“Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself”.    Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)

There is no force more powerful than the love our heavenly Father has for us, his children. His love can move mountains, stop the roaring seas, heal broken bones and wounded hearts, transform lives, and set free those held captive by sin and shame. He loves you and would have died on the cross even if you were the only human to save!

The verse above tells us that He loves us with an everlasting love, that means it will never end. You may look at yourself and wonder, how can this be true? Maybe you are feeling unloved and unwanted in your life at this moment and this is exactly what you needed to hear. God loves you just because you are you! So let me say it again; You Are Loved

Prayer for today

Lord, I am so thankful that the love you have for me is not based on what I do or don’t do. Whether I fail or succeed at things in my life, your love for me stays the same.  I love you! In your name, amen

Some thoughts to ponder today

What thoughts or feelings do you have about the powerful love God has for you?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus, I thank you today for…. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lord, you have blessed me with…. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus, I am really struggling today with… ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus, what I need today is…. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

I am tenderly loved by God!

I’m taking a break from the Revelation series. The more I read it, the more questions I have, need some time to study it more.

So in the meantime, I would like to share a devotional my wife and I wrote. The topic is “My identity in Christ” Who does the Lord say I am?

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the rights to become children of God.” John 1:12- (NLT)

Not everyone rejected Jesus. In fact, everyone who believed in him and accepted him was given an incredible gift: They were made children of God!

This special gift is something that God alone could achieve for us. It is also something about which Jesus and John will both have more to say. Today, however, think about what it means to be God’s child! Our Father paints the sunrise and displays his artistry again at sunset. He set the boundaries of the universe, which we cannot begin to see. He is the greatest Father anyone could ever have, and he chose us to be his children!

Our adoption into the Father’s family is something God did for us to include us as his children. We couldn’t make ourselves part of God’s family any more than a baby can accomplish his or her own birth or his or her adoption. We are God’s children because of his love and grace and Jesus’ sacrifice. In fact, Jesus came as the Father’s Word of grace; we can be children of God, born from above!

Prayer for today

Expand my heart, O God, so that I can truly show my love and appreciation to you for adopting me into your family. Open my mind, dear Father, so that I can understand your grace and mercy given me through Jesus.  In the name of my brother and Savior, Jesus Christ my Lord, I pray. amen

Some thoughts to consider and pray about today

What do you feel about God calling you His child?

Jesus, I thank you today for…. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lord, you have blessed me with…. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus, I am really struggling today with… ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus, what I need today is…. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

I praise you and thank you for making me your child!

(S)

The Two Witnesses

11 Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, “Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers. ² But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months. ³ And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.”

⁴ These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. ⁵ If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

⁷ When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit^[a] will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them. ⁸ And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem,^[b] the city that is figuratively called “Sodom” and “Egypt,” the city where their Lord was crucified. ⁹ And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. ¹⁰ All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.

¹¹ But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. ¹² Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, “Come up here!” And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.

¹³ At the same time there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake, and everyone else was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second terror is past, but look, the third terror is coming quickly.

(O)

Here is some food for thought and study today.

No one now knows for certain who the Two Witnesses are, however it is widely believed this would be Elijah and Moses, possibly assumed because of the appearance of Moses and Elijah at Jesus’s tranfiguration (Math. 17, Mark 9, Luke 9) But when they do appear, we will know that the return of Christ is not far away.

The Two Witnesses are two human beings who will be given extraordinary power for 3 1/2 years just before Christ’s return (Revelation 11:3). If anyone attempts to harm them before they complete their ministry, “fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies” (verse 5). Note the similarity between this and the power given to Elijah (II Kings 1:9-15). They will also have power to produce drought and famine, as did Elijah (Luke 4:25; I Kings 17:1-7), and to smite the earth with plagues, as Moses did in Egypt (Revelation 11:6). However, there is no biblical justification to believe that the Two Witnesses are indeed Moses and Elijah; God has never resurrected a prophet or apostle to do a work centuries or millennia later. God always uses people of the time to carry out His work.

The most notable work of the Two Witnesses will be to give one final warning to this world. This message of rebuke and repentance will bring them into conflict with the people and the governments in power, and they will be martyred. The whole world will rejoice and give each other gifts as they view their dead bodies, lying unburied in the streets of Jerusalem (verses 9-10). However, those same people will be struck with great fear when they see the Two Witnesses come to life again and ascend into the sky in a cloud (verses 11-12).

Verse 4 calls them “the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth,” a reference to Zechariah 4:14. Combining this Old Testament prophecy with the interpretation of the lampstands in Revelation 1:20, it appears that the Two Witnesses will also have a profound ministry to the church of God: They will supply the church with “oil,” that is, they will spiritually feed the church during the “famine of the Word” (Amos 8:11). Thus, the Two Witnesses will be affiliated with and teaching the members of God’s church before and possibly during their greater worldwide ministry.

What I also find interesting about this piece of scripture is vs. 9. There are many theories and beliefs that the tribulation and events of Revelation have taken place already centuries ago, and there is some great arguments and historical events that could be made to sound true, but it doesn’t explain this verse to me. When in history could the entire world look upon something that has happened in one specific place other that now. With the age of technology, this is made possible but not ever before.

The Seventh Trumpet Brings the Third Terror

¹⁵ Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven:

“The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
    and he will reign forever and ever.”

¹⁶ The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him. ¹⁷ And they said,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty,
    the one who is and who always was,
for now you have assumed your great power
    and have begun to reign.
¹⁸ The nations were filled with wrath,
    but now the time of your wrath has come.
It is time to judge the dead
    and reward your servants the prophets,
    as well as your holy people,
and all who fear your name,
    from the least to the greatest.
It is time to destroy
    all who have caused destruction on the earth.”

¹⁹ Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.

This chapter ends like a good TV series, with a huge cliffhanger. We know that the end is very near.

(A)

Reading this can and has caused many much fear. But know this everyone, even thought there will be a lot of scary, crazy things going to happen, we can have confidence in Christ. He is the anchor we can secure ourselves to with absolute assurance. Even when times are tough, He is always there to give us that peace and erasing that need to be worried about what is coming. He is our Rock. Place your worries and troubles on Him today, give them over completely.

(P)

Pray about anything that is stressing you today. Have confidence knowing God will walk you through these things, “never will He leave you, never will He forsake you”

The Angel and the Small Scroll

10 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. ² And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. ³ And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.

⁴ When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

⁵ Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. ⁶ He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. ⁷ When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

⁸ Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

⁹ So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” ¹⁰ So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach.

¹¹ Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

(O)

Chapter 10 is a bit of an interlude between the 6th and 7th trumpet.

To me, it is unclear what is taking place here and why. But perhaps this delay in the 7th trumpet represents God giving everyone more time to repent, giving every opportunity before the final events and judgements take place.

I find it interesting John was not allowed to record what the seven thunders said. I guess somethings are just not meant for our ears while on this earth. I can understand that, this is already very hard to comprehend what is happening. I’m betting that whatever was sealed up, not for our ears, was a mystery beyond comprehension.

To better understand this chapter, I think some study of Ezekiel and Daniel would be in order. We will recognize similar events taking place in these books, for example, the eating of the scroll and it being sweet to the taste, but sour to the stomach we see in Ezekiel 2-8. Sweet because it is the Word of God, sour because there is prophecy and judgement to pronounce.

This chapter has me confused, to be honest. I’ve read a ton of commentaries and explanations, and there are so many different views. Today I am going to declare defeat on this chapter. However, I am going to stand by the fact that despite the truth and reality of what is taking place, my salvation is secure in the Lord, and not completely understanding this will not change that one bit. Isn’t it awesome to know we can walk with this incredible confidence in our Lord!!

So today, walk boldly in your salvation. Be a shining light to those around you and be an encouragement to someone today.

God bless!

(S)

The Fifth Trumpet Brings the First Terror

9 Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.^[a] 2 When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke.

³ Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. ⁴ They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵ They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. ⁶ In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!

⁷ The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. They had what looked like gold crowns on their heads, and their faces looked like human faces. ⁸ They had hair like women’s hair and teeth like the teeth of a lion. ⁹ They wore armor made of iron, and their wings roared like an army of chariots rushing into battle. ¹⁰ They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people. ¹¹ Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer.

¹² The first terror is past, but look, two more terrors are coming!

The Sixth Trumpet Brings the Second Terror

¹³ Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice speaking from the four horns of the gold altar that stands in the presence of God. ¹⁴ And the voice said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River.” ¹⁵ Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth. ¹⁶ I heard the size of their army, which was 200 million mounted troops.

¹⁷ And in my vision, I saw the horses and the riders sitting on them. The riders wore armor that was fiery red and dark blue and yellow. The horses had heads like lions, and fire and smoke and burning sulfur billowed from their mouths. ¹⁸ One-third of all the people on earth were killed by these three plagues—by the fire and smoke and burning sulfur that came from the mouths of the horses. ¹⁹ Their power was in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people.

²⁰ But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! ²¹ And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

(O)

Things are certainly taking a major turn for the worse. First we see an angel open the door to the abyss, what i would assume is the door to hell. Out pours smoke and darkens the world. Then these horrifying creatures seem to immerge and are sent to torment all those unsealed. Now this could be the literal 144000 or it could mean all people who are saved on the earth, I’m just not sure. Whatever the case, it will be a terrifying time in the world. The darkness alone would be quite scary, ever watch a movie where terrible world events are happening and its in the darkness? It really adds to the level of fear.

Next we see the second terror. Wow, is that an appropriate word here, terror. It’s dark and scary creatures are flying around stinging people and tormenting them, now we have an army of two hundred million horsemen unleased to kill one third of the earth.

It again makes me wonder just what is John seeing. Is it literally exactly what he described, or is it the best possible description he could give, considering it was so far in the future. I tend to lean towards it is exactly how it is described just because it is very detailed. 2 terrors have been unleased, 1 to go.

It says the people still did not repent. Now I’m sure there were some crying out to the Lord, but I think the heart of this passage means that the majority of people were just not understanding the urgency of what was happening, and just refused to believe the truth. But I would say this, could you imagine how hard it would be for anyone to understand what was happening and come to the Lord if they didn’t previously know the bible and particularily the events of the end times? This is reason enough that we need scripture in our hearts. And as we know God’s plan through His word, our faith and understanding and trust grow.

(A)

The people who John wrote to in the book of Revelation were facing physical persecution and possibly death. (which could be all of us, really) They desperately needed endurance. Jesus wants to give us that kind of staying power whatever we are facing on our spiritual journey. Now, we may never face the end time events that are described in Revelation, but it’s a quality that we will need if we are going to be the people he wants us to be and it will produce miracles. It will gradually develop the strength, endurance and faith we need to face whatever trials we will encounter in our lifetime.

When we looked back on our lives, we will see that through receiving his endurance our lives are miracles because we couldn’t have become the person we are now in our own strength. Receiving God’s patient endurance requires us to trust God and to open our hearts to receive.

(P)

Thank you for your never ending patience with us. Thank you for your Word and for increasing our faith each day. Help us to stay strong during times of trial.

The Lamb Breaks the Seventh Seal

8 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll,^[a] there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. ² I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

³ Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. ⁵ Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.

The First Four Trumpets

⁶ Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts.

⁷ The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.

⁸ Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood, ⁹ one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.

¹⁰ Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water. ¹¹ The name of the star was Bitterness.^[b] It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.

¹² Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark, and also one-third of the night.

¹³ Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”

(O)

An interesting scene unfolds here, and definitely takes a more chaotic turn. As the last seal is broken, there is silence. Can you imagine this after all that has been happening? Everything just stops and is quiet. I believe everything was silent because they were in awe, knowing what was about to come.

Then the next interesting thing happens, an angel brings a bowl of incense mixed with our prayers! What?! Then the silence is broken as the angel hurls the fire from the incense bowl down upon the earth with tremendous noise and destruction. and this sets up some real bad stuff that is going to happen next.

I’ve watched many hollywood movies about the end of the world, and they had to have based many of them on the bible account that we read here. The earth is literally being pummeled with fire and hail, lava and what sounds like a huge asteroid. Billions of people will die during these events, and this is only the beginning, it gets worse. Look at the last verse of this chapter. the angel warns anyone of the world will be in sheer terror with what happens next. Can you imagine that? Would you not be in terror already with whats happening? It must be beyond the imagination what is about to unfold with the last 3 trumpets.

(A)

I want to insert my opinion here. I believe that the Christians will be taken to heaven before this tribulation takes place. I think (and hope I’m right) that we will be spared all this terror. The last verse says “all who belong to this world”, which i believe indicates the unsaved. This will be an unprecedented time of fear and hopelessness and will be an incredibly difficult time for anyone who repents, as we will see in later chapters. The persecution of God’s people will be ruthless.

Whatever the case, I’m glad to know I don’t have to live in fear about what is to come. I am one of God’s chosen, and if you have Christ in your heart, so are you. God will give us strength to walk us through not just this, but any situation we are faced with.

(P)

Thank you God for your might and strength. Thank you that we do not need to fear, we place our trust in You!

(S)

God’s People Will Be Preserved

7 Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. ² And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea, ³ “Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.”

⁴ And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God—144,000 were sealed from all the tribes of Israel:

5 from Judah	12,000
from Reuben	12,000
from Gad	12,000
6 from Asher	12,000
from Naphtali	12,000
from Manasseh	12,000
7 from Simeon	12,000
from Levi	12,000
from Issachar	12,000
8 from Zebulun	12,000
from Joseph	12,000
from Benjamin	12,000

Praise from the Great Crowd

⁹ After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they were shouting with a great roar,

“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
    and from the Lamb!”

¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. ¹² They sang,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
    and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
    forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³ Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?”

¹⁴ And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.”

Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.

¹⁵ “That is why they stand in front of God’s throne
    and serve him day and night in his Temple.
And he who sits on the throne
    will give them shelter.
¹⁶ They will never again be hungry or thirsty;
    they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.
¹⁷ For the Lamb on the throne
    will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
    And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

(O)

The numbers 12,000 and 144,000 are variously interpreted in traditional Christianity. Some, taking the numbers in Revelation to be symbolic, believe it represents all of God’s people throughout history in the heavenly Church. One suggestion is that the number comes from 12, a symbol for totality, which is squared and multiplied by one thousand for more emphasis. Others insist the numbers 12,000 and 144,000 are literal numbers and representing either descendants of Jacob (also called Israel in the Bible) or others to whom God has given a superior destiny with a distinct role at the time of the end of the world. One understanding is that the 144,000 are recently converted Jewish evangelists sent out to bring sinners to Jesus Christ during the seven year tribulation period.

This last view is the one I would believe to be true, or at least a variation of it. I personally don;t think there is some big, deep meaning to the numbers or the fact that there is some from each tribe. I believe it is exactly as it says. In the tribulation, God will place a seal on 144,000 Jewish believers to go out and preach the Gospel during the worst time in history.

I heard some say something like this ” If God used 12 men to literally change history and start the church, image what 144, 000 could do”. It appears from the first few verses that these people were going to be under God’s protection. Nothing was to be harmed until they were all sealed with God’s seal.

Then in the next scene we see again the throne room of God, and the multitudes of people that died during the tribulation. It doesn’t say they were the martyred ones, but it may include them. Either way, they are now in God’s presence with great jubilation!

(A)

Again, our interpretation may not be correct, but it’s not really that important to understand fully. What we do know is that when we do all eventually come before the throne of God, it is going to be an awesome, joyful time. If we sit back and just imagine the scene described in the chapter, it’s almost breath-taking. And the verses describe a sense of peace for us all. We won’t be hungry or thirsty, we won’t be scorched under the sun, we will be lead springs of life giving water, and every tear will be wiped from our eyes. Soak in that thought and that picture today.

(P)

Pray today for strength to walk through this life well, as we eagerly await the time when we, too, will be able to be in God’s incredible presence

(S)

The Lamb Breaks the First Six Seals

6 As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” ² I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.

³ When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” ⁴ Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.

⁵ When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay.^[b] And don’t waste^[c] the olive oil and wine.”

⁷ When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” ⁸ I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave.^[d] These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease^[e] and wild animals.

⁹ When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. ¹⁰ They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” ¹¹ Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters^[f]—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.

¹² I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. ¹³ Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. ¹⁴ The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places.

¹⁵ Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶ And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. ¹⁷ For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

(O)

I think we could read a thousand different commentaries on this chapter, and we’d get a thousand different interpretations of what this could all mean. If we look at the first four seals, the “four horsemen of the Apocolypse”, this all could be stuff that will yet take place, or it could be stuff that has been and still is taking place. I mean, if you think about it, God has won victories, there was and is war, there was and is poverty, and there was and is death, famine and disease. If we consider cancer and the many horrible diseases out there, could it be that it affects a quarter of the population? Maybe.

What is crystal clear is that there will be very hard things to deal with, either now or in the future. And it is through these hard times when we will see the glory of God shine. Whats interesting is in vs 15, people were hiding because they were afraid of God and His wrath. But here is what i think the point of this chapter is: since we are His children, we do not need to fear death or God’s wrath. I can very clearly still remember the fear of death I had before I was saved. Even though I claimed to not believe in God, the fear was very real. We have this incredible comfort and peace in our lives when we give our lives to Christ. Death has no power over us any longer!

(A)

Paul tells us in many of his letters that we are to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials and tribulations. I think this chapter really emphasizes that truth. We are going to see and experience many very hard things, but we need not fear, because God has overcome for us already. We merely need to trust in His plan and lean on His mercy and grace.

(P)

Today, if you are facing something that seems impossible to handle, give it to God. Pray over it, go pray with someone else about it. Give it to Him and allow His joy to fill you as He removes that burden from you.

(S)

The Lamb Opens the Scroll

5 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

⁴ Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. ⁵ But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. ⁷ He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. ⁸ And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. ⁹ And they sang a new song with these words:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰ And you have caused them to become
    a Kingdom of priests for our God.
    And they will reign on the earth.”

¹¹ Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. ¹² And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
    to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and blessing.”

¹³ And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
    belong to the one sitting on the throne
    and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

¹⁴ And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

(O)

We continue to see an incredible scene in the throne room of God. Often, Revelation is thought of as future events book, but I think we are seeing, a revelation, of past, present and future. I believe we are seeing God creating the scroll, sealing it long ago. They couldn’t find someone worthy, that is until Jesus came along and was crucified and defeated death. He was the one who could open the scroll. It’s a very brief overview of the history of the world in just a few sentences.

What an incredible sight and sound it must have been to see and hear the thousands and millions of angels, living beings and elders. What catches my attention is that every creature in heaven and earth and the sea sang praises to the Lord. Does that mean the cattle, the fish, the whales, the cats and dogs, and the people, all singing praises? It seems to indicate that, but whatever it is, every creature was praising God for what he has done and who He is, and anticipating what is to come. What a mind-boggling scene John was witnessing.

(A)

Regardless of what exactly it all means, everything was worshipping God. This is a big deal. Worshipping God is what we were created for. We are made for the pleasure of God; to be His friend, to glorify Him while we are here on earth, to share His might and grace with the world around us. These are the things that pleasure God. Let’s remember today the creator of the universe desires a relationship with you personally. That is His pleasure

(P)

God we bow down and worship you today. Thank you for your incredible creation and your plan of redemption for each one of us. Thank you that the lamb was found worthy and therefore we can be found worthy in your eyes.

(S)

Worship in Heaven

4 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” ² And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. ³ The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. ⁴ Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit^[b] of God. ⁶ In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. ⁷ The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. ⁸ Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
    the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

⁹ Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

¹¹ “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
    to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
    and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

(O)

John gives us a glimpse into heaven as cherubim, angels, and humans worship before the Lord. The words of their praise song are simple and instructive. In God’s presence, everything becomes crystal clear. These superiorly intelligent creatures understand the most basic, fundamental, foundational truth of all eternity—that they exist to bring God pleasure. Many of us humans still on earth fail to fully grasp that we also exist, were created, to bring God pleasure. There is an important between understanding this truth and finding fulfillment here on earth, no matter what our circumstances are. When we bring God pleasure, we discover pleasure.

Every day, each of us has a choice to make, either to live to bring ourselves pleasure or live to bring God pleasure. If we live to bring ourselves pleasure, our lives will become frustrated, unhappy, unfulfilled, and empty; but the day we chose to bring God pleasure, we will suddenly find fulfillment, satisfaction, and significance. A light bulb goes off in us as we suddenly realize, “Oh yes, Lord, this is what I am created to do and be. I am made to bring You pleasure.” This is our occupation until we move into heaven and the so much more beyond that will follow there.

Most of us have probably moved at one point in our life. When we haul the furniture into the new living space, we are left with a decision; where do we place the furniture? We have a sofa, a love seat, and an arm chair, some end tables, and the television. We can flip through magazines and brows through Pinterest. There is tons of wonderful photos about centering the furniture around a fireplace or a large window or a built in bookcase. All the pictures beautiful and inspiring, but let’s be real. We end up centering our living room around the television. And if house hunting was any indication, most people arrange their living room with the television as the focal point, too. When you use your living room to watch movies or play video games together, it makes sense.

The focal point of heaven makes sense, too. In Revelation chapter 4, John describes the colorful scene of God on His throne receiving worship from His creatures. All attention is on Him. As we focus on Him and His Words and commands, it is for His pleasure and glory. Why? Because He is worthy. He created all things by His will.

(A)

Not only is God worthy of being the center of attention in heaven, but that is true now, too. In what way do we demonstrate that God is the focal point of our life? Is there any way you can order your physical space to show that God is the center of your attention? You could have Scripture displayed on your walls. You can have Bibles strategically placed around your house so you can have quiet time where ever and whenever for a moment. You can have worship music tuned in on your car radio. Or…….?

(P)

“LORD, we look to You this day to walk with us and keep us serving You faithfully in Jesus’ name.”