A Work in Progress….

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.