“[B]ut in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:7).

In the days, it says.  It is in the plural.  Is this something or not?  Sometimes we can parse words so that we forget to see the overall meaning of things.  We have lived through times of tribulation, and we shall live through them again.  In this case, the “we” I speak of, is humanity.  It shall be so until the last of the days of this earth.  There will be a new heaven and earth when the old order of things passes away.

Lord, You say it plainly, and sometimes I do not listen.  I remember the time someone said, “I do not agree with that,” referring to a new heaven and earth.  Such arrogance drives the wickedness of this age.  Whether or not I agree with You, it will be as You have determined it to be.  Help me to stop agreeing or disagreeing with Your word and humbly learn how to follow Your directions.

Lord Jesus, You preached to the crowds, and You have preached to me.  You have poured Yourself into me.  Lift me up, redeem me, and create in me a new life that looks to You in, through and for all things.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is my final salvation.  Help me this day to live humbly and willingly do the things You give me to do.  May I learn from You how to be faithful.  Amen.

“Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer” (Revelation 10:5-6)

The day will come when this age is done.  It will come for you and me in the moment of our death and it will come for the earth on that great and terrible day.  This does not change the question which asks, “What kind of people should we be?”  Do not become wrapped up in trying to know the day and time.  Become focused upon the One who made all things and listen to Him.

Father in heaven, You said, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”  I often find that I listen to prognosticators and others rather than heed the words of Jesus.  I know He died that I may have grace, but I do not understand the twisted way of thinking that is in me.  By Your Spirit, lead me to have a pure and clean heart that listens to Your Son.  Lead me to listen, hear, and heed the words of eternal life.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken and I have been directed to listen to You.  Help me to take Your word deep into my being so that Your word is what guides and directs me in daily living.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know that in You alone is hope.  This world shall pass away, but Your word is forever.  Guide me in this new life and lead me into eternity according to the Father’s saving purpose, now and always.  Amen.

“When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them” (Revelation 10:4)

When the final words of this age are spoken, it will be over.  In scripture. seven is often used to describe the perfect number.  The point?  It is not ours to know all things.  We have enough to know what needs to be known.  Will you follow Christ, or will you follow yourself  (or the world)?  There are things we will find out, but these things come after faith.  You have been invited to walk with the Lord now and forever.  Those who follow Christ are heading toward being made perfect.

Lord, inquiring minds want to know.  Questions pepper our thoughts, but have I really thought about the fact that everything I need to know is already present?  Do I really need to know how it all plays out?  Do I really need to know who will or will not follow You?  What I really need to do is to repent and follow You with all my heart, mind, and soul.  All the speculation is fine as a diversion, but it is not necessary.

Lord, teach me all that I need to know.  That is, point me to what You have already revealed and then guide me in Your goodness to know that in You there is hope and an eternal future.  Lead me, Lord, into the way of life that You have promised.  Guide me by Your grace and mercy to know that in You alone is all hope and an eternal future.  Teach me to be content with the information You have given me.  Amen.

“[A]nd he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices” (Revelation 10:2-3).

No matter where you are, the word of the Lord goes forth.  Will you live into the life to which you have been called through your baptism, or will you live doing what you think is right?  This has always been the question that has been set before us by the Lord.  What will you do?  You can live a few years and then forever die to the Lord or live now and always in the Lord’s presence.

Lord, whether you are talking about the end of the age here, or just my life, it really is the same.  I have no choice concerning the events that will unfold around me.  I never have had a real choice.  I react to my circumstances.  Help me to see that I no longer need to do that.  Instead, aid me to react to Your purpose and presence.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to do what is right in Your sight always.

Thank You, Lord, for being persistent.  Thank You for being patient.  You have given me the opportunity to be a part of Your kingdom.  The saints have been praying for two thousand years to be done with this age, but You have waited.  Let me not be driven by the circumstances, but by You and live into the truth of eternity.  Guide me in the way of  ever-lasting life into Your arms of mercy.  Amen.

“I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire” (Revelation 10:1)

How many times will people cry out, “It’s not fair?”  The Lord has given us warning after warning.  He said, “Never again will I destroy you with a flood.”  He did not say that we would not be judged, nor avoid destruction.  We put words into the Lord’s mouth and believe what we want to believe.  Live according to the word of God and not according to what you want to believe.

Lord, I do think in ways that are contrary to what You have spoken.  Guide me to hear with open  ears the truth that You have spoken.  Help me to cling to Your promises and not to the wishful thinking of this age.  The light of Your presence is always with me.  Help me to see it!  Lord, You know the times and seasons and I do not.  Help me to trust You, who knows all things, and not in this wicked world which is bound for destruction.

Lord Jesus, You have given me warning after warning.  Sometimes I do not heed what You say.  Lead me to walk according to Your goodness and mercy knowing that only in You is the grace to continue forward in the upward call You have given me.  Lead me now and always and guide my footsteps to walk with You.  You are the Rock of my salvation and the hope for all that is good.  Amen.

“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21).

They did not repent.  What will it take to turn some people away from wickedness?  For some it is not possible.  There are wicked people in the world.  Some will never change.  Will you change?  Will you open yourself to the Lord and become what He would make of you?  Will you come into the faith of the Lord and walk in His ways? Will you turn to Him and not to the things He has made?

Lord God Almighty, I do not always acknowledge all Your ways, but there are times when I do.  I buy things cheaply because someone else has not been paid fairly.  I place trust in buildings and things made of wood, stone, metal, and adorned with brass.  I do these things without thinking.  Open my mind to think so that I may walk in the way that is true and pleasing to You.  Guide me in Your goodness to do all I can to be like Jesus.

My Savior Jesus, I do need saving and it begins with You.  It begins with repentance, as You have said.  Lead me to repent, Lord, and then walk in the way You would have me go.  Guide me in Your goodness to be quick to repent and slow to need grace.  Let me know in my heart that You LORD, my Triune God, are worthy of all praise, thanks  and worship.  The things that are around me will pass away, but You are forever.  Lead me into eternity.  Amen.

“For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm” (Revelation 9:19).

The Lord will touch us in ways we may not imagine.  If we knew all things, but did not have love, what would it avail us?  Many in this age know many things, but they are filled with hatred and anger.  What should we do with these things?  We are to look to the One who made us and know that He will cause what He purposes to come about in due time.  Out of the mouth comes curses and without a thought, the wicked slay.

Lord, there are many things that I do not understand.  I try to figure things out, but I really cannot figure some things out.  Lead me down the road less traveled where I spend more time thinking of You than I do about the wicked in this world.  Lead me to know that in You alone is hope and an eternal future.  Harm will come throughout this age and I know I am not exempt, but keep me in You no matter what happens.

Lord Jesus, Savior of all who believe, lead me in Your goodness to know that in You alone there is hope.  There are things I do not yet understand.  You have spoken, but it does not always register.  In due time, it will.  Rather than stopping when I am stumped, help me to live into the life You have set before me.  Guide me along the path of being humble and willing to do all that You give me to do.  Amen.

“A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:18).

The wicked will say, “Do you not care that someone will die,” while preparing to kill in mass.  We are all going to die.  Do not forget that.  What will happen when this life is over?  That is the eternal question.  Yes, we care about others, but in the insanity of this age, we forget that life is a gift from God, and He both gives life and He can take it away.  What we do with what He has given is what matters.

Lord, I know the number of people being killed has been escalating over time.  Help me to not become carried away with concern for this age, but to realize that You know that these things will happen and You are telling those who will hear to listen.  It is going to become much worse than we imagine.  Help me to not take the path of trying to figure these things out, but to walk on the humble and simple path that Jesus has placed before me.

Lord Jesus, You did not become enmeshed in the politics of those days when you walked the earth.  Help me to see that there are those who will rejoice in death and destruction.  They, like their father the devil, seek to kill, steal, and destroy.  Lead me to look to You and to be led by the example You gave while upon the earth.  Help me now and always to look to You in every circumstance and know that You, who knows all things, are leading me.  Amen.   

“And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone” (Revelation 9:17).

Who are they?  Can I figure out the times and seasons?  What about you?  Will you look to the Lord no matter what?  During the times of Napoleon, people got excited asking, “Is this it?”  During the times of Hitler, people asked, “Is this it?”  Why look at the wicked when the Gracious One is present.  Look to the Lord and be guided by His gentle hand no matter what the season looks like.

Lord, You know the times and ages that pass in this age.  Lead me by Your gentle hand to walk according to Your goodness and mercy so that I am not driven by the fears of this age.  Lead me by Your gentle hand to live looking to You and not the events in this age.  Yes, the day will come when an army of two hundred million marches forth, but until then, I am where You have placed me.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, throughout this day to concentrate on the task at hand and guide me in Your goodness to do what is right.  Lead me by Your example so that even if armies press on my door, I am looking to You.  You know what is coming.  You also know what You are making of me.  Guide me in the richness of Your grace and mercy to become what You will make of me.  Lead me this and every day.  Amen.

“The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them” (Revelation 9:16).

In what age will this number be realistic?  Are we there yet?  Are we there indeed.  We humans are impatient to get to where we think we need to be.  If you focus upon the life of Jesus, you will see that He almost seemed unconcerned about what we experience as the rush of time.  That is because God has all the time in the world, so to speak.  He is outside of time.  We will be too.

Lord, I am driven by what I think I need to accomplish.  Help me to live according to Your word and not according to the rush of this age.  I have all of my life to be perfected.  This age will run out of time as it prepares to do its continuous battle.  Lead me in life so that I may walk humbly in Your sight.  Guide me in Your goodness to do what is right and fitting in Your sight.

Lord, the armies increase in size and the warfare gets larger.  I am a part of a society that is mad and seems to be getting even crazier each day.  Help me to not look to these things, but to care for my neighbor as I care for myself.  Guide me in Your goodness to do what is right and fitting always.  Help me to not be terrorized by this world, knowing that things will get increasingly worse, but to be motivated by love for You, my Lord and God.  Amen.