Good Morning!!!
Key Takeways from today’s study.
- God is perfectly just and all will face a day of judgement. As God’s people we are marked (mark on our forehead) and set apart from facing certain torments and woes in the last days
- Those who hearken diligently to the Lord will never be surprised as He faithfully foretells and warns them of things to come (often in detail)
- Maintaining an eternal perspective may well be our greatest lifeline when trials and tribulations come. Therefore meditating on deeply and letting God establish a more concrete image in our minds of our eternal home and lives is essential right now, before the tribulations of life or end times come in earnest.
Healing and Discipleship 
Psalm 67 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.
1 God be merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among us—Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!—
2 That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide, lead, or drive the nations upon earth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
5 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You!
6 The earth has yielded its harvest [in evidence of God’s approval]; God, even our own God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall reverently fear Him.
Good morning on this rainy Victoria Day holiday. We rejoice in His presence with us.
A prayer request this morning. Have been struggling with vertigo and nausea since I got up this morning. Have been praying for healing and that the lying symptoms must go and have to come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ etc. It is better, but still not gone completely. I will not bow to it and want to see it completely gone.
Wendy
Praise the Lord. I had some of that last night. Thank you Lord, we are no longer subject to the beggarly elements of this world. “Who the Son sets free is free indeed”. I love that the mind of Christ is immune to all of these types of afflictions
In agreement Wendy and praying !KC
As i was praying for you Wendy, just got the first about how God told them to kill/drive out every last remnant of the pagan customs and peoples. Several times in scripture we see God commanding them to eradicate a pagan population to the man. YES!!! Every last remnant of these symtoms gone in Jesus name
Amen, yes every last remnant of symptoms, thank you all.❤️
Wendy
Counting the rain a bit of a blessing and sparing those who would have been tempted to do fireworks the temptation. God is so faithful.
Good Morning!!!
Rob
God mercy and grace are so wonderful! This is a common appeal, please do this for us to reveal Yourself to others…
2 That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You.
Yes that is my cry that all the peoples of the earth will come to know the saving Grace of Jesus Christ and that they will turn away from their idols. In this time we in right now it seems that some of that is happening and I do feel that this time is part of God’s grace for us, to pause and calmly think of things.(Selah) and that Vs7 “God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall reverently fear Him.“
Wendy
Amen!!!
Rob
vs7 I so look forward to this day where all praise Him. What joy is such unity to be able to delight fully in, experience completely His love and be free from all the contentions, pains etc of this fallen world.
3 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide, lead, or drive the nations upon earth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
This has been my fervent prayer for some time now and as I continue to believe Him to reveal the ‘Hidden idols’ I may have aligned myself with knowingly or unknowingly and also for this turning away from and turning toward the righteous judge. When I don’t know how to pray sometimes Davids words perfectly capture what I want to say. KC
Yes I love the Psalms and David’s heart and his struggles which are so like our own in some ways. I always feel a power in praying any of the Psalms and just reading them out loud it seems to come out as a prayer.
Wendy
Amen KC! Absolutely my prayer too.
I wonder with how this is worded if it is even possible to truly praise God without turning away from all idols I suspect not. That if idols have a place in our hearts, we cannot worship Him as fully as we ought to Thoughts?
Our awareness of Him, our Love for Him, our fear/awe/reverence of Him doesn’t† allow any o†her god/idol †o challenge our devo†ion to Him. We His bride cannot have rivals in our lives. No other masters/lords wanting allegiance. Father help us. I give myself to you anew.
Rob
If idol’s are there they are taking up space that God won’t until we make room for Him, I feel . I want to give Him ALL the worship He is worthy of! KC
Yes I would agree. Even our thoughts could be idols at times, I have had many experiences where I am worshipping and then some thoughts come in to interrupt the flow of that worship. There is a reason why Paul talks about in 2Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Wendy
Excellent scripture!! Amen!
Rob
Revelation 9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. 2 He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads. 5 They were given power, not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a person. 6 In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. 9 They had breastplates, like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, or of many horses rushing to war. 10 They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months. 11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is “Abaddon”, but in Greek, he has the name “Apollyon”. 12 The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this.
Hmmmmm…. the locusts are commanded to attack only those who do have God’s mark on their forehead. i am personally very unclear on the whole timing of the rapture. This verse is reassuring though and motivating to make sure that I am plainly marked by the Lord if there is any possibility of me being present in the days described here. This certainly suggests that we will be witness to these things should they happen in our lifetime and at least some godly ones present .
Yes its interesting that there is the mark of God contrasted with the scriptures that talk about the Mark of the beast…all of which I’m not clear about or what my response should be in pondering what these things might mean ….knowing the voice of His spirit and walking in the spirit I believe is what seals us to Him.we certainly living in times where I’m motivated to inquire of Him concerning these things,being aware though that there are many ‘rabbit holes” we could go down as well…KC
Yes I agree Karen and certainly want to be sealed to Him no matter what is happening. WR
In our previous fellowship we had a lot of teaching about us being here through the tribulation, but regardless of how it happens and if there is a rapture, I want to be prepared to be able to go through the tribulation if that is how it is to happen. If we get raptured fine, but then who will be left to witness to those left on earth, it is not clear how that will work. It never seems in the rest of the scriptures that God takes His people out of tribulation. If anyone knows of a place that I have forgotten or don’t know about, I would love to know.
Wendy
Revelation 9 WEB “13 The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!”
15 The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. 16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them. 17 Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. 18 By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. 20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can’t see, hear, or walk. 21 They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.”
200, 000, 000 WOW ! That is a very serious army especially since there is no way to defeat even one of this heavenly host These are dire warnings that it seems like even death and repentance are no an option at this time. Once this portion of the end times starts, 5 months of suffering and torment start. Perhaps this is helpful for us to meditate on so that if we or our children or grandchildren have to face this time and face the persecution of man, they can know that the alternative suffering that will come to those who renounce Jesus will be far greater than any affliction of man.
Reminds me of Daniel 7:10
And ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before Him
(100,000,000)
The Heavenly Host are plentiful!!!
Rob
LOL.. Makes me think of when Elijah (maybe Elisha) were surrounded by the hostile army and the prophet prayed that his disciple would see what he was seeing. A heavenly host of horses and chariots of fire far outnumbering the human army mounted against them. And then God’s power flowing through HIm and blinding them all and delivering this enemy hord over to the mercy of God’s armies. The host that is for us far outnumbers those against us.
Amen and amen!!!!! I keep reminding myself of that. The story about Elisha and his servant is one of my very favourite ones.
Wendy
I honestly don’t have a clue how to talk about any of this with my children or grandchildren!…KC
We just read the stories and then let then ask questions or ask leading questions to them. I encourage them to meditate on this so that if they are tempted to give in to thre pressure of renouncing Jesus, it is in the context of scripture.. something for them to draw on in the time of pain and suffering if it should come to them .. I earnestly pray not and that they will be spared.. But equally pray that as Christ did, they will fulfill the reason they came, even if it means facing martyrdom.
It’s interesting both here and in the previous chapter it is the tail that causes harm, I wonder what the significance of that is? Any thoughts on that.
It is pretty scary that after witnessing these plagues that killed a third of mankind, the ones who were left did not repent and turn to the one true God. I wonder if that is the rebellious principalities keeping them in bondage so that God will not get what He desires. That makes me all the more anxious to see these principalities either be judged or turned back to God, so that the hearts and minds of mankind can be unblinded and turned back to the true God, so that judgement does not have to take place.
Wendy
Amen!KC
Truly something to think about. There is just no “safe” limit of hardness of heart. Any hardness of heart we permit against God or others is radically dangerous to the Christian walk. Something to be guarded against with all diligence and sincerity
Deuteronomy 28:13 speaks about the Lord making us the head and not the tail…so it follows that the tail being like a serpent is the enemies activity.KC
Yes that’s good Karen. WR
Revelation 10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. 3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them.”
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. 8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”
9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book.
He said to me, “Take it, and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand,
and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
God has taken the time to “fore-tell” us these things to come. I find great comfort in knowing that He tells us in His Word but then also as he does with His prophet here, He is willing to provide instruction to those who are listening… “here eat this, it will taste sweet but be bitter” God does not surprise those who are listening.
LOL… Did I mention.. there’s tons in Revelation that I don’t understand at this time. So going through is truly a treasure hunt for me. And finding the gems that I can “get” is a delight. I am not worried at all about what I don’t get though. In the right timing, I will.. Praise God!!!
Yes He promises He’ll let us know what we need to know or respond to and when ,as He speaks through His prophets… but until clarity comes and I’m seeking it ,these passages are hard for me to find delight in. I simply want to trust that I’ll be equipped along with my family to walk pleasing to Him whatever I may possibly have to walk through in the days ahead.KC
I would have to say the same Lisa. Revelations has always been a mystery, but like you I delight in the gems that jump out at me and have maybe a kernel of understanding about.
Wendy
May God and His Spirit reveal Himself and His plan to us more and more as the day of The Lord approaches and His Presence increases in us.
Rob
I find the details so fascinating in that the book described is ‘a little book’. I wonder why we are told this?KC
Revelation 11 World English Bible (WEB)
11 A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, “Rise, and measure God’s temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. 3 I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands, standing before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. 7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations, people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them.
vs 11. God establishing His Kingdom on earth in increments. 42 months of the court being given to the nations.. 3.45 years of the two witnesses preaching with power. Than 3.5 days dead before all seemingly defeated.. and then echoing Christ, raised and restored to heaven. God’s power will be displayed in extraordinary ways.. This ressurection life inherant in the saints is of great comfort to me. So often, I have been tempted to crumble under the pressure of the world and relationships, and symptoms and then God breathes new fire and new hope in to me and raises me up with greater faith, greater hope and greater desire to love and serve Him. Our God is so so faithful. This really encourages me to never think that things are too far gone… 3.5 days dead for all to see and then raised back up. Nothing is too hard for God
Bless you Lisa, let His Presence fill you and transform you!!!!
Rob
Yes it is VERY encouraging. I would have loved to see the looks on the faces of those that were rejoicing in their death, when they were raised up and then called up to be with the Lord. Hahaha
Wendy
Good morning on this rainy day which is making my plants rejoice and me anticipate a season of growth! KC
Revelation 11 WEB “13 In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly.
15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!”
16 The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God’s throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.”
The day of judgement is actually one to be looked forward to for those who have been faithful as it is the day of reward. Practically, this encourages me to have a part of my heart forever fixed on this very real and eternal reality. I am presently sowing my future harvest and my eternal reality.
Key: Viewing everything from an eternal perspective guards us from letting the moment of right now dominate us via our emotions and senses.
Amen and Amen and Amen and………………!!!
Rob
Amen, Amen!!!! WR
Oh Yes ! Selah!KC
vs 16. I get the sense that they are praising God for His perfect Justice here. I don’t hear it preached too often these days. The focus is on a lot of things, but not often on God as the Perfectly Just Judge. Even Heaven cries out for Justice. God’s goodness is implicitly tied to His nature of being perfectly just.
I am hoping to go back through (perhaps optimistic) all these daily posts and update the title and add an intro that summarizes the main points that jumped out. Please share here what are your big take-aways from these verses today I would love to hear which gems stuck out. Blessings. Hugs and love in Christ.
There are too many gems to count!! But I’ll try.
Rob
Hmmmmm…….gems????? There are not enough hours in the day, to list them all. LOL.
Have a blessed day on this beautiful day that the Lord has made.
Love, Wendy❤️⭕️❌
Best take away for me…?
ing, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!
The end result of His sacrifice and finished work is that He will have hearts fully willing and delighting in Him ruling and reigning over them in an atmosphere where their is no more rival to His authority and Lordship! KC
Well I would have to agree totally with you Karen. That would be my greatest take away also. Sorry to ride on your coat tails, but you summed it up so well.
Wendy