Category: Prayers

“They will manhandle and persecute you.” –Luke 21:12 Jesus tells us we will be delivered up even by our parents, brothers, relatives, and friends (Lk 21:16). This will result in some of us being put to death. Jesus has made it very clear that, before there can be peace, there will be division in families. “A household of five will be divided three against two and two against three; father will be split against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law” (Lk 12:52-53). Our families will be under extreme...

“What will be the sign that it is going to happen?” –Luke 21:7 Though no one knows the day when the world will end and Christ will come again, the Lord has given us many of the last events on earth. The following is a partial list in a probable order: 1) “This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world…only after that will the end come” (Mt 24:14). 2) “All Israel will be saved” (Rm 11:26). 3) Then, “they will manhandle and persecute” Christians (Lk 21:12). “All will hate” us for our faith in Jesus (Lk...

“They were singing a new hymn before the throne, in the presence of the four living creatures and the elders. This hymn no one could learn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the world.” –Revelation 14:3 Only those in heaven can sing the new song of the Lamb. Only those baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can sing the new song (Mt 28:19). They alone sing the new song who are so immersed in the Holy Trinity that they are branded on their foreheads with the names of...

Jesus “was teaching in the temple area from day to day. The chief priests and scribes meanwhile were looking for a way to destroy Him, as were the leaders of the people, but they had no idea how to achieve it, for indeed the entire populace was listening to Him and hanging on His words.” –Luke 19:47-48 Jesus was teaching in the temple area each day, even at the risk of His life (Lk 19:47). The people found His teaching sweet to their taste (see Rv 10:9-10). They were hanging on His words (Lk 19:48); to them, His words tasted...

“Along with their harps, the elders were holding vessels of gold filled with aromatic spices, which were the prayers of God’s holy people.” –Revelation 5:8 John called the prayers of God’s people “aromatic spices,” that is, incense. Figuratively speaking, our prayers have a pleasing smell, are surrounded by others’ prayers, and rise to God. Our prayers sound, smell, and move. Moreover, our prayers are contained in “vessels of gold” (Rv 5:8). Because what a container holds is usually more valuable than the container, our prayers are said to be more valuable than golden vessels. Our precious prayers are held by...