As I read verse one of this chapter, I was reminded of a joke that says, “I found Biblical proof that there will be no women in heaven.”

Although we may get a chuckle from that joke, what follows must be taken seriously. This “silence” in heaven is followed by fierce “noise.” As believers, we must share this gospel by our words and deeds so that very few of the people in our sphere of influence are affected by what comes after the silence. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 8:1

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 8

*Homework Alert*

I have some more homework for you. I encourage you to take a deep dive into the meaning of this passage. There are Christians who believe differently about the meaning of the 144,000. You should have an understanding of this as it may come up in a conversation. 

Know the Word. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 7:4

4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 7

Sitting on the side of my bed, reading Revelation 6, I felt the essence of the power that exists in the spiritual realm. I was overwhelmed. Thinking about the four horsemen should give some cause to pause. But not the believer. 

Our fate is sealed with the Lamb. We, whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, do not need to be concerned with the wrath of God. But there is something we do need to be concerned with. Are we bearing witness to those in our sphere of influence. 

The end time is coming. Jesus Christ will return. Those who believe will be taken to heaven to spend eternity with God the Father. Those who do not believe will be cast into the abyss with Satan and all non-believers. We must not stand idly by and allow our family and friends to meet this fate without at least sharing the gospel with them. We must give them the opportunity to accept what Jesus did on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins. The time to witness is right now. Tomorrow is not promised. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 6:15-17

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 6

What do you believe? Do you believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified on the cross for the payment of our sins, then God raised Him from the dead? Is this what you believe?

If you said yes, does the life you live daily reflect that answer? Far too many of us say with our mouths that we believe in Jesus, but the life we live does not reflect that whatsoever. This should not be. If we truly understood what Jesus did on our behalf so we could be reconciled to God, we would not stop talking about it. We would remain in awe of Him who sits on the throne. 

My prayer for you today is that you would begin (or continue) to live a life so Christ-centered that people around you would begin to be uncomfortable in your presence because they sense Christ’s presence in your life. Even if they do not realize that it’s Christ. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Isaiah 53:4-6

4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 5

I encourage you to meditate on this passage. Think about the glory and honor that is given to God by those in His presence. Then think about how your life “honors” Him. Do you honor Him the way the heavenly hosts do or is your honor for God reserved. 

I have been watching videos of a Pastor named Philip Anthony Mitchell. His message cuts straight to the heart of it. If you love God, honor Him without exception. 

https://www.tiktok.com/@philipanthonymitchell/video/7368613619841371435?_t=8mhUUUypOJy&_r=1

Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 4:9-11

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 4

It saddens me to say this, but I know far too many “Christians” who fit this description of the people of the Church at Laodicea. Their money and status have convinced them that they are “blessed” by God and are living righteously in His sight. But that’s far from the truth. 

The way they “protect” themselves is by saying things like, “don’t judge me.” They have no clue that their eyes have been blinded by the “god of this world,” along with the eyes of the unbelievers. (2 Cor 4:4)

I encourage you to spend time alone with God and the scriptures. He has given you the Holy Spirit to help you see what God is doing in and around you. Take the time to learn so you will be in the right place so He can use you for His purposes. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 3:17-18

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 3:14-22

The name Philadelphia comes from the word phileo, which is one of the four types of love we learn from the Bible. It is a “relational” type love. Like the love of a brother. Hence, the nickname The City of Brotherly Love. Jesus is encouraging this church because they have continued in the faith despite the struggle of persecution they are facing. 

Are you a person who loves the Lord, you are following His command of love to God and people, but you can’t seem to catch a break? Be reminded that if God sent an encouraging word of support to the church at Philadelphia, He will encourage you as well. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 3:8

8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 3:7-13

The church at Sardis reminds me of what I see in our country. We have our hearts set on what we want, while believing we are living for Christ. Our work is not finished, but we think it is. This is a dangerous way to live. 

I encourage you to begin to examine your heart. Ask yourself the difficult questions. Get alone and spend time with God. Ask Him the difficult questions. We must have a sense of urgency for ourselves and for those whom God puts in our paths. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 3:4-5

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 3:1-6

The church of Thyatira was a place with people that loved the Lord and had faith. However, some were allowing themselves to be drawn away from God. Jesus, through John, is saying, “Stop doing that, repent, and return to Me.”

We have this same issue in our country. We must be in prayer for those who do not know God or know Him but chose to ignore Him. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 2:24-25

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 2:18-29

God can save us in any situation. The church of Pergamum had Satan dwelling within their city. This was manifested in the form of people who persecuted the believers. However, Jesus commends them for trusting in Him when times were difficult. 

We also live in a place where Satan has been allowed to roam and disrupt the lives of believers. Stay strong!! In the end we know that God wins. His victory is your victory. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 2:13

13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 2:12-17

Could you imagine a preacher in the US saying these words over their church during a Sunday morning service? Each week most congregations hear messages of happy happy joy joy in Jesus name. However, Jesus Christ delivers this message to the church at Smyrna. Although there’s a bleak near future for this body of Christ, Jesus assures them that the hope of eternal life is theirs if they will endure. That’s a promise that we can bank on! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 2:10

10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,and you will suffer persecution for ten days.Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 2:8-11

*Homework Alert*

Over the next week we are going to read about the seven churches mentioned in Revelation; one church per day. First up, Ephesus. 

This church loved the Lord, but they were beginning to lose their way. Jesus warned them to return to their first love. Then He adds that they are doing well not following the “Nicolaitans,” whom He hates. 

Your homework is to learn who the Nicolaitans were. Ponder if there are people within our society today who follow the way of the Nicolaitans. I would love to hear your thoughts. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 2:4-6

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstandfrom its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 2:1-7

How often do you share how Jesus Christ changed your life? In the song Amazing Grace, the writer testifies, I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.” This would inspire any listener to ask, “how can this be.” To which you, then, share about Jesus Christ. 

As we begin reading the final book of the New Testament, I want to encourage you to dig in to this book. There are important lessons we need to get. Think about the significance of Jesus saying, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and last.” Pay attention to what Jesus says about the seven churches. Notice the love God has for those who choose Him. 

Ask me and I’ll tell you how foolish I once was about the book of Revelation. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Revelation 1:9-11

9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurancethat are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches:to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Today’s Reading:

Revelation 1

Take your time reading Jude. There is so much in there. What caught my “eye” are his words to those who believe and how they must behave.

As I look around the US, I see Christians with varying expressions of their understanding of what Jesus has called believers to do. Jude writes that we must follow Jesus, but also show mercy to those who may stumble. The part that I believe trips us up is that we don’t understand that we are to be discerning about the behavior of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Do not pass judgement on fellow believers. However, you must be someone who helps them if they are walking away from the faith. To this you are called. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Jude 20-23

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Today’s Reading:

Jude

Your actions will always speak louder than your words. What you do informs people about who you are as a person. Please follow Christ and the example of good He did in obedience to the Father. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

3 John 11

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

Today’s Reading:

3 John

One thing I like about John’s writings is the consistency with which he wrote. The message of love manifested in obedience is one that we can easily follow. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

2 John 6

6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Today’s Reading:

2 John

Throughout the New Testament, Christians are told they are in a war. We read this, but far too often do not heed this. Let these words in 1 John be a reminder that you are at war. The side you’re fighting on is visible by the fruit of your life. 

If you love God, it is manifested in your obedience to His commands. If you love the world, it is manifested in your denial of God’s existence. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

1 John 5:1-5

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Today’s Reading:

1 John 5

The word “love,” used throughout the book of 1 John, is the word “agape.” This is a “heart” love. The type of love that makes sacrifices for anyone. It is the love we see displayed at the cross. 

On our own, we do not have the capacity to love in this manner. However, as we walk with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to love how God has called us to love. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

1 John 4:7-12

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Today’s Reading:

1 John 4

I love how 1 John 3:16 is similar to John 3:16. Since the numbering system came way later, I am certain that John did not purposefully do this. However, with God nothing is a coincidence. Here's today's Bible verse. Enjoy.

1 John 3:16

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Today's Reading:

1 John 3:11-24

This is a “thick” passage. People get confused about living in sin apart from Christ and sinning while pursuing Christ. There is a distinct difference, DESIRE.

A Christian does not desire to sin. They fall short in their pursuit of the Kingdom and His righteousness. But sin is not their goal. When a child of God is faced with their sin, they repent immediately. We see this when Nathan confronts King David. We see this when Jesus looks at Peter after he denied Jesus three times and the rooster crowed. Luke records that Peter went out and wept “bitterly.”

In contrast, a non-believer lives a life in pursuit of sin. They have no desire to pursue Christ, which is an affront to God. There is no plan for them to repent because, from their perspective, they are doing no wrong.  

This passage helps us understand these contrasting lifestyles. Are you fully pursuing Christ? Or have you convinced yourself that a little sin from time to time is okay, “God knows your heart?” If the latter is you, I encourage you to stop kidding yourself. God does know your heart, however, you may be the one being fooled by it. Seek God first in all you do. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

1 John 3:7-10

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

Today’s Reading:

1 John 3:1-10