"Revelation 3-7"
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In one of cinema's most iconic moments, a young girl's little dog pulls back a curtain to uncover a "great and powerful" wizard — only to find a scared, hesitant old man. But unlike that lackluster "revelation" from the movie, we'll watch as John pulls back the curtain into heaven itself in this week's readings! And from his incredible vision, we'll stand in awe at the greatness and power hiding just beyond our view.
Our Hope in Heaven
On Monday (Rev. 3), the Lord dictates three more letters to the churches in Asia:
- Sardis (Rev. 3:1-13), a church with a good reputation, but that's fallen asleep and nearly dead.
- Philadelphia (Rev. 3:14-22), a church whose unwavering stand for the truth, leads Jesus to protect them from evil influences.
- Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22), a lukewarm church who thinks they're rich when in reality they're poor.
He promises that those who conquer with him will wear white garments and have their name in the book of life (Rev. 3:5). Conquerors will sit with him on his throne (Rev. 3:21) and never leave God's temple. They'll wear the names of God, Christ, and "the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven" (Rev. 3:12).
- What does it mean for you to conquer with Jesus?
The Throne in Heaven
On Tuesday (Rev. 4), John sees an open door into heaven and hears the thunderous words, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this" (Rev. 4:1). Immediately he sees a great throne, surrounded by a rainbow, a sea of glass, seven fiery torches, and twenty-four other thrones with elders in white clothes seated on each (Rev. 4:2-6). Then he sees four fantastical creatures around the throne, all shouting, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Rev. 4:6-8).
- Why is it important for us to remember — even through our trials — that God is the one on the throne?
The Scroll in Heaven
On Wednesday (Rev. 5), John's attention turns to the one seated on the great throne, holding a scroll with seven seals in his right hand. "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" a mighty angel cries (Rev. 5:2). The Lion of the tribe of Judah! Suddenly, a Lamb appears, as if killed, taking the scroll from the one on the throne (Rev. 5:6-7). The four fantastical creatures and all the elders fall to the ground, singing, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals" (Rev. 5:9).
On Thursday (Rev. 6), the Lamb begins to open six of the seven seals, one by one. And with the first four, one of the four creatures shouts, "Come!", and a horse appears with a rider carrying a powerful object (Rev. 6:1-8). Opening the fifth seal, we see martyred souls under the altar receiving white robes (Rev. 6:9-11). The sixth causes a great earthquake and darkness, as the earth's rulers hide from the Lamb's wrath (Rev. 6:12-17).
- Why is Christ alone worthy to open the scroll?
- What do the martyrs cry out? How does the rest of the book reveal God's answer to this prayer?
The Multitude in Heaven
Finally, on Friday (Rev. 7), before opening the seventh seal, John's attention turns to four angels standing at the earth's corners and holding back the four winds (Rev. 7:1-2). A fifth angel calls to them, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads" (Rev. 7:3). Then 144,000 from Israel — 12,000 from each tribe — receive a seal (Rev. 7:4-8). Afterward, an innumerable multitude appears with people from every nation, wearing white robes and shouting praise to God and the Lamb (Rev. 7:9-11). Who are these people, and from where do they come? "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation" who were cleansed by the Lamb's blood (Rev. 7:13-17)!
- Revelation 6 closed with the question, "who can stand?" (Rev. 6:17). How does this chapter (Rev. 7) answer that question?
- What words of hope and comfort do you find in this picture of people in God's presence?
