Tag: Revelation

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Encouraging Words of Hope

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based on the LGG Study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w4d1 / Image by LGG

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 / SOAP: verse 16-18

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Observations and Applications of the Journey

I read and took this passage in as though it was my first time reading it. When in reality, I have read it and studied it and heard it taught many times; however, not with the same interest and understanding I found today. If you, or other you know, have any questions, concerns or possible misconceptions about the end times, then this is a great and helpful passage about what will happen when Christ returns to earth. My now colorful journal page from all of the highlights and markings and column notes is a story and a commentary in itself. I love when the Holy Spirit leads and prompts and excites my study time. I honestly felt as though I was a student of Paul, listening to his passion for the truth that he so urgently wanted his audience to hear and understand – and encourage others with.

This portion of Paul’s letter to the church (ie believers) at Thessalonica, as Bibleref.com explains, was meant to encourage those with concerns and misconceptions about the end times and what will happen when Christ returns to earth. For instance, he knew that some were (or at the very least – may have been concerned about those believers who had already died). He wanted them to understand that He wasn’t encouraging them to not grieve but rather to grieve with hope.

It also comforts our hearts, as some of us find ourselves grieving the passing of a loved one who was a believer in Christ. We cling to the promise that we will one day be reunited with them again. Our grieving isn’t forever’ it’s only temporary.

ComeLordJesusCome, p122

The HOPE he was talking about was no small thing. It is the same hope that we have as we wait for Christ to return – the HOPE of all who “are in Christ” – being caught up together – to meet the Lord in the air, and be with Him forever! Whoo! If that doesn’t excite you, I don’t know what will.

This incredible promise of Christ’s return helps us persevere in the trials we experience while we patiently long for His imminent return.

ComeLordJesusCome, p122

Today’s journey in Revelation, points us to the same conclusion of the entirety of the NT and for that matter of the Bible – we must encourage others with the TRUTH and HOPE of God’s Word. Today’s message from Paul is to encourage those in Christ that He is coming again and we will not only be taken up to be with Him, but we will be gathered together with those believers who have gone before us. – *While Paul’s is specifically writing this letter to believers, we must not neglect to reach the lost with the truth that they too can share in this hope by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ before He comes. 1

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, as Paul encouraged the members of the church in Thessalonica in his day, help me/us to encourage those where we live and work or communicate with through social media. May we be faithful to speak the truth that Jesus is coming again. Thank You for the reminder that when He does return, our momentary struggles will end. Thank you for all that we have to look forward to, as Your children – but let us not forget the fate of those who do not know You. Help us be active and bold in making You and Your promises known. – In Jesus’ name – Amen

The More We Know: Scripture hunts of the Journey

Bibleref.com has much to offer in clarifying some of the verses, such as those who are asleep and those who alive in Christ.

Raptured

The difference between the second coming and the rapture

A Loud Command

Caught up together

Eternal Joy and Pleasure

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Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

He’s Coming Again!

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Based on the LGG Study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w2d3

Scripture: Revelation 3:10-11 (11)

 Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. – Rev 3:10-11. NET

Despite the fact that I frequently share the devotions from the study journal, I will not always do so. However, I do believe they are most helpful in gaining further insight. I find this to be especially true in this particular study since some passages, like today’s, deal with eschatological events; I’ve mentioned before that while I have heard many messages preached about the end times and have read through the book of Revelation, I have never delved into a study of Revelation and/or the end times. So, as it arises in this study and others, I lean even more heavily on trusted resources, friends, and Pastors to help me understand what I’m reading in order that I might correctly explain the Word of God. 1

This one thing I do know and cling to daily – Jesus is coming again!

Coming again coming again
Maybe morning maybe noon
Maybe evening and maybe soon
Coming again coming again
Oh what a wonderful day it will be
Jesus is coming again

Jesus is Coming Again / John W. Peterson

INTO THE WORD from p 64 of the Come, Lord Jesus, Come / an LGG study

Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. Revelation 3:11

These verses, originally written to the church in Philadelphia, can be considered controversial depending on your view of the end times. Some scholars have read these verses and believe they are a promise that the church, as a whole, will be spared from experiencing the tribulation in the end times (1 Thessalonians 4:13—5:11). However, other scholars believe these verses apply to only the church in Philadelphia, regarding a specific hour of testing and persecution in their time and region.

Either way, we know Jesus is coming back. That is both a fact and a promise. So, whether God chooses to remove the church before His final testing, sometimes called the tribulation, like He did with Noah from the flood and Lot from Sodom, or He allows the church to go through the tribulation and protects her as He did with Israel in Egypt or with Daniel in Babylon, we know that God has made a provision for us. He has been providing the church with strength and courage in the midst of horrific persecution throughout the centuries and is doing so to this day.

Instead of allowing division to form around the interpretation of eschatological events, let’s remain united around the promise of Jesus’ return and our hope of eternity spent with Him.

PRAYER

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for the promise that You are always with us, to the end of the age. Help us not allow our hearts and minds to give in to fear, but give us supernatural courage to face the world without fear, knowing that You are fighting our battles. Help us remember our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world who are currently facing great difficulty for Your name. Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness in our lives and the blessed hope we can carry in our hearts as we look to our future spent with You in heaven for eternity! Until that glorious day, we will continue to pray come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

The More You Know

Are you ready? If you have believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you are by the grace of God part of the family of God, and your eternity is secured forever in Heaven with God. However, if you have not believed, I plead with you to read Know These Truths and call upon the name of Jesus and be saved.

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Posted in Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The God Who Restores

The Coming Glory

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A Love God Greatly Advent Study, The God Who Restores – W2D5
Today’s Reading: Romans 8:18-25
Today’s SOAP: Romans 8:24-25

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.

Romans 8:24-25
Observations: The Present Suffering

Sin brought a curse upon the world and man that is still present today. So that we (believers) eagerly await God’s “coming glory”, when all will be restored and completely made right. Somehow, creation itself understands the effects of the curse and, like us, is eagerly awaiting for our redemption to be complete.

Hope and The Life of Anticipation

While our focus verses show us the importance of hope in the believer’s life, don’t miss that God Himself, acted in hope of—or “looking forward to”—the reversal of His curses He [God] had subjected creation to. A good explanation of this is found at Bibleref.com, which says:

God subjected creation to frustration in response to Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden. God did not design creation to suffer. That hardship came after all was meaningful and “very good.” This warped, struggling existence came about when God cursed all of creation in response to human sin (Genesis 3:14, 17–19).He never intended for His creation to experience this futility and death and corruption forever.

Bibleref.com goes on to say, “The day is coming when God will reveal His children in the glory He has for us, and then creation will be set free from its bondage. Paul says that creation itself will obtain the same freedom that those in Christ will receive when they are glorified. All suffering will end. All will be made right (Revelation 21:1–4).”

I read somewhere that – “The life of a Christian is the life of anticipation“. From the time we place our faith in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, we “hope in what we cannot see”… the promise of eternity, the guarantee of new bodies, of righteousness, forgiveness, and the God to whom we pray. This hope causes us to wait like expectant children at Christmas time with and eagerness to receive what we have asked for and believed in!

Application: How Does This Apply to Me?

A time stretches out and it becomes easier to lose hope -instead we should:

  • take heart that God’s promises are yes and amen in Christ
  • stay in the WORD, who is Christ and from which our HOPE comes
  • Wait with eager expectation

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT
Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for Your promises that are yes and amen in Jesus Christ! Thank You for the HOPE in which I have been saved, and in which I now eagerly wait for Christ’s return! Thank You for leading me to put my faith in Jesus – And – Thank You that Your perfect timing in all things – perhaps, especially so in Your “coming glory”, when all will be restored and completely made right. – In and through the name of Jesus! – Amen

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout
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Our First Love

Day 6 of Jesus, I Need You – Part 1, a study of Thistlebend Ministries

Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:7

Anyone who has an ear to hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise.

Revelation 2:7 HCSB
Observation: What’s the Message?

John is writing what Jesus has given him to say. This particular letter is being written to the Ephesian Church. So the word “anyone”, in verse 1, is referring to those who are part of the body of Christ. If they listen to the message being delivered they will be entitled to the “victor’s” prize, which is eating from the tree of life, located in heaven.

Here’s the thing though, if we only read this verse we know that there’s an amazing prize and we know that we need to listen to the Spirit, but without looking back we would miss the content of the message. Which was basically an evaluation of the Ephesian Church. Jesus acknowledges that their conduct has basically been above reproach. He commends them for their work and endurance, their unwillingness to tolerate “evil people”, their faithfulness in examining and calling out false “apostles”, and enduring hardships for the name of Jesus – without growing weary. Awesome accolades for sure! BUT … He goes on to tell them what He has against them and why. Namely, that they have abandoned their ‘first love’ – meaning Him. In other words they were rule followers but their love for Jesus had grown cold. One commentary I read explained it like this, “Sound doctrine and service are important, but they should be grounded in a deep love for Jesus.” The charge or challenge that would draw the victor’s prize wasn’t just listening to the Spirit but considering the truth of the charge against them, then repenting and returning to their first love. To ignore the charge would be to invite punishment that would extinguish their light as a church and witness for Jesus.

Sound doctrine and service are important, but they should be grounded in a deep love for Jesus.

Bibleref.com
 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  Revelations 2:1-5
Application: How Then Should We Live?

Through John’s writing, Jesus lays out the application very clearly. LOVE JESUS and follow His teachings. It’s not an either or proposition. When we love Him we will obey Him (John 14:15) and if we simply follow the rules without devotedly loving Him the acts of obedience mean very little.

Prayer: Response to The Word

Father, may we never abandon Jesus, our first Love. Where and when it dares to grow stale and cold, like the Church of Ephesus, please send a revival fire, keep our light burning strong, and renew a right Spirit within us. – Oh, let us listen to the Spirit that we might run the race with endurance and win the victor’s prize – and in this may You be glorified! – Amen

Want More?

Go Deeper with Thistlebend’s devotional post –

Your Turn:
  • What’s your take away from today’s Scripture reading?
  • What are some things we can do to keep our love for Jesus fresh and strong?