February 15, 2021

Do NOT give up! by Gary Rose

I attended a School of Preaching in the late seventies and frankly that time was the best two years of my life. I was absorbing Bible at an unbelievable rate, surrounded by great teachers and my fellow students who were as excited about studying the Bible as I was. Unlike most of my fellow students, I did not attend the school to be either a Preacher or a Teacher, but rather I just wanted seek what God wanted me to do for him.


After graduation, I preached at a number of congregations for the next several years and stopped doing this when my wife almost died. She needed my help getting through her recovery and afterward she did not want anything to do with the ministry or even the church. So much for preaching. Time to regroup.


Needless to say, I was distraught and prayed for guidance for a long time. Years went by and I began working on a new Bible Study method which I called the Composite Bible and then I began blogging in 2008 and have continued this work, making 26,000+ combined posts for my two blogs. If you add in Google+ (which has now been discontinued), my hits reached over 1 million a couple of years back. In addition to the blogs, there are internet sites for The Composite Bible and recently, for The Composite Reports.


OK, why did I say this? Because I had no idea in 1979 that I would be doing the work of a blogger, because personal computers were not even readily available until the mid-80’s. I just had to wait for God to open a door of service for me and in the meantime, be as faithful as I could.


A few of my classmates from the school of Preaching (Northeast School of Biblical Studies) do not even attend church and more are not even active in the church. So, when I saw this picture today, I asked myself: Why do Christians (especially preachers) quit? The items in the picture may or may not be the primary reason Christians (Preachers) quit, but I think there is another more fundamental reason. After much reflection, I found these verses…


Matthew 14 ( World English Bible )

23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”

28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”

29 He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.

30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”


Hebrews 12 ( WEB )

1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


When we become Christians, we have a new master – Jesus. We begin with Jesus helping us and as we continue with Jesus he still helps us, no matter what happens.


Peter looked to Jesus and when he stopped relying upon (looking to Jesus) him- he began to sink. He needed Jesus to stay “afloat”. We do too. We are to look to Jesus and have faith that ultimately his will for our lives will be done.


What does all this mean? If we keep “looking to Jesus”, we will not quit. Oh, the outcome of our lives may not be what we expected it to be, but it will be God’s will.


Everyone’s spiritual story will be slightly different, but isn’t that what the church is all about; remember that business about us all being parts of a collective spiritual body? Believe it, for its true.


One last thought…

NEVER, EVER, GIVE UP ON JESUS, BECAUSE HE DIDN’T GIVE UP ON YOU.

Bible Reading for February 15-16 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading for February 15-16

World  English  Bible

  

Feb. 15

Genesis 46

Gen 46:1 Israel traveled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.

Gen 46:2 God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" He said, "Here I am."

Gen 46:3 He said, "I am God, the God of your father. Don't be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make of you a great nation.

Gen 46:4 I will go down with you into Egypt. I will also surely bring you up again. Joseph will close your eyes."

Gen 46:5 Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

Gen 46:6 They took their livestock, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt--Jacob, and all his seed with him,

Gen 46:7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and he brought all his seed with him into Egypt.

Gen 46:8 These are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.

Gen 46:9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

Gen 46:10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

Gen 46:11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Gen 46:12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

Gen 46:13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.

Gen 46:14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

Gen 46:15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three.

Gen 46:16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

Gen 46:17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.

Gen 46:18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls.

Gen 46:19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin.

Gen 46:20 To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.

Gen 46:21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

Gen 46:22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.

Gen 46:23 The son of Dan: Hushim.

Gen 46:24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

Gen 46:25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls were seven.

Gen 46:26 All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who were his direct descendants, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were sixty-six.

Gen 46:27 The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, were seventy.

Gen 46:28 He sent Judah before him to Joseph, to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen.

Gen 46:29 Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel, his father, in Goshen. He presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

Gen 46:30 Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive."

Gen 46:31 Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father's house, "I will go up, and speak with Pharaoh, and will tell him, 'My brothers, and my father's house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.

Gen 46:32 These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.'

Gen 46:33 It will happen, when Pharaoh summons you, and will say, 'What is your occupation?'

Gen 46:34 that you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:' that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians." 

 

Feb. 16

Genesis 47

Gen 47:1 Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, "My father and my brothers, with their flocks, their herds, and all that they own, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen."

Gen 47:2 From among his brothers he took five men, and presented them to Pharaoh.

Gen 47:3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" They said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers."

Gen 47:4 They said to Pharaoh, "We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."

Gen 47:5 Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Your father and your brothers have come to you.

Gen 47:6 The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock."

Gen 47:7 Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

Gen 47:8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many are the days of the years of your life?"

Gen 47:9 Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage."

Gen 47:10 Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.

Gen 47:11 Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

Gen 47:12 Joseph nourished his father, his brothers, and all of his father's household, with bread, according to their families.

Gen 47:13 There was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.

Gen 47:14 Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

Gen 47:15 When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For our money fails."

Gen 47:16 Joseph said, "Give me your livestock; and I will give you food for your livestock, if your money is gone."

Gen 47:17 They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year.

Gen 47:18 When that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, "We will not hide from my lord how our money is all spent, and the herds of livestock are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands.

Gen 47:19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh. Give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land won't be desolate."

Gen 47:20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine was severe on them, and the land became Pharaoh's.

Gen 47:21 As for the people, he moved them to the cities from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end of it.

Gen 47:22 Only he didn't buy the land of the priests, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them. That is why they didn't sell their land.

Gen 47:23 Then Joseph said to the people, "Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.

Gen 47:24 It will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of the field, for your food, for them of your households, and for food for your little ones."

Gen 47:25 They said, "You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants."

Gen 47:26 Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. Only the land of the priests alone didn't become Pharaoh's.

Gen 47:27 Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they got themselves possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly.

Gen 47:28 Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years.

Gen 47:29 The time drew near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don't bury me in Egypt,

Gen 47:30 but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place." He said, "I will do as you have said."

Gen 47:31 He said, "Swear to me," and he swore to him. Israel bowed himself on the bed's head.


Feb. 15

Matthew 23

Mat 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,

Mat 23:2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses' seat.

Mat 23:3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don't do their works; for they say, and don't do.

Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.

Mat 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,

Mat 23:6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

Mat 23:7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men.

Mat 23:8 But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.

Mat 23:9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.

Mat 23:10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.

Mat 23:11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.

Mat 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Mat 23:13 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

Mat 23:14 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don't enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.

Mat 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna as yourselves.

Mat 23:16 "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.'

Mat 23:17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

Mat 23:18 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?'

Mat 23:19 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

Mat 23:20 He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.

Mat 23:21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who was living in it.

Mat 23:22 He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.

Mat 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

Mat 23:24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!

Mat 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.

Mat 23:26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.

Mat 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Mat 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Mat 23:29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,

Mat 23:30 and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'

Mat 23:31 Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets.

Mat 23:32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

Mat 23:33 You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?

Mat 23:34 Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;

Mat 23:35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.

Mat 23:36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Mat 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!

Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate.

Mat 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' " 

 

Feb. 16

Matthew 24

Mat 24:1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.

Mat 24:2 But he answered them, "You see all of these things, don't you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."

Mat 24:3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Mat 24:4 Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.

Mat 24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.

Mat 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.

Mat 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.

Mat 24:8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.

Mat 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake.

Mat 24:10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.

Mat 24:11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.

Mat 24:12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.

Mat 24:13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.

Mat 24:14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Mat 24:15 "When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Mat 24:16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Mat 24:17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house.

Mat 24:18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.

Mat 24:19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!

Mat 24:20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath,

Mat 24:21 for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.

Mat 24:22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.

Mat 24:23 "Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it.

Mat 24:24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

Mat 24:25 "Behold, I have told you beforehand.

Mat 24:26 If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner chambers,' don't believe it.

Mat 24:27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Mat 24:28 For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.

Mat 24:29 But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;

Mat 24:30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

Mat 24:31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Mat 24:32 "Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.

Mat 24:33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Mat 24:34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Mat 24:36 But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Mat 24:37 "As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Mat 24:38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,

Mat 24:39 and they didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Mat 24:40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left;

Mat 24:41 two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left.

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes.

Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

Mat 24:44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.

Mat 24:45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?

Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.

Mat 24:47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.

Mat 24:48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,'

Mat 24:49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,

Mat 24:50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it,

Mat 24:51 and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.

Angels in Revelation by Roy Davison

https://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/angels.html

Angels in Revelation

Revelation describes actions of angels.

The great lesson of Revelation is the same vision Elisha's servant saw: "And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, 'Alas, my master! What shall we do?' So he answered, 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' And Elisha prayed, and said, 'Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:15-17).

Although we are few and forces of evil appear to be overwhelming, Revelation opens our eyes to the mighty host of angels fighting for good and vanquishing evil.

John expands on what is said about angels in other parts of Scripture. The following passages help us understand what angels do in Revelation.

Jesus Christ "has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him" (1 Peter 3:22).

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels" (Hebrews 12:22).

"Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14). "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10).

Jesus promised: "Whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8). "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5).

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:31,32).

"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).

In the parable of the tares, Jesus explains: "The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire" (Matthew 13:39-42).

"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire'' (Matthew 13:49,50).

"And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:31 // Mark 13:27).

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).

"Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8).

Angels are subject to Christ. Believers are in fellowship with Christ and His angels who are ministering spirits, sent to help the heirs of salvation. The angels rejoice over each sinner who repents and Christ will confess the faithful before His Father and His angels.

All the angels will accompany Christ when He returns to judge the world. He will send them out with the sound of a trumpet and they will remove the wicked and cast them into the furnace of fire. They will assemble all of God's elect from every quarter. The dead in Christ will rise first, then the living faithful will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the sky to be with Him forever.

This background information helps us understand what angels do in Revelation.

Revelation speaks of rebellious angels.

This is also taught in other passages.

Jesus said that on the day of Judgment He would say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

"And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6).

God's angels are victorious.

"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 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 with him. ... 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" (Revelation 12:7-9,12).

What activities of angels are described in Revelation?

1. An angel gave the Revelation to John (Revelation 1:1,2).

John received a 'little book' from an angel who told him: "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings" (Revelation 10:1-11).

At the close of Revelation we are told: "And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place" (Revelation 22:6). "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches" (Revelation 22:16).

2. Angels worship God.

"Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!'' (Revelation 5:11,12).

"And 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, saying: 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen' '' (Revelation 7:11,12).

3. Angels support the preaching of the gospel.

"Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water' " (Revelation 14:6,7).

4. Angels help the servants of God.

"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, saying, 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads' " (Revelation 7:2,3).

"Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. And 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. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand" (Revelation 8:3,4).

5. Angels bring God's judgment on the earth.

This is the most prominent activity of angels in Revelation.

Seven angels blow seven trumpets of partial destruction.

At the sound of these warning trumpets 'a third' is destroyed, but the peoples of the earth do not repent (Revelation 9:20,21).
The first angel: "a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up" (Revelation 8:7).
The second angel: "a third of the sea became blood; and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed" (Revelation 8:8,9).
The third angel: "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; and the name of the star is Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter" (Revelation 8:10,11).
The forth angel: "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; and a third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night" (Revelation 8:12).
The fifth angel: "he opened the bottomless pit" (Revelation 9:2). The locusts that come up from the bottomless pit have "as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon" (Revelation 9:11). These names mean 'destruction' (compare with Exodus 12:23; Job 26:6; 28:22; Proverbs 15:11; Ezekiel 7:25).
The sixth angel: He released "the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates" ... "to kill a third of mankind" (Revelation 9:14,15).
The seventh angel: "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15). The seventh trumpet announces the coming judgment (Revelation 11:18). Jesus had said: "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:31,32).

Seven angels bring judgment.

The call to begin the final judgment is given by seven angels in chapter fourteen.
The first: "Another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel" (Revelation 14:6) "for the hour of His judgment has come" (Revelation 14:7).
The second: "Another angel followed, saying, 'Babylon is fallen'" (Revelation 14:8).
The third: "A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 14:9,10).
The fourth: "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, 'Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.' So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped" (Revelation 14:15,16).
The fifth: "Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle" (Revelation 14:17).
The sixth: "And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, 'Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe'" (Revelation 14:18).
The seventh (the same as the fifth): "So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God" (Revelation 14:19).

Seven angels pour out the seven last plagues: seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God.

Now that the harvest has begun and the vines are thrown into the winepress of the wrath of God, seven bowls of the wrath of God are poured out on the earth by seven angels. The seven bowls are similar to the seven trumpets, but in this case the devastation is complete, and still the peoples of the earth do not repent.

"Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete" (Revelation 15:1).

"And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed" (Revelation 15:6-8).

"Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, 'Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth'" (Revelation 16:1).
The first: "A foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image" (Revelation 16:2).
The second: The sea "became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died" (Revelation 16:3).
The third: "The rivers and springs of water" became blood (Revelation 16:4).
The forth: The sun scorches men with fire, yet they do not repent (Revelation 16:8- 11).
The fifth: The kingdom of the beast becomes full of darkness, yet they do not repent (Revelation 16:10,11).
The sixth: The Euphrates dries up (Revelation 16:12).
The seventh: "It is finished!'' (Revelation 16:17).

One of the angels with the seven bowls, explains the meaning of the great harlot.

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, 'Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters'" (Revelation 17:1).

"But the angel said to me, 'Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns'" (Revelation 17:7).

"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen'" (Revelation 18:1,2).

"Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, 'Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore'" (Revelation 18:21).

"Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, 'Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great'" (Revelation 19:17,18)

An angel binds Satan for a thousand years.

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:1,2). After the thousand years, the devil is vanquished and thrown into the lake of fire, the dead are raised and all must appear before the judgment throne of God. Those whose names are not found in the book of life are also thrown into the lake of fire.

One of the angels with the seven bowls shows John the bride of the Lamb.

For the righteous there is a new heavens and a new earth and an angel shows John the Lamb's bride.

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. And her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal" (Revelation 21:9-11).

The Angel who brought the message warned John not to worship angels but to worship God.

"Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, 'See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God' " (Revelation 22:8,9 // 19:10).

Revelation describes actions of God's angels.

There are also rebellious angels, but the angels of God are victorious. An angel gave the Revelation to John. Angels worship God. They support the preaching of the gospel. They help the servants of God. They bring judgment on the earth. Seven angels blow seven warning trumpets of partial destruction. Seven angels bring judgment. Seven angels pour out the seven last plagues: seven bowls full of the wrath of God. One of these angels explains the meaning of the great harlot. An angel binds Satan for a thousand years. An angel shows John the bride of the Lamb. The Angel who brought the message warned John not to worship angels but to worship God.

Understanding what the angels do in Revelation, helps us understand Revelation. Although we are few and forces of evil appear to be overwhelming, Revelation opens our eyes to the mighty host of angels fighting for good and vanquishing evil. And we are assured that if we remain faithful until death we will share in the victory of Christ and the heavenly host.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982,
Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)