Daily Readings - Fri Nov 25 2022
Revelation
1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Luke
29And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.31So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.33Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through profound visions of the end times, beginning with Revelation's depiction of cosmic struggle and ultimate renewal. The first reading describes the binding of Satan, symbolizing the temporary restraint of evil, followed by a vision of the deceased being judged based on their deeds. This transitions into a glorious new creation, where heaven and earth are reborn, and God dwells among His people. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus uses the fig tree parable to illustrate the importance of discerning signs of God's kingdom, urging vigilance and preparedness.
These passages, though distinct, share a common theme of God's ultimate triumph and the call to faithful readiness. Revelation, written to comfort persecuted early Christians, uses apocalyptic imagery to assure them of God's victory. Luke's narrative, part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, teaches the disciples to recognize the nearness of God's kingdom through observable signs. Together, they invite us to trust in God's plan and remain attentive to spiritual realities.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to stay faithful amidst challenges, watchful for signs of God's presence, and trustful in His promises. The moral lesson is one of hope and vigilance, reminding us to anchor our lives in God's sovereignty. As we navigate life's uncertainties, may we find strength in the assurance of God's ultimate victory and remain steadfast in our faith, ever-prepared to embrace His eternal plan.