DECEMBER 29, DAY 363. THE BIBLE IN 365 DAYS WITH TOYIN OJO. COMMENTARY AND SUMMARY FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION

DECEMBER 29, DAY 363. THE BIBLE IN 365 DAYS WITH TOYIN OJO. COMMENTARY AND SUMMARY FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION

TITLE: 666

AVOID the mark of the beast.  The mark will be forced, so that both great and small have the mark, number or the name of the beast on. (Revelation 13^16-18).

Yet we have the capacity to refuse to take on the mark or the number - (Revelation 14^9-11). Gain victory by exercising patience relentlessly.

REVELATION 11^1-19

THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE AND PURPOSES OF GOD

The visions of John continues; as he was given a reed and instructed in the vision: “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshippers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.”

• Note the Gentiles—The unexpected.
• After them two witnesses (prophets) were appointed and they prophesied with great power - such that withheld or allowed rain, “turn the waters into blood and strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” (v.6); They exhibited strength for a given time.

Then Abyss released beast that attacked them and overpowered them (v.7-10)

v.10-14

GOD TOOK THEM UP

Because they were from God, their shame and humiliation brought calamity upon the inhabitants of the earth, after the limited time that God had allowed (v.7-13)

• “Seven thousand people were killed in an earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” v.13. That marked the end of the second woe.

Since we do not know when, and what God is doing from the beginning to the end (Ecclesiastes 3¹¹).  We do have the capacity to do good works, justice, love the brotherhood and sisterhood, express compassion, be generous, as long as we have consciousness.  And always ask for divine mercy.

v.15 — “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

‘The kingdom of the world has come

the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,

and he will reign for ever and ever’.”  Then the 24 elders “fell on their faces and worshipped the One Who is and Who was (read the full wording of their worship v.17-18) —

They appreciated God for the rewards for his prophets and those who feared his name when living.

“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.  And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peaks of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.” v.19

REVELATION 12^1-17

In this chapter some wonders appeared:

• A WOMAN PREGNANT AND IN TRAVAIL clothed with the sun
• A GREAT DRAGON with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.” v.3. And they would devour her child a male son, but God snatched up the child to heaven.

This is our reality — That person suffering, temptation, threats, hate, crime.  Every single child, every life, person, is a testimony capable of doing great but the devil prefers the opposite.  Christ came teeming with God, conquered.

This the devil fought back but lost; FELL to the earth, he will always loose (v.7-9)

THE VOICE OF VICTORY was heard! — read the declaration v.10-12

v.13-17

The only accomplishment of the devil since his fall is war, and wars, and more wars.  It is our task to hold fast to our testimonies and live for God. The wise believer will be accomplishing great things for God. While warding off the ancient Serpent —(the devil)—loser.

REVELATION 13^1-18

BEAST IN THE SEA manifest on earth— see its description (v.1b-2a-b)

The dragon (also known as serpent/devil) shared its power and authority with it (v.2).

It had sustained wounds from my prayers and yours, and the wars it frequently has with God’s army (angels) — the wounds had been healed (v.3)

Sadly, many people are awed by the beast; it had crowns, spoke proudly, and fought against God’s holy people.  Exercising authority across the 195 nations of the world and the godless worshipped the beast (v.7-8)

It is a choice though! (Read v.9-10) —To be victorious we require “patient endurance and faithfulness”

v.11-18

THE SECOND BEAST EMERGED FROM THE EARTH — “It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wounds had been healed.” v.11-12.  It came to support and cover-up for the 1st beast — for any of its known sufferings, wounds, and exposed defeat. The second beast is man — any leader, influential persons yielded to injustice, discrimination, systems that segregate and differentiate among mankind.  Their crave for power and control got so bad they began to tag people with marks/numbers on their hand or foreheads (v.17)

• “This calls for wisdom. Let’s the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” v.18

REVELATION 14^1-20

“JESUS STANDING ON MOUNT ZION AND THE 144,000 BELIEVERS WITH HIM— they had his name and his Father’s name on their foreheads” v.1

The sounds heard were nice:

• Rushing water
• Harpist playing

They sang a new song! Before the host of heaven, “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” v.3

They were redeemed because they were steadfast, undefiled. “ They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.  No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” v.5

v.6: “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal Gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.” He called for the fear and worship of God and proclaimed the time of judgement.

The second angel (v.8) — proclaimed the fall of Babylon (reference: Isaiah 21:9)

The third angel — warns against obtaining the mark of the beast.  Read the full wrath of God against that act (v.9-11)

• ACTION REQUIRED: Patience (v.12)
• The great fortune of the believers that die proclaimed, and discussed —“ their deeds will follow them” (v.13).  We must therefore not sorrow hopelessly when a beloved sleeps.
• While living on earth we must remember that our end (eternity) holds fab things and that should give us joy and strength to carry on.

The next vision;

(v.14-20)

THE SON OF MAN WITH SHARP SICKLE IN HIS HANDS — then an angel announced it’s time for harvest and the earth was harvested — More Angels joined harvesting ( v.17-20).

NIGHT:

Ponder of the choices the devil has presented to you, and how you overcame; refusing to go into captivity!

“If anyone goes into captivity,

into captivity they will go.

If anyone is to be killed with the sword,

with the sword they will be killed.” 13¹⁰

We must be ready to wait on God. Seeing all these wars. Which are not just perceived but revealed.

Reference:

• Holy Bible King James Version
• The One Year Chronological NIV

Warmth

Toyin