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