Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 12Sample

This is a very interesting chapter in the book. Chapter 16, where we read of 7 bowls being poured out by angels. In this chapter, you’ll read about a place called Armageddon, which was an Israelite battleground where many battles were fought (Judges 5:19; 2 Kings 23:29). Very important background knowledge for this chapter is the story of the rebellious nations we read of in Ezekiel 38-39. John is using symbols and language from those two chapters.

The Good News and the Hope of this chapter lie in the words of verse 17: “It is done”, “it is Finished.” God’s wrath and judgment are already poured out and done. We understand John is writing to Jews under the Old Covenant who were unfaithful to their Covenant God, and John is trying to reveal the revelation of Jesus Christ and, with it, a New Covenant. We stand in hope and gratitude that in the New Covenant Jesus inaugurated through his death, burial, and resurrection, “It is Finished”. “There is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1); we stand in grace. All God’s wrath was already poured out. We now live in a new reference, a New Covenant of forgiveness, because Christ has removed our transgressions from as far as the East is from the West (Ps 103:12). We are declared innocent in Christ and are God’s sons and daughters seated in Christ in heavenly places of authority (Eph 2:6).

I want you to allow these words “It is Finished” to set you free.

My question to you:

What prevents you from living free of the fear of judgment, and how can the words “it is finished” become true for you?