<\/p>\n
You are invited to join us on the Chronological Bible in a Year journey in 2026!<\/strong>\u00a0 Click on this link for more details and to sign up!\u00a0Or, you may be interested in joining us on the Bible in a Year (OT, NT, Psalms, Proverbs daily) journey in 2026 and can sign up at this link:\u00a0www.bibleinayearblog.com<\/span><\/p>\n Revelation 7:1-10:11<\/strong><\/span> Revelation chapter 7 verse 3 in today\u2019s reading tells us: \u201cWait! Don\u2019t hurt the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Commentaries suggest that the seal represents the name of God being stamped on the foreheads of his followers \u2013 to protect them from the coming judgments.\u00a0 This imagery is very similar to Ezekiel 9:4 \u2013 \u201c\u201dGo throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.\u201d<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> Verse 4 tells us: \u201cAnd I heard how many were marked with the seal of God. There were 144,000 who were sealed from all the tribes of Israel.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Some interpret this to mean 144,000 descendents of the actual Jewish tribes during the time of tribulation.\u00a0 Others interpret this passage to be symbolic of all the faithful believers who live during the time of tribulation.<\/span> <\/p>\n Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. Revelation Illustrated<\/span><\/p>\n \u201d site.<\/span><\/p>\n Verses 5 through 8 are interesting in that Judah is listed first, which is unusual.\u00a0 When the twelve tribes of Israel are listed usually Reuben, his older brother, is listed first.\u00a0 The thought here is that since Jesus and David came from the tribe of Judah, that is why it is listed first.\u00a0 Also, the tribe of Dan is not listed \u2013 which may be because Dan had some idolatry issues in <\/span>Judges 18:30<\/span>.\u00a0 Instead, Manasseh, one of Joseph\u2019s son\u2019s is listed \u2013 along with Joseph. <\/span> Verse 12 is very powerful in that it has 7 attributes of God: \u201cBlessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and forever.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Will you attribute to God \u2013 Blessing?\u00a0 Glory?\u00a0 Wisdom?\u00a0 Thanksgiving?\u00a0 Honor?\u00a0 Power?\u00a0 Strength?\u00a0 Forever\u2026.?\u00a0 Has anyone read A.W. Tozer\u2019s book \u201c<\/span>The Attributes of God<\/span>\u201c?\u00a0 I haven\u2019t, but it sounds intriguing.<\/span> Revelation chapter 8 transitions from the breaking of the seals on the scroll to the trumpets!\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. In Old Testament times trumpets represented the announcement of important events or times of war.\u00a0 Here we will see plagues that are more devastating than the seals, but not as devastating as the bowls to come in Revelation chapter 16.\u00a0 The eagle in this chapter represents swiftness and destruction.\u00a0 When the eagle speaks of \u201call who belong to this world\u201d in verse 13, it is referring to people who are not in relationship with God.<\/span><\/p>\n Verses 3 & 4 in this chapter today are beautiful: \u201cThen another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great quantity of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God\u2019s people, to be offered on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of the saints, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I love that analogy of the incense mixing with the prayers of the saints.\u00a0 Do you believe that your prayers reach God\u2019s altar in heaven?\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Revelation chapter 9 brings forth the 5th and 6th trumpet plagues at the end times!\u00a0 A note on the star in verse 1 \u2013 this is likely an angel that descends from heaven with the key from Jesus to open the abyss.\u00a0 <\/span> The fierce demonic locusts in today\u2019s readings are intense.\u00a0 You will recall that very recently we read about locusts in a similar fashion in the Old Testament in <\/span>Joel chapter 1 through chapter 2 verse 11<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Verses 20 & 21 in this chapter stand out: \u201cBut the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood\u2013idols that neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Even in the midst of such destruction and horror, many people do not repent.\u00a0 Is it possible that we receive much less severe signs in our own life today to repent, and we ignore them?\u00a0 Why do we ignore the signs?\u00a0 Is this wise?\u00a0 Below is an image of the first six trumpet judgements by the incredible artist Pat Marvenko Smith:<\/span> <\/p>\n Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. Revelation Illustrated<\/span><\/p>\n \u201d site.<\/span><\/p>\n Revelation chapter 10 brings forth the angel and the little scroll!\u00a0 Note that this scroll is not the same as the scroll in Revelation chapter 5, verse 1.\u00a0 This first scroll contains a revelation of judgments against evil, whereas this little scroll\u2019s contents are not disclosed \u2013 though, it may contain a judgment as well.\u00a0 You will recall from our readings of Ezekiel earlier this winter that, similar to John in this chapter, Ezekiel was instructed in a vision to eat a scroll that was sweet to taste but contained judgments against Israel.\u00a0 From Ezekiel chapter 3 verse 3 you\u2019ll recall: \u201cThen he said to me, \u201cSon of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.\u201d So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Revelation Chapter 10 Verse 1 in today\u2019s readings has some cool stuff going on in it \u2013 \u201cThen I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The angel being surrounded by a cloud recalls God speaking to Peter James and John on the mountain of the Transfiguration in Matthew chapter 17 verse 5 \u2013 \u201cWhile he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, \u201cThis is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0The rainbow over the angel\u2019s head recalls God\u2019s promise to Noah after the flood to never destroy the earth by water again, as we see in Genesis chapter 9 verses 15 & 16 \u2013 \u201cI will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.\u00a0 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And the angels feet being like pillars of fire recalls the pillars of fire and cloud that guided and protected the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt, as we see in Exodus chapter 13 verses 21 & 22\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cBy day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings in Revelation remind me of the Sidewalk Prophets song \u201cThe Words I Would Say:\u201d<\/span>
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her \u201c<\/span>Revelation Illustrated<\/span>\u201d site.<\/span><\/p>\n
To order prints visit her \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n
To order prints visit her \u201c<\/span>Revelation Illustrated<\/span>\u201d site.<\/span><\/p>\n
To order prints visit her \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n
To order prints visit her \u201c<\/span>Revelation Illustrated<\/span>\u201d site.<\/span><\/p>\n