah who were able to turn the waters into blood, call down the fire that devour their enemies and shut up the sky so that it will not rain. Moses and Elijah represent the Law and prophecy, both of which give testimony to Christ. The Hebrew people held that at least 2 witnesses were needed to establish the truth of legal testimony.
The 7th trumpet was sounded here and the judgment was over. The people in heaven were to give thanks and to declare Christ reign for ever and ever on the Kingdom of the world.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Revelation 1 - 5 (28th December) - Andrew
Chapter 1
“Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him – even those who pierced him…”
- verse 7
The book of Revelation talked about the things that will happen in the near future and some of the things discuss in it had already happened. And the most awaited one is the second coming of Jesus Christ.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God…
- verse 8
Yes. Our God is the beginning and the end. He first created the heaven and the earth and when Judgment Day comes, He will end everything on earth. People will be judged according to what they had done good or evil.
Chapter 2
Firstly, this chapter talked about the church in Ephesus.
“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches…”
- verse 7
So always pray for an open heart and mind before coming to church for service.
From what Apostle John wrote to the church in Ephesus, it seemed that the people in the church don’t tolerate evil people but somehow they don’t love him or each other (they did not fulfilled the greatest commandment)
“This is the first and the greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Matthew 22:38-39
After that Apostle John wrote another letter to the church in Smyrna.
Church in Smyrna = the church of persecution
And then to the church in Pergamum
“I know that you live in the city where that great throne of Satan is located, and yet you have remained loyal to me…”
- verse 13
Praise God who always save us from Satan.
Somehow the people from the church in Pergamum commited idolatry and also sexual sins.
“Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
- verse 16
At this moment, repent to God whatever sins you know you are still holding on to and place it at the foot of the cross.
After that is the letter to the church in Thyatira.
“To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations.”
- verse 26
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.”
- chapter 3 verse 5
This is a year of…. VICTORY! Let’s finish this year victorious and continue to perserver on to obey God.
Chapter 3
“…Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again. Unless you do, I will come upon you suddenly as unexpected as a thief.”
- verses 2-3
Now take this moment again to reflect back when is the first time you receive Christ and let God be your heavenly Father. Remember your first love for Christ.
And then to the church in Philadelphia.
“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.”
- verse 10
Enough said.
Lastly, to the church in Laodicea.
“But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
- verse 16
God doesn’t like lukewarm water (lukewarm Christians). Either you are fully for God or you are fully against Him. Not in-between.
Chapter 4
This chapter talked about how worship is going to be like in heaven.
“…Day after day and night after night they keep on saying…”
- verse 8
Yes. Worship is forever in heaven. It is continous in heaven.
Chapter 5
This chapter talked about how Jesus (the Lamb) has conquered the earth and ransomed the people on earth for God.
“Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him – even those who pierced him…”
- verse 7
The book of Revelation talked about the things that will happen in the near future and some of the things discuss in it had already happened. And the most awaited one is the second coming of Jesus Christ.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God…
- verse 8
Yes. Our God is the beginning and the end. He first created the heaven and the earth and when Judgment Day comes, He will end everything on earth. People will be judged according to what they had done good or evil.
Chapter 2
Firstly, this chapter talked about the church in Ephesus.
“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches…”
- verse 7
So always pray for an open heart and mind before coming to church for service.
From what Apostle John wrote to the church in Ephesus, it seemed that the people in the church don’t tolerate evil people but somehow they don’t love him or each other (they did not fulfilled the greatest commandment)
“This is the first and the greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Matthew 22:38-39
After that Apostle John wrote another letter to the church in Smyrna.
Church in Smyrna = the church of persecution
And then to the church in Pergamum
“I know that you live in the city where that great throne of Satan is located, and yet you have remained loyal to me…”
- verse 13
Praise God who always save us from Satan.
Somehow the people from the church in Pergamum commited idolatry and also sexual sins.
“Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
- verse 16
At this moment, repent to God whatever sins you know you are still holding on to and place it at the foot of the cross.
After that is the letter to the church in Thyatira.
“To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations.”
- verse 26
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.”
- chapter 3 verse 5
This is a year of…. VICTORY! Let’s finish this year victorious and continue to perserver on to obey God.
Chapter 3
“…Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again. Unless you do, I will come upon you suddenly as unexpected as a thief.”
- verses 2-3
Now take this moment again to reflect back when is the first time you receive Christ and let God be your heavenly Father. Remember your first love for Christ.
And then to the church in Philadelphia.
“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.”
- verse 10
Enough said.
Lastly, to the church in Laodicea.
“But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
- verse 16
God doesn’t like lukewarm water (lukewarm Christians). Either you are fully for God or you are fully against Him. Not in-between.
Chapter 4
This chapter talked about how worship is going to be like in heaven.
“…Day after day and night after night they keep on saying…”
- verse 8
Yes. Worship is forever in heaven. It is continous in heaven.
Chapter 5
This chapter talked about how Jesus (the Lamb) has conquered the earth and ransomed the people on earth for God.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
2 John 1, 3 John 1 (27th December) - Li Juan
2 John 1
The greatest commandment in the Bible is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength, followed by Love our neighbor as ourselves. In this book, it reminds us again that we need to love one another. Loving is also walking in obedience to His commands. Do not be deceived by anyone who is not of God, always pray for God’s protection and discernment.
3 John 1
Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Let us continue to do good for the sake of the Name, even though we might receive no help from anyone of the world. Yet, trust that God will send His provision along the way.
The greatest commandment in the Bible is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength, followed by Love our neighbor as ourselves. In this book, it reminds us again that we need to love one another. Loving is also walking in obedience to His commands. Do not be deceived by anyone who is not of God, always pray for God’s protection and discernment.
3 John 1
Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Let us continue to do good for the sake of the Name, even though we might receive no help from anyone of the world. Yet, trust that God will send His provision along the way.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
1 John 1 - 5 (26th December) - Quanwei
The Lord’s message is very simple: He is light & He will not allow us to walk in darkness. He doesn’t want us to be liars when we proclaim we have fellowship in Him but yet still choosing to live in sins. In fact, the Lord also said that we are deceiving ourselves if we claim to be sinless in Him. And by doing all these things, His words will have no place in our lives!
But thank God that as long we humble ourselves & confess our sins to Him, He is faithful & will cleanse us from our sins! And when we choose to walk in His light, we will be able to have fellowship with our fellow brothers & sisters in Christ without any shame!
He also reminds us that in order to walk in His light, we can’t love the world or anything in this world. I know this is a struggle to most of us because sometimes things from the world are precious to us & it’s not easy for us to let go of it. But yet, these are the things that will also draw us away from God & thus fall from His grace. However if we choose to do His will & not get too involved in things of the world, We will live forever in Him just as He has promised us when we received Him as our personal Lord & saviour.
The Lord Himself also reminded us the importance of love. God Himself is love! A love not from us but from God who enables us to love one another. In fact this is the second greatest commandment from God Himself where He wants to see us loving one another. He wants us to act out our love for one another through our actions & not merely by words. The Lord even said that whoever hates his brother or sister, he or she is a murderer & will have no eternal life. When we really love the people around us, we will also know God more in our lives & that He is greater than our hearts! And how do we know all these? We know it by the Holy Spirit that He has deposited in us.
The Lord also wants us to be careful of what we hear because we’re into the last days & there are false prophets around. In fact if we’re not careful, we might even just want to hear what we want to hear & neglect the words of God. He who denies the Son or the Father is a liar & will not inherit the promises of God in his life! Therefore be careful of what we hear & ask God to give you a discerning spirit to know the good & the evil.
In conclusion, I believe these 5 chapters are telling us to live a life to please God by loving Him & the people around us. We don’t have to sin anymore because Christ Himself has died for us on the cross & we have been set free! And when we do that, The Lord will hears us when we ask for anything according to His will. We also need to be careful of how we live our lives & hearing His words clearly. Do not be easily deceived by Satan & know that God will guide your heart when you choose to live in Him! Let’s continue to walk in His light & shine for the Lord always!
But thank God that as long we humble ourselves & confess our sins to Him, He is faithful & will cleanse us from our sins! And when we choose to walk in His light, we will be able to have fellowship with our fellow brothers & sisters in Christ without any shame!
He also reminds us that in order to walk in His light, we can’t love the world or anything in this world. I know this is a struggle to most of us because sometimes things from the world are precious to us & it’s not easy for us to let go of it. But yet, these are the things that will also draw us away from God & thus fall from His grace. However if we choose to do His will & not get too involved in things of the world, We will live forever in Him just as He has promised us when we received Him as our personal Lord & saviour.
The Lord Himself also reminded us the importance of love. God Himself is love! A love not from us but from God who enables us to love one another. In fact this is the second greatest commandment from God Himself where He wants to see us loving one another. He wants us to act out our love for one another through our actions & not merely by words. The Lord even said that whoever hates his brother or sister, he or she is a murderer & will have no eternal life. When we really love the people around us, we will also know God more in our lives & that He is greater than our hearts! And how do we know all these? We know it by the Holy Spirit that He has deposited in us.
The Lord also wants us to be careful of what we hear because we’re into the last days & there are false prophets around. In fact if we’re not careful, we might even just want to hear what we want to hear & neglect the words of God. He who denies the Son or the Father is a liar & will not inherit the promises of God in his life! Therefore be careful of what we hear & ask God to give you a discerning spirit to know the good & the evil.
In conclusion, I believe these 5 chapters are telling us to live a life to please God by loving Him & the people around us. We don’t have to sin anymore because Christ Himself has died for us on the cross & we have been set free! And when we do that, The Lord will hears us when we ask for anything according to His will. We also need to be careful of how we live our lives & hearing His words clearly. Do not be easily deceived by Satan & know that God will guide your heart when you choose to live in Him! Let’s continue to walk in His light & shine for the Lord always!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Jude 1, 2 Peter 1 - 3 (25th December) - Karen
As we read the letters from both Jude and Peter, we can see similar themes in these two passages. Both are written to remind the church the need for constant vigilance on false teachings and prophets; to grow and be strong in the faith and to oppose heresy.
The warnings from these two authors can be summarised as the following:
a. False Teachers
Jude warns against false teachers and leaders who reject the lordship of Christ, undermine the faith of others and lead them astray. These ‘leaders’ and those that follow them will be punished
b. Apostasy
This refers to turning away from Christ. We are to remember that God punishes rebellion against him. We must be careful not to drift away from a faithful commitment to Christ. If our faith is real, it will be evident in our faithful people. We must be diligent in our Christian growth.
Warnings come in various forms, e.g. signs, sounds, sights, smells, feelings or written words. Their purpose is the same; to advice us to be alert and caution us of imminent danger. Responses to these warnings also vary; from disregard and neglect to corrective action. How a person reacts to a warning is usually determined by the situation and the source of the warning.
Having read these scriptures already, what will be your decision like when the “situation” that the warning refers to happens? Would you heed the warning or would you disregard its importance. Make that decision today before God today, before the warning becomes a reality.
The warnings from these two authors can be summarised as the following:
a. False Teachers
Jude warns against false teachers and leaders who reject the lordship of Christ, undermine the faith of others and lead them astray. These ‘leaders’ and those that follow them will be punished
b. Apostasy
This refers to turning away from Christ. We are to remember that God punishes rebellion against him. We must be careful not to drift away from a faithful commitment to Christ. If our faith is real, it will be evident in our faithful people. We must be diligent in our Christian growth.
Warnings come in various forms, e.g. signs, sounds, sights, smells, feelings or written words. Their purpose is the same; to advice us to be alert and caution us of imminent danger. Responses to these warnings also vary; from disregard and neglect to corrective action. How a person reacts to a warning is usually determined by the situation and the source of the warning.
Having read these scriptures already, what will be your decision like when the “situation” that the warning refers to happens? Would you heed the warning or would you disregard its importance. Make that decision today before God today, before the warning becomes a reality.
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