THE BOOK OF LIFE

Today’s Reading: Revelation 20 

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

The sun sets over Jerusalem and the Golden Gate, also known as the Eastern Gate. Jesus will one day return to the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives through this gate, which was sealed in an attempt to prevent this from happening by the Turkish Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1541.

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

Key Verse: Revelation 20:10

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

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

When the beast and his prophet were thrown into the fiery lake, the rule of Antichrist ended. Now John’s ongoing vision is about to show how the “dragon,” Satan himself, meets a similar fate.

The star-angel (of 9:1), who holds the key to the Abyss, seizes the dragon and chains him for a thousand years in the Abyss. Then the martyrs, who had died refusing to receive the mark of the beast, are resurrected and they reign with Christ on the earth for that millennium. John refers to this resurrection as “the first resurrection” (verse 5).

After the thousand years has passed, Satan is released from the Abyss for a short time – but in that brief period he is able to incite the nations (symbolized by “Gog and Magog” of verse 8 ) to “surround the camp of God’s people” in Jerusalem (“the city He loves” verse 9). But it’s too late – Satan and the nations are defeated by supernatural fire (verse 9c). Then he is thrown into the fiery lake forever.

Satan’s destruction is followed by the “great white throne” judgment, when each person is “judged according to what he [has] done” (verse 13). All whose names are not “written in the Book of Life” are “thrown into the lake of fire” (verse 15). This is called “the second death” (verse 14).

The stage is now set for God to do what He has always planned to do – to create a new heaven and a new earth where God Himself will live with His people.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for many, many more names to be written in Your Book of Life. Fill me with a passion for doing my part as a soul winner. May I share today in the spirit of prophecy “The testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 19:10b). I pray for all true Evangelists and soul-winning Pastors that they will share more boldly than ever to the world the saving message of Jesus Christ. I pray for grace to support their work with my tithes to my local church, and with offerings over and above that in support of soul-winning ministries, such as Crossroads Christian Communications and other ministries which are helping to write new names in the “Book of Life!” I pray for wisdom to give to those who will not squander my offering on expensive lifestyles and ineffective projects, but will spend the funds entrusted to them for the maximum results in new names written down in Your “Book of Life!” In Jesus’ Name I fervently ask You, Almighty God! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS

The “lake of fire” is found three times in Revelation 20! This is an emphasis I cannot miss. I cry out to God for the salvation of precious never-dying souls. I believe that by God’s grace alone I am saved and my name is written in “The Book of Life.” I ask myself, “Is there more I can do to win people to Jesus?” I’m convinced that the most selfish thing I could ever do is to keep the Good News of Jesus to myself.

Today’s reading also mentions “Gog and Magog” and many nations whose armies will surround Jerusalem and will seek to destroy the people of God everywhere. If time permits, I suggest reading Ezekiel 38:1 to 39:16. The process for burying the remains of the armies of the allied nations sounds very much like the land may be contaminated by the leftover effects of the weapons used in the war, as it takes seven months to cleanse the land.

Here’s one final question. Besides “The Book of Life” that contains the names of those who are saved, there are other “Books” which were opened. What are these books? God willing, I’ll write tomorrow about what I think they are (Revelation 20:12a).

Yours for helping at least one more person to faith in Jesus alone for their eternal life!!!

David

On June 3rd we start our next two years of journeying through the Scriptures. Click here for a video about the original inspiration for this blog and for the reason for two years rather than the standard one-year program. I ask for your help in bringing many others into the discipline of daily Bible reading. Become a 100words.ca blog promoter! Maybe you can spread the word via Facebook or in person to your friends and neighbours.