Daily Devotion in Revelation 1
by Bill Brinkworth 03/06/2023
Daily Devotion in Revelation 1 (devotionsfromthebible.com)
| The Daily View Devotion The intent of this publication is to provide daily encouragement and to biblically educate the child of God. Feeding on truths from God’s Word will strengthen and help believers. (Only the KJV is used!) Some of the articles are repeated for two days, but there is always something new in the posting. Please, scroll down and check. Daily Devotion in Revelation 1 Don’t have time to stop and read the devotions, then HEAR the Devotion.HEAR the DAILY VIEW devotion on WLVF (after the 6 AM news). Daily Nugget:The book of The Revelation is the most popular of the prophetic books of the Bible. While on the Isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9), Jesus (Revelation1:1) revealed futuristic things to John. In this unveiling of things to come, Jesus instructed the apostle to write the things he saw and heard in a book (Revelation 1:11) so that all could read what would happen (Revelation 1:3). Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies about Jesus and His first coming have happened. Hundreds of other prophecies about other occurences also have come true. It is just a matter of time until all that is recorded in The Revelation is fulfilled. John was to send what he recorded to seven churches of that time (Revelation 1:11). There were undoubtedly more than seven churches, so there were other reasons the revelator gave those churches copies of what Jesus showed the apostle. As we read in the next two chapters, those churches had some in their membership that were doing right, but others were doing contrary to what The Lord required. The revelations given to them provided those that were doing wrong an opportunity to repent and do right. These seven churches erred in not living as they should. They were examples of what many other churches of all ages have done. Although these first-century examples were a long time ago, sin has not changed, and churches today have similar problems. The rebukes of those churches can also be a wake-up call to any church with the same spiritual issues. There is another reason for exposing the errors of these seven churches. I believe it to be the most important for our modern time. The Revelation shows those ministries’ spiritual conditions and pictures churches’ attitudes and behavior throughout history. As Revelation is a prophetic book (Revelation 1:4), the seven churches pictured seven church ages. There are never two churches alike, but there were predominant spiritual behaviors among churches during certain times in history. Some say that the:Church in Ephesus (Revelation 1:11) pictured early churches that had “lost their first love.”Church of Smyrna pictured the persecuted churches during the second and third centuries.Church at Pergamos pictured the heretical church age with rampant idolatry and other sins.Church at Thyatira pictured the Dark Age churches (before the 16th century).Church at Sardis pictured the Renaissance church.Church at Philadelphia pictured the great revival among churches at the end of the 19th century.Church at Laodicea pictures the lukewarm, apostate churches of this church age. These things spoken of in this book are for us to learn. They were revealed so we would know what was to come. It is not the mysterious book that many feel it is. It does take knowledge of other parts of the Bible to understand it more clearly. However, God has preserved it for our edification. He promises a blessing (Revelation 1:3) to all that read it. Today’s Thought: “The church is a gift from God; some assembly is required.” — Author Unknown Words to Understand:Alpha: the first letter in the Greek alphabet. It is also used to denote the beginning of something. The usage in Revelation 1:8 refers to a person, as it is a capitalized proper noun.Omega: the last letter in the Greek alphabet; also used to indicate the end of something. This usage (Revelation 1:8) is also referring to a person as it is a capitalized proper noun.Revelation: revealing truth from God; making something clear to another that was not previously understood Today’s Reading:The Revelation 11 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.3 ¶ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.9 ¶ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.— Bill Brinkworth Free the Slaves When speaking of slavery, most immediately think of those taken against their will from Africa and other countries in the early-to-mid 1800s. However, forced labor continues today and is more prevalent than in the 1800s. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates today 49.6 million men, women, and children around the world are “forced to work for little or no pay and at the complete mercy of their ‘employer’” (www.antislavery.org). Those statistics have drastically increased since 2013! The numbers forced to work in mental or physical slavery or owned or controlled by an “employer” are not close to those in bondage in a different, less obvious way. Those in that type of slavery outnumber the 49+ million many times over. To make matters worse, those in that popular type of bondage may not even know they have lost their freedoms! The Bible has much to say about that type of oppression:# There are two choices in this world. One can serve oneself and selfish desires, which are often sin and sometimes the devil’s destructive enticements, or one can serve and live for God. There are only those two choices, if man realizes it or not. One’s decision can enslave one to sin or free one from its strangling, controlling grasp!“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [the self-serving desires of our flesh].” Matthew 6:24 Also: Luke 16:13.# Although sin is always an individual’s choice, it soon becomes “addictive” and leads to more iniquity. Soon, sin controls one’s thoughts and is a decisive force in one’s life. Lying and deceitfulness lead to more lies and alienation from others as one becomes mistrusted. Bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, and jealousy rob many of peace and good relationships. Drinking, drugs, pornography, and most sins never fulfill one’s lust and often lead one to commit more sin hoping their cravings will be satisfied. Sexual sins ruin lives and families, wreck relationships, but still leave the committer with a feeling of loneliness and failure. On and on goes the list of the consequences of iniquity. Transgression against God’s commandments leave one’s life changed, and often physically damaged from its commission. No one gets away without paying the horrible cost of sin. Iniquity does nothing but rob and destroy what could be good in one’s life. Sin’s grasp steals one of joy and enslaves. The committer of sin is led by one’s desires and loses freedoms.# When one chooses to “do his own thing” and ignores the life God desires one to have, one will not only reap the terrible consequence of sin but will alienate himself from God.“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Gal. 1:10# Jesus addressed a group of saved Jews and told them they could be free (John 8:31-32). They replied they were not in bondage. The Jews thought they were free. “They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” John 8:33 Then Jesus pointed out to them they were indeed slaves to the sins they had committed.“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34# Those given over to sin have no permanent desire to live a life that pleases the Lord.“For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” Rom. 6:20# Trusting Christ’s payment for all our iniquities is the only way to be free of sin’s control and from the ultimate cost for sinning — Hell!“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom. 8:2# The choice is always up to the individual! One does not have to serve sin, although many, even the saved, often freely choose to continue doing wrong. We have the opportunity not to be forced to serve iniquity. We have the liberty to do right.“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Gal. 5:1“For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.” I Cor. 7:22# When free from the desire to sin, one will want to live righteously. However, the longer one is involved in doing wrong, the harder the battle will be against the temptations it will bring. Sinful lifestyles can be changed to one that is pleasing to God. “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Rom. 6:18“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Rom. 6:22“Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.” Mat. 12:18# One freed from the desire to sin can freely serve God and will get their sights off themselves and desire to serve others.“And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” Mark 10:44# Although one may choose to serve God, it is servitude out of gratitude and love, not out of forced control. When one surrenders control of selfish desires and lives the way God commands, one will have a life blessed and honored by Him! God looks at his servant not as a bound slave, but with special love — as a friend.“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:26# Jesus, our example, was that type of servant also.“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” Philippians 2:7# Ultimately, God rewards those who choose to live the way He commands.“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Mat. 25:21 Also: Mat. 25:23. The most dangerous and ever-present threat to anyone, even a saved person, is the commission of sin. It always has a price tag that no one ever dreamed would come with the commission of iniquity. The charge for the sin usually continues for longer than anyone would ever want to pay. Its cost often comes due at a time that the sin’s commission is forgotten, but there is always a payday for doing wrong. No one avoids its cost. When a believer sins, he can always pray to the Father, seek forgiveness, and plead with God for strength not to commit the trespass again. The guilt may be gone, and he will not have to answer for the sin. However, iniquity’s temptation will often appear in one’s life again and be a future difficulty one must battle to avoid. An unsaved person can also go to God in prayer. However, unless one realizes and admits one’s sin and fully trusts that Christ’s death on the cross is the only payment God will recognize to cover one’s wrongdoings, the eternal payment for sin will not be removed. All the good intentions and halting of sin’s commission will not eliminate its expensive cost. Without God’s help, one will still be a slave to sin. You must be born again (John 3:3) to have the free pardon from all transgressions committed. Do you realize that your sin is against what God desires for your life? Confess it to God (He knows about it already but wants you to humble yourself and admit it), and seek to live the way God commands in His Word, the Bible. Serving God, and living the way He desires you to live, will break the chains of sin that are keeping you in bondage to it. You can be free. There is hope!— Bill Brinkworth Have you always wanted to read “The Revelation”? Using A Spoonful of Revelation you can read it now and get a basic understanding of what it teaches. Read this devotional and understand the future of the world according to God’s own Words?” Download your copy today. Download your copy at https://openthoumineeyes.com/devotional/Devotional.html#Revelation Have you always wanted to read “Hebrews”? By using A Spoonful of Hebrews you can read it now and get a basic understanding of what it teaches. Order the download today, so you can start reading and learning now! Download your copy fromhttps://openthoumineeyes.com/devotional/Devotional.html#Hebrews Old Testament Puzzles & Activities This booklet’s wordsearches, simple crossword puzzles, and assorted activites are designed to reinforce biblical knowledge. They can be used by individuals who enjoy puzzles and are also ideal for a Sunday school, vacation Bible school, homeschool, Christian school, or any Bible teaching situation where students (third grade and higher), can be encouraged to learn more about the Word of God. Download your printable copy from https://openthoumineeyes.com/devotional/Devotional.html#Puzzles * Does your ministry use the free, weekly BIBLE VIEW? Use it as a bulletin insert, ministry handout, or the LARGE print version for those with vision problems or a nursing home ministry. Read this week’s Bible View newsletter. The articles are “I’m Outta There,” “A Grateful Whale,” “Salvation — God’s Gift,” at https://openthoumineeyes.com/views23/EmailVersion/BibleView899Email.pdf Mobile devices can best see the current BIBLE VIEW at https://www.thebibleview.com/2023/the-bible-view-899-assorted/Hard copies (FREE Church bulletin insert, LARGE PRINT, and e-mail versions) of this Bible View can be printed from https://openthoumineeyes.com/newsletters.html. Last week’s Bible View theme was “sin’s stranglehold.” Read the articles “Free the Slaves,” “Sin’s Damage” at https://openthoumineeyes.com/views23/EmailVersion/BibleView898Email.pdf Mobile devices can best see the current BIBLE VIEW at https://www.thebibleview.com/2023/the-bible-view-898-sins-stranglehold/Hard copies (FREE Church bulletin insert, LARGE PRINT, and e-mail versions) of this Bible View can be printed from https://openthoumineeyes.com/newsletters.html. Prayer Requests: Please pray for Diane Park mother’s salvation and her physical problems. Also, pray for Lawrence, a man the mother knows, that has cancer and has found there is no more treatment for it.Your prayer request could be posted here where people all over the world could approach God’s throne on your behalf. Pray for the needs of others as if they were your own. There may be a time that you will want others to pray fervently for your situation.“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20Send prayer requests to brinkworth@frontier.com UnpalatableSundayA missionary fell into the hands of cannibals. “Going to eat me, I presume?” asked the missionary. The chief grunted. “Don’t do it,” the missionary advised, “You won’t like me.” Thereupon the missionary took out a knife, sliced a piece from the calf of his leg and handed it to the native. “Try this and see for yourself.” The chief took one bite and choked. The missionary had a cork leg. He was able to work on the island for a total of fifty years. Wise Words:“If there be any one point in which the Christian church ought to keep its fervor at a white heat, it is concerning missions. If there be anything about which we cannot tolerate lukewarmness, it is in the matter of sending the gospel to a dying world.” — Spurgeon Make sure your students know the basics taught in the Bible. The beautifully typeset curriculum is downloaded onto your computer when purchased. The 92 pages are designed to fit on standard 8 1/2″ by 11″ paper. You do not have to buy a copy for each student. Download your copy at https://openthoumineeyes.com/devotional/Devotional.html#Basics This booklet has 53 verse coloring sheets, one for each week of the year (and one extra), that reinforce the learning of many of the most popular verses in the King James Bible. I am providing this for others that have found themselves in the predicament that they could not find additional resources to use in their Sunday school classroom, in a homeschool or Christian school environment, or for their own benefit. Download your printable copy from https://openthoumineeyes.com/devotional/Devotional.html#Color This booklet’s word searches are designed to reinforce biblical knowowledge. They can be used by individuals who enjoy puzzles and are also ideal for a Sunday school, vacation Bible school, homeschool, Christian school, or any Bible teaching situation where students (third grade and higher), can be encouraged to learn more about the Word of God. Download your printable copy today at https://openthoumineeyes.com/devotional/Devotional.html#WordSearches www.DevotionsFromThebible.com & https://openthoumineeyes.com/ |
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