Revelation 20

10 The Devil who deceived them will be hurled into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the three in torment around the clock for ages without end.

This one caught my attention.  It makes it sound like there is an "unholy trinity" and the 3 of them will be cast into the lake of fire together.  I'm not sure if I've ever caught that before.

The other part that gave me pause was the part about the first death, and the second death.  Those dead being wakened and standing before the throne.  That makes it sound like you don't go to heaven when you die, but may lie in wait for a while.  At the same time....we know that God isn't bound by time.  So, for a Friday...that one is WAY too deep for me to decipher.

have a good one!

tp

Revelation 19

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25–27)

There's an obvious relationship between our chapter today, and this verse from Ephesians.  It's interesting how the "people of God" are often referred to as the bride, and Christ is the groom.  
Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
    our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
    let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
    his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
    of bright and shining linen.The linen is the righteousness of the saints.

I wonder if that goes all the way back to Adam and Eve, and how they interacted with each other...and maybe even how the fall took place?  I don't know.  It's interesting.

tp

Revelation 18

Her traders robbed the whole earth blind,
    and by black-magic arts deceived the nations.
The only thing left of Babylon is blood—
    the blood of saints and prophets,
    the murdered and the martyred.

This is the last portion of the chapter.  I pulled it because this portion strikes me as if it could be written about our western culture.  The entire chapter talks about the wealthy and the unworthy.  Those who are blessed and don't give the praise back to God.  
This is something that I spend mind-time thinking about.  Obviously, I'm very blessed by God...WAY more than I deserve.  I often wonder if God regrets that blessing of me, or does he look and say I'm a good reflection of him in that blessing?  Kind of a different take from this.  But, I think we need to learn the lesson of Babylon (Rome), and not make the same mistake again.

tp

Revelation 17

3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 

I don't have much here, I just found it interesting that it is a woman in this position of power over the beast.  In the end they turn on her, but sitting on the beast like a rider seems like she is in control rather than some man.  

later in the chapter it said something about this calls for a mind of wisdom--so I figured I was done at that point.

knut

Revelation 16

7-21 The seventh Angel poured his bowl into the air: From the Throne in the Temple came a shout, “Done!” followed by lightning flashes and shouts, thunder crashes and a colossal earthquake—a huge and devastating earthquake, never an earthquake like it since time began. The Great City split three ways,

Yesterday I was talking about how everything in the bible relates to each other...it all ties in.  Its all consistent.  When I read the above verse, it made me think of the Crucifixion scene.  Jesus says, "it is finished."  There is a thunder and the earth shakes.....then the temple veil splits into 2.  Here the city splits into 3.  Isn't it interesting how similar it reads?

tp

Revelation 15

We then see the seven angels each receiving a golden bowl full of the wrath of God. Bowls of wrath is an image used by Isaiah to describe God’s wrath coming to punish sinners.

This is from the same "Revelation for Dummies" that I've been looking to for guidance.  This isn't a major take....just another point where the bible tie itself together in story/imagery/message.  

If this really is the last of the destruction, I'm happy.  Its tough reading through this book with all the death/fire/torture/etc.

tp

Revelation 14

He wore a gold crown and held a sharp sickle. Another Angel came out of the Temple, shouting to the Cloud-Enthroned, “Swing your sickle and reap. It’s harvest time. 

more tough imagery today.  This portion caught my attention.  I don't often think of earth as a garden and the people as the crop.  But, that's the clear analogy being given here.  When you harvest, you cut everything down and then separate the good from the bad.  The harvest usually happens at the end of the season.  When everything is fully matured.  Could we look at humanity this way?  We are definitely growing in knowledge and information.  Understanding more and more all the time.  What is the "fully mature" state for us.....just before things start to wilt and turn brown?

tp

Revelation 13

18 Solve a riddle: Put your heads together and figure out the meaning of the number of the Beast. It’s a human number: 666.

This is perhaps the most frustrating verse in the bible, to me.  The way its worded....especially here in the The Message, makes it sound like I should be able to figure out what this means.  This is the first time that John has challenged the reader to figure it out.  All the symbolism.....all the images of craziness, he never once told us to figure it out.  And then this.

What does it mean?  I guess I want to know, so I can avoid it.  Is it the WWW...of the internet?  Is it something else?  Is it some sort of chipped credit card system?  It makes me crazy!

tp

Revelation 12

https://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/dragon.html

here's the same link I copied a couple of days ago.  This translation didn't help as much, but was still good.

Satan has been defeated. Satan’s plans have been thwarted. All that Satan has left to do is battle the people of God on the earth. The battle against Christ, the heavenly battle, was lost.

This is a line from that link.  I think it shows both the power of Christ, and the danger we are in.

tp

Revelation 11

Perhaps the most befuddling and confusing chapter we've read so far.

19 The doors of God’s Temple in Heaven flew open, and the Ark of his Covenant was clearly seen surrounded by flashes of lightning, loud shouts, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a fierce hailstorm.

Once again, I chose to focus on the power of God.......that he is in control of EVERYTHING!  

This verse reminds me of Indiana Jones.  But, we all know the Ark is in an Army warehouse somewhere out in Arizona.....right?  =)

Revelation 10

Today is a handful.  Lots of stuff in there that i'm not smart enough to draw connections with.

Here's a really good reference that I found by googling the "little scroll."  It does a good job of walking through the entire chapter.

https://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/little-scroll.html

read it.  it really helped me to understand the imagery.

tp

revelation 9

7-11 The locusts looked like horses ready for war. They had gold crowns, human faces, women’s hair, the teeth of lions, and iron breastplates. 

strange imagery.  I can't imagine what he is describing, other than the weirdest looking creature ever.

“Don’t hurt the grass, don’t hurt anything green, don’t hurt a single tree—only men and women, and then only those who lack the seal of God on their foreheads.”

This caught my attention.  I remember reading about the mark of the beast on the forehead of people.  Now here is the seal of God.  What the heck are they talking about?  What are these marks?  How can I get one?

20-21 The remaining men and women who weren’t killed by these weapons went on their merry way

wait.....what?  So, the people have endured a time of locusts stings like a scorpion....now they survived these nutty horses killing a third of the people.  The way you describe their attitude after surviving all of that is.....they "went on their merry way."  That is complete KRAAZY!

tp

Revelation 8

“Doom! Doom! Doom to everyone left on earth! There are three more Angels about to blow their trumpets. Doom is on its way!”

Sheesh!  talk about a downer!  This one is REALLY dark and depressing.  The first time through it took me aback.  But, after our conversations over the last couple of days, I'm trying to look at it differently.  This is a display of power and complete dominance.  This is the Christ we serve.  To think that he came to us the first time being completely vulnerable, weak, and to serve.....and this time exactly the opposite.  Its crazy to think about.

He is in control. 
You want to be on his side.

"keep the porch lights on and be ready, you don't know when the master is going to return"....i'm paraphrasing here, but I remember reading that verse, and it certainly applies here.

tp

Revelation 7

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

I think you are right this chapter has been about God's power over all things.  I also get lost in the imagery and some of it has felt dark.  This verse is a vision of how great it will be for all of us who have been saved by Jesus.  Its great to read that the multitude is so great no one could count it.

knut

Revelation 6

17 For the great day of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

The chapter feels very dark, I can only think I would hate to be on the wrong side of the ledger when this time comes.  

knut

Revelation 5

“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.”

Through Jesus Christ, all things are possible.  He is the key.  He is the answer to any question/issue/problem that we might have!

short one today.
tp

Revelation 4

I really didn't have a take today, googled some images of Revelation 4 which lots of people have may their renditions and posted to the web.

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

My only take I guess is him being in the Spirit, taking him away from his earthly vision and presence.   For that moment it was almost like he wasn't on earth, pretty sure I've never had that type of experience.

knut

Revelation 3

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

My first read through I came up empty, but as I re-read this stuck out to me as a challenge very relevant to me an many of us in the US.  It is quite easy to get caught in the trap of having sufficient resources to think I've got everything I need and lose focus on my need for Jesus. 

I hope I don't do this but if I'm honest with myself there is an element of me that gets sucked into thinking I have it all covered.  But it could not be farther from the truth.  Having more money and stuff does not and has not made me happier, the times I'm most content is when I have been closest to Jesus.  How is that so easy to forget?

knut