Revelation, Day 3 Readings

The Coming of the Beast & The Judgment of the Beast  

Today's first reading describes the coming of the beast, the powerful government that will demand total allegiance from everyone on earth.  It actually is the second such government, coming after another beast that arrived from the sea (meaning that it was a dominant naval power).  These are the final empires (though evidently there will be a few other governments) to dominate the earth before God's final judgment of the earth.

Read Revelation 12:18-13:18  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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The second reading describes the actions of heaven that will bring an end to the reign of terror of the beast and its followers.  While 144,000 of the saints will gather in heaven, the angels will prepare to cause devastation on the earth, with lots of bloodshed -- here compared to the wine pressed from grapes -- and God brings judgment upon the last empire of the earth.

Read Revelation 14:1-20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Revelation 11-14 today.