Revelation 22

22 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

³ No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. ⁵ And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

⁶ Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. ⁹ But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”

¹⁰ Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. ¹¹ Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”

¹² “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. ¹⁵ Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. ¹⁸ And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. ¹⁹ And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

²⁰ He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

²¹ May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.

Revelation 22

Dear God, I finished listening to the Bible in a Year podcast from Ascension Press yesterday, and it obviously ended with…well, it ended with the end of Hebrews, but this chapter was part of the podcast too, and it caught my ear. I’ll confess–and you know–that I did not listen intently every day. Some of it washed over me. Some of it sank in. Some of it went right by, but then Father Mike’s commentary on it helped it double back and sink in.

I guess I’m saying all of this because a lot of Revelation just went past me and I didn’t really care. There, I said it. I’m sorry, but I’ve never really cared much about Revelation. I figure I will understand it when I get to heaven one day, but until then it will remain a haze mystery. But John caught my ear at the end of the book.

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. ¹⁸ And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. ¹⁹ And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

²⁰ He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

I don’t know what soon means. I mean, it’s been over 1,900 years since it was written. Did you come and go before I was born? Are you still coming? With the way time and space work in your realm, is eternity always happening and you came, you are coming, and your are still to come? I don’t know. But I love what the New Living Translation credits John with saying here: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”

Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, come. Come in my life. Come in my community. Come in my country. Come in my world. And show me the little part you have for me to play in all of this. I start back to work in earnest tomorrow for 2023. May I wake up every morning calling on you to come to this earth in my life and through my life.

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Message to Laodicea“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

Revelation 3:14-19

Dear God, I’m about to give a three-minute talk to three church services this morning, and I had one set of things ready to say, but I cannot help but wonder if there isn’t something more you’d like me to accomplish in the three minutes What do they need to hear? Let me start with this passage and see if anything bubbles to the surface by the Holy Spirit.

I’ve been listening to the Bible in a year podcast and when I get into the prophets there is just so much failure on the parts of the Israelites. So much repeated failure. And usually they have no idea they are failing. They are just failing. That’s what I see in this prophecy for Laodicea and the warning you are giving them. They don’t understand they are failing. They think they are doing enough. They have the resources they need. They feel satisfied. Is that enough?

I’ve struggled with a though along those lines the last couple of weeks. I have been in a pretty opulent setting on the vacation from which I just returned. First-class hotels and meals. Being served by the staff running the trip. Spending money we had set aside, but treating it like it was no object. But do I consider that wealth? Do I consider that rich? Do I consider that to be the goal of life?

Father, Holy Spirit, speak to me and speak through me this morning. Help me to see where you are calling me to repent and then help me see what you would have me say to others. Help me to take your discipline and grow closer to you through it. I was just listening to the song “Inside Out” by David Meece. Here’s the chorus: “Search me Holy Spirit. Help me look inside. Show me what you’re seeing. What I’m trying to hide. Search me Holy Spirit. Send you healing power. Search me Holy Spirit. Help me change from the inside out.” That is my prayer this morning.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Revelation 21:1-4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21:1-4

Dear God, why are you telling us this? Why did you describe things in Revelation through John in such ambiguous ways? There are times when—well, I just haven’t had a lot of use for Revelation in my walk with you. I know it’s out there. I know it gives warnings for your people (and me). I know it describes some scary things as well as some hopeful and exciting things. But it can be so metaphorical that it’s hard to know what to take from it so I just kind of ignore it.

I guess one question to ask myself is what difference it would make if Revelation weren’t here and the Bible ended with Jude. what would it be like to not have any vision for hope? What would it be like to not have the warnings? What would it be like of you just told us in plain terms what you were trying to communicate in Revelation. Why the allegory? Well, when I consider my life and what it would be like without these descriptions, it feels like an emptier life. Even a promise of heaven seems smaller without the vague, incomprehensible descriptions John gives us. The warnings for the different churches are important too. They are warnings for me about not losing my first love, pursuing idols, etc.

Father, you have worked all of this together for my good—even in ways I cannot comprehend. I don’t always understand the ramifications of what you’ve done or what you are doing, but I know you are doing it. My faith is in you. Thank you for everything.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Revelation 21:22-23

I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
Revelation 21:22-23

Dear God, I can only imagine. “Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel?”

I saw that the New Testament reading for the Catholic Church today was in Revelation. I don’t normally read Revelation. In fact, I find myself avoiding it because I just don’t know how to get my head around it. It’s a little like physics or even a circuit board for electronics. It’s like trying to understand how “time” works. I know those things are out there. I know I need them and they are important. But it’s hard to see the value in understanding everything about them. It’s enough to know it’s there. It’s enough to know you have this figured out. My job is to love you and love others. The rest will take care of itself.

Father, I might have the wrong attitude about this. Perhaps I should care more about the content and imagery in Revelation. If I should, please put it on my heart, and then give me a pathway into understanding the messages you want me to take from it.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Revelation

Dear God, I was speaking to a young man in my office yesterday who is heavily influenced by pastors that focus on the rapture and tribulation. He gave me a website to check out and a DVD to view. I watched a little of the DVD and looked at the cover of the website. I’m thinking about writing the young man today with my thoughts.

My first thought is that any time anyone around Jesus was afraid he told them to fear not. Jesus didn’t sell his message using fear. He offered mercy. If I believe what I say I believe and if I share that with others then the rapture and the tribulation will take care of themselves. My job isn’t to scare anyone into Heaven. That isn’t much of a sales pitch anyway.

While we were in my office, he referenced the fruits of the Spirit and said that the first one is love. I agreed with him, but then we listed through the others and I tried to point out peace to him. I’ve told you this many times before, but peace is the one thing that I can’t fake. I can pretty much put up a facade and fake the other fruits. To other people, I can make myself look loving, joyful, kind, gentle, etc., but I am unable to fake peace. When I am truly in you is when I am at peace, and if I am not following you then I have no peace.

Father, I could go on and on, but I guess the thing I really want to say is that I am grateful that you take away all my fear. Your love drives out all my fear. (1 John 4:18). I don’t have to fear the rapture, the tribulation, a one world government or the anti-Christ because you are my God. You have this. I am in you and you are in me. You gave me a great bridge to reach you through coming to earth through the part of your essence that is your son, Jesus, and showed me not only how much you love me, but also how to love and live. Thank you for all of this. I need you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Revelation 21:1-4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Revelation 21:1-4

Dear God, there must be something about heaven and the state that we will be in when we get there that makes it okay not to struggle. I guess when I am surrounded by your glory in person I won’t be able to think about myself or my selfish desires. I won’t worship myself and my own agenda. Because here on earth, when there is no struggle and things are too good I start to find that I’d much rather be into me and my desires.

I say all of this because of John’s description in verse four. No more death, crying, or pain? I admit that it would not be good for me now. It wouldn’t be good for any of us. But I guess there is something that makes heaven different.

Father, I submit to whatever path you have for me—both here on earth and in heaven to come. If you need me to struggle, then I will hold your hand in the struggle. If you grant me a smooth path for a while, the I will worship you on that path. You are my God and I love you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 

Revelation 3:14-20

Revelation 3:14-20 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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.”
Dear God, last night’s meeting with our group from church was probably one of our best from a standpoint of really getting into what people believe about specific theological issues. While everyone there attends the same church, and most grew up in that church (or at least that denomination) I think some of the people around the circle articulated for the first time what they believe about submission to you, repentance, and salvation. There were some misunderstandings of what other denominations believe. There was some self-realization that people had about their own misgivings about what they believed. 

As for me, my own feeling is that I have me theology, philosophy, and even feelings about all of that, but at the end of the day I’m not sure enough about topics like infant baptism and confirmation vs baby dedications and person decisions. What I know is that you want me to repent of my sin, accept Jesus’ Lordship over my life, and submit to and worship you. 

Father, I give you that. First, I am sorry. Our church repeats a penitent prayer every week. It is good and I confess my sin now. I am grateful that Jesus did what he did and continues to do what he does. I accept your Lordship and example over my life. I give you my worship as my Redeemer and my God, and I accept the yoke you have for me in exchange for the yoke I actually deserve. 

In Jesus’ name I worshipfully pray,

Amen