Amazing Facts Philippines

20/08/2026

| Let's pray...🙏🤩

20/08/2026

| 🫴🏻🧎🏻 RESPONDING TO GOD’S GLORY

You’ve heard the phrase “faint dead away.” That’s what happened to John in today’s verse: He “fell at [Jesus’] feet as dead.” And he wasn’t the first either. Daniel also fainted upon seeing the glorified Lord: “No strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength” (Daniel 10:8). Recall that it was just previous to this that the prophet described the appearance of Jesus in an almost identical fashion to John.

The similarities don’t end there. In response to Daniel’s fainting, the angel Gabriel “touched [him]” (v. 10) and said, “Do not fear, Daniel” (v. 12), just as Christ did to John in today’s verse. Gabriel also informed Daniel that he was a “man greatly beloved” (vv. 11, 19); John described himself in his Gospel as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20). After being strengthened in this way, both men were given an apocalyptic prophecy.

While on earth, Christ often comforted His disciples in a similar manner. He would tell them, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27; 17:7; 28:10). Here, in this verse, Christ stated very specifically why there was no need to fear: because He is “the First and the Last.” It is a reference to His declaration at the end of the book, in Revelation 22:13, but it is also an exact translation of Isaiah 44:6, when God stated, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.’” Furthermore, God continued, “Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it?” (v. 😎.

There is no need to fear because God, the only omniscient Being, has “[declared to us] the end from the beginning” (46:10). Everything that Christ told John to write, which became the book of Revelation, will happen. Christ will complete the plan of salvation. He will save those who believe in His Word from eternal death and claim ultimate victory.

Glorious Redeemer, I believe in Your prophetic words and can rest in the assurance that all You say will come to pass.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Revelation 1:17

20/08/2026

| Let's pray...🙏😌

19/08/2026

| 🪔🥼 LARGER THAN LIFE

It is no coincidence that the other major apocalyptic book of the Bible holds a similar description of the Savior: “I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude” (Daniel 10:5, 6). Let’s keep this in mind through the next several verses.

It should now be evident that the nature of apocalyptic literature is heavy on symbolic imagery. Some suggest that the Greek word John used here, chalkolibanos, is a reference to a metal called Corinthian brass, made by the Greeks and Romans out of copper, silver, and gold. It was considered even more valuable than gold because of its enduring nature. It was also known to be more whitish in color. Notice that Christ’s brightness is what both Daniel and John attempt to describe. Yet what mortal language could even come close to painting an accurate picture of the glory of the Lord?

In Scripture, the feet represent the carrying of the gospel to the world (Romans 10:15). In His message to the church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18), Christ’s salutation references His feet “refined in a furnace.” Interestingly enough, Thyatira was a church that needed to be refined through fire, to be purified through tribulation.

Ezekiel wrote, “Behold, the glory of the God of Israel. ... His voice was like the sound of many waters” (Ezekiel 43:2). Notice the effort to describe the immensity of God’s voice. This is the voice that created everything out of nothing, who reigns over nature. This is the voice that breathes life into inanimate dust (Genesis 2:7) and brings the dead back to life (John 11:43, 44), who commands the fiercest storm, “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39). Only He could “overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Our Lord who is larger than life, we glorify You, who condescended to live in this sin-sick world for the salvation of us all.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Revelation 1:15

19/08/2026

| ☀️🎇 BRIGHT AS THE SUN

The sun, the largest object in our solar system, has a surface temperature of around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,600 Celsius). A scientist once calculated that it would take 22 septillion 22-watt LED light bulbs to match its brilliance! On Earth, the sun is at its brightest at noon, as John describes it in today’s verse, “shining in its strength.”

Jesus’ physical appearance to John was as light: “a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14), “fine brass” (v. 15), “the sun.” Our Savior is all light (1 John 1:5). In Scripture, light is equated with truth. “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me” (Psalm 43:3). Truth, the Bible tells us, is God’s Word (John 17:17). Additionally, “[His] word is a lamp to [our] feet and a light to [our] path” (Psalm 119:105).
Thus, it is only fitting that John sees Jesus as having “a sharp two-edged sword … out of His mouth,” for, as the Scriptures say, “the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is “two-edged” because God, our Creator, is the final Judge. His Word convicts through the power of the Holy Spirit; and our response to that conviction either cuts sin from the life (Acts 2:37) or the sinner from life (7:54).

The Word of God is also as the breath of God, which is “the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7). Said Jesus, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Scripture assures us that when the Life-giver “[upholds] you with [His] righteous right hand,” we should “be not dismayed, for …. [He] will strengthen you, yes, [He] will help you” (Isaiah 41:10). In Revelation 1:20, we will learn about the “seven stars” in Jesus’ “right hand.” But for now, know what the Bible affirms: “Those who turn many to righteousness” will shine “like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

Lord Jesus, I long for the day when my eyes can be opened to see Your full beauty and righteousness face to face.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Revelation 1:16

18/08/2026

| 🪖🇨🇳 TRUE RELIGIOUS WAR

In 1850, Hong Xiuquan started a conflict that erupted into a widespread Chinese civil war. Xiuquan believed he was the brother of Jesus, selected to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish the heavenly kingdom. During the 14-year war, known as the Taiping Rebellion, approximately 20 million people died, making it one of the deadliest wars in history.

Incredibly, Xiuquan named his short-lived kingdom the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace. The Taiping Rebellion is one of many religious wars that non-believers point to as a reason the world would be better without religion. Yet Jude exhorts us to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). Is Jude encouraging religious war?

Lest we misunderstand it, Jude quickly explains: False doctrine had been creeping into the church “unnoticed” (Jude 4). How should the church handle the promoters of these false doctrines? Jude gives this answer: The Lord saved Israel and destroyed the Egyptians, the Lord will judge the angels who defected, and the Lord sent fire on S***m. Jude suggests we follow Michael the archangel’s example—when contending with the devil himself, He said only “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9).

If we aren’t to fight with a religious war, how should we fight? Jude includes these instructions: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord” (Jude 21). In addition, we must “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire” (Jude 22, 23 NIV). In true religious war, we fight by remaining in Christ, offering mercy to those weak in faith, and striving for the salvation of others.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Colossians 2:6

17/08/2026

| 🌁 THE LIGHT OF LIFE

John’s description in today’s verse is reminiscent of Jesus’ transfiguration: “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:2). Christ’s transfiguration was a preview of His “great glory” (24:30) at His second coming, a miraculous physical transformation briefly revealing His divinity to several of His closest disciples, of which John was one.

Compare also Daniel’s similar description of God the Father in vision: “The Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire” (Daniel 7:9). This scene of God enthroned in His unveiled glory is pictured again in Revelation 20:11: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.”

But perhaps the most poignant aspect of today’s verse is its allusion to Christ’s character. By Christ’s mercy “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Christ’s sacrifice washes you to make you “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).
Yet it is also His “refiner’s fire” (Malachi 3:2) that transforms your character, purifying it of sin. “His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men” (Psalm 11:4), for only He sees through “the outward appearance” to “[look] at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Indeed, “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy” (Psalm 33:18).

But in contrast, those who have spurned His grace and refused to acknowledge their sins cannot bear to even look at Him when He returns (Revelation 6:16).

O Lord, I pray that Your all-seeing eyes look into my heart and reveal anything that hinders me from receiving You gladly at Your second coming.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Revelation 1:14

17/08/2026