of the three year journey through the Bible...
takes us to the final book... Revelation...
The revelation of Jesus to John...
a picture of His final return...
His coming to His full reign on earth...
There are several references to how His return...
will affect those who dwell on the earth...
"... Because you have kept my word about patient endurance,
I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world,
to try those who dwell on the earth. ..."
Revelation 3:10 ESV (emphasis added)
[Those who had been slain for the word of God] cried out with a loud voice,
"O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge and avenge
our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
Revelation 6:10 ESV (emphasis added)
Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice
as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth,
at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!"
Revelation 8:13 ESV (emphasis added)
...and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry
and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment
to those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 11:10 ESV (emphasis added)
embrace the ways of the world...
for them... His return will mean...
a time of trial...
vengeful judgement...
woes...
and torment by the message of God's witnesses...
But Believers... even if they are living on the earth... at the time of His return...
do not "dwell" on the earth... living the way of the world...
Believers... dwell in the Kingdom of God... now...!
The letters to the churches in chapters two and three...
make it clear... He is watching... He is among the gatherings of Believers...
and He knows... how we live now...
some do it well... with steadfast perseverance... even under persecution...
others not so well... lukewarm... spiritually dead... deceived by false teachers...
There is a way and not the way to live on earth...
Dwelling in the earth... fully embracing all it stands for...
is the way of destruction...
Only by living now... in His Kingdom... His Way...
will His return be a joy for us...!
So consider today...
Where do you dwell...?
Are you embracing all the world is about...?
Or do you earnestly pray... Your Kingdom come... on earth as it is in heaven...?
and live as if it's true...?
Salvation is not about waiting to get to heaven...
it's not about getting by till His return...
it's about living in His Kingdom now...
living His way in a hostile world...
making His Kingdom... our reality now...
on earth as it is in heaven...
So I ask again...
Where do you dwell...?
and what does His return mean to you...?
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy,
and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it,
for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3 ESV
The final week's readings...
Monday Revelation 12-13
Tuesday Revelation 14-16
Wednesday Revelation 17-18
Thursday Revelation 19-20
Friday Revelation 21-22
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