Author: Beth Duncan

Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.

Before writing today’s reflection, I went back to the Revelation 1 reflection to double check that I remembered correctly that this book, like so many others, began as a letter to churches—encouraging, instructing, guiding. That familiarity of structure seems very far away.

Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”

And I find myself with today’s reading wondering about a lot of things—How did John feel about this prophetic dream? Were these prophecies no big deal, not troubling for him at this point? What does the content of this prophetic dream have to do with the seven churches he was writing to in Revelation 1? It logically seems that they are somehow connected.

Revelation 10:9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ ”

Lord, Once again I am faced with more questions than answers as I read Your word. But somehow, that seems as it should be. Help me always approach Your word with an open mind and an open heart, always seeking You. Amen.

Revelation 10:11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

Have a blessed day.

Revelation 9:3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.

My frustration with Revelation continues to be a frustration of understanding. I want to understand why commentary can so easily say things like, “Well, clearly, this means this.” Or “Of course, this can’t be interpreted as that” with such certainty.

Revelation 9:4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

This is the most unusual book in the Bible. It is the longest, strangest prophetic dream we’ve heard. I’m baffled by the certainty in interpretation. I asked a friend of mine yesterday for additional resources for Revelation. I look forward to diving into the information he sent as I try to wrap my head and heart around what’s here.

Revelation 9:5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes.

Lord, Thank You for the gift of uncertainty and the desire to dig deeper and to understand Your word better. Thank You that I will draw closer to You as long as I continue to earnestly seek You. Thank You for always meeting me here, for whispering to my heart. Amen.

Revelation 9:6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

Have a blessed day.

Revelation 8:6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

I am still struggling with the commentary that I’m reading as I make my way through Revelation. I’m still baffled and frustrated by the fact that commentary insists that there is only one way to interpret this prophetic book that is so entirely different than anything else in the Bible.

Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

I’m not advocating for an “anything goes” philosophy. I don’t think the Bible can mean whatever I want. But this book is vastly different in content than all the others, though strikingly similar in form (letter to churches who are struggling). I feel like we should be digging into these differences to try to ascertain what God is doing; instead, commentary is telling me the equivalent of “there’s only one right way to interpret this and here it is.”

Revelation 8:8-9 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Lord, Isaiah 43:19 comes to mind as I try to wrap my head around Revelation: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?…” Thank You for Your enthusiasm. Thank You for making a way. Help me to see You, know You, and understand You more as I continue to read through Revelation. Amen.

Revelation 8:10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—

Have a blessed day.

Revelation 7:14b …And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The irony of the fact that washing robes in blood made them clean strikes me. It seems to indicate just one more way that Jesus is different, unexpected, that He reigns in surprising and unexpected ways. He’s still doing that in my life.

Revelation 7:15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

This prophetic dream seems to describe heaven. But I think the shortcoming is that we are limited by our earthly understandings. We try to explain heaven using earthly analogies and descriptions. Given the surprising and unexpected ways of Christ, His deep love for His people, I just feel like there is no way, with our limited perspective, we can truly comprehend the glory of heaven. Some day we will, but not on earth.

Revelation 7:16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.

Lord of all Creation, Thank You for the reminder that You love to surprise us with the unexpected. Thank You for the reminder that from here, I see through a glass darkly, but one day I will see and know and understand clearly. Until that day, help me to keep seeking to draw closer to You. Amen.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ”

Have a blessed day. I

Revelation 6:2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

There are many things I struggle with in Revelation. My profession as an English teacher for one. I encourage students to dig into a text, form opinions, and support them with specifics. It is exciting and exploratory and we build meaning as a group through the process.

Revelation 6:4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

I feel like commentary gives a glancing look at potential meanings and then discards them and tells me—as point of fact—what Revelation means. No support. No discussion. No wonder.

Revelation 6:5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

Lord, The book of Revelation is so different from the rest of Your word. I feel like that has to be significant, like that means we should look at it differently. And while I don’t mean to suggest that it can mean anything we want, I feel like the fact that Your word is alive and active is important and should lead to rich discussion instead of easy, solid answers. Help me, Lord. Amen.

Revelation 6:8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Have a blessed day.

Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

As I read Revelation 5 and its commentary, I am reminded of Hebrews 4:12 (For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword….) Commentary says about Revelation 5 things like “The best solution is to see the scroll as….” and I’m just not convinced any text, especially God’s divine word, can be pinned down quite so neatly.

Revelation 5:6a Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders….

Revelation is compounded by the fact that it is a retelling of a prophetic dream. I truly don’t think absolutes of interpretation are the point or the goal. This is where that alive and active scripture is at its fullest. We should be having rich conversations about potential and possibility based on the text itself. Instead, I for one am too afraid to even hazard a guess. I think we are missing something crucial here.

Revelation 5:6b …The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Lord of all Creation, Thank You for Your word. Thank You for the reminder that Your word is alive and active. Help me to be able to see and ponder the possibilities, to talk with others about Your word , so that we can live more fully in You. Help me not to be afraid. Amen.

Revelation 5:7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

Have a blessed day.

Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever….

This is about the time where I want to throw up my hands and walk away from Revelation. The things that make no sense to me have begun. But God says, “Stay. Be still. Know that I am God. Trust me to speak to your heart.”

Revelation 4:10 …the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say….

The elders are worshiping God. Commentary says their crowns are ones that would have been won in competition. By laying their crowns before the throne, they are given God glory and praise for these victories. Praising God is certainly an idea I know and understand.

Revelation 4:11a …“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power….

Lord, Thank You for helping me to glean Your truth from this chapter that seems so baffling. I pray in the words of Revelation 4:11: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Amen.

Revelation 4:11b …for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Have a blessed day.

Revelation 3:8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut….

Commentary calls this open door an opportunity to evangelism, but I see it as an opportunity to connect with the one true God, even though the world tries to lure us away. God has placed this open door—a door that no one can shut—because he knows we have little strength and He knows the world is loud and persistent, and He wants us to know He’s made a way to Him. We just have to walk through the door.

Revelation 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

When we don’t actively nourish our relationship with Christ, it cools. Even when we do actively nourish it, we have to be on guard that we don’t act like we have “God in our pocket.” We need to remember our deep need for Him always. When we let the world or our pride get in the way of our relationship with Him, we become dangerously tepid.

Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Lord, help me to never lose sight of my deep need for You. Help me to invest time and energy into my relationship with You so that I can draw closer to You, shine Your light, and comfort Your people. Amen.

Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Have a blessed day.

Revelation 2:2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance….

Here God addresses four of the seven churches, addressing each in a similar structure, reminiscent of a “compliment sandwich:” something positive He’s noticed, behavior He wants them to change, future reward for that change.

Revelation 2:3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

However, the nuances go so much deeper. This isn’t a “stick and carrot” letter—act right and get this reward; don’t and get this punishment. It’s much more of a reminder (God KNOWS you. He SEES you. He CARES about what you do and how you act.) and an invitation (See. Listen. Know. Repent. Be rewarded by Your faithful God.)

Revelation 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

Lord, Thank You for being with me as I read Revelation, for opening my eyes to structure and purpose, for drawing me closer to You. Amen.

Revelation 2:7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Have a blessed day.

Revelation 1:1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John….

I approached this morning’s reading with some trepidation. Revelation, in my mind, has always been mysterious, elusive, and frightening. I’ve never intentionally read and studied this book before, but those were my solid impressions.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

But God. As I watched the summary video of the book of Revelation, I was reminded that this book, as with so many others, began as a letter to seven churches to address certain issues occurring at the time. For some reason, that familiar structure brings me great comfort as I begin this book.

Revelation 1:4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne….

Precious Savior, Thank You for meeting me each morning, for understanding my fears and concerns, for sending me comfort and assurance. Be with me as I read and study this chapter. Help me to see, to know, and to understand Your word. Amen.

Revelation 1:10-11 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Have a blessed day.