August 31 - Revelation 21:22-22:7 - Heaven
After all we have experienced since before God set the world in motion, we are finally brought to the end. It's better than the beginning!
In the beginning was chaos - the earth was formless and void. But when we come to the end of all things of creation, we find that God has prepared this for us as well! God created the earth so that He could share it with His children. He created the New Heaven and the New Earth so that He would never have to be parted from us again.
That's how much He enjoys being with us!
John didn't see a temple in the New Jerusalem because the Lord and the Lamb are the temple. Wherever they walk, there will be worship. There is no need for sacrifice, that has been completed. There is no need for sun because the light will come from God. There is no night, no darkness, nothing impure, nothing shameful. All that enter the new heaven and the new Jerusalem will be made pure ... have been made pure by the sacrifice of the Lamb. (Rev. 21:22-27)
The river of the water of life will traverse the city flowing out from the throne of God. It provides water for the tree of life. This tree provides healing for the nations. All that has been dark and ugly no longer exists. The Lord God reigns.
The Day of the Lord is coming. We will face much calamity as we move forward into eternity. What that will look like is unknown. There is so much unknown regarding the end of the world. But, even though we can not know the hour or the day, even though we will not know the exact form that all of this will take, we DO know that it has been set in motion by the One that we trust with our lives. I trust Him with everything that I am, I will trust Him to care for me as He sets His final plans into place.
Jesus assures John and in so doing assures each of us. "Behold, I am coming soon."
We don't know the hour or day, but we do know that Jesus is honorable. He tells us that He is returning. I can hardly wait.
August 30 - The Throne Room
Sunday, August 30, 2009
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August 30 - Revelation 4:1-5:14 - The Throne Room
If I said before that I had a favorite passage in scripture, it pales in comparison to how I view these verses. There is no greater desire in my heart and soul than to be standing before God in heaven, bowing down before Him with all that I have and all that I am and offering Him the words, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come." (Rev. 4:8)
The glory and majesty of this scene in John's vision entrances me. From the twenty-four elders dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads to the four living creatures covered in eyes, the spectacle barely begins to be described.
The throne, encircled by an emerald rainbow, and enabling flashes of lightning, rumbling and peals of thunder, is filled with one having the appearance of jasper and carnelian. Seven lamps blazing before the throne light up a crystal clear sea of glass.
We have met the Creator and before Him all praise and worship flow from the elders, who lay down their crowns ... those glorious crowns of gold ... before him, crying out "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Rev. 4:11)
Some of these images are too intricate to be comprehended by my small mind, but in the next scene, John tells us that he sees a Lamb, who had been slain standing in the center of the throne. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders surround him. He has seven horns and seven eyes.
The beginning of the prophecy is about to occur as he takes the scroll from the right hand of God. The elders are holding harps and golden bowls. Each of those bowls is filled with incense, which is the prayers of the saints. These are our prayers.
They sing a new song of praise to the Lamb. "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals," they cry, "because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:9)
Then, thousands of angels join in the chorus, a chorus I so desperately want to sing with them, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise." (Rev. 5:12)
After the angels join the elders in song, every single creature in heaven, on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, join singing, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." (Rev. 5:13)
To which the four living creatures respond with "Amen" and the elders fell down and worshipped.
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever."
Amen. We can do no more than to fall down and worship.
If I said before that I had a favorite passage in scripture, it pales in comparison to how I view these verses. There is no greater desire in my heart and soul than to be standing before God in heaven, bowing down before Him with all that I have and all that I am and offering Him the words, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come." (Rev. 4:8)
The glory and majesty of this scene in John's vision entrances me. From the twenty-four elders dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads to the four living creatures covered in eyes, the spectacle barely begins to be described.
The throne, encircled by an emerald rainbow, and enabling flashes of lightning, rumbling and peals of thunder, is filled with one having the appearance of jasper and carnelian. Seven lamps blazing before the throne light up a crystal clear sea of glass.
We have met the Creator and before Him all praise and worship flow from the elders, who lay down their crowns ... those glorious crowns of gold ... before him, crying out "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Rev. 4:11)
Some of these images are too intricate to be comprehended by my small mind, but in the next scene, John tells us that he sees a Lamb, who had been slain standing in the center of the throne. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders surround him. He has seven horns and seven eyes.
The beginning of the prophecy is about to occur as he takes the scroll from the right hand of God. The elders are holding harps and golden bowls. Each of those bowls is filled with incense, which is the prayers of the saints. These are our prayers.
They sing a new song of praise to the Lamb. "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals," they cry, "because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:9)
Then, thousands of angels join in the chorus, a chorus I so desperately want to sing with them, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise." (Rev. 5:12)
After the angels join the elders in song, every single creature in heaven, on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, join singing, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." (Rev. 5:13)
To which the four living creatures respond with "Amen" and the elders fell down and worshipped.
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever."
Amen. We can do no more than to fall down and worship.
September Blogging
Saturday, August 29, 2009
During the month of September, I am going to take a look at "The Word of God" and what scripture has to say about it. My Bible is a Thompson Chain Reference Bible and one of the treasures in it is the loving research that Dr. Frank Charles Thompson did in creating chains of information that flow through the Bible. I will be using his 'outline' for each day's lesson as I explore verses that speak to various points.
If you know someone that would like to join me on this daily journey through scripture, please invite them to either follow the blog, or email me at nammynools (at) cox (dot) net and I will put them on the daily mailing list. And remember, if these daily emails become too overwhelming, please let me know immediately and it will not offend me to take you off the list!
My greatest passion is the study of Scripture and my second greatest passion is teaching. It is such a joy for me to be able to share just a little bit of what I learn along the way as I read and study the Bible.
If you know someone that would like to join me on this daily journey through scripture, please invite them to either follow the blog, or email me at nammynools (at) cox (dot) net and I will put them on the daily mailing list. And remember, if these daily emails become too overwhelming, please let me know immediately and it will not offend me to take you off the list!
My greatest passion is the study of Scripture and my second greatest passion is teaching. It is such a joy for me to be able to share just a little bit of what I learn along the way as I read and study the Bible.
August 29 - Son of Man
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August 29- Revelation 1:9-20 - Son of Man
I think all of us have an picture in our minds of what Jesus Christ looks like. That picture, though, changes from culture to culture, from region to region, from person to person.
In Revelation, the picture that John translates for us is that of the Risen Christ, the one that comes to him with a vision of what will come. This is the Coming Messiah.
I love this passage with its strong descriptive language.
In Revelation 1:10, John is praying on the Lord's Day. He is lost in the Spirit, completely focused on the conversation he is having with God. All of a sudden, he hears a voice behind him. It is a loud voice, like a trumpet. When he turns around to see the voice, he doesn't just see a man, but he sees an entire panorama.
There were seven golden lampstands and standing among them was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet with a golden sash around his chest.
Take a few moments to get that picture in your mind.
His head and hair were white like wool ... like snow and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze and his voice ... his voice! His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
He held seven stars in his right hand and from his mouth came a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Revelation 1:12-16)
Now, as well as John knew Jesus when He walked on the earth, this vision nearly overwhelmed the poor man. He feel at his feet as though dead. (Revelation 1:17)
If John was this overwhelmed at seeing a man he had walked with for three years and loved dearly, more than any other person, I sincerely believe that we will not see the man we think we know from pictures hanging on Sunday School walls.
1 Corinthians 13:12 says, "Now we see but a poor reflection, then we shall see face to face."
Though John does his very best to describe the Messiah, the Coming Christ, he can barely put into words a full description of someone he knew very well. We can not begin to imagine the glory that will surround Jesus Christ when He returns from heaven.
John has seen the Messiah and wants us to be confident that we will recognize Him when He comes.
I think all of us have an picture in our minds of what Jesus Christ looks like. That picture, though, changes from culture to culture, from region to region, from person to person.
In Revelation, the picture that John translates for us is that of the Risen Christ, the one that comes to him with a vision of what will come. This is the Coming Messiah.
I love this passage with its strong descriptive language.
In Revelation 1:10, John is praying on the Lord's Day. He is lost in the Spirit, completely focused on the conversation he is having with God. All of a sudden, he hears a voice behind him. It is a loud voice, like a trumpet. When he turns around to see the voice, he doesn't just see a man, but he sees an entire panorama.
There were seven golden lampstands and standing among them was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet with a golden sash around his chest.
Take a few moments to get that picture in your mind.
His head and hair were white like wool ... like snow and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze and his voice ... his voice! His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
He held seven stars in his right hand and from his mouth came a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Revelation 1:12-16)
Now, as well as John knew Jesus when He walked on the earth, this vision nearly overwhelmed the poor man. He feel at his feet as though dead. (Revelation 1:17)
If John was this overwhelmed at seeing a man he had walked with for three years and loved dearly, more than any other person, I sincerely believe that we will not see the man we think we know from pictures hanging on Sunday School walls.
1 Corinthians 13:12 says, "Now we see but a poor reflection, then we shall see face to face."
Though John does his very best to describe the Messiah, the Coming Christ, he can barely put into words a full description of someone he knew very well. We can not begin to imagine the glory that will surround Jesus Christ when He returns from heaven.
John has seen the Messiah and wants us to be confident that we will recognize Him when He comes.
August 28 - Love One Another
Friday, August 28, 2009
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August 28 - 1 John 3:1-24 - Love One Another
John's first letter is such a glorious testament to love.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1)
John absolutely adores the people to whom he is writing this letter. He wants to assure them of God's love for them. Each precious word in this chapter is meant to be internalized so that love fills the heart!
"Now that we are children of God, what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:3)
Wow! The creation story in Genesis tells us that we are made in God's image. John tells us that we don't yet understand what that looks like, but we will!
In 1 John 3:11, John goes on by telling us that the message has always been to love one another. It's a message the continually gets lost. But, a lack of love for each other is like death. "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." (1 John 3:14-15)
I have very few words that I can add to this passage - it speaks for itself.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth ... For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:18-19)
He finishes with: "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." (1 John 3:23-24)
The Spirit that was sent to us at Pentecost remains in us. This Spirit is our Counselor, our Teacher, our conscience. This Spirit reminds us continually that we live in Christ and he lives in us.
Love one another.
John's first letter is such a glorious testament to love.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1)
John absolutely adores the people to whom he is writing this letter. He wants to assure them of God's love for them. Each precious word in this chapter is meant to be internalized so that love fills the heart!
"Now that we are children of God, what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:3)
Wow! The creation story in Genesis tells us that we are made in God's image. John tells us that we don't yet understand what that looks like, but we will!
In 1 John 3:11, John goes on by telling us that the message has always been to love one another. It's a message the continually gets lost. But, a lack of love for each other is like death. "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." (1 John 3:14-15)
I have very few words that I can add to this passage - it speaks for itself.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth ... For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:18-19)
He finishes with: "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." (1 John 3:23-24)
The Spirit that was sent to us at Pentecost remains in us. This Spirit is our Counselor, our Teacher, our conscience. This Spirit reminds us continually that we live in Christ and he lives in us.
Love one another.
August 27 - Living Hope
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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August 27 - 1 Peter 1:3-12 - Living Hope
You have been given a new life into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. It is kept in a safe place for you.
It's nearly impossible to see past the stress and gloom that we face every day into future glory. Peter tells us that we may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, but it is only for a little while. What a narrow focus we have when we only see the stress and trials of our every day life. This is only a short period of time in comparison to the eternity that we will spend with God in heaven!
So, why do we even have to deal with this? Well, it's pretty clear in these verses. 1 Peter 1:7 tells us that our faith is worth much more than gold is being refined so that it may be proved genuine. Can you imagine anything more exciting than to have people standing beside us in heaven when Jesus is revealed because they saw and responded to our faith?
When we face down trials and stress and grow in our faith, people around us notice this. They notice that we love Jesus even though we don't see him. They notice our joy. (1 Peter 1:8)
Much like the prophets of ancient times (1 Peter 1:10-12), our faith is not just for the moment. They lived to serve people that would live long after they had died. They had hoped for Christ's initial lifespan on earth. They prophesied about it, they prayed for it, they led their people as they waited for it.
Our lives are not just meant to be lived for ourselves. We are establishing the foundation of faith for generations to come. We pray for the second coming of the Messiah, we hope for it, we wait for it. And if we don't see it in our lifetimes, there will be those who walk on the foundation of our faith who will see it and will rejoice.
We serve those future generations. We are a living hope.
You have been given a new life into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. It is kept in a safe place for you.
It's nearly impossible to see past the stress and gloom that we face every day into future glory. Peter tells us that we may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, but it is only for a little while. What a narrow focus we have when we only see the stress and trials of our every day life. This is only a short period of time in comparison to the eternity that we will spend with God in heaven!
So, why do we even have to deal with this? Well, it's pretty clear in these verses. 1 Peter 1:7 tells us that our faith is worth much more than gold is being refined so that it may be proved genuine. Can you imagine anything more exciting than to have people standing beside us in heaven when Jesus is revealed because they saw and responded to our faith?
When we face down trials and stress and grow in our faith, people around us notice this. They notice that we love Jesus even though we don't see him. They notice our joy. (1 Peter 1:8)
Much like the prophets of ancient times (1 Peter 1:10-12), our faith is not just for the moment. They lived to serve people that would live long after they had died. They had hoped for Christ's initial lifespan on earth. They prophesied about it, they prayed for it, they led their people as they waited for it.
Our lives are not just meant to be lived for ourselves. We are establishing the foundation of faith for generations to come. We pray for the second coming of the Messiah, we hope for it, we wait for it. And if we don't see it in our lifetimes, there will be those who walk on the foundation of our faith who will see it and will rejoice.
We serve those future generations. We are a living hope.
August 26 - Watch Your Mouth!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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August 26 - James 3:1-12 - Watch Your Mouth!
There are certain favorite passages that are not favorites because they are so beautiful, but were chosen because they are so important in my life. This is one of those. I actually don't love this passage at all, but it is necessary to reread often for my wellbeing.
It doesn't start well for me: "Not many of you should presume to be teachers ... because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1)
One of the things I learned growing up with my father was that certain behaviors were expected of us because we were his children. As a pastor, people watched his family closely. If he couldn't raise his children well, how could he expect to teach them how to raise their own? Dad took his responsibility to his congregation very seriously. If he called on them to refrain from drinking to excess, then he wasn't going to drink. He knew that asking his congregation to live holy lives if he was out carousing and flirting with women, smoking and partying was hypocritical. He also knew that the expectations were higher for him than for anyone else in that congregation. He made a choice to be their pastor and he did his best to live up to the standards he set for himself.
Now, while James acknowledges that every part of the person should be kept in check, he specifically points to the tongue as the rudder that steers the sheep or the bit in the mouth of a horse. (James 3:3-5)
He finds that the tongues is the source of most evil in each person. And speaking for myself, I find it hard to disagree with him. What comes out of my mouth sometimes appalls even me. I can't believe it when I find myself gossiping and speaking badly about a person simply because I disagree with them or because they seem to have done something foolish. Who in the world do I think that I am to sit in judgment of anyone else?
In James 3:8, he says that no man can tame the tongue - it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise God and curse men who are made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. (James 3:9-10)
Just like a freshwater spring that is unable to produce salt water, our mouths should be brought under control so that only praise flows from our tongues.
This is one of those things that I will always be working to bring under control. How about you? Have you got it figured out yet?
There are certain favorite passages that are not favorites because they are so beautiful, but were chosen because they are so important in my life. This is one of those. I actually don't love this passage at all, but it is necessary to reread often for my wellbeing.
It doesn't start well for me: "Not many of you should presume to be teachers ... because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1)
One of the things I learned growing up with my father was that certain behaviors were expected of us because we were his children. As a pastor, people watched his family closely. If he couldn't raise his children well, how could he expect to teach them how to raise their own? Dad took his responsibility to his congregation very seriously. If he called on them to refrain from drinking to excess, then he wasn't going to drink. He knew that asking his congregation to live holy lives if he was out carousing and flirting with women, smoking and partying was hypocritical. He also knew that the expectations were higher for him than for anyone else in that congregation. He made a choice to be their pastor and he did his best to live up to the standards he set for himself.
Now, while James acknowledges that every part of the person should be kept in check, he specifically points to the tongue as the rudder that steers the sheep or the bit in the mouth of a horse. (James 3:3-5)
He finds that the tongues is the source of most evil in each person. And speaking for myself, I find it hard to disagree with him. What comes out of my mouth sometimes appalls even me. I can't believe it when I find myself gossiping and speaking badly about a person simply because I disagree with them or because they seem to have done something foolish. Who in the world do I think that I am to sit in judgment of anyone else?
In James 3:8, he says that no man can tame the tongue - it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise God and curse men who are made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. (James 3:9-10)
Just like a freshwater spring that is unable to produce salt water, our mouths should be brought under control so that only praise flows from our tongues.
This is one of those things that I will always be working to bring under control. How about you? Have you got it figured out yet?
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