December 29, 2012 … Babylon Defeated

Chronological Bible Reading Plan - Day 364

Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Revelation, Chapters 12-18 To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Highlight Passages: Revelation 12 - 18 [Please use the link above to read/study these chapters of The Revelation]: [NLT] … {As the Apostle John unfolds and writes the vision gave him of Christ’s defeat of His arch enemy Satan and the final judgment, my Parsons commentary summarizes this section of the Prophetic writings in this way: “ Finally, the seventh trumpet sounds, calling the rival forces of good and evil to the final battle. On one side is Satan and his forces; on the other side stands Jesus Christ with his forces (11:15–13:18). In the midst of this call to battle, John sees three angels announcing the final judgment (14:6-13). Two angels begin to reap this harvest of judgment on the earth (14:14-20). Following on the heels of these two angels are seven more angels, who pour out God's judgment on the earth from seven bowls (15:1–16:21 ). One of these angels from the group of seven reveals to John a vision of a "great prostitute" called Babylon (symbolizing the Roman Empire), riding a scarlet beast (17:1-18). After the defeat of Babylon (18:1-24), a great multitude in heaven shouts praise to God for his mighty victory (19:1-10).” }
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Reference Passage: Romans 8 [yes, … the entire chapter] : [NLT] … {Please use this link to meditate on this wonderful passage of truth from the later-day Apostle, Paul, telling of the truth of God’s Kingdom to come and the reality of that Kingdom in the here-and-now.} … 

My Journal for Today: In the last chapter of the Bible in my chronological read during this year; … only one more day to go. And as was reading the getting help from my Parsons Commentary – some of which is copied above, somewhat befuddled and in awe of the Eschatological imagery from John’s writings – I was led (I believe by God’s Spirit) to remember a passage in Romans 8, to which I link you above, which describes the truth of the New Jerusalem to come and the hope it gives for living in the here-and-now. Yes, the KINGDOM OF GOD is to be fully realized in heaven for believers in Christ; but it is also to be experienced in our lives as we live them out now. It is true, as Paul wrote it in Romans 8: 38-39: ...  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John was writing about God’s vision of what was to come. Paul was writing about how the hope of that reality plays out in our lives in the here and now. My fellow seeker of truth, If you, like yours truly, don’t have the clear biblical discernment when we read or study the chapters of The Revelation, which we were charged to study today, I maintain that all we need to have in this life is faith in the reality and truth of Paul’s passage in Romans 8 copied above. Because, in this life, no matter what we clearly understand or interpret about the eschatological writings in The Revelation, if the truth is, as Paul writes, that NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, we’re going to be okay in this life. 

My Prayer for Today Lord, I believe, in Your love in the New Jerusalem; but I live in that love now! … Amen

Blogger’s Note: To help you revel in the belief of what I’ve written about above, go to this God Tube link; and hearing this wondrous song, performed by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, I pray that God’s grace is – for you as it is for me - "deeper, wider, and stronger than anything our eyes can see!"