The wrath of God is terrifying until you try to understand it. God has tried over and over again to let people figure it out, until there was no choice left and it was time for final judgment. But again the good news is what Revelation tells us and what we can focus on – “on Earth, as it is in Heaven.”
Today, listen to this song and see if you understand the words differently after reading through Revelation.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
Monday November 9, Revelation 14:6-20
Today’s Takeaways:
- Three angels fly over and deliver their messages.
- The first angel brings the gospel and invites all to worship God, the second angel announces the fall of Babylon, and the third angel warns about judgment and the wrath of God on those worshipping the beast.
- Verse 14:12 says we are saved by obedience and faith.
Today’s Talking Points:
- The first angel announced the eternal gospel…what do you think that means?
- What do you think Babylon represents?
Tuesday November 10, Revelation 15:1-8
Today’s Takeaways:
- The sanctuary opens and the seven angels bring the seven plagues, these will carry out the last judgments.
- Some suggest the seven trumpets and the seven bowls are carrying out the same judgments. The bowls go back in time and explain the plagues in greater detail.
- Those redeemed worship God – just like the Israelites did after they were delivered from slavery in Egypt.
Today’s Talking Points:
- What do you read in Revelations that reminds you of events described in Exodus?
- What repeated number patterns do you see while reading Revelations? What do you know about the number 7?
Wednesday November 11, Revelation 16:1-21
Today’s Takeaways:
- We learn what the seven bowls of wrath carry out.
- You might have heard people talk about “Armageddon” to mean the end of the world. But just like the word “revelation” is often misused, this is also incorrect. “Armageddon” is a real life place in Israel. It is a strategic mountain. In Revelations, however, it simply symbolizes a battleground.
Today’s Talking Points:
- Find the verses that talk about lighting, rumbling, thunder and earthquake. What usually happens next in the Bible when the Earth shakes? (hint: God appears, speaks, etc.)
- God allows human wickedness to work itself out and then God steps in to stop it when it’s gotten out of hand. How do you now understand God’s wrath? How does this make you feel?
Thursday November 12, Revelation 17:1-18
Today’s Takeaways:
- The fall of Babylon is described.
- Here starts the description of the fall of Babylon. Yet again it is used as a symbol of something bigger, not just pointing to a single city. Anyone reading the Old Testament in the olden days would understand what Babylon stood for. It was the symbol of evil, sin and wrongdoings against God’s people.
Today’s Talking Points:
- Is there anything today that symbolizes bad decisions for you? How can you squash it or get it out of your life?
Friday November 13, Revelation 18:1-24
Today’s Takeaways:
- Here is my general takeaway from reading the Bible this week. It is important to read the Bible in its entirety over and over again. Only that way we will understand the context and reference. It will also help us explain and understand things that might feel either far-fetched or downright terrifying. We have already learned about the plagues in Exodus, so reading about plagues in Revelations should help us understand. And understanding what places like Babylon or Armageddon were like will help us understand what they symbolize in a more general sense. So even when reading is hard, keep at it. And I promise you, you will pick up more and more of the grains of sand.
Munger Kids 