Revelation Chapter 5

The imagery that the Apostle John describes in his vision is nothing short of incredible! The closest thing I can think are inside grand buildings like the Palace of Versailles in France, Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral in Paris, or Sagrada De Familia, a modern cathedral in Barcelona.  All would come up short compared to John’s vision but definitely are grand and leave you overwhelmed with beauty and majesty.  I was struck by Apostle’s John’s weeping when it appeared no one was capable of opening the scroll.  Apostle John is ‘all in’ on the hope of life with God.  Am I ‘all in’ on the hope of the resurrection?  God’s plan for complete restoration of Life Together with the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, three in one?    

Apostle John captures a worship picture totally focused on Jesus work that reconciles us to God.  The 24 elders sang a new song.  For those that follow Jesus we will be singing that new song in heaven with others from around the world to sing …

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!   

To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

Revelation Chapter 4

This is John’s vision of Heaven given to him by an angel of God. John describes a standing door open in Heaven. Through it was a throne and a description of the one sitting on it. 

John goes on to describe unearthly creatures, elders all giving praise to the one who sits on the throne. 

I think of John’s excitement, praise, and humility in the face of these overwhelming wonders. This was a vision of Heaven! 

A song comes to mind as I read Revelation 4: I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. 

I can only imagine what it will be like When I walk, by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see 

When you face is before me I can only imagine
I can only imagine Surrounded by You glory What will my heart feel 

Will I dance for you Jesus Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees will I fall 

Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
I can only imagine when that day comes
When I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I would do is forever Forever worship You
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for You, Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine hey ya ah
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for You, Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine hey ya ah
I can only imagine yeah yeah
I can only imagine
I can only imagine ey ey ey
I can only imagine

Revelation Chapter 2

This chapter contains the prophetic message John is given for the first four of seven churches. As I read this, I struggled against not only a knee-jerk fear that this is the book of Revelation—an inscrutable book of prophecy that mere mortal me cannot possibly understand—but also the temptation to dismiss the content as being a message for others, for the named churches who have nothing to do with me.

Yet I see this repeated four times in the chapter: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches” (7, 11, 17, 29). John says this after each message to each church.

Yikes. I definitely want to be among those with ears to hear. So I’ve gotta listen and understand. The good news is that I am to listen to the Spirit to understand what he is saying. I don’t have to approach this in my own knowledge and understanding. Yay.

I reread. I start with the understanding that though these letters are to churches, the churches aren’t buildings, they are the people who make up each church community. So I read this as a believer first, as a member of the Church of the Chimes second, and finally as part of the greater church, the body of Christ.

One thing is immediately clear—the Spirit sees all we do. And not just our actions, but our very hearts. And it’s not enough to be keeping things together for the most part, with a little falling behind on the side. Three out of four of the churches are praised for the ways they please the Lord but chastised for where they fall short.

The one that speaks me is the word for the church at Ephesus. The church seems to be pretty much doing everything right—they’re obedient and vigilant about truth. But Jesus can see through to their hearts—they may be doing all the right things, but what is their motivation? Where is the love for Jesus and the truth that they once had?

This is an acutely convicting concept. Why do I do the “good things” that I do? What am I grounded upon? Duty? The Law? I want my relationships with God and with others to be based in love. I don’t want to lose sight of that. 

I want the same thing for my church and for the body of Christ. Jesus came to serve, to save, to be the physical representation of God’s love for his people. How can we possibly claim to represent him without being grounded in that love?

So, Lord, as I am, as we are, vigilant in our focus on the truth, zealous in watching for false teaching and immorality, please pour out your love on and through us. Help us to cling to that love and never lose sight of it.

Revelation Chapter 1

Why is the book of Revelation not studied as often as other books in the New Testament? A lot of us Christians have avoided this book in the past because it is difficult to understand it’s mysterious imagery and the timetable that the apostle John wrote of.  Revelation is 

also a warning to Christians who have became apathetic. Jesus has through John given us hope however, that those who believe will be spared from destruction. 

John, banished to the island of Patmos, wrote this book to the seven churches in Asia., as instructed by Jesus. “Write down what you have seen-both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.”  Rev. 1:19. 

What then can we draw from this vision of John and how can we apply that?  Firstly, don’t miss that God’s plan is for all, believers and non believers. Do you want to be included in the eternal family picture or be forever separate? 

Jude

Finally, after all these years, I get to do a solo.  Jude consists of just one chapter. It may be shorter than the Beatles song of the same title.  It is the fourth shortest book in the New Testament, after Philemon, 2 John and 3 John.

The purpose of this book is to address false teachings and completely improper guidance being spread by “…certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago who have secretly slipped in among you”  (verse 4).  Jude calls these people heretics (shepherds who feed only themselves, clouds without rain, wandering stars for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever).  Seems pretty amazing that people were falling for what they were selling.  But, then again, flash to current times, and how many people are falling today for whatever skewed message (I can do it all myself, one god is as good as another, “it’s all good”, he who dies with the most toys wins) that is being served up to them? 

Jude re-states what the apostles had predicted, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires” (verse 18).  Jude’s book appears to be an appropriate lead-in to Revelation, when he calls on his brothers in Christ to stand strong, build up their faith and keep themselves in God’s love, as they wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring them to eternal life.

Jude also tells the readers of his letter to be merciful to those who doubt and snatch them from the fire and save them.  That’s our call to spread the Good News and be more deliberate in our efforts to “snatch and save” in our own sphere of influence, or maybe even reach outside of our sphere of influence.

3 John

 3 John is a testimony to hospitality and a reminder how valuable it is when spreading the gospel. How much more inviting is a testimony that comes in the form of a warm and loving person. Here John, addresses his good friend Gaius, who's friendship seems to have sprung out of their belief in God. Rather than bark orders, John wishes him well and encourages him as he recognizes that he is walking in the truth and how elated it makes him to see this as he calls them his children. As warming as this is, for me it shone the light on my own children who's walk is weak at best. However I never quit praying that soon I may too may be able to realize this joy. I have surrendered this to God. (not easy)  John expresses how important it is to send the brothers out with support and good feelings. This he feels will create a cohesive relationship and allow things to flow more easily. Diotrephes however, shows resistance to the brothers. He also partakes in  gossip about them, all of which John will address soon. Although Paul wrote to the brothers, he knows that this message is way too important and wants to gather them together in a Godly manner and continue to encourage them. Let us all examine our hospitality level and ask the Lord to give us the courage to ramp it up. May we take the time to meet together as John did an encourage one another by way of the spirit.

2 John

After reading 2nd John a few times, it occurred to me that I was reading a very short and simple message that was written, most likely by a leader in the church as in today's day and age, an elder is just that.  Elders did shepherd, oversee, lead and give care within the church and were usually more seasoned and mature leaders .   So even though we don't know who  the author of this letter is,  he was probably addressing a church he was sending a message to as the "chosen lady" and "her children" were considered the congregants.   

He  sent this letter reminding them of their commitment to faith and love and the obedience of practicing it while warning them of "deceivers" who would come to spread falsehoods and to be cautious themselves by not letting these others to influence them and stated that although he recognized that some of the members  of the Christian community were walking and living according to the truth, that  he didn't want them to be tempted by those who challenged and opposed Christians who held fast to apostolic Christian ideals.

He finishes the letter off stating that he wants to come and speak to them in person which makes so much more sense than to just write out Christ's teachings.  When we gather together as a body of Christ,  we are united in his presence receiving the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

God has determined that the best possible way for his to people to grow in grace and knowledge of Him is within the local church.  This is where through fellowship, we share the lives of one another, through communion we celebrate Christ's death by breaking bread together, through prayer we love and support each other and through service, we spread the love God. 

By claiming Christ by faith, we are to be disciples ourselves and we are to make disciples and the best way to fulfill this duty is to be an active part of a local body of believers.  It is through this process that we learn how to be humble when we serve other people. We learn to let go and rely on faith as we deal with the daily struggles of life and best of all, by being in a local body of Christ where we can travel together, our conceit, pride, selfishness and ego are chipped away piece by piece because we stay present in the love of Christ.

1 John Chapter 5

I John 5 is full of explanations about the basics of our faith.  It starts with the explanation of who is a child of God: “everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ.”  Staying a child of God is given more explanation.  “Through faith in Jesus, we defeat evil and as God’s children, we do not make a practice of sinning (v. 18).” “Jesus holds us as God’s children securely so the evil one cannot touch us.”

I found Verse 18 (to “not make a practice of sinning”) together with verse 21 to be helpful guidance for my everyday life: “…to keep away from anything that might take God’s place in [our] hearts.”   Every day I have good intentions to be kinder and more patient, and every day, I think and do things that are not kind and patient.  But for all of us as God’s children, with prayers to God, with God’s encouragement and forgiveness, and by our keeping God uppermost in our lives, God will help each of us.  He gives us a change of heart and a will to be that kind and patient person that forgives easily.  Over time, as we seek God’s help, we do not continue to make a practice of a particular sin.  As we pray for His help, we can be confident that God hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.  What a wonderful assurance to be listened to by our heavenly Father! 

Then the chapter also explains what it means to be a child of God:” to love God’s children.”  How do we love God’s children?  This explanation seems straightforward in the chapter.  We do so by “loving God and by obeying His commandments which are not burdensome.”  Though the explanation is straightforward, our obedience will require God’s help through prayer.  Jesus is our model as he continually wanted to obey God, the Father and was obedient to God’s will.  Thank God for sending us His Son who is our example of faith and obedience and who holds us securely.

1 John Chapter 4

“Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.” ( I John 4:7)  

This is the heart and soul of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s what distinguishes us as Christians.  In the words of the old camp song, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” God loves us, and we, in turn, love one another – that’s the essence of the Christian faith. Yet, when you try to put love into action, it’s a lot easier said than done.

Face it, sometimes we don’t feel very loving, and, to be honest, some folks are a lot easier to love than others.

The source of all love is God, for God is love. It sounds so obvious; yet it’s not, because, unconsciously, we believe that, somehow, the source of love is within us, that we have the capacity to love, separate and apart from God. This is the subject of endless songs, movies and romance novels – when a man loves a woman, and a woman loves a man. We talk about love of friends and family, patriotism and love of country.  Oft times it’s as if God doesn’t have anything to do with it at all.

 The Good News is, when we’re willing to place God at the center of our lives, God’s love fills our hearts and gives us the grace to love one another, not just in part and for the moment; but fully, intimately, completely, and for all time. Only love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” ( I Corinthians 13:7)Only love such as this lasts forever.

And so, contrary to what the world would have us believe, the source of love is not within us; it’s within the very being of God, for “God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.” (1 John 4:16)

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the starting point. It’s the source of our ability to love God, neighbor and self. Because Christ died for our sins, we’re free to live in gratitude to God and share the Good News of forgiveness with others.   The truth is, in a nutshell,“We love him, because he first loved us,” (1 John 4:19)and the tangible proof of God’s love is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

God is the source of all love, and the miracle is, the more you give away, the more God gives you in return.  Wow!!!

1 John Chapter 3

Identity. 1 John 3 opens with one of my favorite verses about Christian identity.

 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1a

To me, this verse is a near-bewildered acknowledgement of the overwhelming, abundant love which God the Father has bestowed upon me, followed by a loud proclamation that as a Christian, I really am a child of God! Amazing!

I would like to dwell on this point, positively basking in wonderment. However, after the writer eloquently establishes our unfathomable identity, we are immediately checked into real world implications and application. Take a look at these excerpts from 1 John 3:

“But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” (1 John 3:1b)

“Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13)

One theme here is that, as believers, we are in the world, not of the world. This concept is echoed elsewhere in scripture (e.g., John 15:19, Romans 12:2). This in-but-not-of concept is so often repeated that it may seem trite. 

Pause for a bit. Let this sink in. 

So, Christian identity is as a child of God. Yet we don’t fit in this world. Still, here we are in this world. What shall we do to make it through? As 1 John 3:15–24 make perfectly clear, the key is true, brotherly love. Verse 18 sums it up nicely: “Dear children, let us not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

There is a so much depth in this passage. The love described is authentic. It is action-oriented. It displays or illustrates or illuminates the truth of the Gospel. Surely, this love is not of this world!

Brothers and sisters, be encouraged today! Be confident of your identity. Acknowledge how the world may act towards you. And put on a light-show of not-of-this-world love all around you!