“Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

There are those in the world who go along to get along.  Willing to accommodate just about anything, they compromise and join in the rebellion against the Lord.  With their minds, they check out and do not think.  With their hands, they willingly do whatever the wickedness of the day requires them to do.  The mark of the beast has always been unwillingness to look to the Lord and follow Him in all His ways.

You know on the one hand, Lord, that I am unable to follow You in all of Your ways.  It does not mean that I do not want to, it is just that I often find that I do the things I do not want to do and do not do what I ought.  Surely this is not what You mean for me to do.  But I have been castigated for being Christian.  People do treat me differently, but so what.  Your kingdom is forever.  Lead me to be a part of Your kingdom and not be overly concerned about what others may think of me.

Jesus, Lord and Master, You came the first time to provide salvation for as many as believe.  You are coming the second time to separate out those who chose to walk with You as opposed to those who ignored You and adopted the way of this wicked world.  Guide me Lord Jesus to walk humbly with You, my Lord and Savior, and live according to all the directions You give, doing so as best I can in this wicked world.  Teach me how to increase my faithfulness to You.  Amen.

“And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time” (Revelation 20:2-3).

I confess to you that I do not fully understand what the Lord is saying here.  I am skeptical of anyone who tells you they do.  What this does tell me is that Satan, the devil, is under the power of our Lord.  Never believe the lie that tells you otherwise.  God has a purpose for everything and even if we cannot yet comprehend what He is doing, know that all power and authority belong to the Lord.

Lord, I do want to know what this means.  But will knowing all that this means change who I am or what I need to do?  No, it will not.  Rather, help me to focus upon the life You have given me knowing that there is much work to be done in me if I am to be like Christ.  Guide me always in the way of eternal life so that I may now and always walk in Your presence.

My Lord and Savior, You are the One who binds and loosens.  You have given some delegated authority such that they may, in Your name and by Your authority, bind and loose, but it is by Your power and authority.  Lead me by Your power and authority, in the baptism by which You brought me into Your promise and to be Your disciple and teach me how to obey all that You have commanded.  Lord, guide me where I need to go.  Amen.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand” (Revelation 20:1).

We live in a mixed-up world.  Literally!  The unrepentant sinner lives alongside the one who seeks to be a saint.  We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against powers, forces, and principalities in this age.  But this age is bound in time.  Eternity is with the Lord forever.  We are called into eternity with the Lord, and the wicked one and all the unrepentant will be bound in the abyss forever.

Lord, there is a choice before me.  You have called me to repent of that which drives me into rebellion against You to learn how to live as Your child, like Christ, with You now and forever.   I do not know how to do this.  Take my hand and lead me from where I am to where I need to be.  You are coming to judge the living and the dead.  Come. Lord Jesus. and sift through our hearts so that we learn to obey You.

Lord Jesus, You who are the judge of the living and the dead, sift my heart and find those things which need to be removed lest I too be one who joins with those chained in perdition.  Let me not fear, for You alone are my Savior, but teach me to rely upon You wholly so that I may be guided in Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me today, Lord, in acting with righteousness so that I may live knowing that You alone are the One who leads me.  Amen.

“And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:21).

The devil has mocked the Lord since the beginning, but the truth is that everything that exists came into being with His Word.  The LORD speaks and it is so.  The sword of the Word both saves and kills.  It kills the sinner and raises the saint.  It slays the sinner and condemns the wicked.  The Word of the Lord gives promise and the promise of salvation is for those who believe and obey.

What is belief Lord, that I should do this and though I die, live?  Is not my belief what I do?  Is this why Your Word keeps reminding me that my actions really do matter, for they reflect what I actually believe?  Lord, I may not know many things, but I hear Your voice which has called me through the water of my baptism into faith.  You have given me faith, but I need Your Word to cut through my heart so that I may live.

Lord Jesus, where there is unbelief, slay it.  Where there is hesitance, spur me on.  Where I am not acting when, where, and how I should, lead me, Lord, according to Your goodness and mercy.  Guide me always, Lord, so that I may now and always walk humbly with You, whose Word holds true and stands forever.  You are the author of my faith.  Speak into me all that is needed to lead me into eternal life with You.  Amen.

“And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

The day is coming when all the wicked will be judged.  Those who seem to rule with authority and power will fall too.  All who defy the Lord will wind up with the wicked one.  You know these things.  Why do you freely ignore the sin in you when the cure is already available?  This is the question we ask of others, but it is also the question we each must ask ourselves.

Lord, why do I ignore You when I know what is right.  Before I do something contrary to Your Word, I must first ignore the Holy Spirit telling me not to.  I do not do the things I ought but do the very things I hate.  I do need to be saved.  Prick my conscience so that I see these things and do not act upon them.  Help me not just to react, but to willingly act according to Your will.  Help me to see clearly so that I walk the right way and do those things which are good in Your sight.

Lord Jesus, this is the moment from which You alone can save me.  I live in the paradox of life where I do not do what I should, but do the things I know are wrong.  Lead me, Lord, so that, following You, I am quick to repent, slow to give into temptation, and always willing to confess.  Help me understand more and more each day how to live this new life that You have given me.  Lord, save me from myself.  Amen.

“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army” (Revelation 19:19).

Even knowing that all is lost, wickedness would rather fight to the end rather than confess the truth.  We have seen this with nations who act wickedly.  They would not stop until all was lost.  This sinful rebellion is in us all.  We would rather be destroyed than to admit that we were wrong.  Many of the troubles in our world, even amongst those who call themselves Christians begins at this point.

Lord, I do have a stubborn streak that runs deep in me.  I do resist simply repenting, confessing, and moving on in the right direction.  Guide me Lord so that I may not live the way of this world but clearly see the Gospel way which leads me in repentance to live as You have directed us to live.  I do not want to be with the armies of the wicked, but on the narrow path that leads to righteousness.

Come, Holy Spirit, and set me to the task of living out my Christianity this day.  You are within me, and I ask that You lead me.  You know where my stubbornness gets in the way.  You know where I need to repent.  Lead me, Lord, so that I may humbly submit to what is right and good.  Guide me to be led by You where You will lead me this day.  Help me to willingly go where You lead and do what You ask.  Amen.

“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great feast of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, and small and great” (Revelation 19:17-19)

Those who have lived for the supposed power they thought they could have in this world will be devoured.  Their wicked will be destroyed and be no more.  The birds of the air will devour their dead flesh.  How sad that it will end this way.  If only they had repented.  But there are many who would rather fight to have things the way they want them than to live the way the Lord made us to live.

Lord, there are times when I join in the rebellion.  I want what I want and do not follow Your ways.  Too many seem to follow this path.  First, let me see in myself where I do these things and then, second, take this attitude out of my heart so that I become a willing and humble servant.  Lord, I always want to be with You for You alone give true hope and a promise that is forever.

Lord Jesus, renew my heart and make it clean.  Lead me today to walk where You lead, doing what You would have me do.  Let me not join with those who think there is power to be had in this world.  Instead, guide me into the goodness You demonstrated while You walked the earth.  In You, my Lord and Savior, I can do these things and live into Your likeness, being obedient as I follow You.  Amen.

“And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).

Who is this that we are dealing with?  We are not talking about the gentle Savior we often see portrayed in pictures.  All the power this world has displayed is as nothing compared to God.  The power of the universe in its expanse is nothing.  All the tyrants and leaders of the world put together are nothing.  The Lord God Almighty, Creator all things is the Lord of all lords and the King of all kings.

Lord, You are!  You have always been.  We and everything around us exist because You spoke existence into being and You sustain it by Your Word.  You have given the only hope anyone can have through Your Word.  You speak both grace and judgement.  You are Sovereign and it shall be as You have determined it to be.  Open the eyes of those who have not yet seen to see the truth of all eternity.

Lord Jesus, You have taught me to pray.  Lead my prayers to the Father through Your Name in the Holy Spirit.  Guide me to live in the will of the Father and not my own.  Help me live in the reality that the power, glory, and kingdom are Yours now and forever.  Help me to learn humility and walk according to the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Lead me, Lord and Savior, now and forever.  Amen.

“From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty” (Revelation 19:15).

The Word of the Lord is a mighty two-edged sword.  The power of the Almighty is what has brought all things into existence.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His word endures forever.  His Word will suppress our sins and produce what is right and good.  His Word will suppress our pride and condemn what is wrong and evil.  The Lord is Sovereign, doubt it not, and His dominion is forever.

Lord, there is no quibbling with You.  There is no wiggle room.  You have spoken plainly, and we humans are the ones who try to justify ourselves and wiggle our way out of situations.  Open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf so that the simple truth of Your Gospel may be known.  Only in You, who was, is, and is to come, is there eternal authority and power.  It is Yours alone.

Lord Jesus, I encounter the gentle Savior in the Gospels.  But You are also the Eternal Sovereign in whom resides all power and authority.  Guide me this day, Lord and Master, so that I may humbly obey You, the author and finisher of my faith.  You know where I need to go and what I need to do.  Guide me by the Your Holy Spirit to walk as You lead me this day.  Amen.

“And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses” (Revelation 19:14).

Those whose robes have been dipped in the blood of the lamb join with our Lord.  Who are they that are with the Lord when He comes?  The saints of the Lord, who have been made sisters and brothers of the Lord, children of the Heavenly Father, join with Him to usher in the eternal reign.  Though your garments be stained with sin, He will wash them white as snow.  Will you be with the Lord in His kingdom?

This is the real question that is before us all.  We are called through our baptism to join with the Lord.  To join with Him, we must take up our cross and symbolically die with Him.  He then resurrects us in a new life.  This life is the life of sanctification we live walking the narrow road.  None of this is new.  This is what has been taught you since the first time you heard the Gospel.  Are you walking with the Lord toward that day when He ushers in His eternal kingdom?

Lord, You know where I am and the state of my heart.  You are the Savior, so it is not a matter of what I have or have not done.  But, do help me to take seriously this call You have given me through my own baptism to walk humbly with You, my Lord and Maker.  You know where I need to go today.  You know all that is needed.  Lead me Lord in the way I need to go and strengthen me to walk with You.  Amen.