These are the gifts that motivate us. They seem to govern and influence other gifts at other times. These stay with us, compel us, an inform our service to our God as we serve others! Understanding and recognizing these gifts helps to realize how we function and how the Body of Christ works with its many parts. (Romans 12:3-18)

(Matthew 15:8; Psalm 37:1-7)
Is something missing? Tired of just going through the motions in your walk with God? We’ve been commanded to feel, not just to think or decide and remain emotionless. Did you know that? Jesus gifts us His joy. This week we celebrate how that joy can change our life!

The plan of God has been completed! With the new heaven and new earth, we see the rejuvenation and rebirth of Genesis. Sin and the evil one has been vacated. The dawning of the City of God, the new Jerusalem is established—His people—gloriously in His presence. There is no need for the sun, moon, or stars for He alone will illuminate. There will be no temple, chapel, or church building to gather in, for worship in His presence will be everywhere!

Jesus triumphantly returning on a white horse with the armies of heaven in tow sets up the final climax. What a glorious vision John is given! Here in what is commonly called the battle of Armageddon, the destruction of the beast and false prophet takes place and later Satan’s eternal doom.

Babylon’s fate is predicted; the great prostitute will fall. God’s people are pleaded with to “come out of” Babylon with her idolatry. This continued seduction (with includes materialistic luxury, wealth, and comfort) is demonic in nature. This is not a call for believers to physically remove themselves from this world, but to remove themselves from moral pollution.

God’s wrath has been held back from humanity because of His grace, love, and mercy. This is the glorious gospel. There is a time though when His cup of divine wrath and rage fills to overflowing. This is when God will pour out the seven bowls of wrath, His divine judgment, upon the earth. He will destroy the wicked and sinful world that is an enemy of His Christ.

A scouting party of twelve men were sent out by Moses to spy out the land prior to the Israelite armies processing it. Caleb and Joshua were different from the other spies. The other ten saw fortified cities, fighting men, and giants that seemed much stronger than they were. They stirred up fear and disbelief among many. Caleb, however, brought back a report according to his convictions. He decided to follow the Lord his God wholeheartedly, which was rewarded greatly. What overwhelming giants in our own life are we choosing to focus on instead of on the power of God almighty?

One of the reasons given for why the dragon (Satan) was originally cast out of heaven was so that he would no longer be the accuser of the saints before our God day and night. Something he was dismissed over he still does constantly, to this day. Accusing, ringing in our ears, polluting our minds. He brings up our past, our sins and distorts our present and future thoughts to us. This is the enemy of our souls. The dragon always makes war against the woman and her offspring.

The second half of the book of Revelation begins with the deeper reason for the mostly outward conflicts facing the Church highlighted in the first 11 chapters—namely, the war between Christ and Satan! John sees certain aspects of this ancient, yet constant as of now, enemy that he reveals to his readers. This week we examine Satan as the Dragon; trying to take out the woman and the plan of God throughout history.

The seventh trumpet sounds the beginning of the third woe that contains the seven bowl judgments culminating at the end of Revelation chapter 18. The seventh trumpet is also the announcement that the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord. Jesus taught us to pray, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This is the answer to that prayer! Chapter 11 concludes the first half of the b