FBC Daily Devotions

by Mike Kurtz

Read Revelation 14:1-5.

What’s in a song?

The 144,000 faithful servants of God are brought into view again (cf. Rev. 7). Here they stand with Christ on what appears to be the heavenly city of Mount Zion. These are the ones who were previously seen on earth being prepared for what we see here – the worship of God with the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. The scene is not surprisingly similar to that in chapter 5 where harps are playing and the angels and elders have fallen down in worship before the throne of God. And before the throne they sing a new song (cf. 14:3; 5:9). The new song in chapter 5 is one of deliverance of the saints and of the honor and glory of God forever and ever. What strikes me in this passage is the statement: “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” (v. 3) Why could only these people learn this new song?

In the OT, a new song celebrated a new work of God of divine deliverance or blessing. In Ps. 96 we read:

New songs are sung whenever God does a new thing in people’s lives. And certainly in that day, this will be a new work of God in the lives of the 144,000. They are able to sing their own new song to Him because they are experiencing a unique blessing of God at the time.

But isn’t God always doing a new work in our lives in some way (particularly according to this Psalm)? Absolutely! And with that in mind, are we not also to sing a new song to the Lord even today? That doesn’t mean we find a new melody to sing with each passing blessing. A song denotes a certain joy or praise in our hearts. There is something emotional about it. There is a tug at our heart strings to make a joyful noise to the Lord. And I believe God does a unique work in each of us that enables us to sing our own song to Him. A song from you to Him. Not to the world, not for anyone else to hear but God. Just like no one else was able to learn the song of the 144,000, there is a song in your heart that is just yours that no one else can learn.

So today, express a song of praise to God just from you. What new thing is He doing in your life? What new song of praise can you bring to the Lord? The psalmist ends with the words, “declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all the peoples.” We all have a unique song to God, but if there’s something I’ve learned over the years  it is that when God puts a song in our hearts, there is no holding it in. The world can see it. What’s in a song? God’s work in your life, that’s what. Let that be a picture of your life this week. Consider the new thing God is doing in your life, sing a new song to the Lord, and let Him shine!

by Mako Kato

Read Revelation 13:16-18

Everyone was forced to receive the mark of the beast, which is the name of the beast or it’s number.  If they refused they couldn’t buy or sell anything.

We read in verse 15 that all who did not worship the beast would be killed.  The mark was one way to distinguish between those who worshipped the beast and those who didn’t.  Those who did not have the mark would be persecuted on this earth.  It reminds me of the Star of David that the Nazis forced the Jews to wear.  The Star identified one group and singled them out for persecution and death.  In Revelation, not having the mark of the beast singles out Christians for persecution and death.

But the Christians held to the future hope of eternal life with Christ.  In the terms of this world, being a Christian wouldn’t make sense if you wanted to stay alive.  But there is so much more to this life than just staying alive.  There is the peace that comes from knowing God and the future reward in haven.  We don’t deserve the rewards, but God is gracious in giving them to us.

Sometimes the Christian life doesn’t make sense.  Paul writes that if Christ didn’t rise from the dead, if life is only on this earth, we are to be pitied above all others, but he goes on to say, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” (1 Cor. 15:19 NIV)  It is because of Christ’s death and resurrection that we live not for ourselves, but for God.  In our self-centered culture that is a radical idea.

In the last days, those who follow the beast will bear his mark, but even today there is a distinction between those who believe in Christ, and those who do not follow Christ.  As Christians we are not called to demonstrate who we are with Christian t-shirts, wristbands, and necklaces.  We are called to live differently.

Paul writes:

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”                                                                                                                                                                       1 Peter 2:12 NIV

When Christ returns I hope that there will be people worshipping with us who saw our lives, who saw Jesus in us, and decided to follow Christ.  We can’t get anyone to believe in Jesus in and of ourselves, but if Christ chooses to and we are willing, He can do great things in and through us.

by Mako Kato

Read Revelation 13:11-15

The first beast rose out of the sea; the second beast rose out of the earth.  The second beast completes what some have called the unholy trinity.  Later on, in Revelation 16:13, they are referred to as the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.  (The second beast is the false prophet.)  Just as Satan is copying the Trinity, so is the beast is copying Jesus.  It says in verse 11 that the beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.  The beast may have seemed good.  He may have acted like a good teacher, but out of his mouth came blasphemy.  Jesus warned against this beast and those like him in Matthew 24:24 when he says, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (ESV)

We read about the “great signs and wonders” the beast performed.  He made fire come down from heaven and told the people to make an image of the first beast.  He even was able to make the image of the beast speak.  This second beast made everyone worship the first beast or die.

In 2 Thessalonians 2 we read a description of the first beast.  It refers to him as the man of lawlessness who exalts himself and proclaims himself to be God, even taking his seat in the temple of God.  The first beast is the Antichrist that the second beast directs worship towards.

So how does this apply to us today?  What is the lesson in these beasts and mankinds’ response?

For that lets read in 2 Thessalonians:

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  -2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ESV

This sounds a little harsh, but humans were given a choice: They could love the truth and be saved, or follow what was false and be condemned.  Each of us are given that opportunity to believe.  If you are reading this and have not believed in Jesus Christ, I hope that you will understand that Christ loved you and died for you.

Let’s close with the blessing in the final words of 2 Thessalonians 2.

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”                                         2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ESV

He loved us.  He gave us eternal comfort.  That is something the beast would never do.  We can take refuge in the God who gave us grace.

by Mako Kato

Read Revelation 13:5-10

In verse 5 we read that the beast will say blasphemous and prideful things for forty two months and during that time it will make war on the saints.  The beast will be given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation.  Like we touched on yesterday, Satan gives the beast authority over the world.  Everyone will worship the beast except those whose names have been written “in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.” (Revelation. 13:8 ESV)  The beast can attack Christians physically in the last days, but Christians have their names written in the book of life.  LIFE, as in life eternal with Christ. We have nothing to fear.

In verse 9 we read something we haven’t read since the opening letters to the churches: “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.”  But this phrase doesn’t end with “what the Spirit says to the churches.”  One commentary points out that this is further evidence that the rapture has already happened by this time.  We can apply these verses to Christians past, present and future.

The words for those with ears to hear are similar to Jeremiah 15:2 which refers to God’s judgment.  I’m not sure how Jeremiah relates these two passages relate, but we are given the message in the end of verse 10.  It says, “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”

Christians are called to endure and to persevere.  In the last days there will be worse persecution than the world has ever seen.  We as Christians are called to endurance no matter what.  The Bible says:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

-James: 1:12

It doesn’t matter who you are.  As a Christian you will go through hard times.  There will be trials, but we are called to endure.

One day like Paul, I want to be able to say:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

– 2 Timothy 4:7

But the fight isn’t over yet; and the race isn’t over yet.  It’s still time to fight, and it’s still time to run.  We are here for a purpose.

by Mako Kato

Read Revelation 13:1-4

The beast that rises up from the sea has ten horns and seven heads and ten crowns.  The imagery used for the beast is similar to that used for Satan who was pictured as with ten horns and seven heads and seven crowns (Revelation 12:3).  The similarity makes sense because we read in verses two and four that it was the dragon who gave authority to the beast.

The beast sets himself up, together with Satan to be worshiped as God.  We see in verse two, with the likening of the beast to a leopard, bear and lion, an allusion to Daniel 7,* where Daniel uses these animals to represent Greece, Medo-Persia and Babylon.  Combining the imagery of these three powerful empires points to the idea that the beast’s empire will be even more powerful.

In ages past humans have set themselves up as God, but nothing on the scale of this end-times picture.  But from the ancient Roman Emperors to Communist North Korean rulers, political elitists who seek worship have one thing in common: They get their authority from the dragon.  Satan loves it when there is anything in our lives worshiped other than God.  When we worship anything other than God we are really worshipping Satan.  Remember how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness?

“Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan!  For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'”

Matthew 4:8-10 ESV

Satan is giving all the kingdoms of the world to the beast and the world is worshipping Satan.  We read the question in verse four, “Who is like the beast and who can fight against it?”  Doesn’t that sound chillingly familiar?  In Exodus 15:11 we read Moses’ words “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?  Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”

We know the answers to these questions.  There is someone greater than the beast, but there is no one greater than our God.  It is God who deserves all our worship and praise.

*Want something to chew on?  Read Daniel chapter 7 and look at some of the similarities and differences in the visions of Daniel and John.