FBC Daily Devotions

by Mako Kato

Read Revelation 12:13-13:1a

John saw that once the dragon was thrown down to earth he pursued the woman.  But just as God delivered Israel from Egypt, He will deliver a believing Israel from Satan.  We read some of the same imagery as in the Old Testament. Just as the woman was given the wings of an eagle, in Exodus 19:4 we read, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” (ESV)

God delivers in a mighty way.

First God flies the woman to safety, then nourishes her, and in verse 15 we read that she is need of deliverance again.  The serpent pours a river of water out of his mouth to sweep away the woman, but in the next verse we read that the earth swallowed up the river.

In these different ways, God delivers the woman from the dragon, but the dragon isn’t done yet.  He goes off to make war on the rest of the women’s offspring “on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 12:17 b)  These offspring will be attacked by Satan.  These offspring are believers who have turned to Jesus during the times of the seals and the trumpets. Whether Jew or Gentile, these believers in Christ will be persecuted.

There is a sense of foreboding here.  Satan is not done with his attacks.  One can picture a dragon standing by the side of the sea… plotting, and brooding, but we know the final outcome: God will deliver His people.  Even today, while we are not in the Tribulation, we are confronted with evil and hard things that God can deliver us from.

The Psalmist writes:

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Psalm 34:17-19 ESV

The Lord is near.  Like David we can pray:

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!  In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me!”

Psalm 71:1-2 ESV

The dragon can stand by the sea all he wants, but in the end, he is powerless; defeated by the Almighty God who loves His people and will deliver them from evil.

by Mako Kato

Revelation 12:10-12

The accuser has been thrown down.  Satan has been defeated.  How?
Like we read yesterday, Michael and his angels defeated Satan and his angels, but the reason for the defeat is found in verse 11: “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

It’s not that Michael was better at wielding a flaming sword – it’s by the blood of the Lamb.  Once Jesus died and rose again, we as Christians became free from the accusations of Satan after we believed in Him.  His accusations no longer have merit, because we have been made clean.

How do we live now?  Jesus is our utmost example, but we also have the example of those Christians who went before us and died for the faith.  They also are mentioned in verse 11.  It says they “loved not their lives even unto death.”

This world teaches us to love our earthly lives.  To have a good job, nice house, nice family: To live the American Dream.  Could we turn our backs on this life and die for Christ?  It’s hard enough for me to risk embarrassment for Christ, much less persecution.  I want to look good in this world.  But that shouldn’t be the point.  We aren’t living for this world, and we aren’t living for the American Dream. We’re living for Christ and He said:

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets before you.” – Matthew 5:11-12 ESV

We are called to persevere.  We are called to pick up our cross.  We are called to count nothing as important as Christ, to know only Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2.)

By Mike Kurtz

Read Revelation 12:7-9.

As I read these verses of the depiction of good vs. evil, I can only say “Amen!” to the fact that God’s greatest angel, Michael, and his army of angels will defeat the greatest fallen angel, Satan, and his army of angels. The real war is in the spiritual realm, and the victory is God’s. One day the spiritual and physical realms will be united and what is true in heaven will be true on earth. The defeat of Satan by the archangel, Michael, is a testament of God’s power and ability to defeat the strongholds of this world.

Perhaps an ironic product of Satan’s fall to earth is that his power will be used on earth more powerfully than ever. That doesn’t mean Satan’s fall from heaven will be a terrible mistake, but rather that he is not going to fall without a fight. His tumble down the mountain to his imminent death will bring others with him on this earth at that time. His deception will be more cunning, more promising, and more attractive than at any other time in history. Satan and his influence may be powerful now, but wait until his kingdom of darkness is threatened.

What do we take away from today’s passage? Perhaps it is the assurance of God’s power at work in the heavenlies, behind the scenes. Maybe it is the confidence to live knowing that no matter how powerful Satan’s power may be upon this earth, it is temporary at best. Or maybe it is reminder that within the spiritual realm lies the true power of God – a good reminder of the need and power of prayer. Take your pick. But the bottom line is that God will prevail, and we may find great comfort in that truth.

By Mike Kurtz

Read Revelation 12:1-6.

Chapters 12-14 take us out of the sequence of events of the great tribulation to introduce us to the actors in these dramatic end time events. Seven actors in all are displayed in this parenthetical section with today’s passage introducing “a woman clothed with the sun,” “an enormous red dragon,” and “a child.”

Who is this woman? She is a great sign according to the passage. She is in fact the first of seven signs in heaven. And perhaps these are signs leading to the end. I am inclined as many commentators are to see the woman as symbolic of the nation of Israel. The reference to the sun and moon seems to correlate with a similar reference in Gen. 37:9-11 where Jacob and Rachel are identified as the sun and moon, respectively, and eleven stars representing the sons of Jacob (minus Joseph to whom this dream referred). The crown of twelve stars representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the pregnancy of the woman about to give birth undoubtedly refers to Christ as seen in vv. 5-6.

The second sign and actor appears in v. 3, and this is none other than Satan (cf. 12:9) described as a red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his head. It was through him that v. 4 says a third of the stars (a reference to demonic angels in this context) are swept from the heavens. However, based on similar descriptions given in 13:1 and Dan. 7:7-8, 24, this red dragon also represents some kind of political or earthly power whose underlying strength and leader is Satan. The power of the dragon and the person of Satan are so intertwined as to be inseparable on earth. He is said to be waiting to devour the child to come…

The child? This is Jesus Christ who will rule all nations, though some contend that the child represents the church. After his birth, he is said to be snatched up to God and to His throne – where He resides today. Based on vv. 5-6, it would appear that the birth of Jesus is followed by His ascension into heaven. That is followed by the woman, or the nation of Israel, being protected for 1,260 days (i.e. 3-1/2 years). What we have here is a description of the birth of Christ, the attempt to devour Him at birth (note Herod’s decree to kill the first born males at the time of Jesus’ birth), and finally His ascension into heaven. As noted by the 19^th century theologian, Henry Alford, “Words can hardly be plainer than these.” What follows after Jesus’ ascension in this passage is a gap of time that moves us forward to the tribulation period as distinguished by the reference to 1,260 days. Because Israel is shown to be fleeing to the desert for these 3-1/2 years, it would seem that this particular event occurs during the second half of the tribulation period. All this to say, John is being given a history lesson on the events of the past as they relate to the end times events. For every future event, there is a past that leads up to it.

That is true for everyone. Our futures will be shaped by our past and by the events and decisions of today. We often fall prey to the present, and once in a while we stop and think about the future particularly as it might relate to retirement, college education funds, our elderly parents, etc. These are good and necessary. But just as important is the need to consider our spiritual futures. When you have a chance this week, stop and consider how the things you are doing today will affect your spiritual future. Are you putting into place healthy disciplines that will help lead to a healthy future? How are the decisions you are making today going to affect your spiritual maturity in the future? IF you stay on your current track, where might it lead in the future?

by Mako Kato

Revelation 11:19

Here we are at the end of the seventh trumpet.  We’re halfway through the book of Revelation and transitioning. John sees God’s temple in heaven and the ark of the covenant inside the temple.  There was also lightning, rumblings, thunder, an earthquake and hail.  I don’t know about you, but it sounds like some important events are underway.

But it’s the image of the ark of the covenant that makes me stop and think.  There must be something we can learn from this image in the goings on of Revelation.  The ark was the symbol of God’s presence among Israel.  It served to hold the two tablets of the Law given to Moses (Exodus 25:16), and also held a golden urn with manna and Aaron’s budded staff. It was held in the Holy of Holies.  Into this area, only the high priest was allowed.  On it’s top was the mercy seat.  The high priest went once a year to the mercy seat, bringing the blood of animals to atone for the sins of Israel.

In Hebrews we read about the significance of Jesus Christ as our high priest. Christ entered into the holy places “not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12 ESV)  He offered his own blood for our sins.  It was the only way for us to be saved.  The earthly ark of the Covenant was lost in the exile, but it is no longer necessary.  It is part of the Old Covenant.  We are part of the New Covenant with Christ as our high priest.  We can live differently now.  The author of Hebrews writes:

“Therefore brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV

And “the Day” is drawing near when our high priest will return.  We don’t know the day or the hour, but in the meantime we can build our relationship with God, holding “fast the confession of our hope” and continuing to encourage and meet with other believers.