Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-27-18

November 27, 2018

Revelation 11:15-19 Good News Translation (GNT)

Scripture teaches when the seventh trumpet sounds it signals the arrival of the King of kings and the Lord of lords; the Son of God our Jesus Messiah.  He is coming back to earth to rule forever.  Once that trumpet sounds there is no turning back; at that point judgment will have arrived and evil will have no escape.  For the people who have declared their need for Messiah to cover their sin, they will be rewarded for their love and reverence of the Lord with eternal life in God’s presence.  Obedience to God’s Word is His provision to protect us from the effects of divine wrath against evil.

God has revealed his plan in advance so humanity could get ready for his return and reign.  Are you ready?  Evil and sin will be destroyed and those who partake of it—who connect to and live out the very things God has forbidden—will not survive the wrath of God who will take down evil in every form.  If you haven’t already done so, ask Jesus to cover your sin and then turn to live in obedience to God’s Word.  It is the Good News! 

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Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-26-18

November 26, 2018

Revelation 11:1-14 The Message The Two Witnesses

God promises “spiritual protection” to those in his church (believers) who seek to faithfully abide and obey his Word; God will spiritually protect his own during times of persecution. Evil will come to an end, but until it does God will take care of those who call on the name of the Lord.  He has given his Word. 

In our passage today from the prophetic Book of Revelation, the Apostle John has a vision of the passion and power of God to save the world.  God provides two witnesses to speak truth to the people outside the spiritually protected church; God does not give up on getting the Truth to humanity.  God desires that no one would perish, but all would come to the saving knowledge of the Lord.  Yet, notice humanity’s reaction to the witnesses who speak only what God tells them to speak; truth of God’s love and the need for repentance or turning from sin.  The people are miserable, they cannot enjoy their sin when these two are speaking.  The Word pricks their conscience and the unbelievers don’t like it. People actually celebrate the death of these two prophets, so they don’t have to listen anymore to the truth.  Could human hearts be so harden against God?  The Bible teaches when human hearts are hardened, God allows the stubborn to face the consequences of their sin without his spiritual protection.

 

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