TUESDAY
This week marks the second of our two conference weeks in the devotional. During these weeks when we have guest speakers scheduled, the devotionals take a different format since I typically write them based on the previous Sunday's sermon. When I'm not preaching, I take a different approach.
These two weeks, we are exploring some stories and texts that didn't make it into this campaign. Due to conference week preparations, I'll keep my commentary brief.
Yesterday we read John 16:33, where Jesus says that he has overcome the world. Along with that declaration, however, is the reality that disciples of Jesus will have trouble in this world. We currently experience the tension of living in two worlds—in the world and in Christ. Jesus’ victory is assured because of the cross and resurrection, but the enemy has not yet fully been defeated. This will happen when Jesus returns. John has a vision in Revelation of the final defeat of evil. The first is the defeat of evil empires and rulers (symbolized by the beast and the armies—”the world” in John’s gospel) who are opposed to God. Then in chapter 20, Satan is finally fully defeated and destroyed. If you’d like to read up on these passages again, I’ve linked you to the devotionals on these texts in the additional content section below.
Revelation 19:11–21 (NIV)
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
king of kings and lord of lords.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Revelation 20:7–10 (NIV) 7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
These, you’ll remember are vivid pictures of God’s final judgment over evil. God is victorious. These are battle scenes but they aren’t really battles. They are more like judgments. In the end, God wins.
Additional Content
Jesus, The Conquering KingThe Beasts DefeatedThe Millennial ReignSatan DefeatedThe Millennium and Beyond