Year 6, Day 365: Revelation 22

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Somehow it just feels fitting to close the book of Revelation on December 31.  I know that it really isn’t an end, because I’m going to open up Genesis again tomorrow morning.  But the completion of a year ends well by reading this chapter.  Take a strong look at what they chapter has to offer we see so many great concepts here.

We start with the river of life.  It gives life to everything.  It comes from the throne of God.  In other words, Life comes from God.  We know that; it’s neat to remember that as the year closes.

We also hear about the tree of life, with its many fruit.  There’s a fruit for all seasons.  God can speak to every situation.  Furthermore, the leaves are for the healing of all nations.  Humanity has had millennia to tear each other apart; God will have an eternity to make sure those wounds are permanently healed.

Then we hear that Jesus is coming soon.  Mind you, soon is a godly word and when compared with words like eternal, soon is completely relative.  But Jesus is coming.

Which leads me to my favorite part of this chapter.  What are the responses we hear to Jesus’ coming?  Every response we hear is, “Come.”  There is anticipation.  There is excitement.  There is a desire to know Christ in the eternal, forever, healed, and satisfied.

That is also a word of invitation.  We hear the spirit and the bride inviting others when they say “Come.”  As we anticipate Christ, we should desire others to anticipate Christ, too.

Do you notice what you don’t hear?  You don’t hear the response, “Come, now.”  You don’t hear people ordering Jesus around.  You hear a patient response that is willing to working in God’s agenda and giving free will to others.  There’s no pressure.  There’s no stress.  There’s no push.  There is open invitation and a willingness to work with the timeline that God sets forth.  That’s a great way to end the year.  The book of Revelation ends not with human beings being pushy about what they want to happen but with human beings finally understanding that life is best lived humbled to God’s will.

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Year 6, Day 364: Revelation 21

Theological Commentary: Click Here

I really enjoy reading the last two chapters of the book of revelation.  In Revelation 21, we get to see a picture of what eternal life will look like.  Mind you, it is a very incomplete picture.  It is also a very symbolic picture.  Truthfully, it is probably the most accurate that human language could paint.  But it is a picture nonetheless.  For a pretty thorough look at the symbols presented in this chapter, click the theological commentary link above.

What I love about this chapter is God’s proclamation as it all begins.  “Behold, I am making all things new.”  I love this confession because of the truth that it contains.  God does create a new heaven and a new earth.  He does create a new Jerusalem in which His people will dwell.  God created the world into existence, now He does something new.

There is a still deeper reason for loving this quote.  The whole plan of salvation is about making all things new.  The reason that Jesus died on the cross is because we could not save ourselves.  We need something to atone for our sin so that we can experience life eternal and avoid the second death.  This statement of God is a statement that doesn’t just apply to God’s work after judgment, it is a statement that truthfully applies to everything that happens in human history post-Eden.

That’s what I really love about the words that follow God’s statement.  “It is finished.”  These are the words Christ uttered on the cross.  These are words that are repeated here to remind us that this is the fulfillment of a plan that God has spent quite a long time fulfilling.  This quote speaks not just to God’s power but also to God’s patience.

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Year 6, Day 363: Revelation 20

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As we come towards the end of the book of Revelation, we see the final chapter of judgment.  There is something very clear about this chapter.  There absolutely is a division among the people.  There are those whose name is written in the book of life and there are those whose name is not written in the book of life.

Those who are written in the book of life receive a special benefit.  The second death will not have any power over them.  The first death – a consequence of sin – will affect them.  We all sin, we all die.  But the second death, eternal separation from God and being thrown into the lake of fire, will not be a part of the experience of the people whose names are written in the book of life.  These people will be raised and enjoy life with Christ for a thousand years – however long that is – before the final judgment comes.

Then there are those whose names are not written in the book of life.  These are people who will not rise until after the thousand-year reign with Christ comes to an end.  These people will know the second death.  They will be thrown into the lake of fire and judged according to their works.  Because they do not know God and His grace, they have nothing left to be judged by except their works!

I’m not surprised by anything that I read here.  It is all pretty much standard Christian teaching.  But I still cannot help but reflect upon the meaning of these words.  There are many days that I go through life feeling persecuted or misunderstood because the reality is that I’m just not like the rest of the world.  I don’t find satisfaction in material things.  I don’t chase the fleeting joy that comes through earthly treasure.  While that can be hard at times, it is absolutely worth it when it comes to an eternal perspective.  I’d rather be misunderstood now and know eternity with Christ than have any other kind of existence.

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Year 6, Day 362: Revelation 19

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Revelation 19 gives us a great comparison to Revelation 18.  In the last chapter, we saw Babylon judged and fallen.  We saw humanity step back, step away, and avoid judgment.  In this chapter we see the other side of humanity gathered for a wedding feast with God.  In this chapter we see people who have received and welcomed their invitation into relationship with God.

Truthfully, I think that is the big takeaway from this chapter.  It is God who invites us into relationship with Him.  It is God, through Jesus, that makes such relationship possible.  It is God who prepares the feast.  God does the action.  Human receive God’s action and respond to His action.

If we look at the picture of the war at the end of this chapter, notice that this theme continues even into the war.  Jesus comes atop a white horse – white for victory.  He comes with a sharp sword meant to slay the nations that rise up against Him.  He even comes with a huge host of people!  But do you notice who does all the work?  Jesus fights the battle.  He is the victorious fighter.  He does not give orders to us and then step back.  God is out there, doing work all the work!  He merely invites us to His party, allowing us to participate in His greatness.

That’s why this chapter starts with His praise.  He truly is the one who is deserving of our praise.  He is God.  We are His people.

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Year 6, Day 361: Revelation 18

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Revelation 18 always makes me sad because of its stark look at humanity.  In this chapter we get three different perspectives: kings, merchants, and seafarers.  They give us a very poignant perspective on human interest.  Each of these people stand far off; each of these mourn.  The real question is why.

There are a number of questions that we should ask.  The first is, why are they standing far off?  They don’t want to get caught up in Babylon’s judgment!  They don’t want to be associated with Babylon in her dark moment.  That’s really the first thing that we can learn about human beings. We don’t mind being associated with people when they are being blessed.  When they are being cursed, we want to put some distance between them and us.

The second thing that we can learn is why they mourn.  They aren’t mourning because they actually cared about Babylon.  They are mourning because as Babylon falls they are losing access to a lifestyle to which they have gotten accustomed.  The kings are losing power.  The merchants are losing access to money and material goods.  The seafarers are losing access to prosperity.  What can we learn about humanity?  Human beings typically look at the world through a “How can this benefit me” perspective.

The third thing that we can learn about humanity is that they don’t do anything to help Babylon.  I’m torn as to what this actually teaches us.  It could be that we learn about the selfishness of a humanity that looks to save its own skin.  But what I really think is more significant is that in the end, humanity realizes that it cannot intervene against God.  We might like to think we can.  We might live like we can.  But when push comes to shove and judgment is upon we, we do actually know our place.

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Year 6, Day 360: Revelation 17

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As we look at Revelation 17, we get an opportunity to study the fall of Babylon.  As I spoke of yesterday, I find the juxtaposition of this chapter overtop of the Christmas holiday a bit on the jarring side.  In a season where the focus is celebrating God’s plan of salvation, we read portions of scripture about the judgment of those who do not believe.

What we see when we study the prostitute is interesting.  Yes, she is being judged for her sinfulness.  Yes, she sits upon the waters, which is a symbol of all the people in the world who do not believe. But take a closer look at what the scripture says.

First, we find out that she has committed fornication with the leaders of the world.  In other words, this woman called Babylon has seduced the leaders of this world.  What is it that the leaders of the world desire?  Many things, honestly.  There are far too many to list.  But we can summarize them in a pretty quick list: fame, power, financial security, health.  Babylon, the woman who sits in judgment, tempts people by offering fame, power, prestige, financial security, health, etc.  She tempts us with things that our flesh desires but does not give lasting satisfaction.  This is reinforced by the fact that she is clad in wealth garments and jewels.

As we look more deeply at her, we see that she holds a cup.  That cup is full.  That cup is full of abominations.  Those abominations are called sexual immorality.  Remember what was said before about the fornication with the leaders of the world?  Remember that from a Biblical perspective sexual immorality is a symbol of sin against God.  When we sin, we are lusting after the desires of our hearts.

Therefore, we can look at Babylon and see that she is guilty of helping us sin.  As we said earlier, her lure is in her temptation.  Sin seems so pleasing.  It seems so attractive.  At times, it seems so innocent.  But we don’t see the harm of sin until it has its claws in us.  We don’t see how sin can destroy relationships until the relationships are being damaged.  That’s what this chapter is fundamentally about.  Our lust for sinfulness is what causes us to be guilty of condemnation and deserving judgment.

In that sense, perhaps the Christmas season is the best time to talk about this chapter.  Without Christ, we would all be judged and found wanting.  He is the difference.  He is the only reason that we can know life instead of judgment.

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Year 6, Day 359: Revelation 15-16

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This is an interesting pair of chapters to read on Christmas.  On this day, most Christians are celebrating as they remember the coming of Christ in revealing and fulfilling God’s plan of salvation.  On this day, in incredible juxtaposition, we read about the seven plague judgments in the book of Revelation.

What makes this an unusual comparison?  Do you hear how many times in the judgments that we are told about the people of the earth cursing God?  That’s what makes this such an unusual set of chapters to read on Christmas.

I can’t say that I blame the people.  If I were being subjected to the kinds of things that are talked about in these chapters, I’d probably be less than happy, too.  Granted, I’d hope that I wouldn’t curse God.  But then again, as a follower of God I don’t think I would be in that position anyways.

The reason that this is important is because humanity’s true colors are finally showing through.  Here in judgment, humanity finally reacts as we think humanity should.  Here we see humanity curse God when He judges in righteousness.  This is why we are guilty.  This is why God is righteous in judgment.  I can understand why humanity curses God; but just because I understand it doesn’t make it the right decision!

However, before leaving this chapter, I want to mention the seventh plague.  While this one does contain more vengeance than the seventh trumpet and the seventh seal did, do you see how the seventh plague is different than the other six?  Once more we see the hidden message.  These judgments are complete.  As the seventh day of creation signified completeness, the seventh plague likewise signifies that this round of judgments are complete as well.

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Year 6, Day 358: Revelation 14

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Setting out to study this chapter, we see our old familiar friend.  Once more we are reminded that God does not desire to end on a note of judgment.  Yes, judgment is inevitable.  Rest assured, judgment will come.  But God does not want to end on a note of judgment.  We see this truth in two different ways here in this chapter.

First, notice that there are two groups of people: the followers of God and the rest.  Admittedly, we do hear about the rest in the gleaning of the second angel at the end of the chapter.  But remember, the story of Revelation doesn’t end in this chapter.  There is more to come.  Judgment will come.  It will come for all.  But it will not end with judgment.

Before we look at the second example, let’s spend a bit more time on the people.  Notice that the first group is gathered by Christ Himself.  It is God who gathers His own.  He knows His own.  Do you see who gathers the others?  It is another angel.  We’re not told who, because it really doesn’t matter.  We can see quite clearly that there is a difference between those who are in God and those who are not.  We will all come to a moment of judgment, but those who are in Christ will experience it differently than those who are not.

The second way that we see the message of judgment is in the message of the first angel.  What does the angel say?  “Fear God.”  The first words out of the mouth of the angel is to fear God.  This is where we should begin.  He is the creator.  He is the one who brings life and establishes the rules of the entire universe.  He is the one who can bring judgment to us.  We have every reason to fear Him and hold Him in awe!

Our fear, however, should not hold us.  The angel completes the message by saying, “And give Him glory.”  We are to fear God and give Him glory.  We may begin in fear and awe, but we end in worship!  God does not want us to think that He is a God whose ultimate goal is judgment.  He is a God who will judge and can judge.  But more importantly, He is a God who we can worship because of His great power, His great love, and His great grace.

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Year 6, Day 357: Revelation 13

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Once more I find the perspective of humanity delivered in this chapter to be absolutely profound – far more profound than anything that can be learned by hypothesizing about the two beasts and their identity.  Do you see what human beings do in this chapter?  They worship and accept slander.

Let’s look at the fact that the human race worships.  Take a look at what they worship.  They worship the dragon, who gives authority to the beast.  They worship the beast because it received a mortal wound yet lived.  Why is this so important?  It is important because human beings are willing to worship a false beast for the same reasons that they reject Jesus!  Jesus receives a mortal wound and actually dies.  Through God’s power, Jesus is brought back to life.  Yet, humanity scorns the story in general.  But yet here in Revelation we see that when the beast that follows the dragon comes, they will follow and worship for even less!  It is sad, but true, that humanity will follow false truth far more readily than humbly acknowledge genuine truth.

Immediately after we hear that the beast blasphemes.  The beast exercises authority, and the human beings accept it.  They accept it because he has power.  That’s the funny thing about human beings.  If you act like you are in charge and have power, most human beings will get in line and follow simply because you present an image of authority.  But if you step back and give people the ability to choose for themselves, they will choose what benefits themselves.  The beast comes, acts in his own authority, and human beings follow him.  God comes, dies for our sake, gives us free will, and much of humanity rejects Him.

I think that’s incredibly profound and worth pondering – especially a few days before Christmas.

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Year 6, Day 356: Revelation 12

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Revelation 12 is an incredibly symbolic passage.  There are many ways that people interpret this passage.  I tend to view it as a grand analogy for the history of spiritual warfare.  In this passage, we have a dragon.  The dragon tries to destroy the woman because she is about to give birth to a very special baby.  That baby is taken up into heaven and the dragon seeks instead to make war upon the followers of Jesus Christ.

Now, I realize that I have over-simplified that a good bit.  But in general, this is what is going on.  There was a spiritual people claimed by God who would bring forth God’s Messiah.  That Messiah would save the world, re-forging the relationship between God and mankind.  Why wouldn’t the dragon wage war against that when the dragon’s sole purpose is to drive a wedge between humanity and God!

That really gives us a great place to focus on today.  Satan, the dragon, isn’t looking for recruits.  He isn’t looking for followers.  He’s not trying to muster up a bigger army than God has.  He fell from heaven because of his jealousy over God’s love for us.  He wants to break that relationship.  He wants to destroy that relationship.  He fell from heaven, fell from grace, because God loved us and he couldn’t handle that fact.  Of course he will want to make war against Christ and the followers of Christ!

So what does that really mean for us?  It means that there is a war to be waged.  As Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10, it is not a war against the power of this world.  It is a war against the power and principalities of the evil one.  We are not at war with flesh and blood, we are at war with the dragon who wishes nothing more than to separate us from God Himself.

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Year 6, Day 355: Revelation 10-11

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In Revelation 10-11, we hear about the time between the sixth and seventh trumpets.  Do you remember what was said after the sixth seal?  The seventh seal doesn’t bring about judgment, it brought about a time of peace and rest.

The same is true here for the trumpets.  The fifth and sixth trumpet brings about horrible supernatural judgments.  But now there is a time of peace and respite.  We end with the seventh trumpet, which actually brings about a time for worshiping God!  Once more we see that god does not desire to end His witness in judgment.  He desires to end His witness with a time of reflection for humanity.

The sad part is that the human race, for the most part, just doesn’t get it.  We saw yesterday that the people didn’t repent from the judgments.  Today we hear about the two witnesses, which the people can’t wait to destroy.  In fact, when the two witnesses are destroyed, the people rejoice and even refuse to let them be buried!

The stubborn nature of the human race doesn’t fail to amaze me.  We want things our way.  We lust after the desires of our own hearts.  We refuse to confess that others might be right, especially if that other person is God!  We refuse to acknowledge that there might be a better way other than the way inside of our own heart.  We refuse to acknowledge it because that would mean repentance and an actual changed lifestyle.  We refuse to repent because it would mean adopting Gods ways.

That’s why I am always amazed when I hit the seventh of the judgments.  We get a strong glimpse of the insanity of humanity.  My favorite definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.  That’s a great way of defining human sinfulness, too.

What are the point of the judgments?  What is the lesson God is trying to get us to see?  We need to repent.  We need to change our ways.  We need to return to Him, confessing our ways and changing to His ways.  We need to return to His worship. That’s what the judgments are intended to teach us.

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Year 6, Day 354: Revelation 9

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As we move to last section of the trumpets, we also shift to the supernatural.  In the first trumpets, we had curses brought on by God’s supernatural power but they were nonetheless natural affects.  In these last trumpets, the shift is clearly supernatural in both power and effect.  The locusts of the Abyss are extraordinarily supernatural.  The warriors of the sixth trumpet are just as supernatural.

What is amazing to me in this chapter, however, is not the supernatural nature of the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments.  What is amazing is the human response to these trumpets!  Natural disasters are one thing, certainly explainable by the most stubborn people who refuse to believe.  But the supernatural is far more complicated to explain away!

However, after the sixth trumpet we are told the status of humanity.  One-third of the human race lies dead in judgment.  The rest are unrepentant.  The rest continue to worship their false gods.  The rest refuse to be humble and turn to God.  Instead they continue to believe in the things of their own creation.

That is such an interesting perspective on humanity.  When the chips are down, what beliefs do we cling to?  Are we capable of accepting that which is outside of us or do we cling to that which our brain invents to be truth?  Are we willing to seek truth from the outside or must it always come from within?

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Year 6, Day 353: Revelation 8

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Looking at Revelation 8 feels like more of the same from the opening of the seven seals.  The judgments escalate in severity.  But generally speaking they are more demonstrations of God’s ultimate power over creation and humanity.

However, let’s focus on the seventh seal today.  Do you notice that the seventh seal doesn’t honestly bring about a judgment?  In fact, the seventh seal brings about a time of peace and respite!  The seventh seal offers up silence in heaven for a time prior to the beginning of the seven trumpets.

It’s hard to say why this happens.  Regardless of the reason, it first and foremost tells us that God understands our inability to bear too much.  God has just sent many judgments upon the earth, and creation needs some time to rest.  For all we know, God’s angels need time to rest, too!

When we look symbolically at the text, this really shouldn’t surprise us.  This is the first of three sets of seven judgments.  The three tells us that these judgments are divine in origin, as if we needed help understanding that point.  The seven reminds us that these judgments will be complete.  What is it that completes the judgments?  The judgments are completed with the same event that completed creation: rest.

This leads us to the fact that God is ultimately a God of grace.  He does not desire to end on a note of judgment.  He is not interested in showing His dominance and then condemning everyone.  He desires to put His power on display and then give us time to respond.

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Year 6, Day 352: Revelation 7

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Symbolically speaking, Revelation 7 is one of my favorite chapters in this book.  We start with a very tradition image.  We have the faithful gathered.  12,000 people are gathered from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.  This is a highly symbolic number.  Naturally, we have the idea of the Hebrew people.  In addition to that, we have a square number in 144, knowing that square numbers are usually a sign of completion or perfection.  Finally, we have thousands, which is a symbolic way of talking about a very large number of people.

The next picture that we have is a great multitude that nobody can count.  This multitude comes from every nation.  In other words, this multitude represents the people of the world who have come into relationship with God.  These are not Jews; these are people who are in relationship through their Gentile nature.  They are from everywhere, every race, and every time.

What I love about these images is that they are a great symbol of what God said would happen way back when He was calling Abraham out of Ur.  Abraham said that His descendants would be innumerable.  He also said that the world would be blessed because of Abraham and his offspring.  In this picture, we have assurance that this promise is indeed true.  There were faithful Hebrew people.  That faithfulness, through Christ and His disciples, did filter throughout the world so that there are faithful people in all nations.  Revelation 7 is assuring us that God is a God who can keep His promises.

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Year 6, Day 351: Revelation 6

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When we look at Revelation 6, we see a chapter that illustrates the power of God.  This is true in much the same way as the Plagues of Egypt are about the power of God.  This chapter puts on display the supernatural capability of God to bring about His will.  Seals are opened.  Famous horsemen come forth.  Signs appear in the heavens.

It is easy to focus on the judgment that occurs in this chapter instead of focusing on the source behind the judgment.  It is easy to watch as the horsemen come and bring war, famine, and pestilence.  It’s easy to focus on the earthquakes, the darkening of the sun, and the cataclysm among the stars.  Don’t get me wrong.  Those are pretty big things.  There’s nothing wrong with studying them and preparing for their coming.

For me, however, the real focus should be on the God who is behind all of these things.  None of these things happen without God there to bring them about.  None of these things happen until God decrees that the time has come.  None of these things happen without God there to shepherd and guide their coming.

I think that there are two significant reasons that we should focus on God rather than focus on the events themselves.  The first is simply because it is in His hands that we rest.  It is easy to read these words and feel fear.  If we focus on God, however, we can move beyond the feat and know that we are in His most capable hands. 

The second reason is because it is easily to lose perspective in this chapter.  It is easy to begin to think of the horsemen as agents of evil rather than agents of God.  It’s easy to think of the natural disasters as horrible events rather than events that occur under the direction of a supreme God.  Much like it is easy to see the Ten Plagues of Egypt as horrible events where people die, animals die, and natural disaster comes upon mankind, when we forget about the God behind the power of these events we can lose perspective as well.

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Year 6, Day 350: Revelation 4-5

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Revelation 4 and 5 is our first great picture into heaven in the book of Revelation.  The entire scope of this chapter is the worship of God.  He is the center of the worship.  He is the heart of heaven.  He is the focus.  That is how it should be.

Did you notice that these chapter is naturally divided into sections?  After John sets the context, he tells us about the 24 elders.  We can gather from other places in Revelation that these 24 elders are a symbolic representation of the Old and New Testament people.  Prior to Christ’s coming, there were the 12 tribes of Israel.  After Christ came, there were the 12 apostles, who spread the witness of God to create His church.  What we can learn from this section is that God is faithful to His covenants.  The people of the first covenant will be present.  The people of the second covenant will also be present.  We will be together as God’s people.  We will be there together for the sole purpose of worshiping God.

After meeting the 24 elders, we meet the four living creatures.  We’re never truly told what the four living creatures represent, but the common thought is that they are the representation of the rest of creation.  These are the creatures that represent the best of the world that God created.  Like His people, creation gathers to worship God as well.

One of my favorite elements of this chapter is near the end of chapter 4.  The elders bow down and cast their crowns upon the one who is at the center in the throne.  Finally, we get a picture of human humbleness!  Finally, we see that humanity gets it right. Granted, this doesn’t mean that all humanity gets it right.  I’m not trying to talk about universal salvation here.  But there are elements of humanity that do get it right.  There are those who do have the worship of God and living according to His ways at the heart of their lives.  That’s what life is ultimately about.

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Year 6, Day 349: Revelation 3

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I tend to notice contrasting ideas and imagery rather easily.  Do you see the contrast between Philadelphia and Laodicea in this reading?  To be honest, it might be better to ask if you feel the contrast.  For me, contrasting ideas are more of an issue of tone than vocabulary.

Take Philadelphia.  Here is a church that is largely faithful.  Yet, they have next to nothing!  They have no power.  Yet in the absence of power they have kept the faith.  In their lack of power, God commends them for remaining true!

Now take Laodicea.  They have so much that they are claiming to lack nothing.  Because they perceive no lack, they also are complacent.  Their priorities are on the wrong thing.  God actually calls them lukewarm.  Their faith has little to no use because their abundance has taught them to rely upon themselves rather than relying upon the Lord.

I find that this message is consistent with the message of scripture.  When Jesus came to the earth, it was the elite, the well-to-do, and the ones without lack or need who rejected Jesus (with a few notable exceptions).  Of those who received Christ, many of them had great need, had little in terms of possession, and who were hungry in general for what God had to offer them.

The lesson is clear here.  Having things is not automatically a sin.  But we need to be careful that our things do not prevent us from having a deep and meaningful relationship with the Lord.  We should not let our possession allow us to stop relying upon God and trusting in Him throughout our life.

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Year 6, Day 348: Revelation 2

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As I look at the collective set of passages in the second chapter of Revelation, there is one theme that stands out above the others: faithfulness.  We get a picture of four churches.  We hear perspectives from both sides of the issue.

The first church that we meet is Ephesus.  They are commended for being intolerant of wickedness.  They are hard workers in the faith.  They faithfully test those who profess God in their midst.  They have faithfully persevered under hardships for the sake of Christ.  Yet, they have forgotten their first love.  They are not pursuing the faith as fervently as they could be or even should be.

The second church that we meet is Smyrna.  Here is a church about whom God has no complaint!  But what is God’s words of wisdom to this church?  God tells the church of Smyrna to faithful endure, even if their faith leads them into death.  Here God does not promise an easy life, but He does promise them a crown if they remain faithful to Him.

The third church that we meet is Pergamum.  Again we hear God speak about faithfulness.  They are praised because they are able to remain faithful, even in the midst of persecution.  They are not willing to renounce their faith even when God’s faithful followers are put to death in their midst!  However, God warns them to not tolerate the Nicolaitans.  They are faithful in much, but they are tolerating the presence of some who are not faithful in everything.

Finally, we meet the people of Thyatira.  We hear that they are faithful.  In fact, their faith is increasing their fruit!  Yet this church has the same problem as Pergamum.  They are harboring a woman who is teaching things that are not in line with what Christ teaches.  Once more we hear the promise that those who are faithful will receive a reward in the end.

Faithfulness is the grand theme that ties this whole chapter together.  We see various ways of faith and unfaithfulness.  We see faith applied differently in different directions.  But in all cases we see that God values faithfulness as He looks to His people.

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Year 6, Day 347: Revelation 1

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There is a deep chord struck by the opening of Revelation.  In this chapter, we hear a great perspective on the identity of God.  He loves us.  He has freed us from our sins.  He has made us priests of His kingdom!  He wants us to be a part of what He is doing!

However, look at what had to happen in order for this to happen.  We are bought by His blood.  Jesus came and died for our sake.  Yet, through His death, Jesus also because the firstborn out of the dead.  Jesus came to show us what we have to look forward to in the eternal!  What another glorious message.

In that context, look at how John identifies Himself.  He is a companion in suffering.  He is a companion in the patient endurance (read: dealing with the persecution as best as possible).  He is exiled to Patmos.  Sounds glorious, doesn’t it?

This is the deep chord that is struck within me.  So often I get a glimpse of the church in the world around me.  I see a church that is painting a fun and happy time.  I see a church that adopts the ways of the world around it under the guise of making God relevant to the world.  I see a church that is about allowing people to try and be of the world and of God at the same time.  That feels so fake and shallow so often.

I feel a certain depth of belonging when I read John’s words here.  To John, Christ leans embracing persecution.  John was despised by the world around Him because of His faith.  He was persecuted and exiled.  People around him, people that he loved, were being persecuted and even killed.  John waited patiently for the coming of a Messiah, a coming that would remove the ways of the world and allow us to finally live fully in the ways of God.

God doesn’t love us so that we can be in the world and of the world.  He certainly didn’t die so that we could keep on living as we want to live!  He died so that we could be different, and likely hated – or at the very least, misunderstood – by the world around us.  That’s the deep chord that is struck when I read these opening words of John in the book of Revelation.

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Year 6, Day 346: Daniel 12

Theological Commentary: Click Here

“Seal up these words.”  I am always bothered within my core being when I hear words like this.  My teacher nature wants to have access to all the data.  In fact, I hate surprises.  I like to see what is coming and be able to prepare for it.  My mathematical nature wants to be able to compute things like odds and chances.  I want to be able to make good decisions.

When I hear words like, “Seal up these words,” I know that something is being held back.  However, this is just how God works.  Did Abraham know what God was doing when He called him out of Ur of the Chaldeans?  Who knew what God was doing when His people went into Egypt?  Who knew what He was doing when He told them to invade the promised land.  I can keep going through example after example until I come to Christ.  In fact, who knew what God was doing in Christ, even among His own disciples!

No, the reality is that our God is a “come and see” God much more than He is a “let me explain it to you so you can make a good decision” God.  God knows that we cannot possible understand everything that He knows.  It’s just not possible for us to know everything so that His ways make sense beforehand.  The truth is that often God’s work is best viewed and appreciated in retrospect.  It is most often after God’s hand moves that we sit back and say, “God is really awesome.”

That’s what God is getting at when He talks to Daniel.  People wouldn’t understand anyways.  They will come to Him and seek wisdom.  They will come to Him for help.  As they do, God’s plan will be revealed to them in stages and pieces as they can comprehend.  This is why we truly shouldn’t be bothered by the fact that people are occasionally told to seal up what God has revealed to them.  One day, it will all make sense.  That day doesn’t need to be today.

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Year 6, Day 345: Daniel 11

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Daniel 11 gives us three perspectives of human rebellion.  The first kind of rebellion are those kings who believe in sheer might.  These are the kings at the beginning of the chapter who line up large armies and beat each other into submission.  While these are the most physically dangerous kind of leaders, I think that these are also the least likely to cause long-term trouble.  You can usually see these leaders coming.  More often than not, you can get out of their destructive swath.  Nevertheless, one of the characteristics of rebellion are those who believe in power and might.

Next, we see pictures of kings who gain their power through diplomatic means.  These are people who use their influence to make friends and alliances.  These are the back room dealers, who typically have everything arranged before the meeting starts and votes are cast.  These are charismatic leaders, who more often than not are more dangerous than the first kind of leaders.  These leaders seek their own goals and desire to fulfill their own agenda.  There is seldom any true humbleness within them.  These leaders you can usually only spot coming if you are paying the proper attention to them.

Finally, we get a glimpse of the worst kind of leader.  The third style of leadership presented in this chapter is the godless leader.  This is the leader who puts stock in his fortresses instead of God.  The godless seeks to make himself a god of his own life and the lives of anyone who would have him.  This style of leadership is so dangerous because it is so tempting to mimic.  After all, who doesn’t want to be a god of their own life?  Who doesn’t feel the natural temptation to put more stock in things like bank accounts and protective walls than God?  This type of leader is dangerous because his example naturally pulls us away from being humble in the presence of God.

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Year 6, Day 344: Daniel 10

Theological Commentary: Click Here

As we look at Daniel 10, I’m going to leave the obvious content behind.  Instead, I want to focus on the set-up to this passage.  Daniel tells us the time.  The time correlates to the third year of Darius the Persian king.  This is late in Daniel’s ministry.  We hear that Daniel is praying and fasting.  In fact, we get the impression that he is doing some very serious praying and fasting.  He’s been restricting himself for a good bit of time.

The question that we should ask is why.  Some research into history tells us why.  This is the year that Darius allows the first wave of exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city.  Daniel is praying and fasting because his fellow Hebrew people are returning home, facing opposition, and reclaiming the promise that God has given to them.

In this we can truly understand the vision.  Daniel sees a man who is powerful and dressed like a priest.  It is neat to think that at the time that the Hebrew have returned to reinstituted the worship of the Lord that Daniel gets a vision of a powerful priest.  It is at this time that we also hear about the spiritual warfare taking place across the nations.  It is no surprise that as God’s people head home that the spiritual warfare across the nations begins again, either.

What do we have going on in this passage?  Daniel, in his wisdom, knows that the people carrying on the spiritual torch need to be prayed over and protected. He knows that the enemies of God will not be happy as God’s people return home.  He is in touch with God and God’s ways enough to see beyond the joy of the moment of return and see the bigger picture that will come.

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Year 6, Day 343: Daniel 9

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Daniel’s prayer is inspiring.  It is also humbling.  There’s much we can learn here.

Daniel’s prayer is inspiring because we know that it is heard.  Look at what Gabriel comes and says to Daniel.  As soon as he started praying, a word was dispatched.  As soon as Daniel started to pray, God sent word to Him.  That’s pretty impressive.

Mind you, I’m not trying to make it about Daniel at all.  Daniel’s prayer isn’t answered because Daniel is awesome.  Daniel’s prayer is answered because it is an important question and it needs to be dealt with.  Daniel is chosen as the recipient, though, because Daniel can be trusted with the answer.  God does have a plan.  His Messiah will come.  The exile will end.  God has not abandoned them.  All of these messages and more are send to Daniel to be spread among the people.

Daniel’s prayer is also humbling.  Do you hear what makes up the vast majority of Daniel’s prayer?  Daniel’s prayer can be primarily identified with the idea of humbleness.  Daniel’s prayer is confessional.  Daniel admits the sin of the people.  He doesn’t hide it, bury it, or justify it.  He acknowledges it and asks God to make it right.  Daniel even acknowledges that he can ask only because of the gracious nature of God rather and not upon the righteousness – or lack thereof – of the people.

This is a very confessional prayer.  I have got to believe that a prayer like this says much about the person who is praying.  It takes a humble man to give a genuinely humble prayer.  Again, this shows us why Daniel can be trusted with the message.

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Year 6, Day 342: Daniel 8

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Rams.  Goats.  Gesticulations of power.  I love the personification of humanity in this culture.

The first thing that we see is the representation of the ram.  It has two horns, one grow in up later than the other.  This is a great personification of the Persian Empire, which joined up with the Medes.  We know that the Persians overthrow the Babylonians and rule in the region for quite some time.

We then see a goat with a single horn rise up in power.  The single horn, Alexander the Great of the Greek Empire, breaks.  It is replaced with four horns, which are the Greek rulers that split Alexander’s kingdom.

What is very unique about this vision is the action of the ram and the goat.  Do you see the ram?  It goes back and forth, putting on big displays of its power.  It is convinced that it is unstoppable.  When the goat appears, it naturally challenges the ram.  The goat and the ram have conflict and the goat wins.  The goat then swells with power until it, too, is stopped.  Furthermore, as the power of this goat grows, it begins to interfere with God and the worship of Him.

I find this to be a great portrayal of humanity, especially human beings in power.  When human beings become powerful, more often than not that power is used for great displays.  Human beings with great power tend to use that power to elevate themselves over others.  That is what the ram and the goat are doing here.  They are using their power to show how great they are.  They are using their power to intimidate others and keep their status.  That what human beings do.

Additionally, this can be taken to another level.  Remember, the goat interferes with the worship of God.  This is another great lesson to learn about humanity.  Often when we grow in power, we become reliant upon ourselves.  When we become accustomed to rely upon our own power, we stop relying upon God.  We stop worshipping Him.  We stop being humble before Him.  As we rise in power, we must be careful to not let it affect us as it affects the goat.  Our power should not be our prelude to walking away from God.

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Year 6, Day 341: Daniel 7

Theological Commentary: Click Here

When we read through Daniel 7, we get a clear glimpse of some of the texts that inspired Revelation.  In this chapter we meat different beasts, and a single best with ten horns with one that rises up in their midst.  This passage has clearly inspired John as he writes in the book of Revelation.

What I am caught by today is Daniel reaction to this vision.  He is stunned.  He keeps it to himself.  in fact, he is actually troubled by it.  He doesn’t understand it, so he asks for an interpretation.

Remember, Daniel is a reasonably wise man.  This vision happens in the time of Belshazzar, which is after the time of Nebuchadnezzar.  Daniel’s had some time to grow and age.  He certainly has plenty of wisdom by this point.  Yet he is still confused.  he is still troubled.  There are things he doesn’t know.

Just because a person has lived a while and experienced some things doesn’t mean that they have nothing more to learn.  There are always places and times to grow and stretch.  Daniel knows this and isn’t afraid to admit it.

What we are really talking about is humbleness.  Daniel is humble enough to recognize that he doesn’t know everything.  He is humble enough to realize his place.  He is humble enough to recognize his place.  He doesn’t need to assert in his bravado that he knows everything.  He is humble and acknowledges that there are things he doesn’t know and there are things out there that still bring fear to our heart.

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Year 6, Day 340: Daniel 6

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Here is another favorite passage from my childhood.  Daniel and the lion’s den is an incredibly popular story to teach because it is easy to understand and neat in its supernatural meaning.

As I read through it today, though, I could not help being struck by the jealousy of the satraps around Daniel.  Why do they get him in trouble?  He is finding success and other people are jealous.  I am reminded of the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors.  Like Joseph, Daniel is at odds with the people around him because of their jealousy!

However, like Joseph, God makes an incredible thing happen through the sinful intentions of the people around him.  The satraps intend to kill Daniel, but the result is that God’s name is praised!  God is given an opportunity to save Daniel and God’s name is decreed in a Persian edict forever!  God takes this incredible human moment of sin and turns it into a moment of glory.

Furthermore, let’s not forget to look at Daniel’s reaction in this story.  Here is yet another mature reaction.  Daniel hears the decree about worship.  What does he do?  He continues to go into his house and worship God.  Human decrees don’t mean anything compared to the promise and covenant of God.  What an incredible witness to a people who are in exile as the Hebrew people are under the Babylonians and Persians!  Daniel’s maturity and faithfulness shines through clearly in this passage.  He should be an inspiration in our life.

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