OT: “How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. Look at the nations and observe  — be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it… I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint. The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late. Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith.” (‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭‭1:2-5, 2:1-4‬ ‭CSB)

Habakkuk lived during one of Judah’s most tumultuous and critical periods. His prophecy and vision was probably written in the interval between the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC and the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Under the leadership of King Josiah, Judah experienced one of the most profound revivals and time of reformation in its long history – but Josiah had died on the battle front. Upon Josiah’s death, with no righteous king to lead them, Judah fell from it’s spiritual high into one of its darkest and most oppressive times.

As Habakkuk looked around at the state of his nation, all he could see was iniquity, trouble, violence, strife, contention and injustice. He didn’t understand how a holy God could allow such unrighteousness and perversion to continue unchecked. In his angst and confusion, he dared to ask God why… and God graciously responded. In Habakkuk’s first question, he asked God, “Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? From my vantage point, it looks like Your law is completely powerless and ineffective, allowing justice to be completely perverted.” God responded by saying, “Watch the nations and be utterly astounded! I am about to do something that you wouldn’t believe unless you saw it with your own eyes.” In Habakkuk’s second question, he asked God, “Aren’t You holy? How can you use a cruel godless nation to bring about Your righteousness and justice?” At that question, Habakkuk positioned himself to watch for God’s answer and ready himself for God’s correction. God’s response to Habakkuk’s second question was, “Write down the vision I give you so that it can be easily understood by those who read it. What I show you won’t come right away… but it will come. Trust me and don’t lean on your own understanding. Those who are righteous will live by faith.”

God is holy, and He will does not tolerate evil, unrighteousness and injustice – though He is slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness. Justice delayed is not justice denied. God is fully able to bring about His righteousness and justice in the most astounding ways. Those who arrogantly reject the word, will and ways of God and open the door to evil and injustice in the world will receive their just reward. Though God’s promise may tarry, it will not be late. His justice will come at just the right time, and we need to stay vigilant and ready for it as we live by faith.

NT: “The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth. The key for the shaft to the abyss was given to him. He opened the shaft to the abyss, and smoke came up out of the shaft like smoke from a great furnace so that the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft. Then locusts came out of the smoke on to the earth, and power was given to them like the power that scorpions have on the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only those people who do not have God’s seal on their foreheads. They were not permitted to kill them but were to torment them for five months; their torment is like the torment caused by a scorpion when it stings someone. In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them. The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. Something like golden crowns was on their heads; their faces were like human faces; they had hair like women’s hair; their teeth were like lions’ teeth; they had chests like iron breastplates; the sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots with horses rushing into battle; and they had tails with stingers like scorpions, so that with their tails they had the power to harm people for five months. They had as their king the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon. The first woe has passed. There are still two more woes to come after this.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭9:1-12‬ ‭CSB)

As the fifth angel blows his trumpet, a fallen star will be given the key to open the gates of hades. That fallen star is none other than Lucifer himself… the devil and accuser of the brethren. Though he is king of the abyss, even he does not have the authority to loose his demonic hordes on the earth. That in itself is an interesting fact. With all the evil, injustice, perversion, and demonic oppression we see on the earth – what we experience now in this day is not a full release of the evils of hell. Satan is prevented from being fully unleashed on the earth – that is until the fifth angel sounds his trumpet. Just as cruel, godless Babylon was released to enact God’s justice on a fallen and rebellious Judah in an utterly astounding way, the demonic minions of hades will one day be released to bring about God’s justice on the evil and rebellious people of the earth.

In the eighth plague that God inflicted on Egypt, God sent a swarm of locusts that completely devastated the land of Egypt, yet not the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. In this first of three woes, God will allow Satan the destroyer (who comes only to rob, kill and destroy) to unleash his swarm of demons on the earth. However, they will not bring devastation to the land, but unbearable pain and suffering to the men and women of the earth who have not been sealed by the seal of God. John wrote that so great will the pain and suffering be, that everyone will want to die, but will not be allowed to. The pain and suffering of those who have rejected God will be utterly astounding… yet that is merely the first of three woes. Sin is a horrible thing. When we consider that God is completely holy in His righteousness and administration of justice, and that the just treatment of sin is so utterly astounding, we must conclude that sin is a most horrible thing that shouldn’t be trifled with and taken lightly. It also goes to show what a great salvation Christ has won for us – that we would be freed from sin’s grasp and the horrific judgement to come.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You are ever faithful to Your word. When You say that You will bring about justice on the earth, You will do just that – even if I don’t completely understand how You will do it, I can know and trust that You will do just what You have said. Lord, let the horror of the judgement to come be motivation for me to both continue walking in faith and to bring the message of the gospel to as many people as I can. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Proverbs: “One who becomes stiff-necked, after many reprimands will be shattered instantly — beyond recovery.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:1‬ ‭CSB)

This proverb could be used as the theme of the next section of the book of Revelation. You can choose to fall on the Rock and be broken, or eventually the Rock will fall on you and crush you to powder. It is good to have a strong spine – but being stiff-necked and unwilling to receive and submit to correction is to your detriment and eventual destruction.

NT: “And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire, mixed with blood, were hurled to the earth. So a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain ablaze with fire was hurled into the sea. So a third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood. So, many of the people died from the waters, because they had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day was without light and also a third of the night. I looked and heard an eagle flying high overhead, crying out in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to sound!”” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭8:6-13‬ ‭CSB)

When Moses first returned to Egypt after receiving the call from God to set His people free, he came before Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God if Israel says: Let My people go that they may worship Me…” Pharaoh’s response to Moses was, “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?” God responded to Pharaoh’s stiff-necked response by sending a series of 10 plagues that stripped the land of its resources and proved to Pharaoh and the people of Egypt that the God if Israel was the true and living God over all creation. With each plague, Pharaoh’s neck grew stiffer and his heart grew harder unto Pharaoh’s humiliation and destruction.

The same will be true of the last days on earth. As the days grow darker and the anti-christ spirit grows in influence across the earth, many will grow stiff-necked against any acknowledgement of God and the Savior of mankind, Jesus Christ. Like Pharaoh, they will say, “Who is the Lord that we should serve Him?” The trumpet judgements will be God’s response as He brings devastation to the earth’s resources to prove to all that He is the true and living God of all gods and God over all creation. The first trumpet will sound and the earth and it’s produce will be devastated. The second trumpet will sound and the oceans of the world and all life within the seas will be stricken. The third trumpet will sound and one third of all fresh water on the earth will be rendered undrinkable. Finally the fourth trumpet will sound and the life-giving light of the sun, moon and stars will be reduced in strength by 30%. At the end of the blasts of the first four trumpets, a heavenly messenger gave a warning to those who, like Pharaoh, did not humble themselves but continued to stiffen their necks and harden their hearts: “Woe! Woe! Woe! To those who live on the earth (or whose way of living is earthly), because of the remaining trumpet blasts that are about to sound!” As Proverbs 29:1 said, one who becomes and remains stiff-necked after many reprimands will be shattered.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that when I am in the wrong, You are merciful to bring reprimands to correct my way that I may walk in righteousness. If I am quick to heed Your word, humble myself and repent, Your word of correction is all I need. But woe to me, if I reject Your word in stiff-necked hard-heartedness. I desire to be one who is humbly broken before You instead of having to be crushed because of my obstinance. Create in me a clean heart as I walk before You in loving and faith-filled obedience. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

OT: “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up, and he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; even the flower of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt; the earth trembles at his presence — the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; he cares for those who take refuge in him. But he will completely destroy Nineveh with an overwhelming flood, and he will chase his enemies into darkness. Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will bring it to complete destruction; oppression will not rise up a second time.” (‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1:2-9‬ ‭CSB)

Nahum lived during the reign of Judah’s kings Manasseh, Amon and Josiah. This particular prophecy was most likely written just before the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which overthrew and captured the Northern kingdom of Israel over 100 years prior. The book of Nahum primarily centers around Nahum’s prophecy of the fall of Nineveh and the end of the Assyrian empire.

The Lord God had good reason to allow the Northern kingdom of Israel to be captured and carried away by the Assyrians. However, the Assyrians were notoriously ruthless and blood thirsty, and the Lord was not about to allow their evil and cruelty to go unchecked. Even though the fall of Israel was brought about by their own unfaithfulness to God, God was still faithful to His covenant people. God is slow to anger, but He is also faithful to avenge His own. The Assyrians would soon discover the unlimited, earth-shaking power of the God of Israel as He refused to let the guilty go unpunished.

NT: “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God; seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel, with a golden incense burner, came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel’s hand. The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭8:1-5‬ ‭CSB)

Since the beginning of creation, the heavenly creatures have been proclaiming the holiness of God, day and night, night and day, non-stop… until Christ, the Lamb of God, opened the seventh and last seal that was holding the scroll of God closed. Then, at that moment, all of heaven was silent in awestruck amazement for about half and hour. Finally, the scroll was opened and God’s will was able to be fully enacted and completely fulfilled.

As long as there has been prayer on earth, God’s people have lifted up prayers to God asking for His righteousness and justice on the earth. Throughout the psalms, David and other psalmists composed psalms to the Lord asking for His vengeance on His enemies once and for all. Since Christ ascended to heaven and took His seat at the right hand of the Father to make intercession for us, the saints of God in Christ have been praying to the Father for His kingdom to come and for His will to be done on earth just as it is done in heaven. In the midst of heaven’s awestruck silence at the revealing of the fullness of God’s will, the time for those prayers to be answered will come. The time for God to avenge His saints will arrive. Though God is merciful and slow to anger, He will not allow the guilty to go unpunished forever. When in the scope of human history this event happens, we don’t fully know – but there will come a time when the fullness of the prayers of the saints will be offered up before the presence of God, and the time for God to mete out His judgement will come.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You never forget the plight of Your people. Not only are You my Savior and Lord, You are also my Avenger. I thank You that You are merciful and slow to anger, for I have benefited from Your mercy and compassion to me. But I also thank You that the unrepentant guilty will not go unpunished forever. Help me to trust in Your timetable of justice and not be tempted to take the act of avenging into my own hands, as I walk with You in faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb! All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen. Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple. The one seated on the throne will shelter them: They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst; the sun will no longer strike them, nor will any scorching heat. For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; he will guide them to springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:9-17‬ ‭CSB)

First, John saw 144,000 people on earth who were sealed with the seal of God. Then he looked and saw a vast, innumerable multitude of people in heaven. Those in heaven were not just from Israel, but were from every nation, tribe, people group, and language on the earth. One of the elders explained to John that the multitude was made up of people who were coming out of the great tribulation – people who had been redeemed through faith in Christ and washed by the blood of The Lamb.

One of the key things to see here is that this multitude did not come from some nations, or some people groups, or some languages – but all nations, people groups and languages. Jesus’ commission to go into all the world was not figurative… it was not symbolic – it was literal. The great commission is literal. There will be redeemed worshipers of the Living God and the Lamb from every people on the earth. Another key thing to see is the tense of the word ‘coming.’ This multitude is not made up of people who came out of the tribulation. It is not made up of people who will come out of the tribulation. The multitude is an ever-increasing number of people who continually come out of the tribulation until the time of tribulation ends. From the ascension of Christ into heaven until the great tribulation ends and Christ returns for His bride – as the message of the gospel spreads across the world… as the word of God and the gospel message is translated into every known language and dialect, there will be a continuing number of people across the face of the earth who will put their faith in Christ and become redeemed and cleansed by the blood of The Lamb – until there is a worshiping community in every nation, tribe, people group and language on the earth.

This particular passage has been a key motivating piece of scripture for me in my journey of faith. It was around 25 years ago that I really sensed the Lord calling me to be a worship leader. As I began to study the scriptures to learn what it truly meant to worship the Lord God, I discovered that true worship goes far beyond singing songs during a Sunday morning worship service or attending a worship event hosted by a worship artist of our day. More than singing songs, worship is about living your life fully submitted to the word, will and ways of God while, at the same time, honoring the Lord God in everything you say and do. Jesus said that the Father is looking for true worshippers, and he called us to go into the world and make worshipping disciples of every people group on the face of the earth. When I understood that, the call to worship and the call to missions became one-in-the-same. It then became my passion to be involved in the fulfillment of Revelation 7:9-17. That is a key reason why I just spent two weeks of my life in Kenya, sitting down with members of their worship leading community and teaching them about what true worship is and how they can truly lead the people in their communities to worship God. If you have a passion for worship, then you should have a passion for missions… and if you have a passion for missions, you should have a passion for worship. John Piper once wrote, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”

Very few things thrill my heart more than knowing that as we grow closer and closer to the end of this age, the gospel message is spreading across the globe and more and more people from more and more unreached people groups are coming to faith in Christ. They are being washed in the blood of the Lamb… and when they die, they join that innumerable multitude in heaven where Jesus Himself will wipe every tear from their eye as they bow before Him in worship, giving Him all the blessing, glory, honor and thanksgiving He is due. Let it be so, Lord!

Psalms: “Lord, your name endures forever, your reputation, Lord, through all generations. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. The idols of the nations are of silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear; indeed, there is no breath in their mouths. Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them. House of Israel, bless the Lord! House of Aaron, bless the Lord! House of Levi, bless the Lord! You who revere the Lord, bless the Lord! Blessed be the Lord from Zion; he dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭135:13-21‬ ‭CSB)

There is a phrase that we say from time to time in the church that I attend: you become what you behold – meaning, you end up becoming like who you worship and hold in high regard. The Lord God is the true and living God who is faithful through the generations. His name and His reputation endures through the ages. Those who truly worship Him in faith will become like Him – pure in holiness and living for eternity. Those who choose to worship the gods and idols of this world will become like them: blind, unable to hear and understand the truth, and ultimately lifeless. So what should we do? Worship the Lord and follow Him as a devoted and faith-filled disciple.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You have provided redemption and cleansing from sin through the blood that you willingly shed on the cross. I thank you that by placing my faith in You and Your completed work, I will one day be dressed in white and will be able to stand before Your throne and gladly serve You day and night for eternity. Unto that day, I choose to worship You now. Help me, as I worship You, to take your good news into the world to see worshipping disciples come from every tribe, nation, people and tongue. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

OT: “What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the offspring of my body for my own sin? Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭6:6-8‬ ‭CSB)

Though God prescribed a system of worship that required the substitutionary sacrifice of animals, animal sacrifices were not what God was ultimately after, nor were they the acts of worship that truly pleased the Lord. The sacrificial system served two main purposes: 1) it was a temporary salve that treated the sinful situation until a cure could be administered, and 2) it was a foreshadowing of the substitutionary sacrifice that the Son of God would make to provide that ultimate cure.

Animal sacrifices were an external act of worship that were intended to demonstrate externally what the Lord God desired to see internally. The sacrifice of animals was in itself worthless if it did not include an internal humility and submission to the word, will and ways of God. The same is true today. The lifting up of hands, the singing of well-crafted songs, the soulful shedding of tears does not please the Lord if it is not accompanied by a true and sincere laying down of one’s life before God in humble and loving faith-filled submission to the word, will and ways of the Lord. What does the Lord truly require? What does sincere worship look like? Micah described what a life laid down before God in whole-hearted worship would look like. A life fully submitted to the word, will and ways of God would act justly, love faithfulness, and walk humbly with the Lord.

The Hebrew word for ‘justly’ here is mishpat. Mishpat refers to the judgements, ordinances, decrees and decisions of God. To act justly is to apply God’s directives to your life and actually live your life according to His word, will and ways. The Hebrew word for ‘faithfulness’ here is checed. Checed is far more than faithfulness – it is the zealous mercy, goodness, kindness, favor, and covenantal love of one for another. To love faithfulness is to 1) have a deep desire for the checed of God, and 2) to have a deep passion to show the checed of God to others. The Hebrew word for walk means to live out and lead your life in a certain manner. To walk humbly with the Lord is to resist the temptation to live your life arrogantly on your own terms, but to humbly live your life under the care, leadership and protection of the Great and Good Shepherd – trusting Him to provide for your every need.

NT: “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel rising up from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were allowed to harm the earth and the sea, “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed: 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the Israelites:” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:1-4‬ ‭CSB)

Some scholars of the Bible see the 144,000 as a literal number, while others see it as a symbolic number of completeness (10x10x10 = 1,000 and 12×12 = 144. Both numbers of completeness multiplied together comes to 144,000). Some scholars see the mention of Israel as being literal, while others see it as symbolic of “spiritual Israel.” However it is interpreted, I believe it is representative of God’s faithful remnant that is on the earth at any given time within the tribulation, as well as representative of the natural children of Israel who come to faith in Christ during those times of tribulation. The main point of this passage is not the specifics of the number or the specific people that the number refers to, but the fact that those people are sealed with the seal of the Living God.

A seal in those days was round patch of wax that was stamped with the signant of the ruling authority. The seal itself had no power, but it represented the power and authority of the one whose signant was stamped in the wax. The seal designated ownership and it carried the power and authority of the king. God always has a faithful remnant on the earth at any given time. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah thought that he was the only one remaining in Israel that was faithful to the Lord, but God made him aware that he was not alone – that there were 7,000 in Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). From the time of Christ’s resurrection and ascension, there have been a remnant of Jews who have recognized Jesus as the Messiah, placed saving faith in Him, and been named among God’s faithful. Those Jews who come to faith in Christ during the tribulation do not give themselves over to the mark of the beast, but are stamped with the seal of the Living God. They are preserved through the times of tribulation and bear the seal of ownership, power and authority of the Lord God while they walk on the earth. There will never be a time when God is not represented through His covenant people – and those who remain faithful to the Lord will not be given over to the shaking, refining and leveling work that proceeds His coming.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You are ever faithful to those who remain faithful to You. I thank You that You seal those who are Yours and preserve and protect them through the trials of the day and the tribulation to come. Help me to be one who is truly faithful. Help me to not merely be someone who appears to be a faithful follower through my external religious exercises, but who truly acts justly, loves, mercy and walks humbly with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

OT: “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. Peoples will stream to it, and many nations will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about his ways so we may walk in his paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem… Though all the peoples walk in the name of their own gods, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭4:1-2, 5‬ ‭CSB)

It is my belief (and I believe it to be supported by scripture) that the closer we get to the day of the Lord, the darker the things of this world will become as the gospel of the kingdom continues to cover the earth and burn with ever-increasing brightness. The distinction between light and dark will grow more and more pronounced and the choice between death and life will be more and more definite.

In the prophetic picture that Micah saw of the last days – the last days being the days that lead up to the day of the Lord – he saw people walking in the name of their own gods, but he also saw people streaming from all the nations to worship the Lord God and learn to walk in His ways. The “last days” began the day Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, therefore we are in the last days right now. We can see the days growing darker and the prevailing culture moving further and further away from the word, will and ways of God. As the days grow darker, we can be encouraged knowing that the light of the gospel is also growing brighter. However, for the light of the gospel to continue growing brighter and brighter until the end of days, we the people of God, must faithfully walk in the name of the Lord our God and faithfully be His witnesses to the ends of the earth – even in the midst of the ever-darkening culture.

NT: “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been. Then I saw him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭6:9-17‬ ‭CSB)

As the seals are removed from God’s written testament of His will, as the “last days” progress further and further toward the day of God’s wrath, and as the times grow darker and more influenced by evil; there will be faithful believers who will give their lives for the sake of God’s righteousness and the furtherance of His gospel… and that will continue to happen until the cup of God’s wrath becomes full to the overflowing. However, those believers can be assured of two things: 1) they will be rewarded for their faithfulness by being forever clothed in white robes of righteousness, and 2) their death for the sake of the word of God and the name of Christ will be avenged.

The closer we get to the day of the Lord, the evil of the world system will result in terrestrial and cosmic upheaval. In Romans 8:19-22, Paul explained that since the fall of man, all of creation has been groaning with deep pains for the fulfillment of God’s purposes and plans through a redeemed humanity. Just as a woman’s labor pains increase in intensity until her baby is born, so do the groanings of creation. The earth will shake and the kingdoms and systems of this world will quake uncontrollably to the point that the arrogant leaders of the world will run and hide in abject fear and hopelessness.

All of these things will progress and grow in intensity for one main purpose: to prepare people’s hearts for the return of the King. Will there be people that shake their fists at God in anger and arrogant rejection? Yes, there will. But there will also be many who will become broken through the tribulation and will come to faith in Christ as His glory is revealed in ever-increasing measure by His power and authority, and the testimony of His saints… even unto death.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that though times will continue to grow darker, the greatness of Your name and the glory of Your gospel will continue to grow brighter and brighter. I want to be a part of that ever-increasing brightness. Fill me with boldness through Your Holy Spirit, that I may continue to be a witness of Your goodness and testify to Your never-ending love and faithfulness to save, heal, redeem and restore by grace through faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out as a conqueror in order to conquer. When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And a large sword was given to him. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a set of scales in his hand. Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, but do not harm the oil and the wine.” When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and there was a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following after him. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭6:1-8‬ ‭CSB)

Some biblical scholars believe, and I agree with them, that tribulation began the moment Christ ascended into heaven. Christ went away to prepare a place for His bride, and He will return again. When Christ returned to heaven, took the scroll and seated himself at the right hand of God the father, the preparation for His return began – and it will continue until the day He returns. Before Jesus began ministering during His first appearance, John the Baptist prepared the way. As John the Baptist went about the countryside of Judea, he called people to repentance out of Isaiah 40:3-4.

As each seal of the scroll is removed and we get closer and closer to Christ’s return, the earth is shaken: wars and rumors of war, hatred and murder, lack, famine, plague and death. All bring people to their knees, as they either cry out to God for salvation or shake their fists at Him in arrogant rebellion – drawing the line between the righteous and unrighteous deeper and more clear. When Christ does return, those who are His will remain faithful to Him through it all.

Psalms: “It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord has appointed the blessing — life forevermore.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭133:3‬ ‭CSB)

Unity among God’s people not only aligns them under Christ’s anointing, it also brings vibrant life and commanded blessing. Mt Hermon is the tallest mountain in the area, standing over 9,000 feet above sea level. As the dry desert heat causes water vapor to rise up the slopes of Mt Hermon, the cooler temperatures at the top of the mountain cause the vapor to condensate and descend the mountain in the cool if the night in the form of dew. From what I have read, the dew saturates everything, creating a vibrant, verdant, and fruitful area of land that is full of life. When we dwell together in unity, we can be vibrant, fruitful, life-giving people in the midst of a dry and barren desert.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You, that no matter how difficult things may be come, I can remain full of life and blessing as I remain faithful to Your word, will and ways, and remain unified with Your redeemed people. Help me to remain in community, and remain faithful to Your word until the end. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

OT: “God saw their actions — that they had turned from their evil ways  — so God relented from the disaster he had threatened them with. And he did not do it. Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. He prayed to the Lord, “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster. And now, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” The Lord asked, “Is it right for you to be angry?”” (Jonah‬ 3:10-‭4:4‬ ‭CSB)

When God first told Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah refused. He knew that if the Ninevites responded to his call to repent, God would have mercy on them… and Jonah didn’t think the people of Nineveh were worthy of saving.

When Jonah had no other choice but to go to Nineveh, he reluctantly went and preached the hell-fire and damnation message he thought the people of Nineveh deserved to hear. Upon hearing Jonah’s message, the Ninevites rapidly repented, and just as Jonah expected, God had mercy on them. God is righteous and just, but before He passes His judgement, He is first gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Where Jonah was self-righteous and condemning, God is truly righteous and offers forgiveness to those who repent.

Jesus Christ didn’t just give His life for people we like. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was slaughtered for all mankind. All are precious to Him and He will gladly offer remission from sin, righteousness, restoration and reconciliation to all and any who call on His name and place their faith in His life, death, resurrection and ascension.

NT: “When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth. Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:8-14‬ ‭CSB)

From the dawn of creation – ever since there were heavenly creatures to sing God’s praises – day and night, night and day, the lifted up the song, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty! Who was, and is, and is to come.” Suddenly, as Jesus Christ the Lamb took the scroll from the hand of God, a new song began reverberating through the halls of heaven. Thousands upon thousands – a countless number of angels – began singing a new song of praise to the victorious lamb. Since the day that Christ ascended victoriously in heaven that song has continued. Not only is that song a song of praise to The Lamb, it is also a declaration of the gospel of Christ. Christ, through His shed blood, has purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation. He has made them a kingdom of priests that will reign on the earth. That is the song of heaven, and it should be the song of those on the earth who have been redeemed by Christ. And we should continue singing that song until there is a worshipping community of disciples in every tribe, language, people group and nation. All blessing and honor and lord and power be to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! Amen!

Psalms: “How delightfully good when brothers live together in harmony! It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard onto his robes.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭133:1-2‬ ‭CSB)

When the people of God dwell together in unity, everyone dwelling in unity receives the blessing of anointing. The anointing of God flows from the top down. Those who are in Christ, submitted to Christ and submitted to one another in proper alignment will receive of Christ anointing… the anointing of a royal priesthood.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You have purchased me for God with Your blood – and through Your redeeming blood, you have made me one of you kingdom of priests that will reign with You for ever. Help me to ever keep that truth before my eyes and on my lips. And help me to remain in the flow of Your anointing as I remain in right relationship with you and Your redeemed people by faith.

NT: “Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:1-7‬ ‭CSB)

As John looked upon the throne of God, God was seated on the throne holding a scroll in His right hand. That scroll was the very will of God for His creation. Before someone passes away, they write a legal will that dictates their wishes that are to be carried out upon their death. In their will, they name their heirs – those who stand to inherit all that the person owned in his life. The scroll in God’s hand was similar, as in it was a testament to His will, however it was not enacted upon God’s death, for God cannot and will not die.

For God’s will for creation to finally be enacted, it had to be opened by someone who was worthy. When the call went out for a worthy one to open the scroll, no one in heaven or on earth was found. When John heard that no one could be found to open the scroll and unleash God’s will, John wept much. In that will was justice for the millennia of evils that had been done. In that will were the ultimate fulfillments of all of God’s promises. In that will was the hope that so many of John’s dear friends had died for. In that will was the fullness of God’s righteousness. In that will was John’s departure from his earthly body and the transition to his eternal body that would rule and reign with Jesus forever. When no one was found to open the scroll, John’s hopes were crushed and he sobbed tears of grief.

But one of the elders turned to John and said, ”Do not weep. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah has conquered and is worthy and able to open the scroll. As John wiped the tears from his eyes and looked up to see this victorious conquering lion, what he saw was a lamb that looked like it had just been slaughtered. The Lion of the tribe of Judah is the Lamb that was Slain – Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And Jesus, the worthy one, took the scroll. Through Him and by Him, all of God’s will and purposes for creation will be fulfilled.

Prayer: Lord, I am forever grateful that You have prevailed against the enemy of my soul. You have conquered sin and death and are worthy through the life You lived and the death You died to open and unleash God’s will and purposes on the earth. I don’t have to lose hope because You have prevailed and will accomplish all that God has intended. My hope is sure and anchored in You the Worthy One. Help me to live in the reality of that hope day by day as I follow You in faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say, Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4:8-11‬ ‭CSB)

When the prophet Isaiah experienced, in a vision, an open heaven and was able to peer into the throne room of God (Isaiah 6:1-5), he heard the thunderous cry of the heavenly creatures shouting out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty…” Coming face to face with the reality of God’s holiness caused Isaiah to quake in fear and fall to his face under a deep conviction of his sin. In John’s vision, he heard and witnessed the proclamation of the same reverberating chorus. Over and over, day and night, non-stop, the creatures in heaven proclaim God’s holiness, upon holiness, upon holiness – for God never changes and is forever holy. Instead of falling down under the weight of conviction, every time the creatures proclaimed the holiness of God, the twenty-four elders bowed down in honor and humility.

Just a few verses before this, John described the twenty-four elders as wearing robes of white and crowns of gold. The elders did not fall down under the weight of conviction, for they had been made righteous and holy. They were no longer wearing the stained garments of a sinful world, but were wearing the pure white clothes of God’s kingdom. On their heads were crowns of pure gold. In the Bible, gold often symbolizes the divine nature, which does not tarnish, corrode, or waste away. Crowns often symbolize an achievement, a reward, or the power and authority someone has been vested with. After each fresh declaration and revelation of God’s abject holiness, the twenty-four elders fell down before God and cast their crowns – the symbols of their God-given rewards of power and authority – before God’s throne. They didn’t say, “woe is me, a man of unclean lips.” The proclaimed, as they cast down their crowns, “God, You and You alone are worthy to receive glory, honor and power.”

God is the only one worthy to receive glory, honor and power – that is so very true. But God, through His grace and mercy, has made us worthy to partake of His glory, honor and power – and He gladly shares that glory, honor and power with us, provided that we do not let it go to our heads. We need to keep a proper perspective with all the graces and blessings that God entrusts us with. That perspective is that He is the one on the throne at the center of our lives… All that we have has been graciously gifted to us by a merciful and loving Father… He is the one worthy of the glory, honor and power, and we are merely gracious partakes in it.

Proverbs: “Happy is the one who is always reverent, but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28:14‬ ‭CSB)

The one who remains reverent before the Lord God… the one who humbly recognizes his limitations and mortality before the indescribably holy, ever-living, ever-present God and submits wholeheartedly to God’s word, will and ways will be happy and blessed. On the other hand, the one who becomes arrogant and allows his heart to be lifted up in fist-shaking rejection of God’s word, will and ways will fall into trouble (evil, distress, misery, calamity, etc.).

Prayer: Lord, You are holy, upon holy, upon holy! You, and You are alone are worthy to receive all honor, glory and power. What an incredible honor and gracious privilege You have given me to share in Your honor, glory and power. I know that the honor is not mine. I know that the power is not mine. It is all Your’s. Grace me to walk in worshipful humility before you as I make a habit and practice of casting my crown before You in worship every day. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.