THE CUP
Suggested Reading: Revelation 16
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Southeast of Haifa lies Mt. Carmel, a promontory rich in Biblical history. As you stand on its peak looking east, you can see the fertile plains of the Jezreel Valley. The book of Revelation also identifies this area, Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), as the place where the final battle of Armageddon will be fought. It was also on this mountain that Elijah the Prophet confronted the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Revelation 16:5
And I heard the angel of the waters saying:
“You are righteous, O Lord,
The One who is and who was and who is to be,
Because You have judged these things…”
Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ Day Unto Day devotional series)…
In this chapter we see the anger of God at sin and the demands of His justice. Seven angels “pour out” the contents of the “seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God” (15:7). The first bowl brings a plague of ulcers upon “the people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped his image” (verse 2). The second bowl befouls the sea (verse 3) while the third bowl pollutes the fresh water (verse 4). The fourth bowl affects the sun so that the earth’s residents are “seared by the intense heat” (verse 9), and the fifth bowl plunges “the throne of the beast, and his kingdom” into darkness (verse 10). The sixth bowl dries up the Euphrates River and releases three evil spirits who gather “the kings of the whole world…for battle on the great day of God” at the valley of Megiddo (verses 12-16). The final bowl precipitates a great cataclysm culminating in a huge earthquake and violent hail storm (verses 16-21).
All of this comes from God Himself. And the people “curse” Him because of it (verses 9-10). There’s something in human nature that resents superior power, even when it comes from God, who is the ultimate Power. We each can choose to submit or rebel.
One of the most significant messages of the book of Revelation is that God will ultimately manifest His holiness and punish all unholiness. In the context of this chapter, we can clearly see that all this wrath and destruction could have been prevented – but sinful mankind “refused to repent of what they had done” (verse 11b). God will go to almost any length to impress on us our need to turn away from sin. But if we refuse, we’ll suffer the consequences.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God Almighty, as I read Revelation 16 I’m hearing clearly Your message. “You are righteous, O Lord” (16:4a), and I am a sinner. Therefore, I repent! Grant me the grace to live in a state of repentance. I pray for a constant awareness of Your holy presence, so that I may, as You said, Lord Jesus, in 16:15, I will be blessed by watching for Your coming again, and by keeping the garments of Your righteousness as my clothing. In Your Name, I pray, dear Jesus. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As a new believer in Jesus as my Saviour and Lord, I thought long and hard about the reason for the suffering and death of Christ. For example, when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, “Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will but Yours be done,” what was in the cup? The answer came from Revelation 16:19b and from other Scriptures. “The cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath!” God’s anger against all that hurts and destroys those He has created and loves was in that cup. I ask myself, “How can I get my mind around this eternal truth?” Over the years I’ve read the words from Isaiah again and again, “The cup of His fury” and “The cup of My fury” (Isaiah 51). I would urge us all, as I have done this morning, to read again Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12. I read this and weep, throwing myself on the mercies of God, and confident in God’s promise that “He [Jesus] has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4a), and that “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Yours for giving our lives in a fresh commitment to Jesus every day,
David
Looking west from Mount Carmel towards the Mediterranean Sea.
Jim and Kathy Cantelon. I appreciate that they've allowed me to use their Revelation commentary, which Crossroads originally published in the "Day Unto Day" devotional series in the early nineties.
Father, may we acknowledge how we have fallen short. Lord, remove any denial or inclination to justify our behaviour or blame others for our actions. May we submit wholeheartedly to your authority in our lives, to the praise and glory of your name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Amen and Amen!
Amen!
Thank You sir. Beautiful pictures! Thank you both Jim and Kathy:) may God’s will be done in our lives this day and always, Amen!!
I agree with Patricia and Amen to your pray
David.
I have noticed that resentment of superior power and authority seems to be human nature. Maybe that is why some children resent their parents, wives resent their husbands or vice versa, employees their bosses etc. etc. Love always seems to be the answer.
Amen to your Prayer For Today DM.
It is heartbreaking to know that Jesus would have gladly opted out of being crucified by His people but He wanted His Father’s will to be done. In this case, Father does know best.
Thank God for cameras……the pics are so lovely today.
Blessings on us all today.
Have read Isaiah 52 & 53 and prayed your prayer, David. As requested yesterday, I pray for David’s friend Jay along with my fellow bloggers for complete healing of Jay and grace for each day. Also for Beverlee’s friend Eliza Jane and for Carole for your healing hand to be applied to their bodies. Thank you David, Reynold, Jim and Kathy for your love and dedication to the Lord and Word of God. My cup is filled up every day and He is speaking. God bless you everyone!
Thank you Lord Jesus for your obedience and going all the way to the cross, sacrificing yourself for the sins of mankind. I too repent and pray I will stay focused on your Word and the example you left us with.
Bringing Jay and Eliza Jane before The Lord for comfort and strength to endure what they are going through. Just read Isaiah and remember having to memorize 53 as a young child.
Started the four gospels Pastor David. Unfortunately only got first two read before interruption of two days. Will finish other two this weekend. Learning things I missed before. Blessings to all.
Heavenly Father I, humbly come to You asking forgiveness for any transgressions knowing that Your Precious Son Jesus made all this possible by taking all of our sins on The Cross pouring His Blood and leaving us The Holy Spirit as He ascended to You So Jesus thank you for the complete surrender of Yourself to The Will of Your Heavenly Father. Amen.
Father if it is Your Will , remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my Will but Yours be done.
Have a blessed day everyone.
xoxoxo Carole.
I need to do a deeper study on Revelation as I still have many questions. Does anyone know of a trustworthy book or website that explains Revelation to a greater extent than this blog could accommodate? Thank you.
Linda: Give this one a try:
http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php
Thank you Ruby.
What a lovely couple both on the outside… in the inside too…as expressed in their easy-to-understand interpretations of God’s word in Revelations …Thank you Jim and Kathy Cantelon!!!
for the past while I have been blessed listening to the DVD of “Heaven’s Rehearsal” that took place in 2007 at the Air Canada Centre, Toronto…I believe it Reynold and Kathy Mainse played a part in its production