The End of the Story

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 20:7-15

TO CHEW ON: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelation 20:10

When you read a book, do you ever skip to the end, to see how it turns out? Today’s reading is the place we’d go to see how the story of the Bible, the story of the fight between God and Satan, ends.

"The Fall" by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Published 1907

Throughout time Satan has tried every trick to win. He started out by lying to Eve and persuading her to disobey God - to sin. Through the centuries he has lied to, stolen from, scared and tricked people. When Jesus came, Satan and his demons worked hard to destroy Him. Jesus was killed. But God used Satan’s plan to backfire on him. For Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose, won over death and now everyone who trusts in Jesus’ death as payment for their sins wins over death as well.

1. What is Satan’s end (Revelation 20:10)?

"An angel casts beast Satan into the pit" by Caspar Luiken, 1712

2. The trouble is, Satan and his buddies don’t go there alone. Who goes with them (Revelation 20:15)?

3. How does a person get their name written in God’s Book of Life? John 3:16 has the answer. Fill in the missing words: “For God so loved the world (including you!) that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus) that _____________ ______________ ____ ____ shall not _____________ but have ____________ ______________.” If your name isn’t written in God’s Book of Life, it can be. Just believe in Jesus. The minute you trust Jesus, it’s there.

PRAYER: Jesus, I believe Your death paid the penalty for my sins. Thank You my name is written in the Book of Life. Amen.

"The New Jerusalem descending from Heaven"
by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-1860

MORE: Another Ending
What is the end of the story for those whose names ARE in the Book of Life?

Read about it in Revelation 21:1-8. Which things will be in heaven? Which things won’t?

sea                idol worshipers
water of life      tears
death              God
cowardly           pain
God’s people       murderers
liars              unbelieving
crying             New Jerusalem
magicians

"The New Jerusalem" by Darlene Slavujac
Copyright 1993, Used with the artist's permssion

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Enemy

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

TO CHEW ON: And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8

The Bible is a story of a fight. The fight is between light and darkness, love and hate, obedience and rebellion, good and evil, God and Satan. This fight began in the Garden of Eden when Satan, in the form of a snake, tempted Eve. He persuaded her to listen to him and eat fruit from the tree God had plainly forbidden. Sin (any act that defies God and sides with Satan) came into the world.

"The Fall" by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1907

Through history, God has done many things to fight Satan. He chose the Jews, gave them His laws, and commanded them to make sacrifices for sins. Then He sent His son Jesus, born of a Jewish mother, who became the final sacrifice for sin. Now we have the Holy Spirit who helps us resist Satan’s temptations and live for God.

The final showdown between God and Satan is still to come (although because Jesus rose from the dead, we know Satan’s power is broken). Our verse today talks about a future battle in the fight between God and Satan. Satan’s servant, the lawless one (also called the Antichrist) will someday try to convince all people living on the earth to follow Satan. But though he uses Satan’s most powerful signs, wonders and miracles, his end will be the same as his boss’s. What happens to the lawless one? (2 Thessalonians 2:8) __________.

"The Antichrist" - Artist unknown, 1593

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to recognize and stand against Satan’s tricks. Help me remember he is defeated through Jesus. Amen.


MORE: Satan, A.K.A....
In the Bible, Satan is called many names. Knowing what they are helps us understand him and resist his ways. Look up each Bible reference and make a list of the names Satan is called.
1. Isaiah 14:12
2. Isaiah 27:1
3. Matthew 13:19
4. 1 Thessalonians 3:5
5. 2 Corinthians 4:4
6. Ephesians 2:2
7. Matthew 12:29
8. 2 Corinthians 11:14
9. 1 Peter 5:8
10. John 8:44
11. Revelation 9:11

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I'm Not Allowed

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 4: 1-13

TO CHEW ON: "Jesus answered, 'It is written ...' ... Jesus answered, 'It is written ...' ... Jesus answered, 'It says ...'” Luke 4: 4, 8, 12

Has this ever happened to you? Your friends are getting involved in an illegal or dangerous activity. Your parents have forbidden you to join in. One day your friends really put big pressure on you to join them. But you don’t want to. What is the best thing for you to do?
- Discuss and argue with your friends about why it’s not a good activity?
- Simply tell them, “ My parents say I’m not allowed”?

The last way is a bit like what Jesus did.

After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Him into the desert. There He stayed by Himself for days, fasting (not eating).

"Christ in the Wilderness" by Ivan Kramskoy - 1873

But He wasn’t alone. For Satan was with Him, tempting Him to sin. After forty days, when Jesus was famished with hunger, Satan’s temptation was especially strong. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread,” he said.

Command these stones to be made bread - Artist unknown

Jesus answered:

1. "__ __ ________: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'” (Luke 4:4)

Then Satan led Jesus to a high place and showed Him all of earth’s kingdoms. “All this can be yours if you worship me,” he said.


Jesus answered:

2. "__ __ _______: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'” (Luke 4:8)

Finally Satan took Jesus to the top of the temple and challenged Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself from the temple, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you ….’”

'The Tempter" - Artist unknown

Jesus answered:

3. "___ ________: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” (Luke 4:12)

When the devil tempted Jesus, He didn’t get into a discussion with the devil about why the thing the devil wanted Him to do was bad. Instead He said: “It is written...” and then He quoted God’s words from the Bible. That is like saying ‘God, My Father, says...’

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to learn to face temptation with Bible words. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Facing Temptation Head-On
What Bible words or verses could you read or quote if you faced the temptation:

- to tell a lie?

- to steal?

- to swear?

- to disobey your parents?

- to badly want something your friend has?

ANSWERS

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Enter Sin

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 3:8-15

TO CHEW ON: "And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.." (Genesis 3:15)

The snake that tempted Eve was not just any ordinary snake. It was God’s enemy, Satan appearing as a snake. After Adam and Eve gave in to Satan's temptation and ate the fruit from the tree God had forbidden, they were scared. They hid from God.

God soon found them. He asked what they’d done. Then it all came out. Adam blamed Eve for telling him to eat. Eve blamed the snake for tempting her. But all three got in trouble. The result of sin (breaking God’s rule) became very clear.

Adam and Eve had to leave their garden home. God had harsh words for Satan. From now on God and Satan would be at war. Right at the beginning God told him how that fight would end. The woman’s offspring (or child, meaning Jesus who would be born), would crush Satan’s head, though Satan would bruise His heel.

Who do you think wins that one?
– The one with the bruised heel (Jesus)
– The one with the crushed head. (Satan)

PRAYER: Thank You, God, that Satan and all evil are defeated by You. Amen.

SECOND HELPING: Life After Eden (Genesis 3:16-24)

Life outside Garden of Eden was different. Which sentences are true? Which are false?

1. Having babies was painful.
2. People had to work the soil to grow food.
3. There were no thorns, thistles and weeds–they came later.
4. People died.
5.Adam and Eve were allowed back into Eden once in a while.

Answers

 DESSERT:
Today is the birthday of French book illustrator Gustave Doré. He's the man who drew the picture of Adam and Eve in today's devotion.

Mr. Doré was born in Strasbourg, France, in 1832. His drawings were noticed by the time he was five. He never took art lessons, but by the age of 15 he had published his first illustrated story. At 16 he moved to Paris and became the highest paid illustrator in France. Most of his drawings are wood engravings or steel engravings.

He was given the job of illustrating an English version of the Bible. It was published in 1866. The hundreds of Bible story illustrations he drew were used in Bibles of many languages. The picture of Adam and Eve in today's devotion is one of those pictures. In the days ahead you'll see many more Bible illustrations drawn by Gustave Doré in Bible Drive-Thru.

Mr. Doré died in January 23, 1883. He was only 51.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.