Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 29

Day 29

Revelation 20:11-15

[Rev. 20:11] ¶ Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. [Rev. 20:12] And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. [Rev. 20:13] The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. [Rev. 20:14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. [Rev. 20:15] If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire. 

“All good things come to an end” is only the first of what should be considered an incomplete expression. A latter half should be added, “so that something better can start.” Scientists tell us that the universe is winding down. Eventually, the energy that is within the cosmos will dissipate and with it the very fabric that binds all matter. Perhaps what John foresees, “earth and sky fled away” is Biblical language for what scientists tell us will happen. Time as we know it will come to an end. When it does the Judge of the Universe will be seated in judgment before Whom all will appear.

The Apostle Paul told us that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). That will happen most honourably and most horribly on this “Last Day” (John 6:39-44; 11:24; 12:48). I have chosen to make my confession on that Day one of honour. Have you?

On this Day, the books will be opened. The Scriptures speaks of God keeping “books” in which our deeds are recorded, our prayers are registered, and our words transcribed. While these books are important, they are less important than the Book mentioned in the closing verse of this chapter: the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8).  

The Book of Life is a separate book to the books that record of deeds, prayers and words which means that there is another reason why someone's name would be placed in it. This reason is grounded in the grace of God. That is, it is not because we ‘do’ something that we are saved from sin and made right before God. Christianity is not spelt -D-O-, rather (because of Christ’s saving work on our behalf) it is spelt: -D-O-N-E-. Every believer should memorise Ephesians 2:8-9. But every believer should understand that God will open “books” not just “the Book”. That is, while it is on the basis of the truth proclaimed in Ephesians 2:8-9 that our names are written in the Book of Life, it is on the basis of Ephesians 2:10 that our positive deeds, prayers and words are recorded in “books”. 

Good works are not the root of our salvation - they are the fruit of our salvation! What you do, pray, and say, matters. And it will matter for eternity. If you have not yet determined to glorify God with your talents, time, tongue or treasure, maybe in light of the “books” of God it might be a good day to start doing so.

Andrew Corbett

http://www.andrewcorbett.net/e-books/index.html#tmebitb

Revelation Daily Devotional - Day 20

Day 20

Revelation 13:1-14

[Rev. 13:1] ¶ Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. [Rev. 13:2] Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. [Rev. 13:3] One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; [Rev. 13:4] they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?” [Rev. 13:5] The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. [Rev. 13:6] So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. [Rev. 13:7] The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, [Rev. 13:8] and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. [Rev. 13:9] If anyone has an ear, he had better listen! [Rev. 13:10] If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. ¶ This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints. [Rev. 13:11] ¶ Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. [Rev. 13:12] He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. [Rev. 13:13] He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people [Rev. 13:14] and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived.

This is perhaps the most contentious chapter in this Revelation. More speculation has been generated over the identity of this mysterious character known as “the beast” than any other mysterious figure in human history. With so much attention, it strikes me as odd that several obvious things are overlooked. Firstly, there are two beasts identified in this chapter. A ‘beast’ was an Old Testament expression for a godless ruler. The prophet Daniel establishes this. ‘From across the sea’ signifies that this particular godless ruler will not be from the (Promised) ‘Land’ (Israel). One of these two beasts is from across the sea. But the other beast is from the Land (Greek word, “ge”). Secondly, John states that with “wisdom” his readers could identify who the first beast is using the common practice of gematria (where letters have numerical value). It’s difficult to see how anyone in the first century, even with infinite wisdom, could know of any identity in the 21st Century! 

This makes me wonder about how people can overlook relatively obvious things, such as these two points I have just made. But perhaps this is how some people generally read the Bible - straining at minutiae details while missing the large and obvious. To read the Book of Revelation as if it were a prognosticator’s tea-cup filled with mysterious tea-leaves predictions about our future is perhaps to miss the grandest point that this Book is making: Jesus Christ is Lord. Beasts may rant and oppose, but Christ will be vindicated!

Those who oppose Christ, do so at their peril. Fighting against God has a certain inevitability about it. Fighting against His children has a certain and sure consequence to it! The original readers benefited from this truth. Modern readers can as well.

Andrew Corbett

www.andrewcorbett.net