In the book of Revelation Jesus reveals the future (the noun form of ‘reveal’ is ‘revelation’). But the End Times will also reveal the hearts of man. Those who love God will grow to love Him more, and those who hate God will hate Him even more, as they “fill up the full measure ofContinue reading “The End Times Will Reveal the Hearts of Men. Revelation 14:14-16.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
God Does Not Judge the Repentant. God Judges Those Who Refuse to Repent. 2 Peter 3:9.
Many struggle to understand the judgment of God. Some look at Noah’s flood and feel sorry for those who drowned. Or they read about Sodom and Gomorrah and feel sympathetic toward the people of these two cities who were slain. Others look at the battles David fought and wonder how God could ask Israel toContinue reading “God Does Not Judge the Repentant. God Judges Those Who Refuse to Repent. 2 Peter 3:9.”
Drunk on Blood. Revelation 17:6.
Yesterday I ran across a video compilation of people who were drunk. They fell down stairs. They tried to fight, but their efforts were ridiculous. A man fell out of a moving boat. A woman in a dress climbed up on the hood of a car and sat there even after the driver began toContinue reading “Drunk on Blood. Revelation 17:6.”
WHAT IS THE DEVIL SO MAD ABOUT? Revelation 12:2-17.
Revelation 12 chronicles the activities of the devil. Because it is prophecy, it is filled with symbolism and a sort of dream logic. Israel is pictured as a woman, and Satan is a dragon: “She was pregnant and cried out in labor… And the dragon stood in front of the woman to devour the child.Continue reading “WHAT IS THE DEVIL SO MAD ABOUT? Revelation 12:2-17.”
The Christmas Story from a Parallel Universe. Revelation 12: 1-9
The twelfth chapter of Revelation tells a sort of Christmas story. The woman in this story is Israel. Israel (crowned by 12 stars symbolizing the 12 tribes) gives birth to Jesus, a child who will rule the nations. Notice the war coming from the devil, pictured as a dragon in John’s vision. This is aContinue reading “The Christmas Story from a Parallel Universe. Revelation 12: 1-9”
GLOAT. Revelation 11:10.
Do you ever gloat? Merriam-Webster defines “gloat” as “to observe or think about something with triumphant or often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight. To gloat over an enemy’s misfortune.” Gloating is a bit like winning a contest, then rubbing your opponent’s face in his loss. Batters sometimes gloat over a home run. Football players gloatContinue reading “GLOAT. Revelation 11:10.”
JUSTICE. Revelation 8:3-6.
We crave justice. The gentlest among us is stirred to anger hearing about abuse of children and all the human monsters who torture the defenseless. Who has not heard a news story and hoped bad things would happen to the criminal? Yet, we read Revelation and feel sorry for those who suffer. The book tellsContinue reading “JUSTICE. Revelation 8:3-6.”
THE LAMB WHO IS A SHEPHERD. Revelation 7:15-17.
When I was a child our church published “THE ORBIT.” ‘The Orbit’ was a great name for a paper coming from a Houston church in the early 1970s—the space race was the biggest news of the ’60s and ’70s and our city was its home. One of the best features of the Orbit was aContinue reading “THE LAMB WHO IS A SHEPHERD. Revelation 7:15-17.”
A Gift from the Ancient of Days. Revelation 6-7.
God often allows things we do not understand: poverty, illnesses, suffering, death. He welcomes your questions. Questions are allowed. But we are not called to ask questions. We are called to worship God, to fall on our faces in awe and reverence and fear. And such fear is not crippling, it is empowering. The FearContinue reading “A Gift from the Ancient of Days. Revelation 6-7.”
When Will You Repent? Revelation 8 and 9.
A woman once told me she had never been spanked, that she was so sensitive, a strong word from a parent was enough to change her behavior. I could not relate to that. As a child I heard strong words every day. I ignored them. I was a strong-willed child. Nothing would deter me fromContinue reading “When Will You Repent? Revelation 8 and 9.”
Household Words: 