OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for April 2020
May 1, 2020
Revelation 8:11 – And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
Thought: The star that fell is called Wormwood. Wormwood was a very bitter plant that was sometimes used in medications. The effect of this fallen leader was to produce bitterness and calamity in the world. Many would die as a result. The fall of one does not just impact that one. The fall of one can have disastrous consequences for multitudes of people. The effects can last for long periods of time.
Amos 5:6-7
May 2, 2020
Revelation 8:12 – And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them were darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
Thought: When calamites come upon the earth, darkness also falls upon the world. John pictures this darkness by noting that a third part of the sun, moon, and stars were smitten. Judgment is never a pretty thing. It darkens the heart. It darkens the spirit. It darkens the emotions. The joy of life is put out and sorrow and sadness prevail. All of the light is not put out. There is enough gone, however, to realize the darkness that abounds.
Isaiah 13:9-11
May 3, 2020
Revelation 8:13 – And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
Thought: Instead of the sound of another trumpet, John hears an angel flying through the heavens, and crying: “Woe, woe, woe.” The word “woe” is an expression of grief. The angel announces grief because he knows the content of the messages about to be sounded by the next three angels. Things were bad when the first four angels sounded. Now, things will grow even worse. When judgment comes, it is not quick and painless. It usually last for quite some time and continually grows worse.
Ezekiel 2:9-10
May 4, 2020
Revelation 9:1-2 – And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Thought: John sees a star fall from heaven to earth. Some believe this is a great leader. Others believe that it is Satan himself. He was given the key to the bottomless pit. He had to be given the key because it was in the possession of the Son of God. The bottomless pit refers to the evil portion of hades. When it was opened, smoke arose from its depths. The smoke darkened the sun and the air. The events that were going to happen were under the control of Satan. It was he who was unleashing his forces upon the earth.
Revelation 1:18
May 5, 2020
Revelation 9:3 – And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Thought: Locust swarms were feared in Bible lands in the first century. Thousands upon thousands would descend upon the earth and great destruction would follow them. The land would be completely devastated. Once the smoke settle, John saw locusts who had been given power. Their power was likened unto that of the scorpion, another creature whose sting could bring harm. These locusts were symbolic. We will learn this as we continue into the next verse. They were, however, given a mission of destruction.
Exodus 10:4-6
May 6, 2020
Revelation 9:4 – And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Thought: Now we see that the locusts are not literal, but figurative. They are a destructive army that is sent forth upon the enemies of God’s people. They are not to destroy the grass, any green thing, or any tree. They are only to destroy “those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” Those with the seal belong to God. Those without the seal do not. Dear readers, vengeance is the Lord’s. He will repay.
Romans 12:19
May 7, 2020
Revelation 9:5 – And to them it was given they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh man.
Thought: The destructive force sent upon the opposition of God’s people was not going to be fatal to them. It was sent to torment the enemies of God’s people. The word “torment” means “to torture” (Strong) and “to vex with grievous pains (of body or mind)” (Thayer). This affliction was to last five months. Some see this as a literal period of time. Others have said that each day stands for a year. This would be a period of 150 years. God controls this judgment. His timing and afflictions are always right.
Job 2:5-6
May 8, 2020
Revelation 9:6 – And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
Thought: Sometimes torment and anguish are worse than death itself. Those who are afflicted long for death, but it does not come. Such would be the case of those tormented by the locusts. Death would flee from them. When the judgments of God come, it is always better to be sided with God. Torment, pain, and longing for death are horrible things to suffer. Comfort, peace, and tranquility are blessing in trying times.
Exodus 8:21-22
May 9, 2020
Revelation 9:7-8 – And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
Thought: John was extremely impressed with the appearance of these locusts. They were very unusual. They appeared like unto horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns. The type of crown is not revealed. They could have been a crown of glory or a crown of victory. The hair on the head was long and flowing like the hair of woman. Their teeth were like the teeth of lions. These locusts were warriors. They were strong, fierce, and strong. They were ready to carry out the commands of their commander.
Nahum 3:17
May 10, 2020
Revelation 9:9-10 – And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of many chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
Thought: John continues to describe the locusts who were to strike those who did not have the seal of God in their foreheads. They were clad for battle having on their breastplates which would protect their hearts in battle. Their movements were loud and sounded like horses running to battle. Their tails were their weapons. They could sting like a scorpion. Their purposes were limited. They would hurt men five months.
Joel 2:5-7
May 11, 2020
Revelation 9:11 – And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
Thought: This force of locusts is unique in that they have a king over them. He is leading the five month campaign. Two factors show the wickedness of this king. First, he is the angel of the bottomless pit. Second, his name in Abaddon in the Hebrew and Apollyon in the Greek. Both names carry the same meaning, “destroyer.” Who this represents is difficult to say for certain, but he is evil and his cause is evil.
Proverbs 30:27
May 12, 2020
Revelation 9:12 – One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
Thought: When we think things cannot get worse, they can. We have seen the first woe. It involved the plague of locusts. Their affliction was to last five months. However, there were still two more woes to be revealed. How much worse could it be? How much longer could it last? Will those afflicted by the woes be able to endure? Will they perish in the destruction? NOTE: These questions are not asked by the faithful.
Isaiah 3:10-11
May 13, 2020
Revelation 9:13-14 – And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Thought: This is the sixth trumpet to sound. It is also begins the execution of the second woe. In this verse, we get a small glimpse into the roles of angels in the unseen realms. One angel blows the trumpet. He is also commanded to loose four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. Angels are both messengers of God and servants of the Most High. They do Jehovah’s bidding. They can bring glad tidings or mankind. They can also bring the judgments of God upon humanity.
Psalm 103:20-21
May 14, 2020
Revelation 9:15 – And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
Thought: The four angels were loosed and they were prepared. All of the necessary arrangements to accomplish the task at hand had been made. The angels, God’s servants, do all that is essential to carry out the will of God. They were prepared for the length of the battle: for an hour, for a day, for a month, and for a year. Their mission was to slay “the third part of men.” The previous woe brought hurt to mankind. This woe will bring death.
Joshua 4:13
May 15, 2020
Revelation 9:16- And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
Thought: John now sees a magnificent army assembled. He decribes their number as two hundred thousand thousand. The total would be two hundred million. If literal, it would be the greatest army that has ever been assembled. The writer is probably using hyperbole. His purpose is to show the vastness and the strength of the army that is about to be unleashed. When God brings judgments, they are severe.
Deuteronomy 4:24
May 16, 2020
Revelation 9:17 – And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
Thought: After seeing the vast number of the army forces, John notes that they were sitting upon horses. The riders were all wearing a coat of mail that draped from the neck to the knees. It was the color of fire, that is, red mingled with jacinth, purple or dark blue, and brimstone, a yellow color. The attire of the horses made them look like lions. They, too, were ready for battle. Their mouths breathed out fire and brimstone. The horses and their riders were loud and fierce, and to be feared.
Psalm 11:6
May 17, 2020
Revelation 9:18 – By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
Thought: John reminds us of the devastation that was to come from this woe. A third part of mankind was to be killed. Judgments are always very destructive. They damage property. They take life. However, they are intended to teach lessons. Man should never depart from God. When he does, he should give heed to God’s warnings. God does not want to discipline man. He wants to save him. But, He will discipline if He must.
Exodus 11:4-6
May 18, 2020
Revelation 9:19 – For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
Thought: The destructive nature of these horses continues to be revealed to us. Their mouths breathed out fire, smoke, and brimstone. Their tails were like serpents with heads. It is the head of a snake that is dangerous and deadly. Their head contain fangs that inject poison intended to hurt and kill. These horses were deadly coming and going. As is the case with all judgments, it was intended to hurt.
Numbers 21:6
May 19, 2020
Revelation 9:20 – And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood; which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk.
Thought: The purpose of God’s judgment is not just to send death and destruction upon man. They are also intended to break the rebellious spirit of man and bring him to repentance. Unfortunately, this judgment did not have this effect upon those who were not killed. This verse reveals that they “repented not of the works of their hands.” One of their sins was idolatry. Instead of the true God, they worshipped devils and idols made of all kinds of materials. It is hard to imagine a man worshipping a god he made that can do nothing.
I Corinthians 8:4
May 20, 2020
Revelation 9:21 – Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Thought: The individuals who survived the judgments of God were of a hard heart. They would not repent of their idolatry. We are now informed that they would not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their fornications, or their thefts. They were deep in the pit of immorality and refused to change. It seems that they loved their sin more than they disliked the harsh judgments of God. This proves sin enslaves man.
Exodus 8:32
May 21, 2020
Revelation 10:1 – And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.
Thought: John had seen seven angels who, one by one, set forth God’s revelation. He now sees a seventh angel. This angel, however, is different from the others. He is not the final of seven angels. He is a mighty angel. He was dispatched from heaven and clothed in a cloud. A rainbow, a symbol of peace, was on his head. He face was as brilliant as the sun. His feet were as pillars of fire. He intervenes between the sixth and seventh angel. His mission appears to be one of mercy and not destruction. Truly, God cares for man.
Ezekiel 1:28
May 22, 2020
Revelation 10:2-3 – And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Thought: John had seen a mighty angel come down from heaven. Here, John associates three things with the angel. First, he had in his hand a little book that was opened. This was a revelation from God that was known. Second, the angel’s message was manifest throughout the world, indicated by his standing on both the land and sea. Third, his voice roared like a lion, and seven thunders uttered their voices. The message of the angel was powerful. He was like unto the heralds of kings, but his message was much more authoritative.
Psalm 65:5
May 23, 2020
Revelation 10:4 – And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Thought: John had been commanded to write the things which he saw and heard. The voice of the seven thunders, however, was not to be written. Instead, John was told to “seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.” We are impressed with the fact that the inspired writers were under the authority of God. Their message was not theirs. They wrote only the things God wanted revealed.
II Peter 1:20-21
May 24, 2020
Revelation 10:5 – And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven.
Thought: When a person testifies in a courtroom, he is sworn in. When he does, one of the gestures is to raise his right hand. The hand is raise pointing toward heaven, indicating that one is calling God to his side as evidence of the truth to which he will testify. The angel which John saw standing on the sea and on the earth makes a similar gesture. The text says that he “lifted up his hand to heaven.” He, too, will call God as a witness. My friend, there is no one higher than God who can evidence the truthfulness of our words.
Genesis 14:22
May 25, 2020
Revelation 10:6 – And sware by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.
Thought: In verse 5, the mighty angel had lifted his hand toward heaven. He now swares by God who created all things. He is God; He is not a man. He is deity; He is not a human. There is absolutely nothing that is higher than He. The thing to which the angel sware is “that there should be time no longer.” The angels is not referring to the end of time. He is speaking of no more delay in the judgment to come. When God is ready to deliver judgment, there is no hesitation. Judgment comes.
II Peter 2:1-3
May 26, 2020
Revelation 10:7 – But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Thought: The voice of the seventh angel manifests the fulfillment of the purposes of God. The “mystery” of God should be finished. A mystery is something that was at one time concealed from man, but it finally revealed to him. Man wonders: “What does mean?” He asks: “What is God doing?” When the mystery of God is finished, man looks on what God has done and he understands. In the past, what had been declared to his servants the prophets was not understood. When it comes to pass, there is clarity of understanding.
Ephesians 3:3-5
May 27, 2020
Revelation 10:8 – And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Thought: It is difficult to image being an inspired man of God and seeing a vision. The things which they saw were so real. The prophet often became a part of events themselves. Here, John is commanded to go and take the little book which is in the hand of the angel. John not only sees the vision, he experiences it. Fortunately for us, he also wrote down the things which he saw. Now, we also have what he saw and did.
Ezekiel 2:9-10
May 28, 2020
Revelation 10:9 – And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Thought: We must keep in mind that this is a vision John is experiencing. The eating of the book is not real. However, it teaches us a powerful lesson. As John ate the book, it was in his mouth “sweet as honey.” All of God’s Word is pleasant to the taste. However, after it was digested, it made his belly bitter. The application of the truth, on the other hand, is not so easy. It can have some very unpleasant effects. Whether God’s Word is sweet or bitter, it accomplishes the task designed by God.
Ezekiel 2:8-10
May 29, 2020
Revelation 10:10 – And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Thought: Even though John had been warned about the effects of the book, he ate it. The words were sweet as honey in his mouth. But, they turned bitter in his belly. Those who love God and His Word do not shy away from truth. They know that some parts of the Word are challenging, even difficult to apply. They can bring hardship to one’s life. Truth, however, is essential to one’s spiritual well-being. To shy away from it will ultimately bring spiritual death.
Ezekiel 3:1-3
May 30, 2020
Revelation 10:11 – And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Thought: The prophet’s work was never done. Again and again, God called on His faithful servants to make known His will to mankind. They prophesied to many different people. They prophesied to many nations. They spoke to those of other languages. At times, they even stood and proclaimed God’s will before kings and others of great authority. The prophet was vital in God’s plan of redemption. A faithful prophet’s role was very important and often very difficult. Thank God for noble men who willingly served as prophets.
Jeremiah 1:9-10
May 31, 2020
Revelation 11:1 – And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Thought: John is now commanded to measure the temple of God, the altar, and them that worship therein. He was given a reed like unto a rod to accomplish the task. When God has something measured, He usually marks it off as His own. The things measured belong to Him and fall under His protective care. That which is measured in this verse is the people of God. They compose the temple and were saved by means of the divine sacrifice upon the altar.
Zechariah 2:1-2
Read devotionals for June 2020
