Congratulations on finishing the New Testament Reading! In the mean time, I want to ask you to text me at 205-541-6404 to let me know if you watched the video, listened to the podcast, or read the text with us all the way through the New Testament. If you have fallen behind, use the next week to catch up. We will begin a new round of Bible reading in the next couple weeks. If you are caught up, read some of your favorite chapters again and pray for God to prepare you for the next year of reading.
John saw a vision of “a new heaven and a new earth”. God’s dwelling place was with His people, and those who were not faithful were cast into the lake of fire. One of the angels with the seven bowls took John to a mountain and showed him the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God. John described its beauty and size. It was a great and beautiful place prepared for those whose names were in the Lamb’s book of life. The curse of man was lifted. There was no darkness, and they saw God’s face. The angel told John to share the written words of the visions because God would be coming soon. The Spirit warned against anyone adding or taking away from the prophesy of the scroll. Anyone who did would be punished.
The sins of Babylon were great, and its punishment was great. The kings and lovers of Babylon mourned its ruin. God avenged the blood of His servants. It was time for the Lord to be joined with His bride. He arrived on a white horse wearing a robe that bore the words, “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” The armies of the earth assembled to make war against Him. The beast and the false prophet who led men to receive the mark of the beast were thrown into the lake of fire. Satan was bound. Those who died in Christ and those who did not worship the beast reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Satan was cast into the lake of fire. God judged the dead and threw all whose names were not in the book of life in the lake of fire (second death).
John saw the angels who conquered the beast. They were praising God. He saw seven angels with seven plagues. The angels were given seven bowls full of God’s wrath. Each angel poured the bowls of wrath, one at a time on those who worshiped the beast, and on the earth. This is the final wrath of God. The mountains were destroyed, and God remembered the sin of Babylon. The seventh bowl was poured out and large hailstones fell on the people. They cursed God. An angel showed John another vision. The vision told of Babylon, sexual sin and blasphemy, the power of Rome, and the destruction of earthly kingdoms. The prophesies of God were fulfilled, then the power of God overwhelmed the earthly kingdoms.
John had a vision of a pregnant woman and a dragon. The vision depicted the power of God and the desire of Satan to destroy God’s work. The dragon went to war against Michael and his angels. The dragon was cast out of heaven. Satan was overcome. John’s vision in chapter thirteen warned against worshiping a beast who would be a ruler and would possess great power. The mark of the beast (666) would be given on the right hand or the forehead of those who would worship him. No one without the mark would be allowed to buy or sell. The Lamb stood on Mount Zion with 144,000 people who belonged to Him and were His first fruits. The judgement had come, and God reaped His harvest from the earth.
John experienced Jesus in the flesh. Life is given through Christ, and He is the light of men. All sin and are in need of the Son to cleanse us of our sins. If we walk in darkness, we do not know Jesus and have not experienced His forgiveness. Jesus is our advocate with the Father. If we know Jesus, we will keep His commandments and walk as He walked. Abide in God and do not be controlled by the desires of the flesh. Do not allow false teachers and antichrists lead you away from truth. The righteous abide in Him, but the one who practices sin is of the devil. Believe in the Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He loved us and gave Himself for us. If we do not love our brother and obey the Lord’s commands, we are not of God.
Believers should grow in faith and possess qualities of godliness. Peter committed to remind fellow believers of the importance of fulfilling the call on their lives and persevere in faith. Commit yourselves to the Word of God. False teachers and blasphemers will be punished but the righteous will be rewarded. The righteous will endure but the wicked will continue to return to evil. God is patient, not wishing that any should perish. Hold firm to sound doctrine and do not allow false teachers and those who would twist God’s Word to lead you to error. Grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus.
A wife with a pure heart is a witness to her unbelieving husband. Husbands are to respect their wives knowing that believing wives are heirs of an inheritance from God. Love others and do good, even if you suffer from evil acts of others. Water was used to save Noah and his family just as water was used to symbolize the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everything we do should be to the glory of God. The sins of our past should be left behind. If you suffer as a Christian, commit yourself to God who is faithful to strengthen you. Mature believers and pastors should protect the church spiritually in a loving and humble manner. The devil seeks to devour you. Resist him and hold firm to Jesus who is able to restore you.
Peter reminded God’s people who were scattered of the salvation made available through Jesus. Your faith is strengthened through persecution and the completion of your salvation will be realized when Jesus returns. God chose His Son to be the perfect sacrifice for all. Live holy lives in obedience to God’s Word, which will endure forever. Live in submission to those in authority. Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to sin. Jesus bore our sins that we might be righteous. We are healed because of His sacrifice, and He has authority over our souls.
Man has tamed every creature on earth, but he cannot tame the tongue. The tongue can lead to a man’s destruction. Selfish ambition is evil. Wisdom from God leads to grace and mercy. The humble will receive grace. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Do not suppose you know what tomorrow will bring, but trust God who is in control. Trusting and boasting in your own wisdom is evil. Those who have become rich by mistreating others will experience miseries, and earthly riches will rot. Be patient in suffering. Deal honestly and consistently with others. Pray for one another. If you have a need, pray. If you are sick, call for the spiritual leaders to pray over you. Seek to restore the believer who is wandering from faith.
James wrote this letter to Jews who were dispersed throughout the region. Spiritual trials (tests) will come in various forms and will reveal a believer’s faith. Anyone in need of wisdom to handle times of testing should ask God for wisdom in faith, without doubt. Doubting God is a sign of a double-minded person, but God will reward those who are faithful. Believers are to be doers of the Word not just hearers of the Word. Doers of the Word love and care for others and maintain lives that are holy. Show mercy to one another. Treat everyone fair and do not judge others. Faith without works is not living faith. Our works tell the true story of our faith.
We have seen God work, and the experience of others are a witness to us of God’s faithfulness. Focus on Jesus and lay aside every distraction that may prevent you from living by faith in Him. Jesus established and has enabled our faith to become complete in Him. God disciplines His children because He loves them. Allow discipline to have its effect and do not become bitter because of godly discipline. Worship God while we have the opportunity. He is all powerful and will sift away those who reject Him. Live according to love and obedience to God’s instruction concerning your relationship to man and to God. Jesus is the One who gave Himself as a sacrifice and He deserves our worship. Remain pure and be equipped to do God’s will.
Faith is believing in what you have not seen. God proved throughout history that He would fulfill His promises. The author reminded the Hebrew people of their ancestors who trusted God through faith. Their faith was an extension of hope for a future home in heaven, and their faith remained strong. Many who placed their faith in God did not live to witness the fulfilling of God’s promise through Jesus, but their faith was credited to them as righteousness. Their faith was a witness to the following generations who were blessed to see God fulfill His promise of the Messiah, who was Jesus Christ.
Specific instructions were given for the priests in the old covenant for presented sacrifices by priests on their own behalf and the behalf of God’s people. This sacrificial system pointed to a future sacrifice of Jesus once for all. He will one day appear again to save those who eagerly wait for Him. We have access through Jesus to the Father. We are encouraged to hold strong to our faith. Those who refute God will enter into His judgement. Live according to God’s commands in unity and support of the body of Christ (the Church). God’s people have experienced persecution, but God has enabled His people to endure, and will be rewarded.
The priestly order was ordained by God. Abraham honored God through obedience in tithes to the priest. Jesus was ordained by God as the High Priest who always existed and will always exist. The Law established a line of priests, but a new Priest has come, establishing a new covenant and a new Law. Jesus will never be replaced like the earthly priests. He has given Himself as a sacrifice once for all. There is no need to continue providing sacrifices. Jesus has ushered in a new and better covenant by which we are saved. This covenant is not limited to the blood line of Israel. All who place their faith in Jesus are called God’s people.
Jesus is our High Priest and the source of salvation for all. Human priests offered sacrifices for themselves before offering them for God’s people. Jesus did not require sacrifices for His sin because He was without sin. We are to grow in our understanding of the gospel so we may discern truth and teach truth. As we mature, we become useful for the glory of God. Otherwise, we are immature and not useful to the kingdom of God. God fulfilled His promises through Jesus, who has gone before us as our representative before the Father. We no longer need human priests to enter the Holy of Holies on our behalf.
The builder is honored above the house. Jesus is the builder, and we are the house. God’s people held Moses in high regard because he was faithful, but he too was part of creation. Jesus is honored as the Son of God above all creation. Do not allow unbelief to harden your heart like those who wondered in the wilderness and were not allowed to enter the promised land. Jesus provides us an opportunity to enter into His rest through the forgiveness of sins if we place our faith in Him. Draw close to Jesus who alone provides mercy and grace. He understands us in our weakness because He was tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus was identified as the Son of God and the creator of all things. God spoke through Him to mankind, and salvation was made available through Him. He reigns above all. He is described as superior to all and worthy of praise. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He proved His power through miraculous works. Jesus was made to suffer and die, but He defeated death and the evil one. Jesus is the perfect merciful and faithful high priest.
Paul wrote to Philemon concerning Onesimus, a servant to Philemon. Paul took the opportunity to encourage those who ministered with Philemon and the local church. Onesimus became a believer through Paul’s teachings. Paul appealed to Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ and to forgive him of any debt and any wrong he may have committed. Paul reminded Philemon of the efforts Paul made to share the gospel with him and to grow him in Christ. Paul trusted Philemon to be gracious in accepting Onesimus in love. Paul asked Philemon to prepare a place in hopes he would be released from imprisonment and visit him again.
Paul wrote to Titus to encourage and instruct him as he established the church at Crete. Paul provided qualifications for elders with a focus on teaching and instructing with sound doctrine, living lives that were obedient to God’s Word, and the ability to lead and protect the church from false teachers and false doctrine. He instructed the church concerning the responsibilities. Paul urged unity and Christian fellowship in the church. Paul warned against foolish controversies concerning the Law and genealogies. He condemned anyone who caused division. He instructed Titus to warn the divisive person twice, then have nothing to do with him. Such a person was self-condemned.