Category: Devotions

What does the future hold?
Revelation 10
What will come will reveal what has been held back.
John was going to write down what he heard but was commanded not to. Less is more. Suspense is created. There are things about the end of the world we simply do not know and the reason is this verse, v4.

What will come is a mystery.
Not a secret. But an open secret. God’s plan that was announced to his servants, v7. This is a word meaning to evangelise, to preach. The first 6 judgements are not the last word. God has that. But for that to happen involves the mystery. That means God’s people are involved sharing the good news.

What will come will cost.
John eats the scroll like Ezekiel did but for John though the scroll tastes sweet it then leaves a sourness in his stomach, v10. John and his churches have the privilege of sharing the good news and seeing its benefits. Yet just like John is on Patmos because of doing so so God’s people will suffer for the gospel.

That is what will come.

It’s getting worse!
Revelation 9
This is not us, we are not in this vision for we have the seal of God on our lives, v4.
However, in this terrifying scene of judgment on the earth John shares what he sees.
He sees the destroyer being given permission to wreak havoc on the world. The locusts are not natural for they devour humans, they are demons.
The judgments come from the great river Euphrates, the far east of their world. This is not from hell but from another culture.
Yet the 3 plagues do not bring man to repentance, v18, and God’s purpose looks like it has failed for the time being.
So what?
* The world will increasingly become worse but wherever you are, as God’s child, you are not in the scene of the final world judgments.
* God is in control at the end of the world, he holds the power from the locusts.
* The threat comes from another culture and belief system. Interesting!
* Judgment and the threat of it will not bring man to repentance. Turn or burn is not a good gospel.
* God’s purposes at times MAY LOOK like they have failed, but it is not over till HE says so.

The fact that we are here would indicate that we are not living in this scene just yet. But how far away are we from it? It is getting worse, we must get ready.

Do you remember that prayer?
Revelation 8
Have you ever experienced a silence, do you long to have that today?! I remember in the early years of my 2 children’s life that just after tea was noisy time! The volume was switched to high, speed was everything, the foundations of the house shook at the sounds a little boy and girl were making. Then they were in bed and I remember the silence … it was heaven! Today we see something strange, silence in heaven after much noise of praise and shouts and worship. Then, nothing for about 30 minutes John reckoned. What’s happening?
During this time we have an understanding of the importance of our life here on earth. The importance of our prayers.
How many prayers have you prayed in your life? Do you remember them all? He does! Every prayer goes to His altar, every prayer prayed by every Christian in the name of Jesus is on the altar of God.
Previously the prayers of the martyrs ushered in the actions of the sixth seal and now the prayers of everyone ushers in the actions of the seventh. As soon as the incense (the prayers) rise to the altar, then fire from the altar (the judgment) comes to the earth.
The point is prayer is the fuel driving the will and purposes of God on the earth today.
How long Lord?
Come Lord?
Save me Lord!
Help!

So what?
Well firstly don’t give up praying. Your kingdom come Your will be done!
Secondly learn to pray for the world, for God to move in His world.
By doing so then you will be part of the ushering of God’s Kingdom here today.

Are you in the 144,000?
Revelation 7
Every generation has known a crazy sect who believed they were the 144,000. The claim always proved worthwhile until their numbers reached 144,001 and then they moved to a symbolic interpretation!
Let me ask you not to focus on the numbers but look at this chapter this way:
Firstly let me remind you that when John heard the elder announce “look the lion of the tribe of Judah” he turned and saw the Lamb that was slain. And now he hears a number of 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel and then turns and sees a great multitude who were martyrs.
Do you see the similarity?
A lion transformed into a lamb. 144,000 Jews transformed into a great multitude.
John is writing to his churches who are suffering and he is in effect saying: What you hear may not be what you see. Your reality may not be everything. But he says more:-

Martyrdom is likely to be the result of commitment to Jesus.
Martyrs still need saving through the blood of Christ, their shed blood is not enough.
The end result is blessed: God spreads his tent meaning He lives with them, no hunger or thirst, no scorching heat, there are springs of water and God will wipe the tears.

I love the pastoral heart of John.
And the Spirit still speaks to us today even in our lives which doesn’t face the hardship of persecution but nevertheless we face tough days, the above applies to us. Be encouraged.

Who’s to blame?
Revelation 6
4 horses different colours, unknown riders carrying things ranging from a bow and crown to weighing scales, all bringing pain at various levels. One of the riders was actually named Death and Hades. They cause problems on the earth.
Try and find out who the riders really are and you waste your time and more than that you are in danger of missing the point.
Rider one was GIVEN a crown.
Rider two was GIVEN power and a large sword.
All four riders were ordered to ‘Come’.
All four riders are GIVEN power to bring death to a quarter of the world’s population.
And who is doing the commanding and the giving, it is God. It is God who in effect draws the bow and wields the sword.
God is in control of His world. He is above ISIS, He has limited them and from His throne using them for His purpose in the world.
This is an incredible encouragement whether to us in the 21st century or to John’s Church in the first century. No matter what happens, no matter how evil it gets, God is on the throne, He sets limits to evil and uses it for His purpose.
The fifth seal reveals the martyrs who are praying, ‘How long?’, they are praying for the appointed end to happen soon. And then it comes on the sixth seal.

Why is He doing this? To bring a consummation of His world. And He can do this because of the sacrifice of the lamb and the prayers of the saints.
Therefore, who’s to blame for the world as it is now? The blame has to be with God who is rolling out His plan for this world, for your world.

Big word in Revelation – Scroll.
Revelation 5

What is the scroll?
1. The following chapters will show it reveals what is going to happen.
2. It has writing on both sides of the scroll, front and back.
3. It is in the hand of Him who sits on the throne in heaven.

Application = The future of the world (including your world, where you are right now, difficult that it might be) is complete already, (God is not working it out as you/we go along), it is written, with no space for additions (as though God never expected a certain turn of events) and it is in His hands who sits on the throne, who is in control of this out of control world.

Who can open the scroll?
1. No one. No man, angel, demon can even dabble with the future.
2. Except the Lamb who looks like a Lion. The Jewish Lion of Judah is the Christian Lamb-Messiah. Except the Lion who looks like a Lamb.

Application = God will not allow the future to roll forward without a Saviour. The saving work of Christ is hugely significant for our today and tomorrow. He was slain but He is not dead, He is standing and He has 7 horns symbolising not only completeness but strength. The cross and resurrection of Christ never lose their power.

The atmosphere of the scrolls opening?
1. Prayer, v8
2. Worship, v9-10, 12-13

Application = Know this: your prayers are never forgotten, they never fall to the ground to die, heaven has your prayers, v8, so pray with me “let your kingdom come!” Whatever happens, sing worship to Jesus. Whatever happens ‘Amen it’, “let your will be done!” Whatever happens surrender all, v14

Breakthroughs
Revelation 4
There is lots said about breakthroughs. You can actually attend breakthrough conferences. Often breakthroughs are desired because we want more and we seem stuck to get that what we desire.
It’s a western problem or certainly a western-influential problem.
When you are suffering, struggling, persecuted, you do need a breakthrough but perhaps not the kind we think.
John, a disciple, son of Zebedee, the closest friend to Jesus. A Pastor and respected leader. It is about AD95 and he is on the island of Patmos, off the coast of Greece in order to prevent him leading the church.
He is not best placed to come into some divine revelation that would complete the canon of Scripture later, nor to get visions of heaven, of Jesus and His return.
He is persecuted, alone, in exile and rejected.
He doesn’t need a breakthrough on earth. He needs a breakthrough in heaven. He needs to see Jesus. He needs to see the throne of heaven.
How did he get his breakthrough?
1. He was looking expectantly. “You will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deut 4:29
2. He was ready to move, to change. “Come up here” v1. He was ready to climb? To make an effort.
3. He was in worship, this whole vision was whilst he was in worship, 1:10.
We need less earthly breakthroughs and more heavenly ones.
We need to see the door of heaven open.
We need to hear the rallying cry, the voice of God, like a war trumpet stirring us forward.
We need to see the big-ness of God. He is very big.
It is these last few things that we need more than anything. And if we got them then that would be indeed our breakthrough of all breakthroughs!

The message hasn’t changed: Jesus is coming soon.
Revelation 3:11

Let’s not leave this book to the experts and the scholars who try and interpret it for us. Let’s not be afraid of things we don’t understand. Let’s reclaim this book for our discipleship, for the church, to strengthen us as we suffer, to provoke us when we become complacent. So let me try and help, let me keep it simple and as we advance past the easy chapters (!) let us keep looking to Jesus because this letter is from Him, about Him and can only be understood through Him.
Remember He wants you to read this, hear it as if he wrote it today … I am coming soon,
Now some will argue well it’s been 1900 years since He said this and will live their Christian life not thinking of His return. Some churches never teach this.
Let’s look again at the verse.
Actually it is not only a statement but it is an instruction. Jesus is saying I want you to hold on to the faith, don’t let go because I am coming soon. Live in the light of my return.
For anyone facing imminent death or for any family members caring for someone who is, then life becomes even more precious than it already was. In this circumstance, every hand shake, every conversation, every smile and joke, every walk in the park, everything that possibly can happen in the shortened life becomes very special because soon it will be over. And it will be over, that is not a false expectation, that is truth. Some choose to live in denial, but the smart ones embrace the moment and seize their day.
Jesus said, live like this, in the bad days of your persecution and suffering and in the good days, don’t let go, hold on, it will be over soon because I am on my way.
Smell the flowers.
Look at the sunrise.
Help a stranger.
Love your neighbour.
Give to the poor.
Hold on.
“I am coming soon” – Jesus

He knows
Revelation 2
So we begin reading 7 churches that existed in John’s day and which went through seasons that the church in our generation goes through.
And what is common in all the messages is this: I know.
I know what you do, v2
I know the work behind what you do, v2
I know what you like and what you don’t like, v2
I know your pain, v9
I know you are rich even though your circumstance is poor, v9
I know the place where you live and how difficult it is, v13
I know that today you are better in your service to me than yesterday, v19

How important it is when we pray and worship that we know He knows all there is to know about us.

So here we are at the end of the Bible.
Is Revelation about the future or even the present enemy? If it is then there is much to be frightened of. Is it about the Church? If it is then there is much to be despondent of.
But no, it is about Jesus Christ. It is a revelation of Him.

When was it given?
Revelation 1 v9-10 John is in the place of the 3 conditions. If we want the kingdom of God then we are going to have to be persistent within our time of suffering. It is in this place where we will receive this revelation, so long as:
We are where we are meant to be …. The Lords Day John is worshipping.
We are in the place of worship.
We can hear Him speak.

What was it about?
Absolutely it was about Jesus. Look at verse 13-16 and see the word ‘like’. It is impossible to be certain but we can say Jesus is like …
It speaks against those literalists as we see here descriptives of Christ because John struggles to describe.

The response of John?
He fell as though dead. And we the Church need to fall down in similar ways. The Church needs to die from its importance.

The response of Jesus?
Do not be afraid. He is not dead. He is alive more than you are right now. Death could not hold him.