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.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
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.”
The Throne of God. Revelation 5.
My wife encourages her middle school Bible students to draw a picture of God’s throne and symbolically placing all their problems at the foot of the throne. She has found it to be a helpful way to release her troubles into His hands. I just read Revelation 4. There’s a lot to God’s throne. ThereContinue reading “The Throne of God. Revelation 5.”
COOL COFFEE. Revelation 3:15-17.
Ever had cool coffee? Not cold coffee—not “iced coffee.” That’s a whole thing. I mean coffee that should be hot but cooled down to a degree less than warm, but not quite cold. Cool coffee. It’s not great, right? Or what about when you put leftovers in the microwave? A big plate of spaghetti withContinue reading “COOL COFFEE. Revelation 3:15-17.”