Revelation 8: Silence in Heaven

Today’s reading is Revelation 8.

“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1, ESV).

Silence in heaven? What on earth does that represent?

I don’t want to shock you with my answer, but I think it represents silence in heaven for half an hour. Think about it. From the moment John was called to God’s throne room he has been met with cacophony. The creatures, the elders, the angels, the inhabitants of the universe have been shouting, singing, crying out, warring, thundering. Certainly, John saw a near-blinding visual spectacle. But don’t forget to imagine the near-deafening sounds.

Then Jesus broke the seventh seal and…

SILENCE!

The thundering ceased. The singing stopped. The shouting ended. No praises. No laments. No crying out. No calling back. Nothing. Silence.

The creatures, the elders, the angels, the multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, became instantly silent. They waited in silence. They sat or stood still. This was a mixture of awe, reverence, and expectation. Each participant equally unwilling to break the mood of the moment.

The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him (Habakkuk 2:20, ESV).

There is, no doubt, a time in God’s temple to shout and sing. But there is a time to be silent. A time to be still in quiet reverence and awe at the presence of God. A time sit in silent reflection on what God has done. A time to stand in concentrated expectation on what God will do next.

This is where every creature in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth stayed for about half an hour in John’s vision. And John was there silent among them.

Can you imagine if we asked for a 30-minute period of silence in our congregational assemblies for worship? What if we asked for simply 2 minutes? Could we do it? Could we sit in silent reverence, reflection, awe, and expectation? Or would we simply find it an awkward interruption to our worship? I can’t help but wonder if the test of our worship-mindedness would not be silence. We are emotionally moved when we get to sing out and express ourselves. We are informed and instructed when someone teaches in our assembly. Being led in prayer can be tough, but at least something is happening. But what if we just had a few moments of silence? What if we were left alone in the crowd with just our thoughts? Would the worship continue in our hearts and minds or would what we commonly call worship be lost to us and hard to restore in that moment?

Why not try it yourself? Find a quiet place and spend some time in silent reflection on God and His work. You don’t have to shoot for thirty minutes. If five is all you can do, do five minutes. Simply be still and know He is God.

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 8.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Revelation 8 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Revelation 7: God Responds to the Martyrs

Today’s reading is Revelation 7.

John saw multitudes standing before the Lamb dressed in white robes. One of the elders around God’s throne asked John, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” John is like us, he wasn’t sure. So he responded, “Sir, you know.” The elder declared, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:13-14, ESV).

Wait a minute? Didn’t we see folks in the great tribulation whose robes were white? Yup. In Revelation 6:9-11, John saw the souls of those slain for the word of God and the witness they had borne. When the fifth seal was broken, they cried out with a loud voice:

O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? (ESV)

Hear their pain. Hear their suffering. Hear their lament. Weren’t you a bit disappointed when God simply told them to wait? Didn’t you want God to respond differently? I did. But they took their white robes and waited.

Then Jesus opened the sixth seal. Please, recognize the sixth seal goes into Revelation 7. God judged the people on the earth who had shed the blood of the martyrs. God responded to the martyrs. He did avenge their blood on those who dwell on the earth.

Now we see those same martyrs in their white robes and hear them as they again cry out with a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! (Revelation 7:10, ESV)

Their praise caused the angels, elders, and living creatures to worship, declaring:

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen (Revelation 7:12, ESV)

Please, understand, this is not a picture of final judgment on the world. This is the victory when Jesus brought judgment on the enemies of God’s people during the tribulation John and the brethren were experiencing. However, we need to be aware this message is given so we can have hope when we face enemies as well. Every enemy that raises its head against the kingdom of Jesus will be judged in God’s time. He’s judged His enemies before. He will do it again. And He will do it ultimately. Hang on to Jesus even if it kills you. He always wins.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 7.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Revelation 7 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Revelation 6: The Wrath of the Lamb

Today’s reading is Revelation 6.

When the Lamb broke the first seal, He went forth as the rider on the white horse conquering and to conquer. However, instead of instantaneous world conquest, the Lamb broke seals two, three, and four allowing War, Famine, Death, and Hades to have authority. The Lamb broke the sixth seal and demonstrated disciples were even caught up in the death the three horsemen dealt. They cried, “How long?” and God told them to wait for a little while.

However, as we read, they don’t have to wait very long at all. The Lamb broke the sixth seal and judgment came on “the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone slave and free…” (Revelation 6:15, ESV). These would rather the rocks and mountains fall on them than face the One seated on the throne and the Lamb.

Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand? (Revelation 6:16-17, ESV)

In the vision, John saw the earth quake, the sun go dark, the moon turn to blood, stars fall from the sky. We immediately equate such things with the end of the world. However, we must keep in mind this is an apocalyptic vision. It is not a prophecy of the end of the world. This is how judgment is described in apocalyptic literature even when talking about nations.

In Isaiah 13:1, 10, 13, we see the judgment on Babylon which came on the day of the Lord described as “the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light…I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts” (ESV).

When describing the coming judgment on Edom, God said, “All the hosts of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree” (Isaiah 34:4, ESV).

In Ezekiel 32:1, 7-8, God describes judgment on Egypt, “When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land” (ESV).

Examples multiply. This is apocalyptic language of God’s judgment whether on people, nations, or the whole world. The point is precisely what we read at the end of Revelation 6:17. No one can stand when God finally brings judgment.

Yes, there is a time when War, Famine, Death, and Hades have authority. Yes, there is a time when it looks like Jesus isn’t conquering at all. But, like the martyrs under the altar, we need to hang on, Jesus always wins. The wrath of the Lamb will come on God’s enemies.

Hang on! Jesus always wins!

Next week’s reading is Revelation 7.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What do you want to share with others from Revelation 6?

Revelation 6: Apocalyptic Cycles

Today’s reading is Revelation 6.

In Revelation 5:8, the Lamb had taken the sealed scroll from the hand of Him who sat on the throne. Worship ensued. In Revelation 6:1, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals. At this point, the apocalyptic story begins in earnest. It will start with a King on a white horse going forth conquering and to conquer. It will eventually end with a wedding for the King and His Bride, which doubles as the King ruling over an amazing city-state which is actually the paradise of God. If you haven’t done so, please, read the entire book in one sitting. Or listen to it. You can listen to the whole thing in about an hour by clicking here. Most Bible books should be read in one sitting if possible before being studied passage by passage, but Revelation perhaps most of all. We need to witness the entire story before we take the story one piece at a time.

Understand what happens when Jesus breaks the seal on the scroll for John. By breaking the seal, John is getting to learn the message on the scroll. However, John did not read the scroll, the words on the scroll came to life. He witnessed the contents of the scroll as a vision. It would be like watching a movie for us. Or with today’s technology, like putting on a virtual reality headset and being immersed in a story–an overwhelming, fantastic story.

Leading the list of people who frustrate the daylights out of me is the movie talker. You know. The person who can’t sit patiently and let the movie unfold and tell its story, but has to constantly ask, “Who’s that? What did that mean? Why did that happen? What are they going to do about that?” And on and on. Very often, the only answer to give is “Keep watching, you’ll find out.” That is Revelation. We need to “watch” the whole vision, then come back and figure out the parts.

But, we need to understand Revelation tells the story in a unique way. Have you ever watched a movie or read a book that tells almost the whole story from one character’s perspective and then backs up and tells it from another character’s perspective and then backs up and tells it from another perspective and so on. Think of the 2005 animated film “Hoodwinked” or the 2008 action thriller “Vantage Point.” These movies tell the same story multiple times from different perspectives. Each time through the story the audience learns new information and finally gets the whole story by the end.

That is precisely how John’s apocalypse works. Jesus shows John the story through a series of apocalyptic cycles. Each time through the cycle, John sees and conveys different details and different information. Each time he sees the beginning of Christ’s work with sure victory, but then the enemy attacks. It looks like Jesus and His friends can’t possibly win, in fact, they’ve lost. But then God brings judgment. Jesus’s kingdom and friends are vindicated and the enemies defeated. Watch this pattern take place multiple times until we finally see the fullness of Jesus’s victory becoming King of His city-state which doubles as His Bride.

Every step of the way, Jesus provides one message to His church through John: Hang on. I’m coming. I’m going to win.

This story and these cycles all begin as the Lamb breaks this first seal. Get ready. It’s going to be a fantastic vision.

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 6.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Revelation 6 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Revelation 5: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Today’s reading is Revelation 5.

When one of the elders told John not to weep because One had been found worthy to open God’s sealed scroll, he claimed:

Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals (Revelation 5:5, ESV)

Here at the end, John is taken back to the beginning. Perhaps not all the way to the beginning, but to Genesis 49:9-12. When Jacob blessed his twelve sons before his death, he declared of Judah:

Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples (ESV).

This lion of the tribe of Judah is the root of David. Isaiah foretold a new “David” in Isaiah 11:1, 4-5:

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit…with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins (ESV).

And again in Isaiah 11:10:

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples–of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious (ESV).

The elder told John that the Messiah, the King, the Lord, the ultimate David had finally come. God’s plans for His people could finally play out. All that had been sealed and waiting was free to occur because the Lion had conquered. He had won the victory.

That’s our King, the conqueror. He had vanquished the enemies. Therefore, the scroll could be opened. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 5.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Revelation 5 admonish you?

The Prayers of the Saints

Today’s reading is Revelation 8.

When the seventh seal is opened, we are reminded of the fifth seal. There we saw the saints beneath the altar praying for God to take vengeance on the enemies who had slaughtered them. When this seventh seal is opened, this image is called to mind again and seven trumpets are given to seven angels. As those trumpets were being handed out, an angel offered incense on the altar alongside and mingled with the prayers of the saints. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth. As the angels blow their trumpets, we see the prayers of the saints being granted in part as God allows partial judgment to come upon the earth. Of course, all of this is telling of a time long past. However, what we can learn from this is that even in our extreme suffering and pain, God does listen to our requests. He may not respond in our timetable or with exactly what we have asked for or want. However, He always does what is right. He always does what will most benefit us and most glorify Him. In these partial judgments, He is giving response to the prayers of the saints and yet, at the same time, seeking the salvation of others. What a glory that will be for Him if those who were persecutors become saints. Keep praying. God is listening. He is responding in the best way possible even if we can’t tell it right now. And He is seeking the salvation of as many as will come just as He patiently sought your salvation. Praise God!

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 9.

The Lord Knows His Own

Today’s reading is Revelation 9.

Perhaps the biggest fear Satan plagues disciples with in the interim between God giving His promise and actually accomplishing the victory is whether or not God remembers who we are. When we experience the suffering that comes on the long road to victory, we begin to fear that we are getting lost in the shuffle. Think about it. When Satan tempted Jesus, his first words were, “If you are the Son of God…” However, we have nothing to fear. God knows those who are His. He has His seal on us. We will not be lost in the battle between the Lord and His enemy. No matter how dark it gets, He knows us, will remember us, and will give us the victory. Hang on to Jesus. He always wins!

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 10.