November 8 Peace Promised

Revelation 16:10-14 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 15 “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” 16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 
 
HAVE you noticed that there are people who deny God’s existence until they curse him? They will live and talk as if there is no God until they blame and accuse him for allowing difficult things into their lives. Perhaps God afflicted these unrepentant tongues because they could only speak anger against him. Conflict rules their lives. They have no peace with God or with one another. May your tongue be urgent to speak of Jesus’ salvation to an angry, bitter world. Pray, too, the Lord will grant faith to many tongues to turn their anger into joy in confessing Jesus.
    God used frogs in Egypt’s plagues and he uses them here as demons from the mouths of the unholy trinity – also described in Revelation 13. The dragon is the false father; the beast is the counterfeit son; and the prophet is an unholy spirit. The true God delivers his wrath to the unrepentant in the devil’s deceits.
    Then note the preparations for war. The Euphrates River  separated the Roman Empire from enemies to its East. A dry river, though, opens a highway for invasion and for kings from many countries to gather at Armageddon for a final battle between God and Satan. “Armageddon” is an undefined place, but the final battle is sure. At its end, the world will again be filled with God’s peace that surely comes in Christ. Colossians 3:15-16 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. What joy to express such praises!
    Then see God’s grace amid the warning of war: “Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” God’s message is clear: “Be ready!” He is coming suddenly to destroy evil and to save his church.
    God’s victory over sin is the Bible’s message. Thank God he is the victor. Praise God Christ is your peace.  
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank you for great love to battle for our souls on the cross. We pray we are as passionate to fight against evil, so our souls, families, churches and nations will be saved. In your name we pray, amen.