Revelation 7:1-10:11
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Revelation chapter 7 verse 3 in today's reading tells us: "Wait! Don't hurt the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants."  Commentaries suggest that the seal represents the name of God being stamped on the foreheads of his followers - to protect them from the coming judgments.  This imagery is very similar to Ezekiel 9:4 - ""Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."

Verse 4 tells us: "And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God. There were 144,000 who were sealed from all the tribes of Israel."  Some interpret this to mean 144,000 descendents of the actual Jewish tribes during the time of tribulation.  Others interpret this passage to be symbolic of all the faithful believers who live during the time of tribulation.

Verses 5 through 8 are interesting in that Judah is listed first, which is unusual.  When the twelve tribes of Israel are listed usually Reuben, his older brother, is listed first.  The thought here is that since Jesus and David came from the tribe of Judah, that is why it is listed first.  Also, the tribe of Dan is not listed - which may be because Dan had some idolatry issues in Judges 18:30.  Instead, Manasseh, one of Joseph's son's is listed - along with Joseph.

Verse 12 is very powerful in that it has 7 attributes of God: "Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and forever."  Will you attribute to God - Blessing?  Glory?  Wisdom?  Thanksgiving?  Honor?  Power?  Strength?  Forever....?  Has anyone read A.W. Tozer's book "The Attributes of God"?  I haven't, but it sounds intriguing.

Revelation chapter 8 transitions from the breaking of the seals on the scroll to the trumpets! 

In Old Testament times trumpets represented the announcement of important events or times of war.  Here we will see plagues that are more devastating than the seals, but not as devastating as the bowls to come in Revelation chapter 16.  The eagle in this chapter represents swiftness and destruction.  When the eagle speaks of "all who belong to this world" in verse 13, it is referring to people who are not in relationship with God.

Verses 3 & 4 in this chapter today are beautiful: "Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great quantity of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people, to be offered on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of the saints, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out."  I love that analogy of the incense mixing with the prayers of the saints.  Do you believe that your prayers reach God's altar in heaven? 

Revelation chapter 9 brings forth the 5th and 6th trumpet plagues at the end times!  A note on the star in verse 1 - this is likely an angel that descends from heaven with the key from Jesus to open the abyss. 

The fierce demonic locusts in today's readings are intense.  You will recall that very recently we read about locusts in a similar fashion in the Old Testament in Joel chapter 1 through chapter 2 verse 11. 

Verses 20 & 21 in this chapter stand out: "But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood--idols that neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts."  Even in the midst of such destruction and horror, many people do not repent.  Is it possible that we receive much less severe signs in our own life today to repent, and we ignore them?  Why do we ignore the signs?  Is this wise?  Below is an image of the first six trumpet judgements by the incredible artist Pat Marvenko Smith:

Revelation chapter 10 brings forth the angel and the little scroll!  Note that this scroll is not the same as the scroll in Revelation chapter 5, verse 1.  This first scroll contains a revelation of judgments against evil, whereas this little scroll's contents are not disclosed - though, it may contain a judgment as well.  You will recall from our readings of Ezekiel earlier this winter that, similar to John in this chapter, Ezekiel was instructed in a vision to eat a scroll that was sweet to taste but contained judgments against Israel.  From Ezekiel chapter 3 verse 3 you'll recall: "Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth."

Revelation Chapter 10 Verse 1 in today's readings has some cool stuff going on in it - "Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire."  The angel being surrounded by a cloud recalls God speaking to Peter James and John on the mountain of the Transfiguration in Matthew chapter 17 verse 5 - "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”   The rainbow over the angel's head recalls God's promise to Noah after the flood to never destroy the earth by water again, as we see in Genesis chapter 9 verses 15 & 16 - "I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.  Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.""  And the angels feet being like pillars of fire recalls the pillars of fire and cloud that guided and protected the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt, as we see in Exodus chapter 13 verses 21 & 22   "By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people."

Worship Video: Today's readings in Revelation remind me of the Sidewalk Prophets song "The Words I Would Say:"

Do you know how much He loves you?  Click here for His eternal love!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand." Revelation 8:3-4 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray in thanksgiving that your prayers to God are like incense smoke, going up to God from the hands of angels. Pray without ceasing. Pray right now.

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

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