Episode 1172
Who Are the Destroyers of the Earth and Why Does It Matter?
The principal focus of today's discourse revolves around the profound interpretation of Revelation 11:15-19, which illuminates the theme of divine reclamation rather than destruction. We delve into an exploration of how God's judgment is directed towards those who exploit and devastate the Earth, emphasizing the sacredness of creation and the call for stewardship. This passage invites us to comprehend that small acts of faithfulness and care for the environment hold significant value in the divine economy. Furthermore, we reflect on the notion that in God's kingdom, the unsung heroes—the small and faithful—are celebrated and recognized. Ultimately, we are encouraged to engage in deliberate, modest actions that honor the Earth and foster community, thereby aligning ourselves with divine purpose and compassion.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding the Bible from a progressive perspective, which encourages inclusivity and awareness of contemporary issues.
- Listeners are invited to engage with the actionable insights provided, which aim to inspire practical steps toward living a faith-based life.
- A significant point discussed is the notion that God's judgment is aimed at those who harm the earth, rather than the earth itself, highlighting a creation-affirming theology.
- The episode illustrates that in God's kingdom, even the smallest acts of faithfulness are recognized and valued, contrary to societal measures of greatness.
- The reading encourages individuals to appreciate the beauty of creation and actively participate in its stewardship, reflecting God's love for the world.
- Finally, the message conveys that access to God's presence is open to all, symbolized by the doors of the temple being flung wide open, representing radical inclusivity.
Links referenced in this episode:
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
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Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
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Transcript
Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lesson selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the Message version relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
Speaker A:We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.
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Speaker A:Here's today's Reading Reading today From the
Speaker B: Revelation: Speaker B:The 24 elders seated before God on their thrones, fell to their knees, worshiped and sang we thank you O God, sovereign, strong, who is and who was you took your great power and took over reigned the angry nations.
Speaker B:Now get a taste of your anger.
Speaker B:The time has come to judge the dead, to reward your servants, all prophets and saints reward small and great who fear your name and destroy the destroyers of earth.
Speaker B:The doors of God's temple in heaven flew open and the ark of his covenant was clearly seen surrounded by flashes of lightning, loud shouts, peels of thunder, an earthquake and a fierce hailstorm.
Speaker B:Wow, that's just a lot going on there in this passage of scripture.
Speaker B:We thank you for listening here today to this passage of scripture.
Speaker B:Just let's settle in for just a moment and get delve into the revelation, which is always a difficult or challenging book.
Speaker B:And this is a loud passage.
Speaker B:There's thump, there's trumpets and thunder and lightning and the whole production.
Speaker B:It's almost like you're going to like an NBA basketball game, like an Indiana Pacer game, like I go to sometimes and you know, kind of when the whole building shaking, when everything's rocking and going and the energy here isn't really far off from what you might experience in a big game like that.
Speaker B:What's happening here in this passage?
Speaker B:Let's delve into a couple of points to ponder about this.
Speaker B:First, catch the phrase destroy the destroyers of Earth.
Speaker B:Now, if you grew up being told that Revelation is about God destroying the earth, this might rattle your thinking a little bit here.
Speaker B:And I think that's a good thing to rattle it up maybe a little bit, because that's not what this says.
Speaker B:God's judgment here isn't aimed at the planet.
Speaker B:It's aimed at those who destroy it.
Speaker B:This is one of the most explicitly creation affirming texts in the entire Bible, and it's sitting right here in Revelation, of all places.
Speaker B:God's not done with this world.
Speaker B:God loves the world.
Speaker B:The forest, the oceans, the soil, all of it.
Speaker B:My wife and I, we love to spend time outdoors, hiking in wooded trails, parks, and sometimes if we're in old growth trees, like we went to see the redwoods on a couple of occasions, and you see the light coming through the canopy of trees, it doesn't feel like something God is planning to throw, to throw away.
Speaker B:It seems like God likes it quite a bit.
Speaker B:It's a sacred place and a progressive faith takes this seriously.
Speaker B:Care for the Earth isn't some side issue or political talking point.
Speaker B:It's right here in the Hymn of Heaven.
Speaker B:God holds accountable the those who exploit and destroy creation.
Speaker B:And that should shape how we, how we vote and what we do in our life and how we consume and how we live.
Speaker B:Second point to ponder.
Speaker B:Look at who gets rewarded here.
Speaker B:Prophets and saints.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:But then it says small and great, and I love that.
Speaker B:The small and great.
Speaker B:The small comes first in the listing.
Speaker B:In a world that rewards platform and influence and big and stuff like that, God's kingdom flips the roster around the people nobody notices.
Speaker B:The quiet caregiver, the person who shows up every week to serve without applause.
Speaker B:The one whisperer hoping that someone's help out.
Speaker B:Someone's hardest day.
Speaker B:They're on the list.
Speaker B:I have a podcast for cancer patients and I talk to people whose names will never be in some trending thing anywhere.
Speaker B:They're just showing up every day with courage to do the impossible in impossible circumstances.
Speaker B:And according to this passage, heaven knows their names.
Speaker B:You don't have to be great by the world's measures to matter in the kingdom of God.
Speaker B:You just have to be faithful.
Speaker B:Small counts.
Speaker B:Sometimes.
Speaker B:I think about my granddaughters in this passage.
Speaker B:They're kind of little and they.
Speaker B:They really have no idea how much joy they bring to my life and to others when they just sit and they laugh and they tell stories and have fun together.
Speaker B:So smallness is not insignificant in God's economy.
Speaker B:It might be the Whole point.
Speaker B:Then there's the final image.
Speaker B:The doors of God's temple fly open and the Ark of Covenant is visible to everyone.
Speaker B:So the old system, the ark, was hidden away, accessible to no one, really, almost no one.
Speaker B:And now the doors are blown wide open here in the Revelation.
Speaker B:No more gatekeeping, no more you're in and you're out.
Speaker B:The presence of God is revealed to all fully and freely.
Speaker B:That's the vision of heaven.
Speaker B:Radically.
Speaker B:Unlimited access to God, the divine.
Speaker B:So here's your action step for the day.
Speaker B:I want you to do something small on purpose, not something that will make a big headline.
Speaker B:Something maybe not anyone else would notice.
Speaker B:Pick up litter in your community.
Speaker B:Send an encouraging text or a note to someone who needs to be encouraged.
Speaker B:Maybe sit with someone who's lonely.
Speaker B:Make a choice to honor the earth in some way or another.
Speaker B:Do it as an act of worship.
Speaker B:Because according to this passage, the small and faithful are exactly who God is celebrating.
Speaker B:We're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a minute.
Speaker B:I just want you to know we've got a resource for you.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:I invite you to go over to our website, voiceofgoddaily.com it's right there for you.
Speaker B:Free.
Speaker B:Let's pray.
Speaker B:God, we hear the trumpet and we're not sure if we should be excited or terrified.
Speaker B:Maybe we're a bit of both.
Speaker B:But here's what we heard today.
Speaker B:That you are not destroying our world, you are reclaiming it.
Speaker B:You're holding accountable the ones who exploit and devour.
Speaker B:And you are calling the names of the small and the faithful.
Speaker B:That gives us so much hope today.
Speaker B:Help us to be the people who protect what you love, this earth.
Speaker B:These people, especially the ones the world overlooks, blow the doors open in our lives, God.
Speaker B:Remove whatever keeps us from your presence and whatever keeps us from seeing your presence in others.
Speaker B:And remind us today that small acts of faithfulness are not small to you.
Speaker B:We want to be on that list not because we are great, but because we were faithful.
Speaker B:Walk with us today.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
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Speaker A:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller.
Speaker A:And I'll be right here tomorrow with your daily Bible refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up.
Speaker A:It's created new every morning.
