Bible Challenge 03/04 - 03/10

Greetings All!

This week we will finish up the last book of the New Testament. Congratulations for making it this far!!!!! Following the end of Revelation we will also begin our journey into the Old Testament with the book of Genesis.

The book we are finishing this week is Revelation. This book is thought to have been written by the disciple John after a vision he received while in exile on the island of Patmos (Greece). It is written specifically to a group of churches in Asia (that was a province in the Roman Empire which encompasses modern day Turkey). The book deals a lot with sevens: messages to seven churches, the seven seal judgments, seven trumpet judgments and finally the seven bowl judgments. One of the big keys to understanding the book is found in the Old Testament - 278 out of the 404 verses in the book allude or refer to things contained in the Old Testament. Personally, I have found the most benefit when I read through Revelation thinking of it as God's great triumph over evil. And there is a lot of love and mercy to be found in the words as God continually provides opportunities for people to turn away from sin and turn to Him.

Next, we move on to Genesis. Did you know that Genesis means "beginnings" or "origins"? And there are several beginnings and origins that are actually outlined within the book of Genesis as we move through it.....Creation, the flood story and God's covenant with Noah, the tower of Babel and the dispersion of the people, God's calling of Abram and covenant with him, the continuation of that covenant through Isaac and later Jacob, and finally the starting over of the Israelites under the protection of Joseph in Egypt. We should pay close attention as we read Genesis because this is the beginnings of our history as the people of God. Also, it is a point of commonality with at least two other major world religions who claim at least part or all of this story - Judaism and Islam.

I pray that your reading this week is inspired by the Spirit!

Here is the schedule:

04, Sunday: Revelation 16-19

05, Monday: Revelation 20 - Genesis 1

06, Tuesday: Genesis 2-5

07, Wednesday: Genesis 6-9

08, Thursday: Genesis 10-13

09, Friday: Genesis 14-17

10, Saturday: Genesis 18-21

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and the living out of His holy word. Amen.