In Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson warned: “[W]e live in an age in which the authority of Scripture in our lives has been replaced by the authority of the self: we are encouraged on all sides to take charge of our lives and use our own experience as the authoritative text by which to live. The alarming thing is how extensively this spirit has invaded the church.”

In the opening chapter of the book of Revelation, the Apostle John strongly asserts the authority of Scripture. How was this book written? Christ sent an angel, who showed John visions of “what must soon take place” (v. 1). Then John testified to all that he saw (v. 2). At the time, about AD 95, John was in exile on the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony.

The book of Revelation is an “apocalypse,” that is, an account of the end of the world. The term apocalypse means an “unveiling” or “disclosure.” This literary form consists mainly of symbolic visions and can be confusing or even overwhelming. This book also includes prophecies, narratives, and doxologies of praise. Though some see the events of the book as mainly in the past, a futurist interpretation will be taken here.

The main purpose of the book, for the original readers as well as for us today, is encouragement. This is why John offers a blessing for reading this book (v. 3). Revelation encourages us to stand firm in the face of persecution from Satan and the world. We should take its message to heart, implying a response of faith and obedience. We can be encouraged primarily because of the imminent return of Christ (1 Thess. 4:16–18). “Imminent” means Christ could return at any time. In a very real sense, “the time is near.”

Go Deeper

We don’t know when Christ will return, but we do know that He could return at any time. What difference might this truth make in our everyday lives?

Pray with Us

Dear Lord, as we begin to study this book, grant us encouragement and strength to face difficulties in the world around us. We trust that You will return to make all things new!

The best stories, the ones we delight in, end well. At the end of the story, evil is vanquished and courage rewarded. The future looks bright. But on this earth, there is a pervading sadness to even the most satisfying ending. Sin mars true happiness, leaving lingering dissatisfaction.

But that is not the way the Bible ends. Since Genesis, we have watched God work out His plan to restore what was lost in the Garden of Eden. Now, in the book of Revelation, we see the result: a new heaven and a new earth! These words are meant to echo the original Creation account before the world was marred by sin. That creation was good, but not perfect. Sin was a possibility.

But this new heaven and earth will be different. They are fit for a holy city, Jerusalem, and for God to dwell among His people (v. 3). What is more, the consequences of sin, death and the mourning, crying, and pain will be gone (v. 4). They characterize the way the world used to work. God declares that the old order of things is no more when He says, “I am making everything new!” (v. 5).

Chapter 21 of Revelation describes that future reality. How would the readers in the first century have known they could trust it to come to pass? How can we, today, know and look forward to it? God declares that it is trustworthy and true (v. 5). The hope of everyone with faith in Christ for salvation rests on these words. They are true. God has committed Himself to restoring the world we live in. The work of Christ secured that future for us. This is our hope. This is our victory. The story ends the best possible way it could.

Go Deeper

Where is your hope for the future? Do you look forward to the end when all things will be made new? Stay tuned in March when we will study the entire book of Revelation. Extended Reading: 

Revelation 19-21

Pray with Us

King Jesus, we rejoice in the wonderful new reality You show us in the book of Revelation. It is trustworthy and true! We are looking forward to this hope and victory, to seeing You face to face.

Shame is a powerful emotion. In most cultures, people work very hard to avoid shaming others or bringing shame upon themselves or their families. But shame can be a motivator. Feelings of shame might prevent us from doing bad things. On the other hand, feeling ashamed might cause us to stop doing something we should be doing!

Paul, once again imprisoned for preaching the gospel, took time to write a second letter to his spiritual son Timothy. He knew that his time on earth was coming to an end, so he wanted to impart wisdom to someone he loved dearly. Using the metaphor of fanning a fire, he challenged Timothy not to let what God was doing in his life die out, but rather to grow in strength (v. 6). God’s gift was not a fearful spirit but a powerful one, full of love and self-control (v. 7).

We can be sure that Timothy needed this reminder because living a gospel-centered life comes with risk of rejection, suffering, and shame. But because the spirit of God gives power, Timothy did not need to be ashamed or fearful. Even his association with Paul, a prisoner, wasn’t a cause for embarrassment because God is the one who empowers!

Paul understood that there were times when people should be ashamed of their sinful behavior (2 Thess. 3:14). There are also times, however, when people should not be ashamed. For example, Paul understood that his work for the gospel brought about suffering, but this was not a cause for shame because he was following Christ’s instructions. Paul had no need to be ashamed because he was obeying the One who defeated death and gave him eternal life (v. 10)! With confidence he would tell Timothy: Do not be ashamed of the gospel (v. 8).

Go Deeper

As one who follows Christ, you have no need to be ashamed of the gospel or about obeying the One who has given you eternal life. Have courage! Extended Reading: 

2 Timothy

Pray with Us

Jesus, we need Your reminder to cherish the work You are doing in our lives and to be courageous warriors for the gospel. Thank You for giving us a Spirit of “power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

I lived in eastern Iowa for a decade. Every Wednesday a tornado warning siren would blare over the air. My family and I quickly learned that this was only a test, and we grew to ignore them. But occasionally the siren would blare at a different time, and we would scramble to the basement in haste. The siren was calling us to take immediate action so we would live!

The prophets of Israel are often characterized as full of judgment and destruction. But we can also look at them as God’s warning sirens. During the days of Amos, Israel was not living according to the covenant, so God sent the prophet with a warning. “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel” (v. 4). By inviting the people to seek Him, God was sounding the alarm.

This alarm also warned them where not to go. Bethel was an infamous city in Israel. Generations before, a king named Jeroboam had built a temple to a false god there (1 Kings 12:29). As a result, he led the nation into idolatrous worship and away from the Lord. Years later, Bethel continued to be a place where people went to sacrifice and pray to a pagan deity. Like a family fleeing from a tornado to the second story of their home, Israel was turning to false gods for help. They needed to be told where to go, but they also needed to be told where not to go! The other cities, Gilgal and Beersheba, also had associations with wickedness.

Far more than just judgment and destruction, the prophet Amos was calling Israel to change their ways while there was still time. Eventually God would lose patience, but until that moment there was a chance to escape punishment. All they needed to do was seek Him, and they would live.

Go Deeper

Are you hearing sirens going off in your spiritual life? What is God warning you to do or not to do? Extended Reading: 

Amos 5

, 

Obadiah

Pray with Us

Father in heaven, thank You for Your prophets who spoke Your word in a mighty way. Today, we are called to seek You and live. It is a comfort to know that Your Son Jesus opened for us the way to You and gave us eternal life.

Taken from Today in The Word

Job interviews can be tricky. If you’re conducting the interview, you want to get a total picture of the candidate, but if you’re the candidate you might be tempted to present only your best features, even if the portrait you give is a bit one-sided.

Our modern-day understanding of God can also be one-sided. Portrayals of God that neglect His willingness and capacity to judge are misleading at best, and deceitful at worst. But as this passage reminds us, mercy is part of God’s character as well! Israel sinned by turning from God to worship idols and to live in a way that violated the Mosaic Law. As promised, God judged them. But as He also promised, His judgment was paired with mercy and designed to lead them to repentance.

Israel received judgment (v. 2), but eventually that time of punishment would come to an end, and Israel would experience God’s mercy. God promised they would return to the Promised Land after a time of exile. Even then, God’s mercies were not exhausted. Verses 3–5 looked forward to a time when God’s final kingdom will be established on the earth and “the glory of the Lord will be revealed” (v. 5) to everyone. In that day, Jesus will rule as King over a kingdom that will not end.

This combination of judgment and mercy are best exemplified in Christ who took the judgment we deserved. His sacrifice was an act of mercy for all who trust in Him. God ordained them both. It was His plan to judge, and it was His plan to show mercy. This is glorious!

Pray with Us

God, we join the prayer of the prophet Isaiah for Your kingdom on earth to come and Your glory to be revealed to everyone. What a glorious day it will be!

If you’ve ever told a child, “I know I promised, but…” you probably remember their look of suspicious disappointment. The next time you said, “I promise,” you knew they might not believe you. As we turn to the book of Exodus, we come to an important event that shows us why we can always trust God’s promises. Seeing this clearly displayed in the Old Testament increases our ability to trust God today.

Approximately 400 years after God made a covenant with Abram, He fulfilled that promise by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus describes this as God remembering His covenant (v. 5). Now let’s be clear, God doesn’t “remember” because He forgot. While He may take His time, He always “remembers.” But from Israel’s perspective, it must have felt like God had forgotten them! Imagine waiting for 400 years to see if God would do what He promised. This feeling would have become more pronounced as the Egyptians began to enslave the Israelites. Forced to do hard labor, they suffered greatly. Then, as their population increased, they faced genocidal threats (Ex. 1:22). But in His time, God decided to take action. He had witnessed the oppression of His people at the hand of the Egyptians (6:6). He would free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt with powerful demonstrations of His might (v. 6). He did this because he made a covenant with Abraham and reaffirmed it to his descendants (v. 8).

The exodus proved that God’s promises can always be trusted. This is important because God has made promises to everyone who trusts in Him. He promises that He will deliver us from bondage to sin (Acts 26:18). It may take a lifetime, but He will do it as He promised!

Go Deeper

Have you grown weary of waiting for God to deliver you? Have you struggled to remain confident that He has not forgotten you? How does this passage in Exodus increase your confidence in God’s promises?

Pray with Us

Father, what a joy it is to know that Your promises are faithful and true! You delivered the Israelis from slavery in Egypt, and You deliver us from slavery to sin. We praise you today. Hallelujah!

Taken from Today in The Word

Are you eager for Christ’s return? Evangelist Billy Sunday once preached: “The mission of the church—the bride of Christ, or body of Christ—is to be ready to meet the bridegroom. When the body of Christ is completed He will reveal Himself to the members who are alive and in this world at that time, and at the same moment they will be caught up to meet those who have gone on before in the air, and from that moment they are forever with the Lord.”

The “Rapture” is the name we use to talk about meeting Christ in the air, as described in today’s reading (v. 17). This will be followed by the Tribulation and then Christ’s Second Coming. From the moment Jesus ascended to the Father, the church has been looking forward to His return: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

The Thessalonians believed in Christ’s return, but it seems they thought everyone had to stay alive until that time. As pagan Gentiles, they saw death as the end, and therefore, any believer who died before His return would lose their chance at eternal life. Paul corrected that error, teaching that when Christ comes back, the dead will rise first (vv. 15–16) and those still alive will meet Him in the air (v. 17). No one who trusts in Jesus will miss out!

One day we will hear “the trumpet call of God” and “the voice of the archangel,” and our waiting will be over (v. 16). We long for this day: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).

Go Deeper

Thinking about Christ’s return should encourage us to be faithful each day. As you look to the year ahead, how will you seek to grow in your relationship with Jesus?

Taken from Today in The Word

Weddings today are usually a grand event, many costing thousands of dollars. Prospective brides spend months, even years, preparing for the big day: reserving a church and a banquet hall, finding the perfect dress, ordering flowers. Often, the couple will send out a save-the-date card, inviting their friends and families to anticipate their marriage with them.

Christ’s Second Coming will be the Wedding Day of the church! Today begins the final section of our study, focusing on Christ’s return and eschatology (the study of the “last things”). Since the church is the bride, then Christ is her Bridegroom. God and Israel were often described this way in the Old Testament, with God as the faithful husband and Israel as a promiscuous wife (see Jer. 3:1–3). We’re living in what could be called the “engagement” period. John the Baptist understood this; he framed his ministry as being the “best man” (John 3:29). We’re to prepare ourselves for the Wedding Day by doing the righteous acts God gives us an opportunity to do, pictured in Revelation as fine linen to wear (Eph. 2:10; Rev. 19:7–9).

When will the big day come? We don’t know (Matt. 25:13), but Jesus charged us to be ready. In this parable, the five wise virgins brought enough oil for their lamps, but five foolish ones did not (vv. 2–4). When the bridegroom arrived, the call came: “Come out to meet him!” (v. 6). The foolish were unprepared. What were the consequences? Only the first five were allowed to enter the wedding feast with the bridegroom. The lesson? “Keep watch,” meaning that through obedience we should keep ourselves in a state of spiritual readiness “because you do not know the day or the hour” (v. 13). There is no save-the-date card for our Lord’s return!

Go Deeper

Why is Christ the Bridegroom? Who is the bride? What does this comparison teach us about Jesus? What does it teach us about our own responsibility as believers?

Pray with Us

Heavenly Father, we look forward to that day when we will be reunited with Jesus, face to face. What a wonderful day that will be! May we be always expectant and ready for His return.

Taken from Today in The Word

Perry Mason was the title character in a popular series of novels, radio programs, and finally a television series set in Los Angeles starring Raymond Burr. The fictional lawyer specialized in advocating for the innocent, mostly people who had been wrongly accused of murder. Perry Mason epitomized a good lawyer, striving to help those in need.

The Bible uses this type of legal language, saying that Jesus is our advocate before God the Father. God’s amazing grace is key to understanding salvation. In today’s reading, the apostle John wrote to believers about what to do when sin occurs in our life after our initial salvation. Just as grace and forgiveness were at work in our justification, so also we find them at work in our sanctification.

Every follower of Christ must walk in the light and pursue righteous living (1:5–7). It’s the key to having fellowship with God and with one another. The question naturally arises, then, “What happens when we sin?” What we must first understand is that we will sin (1:8, 10). It’s going to happen. God’s work in us is not yet finished.

When we do sin, we must confess our wrongdoing to God. That means repenting of our sin and turning from it, knowing God has promised to forgive us (1:9). It’s in this context that we can fully appreciate the role of Jesus as our Advocate (2:1). As the perfectly Righteous One, He speaks on our behalf before God the Judge, saying, in essence, “I have already paid the price for this believer’s sin. No penalty remains. Please grant more grace and forgiveness.” In other words, Christ’s atoning sacrifice has already taken care of matters (2:2). His blood has cleansed and purified us, and continues to cleanse and purify us, from sin (1:7, 9).

Go Deeper

What is the role of an advocate in a court of law? Why is it fitting to describe Jesus as our Advocate?

Pray with Us

We confess our sins to You today, Lord. We do not approach You with fear because Your forgiveness is guaranteed for us as believers. It was accomplished by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. How amazing is Your grace toward us!

Taken from Today in The Word

Musicians Stuart Townend and Keith Getty wrote the powerful worship song, “In Christ Alone.” The final verse proclaims: “No guilt in life, no fear in death / This is the power of Christ in me. / From life’s first cry to final breath, / Jesus commands my destiny. / No power of hell, no scheme of man, / Can ever pluck me from his hand. / Till he returns or calls me home, / Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.”

There is no other way to the Father than through Christ alone! Jesus made this very clear in today’s reading: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (v. 6). The title Way draws on the common biblical metaphor of a path. Jesus also said: “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life” (Matt. 7:14). Early Christianity was actually called “the Way” (Acts 9:2). And for us, there is no way to God other than Christ, even while our culture frowns on such exclusive claims.

There is also no other Truth, certainly not “personal truth” or “truth for me” that has become pervasive in our world. John uses the Greek word for “truth” 25 times in his Gospel, always connecting it to Jesus. Sometimes we think Satan has lesser or weaker truths, but the fact is that he has no truth at all—he is the “father of lies” (John 8:44).

Finally, as we’ve seen already this month, there is no other source of Life. In our culture, Jesus’ assertion sounds alarming, but He actually communicated this “I am” statement to offer comfort (v. 1). That’s one reason He put things in relational terms. “The way and the truth and the life” are all about knowing Jesus (vv. 7–10).

Go Deeper

How many ways are there to God? How does Jesus’ claim contradict the modern understanding of personal truth?

Pray with Us

There are not many ways to God, but only one—Jesus Christ! We know that it is through You alone, Jesus, that we can know God, be forgiven, and find salvation. Thank You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

Taken from Today in The Word