I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Revelation 13-16.

    When I read the description of the beast which rises out of the sea I always think that it should be possible to identify to who or what it is referring. Or, at least, be able to see what to watch for to know when the beast has arisen. Yet later in today’s scripture it says that the Day of Judgment will arrive unexpectedly. The juxtaposition of the careful detailed descriptions of the two beasts and the declaration that the Day of Judgment will arrive unexpectedly leads me to conclude that people, nations, and other organizations which, at least partially, fit the descriptions of the beasts will arise repeatedly throughout history. Looking at history, it seems to me that the day of God’s judgment has come time and again. Each time it is a presage of the ultimate Day of Judgment with which God will end this universe.

    Since we are not going to know when God’s ultimate Day of Judgment will arrive, instead of looking for signs that will tell us that this coming day of judgment is that Day of Judgment, let us look for how we can remain prepared for when the Lord will return. So, what are the characteristics of the two beasts? First, they will do improbable things which will lead people to worship them, and through them “the dragon” (which I interpret to be Satan). The beasts will persecute those who faithfully serve God. The second beast will perform miracles which will lead many people to turn to it for things which only God can provide. Further, no one will be allowed to conduct any economic activity without a number provided by the beast (sound familiar?). When we see the government take the place of the Church in many people’s lives we know that a day of judgment is coming and perhaps this time it will be The Day of Judgment. We have been warned, are we prepared?

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Revelation 9-12.

    In today’s passage John talks about the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets. This is where I start to lose track of what order the things in John’s vision happen. I also have trouble deciding if I think these are descriptions of supernatural events, or more mundane occurrences which John has not basis to describe in anything but colorful language (for example, my Dad said that the description of the locusts which came after the Fifth Trumpet resembles how someone might describe modern military helicopters if they had never heard of mechanical flight).

    Shortly after this John writes that he heard the seven thunders speak, but was told not to write down what they said. Every time I read that I get caught up in wondering what the seven thunders said, and how it would help us understand the rest of this vision. Yet, I am convinced that the message John was conveying is contained in the symbolism of the fact that there were seven of them, and that he was told not to write what they said. The problem for me is that I do not understand the symbolism. Throughout the rest of the Book of Revelation I run into this problem of seeing symbolism whose meaning I do not understand. There are two final thoughts I want to write today. I am convinced that starting with the account of the woman and the dragon the order of the events described in this vision do not necessarily happen in the order they appear in John’s writing. The other is that one of the key messages which this letter is designed to convey is that no matter how chaotic and out of control the events of this world appear, everything is happening according to God’s plan.