Tuesday, May 24, 2016

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, DRUNK WITH BLOOD

Today’s Reading: Revelation 17 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

This is a spectacular view of the Colosseum in Rome as you walk on the Via Sacra Road from the Agora and Arch of Titus. The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and stone, it was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world. It is thought that the early Christians, who were under intense persecution from the Roman authorities, considered “The mother of harlots” to be the city of Rome (Rev. 17:5).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Revelation 17:17

For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

 

Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ Day Unto Day devotional series)…

I think it should be pretty clear to you by now that apocalyptic literature with its “picture language” is not too concerned about logic, consistency, and precision. This shouldn’t trouble us – rather, it should challenge us. Literally thousands of authors have taken up the challenge, and no two agree totally on every point of interpretation.

This chapter, however, begins a section dealing with the fall of “Babylon the Great” (concluding in 19:10). There are seven visions, and each refers to the fall of the cult of Roma, the deified personification of Rome (verse 18). “Babylon” is the proto-type for Rome, an empire that, in John’s day, had extended to Asia and the East. The “worship” of Roma was introduced to these areas so that the Empire became, in fact, a state cult. The Roman ruler Octavian, for example, built temples to “Dea Roma” and “Dious Julius” at Ephesus and Nicea, and to Roma and himself in Pergamum and Nicomedia. The belief in “Roma aeterna” (eternal Rome) was cultivated so that “Roma” became a living, breathing deity in the eyes of the world at that time.

John’s vision reaches far beyond the historical realities of his day, however, and chapter 17 is the first chapter where we see a clear attempt on the part of the angelic guide to “explain” what is going on (verse 7). Even though a lot of room is still left for interpretation, we at least see beyond the physical incongruities of multi-headed beasts, horns, bowls, and cups.

John sees a “great prostitute” sitting “on many waters” (verse 1), “on seven hills” (verse 9), and on a “scarlet beast” (verse 3). So, she “sits” on three things at the same time, is dressed elegantly (verse 4a), but is full of “abominable things” and “adulteries” (verse 4c). She is guilty of martyring “the saints” (verse 6).

The beast on which she sits “once was, and now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss” (verse 8), and has seven heads, one of which is himself (verse 11). These heads are all “kings” (who are at the same time “hills” – verse 9). Five of them have already “fallen” (verse 10a), one is “presently” alive (in John’s time), and the remaining king is to come at some future day but will reign only “for a little while” (verse 10c).

The beast also has ten horns, and these are future kings “who have not yet received a kingdom” (verse 12a) but eventually will reign “for an hour” (verse 12b). They work in conjunction with the beast and will do so at the very end of history, when they will “make war against the Lamb” (verse 14a). After losing to the Lamb, their final act will be to “ruin” the prostitute and “leave her naked” (verse 16).

There are two encouraging things to notice: 1. Those whose names are “written in the book of life” (verse 8 ) will not be “astonished” nor will they be conquered by the beast (verse 14c); and 2. Even while these last-day, evil forces do their foul deeds, they will be accomplishing God’s purposes (verse 17a). God is Sovereign. Everything is under His control.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for those today who are suffering torture and death at the hands of people who are possessed by the spirit of anti-Christ. Please give Your people great grace. Fill them with love for their tormenters, the same love demonstrated by Jesus for those who nailed Him to the Cross. Bring deliverance as You did for Peter in prison in Jerusalem, and for Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi. I pray for grace to stand firm in the face of any threats I may face in my lifetime. In Jesus’ Name! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Several years ago I travelled to Kosovo to spend time with Canadian troops who were there on a peace-keeping mission. I was so very proud of our men and women. After their regular shift of doing such tasks as clearing explosives from the roads, they would go out into the community to volunteer in rebuilding homes, schools, etc., which had been destroyed in war. On Sunday I travelled with a van load of soldiers to church in Pristina, Kosovo’s capital city. We did not film the following in case we would further complicate this tragic yet wonderful happening. I saw tears in soldiers’ eyes as a girl of about 19 gave her testimony. Her face was black and blue and had obviously bled from facial wounds. But her face was also shining with joy as she told the story of her Muslim father beating her because she had insisted that she believed in Jesus as her Saviour and God. He said that if she went back to that church he would beat her again. Here she was, boldly confessing Jesus! (click here for a video from the Kosovo trip). It’s long so please watch even a part of it. You may want to fast forward from time to time. This was sent to the troops in Kosovo and to every military base in Canada.

The Apostle Peter, who was put to death by crucifixion in Rome, wrote some words about persecution. Read 1 Peter 4:12-19.

Yours for experiencing the courage and strength found in daily reading of the Bible,

David

This is one of the walking paths inside Rome’s Colosseum.

13 thoughts on “Tuesday, May 24, 2016

  1. Good morning,
    I have a prayer request for my friend and neighbour Evie who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Would you please pray for her healing and restoration.
    God Bless and thank you.

    Diane

    • Dear Father God in heaven, I pray for Diane’s friend and neighbour Evie. We may not know her but you do. I am asking you in the the name of Jesus to heal her physically and spiritually. I thank you that we can come together as one on this blog to pray for the sick and others in need. Give Diane strength and words to say as she goes through this with Evie. I ask this in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen .

    • Lord we come before You and confess that we have sinnned against You and against each other! We are sorry! We thank you for restoring the relationship between us through the forgiveness of all our sins! Your Word says that our sins are forgiven as far as the east is from the west! Thank you Heavenly Father.
      John 10:10 “I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE,AN D THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY”
      Psalm 121:1 “I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS, FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP”
      God`s DNA is inside each of us! He made us wonderfully perfect, without a blemish! I declare that the lungs of Eve are completely healed.
      I pray that Eve will remember all the good God has done for her in the past! Also visualize all the good God will do for her in the future!
      We pray total healing for Eve in the Name of the Jesus CHrist, We give the Lord all praise and glory, forever and ever! AMEN!

  2. Thank you Pastor David for the Video. I watched most of it and I am so glad I did. It was wonderful to see the amazing work that our Peace Keepers do. I really had no idea before seeing this, I will definitely appreciate them now.

  3. Thank you Beverlee for your comments yesterday. And will find your video interesting David especially since I have also been to that part of the world, Bulgaria and Macedonia that is.

  4. Agreeing in prayer with Eleanor for your friend, Evie Diane that the Lord will touch her this very day in Jesus Name. Amen!

  5. “It is thought that the early Christians, who were under intense persecution from the Roman authorities, considered “The mother of harlots” to be the city of Rome (Rev. 17:5).” So true! It would have been incredible to live at that time, to see the Colosseum, too. Thanks for the video, David–very moving. God’s blessings to all saints, today.

    “The vision is yet for an appointed time…”
    (Habakkuk 2:3, NKJV)

    I Sing Praises To Your Name, Jentezen Franklin
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXl7BNyYP2w

    “I Sing Praises To Your Name” is from the CD – Moving Forward and was recorded live at the 14,000 member Free Chapel in Gainesville, Georgia, pastored by Jentezen Franklin.

  6. Thank you pastor David for the “7 Days in Kosova” with our Canadian Peace-Keeping Soldier. I watched the entire video. Very moving video. Not hard to be moved to tears but also to be filled with pride, and desire to pray our Canadian Forces at home and abroad, for all veterans, those still suffering physically, emotionally, or psychologically as grapple with their pain, to families who have lost their partners or children. Thank you David for your excellent presentation. May the God of all comfort be their sufficiency. Also prayers also for Diane as she supports her neighbour, Evie, as she battles lung cancer. Just for some encouragement – my sister had surgery for lung cancer a number of years ago and is doing well. May the healing hand of God be upon Evie as he divinely touches her life and uses all of his instruments of love and care to help her – specialist, medications. Scripture reminding us that God bestows many of His Spiritual Gifts – but when it comes to healing, it is “GIFTS of healing” – plural. God has many ways to bestow His healing. Also, haven’t heard from Sah. Pray that she is doing ok – Be strengthened, be encouraged, be peaceful through Jesus Christ our Lord. Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your Hand” (NKJV), “will fulfill His purpose for me” (NIV), Another translations says, “will do everything (fulfill, accomplish his plan) for me”. The Potter is constantly at work fashioning us, molding and making us in his image through all the circumstances of life. Samuel

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