Dear Student of the Word,
This week we look at Revelation 16 that describes seven bowls poured out by angels that are reminiscent of the plagues unleashed on Egypt in the book of Exodus. Once again, we see that Revelation is not as interested in predicting the future as showing that all things have been fulfilled in Christ. The book also encouraged the early church that God would protect them just like He did the Israelites in Egypt. This week, we also encounter the concept of Armageddon, of which I had this to say (you can download the entire chapter 16 study below):
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16Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
16:16 – I have been to the valley called Armageddon in Israel on numerous occasions. It is an impressive valley, but hardly big enough for the kings of the earth to gather. This must be symbolic of something else, especially in the context of the preceding verses.
I read one of the end time novels written by a well-known Christian author. It was entertaining but pure fiction. Even knowing that, it produced fear in me because of the elements of conspiracy, intrigue, and mystery that surround the story line. Does Revelation point to a literal Armageddon? Or is it a symbolic Armageddon that represents the ongoing battle between good and evil, which of course is ultimately won by the Lord?
There will be a final historical event that will end history as we know it and usher us into the next age of a new heaven and earth. I do believe that there will be a final establishment of the kingdom of God when His enemies will be defeated once and for all. How will this happen? I don’t know. Revelation tells us to have faith that it will happen, however. Even if we lose our lives in the process, God will be victorious over every foe, no matter how powerful they seem to be.
We are also warned to be ready for this to happen at any time. It is too late to prepare when it happens. We must get ready now for when it happens, as Jesus warned:
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:1-13).
As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the daily devotional entitled Your Life Matters: Daily Reflections from the Book of Psalms. Thank you and soon I will begin sending you my edited studies from James' epistle. After that, we will only have the book of Revelation to complete before the entire New Testament is on the site where this study is posted.
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