Thursday, May 14, 2020

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).

16 thoughts on “Thursday, May 14, 2020

  1. Wonderful photos to go with the scripture and message, today. We worship You Lord, the Shephard of our Souls. We give You full control. Wherever You lead, we follow and listen for Your voice. Wherever you may be, we will go. Amen. Praying for all saints, today.

    ..and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship… Exodus 31:3 ESV

    Shepherd of my Soul
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtqliuDZlKA

  2. There is a song that goes something like this:
    “To Him who sits on the throne,
    and unto the Lamb
    be blessing and glory and wisdom
    and thanksgiving and honor
    and power and strength!
    They belong to our God
    forever and ever! Amen.”
    Most of this is directly from the song of the multitude in Heaven, recorded in Rev 7:12.
    Thank You Lord God forever. In Jesus’s name, amen

  3. So difficult to believe that my all-powerful God would care about a sinner like me, but it’s true! Thank you Father. Revelations must be terrifying to a non-believer…I would hide in a cave too or rethink my purpose on earth.

    “It is when we love others the way that Christ does that we most look like Him. Do others see Jesus in us? Let’s try to live our lives in such a way that others will say, “You look just like your Father.””

    https://youtu.be/Go_MiO58AlM

    Good a.m. to all dear believers in our heavenly Father and enjoy your day knowing that you are saved.

  4. Something went wrong I think and I did not receive the blog of today Thursday May 14
    Can you please sent it again to my email
    Boudewina in isolation in the Holland Christian Homes in Brampton
    Thank you so much

  5. Found this write up online and found it helpful:

    About the Book of Revelation
    1 The writer

    The writer of this book simply calls himself John. He wrote to the *churches in Asia. He describes himself as their brother in the family of God. The Christians in Asia probably knew him well. Asia in this book is part of the country that we now call Turkey.

    From early times, Christians have believed that the writer was the *apostle John. We know that the *apostle John lived in the city called Ephesus. But he was on the island called Patmos when he wrote this book. The rulers had sent him there as a punishment. He was there because he taught the word of God.

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