DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR SUNDAY DECEMBER 29:
DAILY BIBLE READING
Revelation 13-15 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Beast from the Sea
13 Then [a]I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out
of the sea, having [b]seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten
crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw
was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth
like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and
great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally
wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and
followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to
the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who
is able to make war with him?"
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was
given authority to [c]continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his
mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and
those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the
saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every
[d]tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship
him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall
go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the
sword. Here is the [e]patience and the faith of the saints.
The Beast from the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns
like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority
of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell
in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He
performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on
the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives [f]those who dwell on the
earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast,
telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was
wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to
the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and
cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no
one may buy or sell except one who has [g]the mark or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the
beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then I looked, and behold, [h]a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him
one hundred and forty-four thousand, [i]having His Father's name written on
their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many
waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of
harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the
throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could
learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed
from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for
they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
These were [j]redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the
Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no [k]deceit, for they are without
fault [l]before the throne of God.
The Proclamations of Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth-to every
nation, tribe, tongue, and people- 7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God
and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship
Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon[m] is fallen, is fallen, that
great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication."
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone
worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or
on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He
shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy
angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship
the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
12 Here is the [n]patience of the saints; here[o] are those who keep the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying [p]to me, "Write: 'Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' "
"Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their
works follow them."
Reaping the Earth's Harvest
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like
the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp
sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud
voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the
time has come [q]for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16
So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth
was reaped.
Reaping the Grapes of Wrath
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also
having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and
he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in
your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her
grapes are fully ripe." 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth
and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of
the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and
blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand
six hundred [r]furlongs.
Prelude to the Bowl Judgments
15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels
having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who
have the victory over the beast, over his image and [s]over his mark and
over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of
God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the [t]saints!
4
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested."
5 After these things I looked, and [u]behold, the [v]temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And out of the
[w]temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure
bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7 Then one
of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls
full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was
filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was
able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were
completed.
