In Genesis 1-2, the Scriptures tell us that God created the universe, and He created humanity to co-rule with Him. In their freedom, Adam and Eve chose to go their own way separating humanity from God. God then chose to make himself known to that one man so that through that one man all nations would be blessed. From that man’s family came the Messiah. He willingly gave His life, dying on the cross for the sin’s of humanity. On the 3rd day, He rose from the dead, and His Spirit comes to live wit...
May 28, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 22
The end of the story is not the destruction of the earth but the reunion of heaven and earth! The Lamb of God and the Bride of Christ are together forever! In this new heaven and new earth are people from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation. There is no Temple and no sun because the light emanates from the glory of God. In this new heaven and new earth there are no more tears, no more pain, and no more death. All the suffering and all the waiting will be worth it once we are in the presence ...
May 27, 2024•54 sec•Season 27Ep. 21
Now we see the end of all things from a different angle. We are reminded that all evil comes from the dragon, the serpent also known as Satan. There are also beasts and all who devote their allegiance to them. They will spend eternity separated from God because God would never force anyone to spend eternity in His presence. All evil will be removed from the New Heaven and New Earth. All who want to be with God through Jesus have their name written in the Book of Life - not because of the good th...
May 26, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 20
Prior to the birth of Jesus, many of the faithful Jews assumed the Messiah would come to defeat the Roman Empire and establish a political kingdom. Instead Jesus announced a spiritual Kingdom and conquered sin and death through His death on the cross. Even now many assume Jesus will return to defeat those opposed to God. Surprisingly He appears with blood already on Him, and the sword He has is coming out of His mouth. In Revelation for Everyone, N.T. Wright explains: “Once more, this is symboli...
May 25, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 19
We discover a lament for the destroyed city of Babylon. The 7 churches of Asia have an invitation to avoid the destruction coming to Babylon because of all of its evil, violence, and corruption. Babylon will reap what it has sown. We do not have to let Babylon live in us even if we live in Babylon. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Revelation #EndTimes #JusticeOfGod #Apocalypse #Biblica...
May 24, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 18
John shares more details about some of the images he’s already described. He describes Babylon as a prostitute who has committed abominations with the kings of the earth. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures idolatry is referred to as adultery. The city of Babylon was filled with corruption and evil. Those who are faithful are seen as the unblemished Bride of Christ because of the forgiveness offered through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The 7 hills most likely refers to Rome, a city built on 7 ...
May 23, 2024•2 min•Season 27Ep. 17
John gives a more detailed description of what happens when the bowls are poured out. Much like the plagues that happened in Egypt in order to free the enslaved Israelites, these plagues are designed to free humanity and the world from evil. Even as things get more and more intense, we need to remember that the book of Revelation was a letter to churches who were being reminded of their options - going the way of Jesus even if it means being persecuted and even killed for their faith or going th...
May 22, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 16
The 7 bowls are released. Some think these judgments are sequential. Some think they have been happening simultaneously ever since Jesus ascended into heaven and will continue and intensify until his Second Coming. Others think this is another angle describing what we saw in the previous chapter. These plagues will continue until the end of all things. Some will turn to God seeing Him as good and true and just as He eradicates evil and extends grace to all. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGr...
May 21, 2024•53 sec•Season 27Ep. 15
An elite force of faithful witnesses to Jesus are with the Lamb of God when the harvesting begins. This harvesting idea is reminiscent of when Jesus said: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Luke 10:2). We discover that there are many who are redeemed by Jesus from the evils of this broken world and healed from the evil within their own heart. We also see the wrath of God being poured out. The wrath of God is not God’s vengeance but actually the evils of humanity that has been st...
May 20, 2024•54 sec•Season 27Ep. 14
John sees two beasts. These beasts remind us of the beasts we see in the book of Daniel. The first beast has the power of war. The second beast has the power of economic security. A nation becomes like a beast when it demands allegiance from its people. When people idolize power and money, they are marked on the forehead and the wrist with the mark of the beast. The Hebrew Scriptures mention having the Shema on the forehead and on the wrist. The Shema states: “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God,...
May 19, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 13
Seeing into the spiritual realm, John sees the source of all evil - the dragon. The pregnant woman being attacked by the dragon gives birth to a child who reigns over all the nations. Some think the woman is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Some think the woman could represent Israel as Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. Some think the woman was Eve as God tells the serpent (the dragon) in Genesis 3 that “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your h...
May 18, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 12
John sees Two Witnesses which he also refers to as lampstands which is how he referred to the 7 churches of Asia earlier. These Two Witnesses represent the faithful witness of the Church in spite of the persecution and the evil transpiring all around them. Many will die for their faith, but the Church will prevail. The plagues did not turn the nations to God, but the faithful witness of the persecuted church does turn hearts towards God. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #...
May 17, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 11
John sees a huge angel with a small scroll in his hand. John eats the small scroll which tastes sweet like honey, but it becomes bitter in his stomach. We also discover 7 thunders which will not be revealed to us. John is to proclaim what is true to the nations. His message is about a loving and just God who will one day make all things right and who made a way for us through His Son Jesus. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #Chri...
May 16, 2024•49 sec•Season 27Ep. 10
John sees into the supernatural realm. The 5th trumpet is sounded. Woes are experienced on earth. Evil is destroying itself. Out of the Abyss comes the demonic. The human heart has a level of wickedness. Out of that comes the evil that humans perpetrate. Together there is a systemic evil and corruption we create that will eventually destroy itself. Even still, people continue to resist the grace of God. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #Scripture...
May 15, 2024•59 sec•Season 27Ep. 9
John sees that our prayers rise up with incense to the altar in the throne room of God. The Day of the Lord has happened many times in history and at different times for different nations. The Day of the Lord at the end of all time will be even more intense than any other previous Day of the Lord. In his vision John sees 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. Some see this as all predictive of something to come in the future. Some see them as happening throughout human history in part since they are ...
May 14, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 8
Those who have faith in Jesus can withstand the Day of the Lord. John hears of 144,000 from the tribes of Israel who are following Jesus, but then he sees people from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation represented worshiping Jesus. Some say the number 144,000 is literal and records Jews from each tribe who become believers in Jesus Christ. Some like Thomas R. Schreiner believe that “the 144,000 symbolically represent all Christians throughout history, both Jews and Gentiles. They are God’s ...
May 13, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 7
The Lamb of God opens the seal. The four horsemen of the apocalypse who are called Death, Conquest, Famine, and War begin to run rampant. Some think this is a prediction of what is to come. Some think this already happened at the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Some think this has been happening between Jesus’ first coming and will intensify all the way until the second coming of Jesus. In certain parts of the world, they are facing tremendous persecution right now! Some strug...
May 12, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 6
John sees a scroll and weeps as he realizes that no one is worthy to open this scroll. It appears that no one could fulfill God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Then he sees a Lion! Shockingly, then the Lion turns into a Lamb with 7 horns, 7 eyes, and 7 spirits which represents the fact that this Lamb has full authority, can see all things, and has the Holy Spirit. The Lamb is worthy because he gave his life for the sins of humanity! People from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation will one da...
May 11, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 5
John’s vision includes the throne room of God which includes incredibly unique creatures who constantly sing out “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” It is hard for us to fathom the greatness of God! There are others who had similar visions of God like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Revelation #EndTimes #Justic...
May 10, 2024•46 sec•Season 27Ep. 4
Some of those who are part of the churches in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea were making wise choices. Some were not. In fact, Jesus refers to some as being “lukewarm” - neither hot nor cold. We can transcend the temptations of the world around us. Jesus rebukes and disciplines those He loves. He stands at the door and knocks, inviting us to connect with Him relationally. He does not kick the door down! The decision is up to us. We can enjoy a relationship with Him by saying “yes” to Jesus’ ...
May 09, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 3
Jesus shared his message to the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. Some were giving in to false teachers and sexual immorality. Some had lost their first love. Some were enduring tremendous persecution. John used a unique description of Jesus at the beginning of every message to each of the churches. Every church is being afffirmed and/or rebuked by Jesus. Each church has to consider: “how faithfully are we living in Babylon?” In other words, “how much of Babylon is living in u...
May 08, 2024•57 sec•Season 27Ep. 2
This apocalyptic book begins with the phrase “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” or “The Jesus Christ Revelation.” John has a vision of Jesus. The description of Jesus matches other visions of God or the Son of Man throughout the Bible. Jesus now reigns at the right hand of God, but the book is pointing towards the return of Jesus when God’s redemptive plan for humanity is fulfilled. Jesus’ message to the 7 churches encourages them to persevere through the persecution and the temptation they face l...
May 07, 2024•1 min•Season 27Ep. 1
If you are unfamiliar with Revelation (not Revelations), you should know this is a very unique book and very unique type of literature. It’s called “apocalyptic” literature and it uses imagery of beasts and dragons to convey the point. If you are familiar with Revelation, then I want you to read this differently than you’ve likely been taught. As we read it, consider this first and foremost: what is Revelation showing me about how to live as a follower of Jesus in a world that opposes Him? Most ...
May 06, 2024•1 min
The half brother of Jesus named Jude wrote an intense letter to the church. He warned them of false teachers who would try to take advantage of their kindness and inclusiveness. These false teachers were denying Jesus and would attempt to seduce them into sexual immorality. For these kinds of abusers, there will be judgment. God is loving, God is just. He cannot be loving without also being just. One day, God will make all things right and eradicate evil. God never forces us into His presence, b...
May 05, 2024•1 min•Season 26Ep. 1
John writes to a leader in the church who has been opening his home to those traveling. In those days showing someone hospitality meant giving that person a platform as other believers would come to meet and hear from those visiting. For this reason, John reminds Gaius not to open his home to false teachers who were spreading lies and dangerous teaching. Who we listen to determines the direction we might go. Following Jesus and His ways leads to abundant life. #NewTestament #Devotional #Spiritua...
May 04, 2024•57 sec•Season 25Ep. 1
The Apostle John encourages believers who were dealing with false teachers who had deceived some. He affirms those still following Jesus and loving others. The false teachers were trying to convince the believers that Jesus was not actually on earth physically but only spiritually. This was influenced by a Greek idea that the spirit is good but the body is bad. They were denying the truth of what actually happened! They were antiChrists by opposing Jesus and His ways. #NewTestament #Devotional #...
May 03, 2024•51 sec•Season 24Ep. 1
Those who follow Jesus trust Him by obeying His commands. Because we have the Spirit of God we can live new lives. We can rescue others who have fallen into sin and help them. We can pray with effectiveness knowing God will guide us to accomplish His purpose. John wrote this so that we may know that if we believe we will have life in Jesus. All who want this life can have it! God is inviting us into a relationship with Him that begins by acknowledging that we need what Jesus did on the cross to ...
May 02, 2024•54 sec•Season 23Ep. 5
We can discern the trustworthy teachers from false ones by how the person describes Jesus and by how they live their lives. God is love, and Jesus demonstrated His love by laying down His life for us. That is how followers of Jesus are to live. Once we surrender our lives to follow Jesus, the Spirit of God comes to live within us. With God’s help, we can live more sacrificially by dying to ourselves. We can be so transformed by God’s love that His love overflows through us. Loving others is what...
May 01, 2024•1 min•Season 23Ep. 4
Followers of Jesus do not have to live the same way they used to live. How someone lives his or her life demonstrates to the world whether they have a relationship with Jesus or not. Are you trying to overcome sin or are you choosing to continue to live the same way you did before your relationship with Jesus began? Are you loving your brother or are you holding a grudge or giving into bitterness? We will not be perfect on this side of eternity. That is not what John is writing about. He is writ...
Apr 30, 2024•1 min•Season 23Ep. 3
Followers of Jesus trust Him and obey Him. We cannot say we follow Jesus and and not obey His commands. We cannot say we love God and hate our brother. The Jewish authors of the Scriptures use an interesting communication technique to make their point. For example, they will say something like: “if you are not doing this, then you are a liar” Then they will remind their readers “But that is not who you are! You are an overcomer! You can become more like Jesus!” #NewTestament #Devotional #Spiritu...
Apr 29, 2024•59 sec•Season 23Ep. 2
