FBC Daily Devotions

The vision of John in Rev. 15:2 -3 reveals a group of people standing on a sea of glass and fire – those who stood firm and victorious over the beast. Interesting that they are said to be victorious and yet that have apparently died…

They seen to be singing “the Song of Moses”. It seems appropriate then, for today, to consider what that song was. We find the Song of Moses in the book of Exodus immediately following the crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of the enemies caught in the flood of the unrestrained waters.

For today, read, reflect, and respond to the Song of Moses in Exodus  15:1-18. This is a powerful song of praise that has so many great features to encourage us. How does this passage encourage you?

As we move through the book of Revelation, we now reach the height of God’s wrath described as seven plagues or bowls to be executed upon the rebellious who remain on the earth at that time. This is it. This is the end. From here until we reach chapter 21, the description of God’s wrath is terrifying. It does little justice to the text for me to simply try to dissect it. Its meaning is pretty clear. God hates evil, and He will do away with it with as much force as there is evil.

Consequently, for the next several weeks, I am going to give you passages of Scripture to reflect on. I’d like you to simply read, reflect, and respond in some way. One way to encourage all who read these devotions, is to share a reflective thought from the reading. I’d like you consider adding your reflections to the website. We often run through life without slowing down enough to consider God’s Word in our life, if only for one day. What is God impressing upon you today?  You can share those thoughts two ways on the devotional webpage: 1) by clicking on “comments” at the bottom of the post, or 2) by clicking on the title of the post, and that will take you to a new page which enables you to post a reply at the bottom of the page. Perhaps the easiest way for some is to simply email me (mike@fbcseattle.org).  I encourage you throughout the week to visit the devotional webpage to read through some of the responses (www.fbcseattle.org/devotions).

For today, reflect on all of chapter 15. It is the prelude to the final wrath of God. What is He impressing upon you in this chapter?

by Mike Kurtz

Read Revelation 14:14-20.

All I can say after reading this passage is, “Woe to the ones who fail to fear God and give Him glory!” Angels are described as sweeping the earth with sharp sickles reaping the followers of the coming Anti-Christ like grapes ready for wine. Those reaped will experience what is described as grapes crushed through a winepress, whose blood will run far and high. It is a horrific ending to evil life on earth.

The death of so many people may not seem justifiable. How could so many people be wrong? It is a telling indication of Satan’s deception in this world. We will read in coming chapters the severity of God’s wrath on those deceived, and yet they will not turn. People may be deceived, but it is still their responsibility to find the truth. Jesus says, “Seek and you shall find” in referring to the truth. And yet so many will not seek; they will not even be open to change despite the wrath of God. It is difficult to imagine.

Let me suggest that perhaps it will be due to the masses following the masses. Whenever the “majority” defines truth, we are in for trouble! As history will testify (e.g. Hitler, Rwanda, Bosnia, etc.), the masses can be sincerely wrong. That is why it is important that truth transcend man otherwise it is an ever evolving, ever changing matter. And yet truth by definition is an absolute, unchanging thing. It is permanent. That is why we must always look outside to God for truth. To make it up along the way is dangerous, its fruits seen in the last days. People will think the Anti-Christ is right and many will follow him, and like the gold rush, many will follow suit.

Let’s not be pushed and pulled by the world’s definition of good and bad, right and wrong. These are not matters to be determined. God has given us His Scripture to show us the truth. Whenever you feel inclined to “fit in” with the world, consider first if it aligns with truth. Let’s not be part of the deception, but rather beacons of truth.

By Mike Kurtz

Read Revelation 14:12-13.

By now it should be clear that the time of Tribulation will be hard on everyone on earth. Whether they are unbelievers experiencing God’s wrath or believers experiencing Satan’s persecution through the world, it will not be an easy time for anyone. The Scriptures again call for patient endurance on the part of God’s saints during this time.

When you think of patiently enduring, what goes through your mind? I often picture people sitting through a time of suffering taking the hits quietly. I imagine people pointing fingers, ridiculing their beliefs — even worse, believers being sought after to be killed or imprisoned. Passive endurance is the picture I have in mind. If not for the next verse, I might be left with that thought. But what we see in the next verse is this: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on… They will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (v. 13) I wonder if you caught that. They will rest from their labor. These are not people who are passive about their faiths during this difficult time of persecution. These are people who continue to do the work of God. They continue to labor despite threats on their lives.

That says something about how we ought to live in the midst of adversity. It says that rather than shutting down for a while until things start to cool off, we ought to continue our efforts. We ought to get involved. We are to labor hard in the work of the Lord rather than move toward passive silence. I can see the value in this approach to adversity. If we choose to back down under the weight of adversity, that might actually be worse for us. Inactivity can be just what Satan wants, not to mention that it can cause us to turn inward rather than outward in love. Patient endurance does not mean passive acceptance. It actually means enduring while continuing to walk strong.

Consider that whenever you are experiencing great adversity. Rather than step back or away from serving others, consider enduring through it while serving others. I know that may not be for everyone, particularly those who really do need to step away for a time, but give it some consideration. Adversity has a way of getting people to turn inward and on the bench. Stay in the battle and endure patiently as you go. That’s faithfulness.

by Mako Kato

Read Revelation 14:6-11

Three angels come bearing three messages.  The first comes to proclaim an “eternal gospel.” It was a call to follow God.  The angel says to “fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come.” (Rev. 14:7)  We know that the word “gospel” means good news.  God’s judgment has come.  Is that good news?  It is for those who believe in Him.  It is like Jesus’ warning in Matthew 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (ESV)  For those who do fear God, for those who have repented, the hour of judgment is good news.

The second angel says that Babylon is fallen.  Babylon is probably symbolic of the worldly rejection of God.  We will read more about the fall of Babylon in Chapter 18.

The third angel says that worshippers of the beast will be tormented.  “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Rev. 14:11 ESV)

These messages are tied together.  I don’t understand all the symbolism of Babylon, but in the first message we see the call to give God glory, and in the third message we see the torment of those who do not follow God.  When the hour of judgment comes, woe to those people who worship the beast.  Woe to those who do not follow Christ.

Hell is not fun and it lasts forever.  A scary picture of it is given in these verses.  It’s enough for us to be reminded to take our own faith more seriously and look for opportunities to share our faith with others.  God can use us to share his good news with people who are on the path that leads to destruction.

There are a whole lot of people on that path.  I’d encourage you to click on this link to watch a Casting Crowns music video that encourages us as Christians to reach out.  Think about it.  How can Christ be displayed in us to people on the road to hell?