Podcast Introduction

Today, we are going to read from the book of Job, chapters 1 and 2. I’ll be reading from the NIV, after which I’ll share some comments. I’m calling today’s show “A Really Bad Day.”

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Comments on

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-2 NIV

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The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister DenisePodcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael HanerShow Art: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider and Lifespring Family Berean Jason PaschallNewsletter Publisher: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney

Podcast Introduction

Today is Psalms Wednesday and we’ll read chapters 1 and 2. Before I read the chapters, I’ll give you brief introduction to the book of Psalms, and after the reading, I’ll share  some of my thoughts. 

I’m calling today’s show “How To Be Blessed”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Alexandru Trandafir on Unsplash

Comments on Psalms 1-2

The first chapter of Psalms is really a great place to start reading the Bible. I read from the King James because it sounds so beautiful, but let’s break it down a little in the New Living Translation: “1Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.”

As we get into the Word of God together, beloved, as it becomes part of our daily lives, we *will* learn to find joy (or delight) in it. We will be instructed by it, we will be challenged by it, we will see ourselves in it, and we will learn more about who God is. Really, the Bible is a love letter to us. You see, Christianity is more than just a religion. It is a relationship with the One who created all that is. And how is a relationship built? By spending time together. We’ll be spending time with God by reading His Word. 

As an extra bonus, you and I will be spending time together. On the show, I’ll be sharing what’s happening in my life, and I hope you will do the same, by way of email comments and prayer requests.

Quickly, chapter two shows the futility of the world system thinking that they can ignore or scoff at God. It gives a warning to those who do that, and it gives a promise of joy to those who take refuge in Him. This is a theme that we will see all the way through the Bible. 

And as we look at the political landscape in the world today, it could be very easy to be discouraged. It seems as if everything is falling apart, doesn’t it. So how do we cope with all of this? 

We put our faith in the King of kings and the Lord of lords. If you’ve never read the Bible before, I have a spoiler for you. God wins. As a matter of fact, God has already won! He is on the throne, and nothing that is happening in the world today is a surprise to Him. 

Stick with me over the next weeks and months, and we will talk much more about how God is active in the world around us. He is not a God who created the universe and then walked away. He cares very deeply about you, and about me. He loves you. He wants to spend eternity with you, and He paid an enormous price to make that possible. He sent His son, Jesus, to live a perfect, sinless life so that He could take my sins and yours upon Himself. And He was sacrificed on a cross. He died, but was raised back to life three days later, proving that He truly was God and able to forgive our sins. And He offers that forgiveness if we will only believe, and follow Him. It’s a free gift for us, but it cost Him His life.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-2 KJV

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This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising equals censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and donate here: SUPPORT.

The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister DenisePodcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael HanerShow Art: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider and Lifespring Family Berean Jason PaschallNewsletter Publisher: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney

Podcast Introduction

Today, we are going to read from the book of Joshua. Chapters 1 through 5. Before I read the chapters, I’ll give you brief introduction to the book of Joshua, and after the reading, I’ll share  some of my thoughts on those chapters. I’m calling today’s show "A New Leader."

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Comments on Joshua

Sometimes people will say, God can't save me. He can't forgive me. I've lived a terrible life. Or God could never use me. You don't know what I've done. In chapter two, we read of the spies that Joshua sent into the town of Jericho, and these spies stayed at the house of a prostitute by the name of Rehab. We read how she hid them and saved their lives and made a deal with them that they would save her life.

There's a long story about that, of course. Well, here's the rest of her story. Rahab married Salman, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Her son was Boaz, who we'll read about later, the husband of Ruth, who we will also read about later. Joseph, the legal father of Jesus is her direct descendant. That's right.

In Jesus' genealogy is a prostitute. And true, Jesus is not Joseph's biological son. But it would be understandable if God chose not to use a family line for Jesus' stepfather that included a prostitute. Right? Well, here's the lesson for us all. Rehab's sinful life was forgiven because of her faith in God.

And when God forgives, that sin is as if it never existed. And besides that, what family doesn't include those who have sinned? There isn't one, is there? As Paul says in Romans, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one is without sin. It's what we do with God that determines whether that sin defines us.

I learned several years ago from a, uh, a great aunt of mine that my family line, I am descended from a murderer. Yeah, so, you know, I, I don't know anything about that man's life other than, uh, he committed this murder somewhere in Arkansas and, uh, then ran away, moved from that area and changed his name. And that's why all of a sudden in my family line, we go from one last family name to another.

So you never know. No family line for sure is without sin. And knowing that, it seems silly to me that some Bible commentators in the past have tried to say that Rahab was an inkeeper, not a prostitute. She had them into her house because, well she was an inkeeper, it was her job. These commentators thought it was shameful that a prostitute would be in the lineage of Jesus.

But when you read it in the original language, there's no mistaking it. Rahab was a prostitute. And as we read through the Bible this year, you'll see that God does not pull punches in describing real life and real sin. That Rahab was a prostitute is lightweight compared to some of the things we'll read.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-2 GW, Ch. 3-4 GNT, Ch. 5 NIV

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This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising equals censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and donate here: SUPPORT.

The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister DenisePodcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael HanerShow Art: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider and Lifespring Family Berean Jason PaschallNewsletter Publisher: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney

Podcast Introduction

This is the daily podcast where we will read the entire Bible in a year. Stick around, and before you know it, you’ll be able to say you’ve read the entire Bible, in the process, I hope you will be inspired, informed and maybe even entertained.

Today, we are going to read from the beginning, the book of Genesis. Chapters 1 through 3, I’ll give you some of my thoughts on those chapters.

Introduction to Genesis

Genesis begins with an assumption. The assumption is that God exists. 

How can we know God exists? I know He exists because of how He has worked in my life. I know how I was before I knew Him, and how I am since dedicating my life to Him. I am not the man I would have been if were not for God’s presence in my life.

But there is much more than that. A great many excellent logical and philosophical arguments can be made for the existence of God, which I’ll not talk about here. I’ll leave that to others who are much better equipped to do that. I am more a student of the Bible than a student of philosophy. I don’t discount that field of study, it’s just not where my passions are.

No, the Bible is my source of truth. And Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” And yesterday we read in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” In other words, creation itself speaks clearly of the existence of the Creator. Look at the order of the universe. The intricate detail of all that exists. This kind of order cannot evolve out of chaos. And even if it could, where did the building blocks of the universe come from? The fact that things do exist at all speaks loudly for the fact that there is a Creator. And the order of the universe demands an intelligent Creator.  

Genesis is about the creation of the universe, and it’s about the beginning of the nation of people of Israel, and how God has interacted with them throughout history.

It is believed that God used Moses to write Genesis, in addition to the other first five books of the Bible, namely Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. 

Genesis is divided into twelve parts, with each part being introduced with the phrase “this is the account of”, or some variation of that, depending on which translation of the Bible you are reading. Each of the twelve sections tells about the life and family of the person named, and the sections, when taken together, tell the story of humanity’s history and God’s plan to restore mankind and our place in His world through Israel.

Thoughts on Genesis 1

Again, because of the Labor Day holiday, I’ll make my comments short today. There are so many events packed into these first three chapters that it’s difficult to decide what to talk about, but decide I must.

So I’ll talk about the first sentence. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Actually, I’ll just talk about the word “God”.

The original language for Genesis is Hebrew. The Hebrew word that is translated as God in nearly all English translations is Elohim, which is a plural word, not singular. Being plural, the pronouns and verbs used with Elohim should also be plural. But they are not. They are singular. 

Second century Rabbi Simeon ben Joachi said: “Come and see the mystery of the word Elohim; there are three degrees, and each degree by itself alone, and yet notwithstanding they are all one, and joined together in one, and are not divided from each other.” Adam Clarke, 18th century theologian said: “He must be strangely prejudiced indeed who cannot see that the doctrine of a Trinity, and of a Trinity in unity, is expressed in the above words.” Martin Luther said: “But we have clear testimony that Moses aimed to indicate the Trinity or the three persons in the one divine nature.”

Podcast Introduction

Hello! and welcome to the first episode of season 13 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. This is the daily podcast where we’ll read through the entire Bible in one year, and podcasting since 2004, I am YOUR OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. 

I’m so glad you’re here today! If you’ve been with me before, welcome back!. If this is your first time, WOW, I am glad you found the show! I hope you like what you hear, and that you’ll be with me for the entire journey through God’s word this year.

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Comments on Romans 1-2

Thoughts on Romans 1

Paul's epistle, or letter to the Romans is probably the most eloquent and developed presentation of God's plan of salvation in the entire Bible. It begins with an introduction here in the first chapter up to verse 15, then moves into presenting the Gospel in all of its intricacies through to the end of chapter 11. From chapter 12 through most of chapter 15, Paul shows how we are transformed by the power of God, and then the final verses of the book are some closing thoughts of a personal nature and a blessing.

Here in the first chapter, Paul opens by introducing himself and how Jesus called him to be an apostle, which means messenger. Then he tells the Romans how much affection he has for them and how he wants to visit them, and then he says how God accepts *anyone* who has faith. Later on he'll talk much more about that, but here in the introduction, it is noted that the message is that God has made a way of saving all people, whether Jew or Gentile.

Then Paul wastes little time in showing the broken nature of mankind, and the trouble they bring on themselves when they turn their heart on God. He says they have no excuse, because God has revealed Himself in so many ways. But they reject Him, and because of their insistence and stubbornness, He has turned them over to do as they will. Once God lets go, it doesn't take long to begin circling the drain into a life of depravity. He lists several specific sins, and it's a list that if we were to give each one a rating from 1 to 10, with a 1 rating being the most vile,  the list might include sins with ratings of 9 or 10 all the way to 1. 

But that rating scale is a human construct. Each of those sins is something that God hates. Murder? Sure, we all agree on that. But arguing? Gossiping? Do those really belong in the same list? Yessir, they do. 

The point Paul is making is that we are all in desperate trouble, and a holy God is angry because of rebellious people who reject him.

Now, as a warning, I'll tell you that the next couple of chapters will consist somewhat of more of the same. He's addressed the Gentiles here in verses 18-32, then in Chapter 2 and the beginning of chapter 3 he'll address the Jews, and he'll talk about all mankind in the remaining verses of chapter 3.

Of course the reason he spends so much time talking about the brokenness of mankind is to establish the need for the sacrifice of Jesus, and the entire plan of salvation brought to us by a forgiving and loving God. If you've never read Romans, stick with me through the entire book. I think you'll come out the other side loving God more than you ever have.

Thoughts on Romans 2

In Romans 2, the apostle Paul is focusing his attention on the Jew.

Understandably, the typical Jew felt that he was better than any non-Jew, or Greek as today's translation says, or Gentile as is commonly used. I say understandably because the Jewish people are God's chosen people. It was them to whom God spoke. It was them to whom God gave the Law. It was them to whom God gave His presence. And on and on.

So they felt that they were inherently better than the Gentiles. They thought they had an inside track to God.

But Paul, in this chapter of Romans, points out the hypocrisy in this idea of Jewish superiority. He tells them that anyone who does not obey the law will fall under condemnati...

Podcast Introduction

This is history Tuesday, and we will finish the book of Esther by reading chapters 6-10, which will also complete our reading of the entire Bible for season 12 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, the last “live” season of the show. I’m calling today’s show, “Coincidence? I Think Not.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Tim Webb

Comments on Esther 6

Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? There are some people who believe that once God finished His work of creation, He stepped away and let events on earth happen on their own. Seems like a foolish notion to me.

Here in Esther 6, we have an example of how God orchestrates the events of man for His purposes.

The king is unable to sleep on the very night that Haman is plotting to kill Mordecai, so he does what many of us do. He decides to read a book, hoping that will make him sleepy. Think of it. Ahasuerus is the king of the most powerful kingdom on earth, so he could have done almost anything for a diversion, but he chooses to read a book. He orders that a book of remembrances be brought to him. He had a kingdom of 127 provinces, so I can imagine that this book of remembrances had several volumes, can't you? But the person who was tasked with bringing the book brought the volume that included the account of how Mordecai saved the king from assassination. And the servant opened the book to the very page with that record. What are the odds? Well, with God, the odds are 100%. Without God, who knows? There had to have been many remembrances in the book, but on this specific night, this specific page was opened. 

Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? Of course He does.

Has God ever intervened in your life like this? Can you remember a time where the course of your life was changed by a seemingly random event?

Let me tell you about a time this happened to me.

It happened in 2004. It was a Saturday in September, I think. I turned on the radio to listen to a talk show about technology. It was normally a call-in type show where people would ask the host for help with their tech devices. But when I turned on the radio, the host was interviewing a guy, and the guy was telling the host about new thing he had invented where radio-type shows could be automatically downloaded to people's computers. And better still, every time a new show was created, the new episodes would just show up on their computers. And then, they could transfer the new shows to their portable mp3 player and listened to whenever they wanted. This idea sounded pretty interesting to me, having been in radio in the late 70s and early 80s. 

Of course, this new invention was podcasting. The interviewer was Leo Laporte and the interviewee was Adam Curry, whom I am now happy to not only call my friend, but ecstatic to call my brother in the Lord, but that's a different story. Or is it? 

Just a week or so before I heard this interview, I had asked God what more I could do to serve Him. I was already the tech guy at my church and putting a lot of time into that, but I wanted to do more for God since He had been so very good to me and had blessed me with a wonderful wife, great kids, a business that paid the bills and a home. I just wanted to be available to do whatever God had for me. I prayed and asked God what more I could do, and His answer was a very clear, almost audible, "Proclaim my name."

So, was it just a random event when I heard Adam Curry telling Leo Laporte about podcasting? I don't think so. God prompted me to turn on the radio at just the right time, and on November 13, 2004 I uploaded the world's first Christian podcast to my church's website. Within days I received emails from around the world telling me stories of how God was using my podcast to bring them to Jesus. God was using my little podcast in miraculous ways. 

But the story doesn't end there.

Associate Producer

Kirsty

Podcast Introduction

This is Monday, and we will finish the book of Deuteronomy by reading chapters 32-34. I’m calling today’s show “The End of an Era.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Adam Groffman

Comments on Deuteronomy 32-34

Thoughts on Deuteronomy 32

Chapter 31 ended with the words, "And Moses spoke this whole song for all the people of Israel to hear:"

Most of chapter 32 is the song. 

The first four verses are a call to all of creation to listen to what he is about to say, and the fact that he is proclaiming the name of the Lord, giving Him praise for who He is and what He does.

The next two verses state the fact that Israel has sinned.

Verses 7-14 tells how God has been faithful to Israel throughout history. He has loved them and blessed them. 

In verses 15-18, Moses reminded them of how Israel responded to God's love by abandoning Him.

Verses 19-27 tell how, in response to their rebellion, God left their side and punished them.

In the final verses of the song (verses 28-43), God lists His charges against Israel and calls them back to Himself.

After the song, Moses encourages Israel with the words, "This is no trivial matter for you—this is your very life! It is by this means that you will prolong your life on the fertile land you are crossing the Jordan River to possess." 

Another way to say "This is no trivial matter for you" is "This is no meaningless thing-this matters..." One of the lies of the enemy when we are in the midst of sin is, "What God says doesn't matter. You can do what you want." Moses is reminding them that what God says DOES matter. What He says is life itself. 

And then in the final five verses God gives Moses His final instructions. He is to go up to the place where he will breathe his last. He will be able to look across the Jordan River into the promised land, but because of his sin at Meribah-Kadesh he will not be allowed to go in.

Thoughts on Deuteronomy 33

Very few of us know the time of our death. But in Deuteronomy 33, Moses knows that his time has come. God told him.

And Moses wanted to leave the people that he had led out of Egypt and through the desert for these forty years with words that would encourage them, despite their failings. 

Did you notice that each of the twelve tribes received a distinct blessing except one? Which tribe received no blessing? It was Simeon. 

Why was Simeon left out? 

Let's quickly look at some history. Remember that Jacob loved Rachel and asked her father, Laban, for her hand in marriage. Laban had two daughters, Rachel and her older sister Leah. Laban told Jacob that he could have Rachel after he worked for him for seven years. But after the seven years were up, Laban tricked Jacob by giving Leah to him instead. In order for Jacob to have Rachel as his wife, Jacob had to give Laban another seven years.

Then we're told in Genesis 29 that when the Lord saw that Leah was unloved by Jacob, he gave her children, but Rachel was unable to do so. Leah's firstborn son was Reuben, followed by Simeon, Levi and lastly, Judah. Leah also gave birth to a daughter named Dinah. 

When Dinah was a young woman, she caught the eye of a man, a prince, named Shechem, who raped her. Shechem told his father, Hamor, that he wanted Dinah to be his wife. So Hamor went to talk to Jacob, Dinah's father. When Dinah's brothers found out what had happened to her, they were furious. Hamor insisted that Shechem wanted to marry Dinah, and he told Jacob that they could agree that their two peoples could intermarry. Shechem also added, in essence, "Name your price. Anything you ask, I will agree to. Only let me marry your daughter."

So Dinah's brothers, angry still at what he had done to their sister, devised a scheme. They told Shechem and his father that they could never allow their sister to marry an uncircumcised man. It would be a disgrace. They could only agree if all the males were circum...

Podcast Introduction

This is Epistles Sunday, and we’ll read the book of Jude. I’m calling today’s show “False Teachers.” 

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Comments on Jude

It’s amazing, isn’t it, how a letter written more than 2,000 years ago sounds so current? 

Jude talks about the importance of standing up for the faith. Never has it more important to do that than it is today, when Christianity is under attack as it has not been in many years, and never, I believe as it has been here in the United States. I’ve heard it said that Christianity is always only one generation away from extinction. If we don’t stand up, if we don’t share our faith with the next generation, there will be no one to share the Good News of a Risen Savior. 

But of course we know that God has promised to always have a remnant in each generation, so that won’t happen. But that does not take away our responsibility to heed what Jesus said just before he ascended into Heaven. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”

This is the great commission. This is the job he gave to each of us. He didn’t say to do this when it is easy, or convenient, or politically correct. There was no opportunity given for a way out of doing everything we can to accomplish the job. We must do what Jesus said.

And Jude spoke, as others did, about false teachers. But here, Jude talked about those who abuse God’s grace and excuse sexual sin. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Today they say, “How could a loving God condemn me for who I love? This is the way He made me.” Which addresses the point Jude made about how they “do what comes naturally to them”. 

Listen, it might “come naturally” to me to have multiple women. But that is not God’s plan, and I chose to follow God’s teaching about marriage and I am joyously faithful to one wife.

Jude encourages the believers to remain in God’s love. To pray with the leading of the Holy Spirit and to live lives that please God, and praise Him for who He is, and praise Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jude’s message was written to the early church, the church of today, and the church of tomorrow without a doubt.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1 NIRV

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This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising equals censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and donate here: SUPPORT.

The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister DenisePodcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael HanerShow Art: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider and Lifespring Family Berean Jason PaschallNewsletter Publisher: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney

Podcast Introduction

This is Gospels Saturday. We’ll complete the book of Acts with the reading of Acts 27-28. I’m calling today’s show “The Storm."

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Armand Khoury on Unsplash

Comments on Acts 27-28

Thoughts on Acts 27

When we last left Paul, he was on trial before Festus and Agrippa, when he appealed to Caesar. So now, he is being shipped off to Rome, the capital of the empire, where Caesar was located. 

What I want to look at in today's chapter is how Paul encouraged the men onboard the ship when it looked like all was lost. Paul had already told them that he belonged to God and that he served God, and that an angel had told him that all on board would be spared.

Now, I can imagine the reaction he must have gotten from the sailors and other prisoners on the ship. I think there would have been a lot of scoffing, don't you? 

But at the height of the storm, two weeks into it, Paul encourages the men to eat in order to live. And he reminded them that they would not come to harm in the storm. But words are cheap. So, in their sight, he took some bread, gave thanks to God and ate. And they were all filled with hope.

Sometimes, God puts us in situations where we can bring hope and make a difference. Without hope, the will to carry on or even the will to live can be extinguished. I know in my own life there have been times where it seemed that all was lost, and then God would bring someone to encourage me with a word from the Lord, and I knew I could make it another day. 

We need to be willing to be the one to bring hope to a dark situation. It really can save a life and even bring someone to the throne of God.

Thoughts on Acts 28 

Let’s take a quick look at the end of the the last chapter of Acts. What Paul quoted to the Jewish leaders should have sounded familiar to you if you've been with me since the beginning of our year together. He quoted from the book of Isaiah 6:9-10.

When God gave that message to Isaiah, it was a message to the Jewish people. It was one of the times that God had had enough of their rejection of Him. 

And now, Paul is quoting these verses to the Jewish leaders in Rome because the Lord wants them to know that the message of the Gospel which has been presented to them, and which they rejected, will be taken to the Gentiles, where it will be embraced and accepted.

You see, God is patient, but there is a point at which He draws the line. 

Beloved, I believe we are getting very close to the time when God says, “Enough. You have rejected my Son long enough. I have offered you forgiveness through His shed blood, and you have chosen your own way. You refuse to listen to my Holy Spirit as He tries to speak to you, and your ears will not hear and your eyes will not see. Your hearts are hardened. Therefore you cannot turn to me and let me heal you.”

This message in Isaiah was because of the Jew’s rejection of God. Today, much of mankind has rejected Christ. It is man’s pride and wanting to be his own master.

As our nation and our world falls deeper and deeper into sin and farther and farther away from God, we are seeing more and more outrageous behaviors being accepted by the culture. It’s no wonder, because without God, man is unable to govern himself.

Now is the time for each of us…you and me and every believing person on the planet…to get on our knees and pray. Pray for God’s hand in the affairs of the world. Pray that people would open their eyes. Pray for your unsaved family and friends. Time may be short, beloved. Don’t sit idly by and let them be left behind. Be bold. Don’t be cowed by those who will not hear. You have the message of life. Don’t be afraid to share it with those dying around you.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 27 NIRV; Ch. 28 CEV

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Podcast Introduction

This is Prophecy Friday, and we will complete the book of Revelation with the reading of chapters 18-22. I’m calling today’s show, “A New Creation.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: zenad nabil on Unsplash

Comments on Revelation 18-22

There were a tremendous amount going on in these last five chapters of Revelation, and I’m only going to touch on a few highlights. 

In chapter 19 we saw those in Heaven giving thanks to God for bringing down Babylon and bringing justice to the woman who had killed and slaughtered those who believed in Jesus. It was a time of celebration and a time of worshipping and honoring God.

Then we saw the wedding supper of the Lamb. The Lamb is Jesus, and His bride is the church, those who are followers of Jesus. They are clothed in fine white linen, which is the righteousness that they have been given because of the grace of God.

And then we see Jesus, the King of Kings, sitting on a white horse. He is called Faithful and True. As it is translated in the version we read from today, “He is the One Who punishes in the right way. He makes war.” I like the way it reads in the New International Version: “With justice he judges and wages war.”

Some people have the idea that war is always wrong. Listen to the commentator J.A. Seiss:

“In the letter to the Laodiceans he (Jesus) was “the Faithful and True witness,” reproving and instructing his friends; here is the Faithful and True Warrior and Judge, for the punishment of his enemies. Heaven cannot be at peace with iniquity, and justice cannot be at amity with falsehood and rebellion. When sin is once incorrigible and incurable by remedial measures, it must be put down by force of arms. Mercy slighted and abused, brings the executioner. The world banded together in arms against its true Sovereign brings against it the sword of insulted majesty. Not as human kings and nations war—out of covetousness, pride, and an ambition for selfish greatness and dominion—but in absolute justice and right; and in strictest accord with every holy principle and every holy interest, he now unsheathes and wields the sword of infinite power. Dreadful is the carnage which follows, but no one can ever say that it is not precisely what was merited and demanded.”

And then the beast (or antichrist) and the false prophet, with the kings of the earth and their armies are gathered to wage war against Jesus as He sat on the white horse. But the beast and the false prophet were captured and thrown into lake of fire, and the rest were killed.

And after that, in chapter 20, an angel seized satan and threw him into the hole without a bottom, or as it translated in most versions, the abyss. But only for 1,000 years. This thousand year period is referred to by most as “The Millennium”, and during this time, Jesus reigns on the Earth, and the believers who had died before, reign with Him.

At the end of the Millennium, Satan is released from the Abyss for a short time, and he tries to wage war once again. But he is then thrown forever into the lake of fire.

After that is the Great White Throne judgment, where all are judged. Anyone whose name is not written in the book of life is thrown into the lake of fire, because God does not force anyone to spend time with Him in eternity. If you have not chosen to love Him of your own free will, He will respect that decision.

At the beginning of chapter 21, we see a new heaven and a new earth. It is a glorious new creation, and the beginning of an indescribably marvelous and wonderful eternity with God. God will actually dwell with us, and we will be able to see Him just as we see each other now. 

There will be no sorrow, no pain, no decay, no sickness, no sin, no temptation, no weakness at all of the flesh, because we will all be in our brand new glorified bodies. No strife, no wars, no envy, no hypocrisy. None of the things that bring us pain and heartbreak today.

My friend,