​Week 49, Day 5
December 9, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 7
 
“Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center before the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”” (Revelation 7:13–17)
 
We are in full apocalyptic mode now. Which means we need to read carefully and think about the imagery of the text not literally but with an understanding that the colors, animals, numbers all are representations of something greater and significant. 
 
For instance, the 144,000. There are religions that view the 144,000 as a literal number of those who are saved. I will say as kindly as possible, that’s wrong. Here’s what I’ve studied and feel convicted it is:
 
12 is a number that is used throughout the Bible as a representation of God’s people. We have the 12 sons of Israel, becoming the 12 tribes of Israel. You could say “the sons of Israel” or “the 12 sons of Israel” and you would know that it meant more than just the sons, and also that it was representative of all of Israel. Jesus had 12 disciples, further emphasizing the number 12 as an identification with the followers of God.
144,000 is a multiple of 12. It represents God’s people Now we have the number that is quite a bit larger than 12. The greater the number, the more significant the meaning or greater the imagery and meaning is to intensified.
144,000 becomes representative of All of God’s people. Moments later in the text it says, ““After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”” (Revelation 7:9–10)
Basically, if you can’t count them all, use a number that represents them all. 144,000 does just that.
The folks have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb, and it’s turned them white! White is not necessarily only purity, it’s a color of victory in Revelation as well. Those who stand, those who have a place in the great multitude, have been tried and tested and shown faithful to God. Being washed in the Lamb’s blood is a sign of their own trials and struggles. But most of all, it is a sign for us all that we are to trust in Christ’s blood to deliver us from evil and the threats against us.
 
This all culminates into a victory cry: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. And all creation praises, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
 
Let us praise God. He is with us, in the middle of all the churches, holding us all together. May we continue in the midst of great trials to show ourselves faithful, washed by the blood of the Lamb.
 
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

​Week 50, Days 1&2
December 12 &13, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 8 and 9
 
I’ve combined today and tomorrow’s reading because they are better understood together. Really all of 8-11 are better understood together. But here we go.
 
Some of the most confusing and difficult passages of scripture are right here in the seals and trumpets passages.
 
Back in Revelation 1, trumpets are what is used to make an announcement. Here, we see another announcement. While in chapter one it was a beautiful vision of Jesus, here, it is a warning to all humankind and creation.
 
To be clear, the seven trumpets serve as a warning to humankind. 
 
What is often used as a passage to describe the wrath of God, might be better understood as a display of the patience and mercy of God. 
 
Hear me out. As we ask "how long O God" will you allow this struggle to go? We find the answer becoming, we will endure this until there is no more chance for repentance. Difficulty will continue until humankind is so hardened to God, that there no longer remains any possibility of their return to God. The stubborn rejection of God has a limitation. We aren’t sure how long, but we do know there is an end.
 
What we find is a patient and merciful God who is beckoning people to return to him in the midst of their suffering. Yet the oppressed people, amid sin and the fruit of suffering that comes from it, seem hell-bent on never repenting. The text tells us as much, “The rest of humankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands or give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their fornication or their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21).

The trumpets announce a warning to all humankind, “in those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them” (9:6). 
 
Repentance is available to everyone, and many never will.

In short, where the seals and trumpets teach us of a world filled with famine, death suffering, and earthquakes. Amid such horrifying difficulty, the Church will not be broken, it will prevail. The trumpets give explanation of a world marked with suffering and people who refuse to turn to God. 
So, I invite you to see this troubling passage as oddly comforting. The suffering of the world is great. All of it, everything that happens in life is hopefully a reminder to wake up and turn to God. Turn from evil and walk with the Lord.
 
God’s love will win out. Turn to Him today! 

​Week 49, Day 4
December 8, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 6
 
This is God’s plan for undoing all the wrong that’s been done to the world; to his creation; to his people.
Why would John weep over the sealed scroll?
 Would you weep if you or someone you knew was terminally ill and the cure was in the room next door but no one had the key or the means to open to the door to get to it?
Have you wept because of something your son or daughter or best friend is going through and you see no end to it in sight? Have you ever longed for an answer...? 
Revelation 5:5 - The LION: The Lion of Judah is the answer! He is worthy! – Isaiah 11:1-10; Genesis 49:8-10, The anticipated Messiah—a new king...not Caesar...who will conquer the nations! 
Here comes the Lion!!! Wait a minute... 
Revelation 5:6-7 The LAMB:
Instead of the ferocious, flesh-eating king of the beasts, we have a lamb...who appears to have been slaughtered...defeated... The power is in the Lamb! He is worthy!
This is the only one who is worthy to open the scroll—really? Why? This is the only one who has not compromised their life as God’s image with the world; even though not compromising meant death—a death brought on by allowing evil to run its course; to exhaust itself on him—a death that reveals how victory over evil (oppression) is really won. 
-The 7 Horns tell us that this is the one who is truly perfectly/all-powerful.
-The 7 Eyes tell us that this is the one who is perfectly/all-knowing; who really understands the will of God and his purpose in it. 
-Simply put: The Victim is the Victor! The Lamb is the Lion! 
Jesus is the Messiah...even if he doesn’t meet your criteria; even when you don’t recognize him as such, Will you follow the Lamb? Will you follow the way of the Lamb? 
The Seals that begin in Revelation 6, teach us not of what is to come so much as reveal the way the world is. That’s important. It’s not future driven so much as revealing a world ravaged by famine, wage inequality, wars and rumors of wars. Nightly news tells us as much as well. The difference between the nightly news and Revelation is hope. Christians live with the hope of the Victorious Lamb Jesus Christ.
Revelation, in particular this section, is not written for those who would like to read a newspaper over the top of it and decipher the future and predict the Lord’s Return. Rather, the book and these chapters that follow are written to those whose names and stories make up the newspapers. Revelation is for those who have been caught in the crosshairs of a world ravaged by famine, war, and death and give them hope that Jesus is victorious and the Church will never be destroyed.
The church prevails in the midst of destruction. The enemy may appear to win in the death of Christians and the church, but the church will be victorious.
 
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters were killed just as they had been.” (Revelation 6:9–11)
 
Though we are surrounded by death, we are encouraged to trust in God, the power of the lamb. Let us not shrink back from death or the pressures of the world around us. Hold fast, and stand firm.

December 7, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 5

One of my favorite musicians is Andrew Peterson. Every time I read Revelation 5, I sing and reflect on this wonderful song. This particular rendition pulls in the full and profound emotion of it all. The Lamb is Worthy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMWrAqMWhWs

​Watch and be blessed!

​Week 49, Day 2
December 6, 2022
Revelation 4
 
“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”” (Revelation 4:9–11)
 
When we read the book of Revelation we need to keep in mind that it is a book about worship. I can remember hearing and old preacher story about an elderly gentleman who memorized the book of Revelation. When asked, “Why on earth would you memorize Revelation? Of all the books to memorize, why that?” He said, “When I get to heaven, I don’t want to have to keep an eye on the sheet music.”
 
Here in chapter 4, we get a glimpse into the heavens. The picture is one of all of creation and the people of God worshiping God and celebrating him. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power…”
 
In apocalyptic literature, we need to read the animals, colors and numbers as symbolic, not literal. The vision of these things reveals a truth about God, the heavens or our world. In this case, it is four creatures, one with a face like a man, another a lion, another an ox and the last, an eagle. These four animals represent all of creation. The 24 elders, is the old and new covenant people, who represent all of God’s people – who are now worshiping, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty.”
 
The book is about worship. Will we worship God with all that we are? Revelation will pull back the curtain on the problems in the world. The problems of sin, Satan, evil and death. There are pressures to conform, or die. Revelation inspires us to never shrink back in our worship, but fully devote our lives to the risen Lamb, Jesus Christ.
 
Will you memorize Revelation? Maybe not, but we can sing today, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God almighty, and warm up our voices for heaven.

Week 49, Day 1
December 5, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 3
 
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)
 
The Church in Laodicea is rebuked for their lukewarm faith. This seems to be the most familiar of all the churches and their rebuke from Jesus about their spiritual state. The visualization is helpful for making it memorable. Lukewarm water is useless. It doesn’t quench the thirst, it neither cleanses or purifies or soothes like warm water.
 
Let us hold fast to what the rebuke is all about, a church that has everything, and is content in all its material gain says: “I do not need a thing.” Finding solace and comfort in material things will deaden our faith. Believing, “I have all I need in what I have,” does not lead to the type of love and worship of God the church is called to have and become.
 
A Church that says “I do not need a thing” has no sense of its need for God. 
 
A church that is useful to the world, to God’s mission, to God’s purposes is one that is keenly aware of its desperate need for God. We must guard our hearts from letting our wealth lull our hearts to sleep. We need God. “Lord, I need you, now and always.”
 
Not just in the difficult moments, not just when things aren’t going right. I need you when I have much and little. I need you in all circumstances. We must become like Paul, who knew what it was to have little and what it was to have much – in all things he was content because of Christ. It was Christ who gave him strength in all circumstances.
 
Perhaps we need to pray, Lord I have much, give me strength to trust in you. May your strength sustain me as I radically give and love those around me. Out of your blessings, let me be a blessing to others.
 
Do you need the Lord? I need him when I have little. I most definitely need him when I have much. 
 
I need you Lord, now and always.
​

​Week 48, Day 5
December 2, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 2
 
“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Revelation 2:4–5)
 
The opening of Revelation is a letter to the churches in Asia Minor. There are 7 churches specifically addressed by John, but they could be written to any church, during any era.
 
I have noticed before in my studies that the way Jesus is described in chapter 1, is brought back into the picture as a characteristic of Jesus highlighting the start of the letter to each respective church. “These are the words of him who are the first and the last…” or “these are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand…” Each phrase that opens the letter to the church comes from the description of Christ in chapter 1.
 
Jesus is in the midst of the churches and he knows what they are going through. Jesus is uniquely qualified in all his wonderful characteristics and ways, to know where we are doing well, where we need encouragement and where we need outright rebuke that leads us towards repentance.
 
I’ll pay particular attention to Ephesus today, they are challenged to remember their first love.
 
Whatever pressures have come the way of the Ephesus church, they are faltering in their first love. I’ve read through Revelation several times, and at the end of the day I think it is a book about worship. Will we love Jesus Christ above all else, despite great consequences? Will we endure the pressure to conform to the world and stay faithful to praising God?
 
Remember our first love! Despite growing pressure to conform to the patterns of this world, we honor Christ with our whole lives.
 
He knows what we are going through, and he keeps calling us back to love him above everything.

​Week 48, Day 3
November 30, 2022
Scripture: Jude
 
A Discipleship Prayer:
 
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 24–25)
 
Increase my joy.
 
Prepare me to enter your presence.
 
And praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
 
 
Prayer can be a transformative thing. We often make it a checklist, or a long list of folks who are in need of healing, help or who are far off from God to be brought near. But we can also pray that we may be transformed. Jude’s closing doxology is that we would now be transformed and renewed by the powerful love of God to be brought before the Lord holy and blameless in his sight.
 
 
Week 48, Day 4
December 1, 2022
Revelation 1
 
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3) 
 
“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.” (Revelation 1:12–13)
 
“The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:20) 
 
We are nearing the finish line of our New Testament in a year reading plan. That means we are in Revelation!
 
Blessed are those who read, hear and obey the book of Revelation. So keep going, and don’t give up. I will do my best to encourage you in the text. For now, let’s do some interpretive fun in this opening chapter. We need to keep in mind that Revelation utilizes three different literary genres, all at once. It is a letter, prophecy and is also apocalyptic.  It is a letter because it is written to the churches and portions of it read very much like an apostles letter to the church. The first three chapters are certainly letter. All of it is apocalyptic, which uses great imagery to convey the certain truth that Jesus is king and the enemy is defeated.
I love Randy Harris who says of Revelation, “God wins, you pick a side, don’t be stupid.”
 
In this we will also see prophecy. We often think of prophecy as prediction of the future, but most prophecy is about revealing the present problems and warning of impending disaster. It’s always a call to repentance and a warning if the call is not heeded.
 
We should read the book with all of this in mind, and more. That there is also a lot of images of the book drawn out of the Old Testament.
 
We will also encourage the reading of the book by allowing it to interpret itself. Here’s what I mean. John frequently tells us what many of the images mean.
 
Right here in chapter 1, is a great example. What are the stars and lampstands all about?
 
“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.” (Revelation 1:12–13)
 
“The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:20)
 
The powerful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is surrounded by seven stars. Those stars, John clarifies, are the seven churches.
 
Taking it all together, you then read chapter 1 again and see that Jesus is at the center of the churches.
 
The churches are facing incredible challenges. The persecution of the church, the suffering of believers, the pressures to conform to Rome, give allegiance to their gods and emperors… all of this pressure is hanging in the balance, and God’s encouraging word is that Jesus is in the midst of the churches. He knows us and cares deeply for us. We are not alone. God is with us!
 
God stands in the midst of his churches still today. He knows our love, he knows the pressures, he knows us. He knows the obstacles we face, the challenges to our faith. We are not alone.
 
The victorious one lives and reigns and watches over us.