S – And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. ⁵  And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, 

and the despised to the honorable. 

Isaiah 3:4–5 ESV

O – Comments:

I will make boys their princes When the generation of leaders is removed, only children will be left to fill the traditional male leadership positions. The lack of experienced leaders will lead to chaos and oppression

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Is 3:4.

A – The next generation is imperative to the growth of any culture.  When established leadership is removed or doesn’t fill that role adequately, it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on young people to assume a role they are not ready to fill.  Also, if they do not honor those who go before them, it also establishes a fragile foundation to lead.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are Sovereign.  Help us to recognize the importance of honoring those who have gone before us.  Prepare us each day to lead and serve in good relationship with those around us.  We invite your Holy Spirit to work in all the relationships around us.

S – Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, 

they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Isaiah 1:18 ESV

O – Commentary:

Come now, let us reason together was more than a call for negotiations between the people and God. The word “reason” (yāḵaḥ) is a law term used of arguing, convincing, or deciding a case in court. The people were to be convinced by their argumentation with God that He was right and they were wrong about their condition. (Other court terms in this chapter are justice … defend, and plead, v. 17.) If they acknowledged the depth of their sins-that their iniquities were like blood-colored stains on their souls (scarlet, a red dye made from a worm, and crimson, red-colored cloth)—then God in His grace would cleanse them, making them spiritually white like snow or wool. Acknowledgment of sin was to precede God’s cleansing. And the same is true today.

 John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1036.

A – Seven hundred years before Christ, God shares his heart to eliminate sin from people’s lives.  It was just as stark and glaring as it is today.  Jesus came to remove the “stain” of our sins and make us clean and pure again.

R – Heavenly Father, you are our Sacrifice and Savior.  Thank you for loving us enough to send the way and solution to our sin problem.  Even before it came through Christ, your heart for us to be free of sin demonstrates your love for us.

S – Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:^, Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples,^, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. 

Revelation 21:3–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

The final revelation from heaven states that God will then dwell with men, that the saints will be His people and He will be their God. In eternity saints will enjoy a new intimacy with God which is impossible in a world where sin and death are still present. The new order will be without sorrow. God will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death with its mourning, and pain with its crying will vanish, for the old order of things will have passed away.

Some have wondered if grief and sorrow will exist for a while in heaven and then be done away with here at the establishing of the new order. It is better to understand this passage as saying that heaven will have none of the features that so characterize the present earth.

 John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 985.

A – It is hard to fathom or understand what a world without sin or death would look like.  It is even more difficult to imagine a day where interaction with God is so intimate and close he would actually wipe away a tear.  We endure the present day knowing there is a better one to come.  God will empower us with strength, faith and perseverance to be victorious today.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God who sits on His throne and longs to dwell with his people.  We are grateful for the opportunity to know you through Christ and the Holy Spirit today.  We look forward to the day where we will see you face to face.

S – This is the second death, the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:14–15 CSB

O – Commentary:

Following the great white throne judgment death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death, the final destination of the wicked. The doctrine of eternal punishment has always been a problem to Christians who enjoy the grace of God and salvation in Christ. The Bible is clear, however, that the punishment of the wicked is eternal. This is confirmed in verse 10, where the beast and the false prophet are still in the lake of fire after the thousand years of Christ’s millennial reign. Though the wicked dead will receive resurrection bodies, they will be quite unlike the resurrection bodies of the saints. The former people will continue to be sinful but will be indestructible and will exist forever in the lake of fire.

Though many have attempted to find some scriptural way to avoid the doctrine of eternal punishment, as far as biblical revelation is concerned there are only two destinies for human souls; one is to be with the Lord and the other is to be forever separated from God in the lake of fire. This

 John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 983.

A – The Bible is clear – when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are saved from eternal punishment.  Each of us has the freedom to choose.  Our responsibility is to share the gospel with others so they can be saved.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Eternal Judge.  Give us a heart of compassion to share the gospel with others.  Let our words and actions be led by you so they can see the truth and make an eternal choice.

S – Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. ¹² His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. ¹³ He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. ¹⁶ On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 

Revelation 19:11–16 CSB

O – What a contrast to the Jesus who came to earth to serve mankind with his humanly life. This is yet another facet of God’s character.  There is a “fierceness” in the battle against sin and unrighteousness in this depiction of Jesus.

A – This scripture challenges us to grasp the soberness and gravity of sin and unrighteousness.  Jesus is coming back to earth for finalize a victory over all rebellion and those who do not accept him as God.  Our finite minds cannot understand this but our hearts it resonates.  God will not be mocked and judgement will come.  There is a time for mercy and grace.  There is a time for accountability.  We must choose which is our path to God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords.  We ask for your mercy and grace today.  We are sinners and broken vessels.  Please forgive us of our sins and all unrighteousness.  We want to know your heart and character more.  Thank you for inviting us into relationship and not judgement.

S – They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city! In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.” 

Revelation 18:10 CSB

O – The kings who did business and had relationship with Babylon will see the judgement of God and create distance.  They do not want to be “close” or associated with its judgement.

A – We see this in a smaller scale today.  People desire relationship with you until something happens that challenge it.  That is where you see the strength and depth of that bond.  Do you stand or walk with someone in their toughest challenges or do you leave them to their own abilities to deal with it?  It is similar to our relationship with God.  Do you walk with him in faith in the toughest moments or do you say, “Not now because I don’t see you working in this.”  

R – Heavenly Father, you are Faithful.  Strengthen and empower us today to be resolved in our relationship with you.  There will be tests and trials – we want to choose you in all of them.  In all aspects of our lives, we invite your Holy Spirit to work and draw us close to you.

S – For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled.

Revelation 17:17 CSB

O – Commentary:

When the ruler in the Middle East takes on worldwide political power, he will also assume the place of God and demand that everyone worship him or else be killed (cf. Dan. 11:36–38; 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:8, 15). The world church movement, which characterizes the first half of the seven years leading up to the Second Coming, is thus brought to an abrupt end. It will be replaced by the final form of world religion which will be the worship of the world ruler, Satan’s substitute for Christ.

This is part of God’s sovereign purpose to bring evil leaders into judgment, For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.

 John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 972.

A – God’s purposes will be carried out in the events of Revelation.  Job 42:2 is one of my favorite verses – “For you can do all things and no purpose of yours will be thwarted.”  He is able to enact his plan and purpose in our lives.  We can choose to align with his will or our own ways.  The choice is easy when we view it from an eternal perspective.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  Your hold purposes for each of us that tie into your overall plan for mankind.  Thank you that you know us intimately enough to have a personal will and purpose that will bring us fulfillment and joy.  Help us to align with you as we grow closer to you today.

S – Then the seventh poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple^, from the throne, saying, “It is finished!”

 Revelation 16:17 NLT

O – Commentary:

When the seventh … bowl is poured out, an unexpected event occurs. The enemies of God had assembled themselves for battle, but when the decisive moment arrives, instead of the battle comes the shout, “It is finished!” Jesus uttered these same words from the cross when he had finished his work (John 19:30). No one can ultimately fight God. Therefore, this scene pictures an end to rebellion against God. What remains are various descriptions of the end.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Re 16:17.

A – The same words that ended Jesus mission on earth are the ones that announce the conclusion of the tribulation.  Jesus did the finished work of defeating death and sin on the cross.  For those who accept Christ and put their faith in him, it is a finished work.  We can live from a place of victory as well submit to the truth and character of God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all mighty, powerful and present.  Thank you for the finished work of the cross that paid for my sins forever.  We submit ourselves to your will and purposes today.

S – They sang the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the Lamb: Great and awe-inspiring are your works, Lord God, the Almighty; just and true are your ways, King of the nations.^,4 Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you because your righteous acts have been revealed. 

Revelation 15:3–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

In this song in Revelation 15:3–4 God is praised for His great deeds, justice, truth (cf. 16:7), glory, and holiness (see 4:8 for a chart of the 14 doxologies in Rev.). Then a prediction is made that all the nations will worship God.

This description of praise to God and prediction of universal worship is in keeping with many other Scriptures and relates, of course, to the second coming of Christ and worship of God by the entire world in the millennial kingdom (Pss. 2:8–9; 24:1–10; 66:1–4; 72:8–11; 86:9; Isa. 2:2–4; 9:6–7; 66:18–23; Jer. 10:7; Dan. 7:14; Zeph. 2:11; Zech. 14:9). The awful hour of wickedness and blasphemy against God, which will characterize the period leading up to the Second Coming, will be followed by a full vindication of God’s judgment and holiness in the next period

 John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 966.

A – Two themes that come from these scriptures is God’s character and all will worship Him.  If we recognize His true heart and character today, we should worship Him now.  Waiting until “we understand it better” or “we see the good things” he does will not take away from the fact that he is worthy of all praise and worship now.  Let’s posture our lives to honor and magnify him today.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you today.  You are Holy and Just which empowers your love for us.  We give you all glory, honor and praise today.  Let our thoughts, words and actions model our love for you and others.

S – And it makes everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, ¹⁷ so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name. 

Revelation 13:16–17 CSB

O – Commentary:

A Greco-Egyptian king had similarly required Jews to be branded with the ivy leaf, the emblem of Dionysus (*3 Maccabees 2:28–29); this is likewise a mark of ownership, a brand or tattoo indicating to which god or empire one belongs. The term for “mark” is, among other things, the regular term for the imperial stamp on documents and of the image of his head on coins.

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 757.

A – It is interesting that in all that is happening in the times in Revelation,  “ownership” comes into play.  Satan is executing his agenda to rule the earth and enforces it with requiring the mark on their body.  Jesus also claimed ownership by taking the marks and wounds on his own body.  We get to choose each day who we will serve and surrender.  Jesus is my Lord and Savior.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Lord and Savior.  Thank you for choosing us before we knew you and demonstrating your love for us by going to the cross.  We choose you today and surrender our will to yours.