Author: joelnagel

Joel Nagel

12.31.2020

Revelation 20-21

We did it! Great job to all who contributed – may these resources inspire many!

Despite its reputation for being a book of prophecy, these chapters are some of the only future looking chapters in Revelation. As I see it, almost all of what preceded these chapters has already happened. These apocryphal passages give us a glimpse into God’s tomorrow with figurative style, symbolism, and numerology.

The thousand years of chapter 20 has given birth to a handful of theological positions on end times. But I believe that like the other numbers in Revelation, these are figurative – using Hebrew numerology (10x10x10) to express a fulness of time that could be any number of years. after giving us many numbers that are less than complete throughout the book, we’re being told that this is it. No more partial judgment – this is the real thing. Death was defeated by Jesus on the cross and now we get to see it.

With the world freed from sin and death, we don’t go up to heaven – a new heaven and a new earth are joined. Christ marries his bride the church. God with us! The rest of the chapters stylistically dream about the intimate eternity with God that looms on the horizon until we reach the last word of God’s word which is fittingly, “Amen.”

Key Verse:

Revelation 21:5

“Behold, I am making all things new.”

Ever wonder what God is doing right now? He’s making everything new! He’s a God of renewal and he has power to restore anything that’s broken. He’s doing it on a cosmic level and the last day will be a revealing of a restored creation with God and his people no longer separated by the curse of sin and death – just like it should have been.

What a great verse to end this year long challenge with and what a great verse to take us into the New Year.

What do you want to see renewed or restored in your life? God can do it because Jesus has done it!

Happy New Year!

Steven Van Bueren

12.30.2020

Revelation 17-19

Jill Perez

12.29.2020

Revelation 14-16

Summary

In this look at Chapter 14 His second coming, we will see Christ being praised for the redemption of His people; the protection of His people; and His wrath that will destroy the kingdoms of Satan…

1. The Redeemed of God singing a song of praise to their Redeemer, the Lamb (14:1-5)
2. The Messages Of The Three Angels (14:6-13)
3. The Two reapings Of The Earth (14:14-20)

In chapter 15, we will see the contents of trumpet 7 being prepared to fall upon Satan’s kingdoms.  In chapter 16, we see the actual bowls described in detail as they are poured out and we will see the contents of trumpet 7, in other words bowls 1-7, being poured out upon Satan’s kingdoms

What is one key verse? 

Revelation 15:2  

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God

I chose this scripture because it shows that we will all face persecution in this life in varying degrees but there is a reward for withstanding those trials and for overcoming Satan and the reward is being able to stand before God (the sea of tranquility) with a harp.

How does what you read change your vision of God?

This scripture changes my vision of God because it paints a picture of how much God is looking forward to seeing us face to face and that he is eagerly waiting to reward us and celebrate with us.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself/others?

This scripture helps to change my view of the trials I am going through and makes me proud of going through trials and still loving God and others through them.  This also makes me want to work harder with others to persevere through their trials.

How will you Go with God because of this reading?

This will help me to handle things that come my/others way with a different perspective, a heavenly one.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters?

I saw Jesus being the one to lay the MOST perfect example of perseverance through trials and being willing to die for what he believed in.

Phil Perez

12.28.2020

Revelation 8-13

Summary

Book Recommendation – Worthy is the Lamb by Ray Summers: notes taken from that book.

This section begins with the opening of the 7th seal.  What a dramatic scene as the 7th seal is opened and a brief prelude takes place before each of the 7 trumpets are blown.  Trumpets are calls to war, calls to repentance, warnings of judgments.  The first 4 trumpets represent the woes upon nature.  These are not final judgments as only ⅓ of the earth is touched.  Horrific events are meant to remind us of God’s judgments and lead us to repentance.  Thus, God is saying I have the means of destroying your enemies.  The next 2 trumpets are woes upon mankind.  The apocalyptic language causes many to look for symbolism that isn’t there and take the book out of the context of a church that is under severe persecution by the Roman Empire and specifically emperor Domitian.  The 5th trumpet is symbolism for the internal corruption of the empire.  The name destruction is another way of saying the devil, also written as Abaddon, and Apollyon.  The sixth trumpet symbolizes the external invasion of the Empire.  It is worth noting that this even lines up nicely with Gibbons’ description of the rise and fall of the empire as the 3 reasons for the fall: Natural calamities, Internal Corruption, and External invasion.  This vision is given as a means of reassurance to the Christians to help them see that Rome will never triumph over Christianity.  When you don’t repent upon God’s punishment you bring heavier judgments upon you.  10:1-11:13 is parenthetical, it pictures swift retribution in 4 illustrations before the 7th trumpet is blown in 11:14.  The victorious outcome is pronounced before the conflict even begins.  In the remainder of the book Judgment on the Empire is followed by judgment on evil.  The dragon in chapter 12 is the devil, the radiant woman and her children is either the persecuted church or Israel.  V.17 “the rest of her seed” must be a reference to Christians.  The first beast in chapter 13 is the Roman Emperor Domitian who demanded to be worshipped.  The second beast who compels people on earth to worship the first beast is a reference to the “Concilia” or “Commune” which was the entity created by the emperor to enforce emperor worship.  Chapter 13 ends with “The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast because it is the number of a man.  His number is 666”  This is a reference to the first beast in chapter 13, the Roman Emperor Domitian.  There are many cases of numerical gymnastics done to translate names to numbers but they don’t fit the setting for the book which was written most definitely during the time of Domitian.  The number is significant, not the name.  The number 6 was an evil number in ancient Hebrew society as it fell short of 7 the perfect number.  Raise it to a series as in 666, and you have a representation of a potent evil or an evil which there can be no greater.  It’s like saying evil rasied to it’s highest power.  The picture starting in chapter 12 is of the devil (Dragon) Domitian (first beast), Concilia (second Beast).  Worshipping the emperor was a test of every facet of life for the Christian during this time period.    

Key Passage:

Revelation 8.7 “The first angel blew his trumpet and hail and fire, mixed with blood, were hurled to the earth.  So a third of the earth was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up”

I chose this passage because it is an example of God’s judgment being pronounced

How does this help/change my view of God?

It reinforces my trust in God as the perfect judge who knows how to save his children while punishing those who reject him.  

How does this verse help/change my vision of others?

It helps me to remember to be patient with people who struggle with God’s judgments in the bible.  I often can take for granted a faithful view that trusts in God’s judgments, while others can struggle with how to interpret them.  For some God does not look like a safe place or person to draw near to when they look at the judgments he enacts.

How will you go with God from this reading?

I will be more gentle with others who don’t know how to handle God’s judgments.  I will take their struggle more seriously.  I will also look for ways the world tries to get me to “worship the beast” those with power who exalt themselves. 

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters?  

In chapter 8.3-5 I believe it is the conquering Jesus who is hurled to Earth in the prelude to the 7 trumpets.  The victorious Jesus is all throughout the book.  

Alex Bryant

12.26.2020

Revelation 4-7

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

After relaying Jesus’ letters to the seven churches of Asia things start getting weird. John shares his vision of God, which resembles the vision Ezekiel saw; full of lightning and thunder, fire, and four faced creatures with lots of eyes. He explains that the four-faced creatures were worshiping God constantly along with 24 elders. After this he talks about a scroll which was sealed with seven seals, and which nobody appeared worthy to open until a slain Lamb appeared and took the scroll, after which point the four-faced creatures and the elders began worshiping the Lamb. Then the Lamb began to open the seven seals of the scroll. At each of the first four seals a horse with a rider was released, first a white horse whose rider came to conquer, then a red horse whose rider took away peace from earth, then a black horse with scales whose rider talked about inflated grain prices, then a pale horse whose rider’s name was Death, you can imagine what he was given authority to do. At the opening of the 5th seal John saw the souls of all those who had been martyred for the word of God, and at the opening of the 6th seal there was an earthquake, the sun was darkened, the moon turned to blood, the stars fell out of the sky, and the rich and powerful people of the earth all hid in caves for fear of the Lamb. After this it talks about how 144,000 of Israel, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes will be sealed with a mark on their foreheads. Then an uncountable multitude from every nation stood before the Lamb and worshiped him.

What is one key verse?

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the lamb’”

Revelation 7:9-10

How does what you read change your vision of God?

It reminds me that it was always God’s plan to include people from every nation, tribe, and language in his kingdom family, and that the salvation of God is powerful enough to unite even the most different of people.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

It helps me remember that God desires all people to be saved, and that he considers me a co-worker in that task. God has chosen us as helpers in bringing about this vision that John sees.

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I want to be more intentional about reaching out, especially even to those who are different than I am.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

I see Jesus in the Lamb, slain for our sin, and the only one worthy to open the scroll, “worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

Cassie Bryant

12.25.2020

Revelation 1-3

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

John gets a revelation from God. He writes the testimony of Jesus Christ and records what he saw from the angel. John is also tasked with sharing the things that were and shall be after meaning the situations in the seven churches in Asia. John had a vision about the seven churches and instructions for them.

What is one key verse?

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Revelation 2:4-5

How does what you read change your vision of God?

God is very clear. Sometimes it can be easy to feel like there is so much we don’t know or fully understand about the Bible but God is clear. We can’t forget to do the basic things especially as the world will get us to focus on anything else. We must fix our eyes onto Jesus and remember our love for him and his almighty power. Everything else comes after our mind is right with God.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

I need to be excellent at the basics of my faith. I can’t forget the importance or elemental faith and Godly repentance. 

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I want to search out ways to focus on God more. Nature is a major reminder for me so spending more time in prayer out in God’s nature.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

Jesus was communicating with John in these chapters.

Tatiana Reinbrecht 

12.24.2020

Jude

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

Jesus’s brother is addressing the false teachers even though he was intending to write a letter to his friends about salvation. He reminds his readers that they shared a common salvation and alerted them to continue to be vigilant in contending for their faith. Juse then tells them how their opponents vices (vs.4). He explains the judgment that has already come from God in verses 5-7 & 8-10. Then Jude compares them to three men who went astray in the past – Cain, Balaam, Korah placed the ungodly in the same category. He closes the book with the prophecy of Enoch. Outside of these warnings from Jude, we see God’s stunning grace in verses 24-25

What is one key verse?

Jude 1:20-23 “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

How does what you read change your vision of God?

I would not say this changes my vision about God but instead reiterates the love God has for His people. He doesn’t want us to be caught off guard or not well equipped for all his works. He is hoping that we are making every effort to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:3-11) – with that, being aware of who is around us. 

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

We see the principles with today’s false teachers – errant teaching and promiscuous living will have dire consequences. Jude was writing (contending) to the believers because of their lives. He was persistent in warning them to not give up on the love of God in this crucial time in their lives and the life of the church. 

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

In the beginning of Jude, he refers to himself as “ a slave to Jesus Christ and a brother of James ” – he did not let his birth dictate his “authority” in the letter but instead assured the readers that he was a follower of his Savior. I love that! It calls me higher as a disciple – I want to be known for who I follow and what I do as a follower instead of “who I know” or “who I am related to”. Which in turn helps me see others in faith in a similar way. 

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

He is everywhere! Jesus warned us constantly about the unrepentant towns (Matthew 11:20-24) or the teachers and the experts of the Law, who were not teaching according to the scriptures (Luke 11:37-54). So for his own brother to continue to remind us of a similar character in those who are around us – we ought to take note. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE 

I pray you all enjoy the season – though we all may be apart from the ones we normally would spend the time with – we are all together in spirit.

Kyle Perkins

12.23.2020

2 – 3 John

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

In 2 John, the author identified himself as “the elder,” and wrote as though he was writing to a woman. It was speculated that the recipient was either a whole church, or an actual woman. The author encouraged the recipient, of this letter, to walk in love and in step with the Word. The author also warned the recipient to be watchful of those who preached falsely about Jesus.

The letter of 3 John was written to someone named Gaius. In this letter, it was mentioned that those who preach the Gospel needed support from other followers in the faith. The author addressed a character named, Diotrephes, who had acted defiantly toward the authority of the church. The author also encouraged Gaius to abstain from evil and then lifted up an individual named, Demetrius, at the end of the letter.  

What is one key verse?

“4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.” – 2 John 1:4-6 ESV

I appreciate how these verses not only call us to follow the Word, but also encourages us to love each other. It goes on to say that love includes obeying the Word. These verses remind me to not only be invested in the Word, but to be invested in it with my brothers and sisters. As followers of Christ, I think these verses are calling us to sharpen one another, through love, with the Word of God.

How does what you read change your vision of God?

God gave us a community of believers for a reason. He has not only given us his Word, but also given us one another to be guided on our paths to living righteously for Him. 

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

As a follower of Christ, I am obligated to be concerned for my fellow brothers and sisters in the faith. If I notice that one of them is falling short, then it is my duty, as their sibling in Christ, to direct them correctly on their path with love and God’s Word.

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I think it is important for me to share my spiritual time with other people in the faith. I could look for opportunities to go on prayer walks, as I social distance with someone, or have zoom calls with others that include scripture reading and reflection. 

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

As I think about investment in the Word, and in other people, I am reminded of the missionary work Jesus lived out on Earth. Jesus was always interacting with people and sharing God’s Word with them. With love and the Word, Jesus sharpened the lives of many people at that time, and continues to do so today!

Jeff Wenta

12.22.2020

1 John

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

I feel empowered by what John shares in this letter.  It is like being able to hang out with my own physical father on his best day – walking along – hearing him gush about God’s love for me and about how to know who the wolves in sheep’s clothing are.  It’s like he is telling me secrets that only princes get to know.  He gives us clarity about how we should perceive and treat others around us then he gives us a glimpse of eternity – who we are in eternity. Then he brings us back to Earth so may we see our struggles with real human relationships in that light.

What is one key verse?

One key verse is 1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

How does what you read change your vision of God?

John wants me to see “what great love the Father has lavished” on me by choosing to make me his child.  Do I see God in this way?  Do you?  John wants us to!

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

John shows us that we are not just pottery, but children born of love, not just masterpieces, but beautiful, “dear,” children. Not just me but my brothers and sisters as well.

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I will love God back fiercely by loving his other children fiercely.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

I see God’s fierce love for us in Jesus’ decision to lay down his life for us – modeling how we should see God and his love for his children.

Lisa Streng

12.21.2020

2 Peter   

Summarize the day’s reading in one paragraph. 

Peter is writing this letter to believers to warn them about false teachers who are saying that since Jesus had not yet returned, He won’t be returning.  They are saying that if Jesus isn’t returning, then there is no expectation of judgment, and if there’s no expectation of judgment, then anything goes. Peter explains why this isn’t true and testifies to them that he was an eyewitness to Jesus Christ during His ministry and can vouch for the Truth. Peter also reminds them of the reliability of the prophets and their messages and of God’s judgment through the ages. He encourages them to remember what they’ve been taught and to live lives pleasing to God, not only to benefit their community now, but also for the eternal reward.

What is one key verse? Psalm 59:17

2 Peter 3:10-13

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[a]

¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.^[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Why? 

I chose these verses because I think we can all use a good reminder that what we believe is TRUE, the Savior that we follow is REAL, He was FORETOLD by the prophets, SEEN and HEARD by the disciples, MURDERED, RISEN, and ENTHRONED!  The forgiveness that we received is POWERFUL, the Holy Spirit COUNSELS us, the way that we live MATTERS, and God’s JUDGMENT IS COMING!

How does what you read change your vision of God?

This passage reminds me of how POWER, PATIENT, and PUNTUAL God is.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

It reminds me that as believers we need to be aware that there are false teachers/ideologies NOW in this present time, and that we need to be on our toes. We need to be vigilant and watchful and be brave enough to speak the truth in love to one another and to the world. satan is crafty and is trying to get us to fall in line with the world’s version of the truth. We need to remember who we are (disciples of Christ), what we believe (God’s word), why we believe it (Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and  enthronement), and live ( through the Spirit’s power) like we believe it.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters?

I see Him in Peter’s testimony to the believers. Peter is writing this letter to the believers as he’s awaiting his execution! Can you believe it? Peter is about to be executed, and he’s writing people to remind them that “we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16 He wants to remind them, and us, of the life changing, world changing power of Jesus Christ.