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

In the Book of Revelation, chapter 12, Michael and his angels threw the dragon and his demons to earth. Chapter 13 continues the story. 

The dragon stands on a seashore, while a beast emerges from the sea. The beast has 10 horns, 7 heads, feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion. One head looks like it was fatally wounded, but had healed. 

This impresses the whole world, and everyone worships the magical beast and the dragon who gave him authority. The beast spends the next six years blaspheming God, railing against the residents of heaven, and unleashing war against Christians. 

John quotes Jeremiah to describe these six awful years: 
    If anyone is destined for captivity,
      into captivity they will go.
    If anyone is destined to be killed by the sword, 
       then the sword will kill them (Rev 13:10 quoting Jer 15:2). 

Not a comforting thought for those Christians. What happened to the salvation and power and kingdom of God that were promised in Revelation 12? With classic understatement John comments, “This calls for patient endurance by God’s people” (Rev 13:11).  

The vision continues. Another beast shows up: Beast #2. It comes out of the earth and starts a new religion by creating an image of Beast #1. The image comes alive and speaks. If you refuse to worship the image, you are scheduled for execution. 

Notice some Old Testament themes in this story. In the beginning, God’s spirit hovered over the waters of chaos, and created humans in his image from the dirt of the earth. 

In a feeble parody of creation, the dragon stands by the sea, calling up beasts like itself from sea and earth. The beasts set up an image to be worshiped, reminding us of King Nebuchadnezzar who commissioned an image of himself for people to worship. When Daniel’s friends refused, the king threw them into a fiery furnace. 

In Revelation, the beasts not only demand worship, they mark everyone’s forehead or right hand. Without that mark, no one can buy or sell. 

John comments, again with understatement, “This calls for wisdom” (Rev 13:18). He continues, “Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of humans. That number is 666.”  

A mysterious saying indeed. 666 is the code for the beast that rules and for the humans it rules over? Maybe John is warning that humans who worship something other than God are turning themselves into beasts.  

Let’s pray. 

Our father, save us from whatever it is that 666 represents. Save us from the beasts that require worship, from humanity’s tendency to become like beasts, and from the beastly instincts of our own nature. 

John’s vision tells us that our world will get worse before it gets better. As the old hymn says, “Is this vile world a friend to grace?” 

O Lord, grant us wisdom not to consume ourselves with counting sixes and charting the rise of beasts. Grant us wisdom to understand the true nature of earthly power, whether wielded by Biden or Trump or Putin or Jinping or Trudeau. Teach us to be loyal to you alone, to wait for your salvation. 

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’s vision in the Book of Revelation bounces between heaven where multitudes worship God and earth where unprecedented disasters occur. 

In chapter 12, John’s vision shifts focus to signs appearing in the heavens. A pregnant woman, clothed with the sun, standing on the moon, and wearing a crown with twelve stars prepares to give birth to a son. 

Remember Joseph in the Old Testament? With his coat of many colors? He had a dream that featured a similar cosmic background. When he told his brothers that the sun, moon, and stars bowed down to him, they said he was an arrogant jerk. “No way we’ll EVER bow to you” they said, and they sold him into the Egyptian slave trade. But God made the dream come true–Joseph became the #2 man in Egypt and saved his family, and the known world, from famine.  

Do the sun and moon and stars in Revelation tell a similar story? Will Revelation’s child be a new Joseph, one who goes into slavery and rises to be king? 

As the woman in John’s vision gives birth, a red dragon with seven crowned heads and ten horns waits to devour the baby. But the baby is snatched away and taken to God’s throne in heaven. Our new Joseph escapes the clutches of his enemies and his mother escapes to the wilderness for three-and-a-half years. 

Sounds like the story of Jesus’ birth, where the dragon we know as Herod tried to kill him. And later that old dragon, Satan himself, arranged Christ’s crucifixion. But God restored Christ and set him on the throne of heaven. 

His mother, Mary, however didn’t escape to the wilderness like the mother in John’s vision. Interpreters who insist on a clear identity for the mother in Revelation tie themselves in knots trying to determine if she’s Mary, the Israelites, or maybe the church. 

Since my life is already tied in knots, I like flexible interpretations. The way I see it, the woman in John’s vision starts out as Mary giving birth to Jesus, and then she represents the church, the whole family of Jesus’ brothers and sisters who, with him, are targeted by modern-day Herods and spirit-dragons like Satan. 

Back in the Book of Revelation, meanwhile, war breaks out in heaven. Michael and the good angels fight the dragon and his demonic army, throwing them down to earth. 

That’s good news for heaven, but not so much for earth because earth is stuck with all the unhappy refugees: one angry and wounded dragon and his massive demonic army. 

A voice in heaven says, “God’s salvation is coming. The dragon who accused God’s children has been thrown down. They conquered him by the blood of the lamb andby their testimony” (Rev 12:10-12). 

But the dragon doesn’t believe he’s defeated. He was cheated out of the woman’s first child, so he plots revenge on the rest of the family–those who obey God’s commandments and hold the testimony of Jesus (Rev 12:17). 

Let’s pray. 

Our father, we are participants in the war between good and evil. We feel the dragons that pursue us: 
… a culture of sex and consumerism and violence, 
… leaders who perpetrate war and kill those who oppose them, 
… our own hearts that love darkness more than light.

We hear the promise of John’s vision, that you, O God, are bringing salvation. The dragon is defeated. We can conquer him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. 

Help us live into this promise of salvation, not to rely not on politics or philosophy to defeat evil, but on your word, spoken through the death of the lamb and the testimony of our faith.  

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 Book of Revelation tells about John’s vision of heaven, where multitudes worship God. Where seven seals on a scroll and six trumpet blasts release disasters on earth. Very confusing and mysterious. 

Now, in chapter 11, we’re waiting for the seventh trumpet blast to traumatize earth with, you guessed it, more catastrophes. 

But instead of sounding a trumpet, one in heaven gives John a measuring stick and tells him to measure the temple. Reminds us of Ezekiel’s vision, which included dozens of measurements of the temple he saw. How many measurements should we expect from John’s vision? Surprisingly, none. 

Instead, John changes the subject. He says the Gentiles will trample the holy city for three-and-a-half years, like the Babylonians trampled Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s time. 

In John’s vision, God acts on behalf of the holy city, appointing two witnesses who prophesy in the temple for three-and-a-half years. They traumatize everyone by stopping rain, turning water to blood, and causing plagues. Rather like Moses calling down plagues on Egypt.  

But the prophets in Revelation don’t lead God’s people to a promised land like Moses did. Instead, a beast emerges from the Abyss and kills the prophets. The people of earth celebrate because they are freed from the prophets’ irritating preaching and destructive plagues.  

But suddenly, as the people party, the breath of God enters the corpses. The prophets come to life and ascend to heaven in a cloud, just like Jesus went to heaven when he left the earth. 

Next, an earthquake kills seven thousand people in the city, ending their celebrations.

And, finally, the sound we’ve been waiting for. The blast of the seventh trumpet. 

Instead of looking at earth to see what disasters the trumpet releases, John looks to heaven were many worship God saying:
      The kingdom of this world
        has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah,
        and he will reign forever. 

The 24 elders also worship God saying,
      The nations raged,
        but the time of your wrath has come,
        and the time for judging the dead.
        The time for rewarding your servants,
        and for destroying those who destroy the earth (Rev 11:18-19). 

Finally John’s vision looks away from heaven to see what is happening on earth. The seventh trumpet is delivering lightning, thunder, rumbling, earthquake, and hail. 

Let’s pray. 

Our father, Revelation locates the power center of the world and its affairs not in the World Economic Forum, nor the EU, the UN, Beijing, Washington, or Moscow, but in the throne room of heaven, where a lamb shares your throne and watches over his flock on earth. 

We wait for the day when you reveal yourself, when the kingdom of this world becomes your kingdom, when your Messiah will judge all of history and destroy those who destroy the 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”.

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