Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

Revelation chapters 6 to 9 told us about 7 seals and 6 trumpet blasts that released chaos and violence and destruction on planet earth. 

As we come to Revelation 10, we expect more bad news when the 7th trumpet blows. Not so. Instead, we get a break in the action. 

A mighty angel comes from heaven, plants one foot in the sea and one on the land, roars like a lion, and releases seven thunders. 

Seven thunders? Sounds ominous! Is this a third round of seven disasters? But just as John is preparing to write down the thunderous messages, a voice from heaven says, “Don’t write. Keep the thunder messages secret.” 

Then the angel standing on land and sea says, “When trumpet #7 sounds, God will begin bringing history to a conclusion.” Sounds promising. Perhaps at last Revelation will tell us about the end of the end of the world, when destruction will be destroyed and peace will reign.  

But no. The angel doesn’t tell John about the last trumpet blast and the end of history. Instead he takes a detour, giving John a little scroll. “Eat this,” the angel says. “It’ll taste like honey, but it will turn your stomach sour.” 

John eats it and as his digestion goes sour, then the voice from heaven says, “Go and prophecy again about people, nations, languages, and kings.” 

Hmmm. This looks like more sour messages for earth, more news of war and destruction. No peace on this horizon. We’ll have to wait for the next chapter.

Let’s pray. 

Our father, we present to you the troubled state of our world, which Revelation says will go from bad to worse until you intervene at the end of history. 

How long, O Lord, how long? In the Old Testament, the prophet Ezekiel ate a sweet scroll but prophesied doom. Now in Revelation, the prophet John repeats the process. 

We too eat your word, and find it hopeful, lifegiving, and sweet. But it is also a hard word that criticizes our consumerism, exposes the moral decay of our civilization, and calls us to be witnesses to a world that does not want to hear. 

O Lord, give us grace and courage to receive and proclaim your word. Help us live faithfully in our time, a time full of disasters like Revelation describes. Help us believe that you are in charge, overseeing our lives, our world, and our history.

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Revelation 6, the lamb opened seals on a scroll releasing violence and chaos on earth. 

Next, Revelation 7 paused the action while the lamb’s servants on earth received God’s mark on their foreheads. 

And now, in Revelation 8, the interlude ends, as the lamb opens the final seal on the scroll. 

But it’s not a simple finale, because this seal releases 7 angels, each with a trumpet. They’re not auditioning for a symphony. Nope! These trumpets summon war and violence. Another set of seven troubles for earth.  

But before the seven trumpets blow, a lone angel holds a bowl of burning incense before the throne of heaven, and offers incense mixed with human prayer. Then the angel replaces the incense with fire from an altar and hurls hot coals to earth, causing thunder, lightning, and earthquakes.

Now the first trumpet sounds, throwing hail and fire and blood on earth. The fire consumes a third of the land. 

When the second trumpet sounds, a blazing meteorite smashes into the sea, destroying a third of the sea creatures and a third of the ships. 

Still another trumpet blast, and a great star crashes to earth. A third of the rivers and springs become bitter, undrinkable. 

The fourth angel’s trumpet darkens a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars. 

Then, a pause. Relief at last? Nope. An eagle sails across the sky calling, “Trouble, trouble, trouble”, preparing us for three more blasts of trouble that accompany the last three trumpets.

The fifth trumpet opens the abyss, home of the dead. The angel of the abyss, whose name is Destruction, leads a huge army of battle-hardened warriors.

The sixth trumpet releases four angels who command an army of 200 million horsemen, on a mission to kill a third of the humans on earth.  

John thinks these troubles should cause people on earth to repent and worship God. 

Doesn’t happen. The survivors of the troubles continue their idol worship, murder, magic arts, sexual immorality, and theft. 

Which leaves us waiting for the eagle’s third trouble when the seventh trumpet blows.

Let’s pray. 

Our father, The Troubles in Northern Ireland were 30 years of civil conflict and strife.   But the troubles in Revelation, announced by an eagle and delivered by angels, dwarf the struggle of nations.

The disasters heaven delivers are monstrous, on the scale of nuclear war, climate-changing meteorites, irreversible pollution, and mass extinction. 

O Lord, who can stand in the day of your wrath? 

We pray, as Jesus taught, “Save us from the time of trial. Deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory.” 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Revelation 6, the lamb opens six seals on a mystery scroll, releasing violence and chaos on earth. Will Revelation 7 tell us what happens under the seventh seal? 

No. Revelation 7 provides a break from the barrage of bad news. Four angels stand at the four corners of the earth, preparing to release judgment. But, good news! A fifth angel says, “Wait! First, we need to put a seal on the foreheads of God’s servants.”  

So 12,000 people from each tribe of Israel are sealed, 144,000 in all. 

Then John looks at the throne again. A new group has joined the winged creatures, elders, and angels–a multitude of humans–way too many to count. Dressed in white robes, they hold palm branches while praising God and the lamb. It’s reminiscent of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, with people spreading coats and palm branches before him.

An elder asks John, “Where did all these people come from?” 

John replies, “You probably know. I don’t.” 

So the elder says,
    “They came out of great tribulation;
      they have washed their robes
      and made them white in the blood of the lamb.” 

What in the world does John’s vision mean? 

Are only 144,000 going to be saved? Not likely that few, because the narrative mentions countless multitudes around the throne. 

And who are those who survived the great tribulation? Perhaps it’s a metaphor for all Christians through all the ages, those who were faithful during the troubles of earth. 

Revelation 7 ends with a wonderful vision of God caring for the saints who have joined the throng in heaven. Let’s pray that vision for ourselves. 

Lord, may we join the throng of white-robed humans at your throne. 
Shelter us with your presence.
Feed us and quench our thirst. 
May the sun’s heat not scorch us. 
May the lamb be our shepherd forever. 
May he lead us to springs of living water. 
And may you, O God, wipe away every tear from our eyes. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Revelation 5, God’s mystery scroll was sealed. Then, as 100 million angels worshiped, a lamb on the throne took the scroll. In Revelation 6, the lamb opens six of the scroll’s seven seals.  

The first seal released a conqueror on a white horse to kill his way through the earth. 

The second seal released a red war-horse and warrior to incite violence and war on earth. 

The third seal released a black horse with a rider who caused famine. 

The fourth seal released Death on a pale horse, delivering war, famine, plague, and wild beasts to a quarter of the earth. 

These are the four horsemen of the apocalypse, a vivid picture on their white, red, black, and pale horses, conquering, killing, creating havoc on earth. As some have commented, they deliver just another average day in the sad history of the world.

But why does the lamb act like a lion, releasing violence and chaos? Surely earth has enough already! 

The fifth seal hints at an answer. Christian martyrs under an altar, pray that God will avenge their deaths by judging earth’s inhabitants. They are told to wait a while until the full number of Christians and martyrs have come. 

Then the lamb opens the sixth seal. The sun turns black and the moon blood red. Stars fall. Mountains and islands shake. Kings and followers hide in caves and pray to the mountains, “Fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the lamb.” 

Wow. God and his lamb are busy punishing the whole world for harming and killing the lamb’s people. And seal number 7 hasn’t even been opened yet. That’s for next time. 

Here are two comments on these events in John’s vision.

First, his picture of an angry lamb releasing violence and chaos is just plain disturbing. I pray for a quick and peaceful resolution to earth’s problems, but maybe God has other plans. 

Another thought. I think the crux of John’s message is that the lamb is in charge. Though the lamb’s people are weak and persecuted, God is on their side, and God is against their enemies. In his time and his way, God will act on our behalf. 

Let’s pray. 

Our father, John paints a disturbing picture of the Lamb releasing four violent warriors and shaking the earth and the heavens. Today’s news is equally disturbing. Russia invades Ukraine. Israel’s war against Hamas delivers famine and death. The Rapid Support Forces kill and plunder their way through Sudan. The the Houthis attack ships in the Red Sea.

We turn to you, God, to the sure ground of faith. You reign over heaven and you are in charge of events on earth. The lamb who shares your throne passes judgment on history. He hears our weak prayers. He unseals your judgment on your enemies and ours. 

O father, help us to be people of faith in a violent and destructive world. 

Amen

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Revelation 4, God sat on the throne of heaven, attended by lightning and thunder and worship. Revelation 5 opens with him holding a scroll sealed with seven wax seals, like they use in Taskmaster. 

But surprise! No one can break the seals and read the scroll. This makes John so sad he cries. Then one of the elders says, “The Lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed. He can open the scroll” (Rev 5:5).  

John looks round for the lion. But what does he see sitting on the throne with God? A lamb that looked as if it had come back from the dead. A barely alive lamb on the throne? That seems out of place in this mighty company of elders and winged creatures.  

Then the lamb takes the scroll and the elders and creatures who have been worshiping God start worshiping the lamb saying:
   You are worthy to take the scroll, 
       because you died
      and your blood purchased people from all the earth for God.
   You have made them into a kingdom and priests,
      and they will reign over all the earth (Rev 5:9-10)

A hundred million angels, ten thousand times ten thousand, gather round the throne and take up the refrain, 
     Worthy is the lamb who was slain (Rev 5:11-12). 

Then all the people and animals and birds and sea creatures on earth join in, saying:
      Praise and honor and glory to the lamb (Rev 5:13). 

That’s what John saw in heaven. The lion of the tribe of Judah appeared like a lamb. He makes people members of God’s kingdom.

What a happy ending to the story. Except that the lamb’s people on earth are not obviously a kingdom of priests and rulers. The earthly lot are a small scattered bunch, targets of persecution, divided among themselves, a troubled lot. 

Perhaps if the lamb opens the scroll, it will provide some answers. 

Let’s pray. 

Our father, in Revelation we have seen the sorry state of the churches on earth, and the  glory of your throne room in heaven. A little lamb takes center stage, because he is building the church into your kingdom, making its people priests and rulers.

O God, what is your kingdom here on earth? We who serve you here are not creatures of power or majesty. We worship you, God, and the lamb who shares your throne. Teach us to be priests, teach us to follow him, bring us through this time of hidden kingdom to the reality of your new kingdom on earth. 

Amen

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

The first three chapters in the Book of Revelation focus on Jesus’ messages to seven churches on earth. Now, in Revelation 4, a door opens in heaven and John is waved into a throne room where thunder rumbles and lightning flashes. 

Try picturing what John saw. In the middle of the room: a throne surrounded by a rainbow. A brightly lit person on the throne. 

In the same room: 24 more thrones, occupied by 24 elders. Four weird creatures guard the central throne. One is like a 6-winged lion; the others like a 6-winged ox, man, and eagle. This isn’t a picture I expect in the Bible. Sounds more like a movie about the Marvel Universe (or is it now a Multiverse), where weird supernatural creatures have weird supernatural powers.

In Revelation, these creatures say “Holy, holy, holy,”  and the 24 elders put their crowns on the ground and say, “You are worthy, Lord God, because you created everything.” 

John’s vision of heaven, his Marvel Universe, is rumbling and flashing, as he introduces us to the Biblical adventurers: God who reigns on his throne; the council of 24 elders who exercise power from their thrones; the winged creatures who stand on guard. 

The good guys in this adventure worship God, announcing the whole earth belongs to him, because he created it and its people. The rumbling from the throne suggests  that some mighty action is coming. Are there bad guys in this story? What will happen next? 

Let’s pray. 

Our father, the seven churches in Asia had serious problems. Jesus rebuked six for their sins and told them to make improvements.

But in heaven, things are more focused and better organized. Winged creatures and kingly elders worship the God who rules earth and heaven. 

We join them in worship. You created our marvelous universe. Billions of galaxies and trillions of stars in cold, dark, empty space. Our vanishingly small planet, powered by an inconspicuous star, inhabited by plants and animals and humans who share the goodness you designed. 

We are members of those messy churches Jesus rebuked. But we go with John into heaven’s throne room to see who is really in charge. Here we worship you and renew our faith. 

You, O God, reign over all forever. All praise to you!

Amen

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Ep354: Lukewarm. 

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

We’ve been looking at the Book of Revelation, at messages Jesus sent to seven churches in Asia. 

Here’s what he said to the church in Laodicea. 
  I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.
  I wish you were one or the other.
  So, because you are lukewarm, I’ll spit you out of my mouth.
     (Rev 3:15-16)

Interpreters find it simple and tempting to divide people in three categories: 

• You’re cold if you ignore God, and aren’t interested in what he wants.
• You’re hot if you’re gung ho for God, attending church, praying, and telling people about your faith. 
• You’re lukewarm if you’re moderately interested in God, but only when he doesn’t mess with your comfortable lifestyle.

Our pastors tell us, “If you don’t want Jesus to spit you out like chewing gum, light a fire under your lukewarmness!”

This approach to spiritual temperature has a weakness. It disregards the solution Jesus gave.  
To lukewarm Christians who say,
    “I am rich; I don’t need anything”,
Jesus says:
  Not so. You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
      You need to buy my gold refined in the fire to make you rich,
      You need to buy my white clothes to cover your nakedness. 
      You need to buy my salve to heal your eyes so you can see (Rev 3:17-18).  

Jesus doesn’t recommend a program of busyness and good works to make you a hot Christian. His idea is to go shopping for his gold, clothes, and eye medicine. 

What currency do you think Jesus will accept for these purchases? US dollars? Pounds? Bitcoin? Jesus says, 
   I stand at your door and knock.
  If you hear my voice and open the door,
      I will come in and share your supper (Rev 3:20).

That’s Jesus’ solution lukewarmness. But how do you find money for the next step, to purchase his gold, and clothes, and medicine? 

Perhaps Jesus is saying, “Start again at the beginning. Listen to me knock, invite me in, share your tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwich with me.” 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, it seems you are less interested in measuring spiritual temperature than in growing a relationship with us. 

We feel your sharp criticism of our lukewarmness and complacency and self-interest. We feel your disgust that wants to spit us out. 

But we hear you knocking at our door. Come in. Share our meal. Teach us how to acquire the rich gold of godly relationships, the white clothes of purity, the medicine that will open our eyes to the truth. 

Amen

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

We’ve been looking at the Book of Revelation, at messages Jesus sent to seven churches in Asia. 

Jesus warns them about things they’ve got wrong. He gives them advice on how to do better, and promises a reward if they are faithful. 

Today let’s look at the rewards. 

If the church in Ephesus returns to their first love, Jesus promises they will eat from the tree of life in God’s paradise (Rev 2:4,7). It’s almost like Jesus is saying, “Here’s your chance to unmake Adam and Eve’s bad decision, and eat fruit from the right tree this time.” Inviting, isn’t it?

Then to the church in Smyrna, Jesus says, “If you are faithful through persecution, I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10). 

Jesus told the church in Pergamum that if they repent of false teachings, he will give them hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it, known only to those who receive it (Rev 2:16-17). 

I wonder what my white stone will say. I often call myself “incompetent” or “failure” or “slow to understand”. Perhaps Jesus will erase the memory of these names, and call me “faithful” or “honorable”. 

Jesus encourages the fourth church, Thyatira, to do his will to the end. “I will give you authority over the nations,” he said, “and I will give you the morning star” (Rev 2:26).

Not sure I want authority over nations. Most of them are a mess. But I do like the mornings when Venus is visible in the east before sunrise. Would the morning star be mine if Jesus gave it to me? 

Jesus tells the Sardis church to wake up and show some signs of life. If they do, they will walk with him dressed in white robes (Rev 3:1-5). I’d like that: abandoning my dirty laundry, my clothes frayed and stained from a life of struggle. I would walk with Jesus in white. 

Jesus promised the Philadelphia church he will write on them the name of God, the name of the city of God, and Jesus’ own new name (Rev 3:11-12). Now that would give me a new identity: stamped with the name of my new home in God’s city, and the name of the Savior I have long loved and served.  

If the last church, Laodicea, repents of being lukewarm, Jesus promised they can sit with him on his throne (Rev 3:15,21). 

Here’s a quick review of Jesus’ promises to churches and people that stay the course.
– They get new food–hidden manna and fruit from the tree of life.
– They get a new identity–a new name, written on a white stone.
– They get new clothes and a new journey–to walk with Jesus, dressed in white.
– They get a new job–to sit with Jesus on his throne and rule nations.
– They get a new possession–the morning star. 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, I don’t know where the imagery ends and the reality begins in the gifts you promise. 

But I love your plan to make everything new. To replace the painful circumstances of our current life with the glorious kingdom of God. A new menu, new clothes, a new job, a new identity.

Help us live into this hope. To cast off lies and idols. To learn and live in the truth. To value and practice righteousness. To put on our heavenly identity while we are still dressed in these charity shop clothes of earth. 

Amen

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In John’s vision at the beginning of Revelation, Jesus appears in royal robes with a sword in his mouth. He had messages for seven churches, located in ancient Asia. That’s where western Turkey is today.

Jesus praises each church for its good deeds. Then, like using the sword in his mouth, he delivers warnings. 

The first church is Ephesus. Jesus commended them for hard work, endurance in hardship, and for rejecting false apostles. Then he delivered this warning: You have forsaken your first love. Repent, or I will remove your lampstand (Rev 2:4-5). 

It’s an odd statement, You have forsaken your first love. Is that like getting a divorce? Or is Jesus complaining that they no longer have the intensity and focus of their first love for him?  

“First love” may have two meanings. One is first in time, like a Hollywood coming-of-age story where a young couple meet and fall madly in love. The other meaning of first love is, You’ve changed your priorities. What you should love first and most, you’ve bumped to second place. You’re messing up! 

So which “first love” does Jesus mean? 

I don’t think he is calling Ephesus back to the early intensity of a Hollywood-type romance. When I was young in the faith, I was in love with Jesus for a few wonderful months. I was full of spiritual intensity and warm feelings, in love with God, rejoicing in his presence. 

Do you think I created that experience by meditating and praying and working for God? Or was my experience of love a gift God gave me to draw me further into relationship with him? 

Is a mature marriage marked by the same intense feelings as first love? Of course not. For most of us the early passion is replaced by a lifetime of trust and goodwill, a more settled state of affairs.

I think Jesus’ criticism of Ephesus is that, in the long hard work of following him, they misplaced their priorities and diluted their affections. They worked hard for Jesus, but they forgot to cultivate love for him. 

I have a similar problem. I find it much easier to do something concrete like write a script or walk the dog, than to pray or to reflect on whether I have a heart of love for Jesus. Especially if he doesn’t give me warm feelings of intimacy and relationship and peace like I’ve had in the past.

Let’s pray. 

Jesus, we hear your invitation to review our loves and to renew our first love. 

I remember the intensity of youthful love, but I can hardly repeat that at my age. In the busyness of church and work and life and family, my love for you becomes distant and diminished.

Today, I give you my heart again. Renew my love for you. May it grow larger than my other loves. May my work today not be a substitute for lost love, but an expression of a love ever growing and renewing.

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube