Author: Ben Bourland

“The woman was robed in purple and scarlet and bedecked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, [and she was] holding in her hand a golden cup full of the accursed offenses and the filth of her lewdness and vice and on her forehead there was inscribed a name of mystery: Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes (idolatresses) and of the filth and atrocities and abominations of the earth.” Revelation 17:4-5 ->me:  Well, today’s quiet time after 2 days missed is quiet appropriate and I feel even more convicted because of the content of my QT on Dec 3 (the last one).  Why?  Because I have been consumed with earthly work under the sun…worse, is that it is work that I sincerely enjoy meaning that my dedication to my job overrode my dedication to the Lord through setting aside time for quiet times.  Am I crazy busy, more so than anytime in the last 24 months? Yes, but I have learned over and over that when I give God time first He always helps me get what need done completed or gives me the strength and rest in less time than it would usually take.  The verses today talk about how seductive the world is, but she also has her name stamped on her forehead so when you chose her over they time with the creator of the earth you know exactly who you are choosing.  So, moving forward, even though I will be working 14 to 16 hour days (at work + work at home) for the next 7 weeks, I am committing to giving God the first fruits of my time.  Lord, forgive me for turning to work and leaving you out during the last 2 days.  My relationship with you is more important to me than all these things and I have not demonstrated that.  Give me the strength and prodding of the Holy Spirit to turn to You and pray throughout the day even when I am in meetings or walking between buildings.  I love You and You have never failed me.

“And [the angel] bore me away [rapt] in the Spirit into a desert (wilderness), and I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was all covered with blasphemous titles (names), and he had seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3 ->me:  This verse comes from the account of John being taken by one of the seven angels who had the bowls to see the doom that would become the great harlot.  The great harlot -> Babylon – civilized man apart from God, man in organized but godless community.  What I am about to say is what came to my mind as I read this passage – something I know God has revealed to me for me, but not necessarily all that there is to this passage to be taken away.  The angel swept John up ‘in the spirit’ and took him into the wilderness…and there he was then able to see the true power behind the prostitute…the beast.  Isn’t this what God has done for us that seek Him daily in His word and follow Him?  This world and all of its identities it wants me to take for myself, to define me, are found in the city and as long as I live there I cannot see the harlot for who she is and who she represents.  It is when I am chosen by God and whisked to the wilderness that all of the influences of the city are removed and I can see the prostitute and her steed.  I can see the wickedness in idolatry of possessions, self-worth, secular identity, and who “I” wanted to be.  Now, in the wilderness alone with God, my mind is clear to understand that He is Who I live for—looking to Him, not others in the city, for my identity and purpose.  I am not my own – I am His and can now see the idols for what they are->intoxicating immoral wine from the prostitute I can easily become intoxicated on if I don’t stay retreated to the shelter of God’s sacred tent for me in the desert.

“And they [evil frog spirits] gathered them [kings/rulers and their followers] together at the place which in Hebrew is called Armageddon.  Then the seventh [angel] emptied out his bowl into the air, and a mighty voice came out of the sanctuary of heaven from the throne [of God], saying, It is done! [It is all over, it is all accomplished, it has come!]” Revelation 16:16-17 ->me: Couple of things were impressed upon me from this last passage of chapter 16.  1) That no matter how strong the forces of evil may appear, and however hopeless the position of those of good, God will win the victory.  He will resoundingly overthrow evil.  2) Humans will curse God until the very very end.  In the last verse of this chapter John says that he saw hailstones the size 100lbs boulders falling on people and that those who were still alive blasphemed and cursed God because the torture of the hailstorm was so great.  I sincerely hope to be gone when this happens.  Even God and the heavenly hosts say that it will be better to have died than to be on the earth when the horsemen, trumpets, and bowls are unleashed.  This is one of those passages that left my mind fighting for an application to my life.  I will say that last night I used the transforming condition of my heart to help me make a decision, in regards to work, and I can’t describe to you the peace I have knowing where the Lord has brought me in my continuing sanctification.  I let my heart decide…not my mind.  Logic was telling me that it was too risky; my heart told me this was the path on which the waterfall of God’s grace, mercy, and blessing was flowing.

“Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his clothes, so that he may not be naked and [have the shame of being] seen exposed!” Revelation 16:15->me: What a great admonishing verse nestled right into the story of the bowls!  In Ephesians 5:14 and 15 we are reminded of some of these clothes – The Belt of Truth, The Breastplate of Righteousness, and The Shoes of Gospel Witness.  Additionally, Isaiah 59:17 tells us that the Messiah will be in clothing clad with zeal (for the joy set before Him – Hebrews 12:2).  When the Lord returns I better not be caught naked…meaning…I better not be in a movie theater watching an inappropriate movie when He comes. I better not be yelling at my children exasperating them when He returns.  I better not be at odds with my wife; not living by the instruction given in Ephesians 5:25-33.  As a redeemed child of the King, a child of the promised nation of Israel, I will live a life of worship and constant transformation of my heart so that the words that I speak and the decisions I make come from a heart saturated in God’s word and ownership.

“Then the fifth [angel] emptied his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was [plunged] in darkness; and people gnawed their tongues for the torment [of their excruciating distress and severe pain], and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their anguish and their ulcers (sores), and they did not deplore their wicked deeds or repent [for what they had done].” Revelation 16:10-11  ->me: While reading this passage today I was struck by the stubbornness of these people.  They had all the information they needed to understand that if they simply repented from their sin and wickedness they would be spared.  But here we have over and over again John witnessing the absolute disgust and disdain of these people for the God of Heaven.  Then…I stopped to pose this inwardly.  In what areas of my life do I turn my back on God and even though painful as the situation might be I still cling to the things of this world and not recognize Him?  I am a born again Christian and I love the Lord my God; I know how much He has done for me and I am so undeserving (we know what I deserve from yesterday’s QT).  Yet, there are still times, situations, places, and states of mind that I try to own and make my own way….because of course I know better, right?  I have to learn that there is sinful tendencies of this flesh even in the things that seem like good efforts -> managing the future of my job, managing God’s resources that have been put in my control, assuming I know what is best for my kids in my own mind without consulting what God says in His word.  Holy Spirit, please reveal these places in my life that I hold from You.  Help me to have the strength and presence of mind to stop and let You guide in Your perfect way.

“I also heard the angel of the waters say, Righteous (just) are You in these Your decisions and judgments, You Who are and were, O Holy One!  Because they have poured out the blood of Your people (the saints) and the prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. Such is their due [they deserve it]!  And [from] the altar I heard [the] cry, Yes, Lord God the Omnipotent, Your judgments (sentences, decisions) are true and just and righteous!” Revelation 16:5-7 ->me: Tonight I started chapter 16 which goes through the execution of God’s final judgement by sending the angels out one after the other with different plagues.  Right before verse 5 here, the first angel poured out the plague of boils (on every person with the mark of the beast or worshiped him), the second angel turned the ocean into blood (not just any blood – blood from a decaying corpse -> awful), and then the third angel turn the remaining waters (lakes, streams, fountains, etc) to blood.  Then there is this little interlude where John hears the angels acknowledging the true and just wrath and indignation of God (indignation means – anger or annoyance provoked by unjust or unfair treatment).  The Meat: God’s choices for how He punishes are right and fit the crime.  If I had never been saved by my belief and surrender to Jesus, I would be looking down the barrel of all of God’s wrath and punishment.  When I see the terror and ferociousness of God’s wrath I think on what Jesus endured, not only physically but mostly spiritually, on the cross to pay for my sin.  I read though the rest of this chapter hearing the plagues one right after the other; doled out by the Almighty God…I deserve this…I should incur this judgement…but God in His mercy has provided a way for all of me to avoid this wrath…by placing my due on His Son.  Man..I just don’t have any other words.

“After this I looked and the sanctuary of the tent of the testimony in heaven was thrown open, and there came out of the temple sanctuary the seven angels bringing the seven plagues (afflictions, calamities). They were arrayed in pure gleaming linen, and around their breasts they wore golden girdles.  And the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory (the radiance, the splendor) of God and from His might and power, and no one was able to go into the sanctuary until the seven plagues (afflictions, calamities) of the seven angels were ended.” Revelation 15:5,6, & 8 ->me: This passage is all about the ushering in of the final judgement on the earth through 7 bowls of God’s wrath poured out on the earth by 7 angels; angels clad in gleaming linen and golden sashes.  The ‘Tent of Testimony’ can also be translated to ‘Tent of Meeting’ which was the place of God’s presence in the Wilderness with the Israelites.  So these gleaming angels come directly from the presence of God meaning that the judgement they bring comes with the fullest divine sanction.  My takeaway from this passage is that God’s wrath comes from His purity – it must happen.  When it is finally set into motion; verse 8 shows us that nothing can stop God’s final judgement until it is complete.  Verse 7, the one I left out for the sake of text, talks about one of the creatures at the foot of the throne of God giving the 7 angels 7 bowls of wrath.  The word for bowls is the same from Rev. 5:8 -> containing the prayers of the saints.  Makes me wonder if this again shows us that our prayers have more impact in the Temple of Heaven than we think.  Application: Prayer has to be my number one go-to activity when I am under oppression|being attacked by the evil one directly or through the ungodly.  God’s wrath and punishment will be more complete than I can fathom -> vengeance is His.

“And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, Mighty and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Omnipotent! Righteous (just) and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of the ages (King of the nations)!  Who shall not reverence and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]? For You only are holy. All the nations shall come and pay homage and adoration to You, for Your just judgments (Your righteous sentences and deeds) have been made known and displayed.” Revelation 15:3-4 ->me: John now sees an amazing vision of the victorious Saints who did not worship the beast or his image and did not take his mark.  They are standing beside what John calls a glassy sea with elements of fire, playing harps given by God and singing what is in these 2 verses.  This morning as I was driving into work I was burdened by my own unawareness of God’s purity, holiness, and grandeur.  I easily ho-hum through life here on earth totally unaware of God’s amazing power manifested in the sights and sounds of heaven.  What would my view of God be if I actually witnessed some of what John describes of heaven?  Well, I have the answer right here -> these saints singing have come through unspeakable pain and persecution for the Name of their Lord God Almighty and now experience what hope in the God of the universe produces.  They are overcome with gratitude, reverence, and joy for their King Who they now see has been faithful to His promises all along.  I want to live a life that acknowledges what this is all about, what faith in the Almighty God will produce one day.  Lord God in heaven, help me to understand the power and glory associated with Your Name, that I might respectfully and reverently approach Your throne in prayer understanding the joy that lies ahead in Your Heaven.

“So the angel swung his scythe on the earth and stripped the grapes and gathered the vintage from the vines of the earth and cast it into the huge winepress of God’s indignation and wrath and [the grapes in] the winepress were trodden outside the city, and blood poured from the winepress, [reaching] as high as horses’ bridles, for a distance of 1,600 stadia (about 200 miles).” Revelation 14:19-20 ->me:  The verse before describes the angel who called for the reaping as the angel in charge of fire and coming from the altar in the temple (sanctuary) of the Lord.  If we remember, the altar is where the prayers of the saints are offered up to God as a sweet aroma filling the temple and the Martyrs are situated at the base of this altar.  So, is it that big of a leap that this is God’s final answer to the prayers of the saints for justice?  Being a numbers guy the 1600 stadia is interesting – go with me for a second – 16 is the square of four (four is the number of the earth, the home of the wicked).  100 is the square of 10, a number of completeness.  1600 is also the square of 40 which is a number associated with punishment (40 days of rain for the flood | forty years in the wilderness).  So, blood stretching for 1600 stadia could stand for the complete judgement of the whole earth and the destruction of all the wicked.  Regardless, this is a solemn and scary final wrath of God on those who refuse Him.  My heart hurts for those who have not found our Savior.  This weekend especially, I am thankful for my salvation and if my prayers have the effect of bringing judgement they must also have the same power to petition God for the Salvation of those around me.  Today I plan to spend time in my prayer closet praying in thankfulness for what I have in the Lord and intercession for those around me who need Jesus.

“And another angel came out of the temple sanctuary, calling with a mighty voice to Him Who was sitting upon the cloud, Put in Your scythe and reap, for the hour has arrived to gather the harvest, for the earth’s crop is fully ripened.  So He Who was sitting upon the cloud swung His scythe (sickle) on the earth, and the earth’s crop was harvested.” Revelation 14:15-16 ->me: The imagery by John here is wrought with difficult interpretation.  Some think the being on the cloud is Jesus and some think it is an angel that looks human.  What I do know is that God is not confused by what He revealed to John; it is only I who may not yet be prepared to understand its meaning…maybe not even until I get to heaven myself.  What I do take away from this passage today is that God’s time is perfect.  The reaping of the world is not arbitrary, it will be at exactly the right moment.  As a Christian here on earth, surrendered to my King, I can rest assured that if God’s intervention is delayed, this is only because it is not yet the right moment to reap.  I can wait patiently yet expectantly.  I can wait knowing that He is right here with me and I am part of His plan for the redemption of sinners before He returns.  I must not be idle.  I must not be impatient.  I must not worry.  I must press into Him, the One Who holds time and my life in His hand.  Annoyance, frustration, anger, and impatience must have no place in my life as I wait on Him.