Revelation 7

There are many different interpretations to the Book of Revelation and our text for today is at the top of the list of the most debated interpretations. There is much speculation about the meaning of the 144,000. As I seek to be consistent in the application of accepted principals for understanding apocalyptic literature I understand the 144,000 to be multiple of ten which means completeness and a multiple of twelve which is a reference to the people of God. Therefore the 144,000 are not a group of specific individuals; rather they represent the whole people of God. In John’s vision he is seeing that the whole people of God will not be destroyed in their present persecution. As wicked and evil as the Emperor is; he will not destroy the people of God. There will be casualties, as the previous chapter with the Four Horseman revealed. In the next portion of our text John’s vision gives the assurance that those who died as martyrs for their faith are not lost. These faithful ones have been brought into the very presence of God.

John’s vision was a message from God to the churches. It is an encouragement to preserve in the face of persecution. Even though they were called to what seemed an impossible task, against an insurmountable force, God is giving the churches His assurance that their work, their faithfulness is not futile. The movement of God will not be defeated. And, God is faithful and true. Those who give their last full measure for the cause of Christ will not be forgotten by God.

I think it was with this same sure confidence of God’s faithfulness that the Apostle Paul wrote,

“When this perishable body puts on imperishability,

and this mortal body puts on immortality,

then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’

‘Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?’

Therefore, my beloved,

be steadfast, immovable,

always excelling in the work of the Lord,

because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15: 54-58 (NRSV)

What does today’s reading

reveal to you about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do

or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change

anything in your life?

6-Oct-11       Rev. 8:1-13

Revelation 6

Chapters 6 through 16 are a series of self-contained visions. Each scene is intended to teach the churches about the nature of evil and God’s judgment on it, and to offer hope in the midst of their suffering. Each scene is described as a cycle of seven; first seals, then trumpets and then bowls. We begin today with the first vision of a cycle of seven seals.

John is discussing evil and the judgment of God. The white horseman is a symbol of victory and represents one who has set out to impose his will on any and all who oppose him. For the seven churches this would have been Domitian the Roman Emperor. The red horseman is a symbol for war and strife, which results when there is opposition to the Emperor. The black horseman is a symbol for the lack of something. In this case it is a lack of food which was a means of persecuting those who did now bow down to the Emperor. The pale horse, the color of a corpse, is death.

The one who set out to conquer (white horse) sets in motion events which lead to war and strife (red horse) that lead to harsh times (black horse) which results in death to many, on both sides of the conflict.

The fifth seal reveals a special place in God’s care for those who have been martyred for their faith. From their special place they intercede for God to act so that the victory of good will prevail. The sixth seal reveals God’s judgment against evil. In apocalyptic writings the judgment of God is often described in terms of violent acts of nature such as earthquakes.

Whew! We have covered much ground. Next, in chapter 7, there will be a bit of an interlude.

My takeaway from today’s reading: God’s justice is sure. No one who deserves God’s judgment against their evil ways can escape. There will be no place to hide. From my perspective God’s coming justice may seem slow, but it is certain.

What does today’s reading

reveal to you about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do

or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change

anything in your life?

5-Oct-11       Rev. 7:1-17

Revelation 4 & 5

I remember an outdoor wedding I was officiating. The groom, best man and I were standing together. We could not see the bridesmaids until they started coming down the aisle. When the bride came into view the groom whispered, “She is so beautiful” and then his knees buckled. The best man and I caught him on his way down. The groom was overwhelmed by the beauty of his bride on her wedding day. That is an infinitesimal example of what those gathered around the throne of God experienced.

John wants the churches to share his confidence in the faithfulness of God, especially during the time of trial, temptation and suffering. John has no words to describe the indescribable, so John uses metaphors. John does his best to describe a scene that produces reverent awe where with every fiber of their being the people of God have an outpouring of worship. Unhurried worship, day and night without ceasing they sing, “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

In my human weakness there are times when I have doubts. Is it worth it? Not so much the sacrifices all Christians make to be followers of Jesus, but the demands of pastoral ministry. Is it worth it? On those occasions I read chapters 4 and 5 and remember, one day my faith will become sight --- I will see Jesus standing at the center of God’s throne. He is worthy of all I can do or sacrifice. After reading of this glorious scene I cannot help but sing now, as I will sing then, and forever and ever,

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that you are my God

You all together lovely

You are all together worthy

You are all together wonderful to me.

What does today’s reading

reveal to you about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do

or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change

anything in your life?

4-Oct-11         Rev. 6:1-17

Revelation 3

The church in Sardis is dead. The church is Philadelphia has open doors, open minds and open hearts. She is encouraged to continue in her faithfulness because she is making an eternal difference. She is also warned that an open mind does not mean anything is acceptable. Evil abounds and she must be vigilant. Laodicea is lukewarm. Self-satisfied she has not much longing for the lost, not much passion for worship, not much concern for the Body of Christ.

The closing words to Laodicea are most often used in our generation by evangelists making an appeal to an individual to open the door of their heart to Jesus. While there is no question that Jesus comes to us through prevenient grace (knocking at our door) and wants us to open our life to him, this is not what verse 20 is saying. Here, Jesus is coming to the church. All seven of these letters were directed to churches. Jesus is appealing to his churches to remain faithful. The church is not just a collection of individuals. The individuals through the grace of God become connected, one to another, as the individuals bear with one another in love. The church is the Body of Christ. Jesus is making it very clear that nothing within the church, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant, escapes his attention.

Every church, whether dead, struggling, apathetic and lukewarm can be encouraged by the vision of Jesus proclaiming: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

What does today’s reading

reveal to you about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do

or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change

anything in your life?

3-Oct-11       Rev. 4:1-5:14

Revelation 2

NOTE: As you read the Book of Revelation ask the Holy Spirit to give you the insight and understanding He wants you to have. Then trust the Holy Spirit to honor your request. Our reading the NT in one year is not the format for an in-depth study of this book, thus I will not identify each and every symbol and reference.  You may find it helpful to use a good study Bible, or one with good cross references, as there will be multiple cites of OT scriptures. Our goal is to get a broad view of John’s message without having to breakdown each and every verse. With the help of the Holy Spirit we will fulfill our goal.

Today we read the first four of the letters to the churches. In chapter one John overflows with adjectives describing his vision of Jesus. There are seven attributes described there and as Jesus addresses each of the seven churches one of those attributes is used. For Ephesus Jesus is alive and present with His church. For Smyrna Jesus is the One who triumphs over death and life, a reference that is picked up at the end of the letter when second death, or  spiritual death, is mentioned. For Pergamum Jesus is the two edged Word of God, bringing both healing and comfort as well as judgment. For Thyatira (the longest of the seven letters to the city which was the smallest and least influential of the seven cities) Jesus is the One who can see beneath the surface and judge righteously.

The reference to the Nicolaitans is believed to be a reference to a gnostic group. The Gnostics believed in absolutes; God’s Spirit is good; everything else is bad. They believed it was possible for a human to migrate to God’s Spirit through a special knowledge. When that knowledge was obtained the person was free of the evil in the world. The gnostic then had no problem sinning because they believed sin could not adversely affect them. This may be what Paul had in mind when in Romans 6 he addresses those who believed they could keep on sinning because grace covers all sins.

My take away from chapter two: In Christ Church there is a lampstand in the chancel that burns 24/7. It is a reminder to me that Christ Church is not my church. It is Jesus’ church. It is a reminder to me that Jesus is fully aware of everything that is spoken and every action that is taken (or not taken) on every square inch of the church, and by every member of the congregation and every person who may come on the campus.

AND, it is a reminder to me that Jesus will not wait until the Second Coming to judge and discipline His church. Every time I see the lampstand I tremble because I know that as pastor Jesus holds me accountable for the conduct of His church.

What does today’s reading

reveal to you about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do

or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change

anything in your life?

2-Oct-11       Rev. 3:1-22