The remaining men and women who weren’t killed by these weapons went on their merry way—didn’t change their way of life, didn’t quit worshiping demons, didn’t quit centering their lives around lumps of gold and silver and brass, hunks of stone and wood that couldn’t see or hear or move. There wasn’t a sign of a change of heart. Revelation 9:20-21 (TM)

Suffering, struggle and persecution are spiritual signposts directing us to internal matters of eternal importance. How we respond to difficult times and circumstances is a spiritual EKG. Despite my general optimism, I can’t deny the fact that some people are spiritually walking around with hearts that flat-lined long ago and they will not change. It’s not my job to change that fact or to judge them – it’s my job just to love, to accept, to forgive and to keep my own focus on things eternal.

Technorati Tags: Bible, Revelation, Chapter-a-Day, Heart, Judgement, Witness
Flickr photo courtesy of Shimon21

When the Lamb ripped off the seventh seal, Heaven fell quiet— complete silence for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1 (TM)

"How often do I sit in silence?" I thought as I read this verse this morning. I know I fill my life with constant noise. There’s multiple TVs, radios, CDs, mp3s, computers, fans, a window air conditioner, electronics, and even a "noise machine" to sleep with. Our lives are filled with noise. Am I avoiding silence? Several times I’ve planned to go to a silent retreat, but something always comes up. I wonder if I’m afraid of silence. What happens when there’s nothing to audibly distract my thoughts?

Technorati Tags: Bible, Revelation, Silence, Chapter-a-Day
Flickr photo courtesy of _Laura_

I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing. Revelation 7:9-10 (TM)

All the believers are going to be standing – worshipping together in the end – every nation, tribe, race and language. So why do we hold each other at arms length and view each other with prejudice and suspicion now?

I’m just askin’.

Technorati Tags: Bible, Revelation, Prejudice, Church, Christianity
Flickr photo courtesy of Video Max

When he ripped off the fifth seal, I saw the souls of those killed because they had held firm in their witness to the Word of God. They were gathered under the Altar, and cried out in loud prayers, "How long, Strong God, Holy and True? How long before you step in and avenge our murders?" Then each martyr was given a white robe and told to sit back and wait until the full number of martyrs was filled from among their servant companions and friends in the faith. Revelation 6:9-11 (TM)

I read an interesting op-ed piece the other week in which the writer justified his atheism by claiming God was silent during the Holocaust. I find it interesting that we often want God to make everything perfect. When something horrific happens, God is either blamed for not preventing it or dismissed as not being present. We don’t want to acknowledge the existence of evil, the constancy of war between good and evil, nor the fact that suffering has a purpose (Romans 5:3-5, I Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-3).

Today’s verse reveals two important facts. First, there is an eternal plan in place and those who have suffered and been martyred for the faith are a part of that eternal plan – though we may not fully understand it. Second, in taking that eternal perspective we come to understand that "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV) This world is not our home. We’re just passing through.

Technorati Tags: Bible, Revelation, Martyr, Suffering, Eternity

There was no one—no one in Heaven, no one on earth, no one from the underworld—able to break open the scroll and read it. I wept and wept and wept that no one was found able to open the scroll, able to read it. One of the Elders said, "Don’t weep. Look—the Lion from Tribe Judah, the Root of David’s Tree, has conquered. He can open the scroll, can rip through the seven seals. Revelation 5:3-5 (TM) 

We have a lot of great discussions in our house about movies, books, music and drama. One of the things that Wendy constantly reminds me is that all great stories are rooted in the Great Story (which she will usually follow with a reminder that "all truth is God’s truth"!). That’s why it hit me this morning – the impossible task that no one could accomplish but the one who was chosen. Sound like King Arthur and the sword in the stone? Frodo and the Great Ring? They are but off-spring of the Lamb who can break the seals.

Technorati Tags: Bible, Revelation, Literature, Chapter-a-Day

I was caught up at once in deep worship and, oh!—a Throne set in Heaven with One Seated on the Throne, suffused in gem hues of amber and flame with a nimbus of emerald. Revelation 4:2 (TM)

I wonder how long John sat in exile on Patmos before the vision came. What preceded getting "caught up at once in deep worship"? Was it a prelude, announcements, and a hymn? I doubt it. I tend to believe that the liturgy and worship order of most church services don’t lend themselves to "deep worship." Deep worship happens when people take time to focus, to meditate, and to empty their spirits before God. I wish I was so spiritual I could say that it happens to me often. Heck, I wish I could say that it had happened to me more than a handful of times, and certainly not anything like John. But when it happens, you know. It’s transforming. I wish our church sought after deep worship more than they did the lunch buffet at Pizza Ranch.

Technorati Tags: Church, Bible, Revelation, Worship  Flickr graphic courtesy of Kosts