1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:12,590 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,790 --> 00:00:18,020 Speaker 1: a Calming Scripture Center devotional podcast designed to help you 3 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: end each day with God's Word in your mind and 4 00:00:21,460 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: on your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:41,900 Speaker 1: we'll reflect on tonight's scripture and Revelation 7 Tonight's scripture 6 00:00:41,940 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: reflection is written by Britt Mooney and read by Carrie Eichberger. 7 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:54,970 Speaker 1: Revelation Chapter 7 After this, I saw four angels standing 8 00:00:55,010 --> 00:00:57,830 Speaker 1: at the four corners of the earth, holding back the 9 00:00:57,870 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: four winds of the earth, to prevent any wind from 10 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,590 Speaker 1: blowing on the land or on the sea or on 11 00:01:03,650 --> 00:01:06,850 Speaker 1: any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from 12 00:01:06,870 --> 00:01:10,490 Speaker 1: the east, having the seal of the living God. He 13 00:01:10,550 --> 00:01:13,270 Speaker 1: called out in a loud voice to the four angels 14 00:01:13,709 --> 00:01:16,050 Speaker 1: who had been given power to harm the land and 15 00:01:16,069 --> 00:01:19,470 Speaker 1: the sea. Do not harm the land or the sea 16 00:01:19,550 --> 00:01:22,170 Speaker 1: or the trees until we put a seal on the 17 00:01:22,250 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: foreheads of the servants of our God. Then I heard 18 00:01:25,860 --> 00:01:30,870 Speaker 1: the number of those who were sealed. 144,000 from all 19 00:01:30,930 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah, 12,000 20 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,500 Speaker 1: were sealed. From the tribe of Reuben, 12,000. From the 21 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: tribe of Gad, 12,000. From the tribe of Asher, 12,000. 22 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: From the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000. From the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000. 23 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: From the tribe of Simeon, 12,000. From the tribe of Levi, 12,000. 24 00:01:44,840 --> 00:02:02,370 Speaker 1: From the tribe of Ishachar, From the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000. 25 00:02:02,370 --> 00:02:07,910 Speaker 1: From the tribe of Joseph, 12,000. From the tribe of Benjamin, 12,000. 26 00:02:07,910 --> 00:02:10,889 Speaker 1: After this I looked, and there before me was a 27 00:02:10,970 --> 00:02:16,170 Speaker 1: great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, 28 00:02:16,230 --> 00:02:20,110 Speaker 1: and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. 29 00:02:20,710 --> 00:02:23,810 Speaker 1: They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches 30 00:02:23,889 --> 00:02:26,970 Speaker 1: in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice, 31 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne 32 00:02:31,180 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: and to the Lamb. All the angels were standing around 33 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 1: the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. 34 00:02:39,260 --> 00:02:42,140 Speaker 1: They fell down on their faces before the throne and 35 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:47,450 Speaker 1: worshipped God, saying, Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and 36 00:02:47,530 --> 00:02:51,690 Speaker 1: thanks and honor and power and strength be to our 37 00:02:51,750 --> 00:02:56,410 Speaker 1: God forever and ever. Amen. Then one of the elders 38 00:02:56,610 --> 00:03:00,710 Speaker 1: asked me, These in white robes, who are they? And 39 00:03:00,750 --> 00:03:04,210 Speaker 1: where did they come from? I answered, Sir, you know. 40 00:03:04,230 --> 00:03:08,010 Speaker 1: And he said, These are they who have come out 41 00:03:08,050 --> 00:03:11,430 Speaker 1: of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and 42 00:03:11,470 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, 43 00:03:15,060 --> 00:03:17,980 Speaker 1: they are before the throne of God and serve him 44 00:03:18,060 --> 00:03:21,060 Speaker 1: day and night in his temple. And he who sits 45 00:03:21,180 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: on the throne will shelter them with his presence. Never 46 00:03:24,900 --> 00:03:28,940 Speaker 1: again will they hunger. never again will they thirst. The 47 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat, 48 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: for the lamb at the center of the throne will 49 00:03:35,580 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of 50 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,300 Speaker 1: living water, and God will wipe away every tear from 51 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:50,420 Speaker 1: their eyes. Spoiler alert, we know the end of the story. 52 00:03:51,340 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: My wife likes lighthearted books to read, nothing too serious 53 00:03:54,980 --> 00:03:57,860 Speaker 1: or sad, When I suggest a book to read, she 54 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: asks me, does anyone die at the end? It might 55 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,060 Speaker 1: tell you the kind of books I like. A bad 56 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,660 Speaker 1: ending can ruin a book or movie. The ending of 57 00:04:07,740 --> 00:04:11,970 Speaker 1: Stephen King's It is famous for the dumb ending. How 58 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,750 Speaker 1: a thousand pages or more led to that? The final 59 00:04:15,830 --> 00:04:20,349 Speaker 1: seasons of Game of Thrones and Stranger Things greatly disappointed fans. 60 00:04:20,970 --> 00:04:25,229 Speaker 1: Predictable mysteries make us groan with almost physical pain. In 61 00:04:25,290 --> 00:04:29,020 Speaker 1: a story... it's important to get the ending right. Great 62 00:04:29,170 --> 00:04:32,969 Speaker 1: endings make us want to re-watch or re-read the movie 63 00:04:32,990 --> 00:04:37,729 Speaker 1: or book. God's telling a story through us to eternal beings, 64 00:04:38,250 --> 00:04:42,770 Speaker 1: showing His glory and wisdom through redeeming a people. The 65 00:04:42,810 --> 00:04:46,380 Speaker 1: Bible reveals the ark from Genesis and tells us the 66 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: end of the story. But it's not a spoiler. We 67 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: need to know or else we would give up. We 68 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,370 Speaker 1: would fall into despair in such a dark and evil 69 00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: world Revelation 7 reveals what we wait for, what we've 70 00:05:00,660 --> 00:05:04,420 Speaker 1: been saved for, the secure hope we have in God, 71 00:05:04,900 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: who has prepared a kingdom of light, love, healing, fullness, 72 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:14,020 Speaker 1: and joy, one that will never end. This hope gives 73 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: us peace and an anchor in the midst of troubles 74 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,390 Speaker 1: and chaos, a hope that will not disappoint. May we 75 00:05:21,529 --> 00:05:30,870 Speaker 1: rest today in our future hope, Heavenly Father, thank you 76 00:05:30,890 --> 00:05:34,270 Speaker 1: for revealing the end of the story. When darkness and 77 00:05:34,350 --> 00:05:38,180 Speaker 1: suffering surround me, anchor my heart in the hope you 78 00:05:38,190 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: have promised us. Help me remember your kingdom of light, healing, joy, 79 00:05:43,500 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: and peace is coming to earth. I will be a 80 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,260 Speaker 1: part of it and it will never end. Strengthen my 81 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,860 Speaker 1: faith when I get weary due to present troubles. Keep 82 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:55,700 Speaker 1: my eyes on you and your covenant. Fill me with 83 00:05:55,790 --> 00:05:59,650 Speaker 1: confidence that your plans will succeed. and your redemption will 84 00:05:59,690 --> 00:06:03,570 Speaker 1: reveal and celebrate your glory forever. Give me the eternal 85 00:06:03,610 --> 00:06:11,260 Speaker 1: perspective to have courage, peace, and perseverance today. In Jesus' name, amen. 86 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: How did tonight's scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts 87 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:28,190 Speaker 1: in the Your Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. Thank you. 88 00:06:28,570 --> 00:06:33,250 Speaker 2: For listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture was read 89 00:06:33,330 --> 00:06:38,410 Speaker 2: from the New International Version by Biblica. All rights reserved. 90 00:06:40,830 --> 00:06:44,630 Speaker 2: Be sure to follow our sister show, Your Daily Bible Verse, 91 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 2: on Apple or Spotify. By following Your Daily Bible Verse 92 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 2: and Your Nightly Scripture, you can be sure that your 93 00:06:54,180 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 2: day begins and ends centered on the Word of God. 94 00:07:10,430 --> 00:07:10,820 Speaker 1: Thank you.