Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 20, 2013

“Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 17:1-14.
 
“1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.”  3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness;  and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.  4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, 5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”  6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.  When I saw her, I wondered greatly.  7 And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder?  I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
 
8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction.  And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.  9 Here is the mind which has wisdom.  The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,  10 and they are seven kings;  five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come;  and when he comes, he must remain a little while.  11 The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.  12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.  13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
 
14 These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”  Revelation 17:1-14
 
——————–
 
At first reading of today’s Scripture, we think we may be disturbed.  We think we may wonder.
 
But, we read it again, and we pick up certain things that we did not notice before. 
 
The bookends of today’s Scripture are comforting.  At the beginning, we read that the summary of today’s Scripture is God’s judgment (which includes punishment) of the harlot of immorality.  (“… “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot …”  Verse 1)  At the end, we read that God’s enemies will wage war against Him (God, the Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God) and “… the Lamb will overcome them …”.  Verse 14.
                                         

We also notice in the middle:  “The beast … is about to … go to destruction …” Verse 8.  And, those who wonder are those “… whose name has not been written in the book of life …”  Verse 8.

It is important that we do not get lost in all the figurative language of the Book of Revelation.  The theme of the Book of Revelation was expressed in the title of two book commentaries of Revelation:  Behold He Cometh by Rev. Herman Hoeksema and More than Conquerors by William Hendricksen. 

 
 
We can also apply these titles to Verse 14:  “Behold He Cometh” refers to the “Lord of lords and King of kings” in Verse 14 and “More than Conquerors” refer to us, “the called and chosen and faithful”.  
 
Reformed Doctrine focuses on God’s sovereignty which is the theme of the Book of Revelation.  A good understanding of Reformed Doctrine makes it easier to understand the Book of Revelation and makes the Book of Revelation more comforting to us.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 19, 2013

“Righteous are You … You judged these things … They deserve it.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 16:8-21.
 
“8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire.  9 Men were scorched with fierce heat;  and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.
 
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened;  and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores;  and they did not repent of their deeds.
 
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates;  and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
                         
13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;  14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.  15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief.  Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)  16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
 
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”  18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder;  and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.  19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.  Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.  21 And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, *came down from heaven upon men;  and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague *was extremely severe.”  Revelation 16:8-21.
 
———————–
 
Today, we read more about God’s fierce wrath.  We also read that they blasphemed God, and they did not repent of their deeds.  And, we remember Revelation 16:5-7. 
 
“And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things;  for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink.  They deserve it.”  And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”  Revelation 16:5-7.
 
“8 O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
9 You rule the swelling of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.
10 You Yourself crushed Rahab like one who is slain;
You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all it contains, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.
13 You have a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”  Psalm 89:8-14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 17, 2013

“Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 15:5 through Revelation 16:7.
 
“5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes.  7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.  8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power;  and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
 
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
 
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth;  and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
 
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man;  and every living thing in the sea died.
 
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters;  and they became blood.  5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things;  6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink.  They deserve it.”  7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”  Revelation 15:5 through Revelation 16:7.
 
—————-
 
Today’s Scripture provides visual support for the conclusion that God’s judgments are true and righteous.
 
The angels were not some dark grim reapers, but “the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes.”  Revelation 15:6.
 
The place where these events were planned was not some secret hidden room, but “the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power”.  Revelation 15:8.
 
We tend to think of God’s wrath as a dark side of God.  But, today’s Scripture teaches us that God’s wrath is true and righteous.  “They deserve it.”  Revelation 16:6.
    

“3 And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”  Revelation 15:3-4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 16, 2013

“Great are the works of the Lord; They are studied by all who delight in them.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 15:1-4. 
 
“1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
 
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.  3 And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”  Revelation 15:1-4. 

——————

“Great are the works of the Lord;  They are studied by all who delight in them.”  Psalm 111:2

Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and what He has done.  Other doctrine focuses on man and alleged man’s free-will (what man has done and what man will do).   

Today’s Scripture shows that the Reformed Doctrine’s focus (on God and what He has done) is correct.  And, we see Scripture elsewhere maintain that focus.

From beginning to end, the focus is on God and what He has done.  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1.  “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.”  Revelation 22:21.

Even in between this beginning and end, the purpose of the Law was to bring us to Christ.  “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:24-26.  The focus is on God (Christ) and what He has done.  

We see this focus on God and what He has done in the Reformed Creeds. 

Consider “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  Four of the five points focus on God and what He has done from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”.  And, even the first point (which does focus on man and what man has done) focuses on man’s “Total Depravity” which emphasizes the absolute need to focus on God and what He has done as the only chance for salvation for man.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 15, 2013

“So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:14-20.
 
“14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.  15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.”  16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.
 
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.  18 Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar;  and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.”  19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God.  20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.”  Revelation 14:14-20.
 
—————–
 
The hour of wrath is horrific for the wicked, but the hour of wrath is holy salvation for the righteous.
 
“7 Arise, O Lord;  save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing be upon Your people!  Selah.”  Psalm 3:7-5.
 
“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:10-12.
 
“1 Who is this who comes from Edom,
With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah,
This One who is majestic in His apparel,
Marching in the greatness of His strength?
“It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2 Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?
3 “I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I stained all My raiment.
4 “For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
5 “I looked, and there was no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
6 “I trod down the peoples in My anger
And made them drunk in My wrath,
And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”  Isaiah 63:1-6.
 
“… And therefore the consideration of this judgment, is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and elect:  because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne. Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed and tormented them in this world;  and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.  But on the contrary, the faithful and elect shall be crowned with glory and honor;  and the Son of God will confess their names before God his Father, and his elect angels;  all tears shall be wiped from their eyes;  and their cause which is now condemned by many judges and magistrates, as heretical and impious, will then be known to be the cause of the Son of God.  And for a gracious reward, the Lord will cause them to possess such a glory, as never entered into the heart of man to conceive. Therefore we expect that great day with a most ardent desire to the end that we may fully enjoy the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  AMEN. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” – Revelation. 22:20.”  Article 37:  Of the Last Judgment, from the Belgic Confession. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 14, 2013

“your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:12-13.  (We repeat verse 12 from yesterday’s devotion.)
 
“12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
 
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’”  “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”  Revelation 14:12-13.
 
——————-
 

Today’s Scripture teaches us that our deeds follow us.  In other words, our labor is not in vain.  Our labors will produce fruit, and we will be rewarded for our labor.

“Perseverance of the Saints” a/k/a “Preservation of the Saints” (the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation) causes our labor to not be in vain.  We persevere in our labors, and God preserves us by working within us.  Either way of looking at it, from man’s side or God’s side, it is the grace of God.    

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;  Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.”  Psalm 127:1
 
“It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors;  For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.”  Psalm 127:2
 
“They will not labor in vain, Or bear children for calamity;  For they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord, And their descendants with them.”  Isaiah 65:23
 
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;  but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”  1 Corinthians 15:10
 
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:58

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 13, 2013

“Salvation from our enemies”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:9-12.
 
“Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger;  and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever;  they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”  Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”  Revelation 14:9-12.
 
——————-
 
By another name, we also call “perseverance of the saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  We call it “preservation of the saints”, because God deserves the credit for causing us to persevere by preserving us from many threats including the threat from our enemies. 
 
We tend to think of salvation as just forgiveness of our sins.  But, salvation includes salvation from our enemies.  “Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;”  Luke 1:71
 
“… And therefore the consideration of this judgment, is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and elect:  because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne. Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed and tormented them in this world;  and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.  …”  Article 37:  Of the Last Judgment in the Belgic Confession.
 

Question 45:  How does Christ execute the office of a king?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them;  in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.  Westminister Larger Catechism.

Question 54:  How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?

Answer: Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father, with all fulness of joy, glory, and power over all things in heaven and earth; and does gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnishes his ministers and people with gifts and graces, and makes intercession for them.  Westminister Larger Catechism.

Deuteronomy 33:29

“Blessed are you, O Israel;  Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, Who is the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty!  So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread upon their high places.”
 
“I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.
 
“46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,
47 The God who executes vengeance for me,
And subdues peoples under me.
48 He delivers me from my enemies;
Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
50 He gives great deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.”  Psalm 18:46-50.
 
“4 Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
5 He will recompense the evil to my foes;
Destroy themin Your faithfulness.

6 Willingly I will sacrifice to You;
I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For He has delivered me from all trouble,
And my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.”  Psalm 54:4-7.

“5 You, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the nations;
Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity.  Selah.
6 They return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And go around the city.
7 Behold, they belch forth with their mouth;
Swords are in their lips,
For, they say, “Who hears?”
8 But You, O Lord, laugh at them;
You scoff at all the nations.

9 Because of his strength I will watch for You,
For God is my stronghold.
10 My God in His lovingkindness will meet me;
God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.
11 Do not slay them, or my people will forget;
Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.
12 On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be caught in their pride,
And on account of curses and lies which they utter.
13 Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more;
That men may know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth.  Selah.”  Psalm 59:5-13.

“7 But God will shoot at them with an arrow;
Suddenly they will be wounded.
8 So they will make him stumble;
Their own tongue is against them;
All who see them will shake the head.
9 Then all men will fear,
And they will declare the work of God,
And will consider what He has done.
10 The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will glory.”  Psalm 64:7-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 12, 2013

“I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:6-8. 
                                                                                                                                                          “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;  and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come;  worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”
 

                                                                                                                                                        And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”  Revelation 14:6-8.

——————–

Today’s Scripture presents two angels who represent agents of God to perform His will.  One angel preaches the eternal gospel which is an exercise of God’s lovingkindness.  A second angel announces judgment which is an exercise of God’s justice.

It is easier for man to understand and accept God’s lovingkindness than it is for us to understand and accept God’s justice.  But, I wonder if it is easier for the angels to understand and accept God’s justice than it is for them to understand and accept God’s lovingkindness.  I think the angels marvel at God’s lovingkindness to “totally depraved” man.

“Who is the wise man that may understand this?  And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, that he may declare it?  Why is the land ruined, laid waste like a desert, so that no one passes through?  The Lord said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it, but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,” therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink.  I will scatter them among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known;  and I will send the sword after them until I have annihilated them.”  Jeremiah 9:12-16.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 10, 2013

Blameless

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:1-5.
 
“1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.  2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.  3 And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders;  and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.  4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste.  These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.  5 And no lie was found in their mouth;  they are blameless.”  Revelation 14:1-5.
 
—————————
 
Today’s Scripture reminds us what God has done for us.  God has made us blameless through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!”  Psalm 32:1-2.
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.
 
“30 As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
32 The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?”  Psalm 18:30-32.
 
“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-9.
 
“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.
 
Christ “… has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—”  Colossians 1:22  
 
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.
 
And, this 144,000 number is figurative, not literal.  This 144,000 number represents both a definite finite number and a perfect number.  First, the definite finite number refutes that Christ died for everyone.  If Christ died for everyone, then everyone would be “purchased from the earth”.  But, in today’s Scripture, we read of a definite finite number being purchased.  Second, the number represents a perfect number.  As stated in the following Reformed creed, Christ effectively redeemed “all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation” and that He will bring them “free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in His presence forever”.
   

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.  Canons of Dordt SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 9, 2013

“Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you …”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 13:11-18.
 
“11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth;  and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.  12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.  And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.  13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.  14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.  15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.  16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,  17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.  18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man;  and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”  Revelation 13:11-18.
 
———————–
 

Today’s Scripture places us in the wilderness.  And, we certainly experience times when we feel like we are in a wilderness taunted by our enemies:  “Where is your God?”  

We need to remember God and hope in God.

“1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,
With the voice ofjoy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.”  Psalm Chapter 43.

We also need to remember Scripture.  For example, consider “the bookends” of today’s Scripture.  The immediate preceding Scripture is Revelation 13:10:  “… Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”  God will preserve us.  God will cause us to persevere.  The immediate following Scripture is Revelation 14:1:  “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.”

“Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city.  And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master!  What shall we do?”  So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”  And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw;  and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”  2 Kings 6:15-17.  

But yet, we may still struggle remembering God and remembering Scripture.  Our faith is not in us or in our memory.  Our faith is not even in our own faith.  Our faith is in God. 

“‘Do not fear, for I am with you;  Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”  Isaiah 41:10
 

And because God preserves us and otherwise also helps us, we persevere.

We may die, but God will cause us to be faithful until death.

But, whether we live or die, we belong to our “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.”  See Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 1.   

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