Today’s reading is Revelation 21:1-22:21.

One of the most repeated themes of the Bible is of God’s children leaving, wandering, being disbursed and then returning.

Abraham traveled into Egypt from the promised land and then returned. Jacob went to Paddan-aram but later returned. Joseph went down into Egypt, but his body was later returned. Jacob’s family went down into Egypt, but later returned. Naomi went into Moab, but later returned to Judea, bringing Ruth. David fled Jerusalem before Absalom, but later returned in victory. Israel was led captive into Assyria and Judah led captive into Babylon, but later returned to Judea under Medo-Persia. Even Jesus’ story begins as He was taken down to Egypt, but then later returned to Nazareth.

Over and over again, God’s people are sent away from their home and later come back. Really then, it should be no surprise to see how Revelation ends. It is not just a fitting end for Revelation but for the whole Bible. In Genesis 3:222-4, God’s children were sent out of their home. God had made a garden. In the midst of the garden was the tree of life. God sent His children away from that tree. However, in Revelation 22:1-5, they return. God’s children are able to drink from the river of life and eat from the tree of life. 

It was a long time coming. It took tremendous planning. It took tremendous time. It took the sacrifice of God’s Son and the surrender of our lives to Him. However, in the end, we will return home. Christ is victorious. Satan loses. The battle began in the beginning, but Jesus has already won.

If we want to be in that homecoming, we need to be on Jesus’ side. I can’t wait to get home. How about you?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 19:1-20:15.

The Revelation 19:11-16 description of Jesus is not the picture we like to think of very often. But there it is.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Wow!

He judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire. His robe is dipped in blood. A sword comes from His mouth. He rules with a rod of iron. He treads out fury of God’s wrath. Armies follow behind Him. 

That is our Savior. That is a far cry from the Casper Milquetoast fellow so many make Him out to be. Today we are told Jesus just loves so much. How could He possibly judge anyone? Even when we see this picture, we rather like to think of Him as only behaving that way toward the really, really bad people, at least the people who are worse than us.

Basically what I get from this is I want to be on His side. I don’t want to be on the receiving end of the sword and trampling. I want to be following along behind. The issue is not really how good I am. The issue is have I surrendered my life to Him. He wins. I better be on His side.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 17:1-18:24.

Babylon, the great, the city which was the center of attack against Christianity is fallen. Among those who realize this book is about the persecution those early saints were facing, some suggest this city is Jerusalem and others Rome. Sadly, some today are trying to figure out which city of our future this will be. That is a mistake. But no time to discuss that now.

What I couldn’t help noticing was why so many were enamored with the city. I couldn’t help noticing why so many chose this prostitute over the holy mother of Revelation 12. 

Revelation 17:11-17 shows the merchants mourning because there was no more cargo. The delicacies and pleasure were gone. We are often enamored with the harlotry of sin because of the momentary pleasures. Let’s face it. Sin is fun. It’s exciting. It offers a lot in the moment. We may even hang out there a while enjoying the spoils and pleasures of our immorality. But its end is death and judgment. Don’t be fooled.

Revelation 17:17-20 shows the shipmasters mourning because they could no longer get rich off the cities harlotry. We are often enamored with the harlotry of sin because it can grease our pockets with material goods. I can’t help but think of the e-mail I received this morning about Apple accepting pornographic apps for the iPhone now. Very sad. Folks don’t traffic in this harlotry because it is healthy, they do so because it can make them wealthy and they know it.

The key, however, is that all those who are enamored with this harlotry will be judged in one hour. One hour they will be living the high life (maybe) and the next, they will be judged.

Of course, there is an interesting verse in Revelation 17:16. “And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire…” That is interesting because these are the ten kings are integrally connected with the prostitute. They hate her but they will mourn for her in Revelation 18:9. How does this make sense? I see it as the trap of sin. It promises so much and so we are enamored with it, but it delivers so little. Therefore we hate it. But we keep thinking the next trick will provide the satisfaction. It’s a trap. We hate it and love it all at the same time. When we are trapped in the harlotry of sin, we see the damage it causes and want to stop. But we are enthralled with its promises and so we push farther in it, constantly disappointed. 

So, those enamored with Babylon the Great, may not be living such a high life. They may be caught in the ever spinning ratwheel of sin trying to catch the carrot of sinful satisfaction but only getting exhausted and falling into despair. Yet, they just won’t get off the wheel. Then judgment will come and they’ll mourn.

Remember, sin promises much. It provides little. And if you continue to be enamored with it, you will eventually mourn its destruction and your judgment.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 15:1-16:21.

I’m sure you get tired of me saying, “I don’t know how many times I’ve read ___________, but today I saw something I hadn’t noticed before.” Yet, that is why we keep reading the New Testament. It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve read it, there is still more. In fact, if I hadn’t read it the first time, I probably wouldn’t have seen what I did the second. If I hadn’t read it the second time, I probably wouldn’t have seen what I did the third. And so on.

Today, Revelation 15:2 caught my attention. It says, “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire–and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.”

Did you catch that? John sees those who “had conquered.” Not “will conquer,” “are conquering,” or even “may conquer.” Those who had conquered the beast, its image, and the number of its name. These folks had already won the battle.

Yet, the next few chapters deal with God’s plagues on the beast, its image, and those who wear the number of its name. The beast isn’t defeated until Revelation 19:20-21. How can we see those who “had conquered” the beast?

The problem is so many are trained to read Revelation as if it a timeline. We start with the events closest to the New Testament in the first few chapters and then we progress on to the end of the world. But that is just not the case. This book is not meant to be a prophetic timeline. This book is a series of apocalyptic visions that make the same point over and over and over again. The visions themselves are not timelines. They are pictures making a point. The point over and over again is simply this. 

God wins. God’s people win.

Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised to see a picture of the saints victorious over the beast in Revelation 15:2 but see another picture of the beasts demise in Revelation 19:20-21.

I know for many this concept is a complete paradigm shift for reading Revelation. However, please remember that John was writing this book to help Christians with the distress they were facing. He wasn’t writing something that showed what would happen in some far-off, future distress. They didn’t need to know what might happen thousands of years later, they needed to know that they were going to win back when this book was written. Therefore, over and again, John shows visions of judgments on the beast.

Remember always–God wins!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 13:1-14:20.

Back in Revelation 12 we saw the dragon, the serpent of old, that is Satan. Now in Revelation 13 we see his two beasts. There is the sea beast with crowns, reminiscent of the beasts of Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7. Those beasts represented kingdoms, governments. This beast does as well. In the context of Revelation, we see the Roman government, depicted by the final amazing and indescribable beast in Daniel 7:7.

Further, we see the land beast with horns like a lamb and the voice of a dragon. Do you see the mixture of Jesus and Satan here? This beast performs signs and causes people to worship the sea beast. Just as in Rome, the eventual standard worship was emperor worship. This beast represents false religion.

Now we see the evil and unholy trinity–Satan, persecuting government, and false religion. (Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying government is inherently evil, all authority is given by God.) See how they mirror the true and holy trinity. Satan trying to take the role of the Father as the sovereign ruler. The government, or the emperor, taking the place of God’s representative on earth, the king. Trying to fill the role of the Son. And then false religion, giving signs and wonders, pointing back to the emperor. This beast is trying to fill the role of the Holy Spirit.

That is the picture. We don’t need to look for some time in the future that fills all the details of the picture, we need to see the big picture and the contrast. Here is Satan, land beast, and sea beast contrasted with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Who will win?

That gets us into Revelation 14. God’s side wins. The true Lamb has sealed His followers. Those who don’t have His seal will take the mark of the beast. Then the lamb will reap his harvest. This is the harvest of His faithful followers who are removed from judgment. They are the fruit of the Spirit if you will. Then the angel of the Lord puts in his sickle. This is the judgment of those marked by the beast. They are harvested and then trampled in the winepress of the Lord’s wrath.

God’s side wins. Remember, we are supposed to be keeping the message of this book (Revelation 1:3). What message do we keep from these chapters? Be on God’s side. Satan may tempt us. Government may persecute us. False religion may attract us. They may seem to be winning, but they will not. They will lose and be judged. We can either be gathered in with the wheat as the Son of Man harvests His followers. Or we will be gathered in with the grapes and trampled in the winepress of God’s wrath. I know which I prefer.

Here is the deal. The unholy trinity may seem all-powerful while the persecution wages. In the end, however, they are powerless. At the right time, God will call His children home and judge those who do not follow Him.

Please, don’t relegate Revelation as a prophetic book that tells of some distantly future something or other. Recognize the message for right now. No matter who opposes and no matter how much it looks like they are winning, they will lose. Stay on God’s side.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 9:1-10:11.

In Revelation 10:4, John wrote: “And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.’”

WHAT?!

I want to know what they said. How could God not let us know? Why even tantalize us by letting us know the seven thunders actually said something and then not tell us? I’m reminded of a line from The Princess Bride. “Get used to disappointment.”

What this reminds me is God’s Word doesn’t tell us everything. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” The Preacher’s point was God has made us curious about everything. However, He simply hasn’t given us all the answers.

However, while He didn’t reveal what the seven thunders said, He did reveal what was needed. I may never know exactly where the Garden of Eden was, what Jesus wrote in the sand, or what the seven thunders said. But I can know what I need to serve God, be forgiven, and dwell in heaven. 

It’s okay to be curious. It’s okay to study and strive to learn as much as we possibly can even about things that aren’t explicitly revealed. However, in the end we have to come to grips with the fact that God simply hasn’t told us everything. But He has told us what we need to know. Our responsibility is to keep what He has said and not get bogged down in what He hasn’t.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 7:1-8:13.

Regrettably, so many have misunderstood Revelation 7:4-8. They have turned these into some kind of special Christian. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have these as the heaven dwellers while the rest of God’s children live on a recreated earth. Some believe these are the Jews who turn to Christ during the supposed tribulation. 

This is so sad because it causes the very beautiful point behind this picture to be completely lost. Revelation 7:3 said, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of God on their foreheads.”

The point is God is coming in judgment on the world and all who are in it. However, God’s children do not have to fear that judgment. He knows those who are His. He won’t accidentally judge and condemn any who have entered Christ. 

This seal is in contrast to those who turn to the beast and the false prophet, sealed with the number of the beast in Revelation 13:16-18. God also knows those who aren’t His.

If you are in Christ, take comfort, when God comes in judgment, He’ll do what is right. We can trust Him to know us and protect us for all eternity.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 5:1-6:17.

In Revelation 6:9-11, the souls of martyred saints are seen beneath the altar of God. They want to know when God is going to take vengeance. They, no doubt, remember that God said, “Vengeance is mine.” They wonder when it will happen. God’s answer was, “Wait.” 

I struggle with that answer. Usually, if I pray and something doesn’t happen immediately, I think He just said, “No!” I need to learn patience. I need to learn that God’s timetable is not my timetable.

However, there is a deeper part of this “Wait.” God not only told them to wait, but during that period of waiting, some pretty dreadful things were going to happen. In fact, God was waiting until the dreadful things happened. He wasn’t going to take vengeance until more Christians died at the hands of their persecutors. 

This, of course, leads us into the questions about suffering and God. We have a tendency to think that if a loving God existed no one would suffer, especially not His followers. However, what we learn is life is not about our pleasure. Rather, God in His time is going to do what is best for us and what glorifies Him the most. Sadly, we have bought into the the temporal, materialistic, worldly mentality that what is best for us is a long life. That is only true if there is no resurrection. Once we accept the resurrection, we recognize there are better things than a long life. A resurrection that provides eternal joy and contentment tops that list. But that list may also include a death that glorifies God. 

I’m not saying we should go about seeking martyrdom in some sort of masochistic spirituality. I’m simply saying if that happens, it is not as bad as the world thinks it is. As Paul said in Philippians 1:19-26, death means to go be with Christ. What could be better than that when the time comes?

I have to learn, sometimes God says, “Wait.” Sometimes that means waiting through some very difficult trials. However, God will always do what is best. I need to trust Him.

Keep the faith and pass the word along,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 3:1-4:11.

Okay, okay, for those who come to the blog everyday, you know this was actually yesterday’s reading. However, I spent the morning getting our Suburban fixed and for some reason couldn’t access the places network even though it said I was on it. Then when I was finally about to be able to go to my office and put up the posts, Ryan, my seven year old, wiped out on his bike and I had to get him to the ER for stitches. He’s good, just swollen. 

Anyway, I wanted to get all the Revelation posts up. I know I’m writing this a day late, but I have scheduled it to show the proper day for when it should have been posted just so it will be in order.

God is Worthy

Remember that we learned Revelation has a message that is to be kept (Revelation 1:3). The message in Revelation 4 is pretty clear. God is worthy of honor. Just as the elders, creatures, angels, and hosts of heaven honored, glorified, and worshipped God. I need to do the same. 

I shouldn’t wait until Sunday to meet with the congregation to worship and glorify God. I need to do this on my own repeatedly, continually, and consistently. I need to prostrate my spirit before God and declare His great worthiness, holiness, justice, mercy, love, etc. 

He was, is and is to come. He created all things. He runs the universe. He saved us through His Son Jesus. He is the great God who is worthy of praise and glory. I must give it to Him today.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 1:1-2:29.

Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

Interestingly, while we categorize Revelation with the genre of Apocalyptic (or some take the easy but not altogether correct label of Prophecy), there is a sense in which it should also be considered an Epistle. In fact, Revelation 1:11 says John is to record what he sees and send it to seven churches in Asia. Chapters 2 and 3 are very specifically epistles to those congregations.

That explains what Revelation 1:3 is all about. The one who reads aloud is the member of the congregation who reads this epistle to the congregation. Those who hear are those in attendance, but not who simply let the words flow into their ears. The ones who actually listen are meant here. As Jesus often said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” It is not enough for the sound waves to attach our ear drums. Rather, the words must enter our heads and our hearts.

But the part that really gets me is “…and who keep what is written in it.” I’ve rarely considered Revelation a book to be kept. I’ve seen it as a book that said what was coming. I’ve seen it as a book that explained what some people did or would do. However, I’ve not generally seen it as a book to be kept.

However, isn’t that what every writing in the New Testament is? Aren’t they all books to be kept? Aren’t they all books to not simply inform or narrate, but books to be followed? I think this one little verse gives us some insight into Scripture. Scripture is not given to simply tell us how God feels for us. It is not given to simply tell us what God has done for us. It is not given to simply tell us what God will do for us. It is given to tell us how to respond to all of that. We need to keep it.

As we read Revelation, I understand the time is not near for us. The time has past. The time was near in the first century and the book has been fulfilled (despite the best attempts by modern fiction writers and movie actors to claim otherwise). Yet, there is still a message for us. We need to read. We need to hear. But most of all we need to keep what is written. Let’s examine with a more watchful eye and heeding ear for what we must keep.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you find in today’s reading?