Reading Plan - final week!

For those of you reading along, here's this week's plan.

SUNDAY Feb 25-- Rev 19
MONDAY Feb 26-- Rev 20:1-6
TUESDAY Feb 27-- Rev 20:7-10
WEDNESDAY Feb 28-- Rev 20:11-15
THURSDAY Mar 1-- Rev 21:1-8
FRIDAY Mar 2-- Rev 21:9-27
SATURDAY Mar 3-- Rev 22:1-6
SUNDAY Mar 4-- Rev 22:7-21

If you made it this far, CONGRATULATIONS! Take yourself out to dinner!

You know, the book of Revelation promises a blessing to those who take it to heart (Rev. 1:3). In what ways has God given you a sense of His presence and involvement in your life through your study?

Back from the Mountains

Rest is a good thing. Here's a few highlights from the weekend.

• Hiking and hanging out
  
• Waffles with real maple syrup home-made and hand-carried from Wisconsin
  
• Playing a new really fun game called Faces


• Great conversations with family and extended family


• Watching National Treasure again.


• Finishing a really good book, Leadership Above the Line, that was recommended to me by Geoff Horn.


• Resting. Rest is a good thing.

Reading Plan - from on high :)

Our family is away for the weekend so I'm logging in from the mountains. We're enjoying the pine trees, fresh air, and family time.

Doug Sutherland is speaking this weekend from Deuteronomy 8. We'll resume our study through Revelation next Sunday. But for those of you who are trying to read along, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week).

SUNDAY Feb 18 -- Rev 18:11-24
MONDAY Feb 19 -- Rev 19:1-10
TUESDAY Feb 20 -- Rev 19:11-18
WEDNESDAY Feb 21 -- Rev 19:19-21
THURSDAY Feb 22 -- Rev 20:1-6
FRIDAY Feb 23 -- Rev 20:7-10
SATURDAY Feb 24 -- Rev 20:11-15
SUNDAY Feb 25 -- Review Chapter 19

Find previous weeks' reading just scroll down to past posts.

What about those who have never heard?

What if you could spend five minutes in Heaven? Wouldn’t you agree that those 300 seconds would change your life? John, the author of Revelation, is given a privilege few people get: to see Heaven, and then stick around on Earth long enough to talk about it (Revelation 15).

And these weren’t just any old five minutes in Heaven. John was given a glimpse into Heaven five minutes before God pours out His complete wrath on the world – we’re talking Judgment Day.

I often have conversations with spiritual seekers about how (or even if) God is going to judge people. They are especially concerned about those who have not had an opportunity to hear about Jesus. And I have to admit that some of the details are unclear. The New Testament teaches that no one will be saved apart from Jesus. But how God will sort this out is a mystery.

But here’s what I love about the vision John is given in Revelation 15. It reveals the future response of those who see God’s justice perfectly. Those who will have a front row seat to God’s dealings will be singing …

Just and true are your ways, King of the ages...
All nations will come and worship you …
Your righteous acts have been revealed. (Rev.15:3-4)

In other words, God will be completely fair. God always operates within His love, truth, and mercy. What that will look like remains concealed. But I take great comfort in knowing that when we see things from Heaven’s perfect vantage point, we also will be moved to say…

Just and true are your ways, King of the ages...
All nations will come and worship you …
Your righteous acts have been revealed. (Rev.15:3-4)

The Structure of Revelation - 7 Sevens

OK, I made an offhand comment that I would post this info on my blog, and Christy held me to it (see her comment in the side bar) so here it is:

In many ways, you can think of the Book of Revelation as given to us in a series of 7's, some are explicit while others are simply implied:

7 churches (chaps. 2-3);
7 seals (chaps. 6-7);
7 trumpets (chaps. 8-11);
7 thunders (chap. 10);
7 signs (chaps. 12-15);
7 bowls (chaps. 16-18);
7 last things (chaps. 19-22).

Others like to divide up Revelation around four key visions:
(1) the vision of the Son of man among the seven churches (chaps. 1-3);
(2) the vision of the seven-sealed scroll, the seven trumpets, the seven signs, and the seven bowls (4:1-19:10);
(3) the vision of the return of Christ and the consummation of this age (19:11-20:15); and
(4) the vision of the new heaven and new earth (chaps. 21-22).

Revelation Reading Plan

If you're reading along with me through Revelation, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week).

SUNDAY Feb 11 -- Rev 15:1-8
MONDAY Feb 12 -- Rev 16:1-9
TUESDAY Feb 13 -- Rev 16:10-21
WEDNESDAY Feb 14 -- 1 John 3:1-24 Focus on the word "love." (Hey, it's Valentine's Day - you could use a brief break from Revelation, right?)
THURSDAY Feb 15 -- Rev 17:1-8
FRIDAY Feb 16-- Rev 17:9-18
SATURDAY Feb 17 -- Rev 18:1-10
SUNDAY Feb 18 -- Rev 18:11-24

Find previous weeks' reading just scroll down to past posts.

What's CLEAR and CONSISTENT COUNTS!

I was invited to speak at a Book of Daniel Bible Study at our church tonight. You thought Revelation was intimidating, try being the only guy in the room of all woman :)

I shared with them how to identify what is really important in Apocalyptic Literature (like Revelation and the second half of Daniel). Three points:

1. Focus on what is CLEAR. Don't get lost in the details. What we need to know God is big enought to make clear. Center first of all on what is CLEAR.
2. Then focus on what is CONSISTENT. When God says something repeatedly in the Bible we can know this is important and substantial.
3. Focus on what COUNTS. By that I mean that which matters. Spend your time on those things that will change the way you think, act, and feel. God's Word is not suppose to just inform. It should transform.

Revelation Reading Plan (cont.)

If you're reading along with me through Revelation, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week). We are going to backtrack a bit so you are reading around what I will be speaking on.


SUNDAY Feb 4 -- Rev 10:1-11
MONDAY Feb 5 -- Rev 11:1-14
TUESDAY Feb 6 -- Rev 12:1-17
WEDNESDAY Feb 7 -- Rev 13:1-10
THURSDAY Feb 8-- Rev 13:11-18
FRIDAY Feb 9-- Rev 14:1-20
SATURDAY Feb 10 -- Rev 15:1-8
SUNDAY Feb 11 -- Rev 16:1-9

Find previous weeks' reading just scroll down to past posts.

God's Judgment: Now or Later?

I recently received this question about last week's message. I thought it was a fair question and I thought I'd share my response online.

Hi Doug,
At homegroup this week we had a question about the January 28th message. I believe you said in reference to war that it was God's sovereign judgment over corrupt humanity (or something like that)? How would that be? I guess I always thought that war was due to "corrupt humanity", but not necessarily God's judgment. If so, how do you believe God directs such things? Please explain.Thanks so much.

This was my response:

Great question! You are absolutely correct that the sinful aspects of war (there is a Christian case for a Just War, but that's a different topic) are due to corrupt humanity. Nevertheless, the fact that people are allowed to continue and sometimes even prevail in this evil is also a sign of God's wrath. Let me explain.

There are two aspects to God's wrath. 1. Current wrath. 2. Future wrath.

The current wrath of God is being revealed right now. As Romans 1:18 says, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness," But how is God judging people now? Currently? If you follow the logic of this passage you'll see that the way this wrath is being revealed is through God allowing people to experience the destructive aspects of their sin (see especially Rom 1:24, "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts..."). Verse 24 is directly connected to the mention of God's wrath in vs 18. The current wrath of God is experienced when people reject God and turn to false substitutes (war being just one). Unfortunately many innocent people are hurt by the consequences of such sin.

The future wrath of God is reserved for the end times when He will also finally make all things right. Things will be as He intended once more.... sinless, and without war.

Hope this helps. I'm going to post your question (anonymously) on my blog so that others can grapple with it too. Great question. Please encourage your HomeGroup to review my answer on the blog and to keep asking questions.

God's best,
Doug