Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 16:1-11 OBSERVATION: At first we might think that God is cruel, inflicting this kind of torture on helpless, innocent victims. But the passage reveals that people were living wild, rebellious and cruel lives, and refused to repent no matter how many times God’s warned them through prophets. God is not inflicting cruelty, He is…

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 15:1-8 OBSERVATION: An allusion to the judgment of the plagues against Pharoah (Exodus 7-11), God’s people standing beside the sea of judgment singing the song of Moses, like Israel after God destroyed Pharoah and his army by the Red Sea (Exodus 14). The final judgment will also be God’s way of finally rescuing His people from…

Feel free to leave your comments. My comments are coming soon! SCRIPTURE: Revelation 14:14-20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: PRAYER:

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 14:1-13 OBSERVATION: The 144,000 represent the fullness of the OT and NT believers (12 tribes x 10 x 12 apostles x 10, x 10), the number 10 representing fullness. They sing a song through all their trials that others cannot figure out, and they learn it from Jesus, whom they follow “wherever He goes”. The…

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 13:11-18 OBSERVATION: This vision symbolically portrays the increasing power of Rome in John’s day, but also describes how in the final days the governments will enforce loyalty, denying those who refuse to “worship” their power access to the basics of life (those without number cannot buy or sell). In John’s day people had to…

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 13:1b-10 OBSERVATION: 1. The dragon symbolizes Satan, the beast seems to symbolize a government with multiple leaders (heads) that holds the whole world under its grip. An example of this kind of government would be the Roman Empire, but there have been other examples through history. 2. This government is characterized by its defiant…

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 12:10-13:1 OBSERVATION: Jesus is declared the winner. Those who believe in Him and testify to Him, despite persecution and death, are the overcomers! But the devil knows his days are numbered, and so he is on the rampage. The church is empowered (wings of the Spirit?) and protected, as long as they remains close…

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 12:1-9 OBSERVATION: The women represents Israel, producing the Messiah. The dragon represents Satan, rebelling in the beginning and taking a third of the angels with him (now demons). This scene represents the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. The Messiah is snatched up to His throne, and God’s people (OT Israel becomes NT church) are taken to…

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 4:15-24 OBSERVATION: 1. The ark (the symbol of “God with us”) is at the center of this story. Where it goes, the people go. Where it goes, the waters part. When it leaves, the waters flow. The people are to keep a reverent distance from the ark. The memory stones are taken from where…

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 4:1-14 OBSERVATION: 1. This was certainly a memorable experience. The memory stones taken from the riverbed were to be an enduring reminder of God’s amazing provision in time of need. 2. An important part of spreading the message is communicating it to those around us, whether our own children (“when your children ask you”)…