Daily Bread for Dec 28, Rev 13-16

Today’s readings are Rev 13-16.

Rev 13 speaks of the era between Christ being seated on the throne and His return. Satan (the dragon) wages war on the woman (Israel and the church), during this time. However, the dragon remains subject to the authority of God in all he does (Rev 13:5-7).

Rev 14 is an encouragement to believers, who are blameless, for not aligning themselves with the beast (Rev 14:5). The faithful ones will be rewarded when they are taken up into heaven.

Rev 15-16 describe the seven cups of wrath, which are like the seven trumpets and the seven seals, but far more severe. While the trumpets and seals were used by God to call people to repentance, the cups are the unbridled wrath of God being poured out on those who have rejected Him and embraced the beast.

"The mark of the beast" is mentioned in Rev 16:2. This is another warning that has frequently been misunderstood and misinterpreted. Whatever physical form this mark may take, it will be consciously received in commitment and surrender to the beast. Many fear that using a credit card, a microchip or even things like the Euro can inadvertently bring eternal damnation upon a believer. This simply isn't true. The mark John describes is not just a monetary system. It is the willful, conscious rejection of God while embracing Satan. The mark cannot be inadvertently received. It comes as a decision to follow Satan.

Read these chapters carefully. Notice that the events described are not possibilities nor are they conjecture. They are depicted as having already occurred. While they remain in the future, the outcome of all this battling and war in the heavenly realm has a foregone conclusion. God remains in control of everything throughout. Satan is not God's opposite nor is he God’s equal. He is a created being functioning under the sovereign authority and power of God and will be held accountable for every evil deed he does. This is true of the end times. But, it is true today as well.