Revelation 7 Terror has spread over all the earth.. war, disease, famine, and a great earthquake that caused so much dust that the sun was darkened.. over the whole earth! Then, John sees something more is about to happen.. there is a moment of waiting.. as 4 angels take their places "at the four corners of the earth.."

An announcement is made.. 144,000 people from the remnant of Israel will be "sealed".. set apart as "bond-servants of our God".  12,000 from each of the 12 tribes are marked on their foreheads for a special ministry during this end time.  

John also sees another amazing sight.. "a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and people and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;"   As they cried out with loud voices "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb" ... all the angels joined in with their worship.. and they all "fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God." 

This multitude, we are told, are the many who gave their lives during the tribulation. "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them."  These are the ones who will no longer hunger or thirst or suffer.. the ones who will have their tears wiped away by God, Himself.  The ones who will be shepherded by the Lamb who will "guide them to springs of the water of life." 

The seventh seal is about to be opened.. but John must have been encouraged by the sight of the 144,000 Jewish bond-servants of God and the multitude of people from every nation who were with God and worshiping God. Beyond the tribulation to come.. there is a living hope.. for the Jews and for the nations. There is wonder and beauty and great rejoicing before the throne of God.. there is eternal life in the Presence of the Lamb. 

We may not be a part of the 144,000...or of the multitude saved through the tribulation.. but we will be there too.. falling on our faces before the throne of our God.. rejoicing in the glory and blessing and wisdom and honor and power of God and of the Lamb.  With hearts full of thanksgiving and praise.. we will worship with all our might!

Father, thank You for encouraging us by Your Word.. helping us to see that no matter what is happening in our lives today.. there is a greater life ahead for us who believe in Jesus Christ and have been adopted into Your family.  We have a living hope that can not be destroyed or taken away from us, for we are Yours.  Keep us in the truth.. Fill us with Your Spirit.. Lead us in Your paths.. Thank You. amen. 

 Revelation 6  It is Jesus who takes the scroll and begins to open the seals.. one by one.  As John watches, the first seal is opened. One of the living creatures calls out, "Come"!  The first one to come is sitting on a white horse. He is given a bow and a crown.  ".. and he went out conquering and to conquer."  This conqueror is thought to be a "false christ"...and he is assigned to this work of judgement on the earth. 

The second seal is broken and the second living creature calls out, "Come!"  The second rider to come rides a red horse...  " and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given him." 

Jesus breaks the third seal and the third living creature cries out, "Come!"  This time a black horse appears and the one who was seated on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  There is a voice that calls out, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius.. "  A denarius is a days wage.  The amount of wheat would feed one man... but not his family.. and not anything more than just the wheat or the barley. Famine will fill the earth. 

Jesus breaks the 4th seal and the fourth creature calls out, "Come!"  An "ashen horse"  appears with a rider labeled "Death".  He is accompanied by "Hades" who followed "close behind".  Once again they are equipped for the work of judgment.. " and authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth." 

The fifth seal presents a different picture. John sees people.. ."underneath the altar".  These are the "souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they maintained."  While John watches, these martyrs cry out for the Lord to avenge them.. judging those on earth who spilled their blood. They are given white robes and told to rest "for a little while longer".  They will be joined  by more martyrs until the number is completed. 

The sixth seal causes "a great earthquake".  The sun is hidden by blackness and the moon turns red.  Stars fall from the sky and the sky itself splits apart. Mountains and islands are moved.  Everyone.. whether a king or a slave.. tries to hide themselves.  "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand?" 

With one more seal to go, there is an interlude.  Judgement has begun. The wrath of God will be poured out on that Day.  The Lamb of God will open the scroll and begin this chain of events.  Remember that all heaven and earth rejoiced and praised God that the Lamb was worthy to take the scroll. Worthy to bring judgement on all who have rejected Him.  In the day that we live in now, we know that there are so many who have failed to come to Jesus for the salvation that He purchased on the cross.  It is available to any who will call on His Name.. 

 O Father, open their ears and their eyes.. turn hearts and souls to the Truth of Christ Jesus our Lord who came to bring us to Your Kingdom.  Let there be a great harvest of souls that believe on the Name of Jesus and are saved.  Thank You for patiently waiting. May Your glory be made known to every tribe and tongue and nation.. and may lives be forever changed in Christ Jesus today, we pray. Amen. 

 Revelation 5 The sealed book or scroll is in God's right hand.  There is no one that is worthy to open the scroll except the Lamb.. the Lamb who has been slain.. the Lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes "which are the 7 Spirits of God."   The Lamb will take the scroll from the Father's hand and all of heaven  will explode into song. 

Do they know that the opening of the seals would bring judgement upon the earth?  If they do know, why do they rejoice?  What will  prompt the immediate response of worship?   

The 24 elders and the 4 living creatures sing, " Worthy art Thou to take the book and to break its seal; for Thou was slain and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. and Thou hast made them to be a kingdom of priests to our God. And they will reign upon the earth."  Thousands of voices. " ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands" of voices will join in this song of praise to the Lamb of God.  "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive  power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing." 

 The worthiness of Jesus will be sung all across heaven.  All of the earth will join in this song. This is truly a most significant event! "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." 

The time has come.  The waiting is over.  John has a preview of a day that will bring an end to everything as we know it.. A day that we greatly anticipate.. but a day when all who do not join in this song.. will be forever lost. 

Father in heaven, You are worthy of all our praise and honor and thanksgiving.  Jesus, the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah.. is worthy to bring about the end of this world of sin and rebellion.  He is coming and we wait with holy fear. We know that You have prepared and are preparing us for that day.  We also know that many.. so .. so many are not ready.  So, we pray once again, Father, let their  eyes be opened.. give them ears to hear.. speak through Your people, whom You have made into a kingdom of "kings and priests" to tell the good news of salvation.. before it is too late.  We ask this in the Mighty name of the Lamb. Amen. 

 Revelation 4   John is taken "in the Spirit" to the throne of God. He is called personally by a voice that was "like the sound of a trumpet".   The Lord said, "Come up here and I will show you what must take place after these things."  

John tries to describe this encounter.. the "One sitting on the throne.. like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance."  

Also around the throne were the 24 thrones of the "elders" and the 4 unusual creatures.  It is the activity around the throne that is really John's focus.  The creatures sang "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come."   We are told that this song is continued "day and night.. they do not cease."  The 24 elders also have a song of response, "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; For Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created."  We are told that the elders "fall down before Him who sits on the throne".. They cast their crowns before Him. And then they worship.. 

This scene gives us a glimpse of true worship.  Jesus told the woman at the well that "an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "  This passage in Revelation shows us what that looks like.. 

The 4 creatures announce the awesome character of the Father.. He is Holy.. times 3.. and He IS.. always has been, always will be!   They proclaim His glory. They honor Him and give thanks to Him "who lives forever and ever."  The response of the elders is immediate.. they "fall down before Him" and they lay their crowns before the throne.  It is the posture of true worship.. complete humility and devotion of God who is worthy of "glory.. honor.. and power".  

Father in heaven, You are the One who sits on the throne of Heaven. You are worthy of all our praise.. all our thanksgiving.. all our worship.  Our eyes are so dim on this side of heaven, Lord.  We pray that You will open our eyes so that we will see You.. that we will fall down before You and lay all our treasures at Your feet. We pray that You will transform us into the worshipers that You desire.. those who worship in spirit and in truth.  You are our Maker and You are our God. There is none like You and there is none who is Holy like You are.  May no glory or honor or power be given to any other, Lord.. for only You are worthy. Only You are Holy. Fill us Spirit of Truth and Understanding.. that we might learn to worship... that we might fall at the feet of God and truly worship. We ask this in the name of our Savior and King, Jesus. Amen. 

Revelation 3: 14-22  The final letter is to the church of Laodicea.  Jesus identifies Himself here as "the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.  "The Amen".. the trustworthy, faithful, truth.. the affirmation of all that has been created and recorded.  Jesus is the final authority of the church.. and of all creation.  He is the ruler and chief of all that God created.. especially of the church. 

The problem with the church at Laodicea was their lukewarmness.  They were content in their lack of passion. They called themselves rich and didn't know that they were actually "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked".  They lacked any humility and did not even acknowledge their need for Jesus.  Do we see that in the church today?

Jesus tells the church to turn to Him.. "buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments that you may clothe yourself and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see." 

Jesus is waiting at the door.. ready to come in and change the desperate need of the church.. but they  ( we) must humble ourselves, repent, and seek Him.  He has all we need to overcome...

Jesus has revealed in these 7 letters all that He is for the church, all that He alone can provide.. and all that He desires and requires for His people.  

He who holds the Church in His hands.. requires our love beyond anything else. 

He who was dead and lives.. requires faithfulness through the trials. 

He who speaks truth that cuts like a sword.. requires truth that casts out any false teachings.

He who sees everything.. knows everything.. and searches every heart.. requires purity and perseverance.

He who gives the Spirit in all of His fulness.. requires complete obedience. 

He who is holy and true.. who holds the keys.. requires His people to trust Him for the victory. 

He who is the Amen.. requires us to humbly walk in utter dependence upon Him.. 

When the church is listening.. and walking in these truths.. we can realize the great promises held in these letters for those who overcome!  We will walk in robes of white. We will sit on the throne with Him. We will be with Him forever and ever. Amen!

Father, open our eyes.. heal us with Your anointing.. fill us with Your Spirit.  Let the church of Jesus Christ.. the true church... live in the fulness of Your Presence and Power, to the glory of Your Name. Amen. 

 Revelation 3:7-13  To the church at Philadelphia Jesus identifies Himself as the One who is "holy and true, who holds the key of David."   There is none like Jesus in holiness.. in truth.. in power and authority. "who opens and no one will shut and who shuts and no one will open."   He has the final say over every door.. every kingdom.. every nation.. everything.  He is the Alpha and Omega.. the beginning and the end. His words here to the church are powerful.  We can be confident and assured of these truths.. 

Jesus says, "I know your deeds".  He is well aware of every church.. every small group of believers and every large mega church. Size does not matter to Him.. what really matters are the deeds.. the works.. the actions and the undertakings.. the labor and efforts of His people.  Do we walk through the door that He opens?  Do we turn away from those that He shuts?

The church at Philadelphia had "little power"... but Jesus promised to open a door for them.. a door that no-one could shut.  The promise was given to them because they had kept His word and had not denied His name. Even in the face of "the synagogue of Satan".. the church stood firm. 

There would be a time of testing  "upon the whole world".. but Jesus told the church that He would keep them from it.  He was coming.. soon! "Hold fast"! 

This message rings true for the church today..  We need to stand upon the promises of Jesus that He will keep us in His powerful hands. He has the authority to open and shut every door. He knows our deeds and He will reward those who remain steadfast in Him. The Day is coming when He returns and takes the church out of the testing and trials that are going to come "on the whole world."   The victory is ours in Christ our Lord. He has a crown for us if we hold on!  He will make us "a pillar in the temple" of God.  We will bear His Name.  What an incredible future is awaiting the church who stands firm in Him!

Father in heaven, help us to stand firm and to hold on!  Help us to be faithful and true in all that we do in the church.  Help us to rest assured in the promises of our Lord Jesus.  Open the doors that You desire for us and shut the doors that our not Your plan for us.  May He who is holy and true be exalted in our church and in the churches around the world. We ask this in His Holy Name. Amen. 

 Revelation 3:1-6   The next message for the church is addressed to Sardis. Jesus identifies Himself here as the One "who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.."   We know from chapter one that the seven stars are the "angels of the seven churches" .. the pastors or leaders of God's people. 

The "seven Spirits of God" are a little harder to understand, but it appears that John is referring to 7 ( 7 being the number of completion or perfection)..  aspects of the Holy Spirit's work.   In Isaiah 11:2 we read that when "the branch".. Jesus.. comes that the "Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him.  The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord". Revelation 4:5 also refers to the 7 Spirits saying, " And there were 7 lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." In Revelation 5:6 the seven Spirits of God are identified as the "seven horns and seven eyes" of the Lamb that was slain. 

The Spirit of God rests upon Jesus.. stands before the Throne of God..sees all.. and has all wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge and strength. He provides the essentials for us to know the Lord, giving us the "fear of the Lord".  He is the life-giver Who has been given to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. He lives in us and teaches us the truths that Jesus made known to His followers while on earth. He speaks to us.. who have "ears to hear".

The message for the church at Sardis was "Wake up.."  They had a "reputation of being alive", but were really "dead".  They were a dying church.  Their deeds were "unfinished in the sight of my God".  They were not holding fast to the Truth and were in danger of losing all they had been given.  There were some in the church that had not failed.. they "have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white for they are worthy." The church has every resource available through the sevenfold Spirit of God.. but  we must not fail to take hold of them.. to overcome.. so that we might also be "clothed in white garments.." 

Father in heaven,  may we have ears to hear.. to receive this word of warning to the church of our generation.  Bring repentance to those who have failed to hold on to the truth.. who have failed to walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit.. failing to receive the wisdom and understanding, the counsel and strength, the knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  All  has been perfectly provided to us by Your Spirit to the glory and honor of Jesus Christ the Lamb who was slain, providing forgiveness of all our sins and new life in Him. Thank You for Your great love and goodness to us. May Your Name be exalted in all the earth.. in every nation, by every tongue.. forever and ever!  May we be worthy to walk with You in the garments of white.  In the Name of Jesus our Savior we pray. Amen.