Daily Devotionals

The End Week 2: Thursday

In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7b

Springtime is perhaps one of the most beautiful times of the year. Flowers are blooming; the temperatures are warming, and the birds are chirping. Despite these things, I dread springtime. Why? Allergies. I have terrible allergies, specifically during springtime, and am sick most of the time as a result. Allergies are a reminder that things are not how they are supposed to be. The truth is, many things are not how they are supposed to be in this world, and I am talking about things far worse than allergies. This world is filled with sin, heartache, and so much pain. Sometimes when we are in the middle of it, the only hope we have is the reminder that one day Jesus will return, and when He does, He will make everything right.

Paul encouraged the church of Thessalonica that was facing persecution that one day God would make everything right when Jesus returned. He writes, “In His justice He will pay back those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven” (verses 6-7). Paul goes on to explain that God will provide rest for those who are persecuted when He returns, making everything right. This is not the only thing that He will make right. We learn in Revelation that one day when Jesus comes back for His people, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (verse 4). What a beautiful day this will be when He makes everything right. There will be no more tears, graveyards, or sorrow as God dwells with us in Heaven.

This world has so much heartache, but our pain on this earth is not without hope. God will bring peace, hope, rest, and restoration to everyone hurting. This is what we have to look forward to if we have placed our faith in Him. Praise God that this world is not our home and that Jesus will make everything right.

Moving toward action

Read through Revelation 21:1-4 from today’s Going Deeper section out loud. Hold on to every word of the promises given in these verses. After reading, say a prayer of thanksgiving to God, thanking Him that one day He will make everything right.

Going Deeper

Revelation 21:1-27 (NLT)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

9 Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

10 So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. 17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.

22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil[f] will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life."