Ok here we go with the rest of Chapter 9. More trumpets to be blown....hold on!
Revelation 9:13-21
13Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. 17And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire[a] and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 19For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.
20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
In verse 13 we see the sixth angel blow his trumpet and John hears a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God. This is a picture of God answering the prayers of the saints offered as incense in Chapter 8:4.
Revelation 8:4
4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
Remember the golden altar is representative of Jesus and horns represent strength. So we see in verse 14 Jesus commands the angel to release the 4 angels bound at the Euphrates river. These 4 angels are fallen angels. The amgels have been prepared to do one thing as told in verse 15 to kill a third of mankind! Wow. Verse 16 tells us a huge army will assist these angels. For many years the number was a big problem. Twice ten thousand times ten thousand is 200 million. But now we know China can fill this number!!!! Verse 17 can be looked at two ways. First with the economic troubles that will be taken place the horses could be litteral horses used in this massacre. Many scholars however think with the descrition of the riders using words like fire, sulfur, smoke it very well could be symbollicallyreferring to nuclear war!!! No matter which way the outcome as e are told in verse 18 will be a third of mankind will be killed.
In verse 20 we are told those who are not killed did NOT repent but continued to worship demons, and idols! Can you believe after all this they are still blinded and won't repent???? Then verse 21 tells us they also did not repent of their sin of murder, sorceries, sexual immorality, and theft. If they are worshipping false gods this does not surprise me!
A terrible, terrible time for mankind but it can be avoided by a relationship with Jesus!
I am taking a little break for a week so please come back to continue our study! God bless!
Tom
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Revelation #30
We continue this morning to look at these locusts who sting like scorpions released from hell.
Revelation 9:7-12
7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.
In verse 7 we see that these locusts are not a natural locust to put it mildly. They are like horses prepared for battle which represents nothing can stop them. They have crowns of gold on their head which represents authority from God. They have faces like a man which represent superior intelligence. They had hair like a woman which represents beauty and this may be how they get close enough to folks to sting them by their deceptive beauty! Their teeth are like lions teeth which represents their destructive power. The locusts have on breastplates of iron which tells us they will be unstoppable. Their wings make so much noise they sound like many chariots coming...this noise may drive folks crazy. In verse 10 we are reminded about the power of their stinging scorpion like tails that will hurt people. For five months they will terrorize folks! Verse 11 tells us who their king is the angel of the bottomless pit....Satan. Verse 11 gives us his Hebrew name which is Abaddon and his Greek name which is Apollyon which means destruction....and from what we know about Satan it is an accurate description!
Verse 12 tells us that is just the first woe which remember means judgement and that two more are to come!!! In my human mind I can not comprehend fully how terrible of time this will be. This should show us the urgency of telling people about Jesus!
Tom
Revelation 9:7-12
7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.
In verse 7 we see that these locusts are not a natural locust to put it mildly. They are like horses prepared for battle which represents nothing can stop them. They have crowns of gold on their head which represents authority from God. They have faces like a man which represent superior intelligence. They had hair like a woman which represents beauty and this may be how they get close enough to folks to sting them by their deceptive beauty! Their teeth are like lions teeth which represents their destructive power. The locusts have on breastplates of iron which tells us they will be unstoppable. Their wings make so much noise they sound like many chariots coming...this noise may drive folks crazy. In verse 10 we are reminded about the power of their stinging scorpion like tails that will hurt people. For five months they will terrorize folks! Verse 11 tells us who their king is the angel of the bottomless pit....Satan. Verse 11 gives us his Hebrew name which is Abaddon and his Greek name which is Apollyon which means destruction....and from what we know about Satan it is an accurate description!
Verse 12 tells us that is just the first woe which remember means judgement and that two more are to come!!! In my human mind I can not comprehend fully how terrible of time this will be. This should show us the urgency of telling people about Jesus!
Tom
Monday, September 26, 2011
Revelation #29
Wee as you can see I didn't do a very good job of paying attention on my last devotion or I wouldn't have ended with only one verse to go in chapter 8! But it is ok as it does flow into chapter 9!
Revelation 8:13
13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!"
Revelation 9:1-6
1And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.[a] 2He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.
In the last verse of chapter 8 John looked and seen an eagle flying and crying out in a loud voice. It was telling that more wrath and judgement is coming to the earth as that is what a "woe' represents. The angles are about to blow more trumpets and that leads us into chapter 9. With all that we have studied so far it is hard to believe it can get worse but oh it is going to get much worse!
We see in verse 1 of chapter 9 the fifth angel blows his trumpet and John sees a star fall from the heaven to earth. This star represents Satan. Look at Luke 10:18:
Luke 10:18
18And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Verse 1 goes on to tell us that Satan was given the key to hell. This shows us that God is in control not Satan! God allowed him to have the key! In verse 2 we are told Satan opens up hell and smoke rose out of the shaft. Then from this smoke came locusts. This is very similar to the 8th plague in exodus:
Exodus 10:14-15
14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
But these locusts are much more powerful as we find out in the latter part of verse 3. These locusts have the same power as a scorpion....a venomous sting! In verse 4 we are told these locusts are not to do what they normally do which is to destroy the grass or plants, or trees, but they are to harm those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads! This not having the seal refers to those who are not saved! In verse 5 we are told these locusts are allowed to torment for 5 months! Oh my can you imagine the agony??? They could not kill anyone but just sting them like a scorpion! Look at verse 6...this torment along with everything else going on we have already suffered will be so horrible folks will want to die but they will not be able too. Suicide will not be an option...what a terrible time of suffering.
Think on these things today....it blows my mind!
Tom
Revelation 8:13
13Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!"
Revelation 9:1-6
1And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.[a] 2He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.
In the last verse of chapter 8 John looked and seen an eagle flying and crying out in a loud voice. It was telling that more wrath and judgement is coming to the earth as that is what a "woe' represents. The angles are about to blow more trumpets and that leads us into chapter 9. With all that we have studied so far it is hard to believe it can get worse but oh it is going to get much worse!
We see in verse 1 of chapter 9 the fifth angel blows his trumpet and John sees a star fall from the heaven to earth. This star represents Satan. Look at Luke 10:18:
Luke 10:18
18And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Verse 1 goes on to tell us that Satan was given the key to hell. This shows us that God is in control not Satan! God allowed him to have the key! In verse 2 we are told Satan opens up hell and smoke rose out of the shaft. Then from this smoke came locusts. This is very similar to the 8th plague in exodus:
Exodus 10:14-15
14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
But these locusts are much more powerful as we find out in the latter part of verse 3. These locusts have the same power as a scorpion....a venomous sting! In verse 4 we are told these locusts are not to do what they normally do which is to destroy the grass or plants, or trees, but they are to harm those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads! This not having the seal refers to those who are not saved! In verse 5 we are told these locusts are allowed to torment for 5 months! Oh my can you imagine the agony??? They could not kill anyone but just sting them like a scorpion! Look at verse 6...this torment along with everything else going on we have already suffered will be so horrible folks will want to die but they will not be able too. Suicide will not be an option...what a terrible time of suffering.
Think on these things today....it blows my mind!
Tom
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Revelation #28
Well maybe we have recovered from the first two trumpets (but I doubt it) so lets look at the next two:
Revelation 8:10-12
10The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
12The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
So in verse 10 we see the third angel blow the third trumpet and a massive star falls from the sky. It was blazing like a torch and must break up as it falls into a third of the rivers and springs of water. Verse 11 interestingly tells us this star has a name....Wormwood which means bitter. A third of the waters will become bitter and many people will die because of this water! Wow! Remember how Jesus told us to come to the sweet living water which was Him, well now look at what this bitter water brings....much death.
In verse 12 the fourth angel blows the forth trumpet and we see that a third of the sun, a third of the moon, a third of the stars, are struck so a third of light both day and night are gone! Jesus came as the light of the world but now that light is being taken away for those who rejected Him. What a dark, dark time for mankind. Darkness also brings fear to many folks as it should in this case as judgement is upon them.
Are we getting the picture of what a horrific time this will be? Tell folks about Jesus while there is still time!
Tom
Revelation 8:10-12
10The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
12The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
So in verse 10 we see the third angel blow the third trumpet and a massive star falls from the sky. It was blazing like a torch and must break up as it falls into a third of the rivers and springs of water. Verse 11 interestingly tells us this star has a name....Wormwood which means bitter. A third of the waters will become bitter and many people will die because of this water! Wow! Remember how Jesus told us to come to the sweet living water which was Him, well now look at what this bitter water brings....much death.
In verse 12 the fourth angel blows the forth trumpet and we see that a third of the sun, a third of the moon, a third of the stars, are struck so a third of light both day and night are gone! Jesus came as the light of the world but now that light is being taken away for those who rejected Him. What a dark, dark time for mankind. Darkness also brings fear to many folks as it should in this case as judgement is upon them.
Are we getting the picture of what a horrific time this will be? Tell folks about Jesus while there is still time!
Tom
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Revelation #27
As we look at our verses today it is key to remember these things are unfolding right after the seals have just been opened. As you will see God's judgement is serious business.
Revelation 8:6-9
The Seven Trumpets
6Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
7The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
In verse 6 we see that seven angles have seven trumpets and they are about to start to blow them one at a time. In verse 7 the first angel blows the trumpet and hale and fire mixed with blood are thrown upon the earth. We will see many of these trumpets being blown are very similar to what happened with the plagues in Exodus.This is the seventh plague:
Exodus 9:24
24There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
Now the blood mentioned in verse 7 of Revelation 8 is interesting. Can you imagine blood all over the place? The smell and the flies! Look at the result of the hail and fire....a third of the earth will be burned up, a third of the trees and all the green grass. This will have a major impact on livestock, and humans!
Now we move the verse 8 and the second angel blows the second trumpet. It is described as something like a great mountain burning with fire is thrown into the sea. No one knows what exactly this is but some guesses are either a nuclear blast or a big volcanic eruption. The result of this is a third of the sea will become blood. Think of the effect this will have on aquatic life! This also resembles the first plague in Exodus:
Exodus 7:20-21
20Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
Verse 9 tells us the devastating results of the second trumpet....a third of the sea creatures die, and a third of the ships will be destroyed. WOW!
This is just the first two trumpets my friends. You see why it is so important to tell folks about Jesus!!!
Tom
Revelation 8:6-9
The Seven Trumpets
6Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
7The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
In verse 6 we see that seven angles have seven trumpets and they are about to start to blow them one at a time. In verse 7 the first angel blows the trumpet and hale and fire mixed with blood are thrown upon the earth. We will see many of these trumpets being blown are very similar to what happened with the plagues in Exodus.This is the seventh plague:
Exodus 9:24
24There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
Now the blood mentioned in verse 7 of Revelation 8 is interesting. Can you imagine blood all over the place? The smell and the flies! Look at the result of the hail and fire....a third of the earth will be burned up, a third of the trees and all the green grass. This will have a major impact on livestock, and humans!
Now we move the verse 8 and the second angel blows the second trumpet. It is described as something like a great mountain burning with fire is thrown into the sea. No one knows what exactly this is but some guesses are either a nuclear blast or a big volcanic eruption. The result of this is a third of the sea will become blood. Think of the effect this will have on aquatic life! This also resembles the first plague in Exodus:
Exodus 7:20-21
20Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
Verse 9 tells us the devastating results of the second trumpet....a third of the sea creatures die, and a third of the ships will be destroyed. WOW!
This is just the first two trumpets my friends. You see why it is so important to tell folks about Jesus!!!
Tom
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Revelation #26
Today we will start Chapter 8. As you will see the deeper we get into Revelation the more intense and more symbols are used. So go slow and think about what is being said.
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings,[a] flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
In verse 1 we are told the Lamb opens the seventh seal and something interesting happens....there was silence for about a half an hour. This is the calm before the storm. Judgement is on the way. In verse 2 we are told that John saw seven angels standing before God and they were handed seven trumpets. Trumpets in the Word of God usually symbolize that an act of God is coming and that is the case here. In verse 3 we are told another angel comes and is given a golden censer which represents the Word of God. This angel was also given much incense which represents the Holy Spirit. This angel was to offer this incense with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar which represents Jesus. The prayers and the incense rose before God....what a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the saints rising as a sweet aroma before God! Also remember the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us saints when we don't know what we should pray for as told in Romans 8:26:
Romans 8:26
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
In verse 5 we are told the angel takes the censer and fills it with fire from the altar and throws it to earth! This is a sign of the coming judgement. Along with this fire are an earthquake, great rumblings of thunder, and lightning.
My friends get prepared for tomorrow we will look at the start of the trumpets blowing....not a good day for those who have not been raptured with the church!
Tom
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings,[a] flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
In verse 1 we are told the Lamb opens the seventh seal and something interesting happens....there was silence for about a half an hour. This is the calm before the storm. Judgement is on the way. In verse 2 we are told that John saw seven angels standing before God and they were handed seven trumpets. Trumpets in the Word of God usually symbolize that an act of God is coming and that is the case here. In verse 3 we are told another angel comes and is given a golden censer which represents the Word of God. This angel was also given much incense which represents the Holy Spirit. This angel was to offer this incense with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar which represents Jesus. The prayers and the incense rose before God....what a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the saints rising as a sweet aroma before God! Also remember the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us saints when we don't know what we should pray for as told in Romans 8:26:
Romans 8:26
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
In verse 5 we are told the angel takes the censer and fills it with fire from the altar and throws it to earth! This is a sign of the coming judgement. Along with this fire are an earthquake, great rumblings of thunder, and lightning.
My friends get prepared for tomorrow we will look at the start of the trumpets blowing....not a good day for those who have not been raptured with the church!
Tom
Monday, September 19, 2011
Revelation #25
Today we will finish Chapter 7!
Revelation 7:13-17
13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15"Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
In verse 13 we are told who the folks in the white robes are in the last devotion we had. One of the elders ask the question of who they are and where did they come from. In verse 14 it is interesting that John responds to the elder by saying "sir you know", basically saying why don't you tell me!!! Then the elder tells us that these folks are the ones coming out of the tribulation who have been martyred for Christ! They have been washed by the blood of the lamb...Jesus Christ! Oh my brothers and sisters those who stand for Christ in the tribulation will go through so much but if they accept Christ and remain faithful it will be a great end! In verses 15-17 we see their great reward! In verse 15 they will be before the throne which will be a place of honor. They will serve God day and night in the temple. This is not a bad thing but a good thing and a blessing to do so! Verse 16 reveals some things that will happen to them no more which may have happened in the tribulation to them. No more hunger, no more thirst remember with out the mark of the beast food and water will be hard to get by a follower of Christ! Verse 16 the sun and heat may be a problem also as they may not have a roof over their head! In verse 17 the comfort they will have as the Lamb will be their Shepherd and will be their guide to the living waters...which is Himself! And God will wipe away all the pain of their life! So three things will be provided....provision, protection, and Jesus will preside over them for ever and ever!
Oh what a mighty GOD we serve!
Tom
Revelation 7:13-17
13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15"Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
In verse 13 we are told who the folks in the white robes are in the last devotion we had. One of the elders ask the question of who they are and where did they come from. In verse 14 it is interesting that John responds to the elder by saying "sir you know", basically saying why don't you tell me!!! Then the elder tells us that these folks are the ones coming out of the tribulation who have been martyred for Christ! They have been washed by the blood of the lamb...Jesus Christ! Oh my brothers and sisters those who stand for Christ in the tribulation will go through so much but if they accept Christ and remain faithful it will be a great end! In verses 15-17 we see their great reward! In verse 15 they will be before the throne which will be a place of honor. They will serve God day and night in the temple. This is not a bad thing but a good thing and a blessing to do so! Verse 16 reveals some things that will happen to them no more which may have happened in the tribulation to them. No more hunger, no more thirst remember with out the mark of the beast food and water will be hard to get by a follower of Christ! Verse 16 the sun and heat may be a problem also as they may not have a roof over their head! In verse 17 the comfort they will have as the Lamb will be their Shepherd and will be their guide to the living waters...which is Himself! And God will wipe away all the pain of their life! So three things will be provided....provision, protection, and Jesus will preside over them for ever and ever!
Oh what a mighty GOD we serve!
Tom
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