Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 9:1-11. 

 

“Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth;  and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.  He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace;  and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.  Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.  They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.  And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months;  and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.  And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them. 

 

The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle;  and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.  They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.  They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle.  They have tails like scorpions, and stings;  and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.  They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.”  Revelation 9:1-11.

 

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We continue to read about God’s reign and wrath through the Seven Trumpets.  The events described today following the sounding of the fifth trumpet are more terrifying that what we read yesterday.

 

 

But, today, we have the assurance:  “They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads”.  Verse 4.

 

 

                                             

“But My righteous one shall live by faith;  And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”  Hebrews 10:38

 

“But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:39

                                       

Reformed Doctrine best helps us believe that God protects us.  “Preservation of the Saints” is the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

                                           

Reformed Doctrine teaches that God provides all that we need for salvation.

Reformed Doctrine teaches us about the benefits of belonging to the Lord.  We are His people, His sheep.  God is our Good Shepherd and will protect us.

As one example, consider Question and Answer 26 of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

Answer.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body:  and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage;  for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.

Reformed Doctrine trains our senses to pick out such verses as Verse 4 in today’s Scripture and to remember other verses and Reformed creeds which teach us about God’s protection.

But, with other doctrine, there is no such assurances.  Other doctrine falsely teach that Christians can fall from grace and that man’s free-will is the only thing that cause Christians to persevere in their faith.  Such believers of this false doctrine may shrink back wondering if they will be so tormented by the events in today’s Scripture.

Reformed Doctrine assures us that “without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head”.

Consider Question and Answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death,  am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. 

In conclusion, Reformed Doctrine certainly does teach us that we may die and we may suffer.  But, we will not experience God’s wrath.  Let us generally remember that the events of the Seven Trumpets are a display of God’s wrath.  Let us specifically pay close attention to Verse 4:  “They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads”.  Let us not shrink back.