Day Two

Scripture Read:
Revelation 10

1I saw another powerful Angel coming down out of Heaven wrapped in a cloud. There was a rainbow over his head, his face was sun-radiant, his legs pillars of fire. 2He had a small book open in his hand. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on land, 3then called out thunderously, a lion roar. When he called out, the Seven Thunders called back. 4When the Seven Thunders spoke, I started to write it all down, but a voice out of Heaven stopped me, saying, "Seal with silence the Seven Thunders; don't write a word."
5Then the Angel I saw astride sea and land lifted his right hand to Heaven 6and swore by the One Living Forever and Ever, who created Heaven and everything in it, earth and everything in it, sea and everything in it, that time was up-- 7that when the seventh Angel blew his trumpet, which he was about to do, the Mystery of God, all the plans he had revealed to his servants, the prophets, would be completed.
8The voice out of Heaven spoke to me again: "Go, take the book held open in the hand of the Angel astride sea and earth." 9I went up to the Angel and said, "Give me the little book." He said, "Take it, then eat it. It will taste sweet like honey, but turn sour in your stomach." 10I took the little book from the Angel's hand and it was sweet honey in my mouth, but when I swallowed, my stomach curdled. 11Then I was told, "You must go back and prophesy again over many peoples and nations and languages and kings."

Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses 1I was given a stick for a measuring rod and told, "Get up and measure God's Temple and Altar and everyone worshiping in it. 2Exclude the outside court; don't measure it. It's been handed over to non-Jewish outsiders. They'll desecrate the Holy City for forty-two months.
3"Meanwhile, I'll provide my two Witnesses. Dressed in sackcloth, they'll prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days. 4These are the two Olive Trees, the two Lampstands, standing at attention before God on earth. 5If anyone tries to hurt them, a blast of fire from their mouths will incinerate them--burn them to a crisp just like that. 6They'll have power to seal the sky so that it doesn't rain for the time of their prophesying, power to turn rivers and springs to blood, power to hit earth with any and every disaster as often as they want.
7"When they've completed their witness, the Beast from the Abyss will emerge and fight them, conquer and kill them, 8leaving their corpses exposed on the street of the Great City spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, the same City where their Master was crucified. 9For three and a half days they'll be there--exposed, prevented from getting a decent burial, stared at by the curious from all over the world. 10Those people will cheer at the spectacle, shouting "Good riddance!' and calling for a celebration, for these two prophets pricked the conscience of all the people on earth, made it impossible for them to enjoy their sins.
11"Then, after three and a half days, the Living Spirit of God will enter them--they're on their feet!-and all those gloating spectators will be scared to death."
12I heard a strong voice out of Heaven calling, "Come up here!" and up they went to Heaven, wrapped in a cloud, their enemies watching it all. 13At that moment there was a gigantic earthquake--a tenth of the city fell to ruin, seven thousand perished in the earthquake, the rest frightened to the core of their being, frightened into giving honor to the God of Heaven.
14The second doom is past, the third doom coming right on its heels.

The Last Trumpet Sounds 15The seventh Angel trumpeted. A crescendo of voices in Heaven sang out,
The kingdom of the world is now
the Kingdom of our God and his Messiah!
He will rule forever and ever!

16The Twenty-four Elders seated before God on their thrones fell to their knees, worshiped, 17and sang,
We thank you, O God, Sovereign-Strong,
WHO IS AND WHO WAS.
You took your great power
and took over--reigned!
18The angry nations now
get a taste of your anger.
The time has come to judge the dead,
to reward your servants, all prophets and saints,
Reward small and great who fear your Name,
and destroy the destroyers of earth.

19The doors of God's Temple in Heaven flew open, and the Ark of his Covenant was clearly seen surrounded by flashes of lightning, loud shouts, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a fierce hailstorm.

Revelation 12
The Woman, Her Son, and the Dragon 1A great Sign appeared in Heaven: a Woman dressed all in sunlight, standing on the moon, and crowned with Twelve Stars. 2She was giving birth to a Child and cried out in the pain of childbirth.
3And then another Sign alongside the first: a huge and fiery Dragon! It had seven heads and ten horns, a crown on each of the seven heads. 4With one flick of its tail it knocked a third of the Stars from the sky and dumped them on earth. The Dragon crouched before the Woman in childbirth, poised to eat up the Child when it came.
5The Woman gave birth to a Son who will shepherd all nations with an iron rod. Her Son was seized and placed safely before God on his Throne. 6The Woman herself escaped to the desert to a place of safety prepared by God, all comforts provided her for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
7War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, 8but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. 9The great Dragon--ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray--thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. 10Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying,
Salvation and power are established!
Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah!
The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out,
who accused them day and night before God.
11They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
and the bold word of their witness.
They weren't in love with themselves;
they were willing to die for Christ.
12So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there,
but doom to earth and sea,
For the Devil's come down on you with both feet;
he's had a great fall;
He's wild and raging with anger;
he hasn't much time and he knows it.

13When the Dragon saw he'd been thrown to earth, he went after the Woman who had given birth to the Man-Child. 14The Woman was given wings of a great eagle to fly to a place in the desert to be kept in safety and comfort for a time and times and half a time, safe and sound from the Serpent. 15The Serpent vomited a river of water to swamp and drown her, 16but earth came to her help, swallowing the water the Dragon spewed from its mouth. 17Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war with the rest of her children, the children who keep God's commands and hold firm to the witness of Jesus.

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What this means to me:

Well, more metaphors. Like I don't know from personal experience who the women represents, I think maybe the church, or something like that. But the son she has.. woah, I seriously could use some help from people who have dazzeled with Revelations before.. *hint to Karyn Baker, can't me more clearer than that*.

Anyway here I go. Angel, a splendorous one, having to do with maybe peace, or the calm after the storm. Right like a rainbow is after the rain falls, he wasn't chaos or anything but he did bring a warning. He reveals God's plan to the people or something, but they seem to still ignore it and stuff. I don't know what's going on, because the honey, sour feeling thing is weird. Maybe it represents the word will be taken in with joy, but the thought of it, or the after effect will leave a quizy feeling, like you know something bad is going to happen to someone else and you can't stop it, but something good is happening to you, so your happy, but in the long run your happiness is left with a sad after taste. Understand that? Me neither.

So the holy temple of God in Jerusalem ( is that right?) is being desecrated by people who arn't God's chosen people. So non-jews are basically in control of that land for now. God sends two witness' who speak prophetic words from the holy spirit for 2260 days. Which makes me believe they are a metaphoric representation as well. This is tough stuff. Carrying on, the beast ( satan or the anti-christ, I think the anti-christ) kill them, and there bodies get mocked, only for God to raise them from the dead, and quiet the sceptics, and they get to go to heaven, and then guess what? Big Earthquake= More fear of God. The last trumpet blows, heaven rejoices, more diasters and blinding lights, basically God is trying to get it to these people that he's not lying down anymore, this is it, the day of judgement is at hand, and these people still don't get it.

THEN the most confusing part, about the women, I really don't get this. Who is the child she gives birth to? Please help me with this. Thanks.

Well I got through 6-12, proud of me? No.. well I tried.

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Memory Verse:

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."

Psalm 119:18

Once again I stole it from the daily scripture. But it reminds me to look at all the good things God has planned for me and his purpose for me, that are written in his word. I shouldn't cling to the bad, but rejoice for the good, the Lord has given me the gift of eternal life and I am worried about things like death, or being ugly. Pfft, trust in the word and you shall reap the rewards of knowledge and truth is what I have to say

Brent out,

-Brent