Monday, May 14, 2018

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144,000

Today’s Reading: Revelation 7 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

The Shepherds’ Field in Bethlehem is said to be the place where the shepherds watched their flocks by night, when the angels appeared to them with the announcement of the birth of Jesus. In the symbolism of today’s reading, the Lamb is also the Shepherd. Tradition tells us that John was in a cave on the island of Patmos when he received the “Revelation.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ “Day Unto Day” devotional series)…

Reading Revelation is like looking through a kaleidoscope. The colours, the patterns, the overall picture keeps changing – it seems in constant flux. Suddenly, the martyrs “under the altar” of 6:9 are now “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (7:9). Numbered among them are “144,000 from all the tribes of Israel” (verse 4). I say “numbered” loosely, for we’re reading about an apocalyptic vision here, and any number’s value is symbolic. (Even the naming of “all the tribes” bows to symbolism in this case, for the tribe of Dan is not mentioned. Instead of Dan is Manasseh – see Genesis 49.)

As the martyrs glorify God – “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (verse 10) – the angels “around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures” (verse 11a) fall down and worship (verses 11b, 12).

In the middle of all this, a dialogue occurs between two people: John and “one of the elders” (verse 13a). The elder asks John if he knows who these countless thousands are. Then he answers the question himself, telling John that “these are they who have come out of the great tribulation” (verse 14a). They “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (verse 14b). And now, “the Lamb…will be their shepherd” (verse 17). That first martyr, Jesus, who gave His life that they might live, “will lead them to springs of living water” (verse 17b). The Lamb is a Shepherd.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

O “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b), Your servant, John, was likely there at the Jordan 70 years earlier and heard John the Baptist say those words. Thank You for all those years of faithfulness by John and for the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” which he shares with us. I pray for the faith to receive the promise. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As a child of probably 9 or 10, Revelation 6:14-17 made a huge impression on me at a family altar reading. The word picture here is so powerful! I could imagine all the rulers who thought they were so big, so important, and so powerful that they did not need God, and who had blasphemed His Name, cowering in the caves for fear. I could almost hear them crying out “to the mountains and rocks ‘fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!'” (6:16). I remember looking around at my mother and father and seeing peace and security on their faces. And when we knelt in prayer, their prayers for lost souls gave me a sense of that which is most important in preparing for eternity. Mother died when I was 12. I had no doubt that she was in a place of perfect peace and joy. For me, however, I wallowed in self-pity and resentment against God for almost four years. I urge, with passion in my heart, for everybody to come to Jesus now. He took upon Himself the judgment of God! At His death the rocks ripped apart, the skies were total darkness, and He said, “It is finished!” From that time until now He says to us who believe, “DO NOT FEAR!!!” Call 1-866-273-4444 for a loving person who will pray with you for assurance of your eternal safety, security, love and peace in Jesus!

Yours for NO FEAR!!!

David

The support pillars were not there in the cave with the shepherds and sheep at the birth of Jesus but are in place today as a safety measure for visitors. God chose the shepherds as the first evangelists. They proclaimed to all in Bethlehem, the place where the lambs for the Temple sacrifices were born and raised. Luke probably interviewed the shepherds for his Gospel. He wrote of the shepherds, “They made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child, and all those who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them concerning this Child” (Luke 2:17-18).

13 thoughts on “Monday, May 14, 2018”

  1. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. This beautiful hymn came to mind as I read the Scriture this morning. It was very touching and my heart is overflowing with love for my Lord The Lamb who was slayen for our sins . Lord I pray for our loved ones who don’t know or serve you, my heart breaks for them. By your Holy Spirit draw them to yourself, so you can cleanse them from all their sins. I pray this in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen.
    Blessings to all, Eleanor M.

    Reply ↓

    • Thank you,Eleanor.(I never noticed the typo.)That is also my prayer,especially for my son and his family….but I ‘know’ God is working on him.(I have reasons for this.)
      For several years now,in my mind’s eye,I have seen a very wide path full of people (from a distance) and ‘somehow’ I know these are lost souls,while those saved are not in this (still) picture but I have the ‘feeling’ that the saved may be a smaller number.(I assume it is my imagination.)I keep this prayer in my benedictions file.God bless

      A father’s prayer for his son:
      ‘ Thank You,Father,for all the blessings.I ask for
      your blessings on my son and his family,for he
      thinks he doesn’t want to know You.That’s because
      he ‘does not know’ You.Like Paul,no one can know
      the richness of your love better than those who
      were against you and were turned around to find you
      through righteous repentance.Thank You,Father.I
      pray this in Jesus’ most holy name.Amen ‘
      (GW) Bill Marshall/05-Jan-16

      Reply ↓

  3. Amen Eleanor M. I agree in prayer for the salvation of our loved ones that none of them will be lost according to the promise you gave me years ago after a session of fasting and prayer. Thank you Lord. Amen!

    Reply ↓

  4. As a new deacon in our tiny church I am always open for correction (and denomination is just a man-made wall….curtain.)Our other 2 deacons are in their 80’s.One is a very qualified lady who stood in when I first declined the position 2 years ago feeling utterly unqualified.
    I can’t help but wonder if the lost,at death,are met by Jesus Who gives them one last chance to repent.(and accept Him as Savoir,etc.)He ‘held death captive’ before His Resurrection.(I quoted wrong here but will leave the mistake for emphasis.)I will bring this up with my pastor when we next have coffee again.I am always open for correction.Here is a link to an in depth study on my own theory,just mentioned above.(I googled it.)
    https://www.simplybible.com/f273-he-led-captivity-captive.htm

    Reply ↓

  6. Prayed David’s prayer…”for faith to receive the Promise”….thank you Lord that by “Faith” I am saved…born again in You Christ Jesus to the Glory of Our Father in Heaven. Amen and Amen!!
    Thank you Jim and Kathy for your interpretation/exposition of today’s scriptures!
    Thank you Ron and Anne and Reynold for presenting this blog to us.
    Bless you bloggers for your input.

    What a momentous okay today…the celebration of Israel’s 70th birthday and the moving of the US Embassy into Jerusalem!!! Praise God for His faithfulness to His people! Amen and Amen!!

    Reply ↓

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