Author: Dr Andrew C S Koh

Dr. Andrew C. S. Koh is a Christian author with an impressive portfolio of 40 published books. He is a writer, blogger, podcaster, Bible teacher, digital creator, and medical director. He studied theology at Laidlaw College in Auckland, New Zealand, and now lives in Malaysia with his family. He set a record in the Malaysia Book of Records for publishing the most books in 2021.

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Revelation, Day 16.

Day 16

Revelation 12, the war in heavens.

VV 1-2, 1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

Revelation 12 is colourful, dramatic, full of suspense, and interesting to read. John saw a great sign in heaven. The woman in labor speak of Israel, the 12 stars speak of the 12 tribes of Israel, and the child speaks of Jesus.

VV 3-6, 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

John saw another sign in heaven. The fiery red dragon speaks of satan. 7 heads speak of the 7 empires that occupied Israel in the past, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medes, Persia, Greece, and Romans. 7 heads also speak of Rome, the city of 7 hills. Most biblical scholars and commentators were of the view that the 10 horns speak of the revived Roman Empire, the EU, formed in 1950 with 6 member countries. This was increased to 9 in 1973 and 28 in 2013. On 31/1/2020, this was reduced to 27 with Brexit. It will be interesting to watch how history unfold between now and the 7-year tribulation. Will the final number of EU member countries be reduced to 10?

Satan’s tail threw out 1/3 of the stars from heaven to earth. This speaks of Satan’s rebellion against God in heaven and 1/3 of the angels followed him to become his demons. Satan was ready to kill Christ as soon as He was born but did not succeed. Christ was born in Bethlehem, died on the cross in Calvary, resurrected to life on Easter, and ascended to God’s throne in heaven forty days after Easter. During the last 3 1/2 years of the 7-year tribulation, God protected a remnant of the believing Jews by taking them into a special place in the wilderness.

VV 7-9, 7 And war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out to earth with him.

Archangel Micheal and his angels waged war against satan and his demons in heaven, defeated them, and cast them out to the earth. Satan is also called the dragon, serpent or devil. Michael means ‘’who is like God?’’ Satan or Lucifer was once an angel of God but he rebelled against God and was cast out from heaven. Isaiah 14:12-15, “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit”.

VV 10-12, 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

A loud voice from heaven said, satan, who accused Christian day and night before God, had been cast down. Satan’s accusations and condemnations drives us away from from church, from bible study, from prayer, and worship. The Holy Spirit’s conviction draws us closer to God. Romans 8:1, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.

Christians triumphed over satan’s accusations by the blood of Christ, by the word of God, by their testimonies, and by not living for themselves. The blood of Christ paid the wages of sin, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Knowing that his time is short, satan became furious and started to persecute the people on earth with increased intensity.

VV 13-17, 13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Satan persecuted Israel (woman) but God protected her by taking her to a special place in the wilderness and protect her. Most biblical scholars and commentators believed this place to be Petra, a fortified rock city in Jordan, and one of the 7 wonders of the world. God will feed, protect and look after her there during the last 3 1/2 years of the 7-year tribulation until the second coming of Christ. Satan will cause a flood to drown her but God will open up the earth to swallow up the flood. Satan was enraged will continue to wage war Israel with increased intensity.

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Revelation, Day 15

Day 15

Rev 11: 1- 19, the 2 witnesses.

VV 1-2, 1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

An angel gave John a reed to measure the temple and the altar but excluding the court of the Gentiles. This is the third temple, rebuilt as part of the 7-year peace treaty brokered by the anti-Christ. 3 1/2 years into the tribulation, the anti-Christ will defile the temple by sprinkling swine blood on the altar, and compelling the Jews to worship an image of him in the Holy of Holies, called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24: 15-16, “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains”.

VV 3-6, 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have the power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

God will raise 2 witnesses to prophesy, preach, and evangelize for 1260 days, or 3 1/2 years in sackcloth. They are the two olive trees and two lamp stands. Zech 4:2-3, He asked me, “What do you see? I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

They had power to blow fire from their mouths, shut the heavens, turn water into blood, bring plagues to the earth, and kill. Most scholars believed them to be Moses and Elijah, based on Malachi’s prophesy, Malachi 4:5, “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes” and the transfiguration, Matthew 17:3, “Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus”. Elijah was raptured to heaven, 2 Kings 2:11, “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind”. They did what Elijah and Moses did, blowing fire from the mouth, shutting the heavens, turning water into blood, and bringing plagues to earth.

VV 7-10, 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

When they had finished their testimony, anti-Christ will kill them, leaving their dead bodies in the streets of Jerusalem for the whole world to see through live cable news networks, BBC, CNN, and social media. The anti-Christ is called the beast 39 times in Revelation. Jerusalem is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt due to their rejection of Christ. The inhabitants of the whole earth rejoiced and celebrated their death.

VV 11-14, 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake, seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

After 3 1/2 days, God will resuscitate them to life and rapture them to heaven. The people who saw this will be frightened. An great earthquake will destroy 1/10th of the city, and killed 7000 people. Those who survived will be frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven. The 2nd woe is over and the 3rd woe will follow soon.

VV 15-17, 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

When the 7th angel sounded the last trumpet, (3rd woe), a great voice from heaven declared loudly, “the Kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ”. The 24 elders fell, worshiped, praised, and gave thanks to the Lord, God Almighty, who is immutable and had great power.

VV 18-19, 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there was lightning, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

The inhabitants of the earth became angry at God’s wrath of destruction and judgment. God will reward His servants and prophets and those who fear Him, and will reveal the temple and the ark of the covenant in heaven. Lightning, noises, thunder, earthquake, and great hail will rain on the earth.

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Revelation, Day 14

Day 14

Revelation 10: 1-11

VV 1-4, 1 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

A mighty angel came down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, a rainbow over his head, his face shone like the sun, his feet like pillars of fire, and his voice roaring like a lion. He stepped onto the world with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. This angel cannot be Christ, because Christ will return to earth at the end of the 7-year tribulation but not in the middle. After all the demonic attacks in Revelation 9, a mighty and powerful angel appeared on the scene. John wanted to write down what he saw but he was commanded not to do so. There are certain things that we are not supposed to know. Duet 29:29, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law”.

VV 5-7, 5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

The mighty angel raised his hand to heaven and swore by Christ, the eternal creator of the universe. John 1:3, “Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made”. Colossians 1:16, “For in him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him”. The angel declared that there should be no more delay. When the 7th trumpet sounded, the mysteries of God will be revealed to His servants the prophets.

VV 8-11, 8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” 9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

The voice from heaven told John to take the little book from the mighty angel’s hand and eat it. John approached the mighty angel, took the book from him, and ate it. It was sweet as honey in the mouth but became bitter in the stomach. Jeremiah 15:16, “When your words came, I ate them, they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty”. Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth”. Ezekiel 3:3, “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness”. After John had eaten the book, the angel told him to prophesy to people, nations, tongues, and kings.

The word of God is sweet in the mouth but sour in the stomach. It is sweet because there is forgiveness of sin and salvation. It is bitter because it will lead to a conviction of sin, compassion for sinners, and a burden for lost souls. The word will cause spiritual heartburn in your stomach, which will only be relieved by sharing it with others.

Reading, meditating, and obeying the word is the key to successful living. Joshua 1:8, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”.

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Revelation, Day 13

Day 13

Rev 9: 1-21

Revelation 9 described the 5th and 6th trumpet judgments. The first 4 trumpets triggered a global nuclear war on earth. The last 3 trumpets will trigger the release of demons to torment the people on earth. The parallel passage of Revelation 9 in the Old Testament is Joel 2.

1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.

When the 5th trumpet sounded (the first woe), satan, in the form of a star, fell from heaven to earth and was given the key to the bottomless pit. When he opened the bottomless pit, smoke and fire came out, blackening the sun and the atmosphere.

3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

Demons in the form of locusts came out from the bottomless pit. They will sting like scorpions and torment those people who were not sealed on the forehead. Grass and trees were spared. People were stung but they won’t die. In those days, people will prefer to die but they will not die.

7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

The locusts, (demons), appeared like horses in battle, with crowns on the head, faces like men, hair like women, teeth like lions, breastplates of iron, wings of chariots, and with stings in the tails. Satan was the king of the demons (locusts). The people were stung and tormented for 5 months. Satan’s name was Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek, which means, the destroyer.

13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

When the 6th trumpet was sounded {2nd woe)), Christ, the voice from the four horns of the golden altar, said to the 6th angel, to release the 4 fallen angels (demons), bound to the river Euphrates. The 4 demons killed one-third of mankind. An army of 200 million horsemen was released. The horses had red fury breastplates, heads of lion, fire, smoke, and brimstone came out from their mouths. The horses’ tails had heads. John may be trying to describe tanks, missile launchers, and modern war weaponry that did not exist in first-century Israel.

20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Demons were released to bring the people to repentance. Sadly, those people who survived the horrible demonic onslaught still did not repent. They continued to worship idols, continued to commit murder, continued in sorceries, sexual immorality, and thefts. Their hardness of hearts was shocking? What will it take to wake them up?

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Revelation, Day 12

Day 12

Revelation 8: 1-12, the first 4 trumpet judgments.

Revelation 6 to 19, corresponds to the 7-year tribulation on earth after the rapture of the church in Revelation 4 to 5. There will be 3 consecutive series of 7 judgments viz. the 7 seal judgments, followed by the 7 trumpet judgments, and the 7 bowl judgments. Revelation 8 described the first 4 trumpet judgments. Revelation 9 described the 5th and 6th trumpet judgments. Revelation 10 described the 7th trumpet judgment. The trumpet judgments speak a global nuclear war on earth.

V 1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Opening the 7th seal resulted in 30 minutes of silence in heaven.

VV 2-6, 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

After the silence, God gave the 7 trumpets to the 7 angels. Another angel with a golden censer was given much incense with prayers of all the saints. He took the prayers of all the saints and placed them on the golden altar before the throne of God. This angel is Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, who took the prayers of all the saints, add incense to them, and offered them to God. This should give us an incentive to pray more every day. Jesus takes all our prayers, store them in the golden censer, and offer them to God. God will answer our prayers when the golden censer is full. Christ filled the golden censer with fire and pour it out to the earth, resulting in lightning, thunder, and earthquake.

V 7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Blowing the first trumpet resulted in hail and fire mixed with blood, thrown from heaven to earth, burning up one-third of the trees and all the green grass.

V 8-9, 8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Blowing the 2nd trumpet resulted in a burning mountain falling from heaven into the sea. One-third of the sea became blood, one-third of sea creatures died, and one-third of the ships were destroyed.

VV 10-11, 10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water because it was made bitter.

Blowing the 3rd trumpet resulted in a great burning star falling from heaven to earth, poisoning one-third of rivers and springs. The name of the star is called Wormwood, an ornamental shrub with a bitter taste. In 1986, a nuclear reactor plant exploded in Chernobyl, Ukraine causing massive loss of lives due to radioactive contamination. Coincidence or not, Chernobyl in the Ukraine language means Wormwood. In 2011, another nuclear disaster happened in Fukushima, Japan, releasing massive radioactive wastes into the Pacific ocean. What happened in Chernobyl and Fukushima will happened again on a global proportion.

VV 12-13, 12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. 13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Blowing the 4th trumpet resulted in a global cosmic black out, blocking off one-third of the sunlight, moonlight, and starlight. A flying angel proclaimed 3 woes to the earth’s inhabitants because the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpet judgments will be much more severe than the first four!

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Revelation, day 11

Day 11

Rev 7: 1-17, Seventh seal, 144.000 sealed.

VV 1-3, 1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

After these, John saw 4 angels holding back the destructive winds of adversity from the north, south, east, and west. John saw another angel with the 7th seal commanding them not to harm the earth, sea, or trees, until the servants of God had been sealed on their foreheads. God will seal those who loved Him and raised them up as evangelists of the tribulation. Those who are not sealed will be destroyed.

There is a parallel passage in Ezekiel 9:4. ‘’The Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it“.

Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13, “In Him, you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise’’. Sealing speaks of ownership signifying that we belonged to God.

VV 4-8, 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

The 144,000 Jews were sealed with a mark on their foreheads. 12,000 Jews are chosen from 12 tribes of Israel. Jews from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Ephraim did not make it to the list. Today, many Christian groups and cults falsely claimed that they will be the 144,000, e.g. the 7th day Adventists, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others. These 144,000 are Messianic Jews, not Gentiles. So these cannot be the 7th Day Adventists or Jehovah’s witnesses. These Messianic Jews will evangelize to the Jews and the Gentiles during the 7-year tribulation. The Jews will play a significant role in the 7-year tribulation. The replacement theology is not correct.

VV 9-10, 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

After these, an uncountable number of people from all the nations of the world stood before God and before Christ. They were clothed in white robes, holding palm branches, crying with a loud voice that salvation belonged to their God and the Lamb.

VV 11-12, 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

The angels, the 24 elders, and the 4 living creatures bowed before the throne of God and worshiped Him with prayer, doxology, and benediction.

VV 13-15, 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

Those clothed in white robes, waving palm branches in their hands, are the tribulation martyrs who had come out of the tribulation, Revelation 6: 9-11. They heard the gospel during the tribulation, believed, and died for their faith. They worshiped God day and night in His temple and Christ will dwell among them.

VV 16-17, 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Christ will feed, protect, shepherd, lead, and wipe away every tear from their eyes. Psalm 56:8. NLT, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book”.

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Revelation, Day 10

Day 10

During the tribulation there will be 7 seal judgments, 7 trumpet judgement, and 7 bowl judgments. Revelation 6 is the opening of the first 6 seals.

Rev 6: 1-17, The seal judgments.

Rev 4 to 5 corresponds to the rapture of the church. Rev 6 to 19, corresponds to the 7-year tribulation on earth, also called the times of Jacob’s trouble, Jeremiah 30:7, “Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it”. Opening the seals will release judgments.

VV 1-2, 1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

When the 1st seal was opened, the 1st horseman of the apocalypse came riding on a white horse with a bow but no arrow. This is the anti-Christ, who come conquering in the name of peace but only a pseudo peace. Seemingly a man of peace, he established a 7-year peace treaty in the Middle East between the Jews and the Arabs. After 3 1/2 years, he will show his true color and trouble will break out in the Middle East.

VV 3-4, 3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

When the 2nd seal was opened, the second horseman of the apocalypse came riding on a red horse, bringing war and bloodshed to the whole world.

VV 5-6, 5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

When the 3rd seal was opened, the 3rd horseman of the apocalypse came riding on a black horse, bring a worldwide famine. Things will be very expensive. A day’s wage will only be sufficient to buy food for survival. He will not harm the wine and the oil, speaking of luxury goods. The wealthy and the rich will be spared.

VV 7-8, 7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

When the 4th seal was opened, the 4th horsemen of the apocalypse came riding on a pale horse. The rider’s name was Death and Hades. He had the power to kill. One-quarter of the world’s population will be wiped out. Will beasts and savage animals will be unleashed to kill the people.

VV 9-11, 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

When the 5th seal was opened, John saw underneath the altar, the souls of the tribulation martyrs crying out to God for vengeance. God covered them with a white robe, speaking of the robe of righteousness. God told them to be patient because more martyrs had to come before He will brings justice. God will not ignore the cries of martyrs to go unnoticed. He will bring justice and avenge them.

VV 12-14, 12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

When the 6th seal was opened, natural disasters broke out, by way of great earthquakes, cosmic blackout, cosmic phenomena cosmic trembling, and stars falling from the sky.

VV 15-16, 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and 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 His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

All the people whether kings or civilians, whether great or ordinary, whether rich or poor, whether slave or free, will be shaken and frightened to death. They hide themselves from God in caves and rocks of the mountains, instead of crying out to God for mercy. Today, everyone has the opportunity to believe in Jesus and be saved but many still hardened their hearts. Hebrews 3:15, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

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Bible Study: Hebrews 5

Day 5

Ephesians 5: 1-33

VV 1-4, 1Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, not coarse testing which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 

Given the positional truths in Ephesians 1-3, we must be imitators of God, walk in love as Christ loved and died for us. Christ gave Himself both as an offering for our sin and a sacrifice to God. We must not involve adultery, immorality, covetousness, doublespeak, and indecent jokes. We must talk about the Lord and be thankful to the Lord. 

VV 5-7, 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

No adulterer, no covetous man, and no idolater will inherit the Kingdom of God. We must not be deceived by empty talkers and have nothing to do with them.

VV 8-11, 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 

We were once darkness, but now we are the light of the world. We must walk as children of light exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law”, Galatians 5:22-23. We must have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. 

VV 12-16, 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time because the days are evil.

When the light of Christ shines, all the secret and shameful things will be exposed and revealed. Hebrews 4:13, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”. We must be awake and not be asleep or we will miss the blessing. We must walk wisely in the light of Christ. We must use our time wisely, redeeming the time because the days are evil. 

VV 17-21, 17 Therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

We must seek God’s will. We must not be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit. We must sing to ourselves and one other, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of praise to the Lord. We must thank God always for all things in Jesus’ name submitting to each other. 1 Thess 5: 16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. 

VV 22-28, 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

The wife should submit to her husband, the husband should love his wife, and both should submit to Christ. The husband should love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave His life for the Church. The husband should sanctify his wife with the word, just as Christ sanctifies the Church with His word. The husband should love his wife as his own body, just as Christ loves the Church as His own body. 

VV 29-33, 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

All Christians are members of Christ’s body, of which Christ is the head. The Church is the bride of Christ. Marriage is for eternity. Paul speaks of the marriage relationship as a great mystery. A man leaves his father and mother in marriage and cleaves to his wife.

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Ephesians

Day 4

Ephesians 4: 1-32, Unity in Diversity

Ephesians 1-3, is the doctrine regarding our position in Christ. Jesus broke down the wall between the Jews and the Gentiles to create a one new man in Christ, the Church.

Ephesians 4-6, is the practical application regarding our walk with Christ, our response to the love and grace of Christ.

VV 1-6, 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Therefore in view of all the positional truths in Ephesians 1-3, Paul implored us to walk worthy of our calling, with humility, lowliness, meekness, patience, tolerance, unity in Spirit and peace. Christians are united in one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God, who is above all, through all and in all.

VV 7-10, 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”, what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Paul quoted from Psalm 68:18, “You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there”. When Jesus died, He descended to hell and preached to the dead. 1 Peter 4:6, “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit”.

VV 11-13, 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Jesus through the Holy Spirit gave to us a diversity of spiritual gifts, apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, and teaching for one single purpose, to build up, mature, edify, and unite the one new man in Christ, the Church.

Romans 12:6-8, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness”.

1 Cor 12: 7-10, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all, for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues”.

VV 14-16, 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Do not be shaken and deceived by every kind of controversial doctrines. Grow up in maturity by speaking the truth in love. Speak the truth, with wisdom, mercy, grace, and love. Christ is the head of the body the Church. We are the different parts of the body joined together with Him, synergistically, in unison, by love. Jesus brought everyone together in love so that all may be built up and edified.

VV 17-19, 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Do not walk as the non-believing Gentiles, who were ignorant of the truth, alienated from God, given over to immorality, their minds darkened, their hearts blinded, and their behavior flawed.

VV 20-24, 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Put off the old man and put on the new man, Jesus Christ. Be renewed in your mind and transformed in your character. Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

VV 25-28, 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

Do not lie. If you are angry do not sin by losing control. Let your anger be short lived. Deal with it, take it to the Lord in prayer, and resolve it by the same day. Do not give any opportunity to the devil. Do not steal. If you are jobless, get a job, work with your own hand, and help people in need.

VV 29-32, 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

The words that we speak must edify and impart grace to people. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by harbouring bitterness, wrath, anger, demanding, evil speaking, and malicious acts. Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving because Christ died for you and forgave you.

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Ephesians

Day 3

Ephesians 3: 1- 21

Jesus broke down the wall that separated the Jews and the Gentiles creating one new man in Christ, the Church without a wall. This is the mystery of God’s will (Ephesians 1: 9-10) revealed. In Christ, there are no Jews nor Gentiles, no slaves nor free, no male nor female, no Greek nor barbarians, Galatians 3:28.

VV 1-7, 1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles, 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

For ministering to the Gentiles, Paul was in thrown into prison. Paul considered himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, not a prisoner of the Roman Emperor. He was a prisoner of Jesus Christ for dispensing God’s grace to the Gentiles, bringing the Jews and Gentiles together as one new man in Christ, the Church of Christ, the mystery of God’s will revealed by the Holy Spirit. Paul was made a minister to the Gentiles by the grace of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

VV 8-13, 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul, the greatest apostle, considered himself the least of all the Christians. Paul was so humble. He knew that he was a sinner and a saint. He was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and murderer of Christians but the Lord saved him. The riches of Christ are inexhaustible and unsearchable. God’s wisdom was revealed to principalities and powers in heavenly places. Paul’s imprisonment was part of God’s big divine plan. Therefore, do not be disheartened or feel sorry for him at his tribulations.

VV 14-19, 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul said he can pray. There is nothing more important than prayer. Prayer is the best thing you can do for others. When you take the time to pray for others, it will have a great impact on their lives. For this reason, Paul prayed to the Father, through the Son inspired by the Holy Spirit. He prayed that Christ may be at home in our hearts by faith. He prayed for us to be rooted and grounded, firmly stabilized, in love. The width, the height, and the depth of the love of God is the cross. God’s love is long enough to be eternal and broad enough to be inclusive, and deep enough to bring us to heaven. The love of God is limitless and unsurpassable. Philippians 4:7, ”and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

VV 20-21, 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

This is a doxology, benediction, prayer, and promise to claim. If we take the time to pray regularly, persistently, consistently, and by faith, Jesus will do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we can ever imagine or think. Christ is the peace who broke down walls so that even principalities and powers in heavenly places can see it. Today If you are locked in for whatever reasons, you can free yourself in your inner man by praying.