60IN60 Day 24 - Wed Jan 26

It's Day 24 and we're in Revelation 6.

As you read, listen for where God wants to speak to you. What jumps out to you? What speaks to situations you're dealing with right now? 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 15 - This is going to be a horrible time. Not all that the future holds is wonderful.

Help:
- Verses 1-17 - This chapter tells of a horrible time coming in the future when for a while life on earth will be horrific. It's part of end times.
- Verse 9 - Not like hiding under a table, but obviously a huge area with an altar that's high and lifted up, with these saints standing there asking about how soon justice was coming.
- Verse 13 - "stars. . . fell" - The word "stars" here isn't defined the way that modern science does. It just means heavenly bodies. The way we define it today, the sun is the nearest "star" and that's obviously not what's in mind here.
- Verse 14 - This language speaks of earth-shattering, cataclysmic events.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Questions and Comments:

- "In our 60 in 60 passage today from Revelation chapter 5, both in verses 3 and 13 states who is worthy of opening the seven seals and we know that Jesus is the one to open the scroll.  But my question is in verse  3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.  And also verse 13 also says: "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them." Is this passage referring to those who are already punished in hell will be able to witness the opening of the scroll, or is this referencing something else?" - Yes, I think this is reference to those in hell. It could also be a reference more generally to those who have died. The larger point he is making with this language is that there is no one in the entire universe who is worthy but Jesus.

- (On Rev. 4) "Reading Rev. 4 and speaking of the 7 spirits of God as outlined in Isaiah, are the 7 spirits only for the 24 elders or can be given by the Holy Spirit to any believer?" - That reference is notoriously obscure, so I am reluctant to speculate much about what is meant there.

- "I wonder who the 24 elders are, perhaps 12 of them are the 12 apostles. Is it wrong to wonder such things or should I be reading the bible just for God to speak to me?" - Many think the 24 are 12 representing the 12 tribes of Israel and then the 12 apostles, but since the Bible doesn't explicitly identify them we can't be definitive on that. Secondly, there's nothing wrong with wondering about those questions. I do it all the time! I've joked before that you don't want to be behind me in line to get into heaven because I've got a lot of unanswered questions!

60IN60 Day 23 - Tues Jan 25

It's Day 23 and we're in Revelation 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 8 - It's an interesting (perhaps mostly symbolic) detail that the prayers of the saints create a sweet smell in the presence of God. It's encouraging to know that He sees our conversation with Him in that positive a way.

Help:
- Verse 5 - "Lion," "root" - Both of these are symbolic titles for Jesus, arising from the Old Testament. The lion imagery has to do with Him as a warrior and conqueror; the root has to do with Him being of the line of David.
- Verse 6 - "Lamb" - Another title, having to do with Jesus' willingness to sacrifice Himself, along the lines of a way a lamb was sacrificed for the sins of the people in the Old Testament sacrificial system.
- Verse 9 - "with your blood" - Meaning that our forgiveness comes through the sacrifice of His blood.
- Verse 14 - "fell down" - Meaning to bow down in worship, not to trip.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 22 - Mon Jan 24

It's Day 22 and we're in Revelation 4.

We're going to be looking at Revelation for a few days. Revelation is a tough book with lots of challenging imagery, but it's also an important part of the Word as it points toward our future.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - "crowns" - When the Bible says in other places that we are given crowns as one of the rewards for our faithfulness and fruitfulness in this life, the main point of having a crown is to have something valuable to lay at Jesus' feet as an offering.

Help:
- Verses 6-8 - This is some wild imagery, isn't it? Some people take these descriptions literally; others consider the things mentioned here to be symbolic of things about these creatures.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 21 - Sun Jan 23

It's Day 21 and we're in Psalm 57.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 4 - Sometimes we know that we're surrounded by those who mean us harm. In that situation, it's good to know that the Lord has our back.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 20 - Sat Jan 22

It's Day 20 and we're in Psalm 56.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - Easier said than done.

Help:
- Verse 8 - It's a nice thought to know that God is aware of each tear that we cry.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 19 - Fri Jan 21

It's Day 19 and we're in Acts 22.

An encouragement as you read the Bible today: in Acts 17:11, it tells of some Christians in Berea who "received the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether [what we taught was Biblical]." Let's be like them. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 10, 18, 21 - The Lord leads where He wants to and it's usually not the way that we would choose if we were given our preference. But He knows better than we do.

Help:
- Verse 23 - "flinging dust in the air" - Apparently this was a way back then to show anger.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 18 - Thurs Jan 20

It's Day 18 and we're in Acts 21.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 13 - It's not clear here whether Paul is certain that this is God's will for his life or if it's just that he has decided to do this and once his mind is made up he's not going to change. Sometimes our stubbornness gets the best of us.

Help:
- Verses 4, 11-13 - As stated above, it doesn't appear that it was necessarily God's will for Paul to go to Jerusalem. At the very least, the Spirit makes it clear to him that there is great sacrifice if he does. I'm not sure if his decision to go anyway is bravery or stubbornness.
- Verse 8 - "Seven" - It's not clear who exactly the "Seven" were.
- Verses 23-26 - This was a Jewish way of handling it.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.