WHO IS BILLY GRAHAM? (a waitress asked me this question)

Today’s Reading: Revelation 18 

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

This is a view from high up in the Roman Col0sseum looking towards the Arch of Constantine. It is one of the triumphal arches in Rome. This one is situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. It was erected by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine I’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312. It is probable that the Christians who read or heard the “Revelation” believed that Rome was the manifestation of the ancient tower of Babel and the city which grew around it, Babylon (Revelation 18:2a).

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

Key Verse: Revelation 18:17a

For in one hour such great riches came to nothing…

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

In this chapter we read of two angels shouting poetically over the “fallen” earthly kingdom of Rome. The first angel speaks in verses 1-20 and the second in verses 21-24. They express the lament of sailors, sea captains, merchants, workmen, and all “the world’s great men.” They also express the joy of “saints and apostles and prophets.” The truth of 11:15 is symbolized in the fall of Rome – “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ” (KJV). The Lamb has conquered! And great is the fall of any and all kingdoms outside of His rule.

Recent events (I write this in the summer of 1991) have made the suddenness of the fall of earth’s kingdoms appear less shocking. Over the course of the past 36 months, we have seen the fall of the Berlin Wall, the destruction of the Iron Curtain, the end of the Warsaw Pact, and, most recently, the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Most surprising of all was the demise of the Soviet Communist Party in less than one hour! President Gorbachev simply signed its death warrant with one stroke of a pen.

We have entered an era of instant wars and instant victories. Things have speeded up to an almost breakneck pace. No longer does it seem impossible, nor improbable, that kingdoms and “kings” rise and fall in “an hour” (verse 17).

We who believe in the return of the Lord had better “lift up our heads – for our redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Almighty God, as I read Revelation 18 I am in awe of the messages of Your angels, and of John’s recording of what he saw and heard. I pray for my mind to comprehend, and for wisdom to interpret these words correctly and to apply them to my personal life. I surrender voluntarily to Your purpose for my life. I ask this in the Name of the One who always, without fail, fulfilled Your purpose, Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus the Messiah (Christ in Greek). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The other morning I stopped at a local restaurant for breakfast and the waitress, a lovely and efficient young lady in her early twenties, asked me what I did. I mentioned that I had had the honour to interview thousands of people for national television in Canada. She asked, “Who was the most famous person you interviewed?” She had told me on another occasion that she was a Baptist, so I thought of the great evangelist who is a Baptist minister, and answered, “Billy Graham.” Then she said, “Who’s he?”

It is a fact that the human family is in big trouble if we rely on past ministries, even those as powerful as that as Billy Graham. We must pray fervently that God will raise up in this second decade of the 21st century strong prophetic voices, not necessarily a big name, but millions of us (tomorrow’s reading will explain “the spirit of prophecy”). Will Graham, Billy’s grandson, asked his grandfather what he would do differently if he had his life to live over again. Billy answered, “I would pray more, and read my Bible more!” To me this is just another reason to continue strongly to encourage prayer and reading God’s Word, as proposed by this blog, which starts its second two-year journey through the Bible on June 3rd. I would consider it a great honour if some of God’s people would stay with me for more fresh bread taken out of the oven and posted at 6 a.m.

Yours for taking more time (the earlier the better, before the phone starts to ring, etc.) in God’s Word and in prayer,

David

There is a remote chance that someone reading this does not know of Billy Graham. Here’s a link to tell us about Billy. And here is a tribute to him from 100 Huntley Street on his 95th birthday in 2013 (hosted by my son Ron and his wife Ann).

The view looking north across the Agora in Rome. The monument to Victor Emmanuel, the king that unified Italy, is seen on the horizon. As pointed out in today’s reading, man’s kingdoms are temporary and with the weapons of modern warfare can be destroyed in one hour.