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

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

John opens the Book of Revelation by reporting visions God gave him of the present and future. He says, “On the Lord’s Day, I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet” (Rev 1:10). 

I’m not sure what it means to be “in the Spirit”, but the experience allowed John to see visions and hear other-world communications. 

When John turned to see the trumpet-voice that addressed him, he saw someone like a son of man, decked out in royal garments, with snow white hair and blazing eyes, with feet like fiery bronze, with a voice like rushing waters and a face like the shining sun (Rev 1:13-15). 

This person is like the one Daniel saw in his vision 500 years earlier (Daniel 10:4-13). But the man in John’s vision had an new, disturbing characteristic: a double edged sword coming out of his mouth. 

Weird, eh? A sword in the mouth? Commentators suggest this represents the word of God, similar to Hebrews 4 which says, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than a double-edged sword” (Heb 4:12). 

The man in Daniel’s vision was fighting the prince of Persia, but we don’t know what weapons he was using. The man in John’s vision doesn’t tell war stories about the Prince of Persia or other spiritual opponents. Perhaps his battle will be conducted with words, using the sword in his mouth.  

The man with the sword said to John, “Don’t be afraid. I’m the first and the last. I was dead. Now I’m alive forever. I have the keys to death and the underworld” (Rev 1:17-18). Clearly, this man is Jesus. Can’t be anyone else!  

In John’s vision, Jesus was surrounded by seven lampstands, representing the seven churches in Asia. He holds seven stars which represent seven angels (or messengers), one for each church. 

A quick summary: Jesus appeared to John, standing among the churches, accompanied by angel messengers. The words in Jesus’ mouth were a sword. That doesn’t sound like a friendly message for the churches. But we’ll look at that next time. 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, you who stood among the churches of Asia, stand among our churches today. Send your messages to us, that we may hear your words, even if they are a sword that threatens our comfort and a fire that burns our complacency.  

Help us to see you as John saw you: a royal king, a commanding presence, a fire in our community, a shining sun in our darkness. With your sword, cut away the evil and distractions in our lives. Wound us, purify us, heal us.

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 New Testament epistles advance a program of faith, loving relationships, and moral living. Then comes the Book of Revelation with visions of fire, flood, pandemic, war, and Armageddon. The real Christ and the anti-Christ battle for world domination, and Christians get caught in the crossfire.   

I don’t try to put Revelation into charts and timelines. Nor do I think it tells tomorrow’s headlines today. Revelation doesn’t give enough information to put the rapture, the millennium, and God’s great judgment in chronological order. 

But let’s start with John at the beginning. John the author, calls his book “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:1). Which means, “Jesus is the author and holds the copyright on this material.”  

John states his purpose for writing: “This is the revelation God gave to show his servants what must soon take place” (Rev. 1:1). Two thousand years ago, John predicted catastrophes and victories that would happen soon. We too believe they will happen soon. Perhaps in the next 2000 years of history.

Really? Who rules the earth? Aren’t Biden and Putin and Netanyahu and Xi Jinping the strong men who build their nations they want? No, says John, they are only second rate kings who report to King Jesus, the one Lord who rules them all. Hmmm. That’s not how the news anchor on my TV reports it.

Second, says John, Jesus is: 
    The one who loves us and freed us from our sins.
    The one who makes us into a kingdom of priests who serve God (Rev 1:5-6). 

Seems odd, doesn’t it? King Jesus who lets a delusional Putin invade Ukraine, and a vengeful Netanyahu bomb Palestine, and a power-hungry Jinping threaten Taiwan. This King Jesus doesn’t build a military-industrial complex to rule them all, but a kingdom of priests to serve God. How is that a solution to the realpolitik of a violent world? 

Third, John says of Jesus: 
    He is the one who will come in the clouds
        and rule the earth (Rev 1:7). 

Ahh. That must be one of the things that will happen soon. King Jesus will appear and make his weak and invisible kingdom strong and real. 

Let’s pray. 

Jesus, we worship you because you are the king over the kings of earth. As the psalmist warned the presidents and dictators and party-leaders of the world:
    Kiss the son lest he be angry
      and you be destroyed in your way (Ps 2:12).      

We worship you, Jesus, because you loved us and freed us from our sins. Free us from the kingdom of darkness. Free us from the powers of this world. Free us from sins that entangle us, from confused thinking that immobilizes us, from self-interest that hinders our service for you and others. 

We worship you, Jesus, because you are building a new kingdom. Not based on guns and bombs, nor economic power and trade. But a kingdom of priests who serve God, and wait for his intervention. 

We worship you, Jesus, because you will come in the clouds to rule earth. Today may we serve your kingdom with loving works and steadfast faith. And tomorrow, when you demonstrate your power, may we reign with you forever. 

Amen. 

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

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube