Revelation 8 - Scary Stuff

So far in Revelation, while I certainly don't understand everything that's going on, I've felt like I could get the basic idea.  In chapter 8, quite honestly, it just gets weird.  I can read the words, but the implications of what I'm reading are far beyond me.  Obviously when we are reading about angels sounding trumpets that cause a third of the earth, sea, rivers/springs, and sun/moon/stars to be struck down or burned up, this is a fearful experience.  Our God is up to something serious and is not to be trifled with.

The chapter's ending in verse 13 is ominous to say the least, with the eagle warning about the next three trumpet blasts.  I thought the first four trumpet blasts were pretty devastating, and can't imagine what's coming next.

Revelation 7 - 144,000 Seals and a Multitude in White Robes

One thing I noticed from the list of 144,000 was the missing tribe of Dan.  Joseph is listed, and Manasseh (who belongs to Joseph) is listed as well.  So we have Manasseh counted twice essentially, and no Dan.  I did a little research, and quickly discovered that leading scholars are divided on what's going on here.  If the leading experts don't agree, chances are I won't figure it out definitively.

Regardless, after we see the 144,000 sealed from the different tribes of Israel, there appears a "great multitude that no one could count".  Is this a future vision, or is this going on now?  We see that these people "are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (v. 14).  So it seems like this is a future thing.  Am I part of that great multitude?  Are you?  It's quite an image.  Read it again and imagine yourself there.

Revelation 6 - Four Horsemen and More

Wow, this is getting interesting.  In this chapter we see the Lamb open the first six of the seven seals.  We've got a white horse, a fiery red one, a black one and a pale one.  We've got a voice from among the four living creatures from chapter four saying odd things like "Two pounds of wheat for a day's wages, and six pounds of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"  What is that all about?

It seems likely that we're talking about some kind of crazy inflation in the price of food.  You can read all kinds of articles online about how recent increases in food prices mean that we are nearing the last days, that the return of Jesus is close at hand.  I don't know about all that...I'll let God decide how long it will be before the new creation is ushered in, and what all needs to happen to bring us to that point.  But one thing is clear; it's not going to be without trouble.  The rider of the 4th horse is named Death, with Hades following close behind, and "they were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth".  Yikes.

The fifth seal introduces us to the longings for new creation of those who have been martyred for their faith in Jesus, while the sixth shows us the kings, princes, generals, rich, and mighty of the earth being brought low, hiding in caves and among rocks, fearful of the day of the Lord and the Lamb.

Revelation 5 - Preparing to Open the Scroll

This is getting good.  This Revelation story is beginning to feel like a supernatural adventure.  Clearly John is caught up in the story, as we see him weeping and weeping (v. 4) because it seems no one is going to be able to open the scroll that God is holding in His hand.  It's fair to assume that whatever is written on this scroll must be fairly significant.

Enter Jesus, in the dual role of Lion/Lamb.  He takes the scroll, preparing to open it, and just then He is bombarded with worship.  The 24 elders we met in chapter 4, along with apparently hundreds of thousands or millions of angels sing and shout praises at the Lamb, falling down before Him.  A powerful scene to say the least.  That is some kind of scroll.  That is some kind of Lamb.

Revelation 4 - 24 Elders and 4 Living Creatures

OK, this is starting to get wild.  Verse 5 talks about flashes of lightning and peals of thunder.  Verse 4 introduces us to 24 elders dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads.  In verses 6-8 we find a sea of glass and meet four living creatures.  The living creatures have eyes all over their bodies, and resemble a lion, ox, man and an eagle.  They each have six wings and again, are covered with eyes all over their entire bodies, even under the wings (v. 8).

We see the elders and the living creatures worshiping God continuously.  One wonders, is this something that will happen in the future, or is this something that is currently happening in some other realm?

Reading chapters like Revelation 4 remind us that our God is so far beyond what we can conceive or imagine, which makes it all the more breathtaking that He reached out to us when we rebelled against Him and made a way for us to live in perfect community with Him as part of His family.

Revelation 3 - Lukewarm

Most of chapter 3 reads like chapter 2.  The messenger angels are to report from Jesus to each of three churches both the good news and bad news about their works and deeds.  They serve as an encouragement and a warning, and then we come to verses 15-17 and read this warning to the church in Laodicea:

"I know your deeds and you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired great wealth and do not need a thing.'  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

I have read commentaries that tell us that the word used for "spit you out" has more of a vomiting connotation that simply just spitting.  So basically Jesus is telling these people that their lukewarm, fence-sitting ways make Him want to puke.  I know His love is infinite and His grace covers all, but He also always tells the truth, apparently in vivid detail sometimes.  These people make Jesus want to puke.  I don't want to be that guy, although I feel like I am often as lukewarm as the Laodiceans.

Have mercy on me Lord, a sinner.  Keep making me into the man You created me to be.

Revelation 2 - Good News/Bad News

In reading through Revelation chapter 2, a couple questions came to mind.  First, does every church have an angel/messenger assigned to it?  (v. 1, 8, 12 and 18)

Then, who in the world are the Nicolaitans?  (v. 6 and 15).  This site has some ideas.  And this one has some similar, but slightly different ideas.  I guess the bottom line is that whoever they were, Jesus was not at all happy with their doctrine and practices.  Those who oppose the Nicolaitans are commended and those who do not are rebuked.  It's fair to say that Nicolaitans = bad company.

Throughout the chapter we see a clear picture that for each of these churches it's kind of a mixed bag.  There are things that Jesus praises them for, and other things that He holds against them (except maybe for Smyrna).  But one important idea to notice seems to be that regardless of their faults, it's not too late.  Each of these churches is promised a chance to be counted among the "victorious" who will eat from the tree of life (v. 7), not be hurt by the second death (v. 11), receive some of the hidden manna and receive a white stone with a new name (v. 17), and receive authority over the nations (v. 26).