# 49 2021 Dev. Revelation 9:20. Bad News! Read all of chapter nine first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Revelation 9: 20“The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands…”

Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

We need to go back a bit; Chapter 8 brings us to the trumpet blasts of the first four angels but three more trumpet blast are coming. Where the first four blasts harmed the earth, the next three blasts are directed at people; “Woe! Woe! Woe! To the inhabitants of the earth,” All the judgments we now are reading about are not a one-time event. Like the sealing of God’s people that covers all of God’s people from the beginning of time to the end of time; judgments in Revelation follow that truth and are executed over all of human history.

Chapter 9 begins a higher level of judgment, “the fifth angel sounded his trumpet and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth.” Who or what is this star? It is the same being Jesus saw falling from heaven, Satan (Lk.10:18).

He does not have free reign; he is given a key; it is important for us to know that God is in control. He opens the abyss, smoke and fumes billow out hanging over the earth blocking the sun. “Out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like the scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” There are limits on what they could do and only for five months. What is the meaning of all this? The abyss represents hell presently, the smoke is the power of deception, delusion, of sin and moral darkness, that Satan brings upon the earth from the fall to this day.  The locusts are symbols for all the evil of hell in this world. I have seen locust blocking out the sun and devour a large area of forest near our house in Africa, overwhelming to the point of helplessness and hopelessness. Scorpion bites, only one, is painful and lasts for three days. I can’t imagine multiple bites. The description of the beings is hellish, they have animal and human men and female features, they symbolize demons, fallen angels and they have a leader over them named, Destroyer. Beginning with the fall, Satan is hell bent on destroying God’s creation but they are not allowed to touch God’s people, only if God allows it.

V.19-13 “The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God.” The voice said; ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’” God is following His plan, “the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.” A huge number of mounted troops are mentioned. Again, there is a hellish description of the horses and riders. This is a description of all war; we have already experienced terrible wars and with the huge stock piles of nuclear and conventional weapons the destruction of future wars will increase. When the world is at war all people suffer including God’s people.  In the past peoples east of the Euphrates river were considered evil and godless. They have played a large role in God’s punishment of His people and they have been punished accordingly. In our time how can we forget the atrocities inflicted on the people of the middle east that continues to this day.

Vs.20-21 is a reflection on these events, and it is a reflection on current events as well. “The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not repent. The current plague we are in right now is part of God’s warning to us. Yet, people are not listening, lawlessness has increased, immorality is rampant. Do we really think we will get on top of this virus with all the discord, disunity, racial hatred, disrespect and selfishness that now defines our country, our world? I think not! Yet, God is in control, He will take care of his people. “In this world you will have trouble, Jesus said, but do not despair, I have overcome the world.” Thank you Lord Jesus!   

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

# 47 2021 Dev. Revelation 8:1. Silence! Read all of chapter eight first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Revelation 8:1 “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”

Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

We need to go back a bit; Chapter 6 brings us to the end of the world; “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Rev.6:15-17) We now expect the beginning of judgment, but no, chapter 7 shows us the sealing of all of God’s children from the beginning of time to the end of time.

Chapter 8 is the beginning of judgment; the seventh seal is opened and there is a great calm, silence, where before we saw constant praise and worship. God’s answer to Habakkuk 2:20 “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” It is the quiet before the storm but the stillness has a purpose. We see seven angels, standing before the throne of God, mentioned only here in all of scripture, are given trumpets, ready to blow the warning of the judgments of God. But not yet, there appears another angel holding a golden censer standing at the altar. “He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.” This is a vision of all the prayers of God’s people from the beginning of time up to the end of time. Prayers, validated by the Atonement of Jesus and the Intercession of Jesus, that is the meaning of the incense. After the offering the angel fills the censer with coals from the altar and hurls it on the earth, “causing peals of thunder, flashes of lighting and an earthquake,” as if God begins to answer some of the prayers of the saints. Particularly, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true… ” Rev. 6:9-11.

The first trumpet is sounded, “hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up”. This covers all of time. Fires we have experienced, is it the result of climate change, or is it a lack of forest management, or is it a warning about the beginning judgment of God? You choose.

The second trumpet is sounded, “and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea.” A third of the water is polluted, a third of the sea creatures died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Think about all the damage to shipping and coastal areas by great storms, think about depletion of whales, tuna and other species, think about all the plastic and oil polluting our oceans. Climate change, or the result of greed and over fishing, and / or a warning from God?

The third trumpet is sounded, “and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water – the name of the star is Wormwood”. Many people died. Who or what is this star? Luke 10:18, Jesus says: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” The pollution of the water on earth (rivers) is due to greed, lack of awareness about lead, PFAS, or name the chemicals, but it is all rooted in the evil brought on by the subtle influence of the evil one. Even so, God is warning us.

The fourth trumpet is sounded, a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, Jesus gives us the signs of the end of time Matt. 24:29 ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’” We are seeing the beginnings of those signs, the sun, moon and stars are darkened by the air pollution of many major cities, or blocked out by huge fires, it is caused by man, by greed, by disregard for God’s creation but all this is a warning from God.

Is there any hope? Yes, there is! The first 4 trumpets are a warning; full judgment is not yet poured out. There is opportunity to change, to repent, to turn back to God. For the followers of Jesus, we know that God is in control, we have been sealed, Rev. 7. God is answering our prayers, there will be persecution, but our spiritual life is with God from the day we believed into eternity. Praise the Lord!  

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

# 46 2021 Dev. Psalm 125:4. Do Good! Read all of Psalm 125 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 125:4 “Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.”

Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascent.” Songs of ascent were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Pentecost, Passover and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem.

Psalm 125 is a liturgical praise song of ascent praising God for His care in the past, in the day, and into eternity. Mount Zion is a physical mountain.  The name may have been used for the Jebusite stronghold in the city of Salam (Melchizedek Gen. 14) that became Jerusalem when David made it it his city. The name Zion depicted three different locations in Jerusalem in the past, but today, Mount Zion means the Western mount, the site of Solomon’s temple.   

Vs.1-2 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion…” While only the retaining wall is preserved from Solomon’s Temple, Mount Zion is a spiritual reference to God Most High. According to Melchizedek: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.” Hence, “which cannot be shaken but endures forever”. We are surrounded by the Mountain’s of Zion so to speak.We are safe, fully protected today and forever

V.3 “The scepter (rule) of the wicked will not remain…” Who are the wicked? Well, liars, thieves, murderers, adulterers, some of which are leaders, but wickedness is subtler today; miss information, ignoring the negative effect of poor decisions, breaking promises, denying justice, bringing false witness, secret agendas, and collusion with the enemy.  That kind of rule must not remain, “for the righteous might use their hands to do evil.” That is what we are seeing right now, murders are out of control, thieves are immediately released only to do it again and again, people, normally law abiding are breaking the law. Evil rulers and evil rules brings evil upon the land. 

 Vs.4-5 is an appeal to God Almighty; “Lord, do good to those who are good”.Many people want to do good, are they good? Not necessarily, it depends on the motivation; seeking praise, recognition, or tax breaks may not be good. The Psalmist qualifies it, “to those who are upright in heart”, whose hearts are with God, with Jesus.

Verse 5 is revealing; the psalmist is talking about those formerly righteous. But that only happens with willful disregard for God’s law, some of which are the righteous laws of the land (Rm. 13) and of course, if there is no repentance. We end with a prayer, Lord may your peace be upon us and upon our land, amen!

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserve

# 45 2021 Dev. Revelation 7:10. Uncountable! Read all of chapter seven first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Revelation 7:10 “And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”

Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

At the end of Ch. 6 we have the impression that the Great Judgment is emminent, but no, not yet. Rev. 7 gives us a different vision, a vision of comfort, a vision of victory, a vision of God’s calling and love for His people.

We see four angels holding back the four winds, “at the four corners” as the world was understood in the day. The four horsemen (God’s judgments) were held back as well, there was to be a seal placed on the forehead of the servants of God. Today we see baptism as a sign and seal of forgiveness and God’s grace by His Holy Spirit. 144,000 sealed, that is not a literal number, v. 9 tells us that 144,000 are the “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne…”

But why the tribes of Israel? God’s intention in calling Abraham was to impact all people, that is clear from God’s Covenant with him, “I will make you a great nation” offspring like the “sand of the sea, like the stars in the sky and through     you and your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,” (Gen. 26:14). All believers are children of Abraham. Some tribes are not mentioned, Ephraim, one of Joseph sons, but Manasseh is included as well as Joseph not normally considered a tribe. Also, Dan is not included. There is a lot of speculation, like Ephraim was instrumental in the two and ten tribal split which may be a reason and like Jacob’s blessing and prophecy on Dan as on Jacob’s other sons (Gen.49). But there is no consensus.

The question arises what is the timeline of this vision? Since this is before the judgment the indication is before the beginning of time. That is in line with Eph 1:3-4 ; Rm 8: 28-30 God operates outside of time but He created time moving linearly to a predetermined conclusion that is highlighted in Ch.7. Living in our world today, it sometimes seems to be coming to the end of time, more than likely not yet, no one knows. But vs.15 gives us great comfort, God is in control and those who follow Jesus are heading for His presence, spiritually and eventually physically. V.16 those who suffered hunger and thirst, lack of shelter and suffered scorching heat will no longer suffer under persecution. V.17 Our Shepherd, Jesus, ‘will lead them (us) to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear (out of) from their (our) eyes,’ spiritually now but physically in eternity. Amen and Amen

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

# 45 2021 Dev. Revelation 7:10. Uncountable! Read all of chapter seven first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Revelation 7:10 “And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”

Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

At the end of Ch. 6 we have the impression that the Great Judgment is emminent, but no, not yet. Rev. 7 gives us a different vision, a vision of comfort, a vision of victory, a vision of God’s calling and love for His people.

We see four angels holding back the four winds, “at the four corners” as the world was understood in the day. The four horsemen (God’s judgments) were held back as well, there was to be a seal placed on the forehead of the servants of God. Today we see baptism as a sign and seal of forgiveness and God’s grace by His Holy Spirit. 144,000 sealed, that is not a literal number, v. 9 tells us that 144,000 are the “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne…”

But why the tribes of Israel? God’s intention in calling Abraham was to impact all people, that is clear from God’s Covenant with him, “I will make you a great nation” offspring like the “sand of the sea, like the stars in the sky and through     you and your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,” (Gen. 26:14). All believers are children of Abraham. Some tribes are not mentioned, Ephraim, one of Joseph sons, but Manasseh is included as well as Joseph not normally considered a tribe. Also, Dan is not included. There is a lot of speculation, like Ephraim was instrumental in the two and ten tribal split which may be a reason and like Jacob’s blessing and prophecy on Dan as on Jacob’s other sons (Gen.49). But there is no consensus.

The question arises what is the timeline of this vision? Since this is before the judgment the indication is before the beginning of time. That is in line with Rm. 8:28-30 and Eph.1:3-4. God operates outside of time but He created time moving linearly to a predetermined conclusion that is highlighted in Ch.7. Living in our world today, it sometimes seems to be coming to the end of time, more than likely not yet, no one knows. But vs.15 gives us great comfort, God is in control and those who follow Jesus are heading for His presence, spiritually and eventually physically. V.16 those who suffered hunger and thirst, lack of shelter and suffered scorching heat will no longer suffer under persecution. V.17 Our Shepherd, Jesus, ‘will lead them (us) to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear (out of) from their (our) eyes,’ spiritually now but physically in eternity. Amen and Amen

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

# 42 2021 Dev. Psalm 123:2. Our Eyes! Read all of Psalm 123 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 123:2b “Our eyes look to the Lord God”

Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascent.” Songs of ascent were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Pentecost, Passover and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem.

Psalm 123 is a song of ascent of two stanzas that is a prayer as well. This Psalm appears to be a prayer song about the journey through life as opposed to a journey to Jerusalem.

V.1. “I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.” We are blessed to know what “enthroned in heaven” means and what that looks like (Rev. 4). The Psalmist is entreating for the community to the God of Heaven and Earth, the only legitimate God among the myriads of gods at the time. He is speaking from a place of weakness as we all are today as followers of Jesus.

V.2. “As the eyes of slaves,” both male and female, slaves in that day and still today have no aspirations, no freedom, no recourse, no way out, death being the only way the bondage is broken. It is used here as a simile highlighting complete bondage and hopelessness. Unfortunately, this is looking and feeling more and more real today. Mandates: no exemptions, careers lost, firings from every kind of job no-matter its importance, no freedom of movement, arrests on college campuses for non compliance. Is that what we are facing, arrest and incarceration while the real criminals run free? Ask yourself? See for yourself!

V.2 b. “so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us His mercy.” Our fist defense is prayer and the second is responsible action.

V.3. The Psalmist continues with his petition: “Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,” there is “no end of contempt” on Christianity, on followers of Jesus and on conservative values.

V.4. “We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, the proud.” The humility of the followers of Jesus, the wisdom of the Word of God, the restraint of the Holy Spirit on the world, is ridiculed and held in contempt. “So our eyes look to the Lord our God, my help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps. 121). But it does not end there because, today in America, there is a debilitating hopelessness among all races who are true Christians and true conservatives.  Since our help comes from the Lord, what will be your thinking and action? I pray that we will live our faith, promote our values at every opportunity, stand our ground, and vote for wise and sensible people no matter what party or creed. Our help comes from God, amen!   

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved

# 41 2021 Dev. Revelation 5:1. The Scroll! Read all of chapter five first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Revelation 5:1 “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.”

Chapter 5 is a continuation of the vision of ch.4 and describes the scroll held in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne.  This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

The scroll was sealed with seven seals in other words completely sealed with no possibility of access. “A mighty angel proclaimed in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’” No one was found worthy, not in heaven or an earth or under the earth. John weeps, in response it is not the mighty angel but an elder speaks, one who has experienced redemption: “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, The Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Then I saw a Lamb”

A Lamb? Not a lion? From a mighty angel to an elder, a man and from a Lion to a Lamb. From the strong to the weak. The impression is that from the highest to the lowest are included into God’s Kingdom but the weakness of God (Jesus’ self sacrifice) is the strongest and highest in God’s creation and in the whole universe.

“The Lamb looked as if it has been slain” The Lamb of God, Jesus. He Is surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. “The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,” complete power and complete knowledge, see Eph.1; 21,23. The seven eyes “is the sevenfold” Spirit of God. He upholds God’s creation, the whole universe. When Christ takes the scroll the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped.  

The elders are holding harps; they were the instruments used to accompany singing of the Psalms.  And “holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” It is amazing and comforting that not only do the elders represent us, we are involved in the worship in heaven by our prayers.

“And they sang a new song:” A song of praise to the Lamb, “with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation, see: Rev.7:9,10. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,” as a Holy Nation.

That was God’s intention Ex.19: 5,6 from the beginning. He chose Israel to             influence the world, she is the Old Testament Church that ushered in the New Testament Church in Christ Jesus, “the New is in the Old contained and the Old is in the New explained.” The scroll is of the highest importance; It contains the complete plan of God’s Salvation in Christ and His plan of predestination for all people and the universe. His plan is from everlasting to everlasting.

After Jesus takes the scroll John saw and heard “thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” of angels gathered around the scene: singing ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.”  And John heard “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them,” joining in praising God. They are us, joining them, in our services and our daily service for God, Amen!

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.