291ST Week, Revelation Chapters 4-8 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 

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Monday, Revelation Chapter 4

Revelation 4

Delores Little

THOUGHT 

This is one of the chapters that has praise in it to our Heavenly Father. First thing John heard was a trumpet speaking to him like a voice.  Then he was in the Spirit and was taken into heaven to see a throne with someone sitting on it.  Verse 3 says “And the One who sat had the appearance of jasper and ruby.  A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.”  What a sight to see.  Verse 4 talks about the 24 elders dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads.  Verse 5 tells how from the throne came flashes of lighting and rumblings and peals of thunder.  There were seven lamps blazing which were the seven Spirits.  The throne was like a sea of glass clear as crystal.

I don’t know about you, but knowing me I would have been scared to death. What an awesome sight this had to have been for John. Someday we will be able to see all this. Praise the Lord.

In Ezekiel chapter 1 we see the four living creatures mentioned here in verses 6-8.  The first living creature was like a LION; the second was like an OX.  The third had a face like a MAN; the fourth was like a flying EAGLE. These are seen as the 4 Gospels and typified Christ. The LION represents the ruler of the animal kingdom and symbolizes the royalty and supreme majesty of Jesus Christ, the King, as presented in Matthew. The OX represents the most valuable domesticated animal.  It represents strength and patient service, as the servant of God, symbolic of Jesus Christ as presented in Mark. The face of the MAN represents the humanity of Christ as perfect, fully human, fully divine, as presented in Luke. The EAGLE is admired for its superior ability to swiftly rise into the heavens above all enemies on earth and represents Christ, who is quick to bring protection, provision, or judgment.  They had wings and eyes all around and never stopped saying “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME.”  We sing these words in church and notice how these songs tell how He created all things. 

PRAYER

Father, we want to worship You daily.  Help us by Your Holy Spirit to do so. You are an awesome God, and we love You. Jesus, thank You for what You did for us sinners. Bless this week for everyone.  AMEN

Tuesday, Revelation Chapter 5

Revelation 5

Verse 13

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 13:  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

THOUGHT

This chapter speaks of the Scroll and the opening of it. The scroll tells “what must soon take place”.  That is, it holds the future.  Yet, the future is in God’s hand. No one is worthy to open the scroll except ONE!! Jesus is the one that is worthy and is spoken of here as both the Lion and the Lamb. He won that right when He gave Himself on the cross.  As Lamb, Jesus offers salvation; as Lion, He judges those who reject Him. Christ the Lion is victorious for what Christ the Lamb has done.

Now the verse that is so meaningful to me is written above. It so reminds me of the prayer that I pray from Phil 2:9-11. Each day I pray that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. What a glorious day that will be. We will be one of those worshipping Him just like it is written in Rev. 5:13. I can’t wait to sing the song that we now sing in church.

“TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND TO THE LAMB BE PRAISE AND HONOR AND

GLORY AND POWER, FOREVER AND EVER!!!”

PRAYER

Father God, we are so grateful for Your Son, Jesus, who died on the cross for our gift of salvation. Please forgive us where and when we fall short. We pray that You will use us as a means to bring others to know You more. We pray that someday everyone will come to Your saving grace. We cannot wait to be in the choir of angles just praising You and loving You in all Your glory. As we begin a new week place people in front of us who need You and love You. We want to further Your kingdom. We need You and love You. AMEN

Wednesday, Revelation Chapter 6

Revelation 6

Verse 17

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 17:  For the great day of wrath has come, and who can stand?

THOUGHTS    The opening of the Seals

Seal One: Many people think that the white horse represents victory, and the rider must be Christ.  However the first horseman is a conqueror and is a symbol of purity and of victory. While his description is similar to that of Christ, he is but an imitation hence, an Antichrist.

Seal Two: The second horseman rides a red horse and brings blood shed to the world with his sword.  Christ said, “There will be wars and rumors of wars.”

Seal Three: The third horse is the color of black which represents famine and follows the wake of warfare. He carries a pair of scales which indicates the care with which the precious remaining food is doled out among the people.

Seal Four: The rider of this pale horse was named Death followed by Hades. Calamities, bloodshed and famine will end in death.

These four horsemen are given power over “a fourth of the earth”.

Seal Five: Here is where the scene moves from earth to heaven. Here we see souls under the altar.  These are of people who have poured out their sacrificial blood because of their faith. These saints have already received the white robe which is the righteousness of Christ.

Seal Six: Here is where God begins His final judgment. The very foundations of the universe will be shaken, the earth with the earthquake and the sky as the sun and moon are darkened and the stars fall from the sky. As the sky recedes, God comes down.  It is here that those who do not know God our Father will be ever so scared. They turn and run and try to hide. However, the wrath of God is so terrible that even being covered by the mountains would be preferable to facing it.

This is not meant to frighten believers. However, those who showed no fear of God previously will have to face God’s wrath. Those who belong to Christ will receive a reward rather than punishment.  Aren’t you glad we know Christ The Lord?

PRAYER 

Father God, help us to understand the book of Revelation. Help us to realize that even though we may not understand every word, we do know that we love You as our Savior, and we know that we will be with You in paradise.  We are anxiously waiting to praise You and Your return instead of running in fear.

AMEN

Thursday, Revelation Chapter 7

Revelation 7

Verse 17b

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 17b:  He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

THOUGHT

We left Chapter 6 with those who are still standing under the wrath of God. Now we enter Chapter 7 speaking of the people of God. The powers of destruction are not unleashed until the servants of God are sealed by God. John is speaking of two groups of people. The first group is people who will proclaim His message and honor His name. God places His own seal on His followers identifying them as His own and guaranteeing His protection over their souls. God’s seal is placed on the foreheads of His servants. This seal is the exact opposite of the mark of the beast. Those two marks place the people in two distinct categories – those owned by God and those owned by Satan. We assume the God-sealed people will point others to the Lord. Those sealed were 144,000: 12x12x10x10x10. This is the number of churches squared times the cube of 10 signifying completeness. These represent the entire

Christian church on earth. These people will be preserved in the midst of suffering on earth by the Word of God.

The scene then shifts again, moving from the church on earth to the church in heaven. Here the people of God are described as “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language”. Here, the triumph won through the death of the Lamb is finally realized in all of its fullness. Preserved through their trials, they will live and serve God for eternity. No true believer ever needs to worry about which group he or she will be in. God includes and protects each of us, and we are guaranteed a place in his presence.

So the scene ends in heaven, where it all began. These things must take place, in order that God’s justice may be allotted and His people vindicated. Trials do not last forever. One day, we will come out of tribulation and experience the gracious comforts of God. I believe the reassuring words of the verse I have chosen - He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

PRAYER

Father, we place our future in Your hands. We love You as our Savior and know that You will care for us since we believe. We know that You give Your people the strength that is needed in times of tribulation. We praise You for that. Help us to accept that we may suffer for Your sake. I pray that we would never refuse to wear Your seal on our foreheads and be proud to have You as our King. We are so anxious to drink of Your heavenly water and cry no more.  Make us stronger each day as we read Your book of Revelation. AMEN

Friday, Revelation Chapter 8

Revelation 8

Verse 1

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 1:  When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

THOUGHT

This chapter begins with the opening of the Seventh Seal. It is greeted with complete silence. The seven angels with their trumpets announce the seven aspects of the judgment of God which make up God’s complete judgment upon the world. Then another angel joins them. She has a censer and in the end fills it with fire from the altar and hurls it to earth. The silence is broken.

Then one by one the trumpets are sounded. These events occur to serve as a warning to the world about the strength of God’s anger and the coming severity of His judgment but are not yet God’s complete judgment.

The Sound of Trumpet One: Hail and fire mixed with blood. A Third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees and all the green grass.

The Sound of Trumpet Two: A fiery mountain is cast into the sea which then turns to blood. A third of the water creatures are destroyed and a third of the ships on the seas.

The Sound of Trumpet Three: A blazing star falls to earth, which turns a third of the freshwater on earth bitter and undrinkable - leading to death.

The Sound of Trumpet Four: A third of sun, moon and stars are darkened. He has the power to bring seasons to an end, further undermining human security in this life.

Now things change again. An eagle flies through the air. The cry of the eagle declares that the three final trumpets will usher in a series of calamities far worse than the ones that have gone before, and that these acts of judgment will strike human beings directly.

WOW!!! I am glad that I am a believer. The verse I chose is one that I could relate to. The quiet - the calm - no noise - an unknown - what is going to happen? The fear of silence is deafening. Even this is a frightening thing.

PRAYER

Father God, thank You for the time You have given us to turn from sin. We are honored to have the saving grace of Your Son, Our Lord, for the forgiveness of our sins. We pray that our days will be focused on saving others so that they do not have to endure evil forces that God unleashes on the earth. Keep us strong and ever ready to do Your will. Thank You for the gift of love. Our hearts overflow for the gift of a family that shares the love of Christ Jesus!! Our hearts are dancing!! It is You we thank for the joyful celebration. We love You!! Thank You for the Gift!! AMEN