DAY 18 - Morning
Theme: LOVE THAT CHOOSES: Making Daily Decisions That Strengthens The Marriage

Morning Reflection
Protect Your Friendship

Good morning,
Before you became husband and wife, you were two people who discovered something special in each other.
Friendship.
But sometimes marriage becomes so occupied with responsibilities that friendship quietly disappears.
You discuss school fees.
You discuss the children.
You discuss electricity bills.
You discuss work.
But when did you last simply laugh together?
When did you last sit and talk about nothing important?
Friendship is not an optional extra in marriage.
It is part of the foundation.

God's Word
"A friend loves at all times." — Proverbs 17:17

Today's Love Action
Spend some time together today doing something neither of you considers a responsibility.
Take a walk.
Share a meal.
Tell jokes.
Listen to music.
Simply enjoy each other's company.

Let's Talk
What did you enjoy doing together before marriage that you could bring back into your relationship?

Prayer
Lord, restore the friendship in our marriage. Help us enjoy one another again and not allow responsibilities to steal our companionship. Amen.

From The Counselor's Chair
A couple can share a house, children and finances and still become emotionally distant. Friendship keeps the heart connected.

Marriage Nugget
"Don't become such good partners in managing life that you forget to be friends."

Remember
In marriage, it is not about winning the argument; it is about winning each other's hearts.

WAIT… THAT’S IN THE BIBLE? — DAY 15

A lighthearted look at some of the wonderfully unexpected things you discover when you actually read your Bible, context still matters!

“Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me?” 1 Samuel 21:15

David is running for his life and ends up in Gath.

There’s just one problem…

THEY RECOGNISE HIM.

So David quickly comes up with a survival plan.

Disguise himself?

Sneak away?

Hide somewhere?

Nope.

HE PRETENDS TO BE COMPLETELY MAD.

He scratches marks on the doors.

He lets saliva run down his beard.

The servants bring him before King Achish, who takes one look at David and basically says:

“DO YOU REALLY THINK MY PALACE DOESN’T HAVE ENOUGH CHAOS ALREADY?!

WHY ARE YOU BRINGING ME MORE CRAZY?!”

In fact, Achish’s actual words are almost as funny:

“Am I so short of madmen…?”

Basically:

“Gentlemen, my crazy department is FULL.
We are NOT accepting new applicants.”

PALACE VACANCIES

Madmen required

POSITIONS FILLED.

Context still matters!

David wasn’t simply behaving strangely for a laugh. He was frightened for his life and pretended to be insane so Achish wouldn’t regard him as a threat.

There’s actually something beautiful underneath this bizarre episode.

David looked ridiculous.

He was frightened.

His circumstances were completely out of control.

But God still brought him through.

Sometimes deliverance doesn’t look quite like we imagined it would.

But still…

Somewhere around three thousand years ago, an exasperated king essentially looked at his staff and said:

“I HAVE ENOUGH CRAZY AROUND HERE ALREADY!”

And honestly…

some sentences are timeless.

I think good relationships are built on something very simple:

You should be able to be yourself around each other.

Not the polished version.

Not the version that's trying to impress everyone.

Just you.

Someone you can have a serious conversation with, then laugh about something completely stupid five minutes later.

Someone you can disagree with without turning it into a war.

Someone who makes life feel a little lighter, not heavier.

Friendship, love, business relationships... I think the same principle applies.

Genuine connection is rare.

When you find it, don't take it for granted.

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional.
Rip Off the Mask

By Shelley Quinn

August 14th, 2026

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.” Psalm 34:13

Finishing a brief therapy session, I slumped down on the side of my hospital bed. A charge nurse popped into my room to ask how I was doing.

“Great,” I smiled. “How was your son’s game?”

After our quick exchange I turned back to my therapist who sat on the window ledge, shaking his head.

“You are your own worst enemy, Shelley!”

My puzzled look prompted his further explanation. “I know you well enough now to know that when your pain becomes intolerable, you breathe in short gasps and perspiration beads on your forehead. But, you smile and gloss over your condition with a friendly word. Most people can’t be cheery when they’re suffering, and—hey—medical personnel are trained to determine treatment by reading facial expressions.”

He had worked with me earlier that month during my first week of hospitalization, following a five-hour spinal surgery. I suffered several complications—including nerve damage in my groins and an irreparable rotator cuff tear. Now, I had been readmitted because I couldn’t walk.

He called it correctly—brutal pain surged through my back, groins, and shoulder. His gentle rebuke echoed words from my distant past, when a spinal surgeon called me “my own worst enemy” for the same reason.

I’m a “grin-and-bear it” kind of gal. Not wanting to be perceived as a whiner, I mask the truth with a smile, using verbal camouflage to hide my brokenness.

Don’t pity me—you likely hide behind the same deflection technique. Have you ever arrived at church heavy-hearted, and when someone asked how you’re doing, you replied, “Doing great! Happy Sabbath!”? Later, you headed home with the same sadness, and no one had the opportunity to pray for you. Or you laugh off hurt feelings following a cutting remark, and never privately confront the abuser. Or a loved one asks, “Is something wrong?” and you hide your frustration with “No! I’m fine.”

People are not mind readers! Our words define us. When we express ourselves honestly, we become visible. When we hide behind a mask of verbal camouflage, we are invisible to others. Some of us wall in our pain, and—sadly—we often feel as if no one really cares.

Verbal camouflage is deceitful.

I get it! We don’t want to wear our feelings on our sleeves. But we need to figure out an honest response to the casual question, “How are you?” If you’re not doing fine—don’t lie about it. While you don’t want to gush out unwanted details, a simple, “I’ll get better!” or “I’m trusting the Lord!” or “I’m blessed, no matter what!” are some of the possible responses. If the person is unknown to you, or too busy to stop for discovery, they’ll go on. If, however, they respond, “Tell me about it!” you will know God placed that person in your path to comfort you.

Let’s rip off the mask and get real!

“Possible Deaths Of Those Who Refuse The Mark Of The Beast During The Great Tribulation”

This is not meant to glorify violence.

It is meant to confront you with the terrifying seriousness of what Scripture describes concerning the Great Tribulation, the beast, the mark, persecution, judgment, and hell.

There is one important distinction that must be understood.

The Bible does not say that every person who refuses the mark will necessarily die by the exact methods pictured in this image. These are illustrations of possible forms of persecution and execution.

But Scripture DOES explicitly teach that the beast will demand worship, that the mark will be connected with allegiance to the beast, that economic restrictions will be imposed, and that those who refuse the beast will face deadly persecution.

And this is where the subject becomes brutally serious.

Revelation 13:15 KJV says:

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”

Read that again.

“SHOULD BE KILLED.”

This is not merely inconvenience.

This is not being mocked.

This is not losing followers.

This is not being cancelled.

This is not getting fired.

This is not somebody disagreeing with your religion.

The prophecy describes a system where refusal to worship the beast can result in death.

The world can threaten your comfort.

The world can threaten your career.

The world can threaten your possessions.

The world can threaten your freedom.

But eventually the question becomes much darker:

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WORLD THREATENS YOUR LIFE?

Will you bow because you are afraid to die?

Will you compromise because you are afraid to suffer?

Will you surrender because obedience to evil becomes easier than faithfulness to God?

That is the kind of pressure Revelation warns about.

Revelation 13:16 KJV says:

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads”

Then Revelation 13:17 KJV says:

“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

Think about the pressure.

No mark.

No ordinary buying.

No ordinary selling.

No normal economic participation.

The pressure will not merely be physical.

It will be economic.

Social.

Political.

Religious.

Personal.

You could be surrounded by people telling you that refusing the mark is foolish.

You could be told that accepting it is necessary for survival.

You could be told that everyone else is doing it.

You could be threatened with poverty.

You could be threatened with imprisonment.

You could be threatened with torture.

You could be threatened with death.

And eventually the issue becomes allegiance.

WHO DO YOU WORSHIP?

WHO DO YOU OBEY?

WHO WILL YOU REFUSE TO DENY?

And here comes an extremely important distinction concerning salvation during that prophetic period.

The present dispensation of grace is not to be confused with the prophetic conditions Scripture describes concerning the beast and his mark.

The salvation message and prophetic circumstances must be handled according to the passages being discussed.

In the present age, Scripture plainly teaches salvation by grace through faith, not by works.

Ephesians 2:8 KJV says:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith”

And Ephesians 2:9 KJV says:

“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

That is unmistakable.

But when Revelation describes the Great Tribulation, the issue surrounding the beast and his mark becomes radically different.

Revelation does not present the mark as an innocent action that somebody can take while continuing to worship God.

The mark is connected directly with worship and allegiance to the beast.

Revelation 14:9 KJV says:

“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand”

Notice the connection.

WORSHIP.

THE BEAST.

THE IMAGE.

THE MARK.

ALLEGIANCE.

Then comes the terrifying warning.

Revelation 14:10 KJV says:

“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God”

And Revelation 14:11 KJV says:

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night”

FOR EVER AND EVER.

NO REST.

DAY NOR NIGHT.

This is why the idea of “easy salvation” during the mark of the beast period must be rejected as a careless way of presenting those passages.

A person cannot simply say:

“I believe in God, but I will receive the mark of the beast anyway.”

The Revelation passages do not permit that kind of casual separation between belief and allegiance.

If someone knowingly worships the beast and receives his mark, Scripture gives an extremely severe warning concerning that person.

The mark is not presented as a neutral transaction.

It is connected with worship.

It is connected with allegiance.

It is connected with rebellion against God.

Therefore, in the prophetic context of the Great Tribulation, the Scriptures describe a form of endurance and faithfulness that continues even when obedience to God costs earthly life.

This is why Revelation 14:12 KJV says:

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

PATIENT ENDURANCE.

FAITHFULNESS.

PERSEVERANCE.

REFUSING THE BEAST.

REFUSING HIS WORSHIP.

REFUSING HIS MARK.

EVEN WHEN THE COST IS DEATH.

That is brutally different from the idea that somebody can deliberately worship the beast, receive his mark, and simply assume that faith makes the decision irrelevant.

THE TEXT DOES NOT GIVE THAT COMFORT.

Revelation 20:4 KJV says:

“And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast”

Why were they beheaded?

Because they refused.

Why did they suffer?

Because they refused.

Why did they die?

Because they refused.

They would rather lose their earthly lives than surrender their allegiance.

And here is the brutal truth:

THEIR FAITH WAS NOT A CHEAP WORD.

THEIR FAITH WAS TESTED UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE.

THEIR ALLEGIANCE WAS NOT MERELY A SENTENCE THEY SPOKE.

THEIR PERSEVERANCE WAS DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR REFUSAL TO WORSHIP THE BEAST.

This is why it is dangerous to take the language of “faith alone” from the present dispensation and carelessly force it into every prophetic passage without considering the specific context of Revelation.

The present age of grace must be distinguished from the prophetic program concerning Israel, the beast, the mark, and the Great Tribulation.

During the Great Tribulation, Revelation describes people who must endure persecution and refuse the beast and his mark.

The issue becomes so severe that Revelation 13:10 KJV says:

“Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

And Revelation 12:11 KJV says:

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”

Then comes the brutal statement:

“And they loved not their lives unto the death.”

THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH.

That means earthly survival was not their highest priority.

They understood something that modern comfort addicted Christianity desperately needs to understand:

LIVING IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING FAITHFUL TO GOD.

A person can preserve his body and lose everything that matters eternally.

A person can lose his body and remain faithful.

A person can lose his possessions and keep his testimony.

A person can lose his freedom and refuse to bow.

A person can lose his earthly life and refuse the mark.

But there is something infinitely more terrifying than an execution chamber.

HELL.

Hell is worse than the flames pictured in this image.

Hell is worse than torture.

Hell is worse than starvation.

Hell is worse than imprisonment.

Hell is worse than persecution.

Hell is worse than earthly death.

Why?

Because earthly suffering has an end.

The judgment of God is another matter entirely.

Matthew 10:28 KJV says:

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul”

Then Christ says:

“But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

THERE IT IS.

HELL.

The world tells you to fear people.

Christ tells you to understand the greater reality.

Human beings can kill the body.

Human beings can torture the body.

Human beings can imprison the body.

Human beings can destroy earthly possessions.

But God remains the Judge of eternity.

And this is why Revelation 14 is so terrifying.

The beast can threaten your body.

The beast can threaten your livelihood.

The beast can threaten your freedom.

The beast can threaten your family.

The beast can threaten your life.

BUT THE BEAST DOES NOT HAVE THE FINAL WORD.

GOD DOES.

Revelation 14:9 KJV warns:

“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand”

And verse 10 says:

“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God”

That warning is deliberately severe.

There is no casual language here.

There is no suggestion that worshipping the beast is harmless.

There is no suggestion that receiving his mark is spiritually irrelevant.

There is no suggestion that somebody can deliberately identify himself with the beast and then mock the consequences.

The warning is terrifying because the rebellion is terrifying.

HELL IS NOT A JOKE.

HELL IS NOT A FAIRY TALE.

HELL IS NOT A RELIGIOUS INSULT.

HELL IS NOT SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT.

HELL IS A WARNING.

And the Bible repeatedly warns about judgment because eternity is too serious for comfortable lies.

Matthew 24:21 KJV says:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Great tribulation.

Not ordinary trouble.

Not ordinary persecution.

Not an ordinary war.

Great tribulation.

And Matthew 24:22 KJV says:

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved”

Think about the severity of those words.

Christ Himself described that period as unprecedented.

The suffering will be extraordinary.

The deception will be extraordinary.

The persecution will be extraordinary.

The pressure will be extraordinary.

And Revelation describes saints standing firm in the middle of it.

That is why Revelation 13:7 KJV says:

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them”

MAKE WAR.

Not debate.

Not disagreement.

Not a theological argument.

WAR.

And the brutal reality is that some of those saints will be killed.

Revelation 20:4 KJV says:

“And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus”

They died because they refused to surrender their testimony.

They died because they refused to worship the beast.

They died because they refused to identify themselves with the beast.

They died because they refused the mark.

And that brings us back to the terrifying issue of works and faith during that prophetic period.

Do not confuse this with saying that human works can purchase the righteousness of God.

Works cannot purchase salvation.

Human effort cannot buy forgiveness.

Religious performance cannot force God to save somebody.

But the prophetic passages concerning the beast show that the professed faith of those saints is demonstrated through their endurance and their refusal to worship the beast or receive his mark.

In other words:

THEIR FAITH IS NOT BEING PRESENTED AS A CHEAP, EMPTY CLAIM.

THEIR FAITH IS BEING DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THEIR FAITHFUL ENDURANCE.

They do not merely say they believe.

They refuse the beast.

They refuse his worship.

They refuse his mark.

They endure persecution.

They remain faithful even unto death.

And Scripture gives them the name:

SAINTS.

This is why the Great Tribulation cannot be reduced to the slogan:

“Believe anything you want and the mark will not matter.”

The mark matters.

The worship matters.

The allegiance matters.

The endurance matters.

The refusal matters.

The consequences matter.

And hell matters.

Revelation 14:11 KJV says:

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night”

FOR EVER AND EVER.

NO REST.

DAY NOR NIGHT.

Do not water that down.

Do not turn it into entertainment.

Do not transform Revelation into a horror movie.

The Bible is warning you.

And the warning is brutal because the reality is brutal.

A human execution can end physical suffering.

HELL DOES NOT FIT INTO THE SAME CATEGORY.

A bullet can end a life.

A sword can end a life.

Fire can destroy a body.

A rope can end breathing.

A guillotine can end physical life.

Torture can destroy the body.

But none of these earthly horrors should make a person forget the far greater seriousness of eternal judgment.

The world may say:

“Take the mark and live.”

But Scripture warns:

DO NOT TRADE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES FOR TEMPORARY SURVIVAL.

The world may say:

“Everyone is doing it.”

DO NOT FOLLOW THE CROWD INTO REBELLION.

The world may say:

“You will starve without it.”

DO NOT SELL YOUR ALLEGIANCE FOR FOOD.

The world may say:

“You will die without it.”

DO NOT ASSUME EARTHLY DEATH IS WORSE THAN HELL.

The world may threaten your body.

But God remains the Judge of eternity.

That is the brutality of the warning.

And here is another brutal truth:

PRESSURE DOES NOT CREATE CHARACTER.

PRESSURE REVEALS CHARACTER.

When obedience costs nothing, everyone can pretend to be faithful.

But when obedience costs your livelihood, your reputation, your freedom, or your life, the reality of your allegiance is exposed.

This is why Revelation presents the saints as enduring.

They are not being tested by convenience.

They are being tested by persecution.

They are being tested by death.

They are being tested by a system that demands worship.

And they refuse.

The devil does not always need to destroy you immediately.

Sometimes he only needs to teach you to compromise.

Compromise your convictions.

Compromise your conscience.

Compromise your worship.

Compromise your obedience.

Compromise once.

Then compromise again.

Then eventually you no longer recognize the person who originally said:

“I will never bow.”

That is why Daniel 7:25 KJV says:

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High”

WEAR OUT.

Pressure.

Fear.

Exhaustion.

Persecution.

Economic restriction.

Social hatred.

Violence.

Death.

The objective is surrender.

But Revelation shows saints who refuse.

And here is the most brutal part:

YOU CAN LOSE YOUR EARTHLY LIFE AND STILL REFUSE TO LOSE YOUR TESTIMONY.

YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HEAD AND STILL KEEP YOUR FAITH.

YOU CAN LOSE EVERYTHING THIS WORLD VALUES AND STILL REFUSE TO WORSHIP THE BEAST.

BUT DO NOT PRESUME THAT RECEIVING THE MARK IS A SMALL MATTER.

Revelation does not present it that way.

Revelation 14 presents the mark together with worship of the beast and the wrath of God.

That is why the warning is so severe.

And that is why anyone teaching a careless “easy salvation” message concerning the mark of the beast is ignoring the terrifying warnings of Revelation.

Again, this does not mean that human works can purchase salvation from God.

It means that in the prophetic context, Scripture describes genuine allegiance to God through persevering faithfulness under persecution, including refusing the beast and his mark.

The saints are not saved because their suffering earns a price from God.

Their endurance demonstrates where their allegiance stands.

Their refusal demonstrates that they will not worship the beast.

Their perseverance demonstrates that they will not surrender.

Their death demonstrates that earthly survival was not more valuable to them than faithfulness to God.

And Revelation 12:11 KJV says:

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”

Then:

“And they loved not their lives unto the death.”

THAT IS NOT EASY BELIEF.

THAT IS FAITH UNDER FIRE.

THAT IS FAITH UNDER PERSECUTION.

THAT IS FAITH UNDER THREAT OF DEATH.

THAT IS FAITH THAT REFUSES TO BOW.

And if someone says:

“I have faith, so I can receive the mark anyway”

Revelation gives no comfort for that attitude.

Because the mark is not presented as a meaningless stamp.

It is associated with worship and allegiance to the beast.

And the warning is terrifying.

HELL.

WRATH.

JUDGMENT.

TORMENT.

ETERNITY.

Revelation 20:14 KJV says:

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

And Revelation 20:15 KJV says:

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

The lake of fire.

Hell.

Judgment.

Eternity.

These are not words to use casually.

These are not words to soften.

These are not words to hide.

They are warnings.

And that is why this image should not merely make you think:

“How horrible those deaths look.”

It should make you think:

“HOW SERIOUS IS ETERNITY?”

Burned alive?

Terrifying.

Beheaded?

Terrifying.

Shot?

Terrifying.

Beaten to death?

Terrifying.

Hanged?

Terrifying.

Guillotined?

Terrifying.

Starved?

Terrifying.

Tortured?

Terrifying.

Executed?

Terrifying.

But the Bible warns of something even more terrifying than earthly suffering.

THE WRATH OF GOD.

THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.

THE LAKE OF FIRE.

HELL.

ETERNITY.

And the beast?

The beast is not God.

The beast is not eternal.

The beast is not sovereign.

The beast is not the final authority.

The beast has an appointed end.

Revelation 19:20 KJV says:

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet”

The one who terrorizes the earth will not reign forever.

The one who demands worship will not reign forever.

The one who persecutes the saints will not reign forever.

The one who threatens death will eventually face the Judge.

EVIL HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE.

GOD DOES NOT.

The beast may have authority for a season.

God has eternal authority.

The beast may control commerce.

God controls eternity.

The beast may threaten death.

God controls judgment.

The beast may terrify nations.

God remains King.

And when the final judgment comes, nobody will care how powerful the beast once appeared.

Because earthly power is temporary.

God is eternal.

So look at this image again.

Look at the fire.

Look at the weapons.

Look at the chains.

Look at the suffering.

Look at the executions.

Then look beyond them.

Look beyond the body.

Look beyond the pain.

Look beyond the blood.

Look beyond the grave.

THINK ABOUT ETERNITY.

Because the greatest tragedy is not simply dying brutally.

The greatest tragedy is facing the judgment of God unprepared.

The greatest tragedy is treating Scripture like entertainment.

The greatest tragedy is laughing at hell.

The greatest tragedy is exchanging eternal consequences for temporary comfort.

And the brutal message of Revelation is this:

THE BEAST MAY SAY BOW OR DIE.

BUT GOD SAYS THAT EARTHLY DEATH IS NOT THE FINAL REALITY.

THE BEAST MAY SAY TAKE THE MARK OR STARVE.

BUT GOD REMAINS THE JUDGE OF ETERNITY.

THE BEAST MAY SAY WORSHIP ME OR SUFFER.

BUT GOD ALONE IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP.

THE BEAST MAY CONTROL THE MARKET.

BUT GOD CONTROLS THE FINAL JUDGMENT.

THE BEAST MAY HAVE ARMIES.

BUT GOD HAS ALL AUTHORITY.

THE BEAST MAY THREATEN YOUR BODY.

BUT GOD REMAINS THE JUDGE OF ETERNITY.

And that is why the warning must be taken seriously.

Not tomorrow.

Not after the tribulation begins.

Not after the beast appears.

Not after the mark becomes mandatory.

The warning is being given beforehand.

Because once that prophetic crisis arrives, the consequences will be terrifying.

Do not romanticize the Great Tribulation.

Do not treat Revelation like a horror movie.

Do not reduce the mark of the beast to a casual conspiracy discussion.

Do not assume that receiving the mark is spiritually harmless.

Do not assume that a profession of faith makes deliberate allegiance to the beast irrelevant.

Revelation does not present that kind of easy escape.

Instead, Revelation presents saints who endure.

Saints who refuse.

Saints who remain faithful.

Saints who refuse worship of the beast.

Saints who refuse his mark.

Saints who love not their lives unto the death.

And then Revelation gives the terrifying warning concerning those who worship the beast and receive his mark.

That is why hell must be spoken about plainly.

HELL IS REAL.

JUDGMENT IS REAL.

THE WRATH OF GOD IS REAL.

THE LAKE OF FIRE IS REAL.

ETERNITY IS REAL.

And when the final judgment comes, nobody will be impressed by earthly status.

Hell will not care about your money.

Hell will not care about your followers.

Hell will not care about your career.

Hell will not care about your political position.

Hell will not care about your reputation.

Hell will not care about how comfortable you were.

Eternity will expose everything.

The world can teach you to fear death.

Scripture teaches you to understand eternity.

The world can teach you to protect your body at any cost.

Scripture teaches you that allegiance to God is more important than temporary comfort.

The world can tell you:

“Bow and live.”

But Revelation warns that there are things you must refuse even when refusal costs your life.

Because earthly life is temporary.

Earthly possessions are temporary.

Earthly power is temporary.

Earthly comfort is temporary.

Earthly suffering is temporary.

But eternity is not temporary.

And hell is not something to laugh away.

So remember the brutal distinction:

IN THIS PRESENT AGE, SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, NOT BY HUMAN WORKS.

BUT THE GREAT TRIBULATION PASSAGES CONCERNING THE BEAST DESCRIBE A DIFFERENT PROPHETIC CONTEXT IN WHICH FAITHFULNESS IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH PERSEVERANCE, REFUSING THE BEAST, REFUSING HIS WORSHIP, AND REFUSING HIS MARK EVEN UNTO DEATH.

Do not confuse the two contexts.

Do not use the grace message as an excuse to make Revelation 14 meaningless.

Do not turn the mark of the beast into something spiritually harmless.

Do not preach a version of prophecy where somebody can worship the beast, receive his mark, and simply shrug while claiming that faith makes the warning irrelevant.

Revelation does not speak that way.

The warning is severe.

The consequences are severe.

The judgment is severe.

HELL IS SEVERE.

And eternity is too serious for comfortable lies.

The question during that terrifying prophetic period will not merely be:

“Do you claim to believe?”

The question will be:

“WHO WILL YOU WORSHIP?”

“WHO WILL YOU OBEY?”

“WILL YOU RECEIVE THE MARK?”

“WILL YOU BOW?”

“WILL YOU ENDURE?”

“WILL YOU REMAIN FAITHFUL?”

Because when the world demands:

BOW OR DIE

the Scriptures reveal saints who choose:

I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN WORSHIP THE BEAST.

And that is the brutal warning.

EARTHLY DEATH HAS AN END.

HELL IS WORSE.

EARTHLY SUFFERING HAS AN END.

THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS ETERNAL.

THE BEAST HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE.

GOD DOES NOT.

THE MARK MAY CONTROL YOUR ECONOMIC LIFE.

BUT IT CANNOT CONTROL THE THRONE OF GOD.

THE BEAST MAY THREATEN YOUR BODY.

BUT HE CANNOT BECOME YOUR GOD.

THE WORLD MAY THREATEN YOUR LIFE.

BUT ETERNITY STILL BELONGS TO GOD.

So look at the image.

Look at the fire.

Look at the torture.

Look at the executions.

And then remember the warning:

DO NOT EXCHANGE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES FOR TEMPORARY SURVIVAL.

DO NOT BOW TO EVIL BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID TO DIE.

DO NOT TREAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST AS A HARMLESS DECISION.

DO NOT LAUGH AT REVELATION.

DO NOT LAUGH AT HELL.

DO NOT LAUGH AT JUDGMENT.

Because one day the warning will no longer be merely a warning.

And when eternity arrives, there will be no negotiation.

No bargaining.

No bribery.

No hiding.

No escape from the Judge.

HELL IS NOT A PUNCHLINE.

HELL IS NOT ENTERTAINMENT.

HELL IS NOT MYTHOLOGY.

HELL IS A WARNING.

And Revelation gives that warning because eternity is too important for silence.

Today was a reminder that **things can go wrong, plans can fall apart, fear can creep in, and situations can arise that we simply cannot control—and God can still be right there in the middle of every bit of it.**

There were moments today involving my son that frightened me and situations that are still unresolved. There was a frightening situation of my own where I know God's protection was over me. There were phone calls, worries, frustrations, and moments when this mama's mind wanted to run ahead and imagine every possible outcome.

But God was there.

God was with my son.
God was with me.
God was in the situations I understood, and He was in the ones I didn't.

And somehow, right in the middle of everything, God still gave me time with my church family. I got to fellowship, laugh, talk, play games, eat some good food, and simply enjoy being around people I love. For a little while, the weight of the day wasn't quite so heavy.

Then I came home and found one more thing to worry about—my chickens weren't locked up like they were supposed to be. Of course, I panicked again! But they were okay.

And once again... **God was there.**

Looking back tonight, I realize how much time I spent complaining, worrying, getting frustrated, and making everything feel bigger and worse in my mind. Lord, forgive me for the moments when I focused more on the storm than I did on You.

Because You never left.

Sometimes faith isn't watching God immediately fix everything. Sometimes faith is knowing that **God is already working while we're still waiting.**

There are things tonight that I cannot fix. There are things I don't completely understand. There are things I desperately want resolved.

So I am putting them at the feet of Jesus.

The fear.
The anger.
The frustration.
The unforgiveness.
The questions.
The things beyond my control.

They don't belong in my hands anymore.

God was there today. God is here tonight. And God is already in tomorrow.

My job is to keep my eyes on Jesus, trust Him, be patient, and allow Him to move in His time—not mine.

**Things happen. Life gets messy. We get scared. We get frustrated. We sometimes forget Who is standing beside us. But God remains faithful through every bit of it.**

Tonight, instead of asking, *"Why did all of this happen?"* I'm choosing to say:

**"Thank You, Lord, for being there through all of it."**

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional.
Rip Off the Mask

By Shelley Quinn

August 14th, 2026

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.” Psalm 34:13

Finishing a brief therapy session, I slumped down on the side of my hospital bed. A charge nurse popped into my room to ask how I was doing.

“Great,” I smiled. “How was your son’s game?”

After our quick exchange I turned back to my therapist who sat on the window ledge, shaking his head.

“You are your own worst enemy, Shelley!”

My puzzled look prompted his further explanation. “I know you well enough now to know that when your pain becomes intolerable, you breathe in short gasps and perspiration beads on your forehead. But, you smile and gloss over your condition with a friendly word. Most people can’t be cheery when they’re suffering, and—hey—medical personnel are trained to determine treatment by reading facial expressions.”

He had worked with me earlier that month during my first week of hospitalization, following a five-hour spinal surgery. I suffered several complications—including nerve damage in my groins and an irreparable rotator cuff tear. Now, I had been readmitted because I couldn’t walk.

He called it correctly—brutal pain surged through my back, groins, and shoulder. His gentle rebuke echoed words from my distant past, when a spinal surgeon called me “my own worst enemy” for the same reason.

I’m a “grin-and-bear it” kind of gal. Not wanting to be perceived as a whiner, I mask the truth with a smile, using verbal camouflage to hide my brokenness.

Don’t pity me—you likely hide behind the same deflection technique. Have you ever arrived at church heavy-hearted, and when someone asked how you’re doing, you replied, “Doing great! Happy Sabbath!”? Later, you headed home with the same sadness, and no one had the opportunity to pray for you. Or you laugh off hurt feelings following a cutting remark, and never privately confront the abuser. Or a loved one asks, “Is something wrong?” and you hide your frustration with “No! I’m fine.”

People are not mind readers! Our words define us. When we express ourselves honestly, we become visible. When we hide behind a mask of verbal camouflage, we are invisible to others. Some of us wall in our pain, and—sadly—we often feel as if no one really cares.

Verbal camouflage is deceitful.

I get it! We don’t want to wear our feelings on our sleeves. But we need to figure out an honest response to the casual question, “How are you?” If you’re not doing fine—don’t lie about it. While you don’t want to gush out unwanted details, a simple, “I’ll get better!” or “I’m trusting the Lord!” or “I’m blessed, no matter what!” are some of the possible responses. If the person is unknown to you, or too busy to stop for discovery, they’ll go on. If, however, they respond, “Tell me about it!” you will know God placed that person in your path to comfort you.

Let’s rip off the mask and get real!

Brenda Walsh Ministries
Fear of Failure.

There’s an old African proverb that says, “He who wants to cross a river must not be afraid of getting wet.” Too many times people don’t accomplish their dreams and goals because of fear of failure or fear of what they’ll encounter. That kind of fear keeps you from going on a diet to lose weight, changing jobs, exploring a relationship, or even accepting a promotion. But being locked in a prison of fear will destroy you. Author Paulo Coelho once said, “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right. Not once does the Bible say to worry about it, stress over it, or figure it out. But over and over again, it clearly says, “Fear not.” Plain and simple, God doesn’t want His children to live in fear! He wants you to trust Him and go forward with faith that He knows what He is doing and will lead and guide you every step. Fear paralyzes your dreams, steals your happiness, and limits your relationship with God. When you start thinking, “I can’t do this. I’m just an idiot - everyone is going to laugh at me. Look at how many times I’ve failed. Everyone else can do it - I’m clearly the problem,” don’t listen to any of that nonsense and push those negative thoughts from your mind. That’s just the kind of weapon the devil loves to use against you, but don’t let fear keep you from going where God wants to take you. Claim God’s promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Text: Psalm 56:3, Isaiah 41:13, Psalm 118:6, 2 Timothy 1:7

A little more about me, beyond the bio.

I’m usually the person who observes before joining the conversation.

I like people, but I also really enjoy my own company. I can spend an entire evening listening to music, working on something, thinking about life, or going down a completely unnecessary internet rabbit hole

I’m also at a stage where I’m taking my work, my relationships, and my personal growth more seriously.

I like people who are genuine. People who can laugh at themselves, have an honest conversation, and don't feel the need to pretend they have everything figured out.

I’m here to meet people, have interesting conversations, learn a few things, and see where some of those connections lead.

So if you're new here too, say hi.

What’s something about you that probably wouldn't make it into your bio?

WATCH YOUR MOUTH: WHEN YOUR WORDS REVEAL YOUR HEART!

Key Scripture
“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” — James 3:10 (KJV)

Thought of the Day...
There is tremendous power in the words we speak.
With our mouths, we praise God. We pray for the sick. We encourage the discouraged. We preach the gospel. We tell people that Jesus saves. We sing songs of worship and declare the goodness of God.
Yet James confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: the same mouth that blesses God can also become a weapon that wounds people.
We can shout “Hallelujah!” on Sunday and tear somebody down on Monday.
We can quote Scripture and still gossip.
We can pray for people publicly and speak evil about them privately.
We can proclaim the love of Jesus while harboring hatred, prejudice, racism, bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness toward people created in the image of God.
James says:
“My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” — James 3:10
In other words, something is wrong when our confession and our conversation contradict each other.
WHAT IS IN THE HEART WILL EVENTUALLY COME OUT OF THE MOUTH
Jesus said:
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” — Matthew 12:34 (KJV)
Our words are more than sounds—they are often windows into the condition of our hearts.
If bitterness continually comes from our mouths, we need to examine what is growing in our hearts.
If hatred comes from our mouths, we need to examine our hearts.
If racism, prejudice, degrading jokes, insults, gossip, slander, or cruelty continually come from our mouths, we cannot simply excuse it by saying, “That’s just how I talk.”
Jesus teaches that our speech reveals something deeper.
Sometimes we ask God to control our tongues when God is trying to transform our hearts.
Because if God changes the heart, eventually the conversation will change.
David prayed:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
We don't merely need better vocabulary.
We need transformed hearts.
FRESH WATER AND BITTER WATER SHOULD NOT COME FROM THE SAME SOURCE
James continues:
“Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” — James 3:11 (KJV)
James uses a simple picture with a powerful message.
You wouldn't expect to approach a freshwater spring, take one drink and receive clean water, then take another drink and receive poison.
Yet spiritually, that contradiction can happen with our mouths.
One moment:
“God is good!”
The next moment:
“I hate those people.”
One moment:
“Jesus loves everybody.”
The next moment, we speak contemptuously about someone because of their race, background, nationality, social status, political differences, neighborhood, education, or past.
James challenges us: How can blessing and cursing continually flow from the same source?
The gospel does not merely change where we go on Sunday.
The gospel changes who we are.
And when Christ changes who we are, He should also change how we speak and how we treat people.
YOU CANNOT CLAIM LIGHT WHILE PRACTICING HATRED
The Apostle John writes:
“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” — 1 John 2:9 (KJV)
That Scripture should cause every believer to examine themselves.
Christianity is not merely what we say we believe.
It must become visible in how we live.
Church attendance cannot substitute for transformation.
A title cannot substitute for transformation.
Preaching cannot substitute for transformation.
Singing in the choir cannot substitute for transformation.
Knowing Scripture cannot substitute for transformation.
Jesus said:
“By their fruits ye shall know them.” — Matthew 7:20 (KJV)
And Paul tells us what Spirit-produced fruit looks like:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...” — Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
The question becomes:
What kind of fruit is hanging from my life?
RACISM AND PREJUDICE HAVE NO PLACE IN A CHRIST-SURRENDERED HEART
Racism and prejudice contradict the reconciling work of Jesus Christ.
Scripture teaches that Christ:
“...hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” — Ephesians 2:14 (KJV)
Jesus came tearing down walls that sin had built.
Therefore, believers should not rebuild walls that Christ died to destroy.
We cannot preach reconciliation while practicing division.
We cannot celebrate grace for ourselves while denying dignity to others.
We cannot ask God to judge people according to their skin while asking Him to judge us according to His mercy.
At the foot of the cross, nobody has room to boast.
We all needed the same Savior.
We all needed the same blood.
We all needed the same grace.
We all needed the same forgiveness.
And everyone who comes to Jesus must come the same way—by grace through faith.
BUT THERE IS ALSO A DANGER IN SILENCE
Our responsibility goes beyond refusing to participate in hatred ourselves.
There are moments when love requires us to speak.
Paul tells believers:
“But speaking the truth in love...” — Ephesians 4:15 (KJV)
Notice both sides.
Truth.
And love.
Truth without love can become cruelty.
Love without truth can become compromise.
Biblical courage requires both.
When hatred, racism, prejudice, or dehumanizing speech appears around us, believers should not laugh along simply because everyone else is laughing.
We should not forward it.
We should not encourage it.
We should not excuse it because the person saying it is our friend, relative, coworker, church member, favorite celebrity, or someone whose views we otherwise share.
There are moments when following Jesus means having enough courage to say:
“That's wrong.”
Not arrogantly.
Not hatefully.
Not self-righteously.
But truthfully and lovingly.
Because silence can sometimes communicate agreement where there should have been a godly witness.
THE REAL QUESTION IS: DOES MY LIFE MATCH MY CONFESSION?
It is easy to examine everybody else's words.
But today's devotional isn't primarily about their mouth.
It's about mine.
Before pointing at someone else, I need to ask God:
Lord, what is coming out of me?
Do my private conversations sound like Jesus?
Do my social media posts sound like Jesus?
Do my jokes sound like Jesus?
Do my comments about people who are different from me sound like Jesus?
Do I speak differently when certain people leave the room?
Would I be comfortable if Jesus physically sat beside me and listened to everything I said this week?
That's where conviction becomes personal.
David prayed:
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” — Psalm 19:14 (KJV)
Notice that David didn't pray only about his mouth.
He prayed about his heart.
Because God knows that if He transforms what is happening inside of us, it will eventually transform what comes out of us.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE: WATCH YOUR MOUTH—AND CHECK YOUR HEART
Before you speak today, ask yourself:
Does this glorify God?
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Will it build someone up or unnecessarily tear someone down?
Does this reflect the character of Jesus Christ?
Would I say this if Jesus were visibly standing beside me?
And when you fail—and all of us stumble in our words—don't excuse it.
Repent.
Ask forgiveness.
Make it right when necessary.
And allow the Holy Spirit to continue transforming you.
Because spiritual maturity is not demonstrated only by how loudly we praise God.
Sometimes it is demonstrated by knowing when to speak, what to speak, how to speak, and when to remain quiet.
May our mouths never become instruments of hatred while claiming to represent the God of love.
May our words never become weapons of destruction while claiming to follow the Prince of Peace.
May the same mouths that proclaim Jesus also demonstrate His character.
Because somebody is listening.
Somebody is watching.
And somebody may form an opinion about the Christ we profess by the way we speak to and about others.
If Jesus lives in our hearts, eventually Jesus ought to show up in our words.

CALL TO ACTION...
• Examine your speech. Ask yourself whether your words consistently bless, encourage, heal, and glorify God—or whether they carry bitterness, gossip, prejudice, anger, or poison.
• Examine your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to expose hidden prejudice, resentment, unforgiveness, pride, or hatred that may be influencing your words.
• Repent quickly. When God convicts you about something you have said, don't justify it. Confess it, turn from it, and make amends when appropriate.
• Refuse to participate in hatred. Don't laugh at it, share it, forward it, encourage it, or quietly help normalize it.
• Speak truth in love. When circumstances require you to take a stand, have the courage to do so without becoming hateful yourself.
• Walk in the Spirit daily. Ask God to make your speech evidence that Jesus Christ truly rules your heart.

PRAYER...
Heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, I come before You asking You to search me completely.
Your Word declares, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts”(Psalm 139:23). Lord, shine Your light into every hidden place within me.
If there is bitterness in me, expose it.
If there is hatred in me, remove it.
If there is prejudice in me, confront it.
If there is racism in me, uproot it.
If there is unforgiveness in me, help me release it.
If there is pride in me, humble me.
If there is anything in my heart that does not look like Jesus, Lord, change me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Father, forgive me for every careless word I have spoken. Forgive me for words spoken in anger, words spoken out of pride, gossip, slander, insults, degrading jokes, prejudice, and anything else that dishonored You or wounded someone made in Your image.
And Lord, forgive me for those moments when I should have spoken truth in love but remained silent because I was afraid of rejection, confrontation, or discomfort.
Teach me when to speak and when to remain silent.
Teach me how to speak truth without hatred.
Teach me how to disagree without dishonoring.
Teach me how to correct without condemning.
Teach me how to stand boldly without losing the character of Christ.
Father, place a guard over my mouth.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Holy Spirit, fill me until Your fruit overflows through my life—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
Lord Jesus, make me an instrument of reconciliation in a divided world.
Where hatred has built walls, use me to demonstrate love.
Where racism has caused wounds, use me to promote healing.
Where prejudice has created division, use me to demonstrate the reconciling power of the gospel.
Where lies are being spoken, give me courage to stand for truth.
But Father, never allow me to fight hatred with hatred.
Never allow me to confront darkness while becoming dark myself.
Let me overcome evil with good.
I pray for every person who has been wounded by racism, prejudice, discrimination, hateful speech, rejection, or degrading treatment. Father, heal the places nobody else can see. Restore what hatred tried to steal. Remind them that their worth is not determined by another person's prejudice but by the God who created them in His image.
And Lord, I pray for those whose hearts have been consumed by hatred. Convict them. Break the chains of prejudice. Open blinded eyes. Bring them to genuine repentance and allow them to encounter the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.
And Father, start with me.
Before I examine somebody else's mouth, help me examine mine.
Before I judge somebody else's heart, search mine.
Before I demand change from somebody else, show me where I need to change.
I surrender my heart, my mind, my attitude, my conversations, my social media, my private words, and my public words to You.
From this day forward, let my mouth be used as an instrument of Your glory.
May I bless and not curse.
Build up and not tear down.
Heal and not wound.
Encourage and not discourage.
Speak truth and reject lies.
Promote reconciliation and not division.
And above everything else, may my words cause people to see Jesus Christ living in me.

I declare:
My mouth belongs to God.
My words belong to God.
My heart belongs to God.
And by the power of the Holy Spirit, I will strive to make sure that what comes out of my mouth agrees with the Christ I claim lives within my heart.
In the mighty, matchless, saving, transforming, and powerful name of Jesus Christ, I pray.
Amen and Amen!

Final Thought...
Don't just ask God to change your vocabulary—ask Him to change your heart. Because when Jesus truly transforms the heart, eventually the mouth will testify that something on the inside has changed.
“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” — James 3:10 (KJV)