Series: The Radical Call of Jesus
Message: Radical Implications
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Daily Walk: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 105:37–42.

Read: Revelation 15:5–18:24 (ESV). As you re-read the text for the final time this week in the English Standard Version, what new insights did you discover about God’s character?

Reflect: Ranko Stefanovic, in Plain Revelation, adds a note on wrath worth reading. 

In the Bible, divine wrath is defined as God’s reaction to the choices people make. When people turn away from God, God gives them over to their choice (cf. Rom. 1:26–28). Yet, He never gives up on them. His grace is at work to win them back to Him. The Bible is replete with such cases (p. 186).

The radical implications of choosing the counterfeit league, Satan, with the Sea and Land Beasts instead of the God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is that the world will turn on itself to an horrific end. Yet in the midst of the intense destruction, those who are sealed and protected are reminded that all eyes need to stay on Jesus (Revelation 16:15). The reference here is to the practice that in the middle of the night, if they were caught asleep while on guard duty, they would be stripped of their clothes and sent away naked—intentionally embarrassing them. So Jesus is advising John to tell the people that in the midst of the chaos they must keep focused on Him at all times. 

Chapter 17 shows us that the wonderful Church from chapter 12 will become unfaithful. As a result, the systems that the Church will turn to for support instead of Jesus will actually turn on the Church and destroy it in the end. 

Who survives? Navy Seals? SAS? Pathfinders? It is not going to be military survival skills nor outdoor camping skills that saves you through this period. It will instead be your radical discipleship. That connection with Jesus Christ will make the difference—simply because there are radical implications to the choices we make. We have destroyed this world and all who live in it and some day, God will say “enough is enough.” When He does, He will unleash the radical implications of the horrible choices that we have made. There is hope . . . for God also has radical solutions and hope lined up. The book of Revelation is not over yet . . .

Recalibrate: ​​​What complicated things do you need to hand over to God?

Respond: Pray for the freedom to trust God.

Research: Read one of the recommend books in the bibliography.