I swear I’m almost finished with this study on Revelation. It has been a long but beautiful process and I have certainly found joy in the journey (even if you, dear reader, have not. ha!)

Just a quick update on things, since I haven’t written a “personal” post, per se, in a while.

1. I went to Huntsville last week and was supposed to stay Sun-Tues, come home, then travel back with Grant and Georgia for Easter. That didn’t happen. I did have a great time celebrating Camille’s engagement on Sunday and a “twin mom lunch” for a friend on Monday–though neither me or mama are mothers of twins, it was fun getting several such moms together and laughing at stories and sharing experiences for 3 or 4 solid hours of glorious girl time 😉

But I was all packed up to go home Tuesday and decided to get my oil changed before the long ride back to Atlanta. I found out that my car was leaking transmission fluid… LONG story short, they told me that with parts and labor it would total about $750 bucks, “give or take”!?!?! What does that even mean, btw, when a mechanic tells you that? Anyway. Since I bought my suv in Huntsville, I decided to drop by the dealership–PRAISE THE LORD!–they said it was a recently listed “recall” and they would handle ALL of it for free!! So ended up staying in Huntsville (with dirty socks and repeat outfits) all week. God is good.

2. Since I had no car and pretty much rode around with mama all day everyday, running errands and such, I bounced along for a random dermatologist appointment she had. As they were doing the basic annual check up on her, I said, “Hey, what about this?” about a spot on my chest, to which they said “Hmmmmm…”

They biopsied my mole on the spot and the test results came back indicating that my “atypical nevus” [aka: “funny looking mole”] had a mild case of pre-cancerous melanoma cells in it. As I told my family in an email earlier this week: “This is not a big deal. Focus on the words PRE and MILD.”

God is so good that He orchestrated a bizarre set of circumstances to be sure we caught this thing when we did–I mean how ridiculous and awesome is His hand in this story???

I have a consult set up with a pro @ Emory April 26th when we’ll hopefully schedule a quick surgery shortly thereafter. I am meanwhile praying for complete healing and that if surgery has to happen, that it would be a testimony to God’s power and grace–revealing no more pre-cancerous anything on the final biopsy. Amen!

3. Grant and I had a WONDERFUL Easter with family and friends!! We had the BEST time hanging out with Gma, mama and daddy of course, Stahler, and cousin Alice. Lots of down time with plenty of love for the Lord and expecting and embracing resurrection in our lives. We also [FINALLY] got to meet and play with Noah Catherine–precious beyond words–and spend some much-needed QT with Chandler and Sarah… So much so that we hung out at the Overcashes till 3am! and got to bed around 4am the night before Easter Sunday. It was really great, though, and I was surprisingly not tired ;). We crawled back into Atlanta after 11:30pm Sunday night, unpacked, and repacked.

4. Grant and I went to the MASTERS!! We got practice round tickets for Tuesday, so we got to have a brief visit with his sister Kelly, b-i-l John, and our baby niece Noel, as well as his parents. It was short but sweet and we got to see several pro golfers! Very exciting–they interact so much more with the crowd than I expected! My new fave is Westwood–I’ll be looking for him this weekend during the real deal championship. Tiger on the other hand–I hope he chokes. I know that’s mean, and perhaps un-Christianly of me, but I hope his professional life suffers from his poor personal life; I hope he’s not so entirely made of stone that he can simply harden himself to the stuff he’s brought on himself personally to perform well professionally. whatever. who knows. I was never much of a Tiger fan anyway, being from Bama and all 😉

5. Coco and I are going to the LAKE this weekend! Grant is out of town on a Bachelor weekend for Matt Hayes Thursday-Sunday, so Coco and I are headed to the lake to meet up with mama and daddy Friday night (tmrw) as soon as she gets off work! woot! Can’t wait! Anytime spent at the lake is precious time and having a bff there with me is icing on the cake! We’ll probably stop by a friend’s baby shower in Huntsville, then maybe skip up to TN on our way home to meet up with Nids Sunday night!!–we’ll see. still working out the details.

That’s about it for now.

Still kinda looking for a job, but I love my prayer groups on Wed and Thursday–like LOVELOVE them!–and my ladies’ bible study Friday mornings, so life is good and I’m growing by leaps and bounds spiritually until God provides a j.o.b. I certainly can’t complain.

It looks like we’ll be in Atlanta for another year–signing our lease (hopefully) tmrw or Monday–and I’m slowly coming around to receiving that reality with open arms. Things are good and God is great! It will be nice when Grant and I are slowed down and bit and get to spend more time together at home–rather than being gone every weekend, sometimes apart during that time.

We are excitedly planning our 2 year anniversary (can you BELIEVE it???!!!) so if you have any fun ideas, vacation spots, or favorites, leave a comment!!!

Part Four: Plagues and Terrors

Basically, one thing flows into another, so it is difficult to topically sort these events out, so to speak, because as the 7th Seal on The Scroll is broken that brings the 7 Angels with 7 Trumpets which bring on the Plagues and Terrors (or “great woes”), which involve the Small Scroll and 2 Witnesses, which lead to the evil ‘trinity’ and great prostitute, which finally brings us to the Wedding Day and Feast of the Lamb, which explains the White Horse again and the 1000 years, then the new heaven and new earth, and a final description of the New Jerusalem—Hallelujah!

The purpose in breaking this up is to make reading this ridiculous opus easier for you, dear reader, not because it is logically possible to dissect this story—metaphorical or otherwise—into bite-size pieces. Forgive me.

Having said that, looking at Revelation 8-11, let’s see what the Lord has for us because we need understand the basics of WHAT is actually happening to then discern the underlying TRUTH and scriptural MEANING of the events described.

“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.” (Rev 8:1)
—This should be significant to us, given the previous description of continual worship in heaven.
Then: altar of prayers, gold incense burner, fire from the altar thrown to the earth: thunder, lightning, earthquake

7 Angels with 7 Trumpets (Rev 8-9)
1) “hail and fire mixed with blood” thrown down onto the earth [remember (Exo 9:23-25)]
1/3 of the earth= set on fire
1/3 of the trees and everything green (Rev 8:7)
2) “mountain of fire thrown into the sea”
1/3 of the water => blood [remember (Exo 7:17-18)]
1/3 of all sea creatures= dead
1/3 of of all ships @ sea= destroyed (Rev 8:8-9)
3)”great star named ‘Bitterness’ fell from the sky, burning like a torch” [I think this is similar to the festering boils or great physical sickness experienced in Egypt (Exo 9:9)] also [remember the bitter water at Marah and the command of the Lord: obedience, healing, and then 12 springs of water at Elim (Exo 15:23-27)]
1/3 of the rivers and springs of fresh water
—made water bitter and many died from drinking the bitter water (Rev 8:10-11)
4) darkness [remember (Exo 10:21)]
1/3 of the sun
1/3 of the moon
1/3 of the stars
1/3 of the day= dark
1/3 of the night= dark (Rev 8:12)

[5th Trumpet brings 1st Terror]

5) fallen star= given the key to Hell and opens it (Rev 9:1)
From Hell:
Darkness again, this time from smoke of Hell’s furnace (Exo 10:21) (Rev 9: 2)
Locusts (Exo 10:12) (Rev 9: 3-11)
sting like scorpions
sting people without the Seal of God on their foreheads
not to kill the people but to torture them for 5 months
Appearance: “horses prepared for battle with gold crowns and faces like a human, hair like a woman’s and teeth like a lion. They wore armor made of iron and their wings roared like an army or chariots rushing into battle. They had tails that stung like scorpions” (Rev 9:7-10)
Authority: “Their king is [Satan] the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is “Abaddon,’ and in Greek ‘Apollyon’—The Destroyer.” (Rev 9:11)

[6th Trumpet brings 2nd Terror]

6) Release of the 4 Angels to the 4 Corners of the World (Rev 9:13-21)
“Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth” (Rev 9:15)
—What perfect planning and preparation that, before the earth was created, these angels had an appointed time and a purposed assignment—
1/3 of human population= killed by 3 plagues: fire, smoke, and burning sulfur (Rev 9:15, 18)
4 Angels’ Army: 200 million+ horses and riders
Appearance: (horses and riders described)
Riders—“the riders wore armor of fiery red and dark blue and yellow”
Horses—“the horses had heads like lions and fire, smoke, and burning sulfur billowed from their mouths…their power was in their mouths and tails, for their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people” (Rev 9:17-19)

[Interlude]
[Mighty Angel and Small Scroll (Rev 10)]
Stood with small scroll in hand with left foot on land and right foot on water on earth and roared like a lion—his cry was answered by 7 thunders that spoke, but what they said is kept secret [remember Deut 29:29]—this angel raises a hand towards heaven and says that with the 7th Trumpet “God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as He announced through His servants the prophets” (Rev 10:7)

[Eat your Daily Bread—a Word from the Lord for the People of the Lord]
“Yes, take and eat the small scroll,” said the angel, “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” which came to pass [remember also Ezekiel being fed a scroll that was first sweet in his mouth but turned bitter (Ezek 3:1-7, 14)]; and of course (Deut 8:3, Job 23:12, Prov 30:8, Matt 4:4, 6:11, and Luke 4:4, 11:3) on God’s Word/ bread/ sustenance.

[Two Witnesses] (Rev 11:3-12)
Who: 2 Witnesses= 2 Olive Trees= 2 Lampstands: “that stand before the Lord of all the earth”
Olive Trees: symbol of life, growth, and development; 2 special trees (though not necessarily olive) in the Garden of Eden and same 2 in the New Jerusalem—Knowledge of Good and Evil and Life Everlasting (Gen 2:9, Rev 22:2); used for physical healing/ medicinal purposes; involved in atonement of sins (Lev 2:1) and breaking bread; listed by God as a “sacred offering” (Exo 25:6); used as both an anointing oil (Exo 30:25-31, Ps 133:2) and lamp oil (Exo 27:20-21)—tying the Olive Trees and the Lampstands together.
Lampstands: symbol of light, dispelling darkness, and restoring peace; used to represent the 7 churches earlier in Revelation; used in the Old Testament to atone for sin and provide continual and everlasting light to the inner curtain of the Tabernacle (Exo 27: 20-21); OT—precious and costly: made of one continuous piece of gold (Exo 25:31) and made to look like a living tree with branches, blowers, buds, and fruit (Exo 25:32-36)—tying the Olive Trees and the Lampstands together.

What: 2 “dressed in burlap” to prophesy to the nations and give testimony to the Truth; from the description that ties them to Olive Trees and Lampstands, they are to intercede, prophesy, heal, atone, testify to the truth, bring light, dispel darkness, restore certain things, and be pure, holy, precious, costly, and sacred—given the lists above
When: “1260 days” (or 3.5 years) with a death and resurrection 3.5 days later (a day for each year) and ascension into heaven like Jesus
Where: all the earth, death and resurrection in “Jerusalem” figuratively not literally (Rev 11:8)
Why: to turn the hearts of the people on earth—one last shot before the 7th trumpet to win back souls for Christ
How: Authority from God to do whatever it takes to bring rebellious people back:
“They have the power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.” Much like Moses and Aaron vs. Pharaoh in OT times—whatever it takes to free people from the slavery and bondage of this earth
—Satan will declare war on them and kill them in the street; people will celebrate, congratulating each other and satan for this ‘victory,’ but after 3.5 days God will speak life to them and they will live and rise up into heaven at His command

[2nd Terror comes to an end]
Terrible earthquake destroys 1/10 of the city—7,000 people die
People repent and glorify God

[7th Trumpet brings 3rd and Final Terror]

7) Loud Voices from Heaven:
“The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever!” (Rev 11:15)
24 Elders give thanks and praise/ lay out the itinerary: God’s taking back all His power/ any authority that He had allocated out; (just like the OT) God’s wrath on the nations has passed and the time for peace and reconciliation is coming (Wedding and Feast of the Lamb after all this other stuff) but first: justice and judgment; Time of Judgment—Book of Life (Sin and Atonement through Jesus: Life; Sin without atonement: Death); Time of Reward—Book of the Lamb/ Bema Judgment (Stewardship not sin); Final destruction of evil
Ark of the Covenant
Lightning
Earthquake
Hailstorm
Chaos

NOTE
If you remember the OT plagues that brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, 5 of the 10 plagues listed in Exodus are repeated here. Why? I think that God is calling to mind a remembrance of the power He’s already demonstrated, but is also revealing that He’s doing a new thing here and that many things happening in the End Times will be like nothing before. It’s also a melding of the Old and New Testaments in that exactly half of the apocalyptic plagues are Old Testament plagues and exactly half are completely new (perhaps representing an old and a new covenant) God is displaying a new wrathful vengeance for a new and different generation (not just Jew but Gentile as well) and renewed power and strength, having sent every other possible warning first.

In even this, He loves.
In even this, He redeems.
In even this, He is jealous for His Beloved, wanting only His Bride to come fully into His arms.
And certainly in even this, He lives!

[Quick Refresher]
Plagues of Egypt from Exodus:
1. Blood (7:17-18)
2. Frogs (8:2-4)
3. Gnats (8:16-17)
4. Flies (8:24)
5. Livestock (9:6)
6. Festering Boils/ Sickness (9:9)
7. Hail (9:23-25)
8. Locusts (10:12)
9. Darkness (10:21)
10. Death of Firstborn [man and animal alike] (11:5-6)

5 listed in Revelation:
Hail
Blood
Bitter Illness
Darkness
Locusts

Part Three: Breaking the 7 Seals on The Scroll

The Lamb is the only One worthy enough to open the 7 seals (Rev 5:4-5), so He does and this is what happens when each seal breaks (Rev 6-8:5):

1st seal. White Horse with Rider: Victory—carries bow, crown on head: “He rode out to win many battles and gain the glory!” [we like that one]

2nd seal. Red Horse with Rider: War—“was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace away from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.” [we certainly don’t like that one]

3rd seal. Black Horse with Rider: Justice—“its rider was holding a pair of scales” [we hope we’re saved from that one]

4th seal. Green Horse with Rider: Death and the Grave—“These two were given authority over ¼ of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals” [we hope never to meet these two]

TIME OUT: Let’s stop after these 4 Horsemen and regroup. God has given power and authority to these four—and that may be difficult to swallow, but if you have a pretty good understanding of the Old and New Testament God [one and the same, never changing, uncreated, all-powerful, just, true, and filled with unfailing love] then you know that He acts on and allows whatever it takes to win back His wonderful children—even this. It will all make sense later (both in the book of Revelation and in life). The only two things that will last forever are eternal souls and the Word of God.

These three things we can know for sure: “For the Lord is good, His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to every generation” (Psalm 100:5).

5th seal. Altar of Martyred Souls: who shout “How Long, O Lord, before You judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?!”—they are given white robes and are told to rest a bit longer “until the full number of their brothers and sisters had joined them.”

6th seal. Geological Chaos: earthquake, sun goes black, moon turns blood red, stars fall out of the sky, the sky is rolled up like a scroll, and the mountains and islands are moved. In essence, the earth is shaken to its foundations—just to notify all who were not sure: this is the end time.

**Before the 7th seal, 4 angels place the Seal of God on the foreheads of those (his servants) left on earth—a total of 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel [12,000 from each tribe]—however, interesting that the tribes of Dan and Ephraim are left out—though they are not listed they are not left out…
quick history catch up!
*original 12 born to Jacob:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin
—Levi=God’s priests with no land, and Joseph’s 2 sons replace him in his inheritance—
*12 tribes given camping spot in wilderness and land in Canaan:
Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali
*In this list (Rev 7:4-8), however, Dan and Ephraim are simply not listed because Levi and Joseph are listed but they are not left out entirely.
*In Ezekiel 37:16-19 God says He will join Ephraim and the Tribes of the North [Dan was the head of the 3 northern Tribes (Numbers 2)] and will reconcile them or join them irrevocably to Judah. So they are not left out, but unnamed perhaps because of this Old Testament Prophesy so that both Levi and Joseph can be listed in this list in Revelation.

** The Multitudes, aka, us: Massive crowd too large to count in white robes with palm branches sing out and worship the Lord; “these are the ones who died in [or came out of] the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.”—This is the rest of us—the multitudes—who know and believe but are not from a “tribe” of Israel. It says very little about how we “died” or “came up out of” great tribulation; nor does it describe the time of “great tribulation” or suffering at all. What is that about? I want to know more! Is it that we were taken up and those of the 12 tribes listed above are still on earth with the Seal on their foreheads? I’m not sure.

7th seal. Fire and Brimstone: silence throughout heaven for 1 hour; 7 angels with 7 trumpets, another angel with gold incense burner “to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering” then to “fill the incense burner with fire from the altar and throw it on the earth”—chaos once more—“and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.” This can be a confusing portrait of events in heaven—sounds a bit more like hell with all the chaos and destruction, the fire and silence from worshiping God, however it is not and Peace will come and reign forever—this simply must pave the way and happen first.

Picture all of this happening—unfolding along a timeline we do not know with events we cannot understand.

All of this is why I believe that it is much easier and clearer to detect good and evil and to love the Lord as Savoir forever NOW rather than later—imagine trying to sort out all that in the midst of fire falling from heaven and the end of the physical world/ existence as you once knew it.

Part Two: Creatures and Worship in Heaven

This part is pretty psychedelic… I really like it! The next section describes all the things/ people/ beings dwelling and worshiping in heaven (chapters 4 and 5).

It is important that we understand the who, what, where, why, and how of heaven and worship. This section paints that picture for us. [This is a brief overview/ outline as you read along chapters 4 and 5; not much commentary but just a basic foundation to build from in future chapters and lessons.]

The Glory of God: “as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow” (Rev 4:2-3). Could we even imagine it? Surely there is nothing in this world beautiful enough to encapsulate or compare His glory and beauty and majesty to, so we are left grasping at straws to understand the fullness of this picture and this moment. Safe to say, it’s the most breathtakingly beautiful thing we will or could ever experience.

Spirit of God: “7 torches with 7 flames represent the Sevenfold Spirit of God”—moving and speaking, perhaps, to the world through the 7 churches (also represented by fire/ torch-like structures in heaven) (Rev 4:5). This “Sevenfold Spirit of God” means that the Spirit has been made new or has changed or somehow increased in power. It’s very interesting that the Spirit’s name is different and that the characteristics that describe Him are new.

24 elders sitting on 24 thrones that surround God’s throne and fall on their faces continually in worship—clothed in white with gold crowns on their heads (Rev 4:4).

4 animal-like creatures in heaven that love and worship the Lord: a lion, an ox, a human-faced animal, and an eagle in flight—each with 6 wings and completely covered in eyes (Rev 4:7).

Jesus—the Lion and the Lamb

The Lion: “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory!” (Rev 5:5).

The Lamb: this is Jesus, the perfect Lamb of Atonement; “Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the 4 living beings and among the 24 elders.” What a strikingly different appearance to the Glory of God—a slaughtered Lamb, covered in blood, yet standing and talking among them. But there’s more: “He [the Lamb] had 7 horns and 7 eyes which represent the Sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out to even part of the earth” (Rev 5:6), representing the precious pairing of Jesus, the Lamb that was slaughtered, and the Holy Spirit, who is manifested 7x in the end times.

Worship: Harp and Bowl—what’s mentioned here is the “harp and bowl” style of worship that incorporates music and singing with intercession and prayer in the Spirit: “…the 4 living beings and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song…” (Rev 5:8).

Angels in Heaven: “thousands and millions of angels around the throne” worshiping the Lord (Rev 5:11).

The Multitudes, aka, us: “I saw a vast crows, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. There were clothed in white robes and held palm braches in their hands…these are the ones who died in [come up out of] the great tribulation…That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve Him day and night in His Temple…He is their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:9-17)—this comes later in the book—and if you have questions about this, you are not alone!

Part One: the 7 Stars (Angels) and 7 Lampstands (Churches)

The first part of Revelations (chapters 1-3) is a little head’s up for 7 churches of Asia—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea—dictated to John by Jesus (Rev 1:12-18), and the gist of each message is basically: “God is watching and you have become lax in some way, which if not repented and changed will be your downfall—judgment is coming.” The 7 stars represent the 7 watchful angels and the 7 lampstands represent the 7 churches (Rev 1:20). What is interesting to me in this section is how God words his message: the opening and closing of each letter—how He identifies Himself and what He promises to each church. A recurring theme for the ending of all 7 letters is a call for prophets—“anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches”—included toward the end of each letter.

Ephesus: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the One who holds the 7 stars in His right hand (God), the One who walks among the 7 gold lampstands (again, God).” The end promises eternal life—”fruit from the Tree of Life in the paradise of God”—as reward for repentance and victory in Jesus (Rev 2:1-7).

Smyrna: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the One who is the First and the Last (God), who was dead but is now alive (Jesus).” His promise at the end: “But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the Crown of Life…whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the 2nd death” (Rev 2:8-11). More on the “2nd death” later.

Pergamum: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the One with the sharp two-edged sword (Jesus/ God’s word).” The end promise of victorious reward: “To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.” Interesting gift. (Rev 2:12-17)

Thyatira: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God (Jesus), whose eyes are like flames of fire (Jesus), whose feet are like polished bronze (Jesus).” Not the familiar picture of a soft-looking man holding a lamb in your Sunday school class? Check out a similar description in Rev 1:12-18; remember, he’s gearing up for Spiritual Warfare and the end is near. His promise at the end: “I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!” [a term used to describe Himself later in Rev 22:16]. Pretty destructive imagery all around, but nothing compared to what is to come (Rev 2:18-29).

Sardis: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the 7 stars (God).” This new identity of the Spirit “sevenfold” is introduced for the first time in the Bible in Revelation. Don’t get too hung up on it, it simply represents a new picture or understanding of the Trinity’s character and power, much like the description of Jesus as a warlord earlier—just one more piece of the whole puzzle revealed to us. Remember, we’re not held accountable for the secrets of God we don’t understand, only for the pieces He chooses to reveal to us and how we internalize them (Deut 29:29). And their just reward: “All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and His angels that they are Mine.” Pretty Powerful. (Rev 3: 1-6).

Philadelphia: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the One who is holy and true (God), the One who has the key of David (Jesus). What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open.” (reference Isa. 22:22 for a reminder on the key of David). Victory’s reward: “Because you have obeyed My command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world… All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the Name of My God, and they will be citizens in the city of My God—the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And I will also write on them My New Name.” That’s a lot to take in—what a gift! It’s almost like 3 gifts. And here’s another surprising detail: when the Word says He makes all things “new” (Isa 43:19, 66:22, 65:17; Rev 21:1-5; Gal 6:15, 2 Peter 3:13, 2 Cor 5:17, Ezek 18:31, 36:26, Col 3:10) that applies to heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and even the Name of Jesus, as well as you and me in our individual walk with Christ here on earth. Wow. (Rev 3:7-13).

Laodicea: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the One who is the Amen (Spirit)—the faithful and true witness (Jesus), the beginning of God’s new creation (God).” And the final promise: “Those who are victorious will sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat with My Father on His throne.” What a comparison. We hardly deserve it, but thank God He doesn’t give us what we deserve. Amen. (Rev 3:14-22).

The 7 distinct ways God uses to identify Himself (and the Trinity) differ in accordance to what He wants the churches to each be aware of—which elements of His character He wants to remind them of and impress upon them; the promises of victory are different, too. He didn’t simply say “I am God…victory means life eternal”—each reward was chosen specifically for some reason, tying directly into the Identity God listed and the “complaints” He has with the church. Interesting that there are 7 continents and listed there are 7 churches–of course, we’ll have to quickly set-up shop in Antarctica if we believed that, but I think there’s more symbolism going on than simply 7 for 7 [in fact, a whole study could be done on the meanings of the number 7 in the Bible and in Revelation, but that’s for another time]. I would really rather be grouped in with the victorious ones of Ephesus, Smyrna, Sardis, or Philadelphia rather than with those of Pergamum, Thyatira, or Laodicea—but that’s not up for me to decide, thankfully.

What an interesting scene of John taking dictation from God the Father Almighty and Jesus Christ as described in all His garb, writing warnings to us of what will be.

Amazing.