“And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:11).

You are either heading in the direction of becoming like Christ or else heading towards hell.  There are only two directions.  There is no in-between.  The torment is in the insane mind that thinks it can be the center of all things.  The beast is pride and the worship is of the self.  The mark is the self-destruction that pride brings to all who live with it.  Hear the word of the Lord; choose life and live.

Lord, pride is within me.  My mind does play games, and I think all kinds of things.  Help me to live life as it is meant to be lived.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I may walk humbly with You, my Savior and Lord.  You know us and You know the mess we are in.  You have come so that we might be lifted out of our messes to live life as You have created it to be lived.  Lead me to abide in You, Lord.

Lord Jesus, save me from myself.  Save me from that beast, pride.  Guide me in the way of Christ-life so that I may become more like You each day.  Help me to understand that in You alone is life and liberty.  Thank You for bearing my burden so that I could walk in the freedom of Your grace.  Thank You for the salvation You purchased to redeem me from the eternal smoking pit.  Amen.

“Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:10-11).

Listen to the word.  “And receives” is what is written.  Will the Lord hold us accountable for what we have no choice over?  Of course not.  But do watch what you worship.  Do not worship anyone but the Lord.  Do not look to other things to satisfy the longing that your living in the truth of the Lord will fill.  Only in the One who made you will you find the longing that is in your heart.

Lord, there are so many idols in our world.  There are so many things that people lift up and worship.  I too have joined them.  Let me not be caught either with the mark, or in worship of anyone other than You.  You alone are to be worshiped.  Guide me out of the mess of this world so that I may clearly see the truth of the pagan practices that have been always going on around me and in this age.

Lord Jesus, You called out those who pretended to be religious, but had hearts of stone.  Lead me in the way of life You intend so that I do not worship the false idols of this age, nor willingly take their mark.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may humbly walk with You my Savior and learn from You as You teach me day by day.  You know what the obstacles are.  Lead me through them so that I may remain faithful to You.  Amen.

“And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality” (Revelation 14:8-9).

Sex sells.  That’s what we’ve heard about for a long time now.  Everything gets charged up and then we titter and think our immoral thoughts are ours alone.  Imagine a day when all this garbage will be gone.  Imagine a day when we see people not as they seem but for who they are.  Imagine heaven.  The day is coming when people from all times and places shall gather and love one another as the Lord teaches us to love.

Lord, once again I do like the idea of this, but I find it hard to comprehend.  There are times when I am nothing but a bundle of self-serving nerves reacting to everything around me.  Guide me up and out of this mess so that I can co-operate with the real work of Your Spirit transforming me to be like You.  Teach me how to get out of the way of what You are doing in me.

Come, Holy Spirit, and work in earnest on what You know needs to be worked upon.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may now and always be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me in the way I need to be led and help me in the way I need to be helped.  Teach me how to be pliable in Your hands and unyielding in the hands of the wicked one.  Guide me where I need to go now and forever.  Amen.

“And I saw another angel flying in midheaven with an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and sea and springs of waters” (Revelation 14:5-7).

How long will God have mercy?  He truly loves us and desires that none would perish.  Right up to the end, He offers the Gospel of grace.  Remember the thief who repented and is with the Lord in paradise.  Who knows but that the whole of this age is simply about the opportunity to turn to the Lord in repentance and live?  But will you wait until you hear an angel proclaiming from the heavens, or will you begin today and look to the Lord of life and live?

Lord, in this crazy mixed-up world I become disoriented and do not know which way to turn.  But that’s not true.  I do know which way to turn.  I need to repent and turn to You.  But I do not really want to do that because I am not honest with myself.  Lord, save me and turn my heart toward You.  You have come to do just that.  Help me to not waste time, but to turn to You and live eternally.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the gift of life that You give to those who see the light.  It is so hard, and it is so simple.  Guide me, dear Lord, so that I may humbly walk with You forever.  If it be Your will, let me be a messenger to another who has not yet truly heard the word of truth.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life and help me to walk humbly with You, my God and Savior.  Amen.

“And no lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless” (Revelation 14:5).

The person with whom we have the greatest difficulty being honest is ourselves.  When we become like Christ, there is no longer any deceit.  Think about everything Jesus said and then think about how often you do not live the words He spoke and how they conflict with what you are truly like right now and where you go astray.  As to being blameless?  Christ has taken all blame upon Himself and on the cross it died with Him.  We are called to be reconciled to God.

Lord, I find these thoughts almost impossible to begin to comprehend.  In my mind it is just You and me right now and You know how I twist and turn things all the time.  I long for the day when I too shall speak only truth.  To live in a place where everyone is blameless and truthful.  It must begin with me and that is an amazing thought.  Lead me, O Lord, to do what is right even if others do not like what is right and true.

Lord Jesus, You have taken all my sins upon Yourself and on the cross the blame died with You.  I understand that.  I do not understand the evil that is within me that causes me to think, say, and do things that are not right or true.  Help me to become honest, first with myself, and then in a gracious way, truthful with others.  Guide me into the life where I will become what You intend.  Amen.

“These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are celibate. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from mankind as first fruits to God and to the Lamb” (Revelation 14:4).

We each have a call from the Lord.  A vocation, that which the Lord has created us to do.  These are things the Lord gives.  Do not be surprised.  Look at creation and you see the great diversity that the Lord has created.  The Lord has given you a vocation.  Not a job, but a heart’s desire to fulfill.  Are you walking with the Lord and living out what He has given you to do?  Live for the Lord, for He has redeemed you.

Lord, sometimes I do not know why I am living.  I go through the motions, but I often do not understand what is happening around me.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may humbly walk in that way You have created me to walk with You.  Guide me in Your goodness to know both that I have the life You have created and its purpose You are awakening me day by day.

Lord Jesus, You redeemed me with Your own blood.  With Your life, You freed me from the penalty on my head because of sin.  Help me to not just go on living, but to live with the purpose You have implanted in me from the beginning.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone, the Author of life, and my faith, is all that I need.  Help me each day to seek You and Your righteousness.  Amen.

“And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to learn the song except the 144,000 who had been purchased from the earth” (Revelation 14:3).

There are things of faith which only those who have faith understand.  It is not a secret, but the wisdom that comes when the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the blind.  Imagine describing sight to one born blind.  The faithful know their hope is a real assurance.  They sing about it.  As many as believe are the ones who are saved.  Do not look at these numbers in absolute and modern terms but see that  the numbers include those from every tribe, folk, tongue, and nation.

Lord from the twelve tribes, the twelve apostles, from all times and places, there are those whom you have called and awakened to the reality of eternity.  That is Your business.  You have privileged me to be a part of what You are doing.  You have redeemed us by Your own shed blood.  Bring us together so that we no longer see the distinctions of tribe, folk, or nation, but understand that we are all one in You.

Lord Jesus, there is a much that needs to happen in my heart.  I understand enough to hear these things and believe them.  Then, I go about my daily life, and I do not live according to what I have heard.  You know the difference.  Help me to join with You in what You are doing so that I can move further along this path that You have set before me.  Abiding in Your goodness, may I become more like You with each day You give me.  Amen.

“And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps” (Revelation 14:2).

How does one describe what they do not understand?  Is that not true of many of the things we experience in faith when trying to tell an unbeliever?  But press on anyway and tell the story of our God and Savior.  The day will come when the voices who know the Lord will gather and sing of His goodness. grace, and mercy.  Why do you worry about what you sound like.  Sing the tune and lyrics the Lord gives you.

Lord, there are many things I do not understand.  The longer I live, the greater the list of things I do not understand.  Help me to seek not so much to understand all things as to live life as You have created it to be lived.  Help me to be thankful for what You have given me and to tell others of the Good News of great joy.  Lead me from where I am to join those who are with You.

Lord Jesus, between the confession and the encouragement to go and tell others is the reality of inaction in me.  You know what it will take to move me from where I am to where You are taking me.  Lord, You lead this.  I’ve been trying too hard and seeking to lead too long.  Be the leader who is directing me in thought, word, and deed.  Guide me according to, well, You.   Guide me and teach me how to follow humbly.  Amen.

“Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1).

There are those who retain the mark of promise, the seal of the Holy Spirit.  From every tribe, tongue, folk, and nation they come.  As with many places in Scripture, it boils down to the simple fact that either you will go with the Lord, or else remain in the rebellion of this age.  To whom will you turn?  The Lord has the words of eternal life and in Him you have hope and His promise.

Lord, I do not understand why I am so conflicted.  You have given me promises and a hope that I will become like You.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I do not get swallowed up by this world and its crazy ways.  Marks, leaders, constant lies, and deception have always been around.  If I am in You, nothing can snatch me out of Your hands.  You are the Savior, and You are the author and finisher of my faith.

Lord, do not let me be caught up in all of the emotional hoopla of this age.  I am in You and nothing can take me out of Your hand.  I can reject you, Lord forbid, but I cannot be taken from You.  Guide me now in the way of true faith so that I remain in the faith, living by faith, and growing in Your likeness.  Help me, dear Lord, to see past the temptations that will come my way so that I may remain faithful always.  Amen.

“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six” (Revelation 13:18).

What is the mark of rebellion?  Why does a tyrant want worship?  Why do the wicked lie and then want you to accept the lie as truth?  Do not focus upon these questions.  They are a distraction.  Turn to the Lord and seek Him while He may be found.  He is truth.  The many beasts who have come into the world want to be worshiped.  The Lord has made clear that He alone is God and He alone is to be worshiped.

Lord, I do fall into the trap of seeking answers to questions that really do not matter.  So, I know some things.  So what?  The difference in my life that matters is Your Spirit in me.  Being conformed to the image of Christ, becoming like Him, is the hope sanctification gives.  Turn my eyes from the distractions and marks of this world to live in the hope the mark of my baptism gives me.

Lord Jesus, You died to free us to walk with You in faith.  Guide me, dear Lord, to live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Keep me from taking the mark of any of the fakers in this world so that I may live in the faithfulness You give me.  No matter the cost, keep my faith in the forefront and lead me according to the Father’s will.  Help me always to abide in You alone, maturing in this faith You have given me.  Amen.