Revelation – Page 7 – Be Still…

Revelation 4:1-11 – Worship God the Father

There’s a lot of praising going on in heaven! It’s how I would imagine it to be, too–worship happening 24/7! After all, how could you help but being overcome, giving ALL you had in praise and adoration, simply by being in the presence of God, the Father, the Almighty, the one who lives forever?! Take a moment to close your eyes, inhale deeply, and exhale slowly as you imagine being in God’s presence, no more worry or strife, and amidst the joy and reverence of others around you. What a beautiful peace!

How many times have you wondered about what heaven might be like? I’m not sure I ever pictured four beings with lots of eyes. I mean, a lot of eyes! It sounds a little creepy to me, actually. But it’s imagery that is similar to what we see in Isaiah 6. We have a glimpse there into heaven as well in Isaiah’s vision. Ezekiel 1 is also another example of God revealing to his messengers about the things to come. I think that is exactly why John is seeing the vision now. To prepare him for what’s next.

Revelation 3:14-22 – On Fire for Christ

Read Revelation 3:14-22

This reading has one of my favorite images in it. Jesus knocking on the door to my heart. There is a famous painting that depicts the door with no handle on Jesus’ side of the door. He is not going to barge his way in. He is waiting patiently for us as believers. Would you open the door to him?

The message to the church in Laodicea is a bit challenging. There doesn’t seem to be any sort of praise going on. Jesus find them lukewarm like their water. And like tepid water, Jesus wants to “spit them out.” Laodicea didn’t have it’s own water supply so when it arrived via aqueduct from the hot springs it was warm, or from the cold springs it was warm. Imagine making tea with warm water? It needs to be boiling hot! So, too, our devotion to Jesus! Burning bright!

Revelation 3:7-13 – Victory in Christ

Read Revelation 3:7-13

You can really see the love of Jesus for the church in Philadelphia. This is another church (like Smyrna) who gets no rebuke. They are small and weak, the perfect storm for God to be glorified. When we feel weak and rely on the power of God to rescue us or sustain us, God is glorified. When we can set aside our own ambitions and desire for power or recognition, realizing we are nothing without God, God can work inside us, too.

What did you think about the way Jesus introduces himself to the church in Philadelphia. “This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open.” The “key of David” is our gospel message. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the one who can open the doors of heaven to us. There isn’t anything we can do to open those doors. If Jesus allows us in, nobody can stop us. So how do we make sure he opens the door for us?

Revelation 3:1-6 – Be Alive In Christ

Read Revelation 3:1-6

Are you spiritually dead? Are you feeling disconnected? Are you simply going through the motions of life and not feeling a connection to God? This was happening to the church in Sardis. They looked good to the passerby. They were doing ministry. But they had lost their fire. As Jesus said, they were dead.

Jesus’ wake up call for the church in Sardis may well speak to us, too. “Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.” You can picture a garden that has been ravaged by hail or pests. You want to tend to what is not ruined and bring it back to life. I think of the grass in our yard which has been taken to some sort of mold. We are working feverishly to restore what remains and make it stronger. So, too, we need to tend to our faith.

Revelation 2:18-29 – Wait on God

Read Revelation 2:18-29

The church in Thyatira is a good example of how “one bad apple spoils the bunch.” I don’t know about you, but when I’m sorting through my fruit and vegetables, particularly fresh cilantro, I remove the rotting pieces so that the others can stay fresher longer. But what happens when we overlook the bad apple in our midst?

Jesus commended this church on their love, faith, service, and endurance. Those are qualities that build a strong church community to be sure. Jesus’ words also speak truth when it comes to recognizing the false prophets among us. Sometimes we can’t see and are blinded to the truth. After all, they call themselves prophets. But who is leading them? Whose message are they bringing? They may even be disillusioned themselves to believe they are holy, when instead they are being controlled by the evil one.