Daily Bread for Dec 28, Rev 9-12
Today's readings are Rev 9-12.
In Rev 9, having
blown the trumpets, the angels are the heralds of the living God, pronouncing
His judgment on the world. Notice that, as the woes are released, they are
subject to God’s authority who limits them as to what they may do. Meanwhile,
God’s children are protected from the trial and suffering the woes bring (Rev
9:4).
The first four trumpets
affect a part of the world but not all. Judgment is being poured out. Justice
is being served. But, there is still time for those who remain to repent and be
saved.
God is in sovereign
control of all that is occurring. He is orchestrating the events at the end of
history with the same precision and power that He has been exercising
throughout the Bible from the beginning of Genesis (Rev 10:7-11).
We see God’s accuracy and
precision in the measurements prescribed in Rev 11:1-3 which shows us that God
is omniscient down to the slightest detail. His omnipotence is on display in
Rev 11:4-14).
Rev 12
depicts war in the heavenlies between "the woman" and "the
dragon," both of which are symbolic. The woman is a sign of God's goodness
and sovereign authority and the dragon a symbol of pure evil. The dragon loses
and is ejected from heaven. These signs, whatever earthly counterparts they may
or may not represent, are also representative of all spiritual warfare. The
battle may be fierce but will be dominated and controlled by the power and
presence of God.
Notice that God
preserves and protects His people throughout (Rev 12:6, 14). Also, notice that
the woman's baby, who is Christ, soundly defeats the dragon once He is seated
on the throne. This is a depiction of Christ's ascension into heaven shortly
after the resurrection, where He was "seated at the right hand of
God." (Eph 1:20). This is not to say that all spiritual battle ceased at
that point. But, it certainly guarantees that the outcome has been
predetermined.
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