The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Revelation 11-13
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 4: Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom
Background Information: Revelation 11-13
Paul wrote that the real struggle is not against flesh and blood, but rather it is against the spiritual forces of darkness that wage war against God and his people. This battle in Revelation is depicted in symbols that are at the same time spectacular and confusing. John is writing to people on the front lines with the intent of encouraging them to stay faithful in the fight. While this is God’s word to them in their time, it is also God’s word to all of his people throughout time. As a result, we must not become overly attached to assigning specific historical figures and facts to the symbols. We must also be careful to avoid seeing this as mere symbolism without real-world substance. It is symbolic, but it is symbolic of actual events. What is the meaning of this mysterious number, 666? God’s people were suffering under the persecutions of Nero, whose name, numerically, added up to 666. He was a real, evil human who brought individual last days to many of God’s people. At the same time, this mark of evil applies to all tyrannical rulers who will rise up against the people of God until the return of Christ. Of course, there will be a final demonic ruler who seeks to destroy the church, but he will simply be the last in a long line of such beasts. The daily prayer of faithful Jews through the centuries has been the “Shema.” It means “listen” or “hear.”
Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Whatever else 666 means, it is certainly a statement of rebellion against the one true God. It is the “un-Shema.” They were to write that powerful statement of the reality of the one God and a confession of faithful commitment to him on their hands and heads. In the same way, the 666 symbol of rebellion and imperfection was to be written on human heads and hands. Seven is completeness, but six is to fall short of God’s perfection. If seven is “good,” then six is “bad, bad, bad.” You need not worry about AI or some microchip implant stealing your soul in worship to the beast. You need only pay attention to your heart. Whatever someone might put on your head or hand, they cannot steal your heart if it is given over to the Lordship of Jesus. Love him with all that you are, and you are prepared for all that will be. The Bible doesn’t tell us to build bunkers in order to prepare for Armageddon, but it does tell us to build faith and faithfulness into our daily lives. We do this for the purpose of existing in ongoing readiness for either “The” end, or simply our own personal end.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Give thanks to God the Father for the gift of his son, Jesus. Pray that God would give you opportunity share the truth of the gospel. Pray for friends and family who have not trusted in Jesus.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.