Through the Bible for Skeptics and Seekers

Have an open mind about faith and spiritual things? Want to grow spiritually exponentially? If so, I want to invite you into an adventure! Let’s read 1 chapter a day and 5 chapters a week. I post some ideas and insights on each chapter in the New Testament. I think we will be amazed at what we find! #NewTestament #NewTestament1Year #Jesus #Faith #Spirituality #Christianity #PostChristianWorld #Dec...

In Genesis 1-2, the Scriptures tell us that God created the universe, and He created humanity to co-rule with Him. In their freedom, Adam and Eve chose to go their own way separating humanity from God. God then chose to make himself known to that one man so that through that one man all nations would be blessed. From that man’s family came the Messiah. He willingly gave His life, dying on the cros...

The end of the story is not the destruction of the earth but the reunion of heaven and earth! The Lamb of God and the Bride of Christ are together forever! In this new heaven and new earth are people from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation. There is no Temple and no sun because the light emanates from the glory of God. In this new heaven and new earth there are no more tears, no more pain, an...

Now we see the end of all things from a different angle. We are reminded that all evil comes from the dragon, the serpent also known as Satan. There are also beasts and all who devote their allegiance to them. They will spend eternity separated from God because God would never force anyone to spend eternity in His presence. All evil will be removed from the New Heaven and New Earth. All who want t...

Prior to the birth of Jesus, many of the faithful Jews assumed the Messiah would come to defeat the Roman Empire and establish a political kingdom. Instead Jesus announced a spiritual Kingdom and conquered sin and death through His death on the cross. Even now many assume Jesus will return to defeat those opposed to God. Surprisingly He appears with blood already on Him, and the sword He has is co...

We discover a lament for the destroyed city of Babylon. The 7 churches of Asia have an invitation to avoid the destruction coming to Babylon because of all of its evil, violence, and corruption. Babylon will reap what it has sown. We do not have to let Babylon live in us even if we live in Babylon. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary...

John shares more details about some of the images he’s already described. He describes Babylon as a prostitute who has committed abominations with the kings of the earth. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures idolatry is referred to as adultery. The city of Babylon was filled with corruption and evil. Those who are faithful are seen as the unblemished Bride of Christ because of the forgiveness offered...

John gives a more detailed description of what happens when the bowls are poured out. Much like the plagues that happened in Egypt in order to free the enslaved Israelites, these plagues are designed to free humanity and the world from evil. Even as things get more and more intense, we need to remember that the book of Revelation was a letter to churches who were being reminded of their options -...

The 7 bowls are released. Some think these judgments are sequential. Some think they have been happening simultaneously ever since Jesus ascended into heaven and will continue and intensify until his Second Coming. Others think this is another angle describing what we saw in the previous chapter. These plagues will continue until the end of all things. Some will turn to God seeing Him as good and...

An elite force of faithful witnesses to Jesus are with the Lamb of God when the harvesting begins. This harvesting idea is reminiscent of when Jesus said: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Luke 10:2). We discover that there are many who are redeemed by Jesus from the evils of this broken world and healed from the evil within their own heart. We also see the wrath of God being pou...

John sees two beasts. These beasts remind us of the beasts we see in the book of Daniel. The first beast has the power of war. The second beast has the power of economic security. A nation becomes like a beast when it demands allegiance from its people. When people idolize power and money, they are marked on the forehead and the wrist with the mark of the beast. The Hebrew Scriptures mention havin...

Seeing into the spiritual realm, John sees the source of all evil - the dragon. The pregnant woman being attacked by the dragon gives birth to a child who reigns over all the nations. Some think the woman is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Some think the woman could represent Israel as Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. Some think the woman was Eve as God tells the serpent (the dragon) in Genesis 3 that “I...

John sees Two Witnesses which he also refers to as lampstands which is how he referred to the 7 churches of Asia earlier. These Two Witnesses represent the faithful witness of the Church in spite of the persecution and the evil transpiring all around them. Many will die for their faith, but the Church will prevail. The plagues did not turn the nations to God, but the faithful witness of the persec...

John sees a huge angel with a small scroll in his hand. John eats the small scroll which tastes sweet like honey, but it becomes bitter in his stomach. We also discover 7 thunders which will not be revealed to us. John is to proclaim what is true to the nations. His message is about a loving and just God who will one day make all things right and who made a way for us through His Son Jesus. #NewTe...

John sees into the supernatural realm. The 5th trumpet is sounded. Woes are experienced on earth. Evil is destroying itself. Out of the Abyss comes the demonic. The human heart has a level of wickedness. Out of that comes the evil that humans perpetrate. Together there is a systemic evil and corruption we create that will eventually destroy itself. Even still, people continue to resist the grace o...

John sees that our prayers rise up with incense to the altar in the throne room of God. The Day of the Lord has happened many times in history and at different times for different nations. The Day of the Lord at the end of all time will be even more intense than any other previous Day of the Lord. In his vision John sees 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. Some see this as all predictive of somethin...

Those who have faith in Jesus can withstand the Day of the Lord. John hears of 144,000 from the tribes of Israel who are following Jesus, but then he sees people from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation represented worshiping Jesus. Some say the number 144,000 is literal and records Jews from each tribe who become believers in Jesus Christ. Some like Thomas R. Schreiner believe that “the 144,0...

The Lamb of God opens the seal. The four horsemen of the apocalypse who are called Death, Conquest, Famine, and War begin to run rampant. Some think this is a prediction of what is to come. Some think this already happened at the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Some think this has been happening between Jesus’ first coming and will intensify all the way until the second coming o...

John sees a scroll and weeps as he realizes that no one is worthy to open this scroll. It appears that no one could fulfill God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Then he sees a Lion! Shockingly, then the Lion turns into a Lamb with 7 horns, 7 eyes, and 7 spirits which represents the fact that this Lamb has full authority, can see all things, and has the Holy Spirit. The Lamb is worthy because he gav...

John’s vision includes the throne room of God which includes incredibly unique creatures who constantly sing out “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” It is hard for us to fathom the greatness of God! There are others who had similar visions of God like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. ‭ #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #B...

Some of those who are part of the churches in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea were making wise choices. Some were not. In fact, Jesus refers to some as being “lukewarm” - neither hot nor cold. We can transcend the temptations of the world around us. Jesus rebukes and disciplines those He loves. He stands at the door and knocks, inviting us to connect with Him relationally. He does not kick the...

Jesus shared his message to the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. Some were giving in to false teachers and sexual immorality. Some had lost their first love. Some were enduring tremendous persecution. John used a unique description of Jesus at the beginning of every message to each of the churches. Every church is being afffirmed and/or rebuked by Jesus. Each church has to cons...

This apocalyptic book begins with the phrase “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” or “The Jesus Christ Revelation.” John has a vision of Jesus. The description of Jesus matches other visions of God or the Son of Man throughout the Bible. Jesus now reigns at the right hand of God, but the book is pointing towards the return of Jesus when God’s redemptive plan for humanity is fulfilled. Jesus’ message t...

If you are unfamiliar with Revelation (not Revelations), you should know this is a very unique book and very unique type of literature. It’s called “apocalyptic” literature and it uses imagery of beasts and dragons to convey the point. If you are familiar with Revelation, then I want you to read this differently than you’ve likely been taught. As we read it, consider this first and foremost: what...

The half brother of Jesus named Jude wrote an intense letter to the church. He warned them of false teachers who would try to take advantage of their kindness and inclusiveness. These false teachers were denying Jesus and would attempt to seduce them into sexual immorality. For these kinds of abusers, there will be judgment. God is loving, God is just. He cannot be loving without also being just....