Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 9:1-21.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-11:  If there was any passage in the Bible that resembled a science fiction movie, it’s these 11 verses.  What is going on here? The fifth angel sounds his trumpet, which then triggers “a star that had fallen from the sky” to appear. Apparently this star is not an actual star from space, but a fallen angel who is referred to as “he” in verse 2.  This fallen star (or fallen angel) is given the key to “the Abyss”.  While “the Abyss” sounds like some kind of space craft, it is not clear what the Abyss is.  We do know that when the fallen angel opens the Abyss, enough smoke comes out of the Abyss to darken the sun and sky.  After that, the most powerful and scariest looking locusts come out of the Abyss.

Unlike the locusts that God sent in the book of Exodus who ate of all of Egypt’s vegetation, the sole purpose of these much scarier locusts was “not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree” (v4), but to hunt down those who have not been marked by God with a seal and torturing them for five months.

The leader of these locusts is “the angel of the Abyss” (v11).  It is very probable that “the angel of the Abyss” in verse 11 and the fallen star in verse 1 are the same person.  His name (Abaddon in Hebrew or Apollyon in Greek) means “Destroyer”.  Thus many commentators believe that this angel of the Abyss, this fallen star, is none other than Satan himself.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 7:1-17.  Let’s go!

Revelation 7:1 (NIV) 
1  After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

On verse 1:  After the sixth seal is broken, John sees four angels holding back “the four winds of the earth” (v1), effectively stopping any wind from blowing on the earth.  According to some scientists, if there was no more wind on the earth, much of the earth would become uninhabitable, temperatures on the earth would become either extremely hot or extremely cold, mass migration would lead to coastal regions being heavily populated, marine life would die, widespread famine would occur and many people would not be able to survive.

Similarly, we need the wind of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Without the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus likens to a wind (see John 3:8), our spiritual lives would dry out.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 5:1-14.  Let’s go!

Revelation 5:1-4 (NIV) 
1  Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 
2  And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 
3  But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 
4  I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 

On verses 1-4:  John’s vision of heaven continues as he sees in the right hand of God a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals (v1).  At first no one is found worthy to open the scroll or even look inside it (v2-3).  This causes John to weep and weep (v4). 

Why would John weep so much because no one could open the scroll?  Part of the reason I believe is because the scroll represents God’s will. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 3:14-22.  Let’s go!

Revelation 3:14 (NIV) 
14  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
 
On verse 14:  In His message to the church in Laodicea, we learn 3 things about Jesus:
 
– Jesus is the “Amen”.  What does Jesus mean when He calls Himself “the Amen”?  “Amen” carries the meaning of agreement, affirmation and certainty.  When Jesus calls Himself the “Amen”, it means that everything that Jesus is and everything that Jesus does affirms and agrees with who God is.  Jesus is the One who gives us certainty about who God is and what He is like.  If you want to know who God is and what He is like, look at Jesus.

– Jesus is the faithful and true witness, which we discussed when looking at Revelation 1:5.
 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 3:1-6.  Let’s go!

Revelation 3:1-3 (NIV) 
1  “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2  Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
3  Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

On verses 1-3:  Jesus’ next message is for the church in Sardis.  Sardis was a wealthy city that was strategically located on an important trade route.  Sardis was also a centre for religious activity, being the home of the temple of Artemis and also a Jewish synagogue.  Sardis was quite possibly the wealthiest and most famous of all the cities that Jesus addresses in Revelation 2 and 3.