Since Christ Jesus is given this title, He is placed in authority over ALL KINGS AND LEADERS of the world.  His Heavenly Father, the Creator of all, has given Him this position.

This elevates Him above the world leaders we hear of in the news on a daily basis.  Whether they realize it or not, they are subject to Him.

Just as the pastors (angels) of the 7 churches in Revelation were in the hands of the Lord, so are the world’s rulers.  Our prayers can have impact on their lives.

When we are tempted to criticize and complain, we can simply go to our Heavenly Father in prayer and give Him something to work on.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, act upon our prayers today to bring about Your glorious plan for the end of the age.  We trust You to direct the kings of the earth to accomplish Your will.

DAILY READING:  Rev. 17

Christ came to purchase us with His life and blood.  Our welfare and defense then became His responsibility.   His acts of war, as described in the book of the Revelation, have much to do with avenging the blood of His people.

Ultimately, we will live with Him forever in His Heaven, but we must never fail to realize His loving, protective hand upon us.  We are His Bride.

I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I will live this day being mindful that I don’t belong to myself.  I belong to You.  I will conduct myself as one of Your people.

DAILY READING:  Rev. 15,16

These are the elements recommended by John the writer of the Revelation for true saints to possess as the end time events unfold.

When reading the Revelation, one can give up and say, “I just don’t understand what it really means.”

Whether we understand it or not, this advice is do-able. The key is living a life that is FULL of the Lord, His Spirit, and His Word.  Our daily refilling of His presence will cause us to overcome every obstacle.  Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I am grateful for Your promises and Your commitment to KEEP us.  Fill me with Your power today so I can be a faithful witness.

DAILY READING:  Rev. 13,14

The devil, Satan, described in Revelation as a fiery red dragon, is also called the Accuser.  He stood before God day and night accusing us and trying to take away our hope.  Yet, we can overcome him by the blood of Jesus, the Lamb, and the bold proclamation of the truth of Christ.

Each day is an opportunity to be bold witnesses for Christ.  We should be offensive minded, and leave the defense to the Lord.  Our accuser is no match for the power of the gospel.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, help me to be a bold witness today.  I trust You to impact the lives of those I meet today.  Move by Your Spirit.

DAILY READING:  Revelation 10-12

Fire, smoke, brimstone, wind, scorpions, locusts … heaven has many resources available to be used as weapons against God’s foes.  He has angel armies simply described as ten thousand times ten thousand (100,000,000) which is powerful considering two angels can overcome ten thousand men.  There is no earthly force or army that has a chance against God’s Heavenly Host.

As we consider His great power, we are awed and comforted that He loves us, and is preparing a home in heaven with Him.

We will be dressed in white.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father in Heaven, You have allowed for us to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.  We testify of Your greatness.  We trust Your keeping power.

DAILY READING:  Rev. 7-9

When the Lord gets ready to usher in the millennial reign, He will reveal His wrath upon all who have resisted Him.  All the rulers of the earth will be looking for places to hide from Him, but they won’t find relief.  We can get so rattled when we see around us so much resistance to God’s ways.  We should realize that even the kings of the earth are on a leash and its in His hand.

Bow (worship) now and stand (victoriously) later, or stand now (resisting the Lord) and bow (in fear) later.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, forgive us for forgetting the fate of Your enemies.  We trust the future to You, and will honor You and Your ways everyday.

DAILY READING;  Rev. 5,6

John, the one to whom the Revelation was given, saw saints who had not “defiled their clothing.”  This refers to holy living.  They were dressed in white clothing and walked with The Lamb for all to see.  THIS is what I call an open reward.

Presently, the open rewards appear to be to those who think only of themselves.  God, however, is watching and waiting for the day when He will hand out the eternal rewards.  They will validate those who believed His promises, resisted the temptation to appease their flesh, and were sustained by His empowering grace.

Hold on!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I want to walk with You in white.  Let Your holiness saturate my life.

DAILY READING:  Rev. 3,4

This is what the resurrected Jesus said to John as he knelt before Him.  The Lord then proceeded to give him messages to the 7 churches of New Testament times.  He addressed His remarks to “Whomever had an ear to hear.”

Jesus gave words of correction, but asked for repentance on the part of the believers.

Can we likewise hear the Lord’s loving but corrective voice, and swiftly offer to turn away from whatever displeases Him?  If we overcome the challenges of this life, He promises to make it eternally worthwhile for us.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I want to hear Your loving, corrective voice.  I want to please You with every word, thought, and action.  Be exalted through my life.

DAILY READING:  Rev. 1,2

Jude, half brother to Jesus, wrote his epistle to warn the church of error, especially leaders who promoted a laxity in standards of holy living, and to challenge believers to remain faithful to God,  We, like they, are encouraged to “Build each other up in the most holy faith, pray in the power of [led by] the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  In doing so, he said we would keep ourselves safe in God’s love.

To those who undermine and destroy faith in God, there will be punishment like that of Sodom and Gomorrah whose inhabitants sought only to serve their pleasure.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, Your judgements are to be feared, but we desire to walk in truth and love and holy living.  Empower us today to reach out in love to those who are faltering.

DAILY READING:  Jude

It is easy to lose sight of God’s greatness when the government, the media, and increasing popular opinion seem to cut against Biblical teachings.  However, we are made aware by God’s Word that it is necessary for ungodliness and anti-christ influences to be manifest before Jesus in His greatness finally concludes this age.

It’s critical and necessary that Christians keep reading God’s Word on a daily basis to remain anchored on God’s unchanging standards of what’s right and what’s wrong.

Make a decision right now to give the time necessary to reading significant portions of the Bible on a daily basis.

As this devotional concludes with the book of the Revelation, we will again embark on the goal of reading through the entire Bible in one year.  It takes a mere 15 minutes per day to do it. You will be so glad you did.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, give me the grace to make a quality decision to read through the Word in one year.  I love You , and I need Your Word.

DAILY READING:  1 John 4,5; 2 John; 3 John