Author: Ron Moore

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, the sea no longer existed. Revelation 21:1 HCSB

Our church had some old tables and chairs in our fellowship hall that had been there for years. The tables had been screwed back together several times and many of them had bent legs that did not close properly when taken down. The chairs had been purchased from a hotel that was getting new chairs. Most of the chairs had stains on them, some had holes, and others had the backs missing. Obviously we needed some new tables and chairs, which we purchased this year to everyone’s excitement. Since there was no reason to keep the old tables and chairs, we gave most of them away and threw the others away. They were no longer useful.

The old heaven and earth referenced in today’s Scripture was tainted by sin and was no longer useful in any way. God created a new heaven and new earth specifically for His children. Those who had accepted Jesus as Lord and had been forgiven deserved a new place. This new heaven and earth was perfect and would be filled with perfect people who had been forgiven.

Challenge: Thank God that as a believer you will someday experience a new heaven and new earth that is perfect in every way. Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior? Don’t miss out. Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and become a child of the living God.

So the dragon was furious with the woman and left to wage war against the rest of her offspring – those who keep God’s commands and have the testimony about Jesus. Revelation 12:17 HCSB

In Ephesians 6:10-12 Paul tells us that we are in a spiritual battle. John tells in this verse that the battle is waging between Satan and all believers. Some would say that this verse is referring to the Jewish nation, but most Bible scholars believe that it is referring to all believers of all nations.

The end of this spiritual battle has already been determined. Satan loses. Believers win because of their faith in Jesus Christ! Satan has been defeated, but his time is short and he wants to bring as many into his ranks as possible and to keep his followers from defecting and following God. Even if Satan cannot win your soul, he will strive to make you an ineffective Christian and destroy your testimony.

Challenge: Do not waiver in your commitment to Jesus Christ. Remain faithful to your beliefs. You may face struggles and temptation, but know that Christ is with you to give you strength to endure the battle.

Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was thrown out – the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 12:7-9 HCSB

War is terrible and takes so many young lives. Even if the fight is for a good cause, war can be devastating to an individual, a family, and even a nation. War should be avoided at all costs, but sometimes it is necessary to accomplish a greater good. My father fought with the Marines in World War II in the Philippine islands. Because of the difficult experiences that my father endured, he never wanted to talk about what happened while serving with the Marines.

These Scriptures tell us that a war between the forces of good and evil was under way. Satan and his angels are defeated and thrown out of heaven. As believers in Jesus, we can be assured that through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross we have also defeated Satan. With Christ’s resurrection, Satan’s defeat was assured. Someday Satan will be bound and thrown into the lake of fire so he can no longer do evil to anyone.

Challenge: You have won the victory through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Satan has no power over you. Trust in God to guide and direct you. He loves you and wants you to succeed in living for Him. Thank God that through Christ you have won the victory over Satan and evil.

But she gave birth to a Son – a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron scepter – and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be fed there for 1,260 days. Revelation 12:5-6 HCSB

Naturally the Son in today’s Scripture is referring to Jesus Christ. Someday every knee will bow and proclaim Him as Lord. He will care for all of His followers from every nation on earth just as a shepherd cares for his sheep. Jesus will protect us from being destroyed by Satan.

The wilderness represents a place of spiritual refuge and protection from Satan. God provided a place for the woman so she would not be harmed. God provides a place of spiritual refuge for all of His children. Satan attacks God’s followers, but God protects them. Some may experience physical harm, but all of God’s children will be protected from spiritual harm. John 10:28-30 says, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” The 1,260 days represent the days that the dragon (Satan) is allowed to exercise his authority on earth.

Challenge: Know that as a believer, God loves you and will protect you from Satan. He will provide a place of spiritual refuge and safety for you. Turn to God when you face Satan’s temptations and trials. He will give you strength to endure anything that Satan may throw your direction.

Then another sign appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth he might devour her child. Revelation 12:3-4 HCSB

The large fiery dragon represents Satan. The seven heads could represent the kingdoms of the earth that he rules or it could represent great wisdom and understanding. Horns usually represent power, strength, and authority. The diadems are kingly crowns. Presented together Satan is portrayed as being very wise, strong, and powerful. The third of the stars in heaven is usually considered to represent the angels that fell from heaven with Satan. They are Satan’s demons who fight against God and all that is good. This is in line with Hebrew tradition that says one-third of the angels were cast out of heaven with Satan.

We should never underestimate the power of Satan and his demons. They are on a mission to tempt people and destroy lives. As the Scripture says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 HCSB. Satan especially enjoys devouring devoted Christians. If he can destroy a strong Christian, it impacts more than just that one life. How many times have we seen prominent Christian leaders fall to the temptations of Satan and destroy their ministries and their families, not to mention disillusioning many others who looked up to that person for leadership?

Challenge: Be alert; Satan is alive and well and looking to get his foot in the door anywhere you leave the slightest crack. Avoid putting yourself in tempting situations and all appearances of evil. Satan is powerful and you cannot defeat him with your own willpower and strength. Pray for strength from God to overcome temptation and defeat Satan. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13.

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in labor and agony as she was about to give birth. Revelation 12:1-2 HCSB

The book of Revelation contains many forms of symbolism because John was trying to describe what he was observing in terms that people could understand. The woman clothed with the sun represented the Jewish nation. The 12 stars on her head represented the 12 tribes of Israel. The nation of Israel gave birth to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God chose a devout Jewish girl named Mary to be the mother of the Messiah.

God continually works through and uses ordinary people to accomplish His will. Mary was the least likely candidate to become the mother of the Messiah. Paul was the least likely person to become the great apostle who wrote much of the New Testament. Peter was an impulsive fisherman that God used to help 3,000 people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and begin the early Christian church. David was just a small shepherd boy, but God used him to take down the giant Goliath.

Challenge: God can use you to accomplish His will if you will let Him. You can do great things for the the kingdom of God if you will only trust Him and allow Him to use you. You might be fearful, but God will give you the strength and courage to do anything He calls you to do.

They had as their king the angel of the abyss, his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon. Revelation 9:11 HCSB

The Hebrew word translated as Abaddon means “destroyer” or “destruction”. This word occurs six times in the Old Testament and is linked with Sheol, the place of the dead. The Hebrew word comes from the root word that means “perish”. It takes on the meaning of destruction, especially as related to death. In some cases the word has been translated to the Devil. This Hebrew word only appears in the New Testament in this verse in Revelation.

The Greek form of the word translated Apollyon comes from the root word “apoleia” which appears in the New Testament 20 times and has the same meaning of “destruction” or “ruin”. The word Apollyon only occurs in this verse in Revelation.

The angel of the abyss is most likely the Devil. He is the fallen angel or the fallen star from heaven that is mentioned in Revelation 9:1. The Scriptures tell us that Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven. Matthew 25:41 reminds us that at judgment those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior will be cast into the place of torment that has been prepared for Satan and his angels. Judgment is coming for those who oppose God.

Challenge: Which side are you on? The Devil’s side or God’s side? The Devil will only destroy and bring ruin into your life, both now and in the future. God on the other hand brings abundant life. Praise God for the abundant life you have through Jesus Christ, His Son.

The appearance of the locusts was like horses equipped for battle. Something like gold crowns was on their heads; their faces were like men’s faces; they had hair like women’s hair; their teeth were like lions’ teeth; they had chests like iron breastplates; the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses rushing into battle; and they had tails with stingers like scorpions, so that with their tails they had the power to harm people for five months. Revelation 9:7-10 HCSB

One of my favorite movies is “Back to the Future” starring Michael J. Fox. It is a story about a young man who is transported back in time. He finds himself in the 1950’s when his parents were teenagers and dating. One of the struggles he has is in explaining what the future looks like to those in the 1950’s. At a drug store he asks for a diet Pepsi but diet Pepsi has not even been invented yet. It is hard to explain to people something they have never seen or experienced.

Some have suggested that in these verses John is describing a helicopter. He was using a scorpion as his point of reference because that is something the people to whom he was writing would understand. Imagine trying to explain what a helicopter looks like to someone who has never seen a helicopter. Just like a helicopter, John says the locusts were equipped for battle. The gold crowns could be the large blades. The faces could be the faces of the pilots. The hair and teeth could be some type of decoration or country symbols. The chests would appear to be like iron. The sound of the blades could sound like chariots. The tail of a helicopter could look like a scorpion’s tail rising up into the air. These verses could be describing the final battle of Armageddon with many helicopters. No one is sure, but we know that these evil machines or locusts were designed to bring torment to the people of the world.

Challenge: Someday the end of time is coming and there will be great evil and torment. Are you prepared for those days? Through faith in Jesus Christ you can be assured that you will escape the torment of the end times. Thank God for His loving mercy and patience.

In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them. Revelation 9:6 HCSB

Wikipedia reports that Jack Kevorkian was best known for publicly championing a terminal patient’s right to die via physician-assisted suicide; he claimed to have assisted at least 130 patients to that end. He is often portrayed in the media as “Dr. Death”. In 1999, Kevorkian was arrested and tried for his direct role in a case of voluntary euthanasia. He was convicted of second-degree murder and served eight years of a 10-25 year prison sentence. He was released on parole in 2007 and died in 2011.

There are people who have terminal illnesses or who are in so much pain that they wish they could die. Some have sought people like Jack Kevorkian to assist them in dying. This verse in Revelation tells us that many people will seek to die because of the torment they will suffer. The end of this world will not be a pleasant experience for those who are still living. They will want to die, but death will flee from them.

Challenge: Pray for those who are experiencing life circumstances that cause them to want to die. Thank God for the life He has given you and pray that He will help you to use your life to be a blessing to others.

Then locusts came out of the smoke on to the earth, and power was given to them like the power that scorpions have on the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only people who do not have God’s seal on their foreheads. They were not permitted to kill them but were to torment them for five months; their torment is like the torment caused by a scorpion when it strikes a man. Revelation 9:3-4 HCSB

The first time I can remember seeing a locust was as a boy in Amarillo, Texas. A locust is a small insect with wings and a hard shell that is seasonally shed. At times just the shell of a locust can be found still on the tree. The reason I remember my first encounter with locusts is that there seemed to be hundreds of them. They were all over the trees causing destruction because they ate the vegetation of the trees. At night the loud noises the locusts made with their wings could be heard like an a capella choir.

John was trying to describe what he saw by using human terms that would easily be understood. The locusts most likely represented the evil spirits of this world. These demons went throughout the earth tempting people to sin. They were not created by Satan, but rather by God. Demons are fallen angels who have joined Satan’s evil army to tempt and destroy people. They cannot do anything without God’s permission. Demons try to pervert, distort, and destroy a person’s relationship with the living God. They are corrupt and deceptive and seek to bring destruction to all who believe in God and Jesus Christ.

Challenge: Even though John was describing the end of time, there are evil spirits in the world today seeking to destroy you. Pray for strength to stand strong against the evil forces all around you and pray for God’s deliverance during times of temptation.