The Millennium!

Revelation 20

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus, for proclaiming the word of God. And I saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. – Revelation 20:4 NLT

No, the Millennium is not the name of a space ship from a Star Wars movie. It is the literal 1,000 year reign of Christ that will take place here on the earth the end of the 7 years of tribulation. For 1,000 years Christ will reign in Jerusalem and it will be a time of great peace and prosperity. Satan will have been defeated and confined for the entire 1,000 time period. Righteousness will flourish unhindered. It will be a time of unprecedented peace (Isaiah 2:4). Everything on earth will flourish (Isaiah 35:1-2) because Christ will be on the throne.

And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD––his name alone will be worshiped. – Zechariah 14:9 NLT

He was given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal––it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. – Daniel 7:14 NLT

Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Temple of the God of Israel. There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him." For in those days the LORD’s teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem. – Isaiah 2:3

Can you imagine what this will be like? Can you even begin to consider what a world without Satan and his influence would be like to live in? Jesus Christ, ruling from a literal throne in the city of David. It's the scene the disciples had in mind when Jesus showed up the first time. It's the scenario they had hoped He would bring about, but instead He died a cruel death on a Roman cross. God had a different plan with different timing. His Son would reign, but first He had to suffer and die. He would one day rule, but first He had to redeem sinful man by shedding His own blood as a payment. The day is coming when He will rule from Jerusalem. For 1,000 years He will reign in righteousness and the world will enjoy peace and prosperity like never before. He will bring what every politician has promised, but failed to deliver. Men will finally enjoy the kind of world they have always wanted. But even this will come to an end. At the close of the 1,000 year time period, Satan will be released (Revelation 20:7) from his imprisonment. But even this is completely under God's control. It seems that in spite of the peace and prosperity that men will have enjoyed throughout the 1,000 years, many will turn to Satan and follow him when he is released. They will turn against God and join forces with Satan in an attempt to overthrow Christ and His kingdom.

There is no clearer picture of man's depravity than this. In spite of having experienced the perfectly righteous rule of Christ and the benefits it affords, these men will rebel once again. They will be easily captivated by the lies of the enemy and be convinced that life under the rule of Satan will be better than life under the rule of Christ. But they will fail. God will prevail. He will completely destroy them and cast Satan into hell for eternity. Satan will have his last moment in the spotlight, but he will not succeed.

The amazing thing about this passage is that it reminds me that there is one place where Christ should reign supreme right now. And that is in my life. He should be on the throne of my life, ruling and reigning completely. He has defeated the enemy in my life. He has freed me from slavery to sin in my life. My life should be a microcosm of what that 1,000 year reign will be like. Satan is no longer in control of my life. I have been set free. I have the Holy Spirit living within me. I am a new creature. I belong to Christ. Yet, I still find it so easy to fall prey to the lies of Satan and rebel against my Savior. In spite of the fact that His rule in my life brings me prosperity and peace, I can so quickly rebel against Him. I can forget His blessings and turn back to the one who has been out to destroy me all my life. Yet I have the opportunity to live a life that illustrates what it means to have Christ reign in power and authority. I can demonstrate what having Christ on the throne of my life looks like. He can and does bring peace and prosperity now. When He rules, I enjoy blessing and abundance. When He reigns, I have joy and a freedom from sin's influence. Paul put it best when he said, "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 NLT).

Father, Your Son is to rule and reign right now – in the lives of those He has redeemed. Yet we so often allow ourselves to be deceived by the enemy and listen to his lies once again. We turn away from Christ and reject His rule in our lives. There is a day coming when He will reign for 1,000 years, unhindered, uninterrupted and unchallenged by Satan. But I have the ability to experience that same kind of peace and prosperity right now. May I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God and allowing Him to rule on the throne of my life – unhindered by the influence of sin and Satan. Amen

His Bride Has Prepared Herself!

Revelation 19

Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.). – Revelation 19:7-8 NLT

As the book of Revelation begins to come to a close, it chronicles the coming to a close of the end times. And one significant event will be the marriage supper of the Lamb. As His bride, the Church has belonged to Christ all along, but He will consummate His marriage to the church with a great celebratory feast. And the Church, the body of believers, will come to that feast arrayed in fine linen, the righteous acts of the saints. "Righteous acts flow from a righteous character, which is entirely of the grace of God" (Charles Ryrie, Revelation). But the righteous acts don't do themselves. Each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). We are given the garments to wear, but we must still put them on. God has given each of us the capacity or ability, through His indwelling Holy Spirit and as a result of His grace, to perform righteous acts. He is creating in us a righteous character from which should flow righteous behavior. It is that behavior that clothes us and makes us ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We are each preparing for that day. That should be our focus. That should be our highest priority. But notice that it is a corporate endeavor. It is the Church that is being presented, not individual believers. Together, we are the bride, not individually. So it is the righteous acts of the Church globally that clothe her and prepare her for her final presentation to Christ. It makes you wonder just how righteous our acts really are as a corporate body. If the "fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God," just how fine will that linen be? The thought of appearing at the wedding feast dressed in shabby clothes should petrify all of us. But do we even think about it?

All we will bring to the wedding feast will be what we have on. And that will consist entirely of any righteous acts we do while we are here on earth. Our entire lives should be spent in preparation for this one event. It should be our primary focus and motivation for our actions and activities here. The whole marriage metaphor has to do with purity, devotion, fidelity, and faithfulness. As the Church, we are betrothed to Christ. We belong to Him. We are apart from Him right now. But He is returning to claim His bride. We are to be preparing for that day. We are to remain pure and faithful to Him. We are to be getting ready for the marriage feast that will conclude the marriage ceremony. And it is our behavior while here on earth that will clothe us for that day. Yes, we have the righteousness of Christ. And yes, the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to do righteous deeds, but we must STILL do them. We must remain faithful and true. We must live our lives for Him in anticipation of that day.

Father, I want to live in anticipation of that day. But honestly, I don't think about it enough. And I don't think about the importance of my actions. My deeds, done in the power of the Spirit, and made possible by the cross of Christ, are what will play a part in clothing the bride of Christ for that great event. Help me to stay focused on that reality. I want the Church to be clothed in purity, and it will be. Because Jesus Christ has made it possible. Amen

Rejoice!

Revelation 18

Be glad over her, heaven, and you saints, and Apostles, and prophets; because she has been judged by God on your account. – Revelation 18:20 BBE

It is Christmas day. The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a day of rejoicing. A day of joy and celebration. But there is another day coming when rejoicing will take place in heaven and on earth. It is the day recorded in Revelation 18 when Babylon falls. The city of Babylon represents all things evil and wrong with this world. It will be an actual city, the headquarters of the Antichrist himself, but it is also a symbol of mankind's efforts to build a society that functions apart from the reign of God. From the tower of Babel until this point in the story recorded in Revelation, men have been trying to establish themselves as gods and set up their cities as heaven on earth. In his book, The Interpretation of St. John's Revelation, R.C.H. Lenski says this: Mystical Babylon is the representative of religious degeneracy, not civic wickedness." The great Babylon is more than just another great cosmopolitan city. It will be the home of the great religion of the day, where the Antichrist is worshiped. It will be a city of great power and wealth, where commerce is king and mankind's worship of money is readily apparent. You can see this by the mourning that takes place in this chapter (Revelation 18:15). But it will also be a city where immorality is worshiped. This city's destruction will bring a sense of loss to many, including the world's leaders (Revelation 18:9). Babylon represents mankind's attempt to do life without God. It is a picture of men who have determined to worship anything and everything but God Himself. "The wickedness of Babylon has been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols,, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest" (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible).

But we are told that her destruction will be great and complete. God will destroy her. And while the world will mourn over their loss, heaven will rejoice, along with all the saints, apostles, and prophets (Revelation 18:20). Like the fall of the Tower of Babel, Babylon will fall, because man cannot compete with God. While He may allow us to play at being gods, the day is coming when He will put an end to the charade. He will bring the madness to a close. God will show just how powerless men are without Him and how futile it is to try and stand against Him. "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer" (Revelation 18:21 NASB). There is only one kingdom that will stand in the end. There is only one city that will exist in the end. The city of God where Jesus Christ will reign in power and authority. The baby who was born in a manger will rule on a throne and He will be worshiped by more than a few lowly shepherds. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Father, You are all-powerful and nothing can stand against You. Thank You for reminding me of that this morning. Men at their best are no match for You. Our power, wealth, intelligence, and industry is nothing in comparison to You. We can worship what we have built, but You can destroy it all in an instance. And anything we worship in place of You will ultimately fail us. Because it can never replace You. Never let me forget that Father. Amen

But the Lamb Will Defeat Them!

Revelation 17

Together they will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and his people are the called and chosen and faithful ones. – Revelation 17:14 NLT

Have you ever felt like things just couldn't get any worse? Like God has some how lost control and your world is spinning out of control, with nobody in charge? Well, read the 17th chapter of Revelation and you will get an idea of what things must feel like to those who are in Christ during the final days of the tribulation. A false religious system will have sprung up during the first half of the tribulation period and it will have millions of adherents (Revelation 17:15). This will be a worldwide and ecumenical, and will have its headquarters in the newly established Rome, where the Antichrist will reign. This church will be apostate, yet powerful and influential. There will be a ten-nation federation that joins forces with the Antichrist with one common purpose: To wage war against Christ and His kingdom (Revelation 17:14).

But in the midst of all this news of impending doom is the reminder that God is in control. "Together they will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and his people are the called and chosen and faithful ones" (Revelation 17:14 NLT). God will be victorious over this ten-king federation because of Jesus Christ. He and His followers who are alive during those days will resist the attacks of Antichrist and his followers. Christ will defeat them and those who are in Christ will share in His victory because they have remained faithful in spite of all the difficulties surrounding them. Isn't that what we are called to do? To remain faithful in the midst of all the persecution, pain, and temptations to give in? If we do so, we will share in His final victory. We must remind ourselves constantly that God is in control and nothing happens that He is not intimately aware of and ultimately in control of. John is reminded of this in chapter 17. "For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will mutually agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17 NLT). What these ten kingdom leaders will do, they do because God has put the idea in their heads. They will be carrying out the very purpose of God when they attack the people of God. They will align themselves with the Antichrist because that is exactly what God wants them to do – all so that the will and the word of God might be fulfilled. God is in control. That seems to be the over-arching them of this book. What a timely reminder to those of us who live in uncertain times. God is in control. He is in control of kings, presidents, nations, organizations, economies, armies, and every individual who walks the face of the earth. Sure, they may reject Him and live under the false impression that they are independent agents, but at the end of the day, they are all under His sovereign control.

God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. – Psalm 47:8 NLT

He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. – Daniel 2:21 NLT

The purpose of this decree is that the whole world may understand that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses––even to the lowliest of humans. – Daniel 4:17 NLT

I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He has the power to do as he pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying, "What do you mean by doing these things?" – Daniel 17:34-35 NLT

Our God reigns. Our God rules. Our God wins! In spite of all that we see going on around us, we have to constantly remind ourselves that He is in control. He has a plan. He is going to complete that plan to perfection and in His time. We can trust Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder that You are in control – of kings, presidents, and rulers. You are in control of nature. You are in control of my destiny and the destiny of this world. I can trust You – even when things look bleak. Forgive me for letting anxiety and doubt to rule in my heart so often. You have never given me a reason to doubt You. And You never will. Amen

They Refused to Repent.

Revelation 16

They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. – Revelation 16:9 NIV

If you've ever struggled with the concept that in order for a man to repent and turn to God he must first be called by God, chapter 16 of Revelation ought to change your mind. Here we have a picture of the final days before the final battle between God and the forces of evil on the earth. God is bringing consecutive judgments on the earth and its inhabitants – seven of them to be exact. And they are anything but light. They include horrible sores on men and the waters of the earth turning to blood. The sun will give off excessive, scorching heat. There will also be a period of supernatural darkness on the earth. The River Euphrates will completely dry up and then there will be a massive lightning storm accompanied by earthquakes that change the topography of the earth, accompanied by massive hail stones as large as 100 pounds each! Yet in the midst of this unbelievable time of terror and destruction, we are told that men will refuse to repent and glorify God. That is amazing to me!

With all those things taking place around them and to them, these people will blaspheme God rather than turn to Him. They will refuse to turn from their sin and rebellion and worship the very one who is causing all this to happen. But "affliction if it does not melt, hardens the sinner" (Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown). Back in Revelation 11:13, there were those who appeared to give glory to God, but it would be short-lived. Like Pharaoh, who would give in to the demands of Moses, then later harden his heart, these same people would go from glorifying God to blaspheming Him. Even in the midst of all the chaos and confusion, men will refuse to worship God. And they will die in their sin. But unless the Spirit of God turns a man's heart to God, it is impossible for Him to repent. Jesus said, "that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father" (John 6:65 NASB). The hearts of these people will be so dark and sin-riddled, they will unable to see the futility of their sin and the seriousness of their condition, even in the face of pending doom and destruction.

But if you think this all seems unfair, make sure you read verses 5-7. "And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, "You are just in sending this judgment, O Holy One, who is and who always was. For your holy people and your prophets have been killed, and their blood was poured out on the earth. So you have given their murderers blood to drink. It is their just reward." And I heard a voice from the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God Almighty, your punishments are true and just" (Revelation 16:5-7 NLT). We are reminded that, in spite of what we might think, God is just, righteous, and true – even in bringing His wrath and judgment to bear on the earth. He remains holy and completely right in all His actions. He has given the world ample opportunity to turn to Him. He sent His own Son to die for them. Yet they refused to believe and repent. So now He is finishing what He began. He is fixing what sin destroyed. And He is completely just in doing so.

Father, I don't always understand Your ways, but I try to trust them, because I know You are holy, just, and right in all Your ways. Affliction isn't always easy for me to handle. Sometimes I just want it to go away. Yet I know You have a purpose for it, just like You will in the last days. And while the days we are going through right now are nothing compared to what is to come, I pray that we would be willing to share the gospel with all those around us and that You would be preparing the hearts of many to hear. I know you use times of affliction to call men to Yourself, and we want to see that happen this coming new year. Amen

The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.

Revelation 15

And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your actions, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.'" – Revelation 15:3 NLT

This is the shortest chapter in the book of Revelation, yet it is anything but light. It not only sets up chapter 16, it glances backward to the Lord’s former judgments, and anticipates the glory of heaven that is soon to come. It also introduces the last 7 judgments of the Lord known as the "bowl judgments".  The time period is midway through the tribulation. In this chapter we have the beginning of the end of the last 3 1/2 years where the Lord will set everything right. Verse 1 tells us that with the coming of these last seven plagues, the wrath of God is finished or complete.

But as in chapter 14, right in the middle of all the messages of wrath and judgment is singing. John sees a vision of a sea of glass on which are standing those believers who, having resisted the Antichrist and refusing to worship him, suffered martyr's deaths. They are singing two songs. The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. These are both songs of victory, praising God for what He has done and what He is about to do. They are praising God in the midst of all the judgment and wrath for His coming final victory. The song of Moses takes us all the way back to Exodus 15. It is a reminder of the song Moses sang after God had delivered the people of Israel by splitting the Red Sea and allowing them to walk across on dry land, and destroying the army of Pharaoh.

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has thrown both horse and rider into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father’s God, and I will exalt him! … With unfailing love you will lead this people whom you have ransomed. You will guide them in your strength to the place where your holiness dwells. …The LORD will reign forever and ever!" – Exodus 15:1-2, 13, 18

The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my victory. You will lead this people. You will guide them to the place where Your holiness dwells. What a reminder that God is not done yet. He is still at work and He will complete that work. I can trust Him. This is all about deliverance and judgment. God will deliver His people and judge His enemies. He will have the final victory. He will triumph gloriously!

But there is another song. The song of the Lamb. We see this song in Revelation chapter 5.

You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become God’s Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth. … The Lamb is worthy––the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. – Revelation 5:9-10, 12 NLT

No victory would be possible without the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Had He not been killed, our ransom would not have been paid. Our victory is IN Jesus. He is to be praised and honored because He is the one who made it all possible. It reminds me of the words of the old hymn, Victory In Jesus.

I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins

And won the victory.

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

It really is victory in Jesus. His work on the cross is what will make future victory possible. He has guaranteed the outcome. So why wouldn't we sing?

Father, I don't sing enough about the glory and greatness of Your Son Jesus Christ. I am grateful for my salvation, but He has accomplished so much more than that. He has guaranteed the victory over sin and death. He has guaranteed the final victory over Satan and this world. His death and resurrection are what make the final outcome a positive one. It is why there can be singing in the midst of judgment. The end is NOT in question. It is guaranteed. And that is something worth singing about. Amen

A New Song.

Revelation 14

This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty–four elders. And no one could learn this song except those 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. – Revelation 14:3 NLT

I don't know why, but this chapter brings to mind the old Carpenter's song. I know you're going to hate me for this because you won't be able to get it out of your head now. But part of the lyrics are:

Sing, sing a song,

Sing out loud, sing out strong,

Sing of the good things, not bad,

Sing of the happy, not sad . . .

Chapter 14 opens up in with an image that is direct contrast to what John saw in chapter 13. In place of the dragon and the two beasts, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ Himself standing on Mount Zion surrounded by the 144,000 Jews who have come to have a saving faith in Him during the tribulation period. And they are singing a "new song." What is this song? According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's commentary on Revelation:

The song is that of victory after conflict with the dragon, beast, and false prophet: never sung before, for such a conflict had never been fought before; therefore new: till now the kingdom of Christ on earth had been usurped; they sing the new song in anticipation of His blood-bought kingdom with His saints.

This is a victory song. These 144,000 have survived the worst the enemy had to throw at them. They had made it through the tribulation and the assault of Satan. They had remained spiritually pure (Revelation 14:4). They represent just the beginning of the Jews who will come to faith in Christ before God is done (Revelation 14:4). And unlike those who worshiped the Antichrist and ended up with the mark of the beast on their hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16), these individuals have the name of God written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1). They belong to Him. So they sing a new song – a song of joy and victory. God is on the verge of defeating His great enemy once and for all. Yet in the midst of it all, He will give those who are alive on the earth one more time to respond to His "eternal gospel" (Revelation 14:6). He gives them one more opportunity to choose between the worship of God or the Antichrist.

Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water! – Revelation 14:7 NET

Chapter 14 is full of good news and bad news. It is a chapter of contrasts. The redeemed are singing a new song. Yet the judgment of God is falling on those who refuse to acknowledge Him as God. But in the midst of it all He is giving them one more chance to repent and worship Him. In this chapter we clearly see God's holiness, judgment, justice, and wrath, but also His love and mercy. Even to the end He is calling for men to return to Him as the only source of their salvation from the judgment to come. We worship a holy God who must ultimately punish sin and those who rebel against Him. But He will not cease calling men to repentance – even right up until the end.

Father, I can't wait until the new song is sung. I can't wait until you bring all of this to an end. This world is not my home, I just passing through. My treasures are laid up in heaven. We live in a fallen and flawed world, but You are going to restore everything back to the way it was meant to be. You are going to continue redeeming men to a right relationship to You right up until the end. Because You are faithful and true. And You are going to keep Your promises to the people of Israel. You will restore many to a right relationship with You again. Not because of anything they have done, but because You are faithful and true. Thank You for reminding me of that this morning. Amen

An Unholy Trinity.

Revelation 13

All the world marveled at this miracle and followed the beast in awe. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast …,Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, whose death–wound had been healed. – Revelation 13:3-4, 11-12 NLT

I have to be honest. I discovered something in my reading this morning that I have never seen before. In chapter 13 we have the introduction of the Beast or the Antichrist. Most of us are familiar with the name. There seems to be speculation every year as to who the Antichrist might be, with the names of various celebrities, government officials, and powerful individuals being thrown out as possibilities. But the truth is, we don't have a clue as to who this person might be. But there is a second beast mentioned in chapter 13. It is the False Prophet or the Antichrist's lieutenant, so to speak. So in one chapter we see the Dragon, which represents Satan. We have the appearance of the Beast or Antichrist onto the global stage. Then we meet the second Beast, who functions as the second-in-command to the Antichrist. These three represent what many theologians refer to as The Unholy Trinity. Together they form this triumvirate of power that is a poor imitation of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Satan has always been an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He is the great deceiver who attempts to replicate the power and authority of God. So this unholy trinity makes all the sense in the world. It fits Satan M.O. As his time begins to run out, Satan will unleash a final assault on mankind. And he will do so by attempting to replicate what God has done in the world. Satan will give the Antichrist his power, throne, and authority (Revelation 13:2). Just as God has given Christ all authority and has seated Him at His right hand in heaven, so Satan will give Antichrist power and authority here on earth. Not only that, but the Antichrist will apparently suffer some kind of fatal wound, but Satan will restore him to life. In other words, Satan will resurrect Antichrist, and as a result, every person on earth at that time will worship Satan and the Antichrist. Isn't it amazing how unimaginative Satan is? All he can manage to come up with is a poor rip-off of what God has already done through Jesus Christ. But it will have its desired affect. The people will be so taken with the Antichrist that they will say, "Is there anyone as great as the beast? Who is able to fight against him?" (Revelation 13:4 NLT).

But any similarities between Antichrist and Jesus Christ Himself are few. This individual will speak blasphemies (Revelation 13:5). He will speak against God, His name, His tabernacle, and all those who dwell in heaven. He will also make war with the saints who are on earth at that time. This will be those 144,000 who become Christ-followers during the Great Tribulation. Unlike Christ, the Antichrist will be against all that God stands for and all that Christ died for. Which is exactly why he is called ANTI-Christ. Yet everyone on earth will worship him. Except those whose names have been written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 13:8). They will remain faithful to the one true God and His Son.

The third individual in this unholy trinity is the False Prophet, the Antichrist's right-hand man. He will get his authority from Antichrist and operate on his behalf. In fact, one of his jobs will be to make all those on earth worship Antichrist. He will perform great signs and deceive those who dwell on the earth (Revelation 13:12-14). He is a poor imitation of the Holy Spirit. He will be the antithesis of the Holy Spirit. While the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, the False Prophet will encourage it. The Holy Spirit comforts and encourages. The False Prophet confused, deceives and ultimately, destroys. He will actually sentence to death any who do not worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:15). And He will cause a mark to be placed on the foreheads of any and all. This mark will determine who can buy and sell goods, and will act as a mark of ownership – that they belong to Satan. Yet the Word of God says that He "set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 1:22 NIV). In His letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminds us "when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13 NET). For believers, the Holy Spirit is our mark of ownership. But He is not a mark on our forehead. He lives within us.

Satan can only attempt to imitate what God has done, because he can't replicate it. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will both be men. They are not divine. Their power is limited and comes from Satan himself. Unlike God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, this unholy trinity is not eternal and all-powerful. They are limited in their power and influence and their days are numbered. That is the central message of the book of Revelation. God is going to bring all this madness to an end. Yet it is amazing to see men falling down and worshiping Satan himself. But in his commentary on Revelation David Guzik gives this insight:

"It may seem fantastic to some that the world would be led into worship of a man and of the devil. But by nature, men have an undeniable religious impulse, and they also have an undeniable rebellion against God. What men want most is not the elimination of religion, but their own religion. They say they want the kingdom, but they don’t want God in it."

Even today, men and women worship the kingdom of Satan. They worship the things of this world. They bow down before temporal things, making them the gods of their lives. In doing so, they worship Satan himself. We were made for worship. The question is whether we will worship God or Satan. In those days, man's rebellion against God's rule and authority over their lives will reach a crescendo. The worship of Satan will no longer be subtle and hidden, but outright and complete. But the story isn't over yet. God isn't done yet. Let's see what chapter 14 has to say next.

Father, Satan is such a loser. He is unimaginative and unable to mount a threat against Your kingdom. He is destined for defeat. But He will do his best to destroy men in his attempt to destroy You. But He loses in the end. He has already lost. All because of what Your Son Jesus Christ has done. He has defeated Satan, sin and death. And for that I am eternally grateful. Amen

It Has Happened At Last!

Revelation 12

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has happened at last – the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night. – Revelation 12:10 NLT

While the book of Revelation is often thought of as a book of bad news, filled with images of destruction and judgment, it is also has a tremendous amount of good news – for those of us who are followers of Christ. I guess it depends on your perspective when you read it. For instance, this morning I read a story on the Dallas Maverick game that took place last night. I happen to be a Maverick fan, so when I read that they had beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, I was pleased. But if I had been a fan of OKC, I would have read that same story with a great deal of frustration and disappointment. My team would have lost. The same is true when reading the book of Revelation. When I read it as a Christian, I read it with the understanding that my "team" wins. And chapter 12 confirms that message. Once again, John hears a voice from heaven shout, "It has happened at last – the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night" (Revelation 12:10 NLT). As a believer, I hear those words and they are nothing but good news. Sure, chapter 12 is filled with its fair share of bad news. Israel (the woman with child) is going to be persecuted by Satan (the red dragon) during the tribulation time on earth. But God is going to protect Israel during the last half of the tribulation (Revelation 12:6; Revelation 12:14). The Great Tribulation is going to be an extremely difficult time here on earth as the final judgment of God draws closer. This is the last hurrah of Satan and His followers.

That"s why verse 10 is so exciting. John hears it announced that the defeat of our great enemy, Satan, is at hand. It is as good as done. It won't be until chapter 20 that we find out his final destination – the abyss. But the voice from heaven let's everyone know that Satan is defeated. The is "thrown down." The great deceiver and accuser of the brethren has been defeated by God. And he has been overcome by those who came to Christ during the tribulation.

And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die. – Revelation 12:11 NLT

Even during the Great Tribulation, long after the church has been removed and the Holy Spirit with it, God will still bring people to a saving knowledge of His Son. Those individuals will place their trust in the blood of Christ shed on the cross – just like we did. And their testimony will overcome the deceiver and accuser. They will be so confident in their salvation that they will willingly face death and martyrdom during those dark days. Which reminds me that I should have that same level of faith right here and now. I should have a confidence in my salvation and in the love and mercy of God that allows me to face whatever comes my way in this life. I should also revel in the fact that my team wins in the end! All because of the the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ (Revelation 12:10).

Father, while I won't be there to hear these words, I am excited to read them – "It has happened at last!" We are all waiting for that day. When Satan is defeated once and for all. We look forward to the day when Your salvation for mankind is complete. When Your kingdom is come in all its glory. But in the meantime may I have a confidence in the salvation of Your Son so that I stand firm in the face of adversity. I want to overcome the enemy through the power available to me in Jesus Christ. I want my testimony to be that I am willing to face even death for the sake of Christ. Because I trust that my team really does win in the end. Amen

And He Will Reign Forever and Ever!

Revelation 11

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." – Revelation 11:15 NLT

You probably recognize the words from the Hallelujah Chorus in the verse above. "And He shall reign forever and ever." But if you're like me, you didn't know exactly where Handel got the words from. Well, now we know. They came right from Revelation chapter 11. Here we have a picture of the coming of the end of the "mystery of God" referred to in chapter ten. The final judgment of the world and of Satan is coming to a close. As it gets closer and closer to the time when God brings all things to completion and the time of His kingdom on earth is about to arrive, the seventh angel, the same angel who held the scroll in chapter ten, will make an announcement: "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15 NLT). This announcement is in anticipation of God's final victory that will set up His kingdom on earth where He will reign forever and ever! At this news the 24 elders will fall on their faces and worship God saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry with you, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants. You will reward your prophets and your holy people, all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. And you will destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth" (Revelation 11:17-18 NLT). The time of God's wrath has come. He will reward His own and destroy the rest. Any mystery to God's redemptive plan will be completely revealed. Everyone will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what God's plan is. This event was prophesied about in the book of Daniel: "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever" (Daniel 2:44 NASB). God will put an end to all the other kingdoms of men, and He alone will reign.

It is the setting up of Heaven's sovereignty over the earth visibly, which, when invisibly exercised, was rejected by the earthly rulers heretofore. The distinction of worldly and spiritual shall then cease. There will be no beast in opposition to the woman. Poetry, art, science, and social life will be at once worldly and Christian. – Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary of Revelation

Think about it. Everything will be under God's control again. It is not that He is out of control now, but that He is allowing things to operate counter to His original divine plan. The creation is broken and marred. There is an enemy alive and well, walking the earth and wreaking havoc on mankind. But that day is going to come to an end. The world is at odds with God right now. But the day is coming when everything will be made godly again. The kingdoms of this earth will give way to ONE kingdom over which God will reign through His Son Jesus Christ! This should be a reminder that our God is in control. He is going to set all things right. Even though everything around us looks broken and out of sorts, God will restore His world back to its original glory. He will reclaim what is rightfully His. And He will reign forever and ever. Think about this passage the next time you hear the Hallelujah chorus this Christmas.

Father, You will reign forever and ever. You will rule here on earth and there will no longer be any opposition. That day is coming. Help me to keep my focus on that reality. You are not done yet. Amen

The Mystery of God Is Finished.

Revelation 10

…but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets. – Revelation 10:7 NASB

There has been a brief time of silence in heaven. We saw that in chapter nine. Now another angel breaks that silence with a voice that sounds like peals of thunder. He lifts up His right hand and swears an oath to God that there will no longer be any delay, because the mystery of God is finished. Evidently this "mystery of God" is the theme of the little book the angel holds in his hand. But what is the mystery he is talking about? What is this mystery of God? It is the mystery of God's plan of redemption. He is referring to the hidden ways of God that had been revealed through the prophets and made known through the apostles. Paul referred to this mystery when he said, "Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Corinthians 4:1 NASB). In Ephesians, Paul once again refers to this mystery of the Gospel. He says, "that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief" (Ephesians 3:4 NASB). He goes on to explain what that mystery is: "to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (Ephesians 4:6 NASB). The mystery or divine secret of God for mankind has come to an end. Now all will know what God is about to do. God had revealed His plan little by little through His prophets. Then with the coming of His Son, He made it more clearly known. Now the angel tells John that there will be nothing hidden any longer. The mystery of God's kingdom is going to be fully revealed. And that will include His final judgment of mankind. And it will involve the complete restoration of His kingdom. No longer will Satan rule on this earth. The ruler of this world will be dethroned and sin will be finally and completely dealt with. The result will be that God will reign. We'll see that played out in the next chapter.

Father, one day the mystery of Your kingdom on earth will be completely revealed. There are those who do not see it right now. They do not know that You are God and that You reign. But one day they will know beyond a shadow of a doubt. You will set all things right. You will deal with sin and Satan once and for all. Thank You for that assurance. Amen

Stubborn Right Up Until The End.

Revelation 9

But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood––idols that neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts. – Revelation 9:20-21 NLT

Now the imagery really starts to get strange. Locusts ascending from a pit in the earth who have the capacity to torment men by stinging them like scorpions. These aren't your everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill locust, but they appear like battle horses with human faces and on their heads they wear golden crowns. They have long flowing hair like women and teeth like lions. On top of that, they have tails like a scorpion, and they are given the power to torture and torment all those alive on the earth at that time for five solid months – except the 144,000 who have come to Christ during the tribulation period. They are protected by God. But it will be so bad for the rest who are alive, that they will want to die. "In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee away!" (Revelation 9:6 NLT).

And it gets worse. Four angels or demons will be released who will destroy one-third of mankind. Added to the one-fourth who were killed under the fourth seal judgment these two judgments alone destroy one-half of the earth's population. Yet in spite of all that is happening, there will be those alive at that time who will refuse to repent. "The remaining men and women who weren't killed by these weapons went on their merry way--didn't change their way of life, didn't quit worshiping demons, didn't quit centering their lives around lumps of gold and silver and brass, hunks of stone and wood that couldn't see or hear or move" (Revelation 9:20 MSG). That's hard to imagine isn't it? How could anyone who lives through this kind of cataclysmic event not turn away from their worship of anything or anyone other than God? Yet it reveals the hardness of the human heart. They would rather worship idols they have made with their own hands than turn to the one true God who is bringing about judgment on the face of the earth. Others would rather die than repent. It just goes to how that there are those who, even in the face of eminent destruction, will not bow their knee to the living God. More than half of the earth's population will die and the rest will stubbornly cling to their misguided worship of false gods. And the result will be their eternal destruction.

Unless God moves our hearts, none of us would ever seek Him. We do not have the capacity to seek after God. Each of us would choose death over life if it were left up to us. But God, in His mercy, chose to reveal Himself to us through His Son Jesus Christ. He opened our eyes so that we might see the beauty of the Gift. He removed the scales from our eyes so that we might see the truth of our condition and the hope of salvation made available through His Son. We should be "eternally" grateful that God chose us in order that we might choose Him.

Father, what more can I say than "Thank You?! You opened my eyes to the truth. You softened my hardened heart. You placed Your Spirit within me. Otherwise I would never have chosen You. I would have been just like those in John's vision – stubbornly clinging to the ridiculous gods of my own making. So I truly am grateful for Your abundant grace and mercy. Amen

The Sound of Silence.

Revelation 8

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. – Revelation 8:1 NLT

Out of all the fantastic imagery found in this chapter, the ten words found in the second half of this verse jumped out at me the most. In the previous chapters John has witnessed the ceaseless praise going on before the throne of God. There are angels, elders, and saints dressed in white, all standing before the throne of God, giving him never-ending praise and glory. There is a "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" (Revelation 7:9 NIV). They are crying out in a loud voice,  "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb" (Revelation 7:10 NIV). Remember, this is a crowd of individuals so large, you can't count them. Now, imagine the noise level. On top of that, you have the four living creatures and the 24 elders singing before the throne, "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become God’s Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10 NLT). And as if that wasn't enough, there are "thousands and millions of angels" singing before the throne, "The Lamb is worthy – the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing" (Revelation 5:12 NLT).

Can you imagine the sound? It would have been deafening. Beautiful, but deafening. And then suddenly, SILENCE!

With the opening of the seventh seal, there is suddenly silence in heaven. Most likely for the first time in eternity! The praising stops. The singing ceases. No one is saying anything. Do you catch the significance of this moment? John says that there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. It must have seemed like an eternity. For the first time in all of time and even before time began, God was not receiving praise. The sense of anticipation is palpable. Something significant is about to happen. Judgment is coming on the earth. John goes on to describe what that judgment is going to be like. The silence seems appropriate. It is as if the angels, elders, and saints all stop and hold their collective breath as Jesus opens this seventh seal. They know what is about to happen. The stored up wrath of God is about to be unleashed. His long-delayed judgment is coming. It is an event prophesied in part in the book of Zephaniah. "Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD, for the awesome day of the LORD’s judgment has come" (Zephaniah 1:7 NLT). Zechariah penned a similar warning: "Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling" (Zechariah 2:13 NLT).

He is springing into action from His holy dwelling. The day IS coming when God will judge mankind. He will not put up with all that is going on forever. He is not powerless or indifferent to the sinfulness of mankind. He is simply waiting for the perfect timing in His diving master plan. Christ must first return to take home His bride, the church. Then the great tribulation must take place. But after that, the day of judgment will come. Preceded by a time of deafening silence. Because what will follow will be like nothing the world has ever seen before – or will ever see again. The unrestrained judgment of God. The thought of it should cause all of us to stop and reflect.

Father, I can't even begin to understand all the imagery in this book. I don't know when all of these events will take place. But I do know they will. And I do know that Your judgment is going to be full and complete. There will be no one who disbelieves in You at that point. It will be the beginning of the end. This passage reminds me to stop and think occasionally about the reality of the future. There is a day of judgment coming. Right now, all I can hear is the noise of this life. And at times it is deafening. It is all we can hear. But help me to stop and meditate on the fact that You are going to bring judgment in the end. You are a holy God who will complete what He began. Amen

Our side wins!

Revelation 7

For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life–giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears. – Revelation 7:17 NLT

Regardless of your eschatology or view of future things, one thing we can all agree on is that God wins in the end. He will bring all this madness to an end. We can sit and debate the specifics and argue pre-trib, post-trib theology, but we can't argue over the fact that God is going to finish what He began. We can't debate the fact that He is redeeming a people for Himself out of all of mankind and their salvation is available only through His Son Jesus Christ. That seems to be the primary thought in this chapter. If you get beyond all the opinions as to who the 144,000 and the great multitude that couldn't be numbered really are, you see that the focus of chapter seven, like the rest of this book, is the Lamb.

John views a scene of a vast multitude of believers clothed in white robes and standing before the throne of God, carrying palm branches and crying out, "Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:10 NLT). In response to this cry, the all the angels, the 24 elders, and the four living creatures bow before the throne and shout, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and forever. Amen!" (Revelation 7:12 NLT).

John is then told who the great multitude of people dressed in white are. They are those who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb, and their robes are now white. In response to this transformation of their lives, they stand before the throne of God and serve Him day and night. God has transformed them through the sacrificial death of His Son, and as a result, they worship and adore Him. The elder tells John:

They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat. For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life–giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears. – Revelation 7:16-17 NLT

Isn't this what it is all about? Isn't this what we all long for? A time when we will never hunger and thirst again. We won't hunger for change or for release from this body of death. It will have taken place. We won't thirst for more of God because we will be with Him. We won't have to suffer the scorching heat that comes from life in this world. But we will enjoy the constant refreshment of God's presence. We will feast and drink in the very presence of God. There will be no more tears and no more sorrow. No more longing for things to be different. No more anxiety. No more worry. No more disappointment. No more stress. No more fear. No more struggle with sin. No more depression. No more ….

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be our shepherd.

Father, I can't wait until that day. While there is a lot about the end of time that I don't understand, I do understand that You win in the end. As confused and screwed up as this world seems to be, it will all be made right when You determine it is time. And I will be part of a great multitude of people who stand before Your throne and worship You day and night. Thank You for making this possible through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Help me to keep my eyes focused on the reality of the future. What we are experiencing here is just a blip on the radar screen compared to what eternity holds (2 Corinthians 4:17). Amen

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide!

Revelation 6

Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, and every slave and every free person – all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 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. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?" – Revelation 6:15-17 NLT

There is a lot about this chapter I don't understand. I have to rely on the "experts" to give me any idea of what is going on and what all the symbolism stands for. Like the white, black, red, and pale horses. But one thing I do think is pretty clear is that a day is coming when everyone who is alive on the face of the earth will acknowledge "the one who sits on the throne." From the mightiest and the most influential to the wealthiest and the least significant, they will all share one thing in common: their fear of the wrath of God and the Lamb of God – Jesus Christ Himself. They'll attempt to hide themselves among the caves and rocks in the mountains, but it won't do any good. They'll even beg the rocks to fall on them to protect them from Gods wrath.

There is much debate as to exactly when this is going to happen. But there is no dispute that it WILL happen. And when it does, no one will be able to stand before the wrath of God. Jesus Christ will no longer be able to be ignored. The One whom they have despised, rejected, discounted, and continually ignored as irrelevant and unnecessary will suddenly be the focus of all their attention. Their power, wealth, prestige, and position will not be able to save them. That day will be the great equalizer. All men who have rejected the Son of God will stand before God and His holy wrath. And John asks the question, "who is able to stand?" No one.

God will set all things right. His Son will be seen for who He is. He will no longer be ignored. He will be feared. I may not know exactly when all this is going to take place. I have my opinions. But I DO know that it will take place and that this is a reminder to us all of the holiness and righteousness of God. It also reveals the power of God. All the cosmic events described in this chapter – earthquakes, darkened sun, blood-red moon, and stars falling from the sky are reminders that God is the one who holds it all together. It is all under His control. And the day is coming when He will exert full and final control over all creation and all men. The Lamb of God will become the Lion of Judah. And no one will be able to stand before Him! We serve a great God and an incredible Savior.

Father, You are in complete control. You have a perfect plan that You are working and You will bring it about in Your time. Help me to remember Your greatness. No man alive or yet to live can stand before Your divine power and wrath. Your Son is the King of kings and He will one day reign over all. Men who once ignored Him will bow down in fear before Him. Their ridicule will turn to respect, reverence, fear and awe. Help me to keep my eyes focused on the end. The good guys win. Amen

Worthy is the Lamb!

Revelation 5

Then I wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it. 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 conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals." – Vs 4-5 NLT

The scene continues in John's vision of heaven. God is seated on His throne surrounded by the four living creatures and the 24 elders who are worshiping him ceaselessly. In His hand God holds a scroll. But to John's dismay, there is no one deemed worthy to open to the scroll and read it. No one in heaven or on earth meets the qualifications for worthiness required to take the scroll from God's hand and read it. This news brings John to tears. Then one of the elders proclaims to him, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals" (Revelation 5:5 NLT). At that point John sees a Lamb standing between the throne and the 24 elders. Isn't it interesting that the elder describes Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but then He appears as the Lamb, standing as though it had been slain (Revelation 5:6). Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb. He is the conqueror, but only because He was slain. He defeated death and sin by dying a sacrificial, substitionary death on the cross for you and me. He is worthy because He was slain.

You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become God’s Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10 NLT)

Jesus is worthy because He was faithful to do what He had been sent by the Father to do. He accomplished the Father's will. He gave His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). His death resulted in victory. His death resulted in life for many (Romans 5:15). His death resulted in our becoming heirs of a kingdom of priests and citizens of a heaven (1 Peter 2:9). The whole emphasis of this chapter is on Jesus and His worthiness. He is the star of this scene and the central focus of the action. The angels join the celebration of His worthiness by singing, "The Lamb is worthy––the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing" (Revelation 5:12 NLT). Then every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea sang with them, "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever" (Revelation 5:13 NLT).

The whole scene ends with the 24 elders falling at their feet in worship and adoration before God and the Lamb. He is worthy! He is deserving of our praise, honor, and adoration because of what He has done. He is the Lamb who was slain. He sacrificed His life so that I might live. He ransomed me from slavery to sin and death. And He deserves my praise.

Father, You sent Your Son to die in my place. And He did what He came to do. Because of that I have access before Your throne. I am Your Son and an heir to Your kingdom. All because of what Jesus, the Lamb of God did on the cross. Thank You for sending Him. Jesus, thank You for coming and being obedient, even to the point of dying on the cross in my place. Amen

Holy, Holy, Holy!

Revelation 4

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. – Vs 8 NIV

What does heaven really look like? That's a question we've all asked at one time or another. And in this chapter, John gets the opportunity to see it and describe it to us. Of course, he only gets to visit heaven in a vision, but there is no indication that what he saw was any less real. But in attempting to put what he saw into words that we could understand, John is stuck with similes, metaphors, and verbal analogies that paint a fantastic, but also somewhat confusing image for us. He describes God as "He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance" (Revelation 4:3 NASB). It's hard to get a clear visual representation in my mind of just exactly what that would look like. For whatever reason, what John is seeing is so incredible that he is unable to use normal descriptive terms to tell us what he is looking at. The scene is indescribable. It is more than words can express. Even the sounds he hears can only be expressed in the form of a comparison. He says, "From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder" (Revelation 4:5 NIV). His description of the four living creatures (Revelation 4:4-8) who surround the throne sounds like something out of Greek mythology.

Yet in the middle of all this fantastic imagery, John hears clearly the words the creatures are saying. He says that these creatures surround the throne of God and that day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." There is no question as to what he was hearing. He didn't have to describe their words as peals of thunder or like the roaring of a waterfall. No, he heard their words loud and clear. And he also heard the words of the 24 elders who respond to the cry of the creatures by bowing before the throne of God and crying out, "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created" (Revelation 4:11 NLT). The scene John is witnessing is unbelievable and indescribable, yet the purpose behind it is quite clear: the worship and adoration of God. John may have had a hard time describing what he was seeing, but he was quite clear about what he was hearing. The point seems to be that while we may have a difficult time describing God, even if we got to see Him face to face, we should have no difficulty worshiping God. What the creatures and the 24 elders are doing in heaven, we should be doing right now – praising God as the only true God. We should be praising Him for His holiness, set-apartness, sinlessness, and perfect righteousness. We should be praising Him for His infinite power and eternal nature. We should be praising Him for His worthiness. We may not be able to describe Him, but we can praise Him.

What John heard was far more significant than what he saw. He heard the heavenly occupants who surround God's throne acknowledging the one-of-a-kind nature of God. He alone is God. He is the creator of all things. He is the sustainer of all things. He alone is worthy of our honor and praise. What these creatures and elders do ceaselessly, we should do willingly as well. Their cries are a reminder of who God is and why we should worship Him. He is the indescribable, unbelievable, indisputable, unapproachable, unforgettable, undeniable, immutable, unquestionable Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

Father, You are worthy of our praise. I may not be able to see You, describe You, or even understand You, but I can praise You. Like these creatures and the 24 elders, may I never cease to say, day and night, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! Amen

I Know Your Works.

Revelation 3

You brag, "I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone," oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless. – Vs 17 MSG

Jesus confronts three different churches in this one chapter and He begins with a single phrase each time: "I know your works." He is speaking to churches, not individuals. He is addressing the community of professing believers at a specific geographic location. He's talking to a local body of believers. Not to me as a single, solitary Christian. Why is this important? Because we tend to take so many of these passages and make them personal, and when we do we miss the whole point. While there are applications we can glean from these verses that we can apply to ourselves as individuals, the real message is for the church. And He is telling these churches that He is watching them. As a result, He says He knows their works. He knows what they have produced. The Greek word means "any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind." These churches are not lazy. They have been busy. And their efforts have been producing fruit. The problem is, Christ is not pleased with their fruit. In each case, He has found something wrong. The church in Sardis is in a spiritual coma. They have a reputation for being alive, but in reality they are dead. They may have those around them fooled, but Christ knows the truth.

The church in Philadelphia is a slightly different story. They actually get a commendation from the Lord. He tells them, "Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world" (Vs 10 NLT). This church is under persecution, yet in spite of its difficult circumstances it has remained faithful to the Word of God and has not denied His name. He encourages them to hold fast and to remember that He is coming again soon.

The message to the church in Laodicea is the most striking one to me. And it is probably the most familiar one. He tells them, "You're not cold, you're not hot--far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit" (Vs 15 MSG). This church was spiritually flat-lined. They were addicted to the status quo. It was business-as-usual all the time for these people. They were indifferent and complacent. They were stuck in the middle. They weren't cold. This probably has nothing to do with spiritual coldness or carnality. Being Christ says, "I will spit you out of my mouth" (NASB), He is probably making a reference to water. Cold water refreshes and quenches thirst. Hot water warms the body when cold. Both are positive attributes, not negative. Yet this church is neither. They are tepid when it comes to their spirituality. And they literally make Christ sick.

Their problem? They are self-sufficient, overly confident, and spiritually prideful. Listen to Christ's description: "You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless" (Vs 18 MSG). They were blind to their true spiritual condition. They looked at themselves and saw success. They were oblivious to their true spiritual condition. They had come to a point as a church where they didn't really need Christ any more. They could accomplish everything they needed to do in their own strength. But Christ reminds them that they were really pitiful. From His perspective they were like a blind beggar, a homeless person totally dependent on the goodwill of others to survive. So Christ calls them to return to Him as the source of all their needs. But first they have to admit and confess their condition. That's where it always begins. Then He says that He will meet their needs. He will restore their spiritual vitality and usefulness. He will restore the fellowship and intimacy with Him that is missing in their church. That is why He pleads, "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends" (Vs 20 NLT). This is one of the most misquoted passages in the Bible. It has little to do with salvation, but has everything to do with the kind of relationship Christ wants to have with His church. He wants to dine with us. He wants to spend time with us. He wants to have intimate, close fellowship with us. But He is standing outside a closed door waiting to be let into our midst. It is as if Christ is saying to the church today, "Please let Me be a part of what You are doing! Let Me in. I want to contribute!" Do we hear Him? Do we need Him? Or like the church at Laodicea, have we become so self-sufficient that we don't need Him anymore?

Father, we need Your Son more than ever. The church needs to open the door and let in the One who can help us survive and make a difference in this world. We can not be the salt and light You have called us to be apart from the influence of Your Son. Forgive us for thinking we are need of nothing. Open our eyes and let us see our true condition if we attempt to do Your work without Your Son. Amen

I Have This Against You!

Revelation 2

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. – Vs 4 NASB

The first church addressed by our Lord in this vision to John was the church in Ephesus. Christ reveals that He knows their deeds. He praises their zeal, perseverance, and determination to protect the gospel from falsehood. But in the midst of all that, He indicts them for having left their first love. The New Living Translation paraphrases His comment this way: "But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!" In his commentary on the book of Revelation, Matthew Henry explains the real issue:

"The sin Christ charged this church with, is, not the having left and forsaken the object of love, but having lost the fervent degree of it that at first appeared. Christ is displeased with his people, when he sees them grow remiss and cold toward him. Surely this mention in Scripture, of Christians forsaking their first love, reproves those who speak of it with carelessness, and thus try to excuse indifference and sloth in themselves and others; our Saviour considers this indifference as sinful. They must repent: they must be grieved and ashamed for their sinful declining, and humbly confess it in the sight of God. They must endeavour to recover their first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness, and must pray as earnestly, and watch as diligently, as when they first set out in the ways of God." – Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

These people were busy doing spiritual things and patiently enduring hardship for the cause of Christ, but at the same time, their lives exhibited a loss of love for Christ Himself. Their efforts had replaced the affection. Their obsession with performance had replaced their passion for the Savior. If you go back to Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus, you read where he commended them. "That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn't stop thanking God for you – every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks" (Ephesians 1:15-15 MSG). Their faith and love for Christ had resulted in love for one another. But now Christ was accusing them of having left or abandoned their first love.

The word translated "left" here is so much more powerful and impactful in the Greek language. It is a term that was used when referring to a man divorcing his wife. It carries the idea of abandonment. It paints a picture of unfaithfulness. It can literally be translated, "to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned." That is what Christ is indicting the church at Ephesus for and, by extension, the church of today. We too, can end up abandoning our first love, all the while appearing as if all is well in our relationship with Christ. It is much like a man or woman who emotionally walks out on their marriage partner, but remains in the same home, giving all appearances that their marriage is intact and in good health. But the reality is that the love has long gone. They are simply going through the motions.

Christ commended this church for their diligence in duty and for their patience in suffering. But He also points out what is missing. Or what has gone missing. They had abandoned their first love or that which was of first rank or importance. Our efforts for Christ must never replace our affection for Him. What we do for Him must be motivated by our love for Him. Christ tells the Ephesians to remember and repent. They must call to mind the way things began in their relationship with Him. They must consciously determine where they started and where they have ended up. Then their awareness must lead to confession and repentance. This doesn't come naturally. We can so easily become blind to our spiritual condition. We can convince ourselves that all is well because we do so much so well. But if we stop and take stock, we will see that we have really replaced our love for Christ with a love for something else. Like them, I can be busy serving Him, but fall in love with serving more than the Savior Himself. I can end up doing a lot for Christ, but not out of love for Him. I can replace affection with effort. But He wants my love, not my duty. 

Father, forgive me for falling in love with the trappings of spirituality and religion and losing my affection for Your Son. He must always remain my primary love. He must be where I focus my affection. Nothing and no one else can ever replace Him, even though I consistently try to find love and satisfaction elsewhere. Bring us back to our first love, as a church, and as the people of God. May Your church return to where we first began. So that the world may see Him in us and be drawn to the love He reveals for us and through us. Amen

Don't Be Afraid!

Revelation 1

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave." – Vs 17-18 NLT

Well, this is it. The last book of the New Testament – the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. And it's going to be a wild ride. This book is full of fantastic visions, difficult-to-understand imagery, and prophetic pronouncements that may seem to have little application for daily life, but it was actually written to encourage the churches that existed during the day when John penned the book under the Holy Spirit's influence. So in the midst of all the unbelievable imagery, there is a message that we must look for and listen to. John says, "God blesses the one who reads this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to it and obey what it says. For the time is near when these things will happen" (Vs 3 NLT). There is a blessing in store for those who hear and obey the words of the Revelation. So it seems that it would make sense for us to listen carefully and obey fully.

John starts out this book with a clear indication of its author – Jesus Christ. These are the words of Christ for His church. He appears to John in a vision on the island of Patmos where John has been exiled for his preaching of the gospel. John describes Jesus, "'like a son of man,' dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash round his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance" (Vs 13-16 NIV). Wow! What a sight. And John's immediate reaction was to fall down as if dead.

But Jesus reaches down and touches John, saying, "Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave" (Vs 17-18 NLT). Jesus assures John of who He is. He is the eternal one who came and died on behalf of men. He is the one who was resurrected and lives forevermore – having conquered death and the grave. Jesus tells John not to fear. He assures John that He is the same Jesus he came to know when He walked with John along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Yes, He looks a little different than John remembers. He appears in this vision clothed in glory, emanating power, and exuding strength. He is the same Jesus, but this time He appears in all His eternal majesty, glory, and divine power. The book of the Revelation is a book of hope and joy. It is a picture into the future. It is a glimpse into the unseen. But it is also a reminder to those of us who make up the church of Jesus Christ today that He is not done. This story is not over yet. He is ALIVE. He is in complete control and one day He is going to return and set all things right. But before all that happens, He has a few things He wants to say to us. He tells John to write down what He has to say the the seven churches – which represent His global church. So as we read this book, let us listen carefully and obey completely. If we do, we are assured a blessing.

Father, make this book come alive to me more than ever before. Open my ears to hear what You have to say to me and to all of us who make up the church today. Your Son has a message for us. And because of who He is, we should listen. Don't let me get bogged down in all the imagery and lose the message. May Your Holy Spirit assist me in understanding what it is You have to say through this book. Amen