Revelation 3:1-6:17
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Revelation chapter 3 verse 3 is powerful from Jesus: "Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again."  My thought here is that sometimes we are so on fire for our faith in Jesus and God – particularly when we first believe.  And then this fire and initial strong faith begins to wane over time.  And to a degree, this is okay.  We will not be on the "mountaintop" all of the time – we must traverse through the valleys as well. But, if perhaps we’ve been camped out in the valleys for a bit too long now, is it possible that we might need to go back to what we heard and believed at first?  Might we need to hold to these first beliefs more firmly?  And turn to Jesus again? In this Christmas season, will you return to Jesus once again? Will you return to the Manger in Bethlehem?

Today in Revelation chapter 3 we read about The Message to the Church in Philadelphia and Laodicea.   Verse 8 today is powerful, from Jesus: "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut."  Jesus has opened the door for us to enter God's kingdom through faith in him.  No one can keep us from entering through this open door - besides ourselves.  Will you walk through the door Jesus has opened for you?

Verses 15 and 16 are convicting words from Jesus!  ""I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!"  Are you hot or cold in your faith for God these days?  Or maybe lukewarm?  Will you live now and tomorrow with only a hot faith in God?  Hot Tamales Hot?  :)

Verse 20 is beautiful from Jesus:  ""Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends."  As we read above - the door to entering into the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus is open and no one can shut it - except maybe we will shut the door ourselves in our own lives.  If you have shut the door, is it possible that you hear Jesus knocking on the door?  Is it possible Jesus is calling to you from the other side of the door you have shut?  Will you open it?  Do you want to share a meal with Jesus as friends?

Revelation chapter 4 today is an amazing chapter, where we get a great glimpse of worship in heaven!  Verses 1 & 2 are an awesome start to this chapter with John first seeing an open door in heaven and then being instantly in the Spirit!  "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit." 

Verse 3 stands out today with a great glimpse of God's glory - "The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones--jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow." You'll note that there is not a clear description of God, as he is often described as dwelling in an "unapproachable light".  But I think the gemstones and the emerald rainbow are pretty good starters for envisioning God's glory...  Can you imagine seeing God face to face some day?  Does this make your heart leap with excitement and joy?

Verse 4 stood out in today's readings as well: "Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads." It is said that these 24 thrones represent both the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of Jesus.  Thus, representing all righteous and redeemed men and women before and after Jesus' life.

Verses 6 & 7 will remind us of the seraphs in Isaiah and the cherubim in Ezekiel - "In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings had the form of a lion; the second looked like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth had the form of an eagle with wings spread out as though in flight."  These creatures are said to represent aspects of the attributes of God.  The lion representing majesty & power.  The ox representing faithfulness.  The human representing intelligence.  And the eagle representing sovereignty.

Verses 10 & 11 is a beautiful look at elders worshiping God!  "The twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created."   Imagine yourself in heaven with a crown of some sort.  Will you lay down your crown before the throne of God and worship God in this same manner?  Do you believe that God is worthy to receive all glory, and honor, and power?  Do you believe that it was for God's pleasure that everything exists and was created?

Revelation 5 is another beautiful chapter looking at worship in heaven!  And in this chapter we see the worship of Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, who opens the scroll.  It is interesting that Jesus is described first as the Lion of Judah in verse 5 and then as a Lamb in verse 6.  This demonstrates both Jesus' authority and power (lion) and Jesus' submission to God's will (lamb).

Verse 9 is certainly powerful in today's readings: "And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."  Do you believe that Jesus' blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation?  How do people accept this gift - this ransom?  Are the stakes high enough that we should accept this ransom?

And verse 12 is powerful: "And they sang in a mighty chorus: "The Lamb is worthy--the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."  Do you believe that Jesus is worthy to receive power?  And riches?  And wisdom?  And honor?  And glory?  And blessing?  Will you give these things to Jesus in your life today?

To powerfully close out this New Testament post today, below is an image of Revelation Chapter 5 titled "The Opening of the Sealed Scroll" by the amazing artist Pat Marvenko Smith from www.revelationillustrated.com.  Based on today's readings, please take a few moments to reflect on this image and what it means to you personally...

Revelation chapter 6 begins the first of 3 seven-part judgments with the opening of the seals on the scroll!  The seven trumpets in chapters 8 & 9 and the seven bowls in chapter 16 are the remaining two.  The unsealing of the seals on the scroll by Jesus in this chapter sets in motion events that will bring about the end of human history.  Verse 12 today tells us: "I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood."

The imagery of the four horsemen in this chapter comes from Zechariah chapter 1 verses 8-17 and chapter 6 verse 1-6.  In chapter 1 of Zechariah verses 8-10 we read: "During the night I had a vision-and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses. I asked, "What are these, my lord?"  The angel who was talking with me answered, "I will show you what they are." Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth.""  This is a good example of how John is utilizing a lot of imagery for the book of Revelation from the Old Testament.  And of course it is a great example of how the Old Testament is fulfilled by the New Testament.

A portion of verse 8 should be noted about the 4 horsemen: "They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth."  Some commentaries have noted that this demonstrates that even in the end of days, God is continuing to show compassion.  He only allows the four horsemen to do their work over 1/4th of the earth, giving everyone in the other 3/4ths of the earth an opportunity to repent and turn to Jesus.

Below is another incredible piece of artwork from Pat Marvenko Smith for Revelation chapter 6 verses 9 through 11!  "When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them."

Worship Video: Today's readings in Revelation 4:8-11 reminded me of the Chris Tomlin song "We Fall Down." Here's a great live video of Chris and Steven Curtis Chapman talking about the song and playing it together:

Do you fall down?  Click here and fall down at the feet of Jesus!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are hot for the Lord. Pray against any lukewarm-ness in your life when it comes to your love and faith in Jesus.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!