Daily Reading
Daily Thought
The reign of Rome was trying times for the persecuted churches, and lest they wonder where is God and what is he doing, the apostle John is given a “revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1). John enters “a door standing open in heaven” (Revelation 4:1) to discover a throne cascading “flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5). Upon the throne sits God, holding a scroll “sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1), each unfolding a certain future, “what must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1), and Jesus alone, at the same time the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, is able to open the scroll and usher forward what is to come.
Enter now the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the white horse of conquest leading the bright red of war, the black of famine, and the pale horse of death. The imagery is wild and wonderful, promising both wrath and redemption; and redemption arrives first. Twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel and “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” stand before the throne, clothed in white, and cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10). Then follows wrath upon the rest, a proper wrath from a righteous God upon a rebellious humanity. Seven angels blow seven trumpets of destruction, and this book of Revelation is a forewarning, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 8:13).
There is a Latin proverb, Praemonitus praemunitus, and it means “to be forewarned is to be forearmed,” and we are to be armed, but not for battle against the Lion of Judah and the coming wrath of God, for that battle we would lose. We are to be armed for peace, prepared to kneel in devotion before the Lamb of God and enter eternity in the kingdom of God.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. ~Jude 24-25
Daily Prayer
Jesus, Almighty God, Savior and Lord, conquering Lion, redeeming Lamb, you are worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Open my eyes to see Your wonder. I kneel before You, and in Your amazing grace, You lift me up. You give me what I need to live confidently now, preparing for eternity. I know You hold the future, so I know the future holds righteousness and peace for those who belong to You.
Thank You, Jesus.
Amen
Daily Question
Are you ready for Jesus to return anytime?
