Category: Revelation Devotionals

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Revelation Devotionals

When Jesus comes again

Revelation

This time of year, Handel’s Messiah is very popular, and of course one of the most famous songs is the Hallelujah Chorus.

One of the lines comes directly from this chapter in verse 15.

The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

So often, when we think of Jesus at Christmas time, we think of the baby in the manger. But when he returns, he won’t be that baby in the manger. Instead he will come back as king.

And unfortunately, as was the case of the people who kill the witnesses at the beginning of this chapter, and of the nations that rage against God at the end of it, many will not welcome their king.

But when Jesus comes, he will reign, and those who choose to continue in their rebellion will be judged.

So many people want peace on earth. But they refuse to submit to the Prince of Peace.

And so the old carol challenges us:

Joy to the world!
The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king!
Let every heart prepare him room.

How about you?

Will your prepare room for him in your heart?

Or will you seek to “tear off his chains, and throw his ropes off of you”? (Psalm 2:3)

Do you see your King with eyes of love and adoration?

Or with hatred and rebellion?

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Revelation Devotionals

Having heaven’s perspective

Revelation

One thing that will happen when we finally see God face to face is that we’ll have heaven’s perspective on who he is.

How do they see him?

Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come. (Revelation 4:8)

Very reminiscent of how God revealed himself to Moses. When Moses asked him, “What is your name,” God replied, “I AM.”

I AM.

God is the eternal one. He existed before time even began. He exists now. He exists for all eternity.

And he is utterly holy.

Unique. With none like him.

Unadulterated purity. Pure to the point that even his angels marvel at him.

How often do we see him as such? As the one who is so much greater and purer than us?

Think about this. The four living creatures John describes are so overwhelmed in the presence of the Father that they can’t help but cry out praise to him.

And as they do, the twenty-four elders in heaven fall down before him, casting their crowns at his feet and worshiping him.

Our Lord and God
you are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because you have created all things,
and by your will
they exist and were created. (11)

Yet so many people here on earth do not acknowledge this.

Some don’t even acknowledge that God exists.

Others acknowledge his existence, but they refuse to acknowledge his worthiness of our worship. In their minds, he may be the Creator, but that doesn’t mean he is worthy of our worship. Or of our loyalty. Or our love.

Let us not take the perspective of the people of this world.

Let us take on heaven’s perspective.

As we gaze upon his holiness, let us strive to be holy ourselves.

As we take the time to consider his awesomeness of who he is, let us offer him our worship, our loyalty, and our love.

For truly, he is worthy.

Categories
Revelation Devotionals

Truth, but not love. Love, but not truth.

Revelation

Considering the theme of the last blog I wrote, the need for us to walk in truth and love, I find this chapter very apropos.

For in it, we see the problem of having truth but not love, and of having love but not truth.

The Ephesian church had the former problem. They held to the truth that Paul had taught them years before. They had tested all those who had claimed to be apostles, and had quickly kicked out the false ones.

And yet, Jesus tells them,

But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. (Revelation 2:4)

And because of that, Jesus warned them, “Your church will be removed from its place unless you repent. The light you’ve been given to touch the world for me will be extinguished.”

The Thyatiran church, on the other hand, had love (along with faithfulness, service, and endurance), but they tolerated false teaching which encouraged committing sexual sin and engaging in idolatrous acts.

And Jesus said that he would strike dead this false teacher who was teaching these things, as well as all who followed her.

Why? Because that kind of teaching infects and destroys the church from within, corrupting all it touches.

Truth without love is not enough.

Love without truth is not enough.

And if you have one without the other, your church will soon lose its light in this world.