My Morning Meal

You don’t necessarily expect to find “the Christmas story” when you read the book of Revelation. But that’s kind of the wonder of prophetic vision . . . because it is sourced from a place not bound by time, a single prophetic revelation can encapsulate events which, on earth, occur not only in the future, but also events which occurred in the past . . . and often the two are side by side. That’s kind of the case with my reading this morning in the Revelation given to John.

In Revelation 12 the focus is on a woman and a dragon. The woman is identified as she who is “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (12:1). Recall Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9? . . . it seems this woman is Israel. There’s no question as to who the dragon is, ” . . . the great dragon . . . that ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world . . . the accuser of our brothers, who accused them day and night before our God . . .” (12:9-10). And the deal is that this ancient dragon doesn’t care too much for this woman. He has opposed her in the past . . . he will oppose her in the future . . . and, you can pretty much guess, that he’s arrayed against her even now. How come? What’s at the center of this hatred and violent opposition? The Child.

This woman, Israel, birthed a Child . . . the same Child we focus on at this time of year . . . the angelic, innocent, beautiful, restful, peaceful, Child in a manger. You kind of realize, as you read this “behind the scenes” dynamic of “the Christmas story”, that our nativity scenes focus on but one “camera angle” of that history defining event. From one vantage point it may have been a silent night . . . all is calm, all is bright . . . but, in another realm, the forces of hell were going nuts.

And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her Child he might devour it.   (Revelation 12:4b ESV}

Any doubt that old King Herod was demon-possessed? That he was part of the dragon’s plan to consume the Child as soon as He was born? What other forces had Satan garnered around Bethlehem that night or in those days following the Child’s birth? You have to think that Satan had had his eye on Bethlehem ever since Micah penned his prophetic words, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel, Whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2).

But this serpent of old did not prevail.

She gave birth to a male Child, One who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.   (Revelation 12:5 ESV)

There it is . . . the Christmas story . . . and the life of Christ . . . in the blink of a prophetic eye.

He was born a king and established His kingdom, though His kingdom was not of this world . . . the King had come incognito . . . born and come into the world that He might bear witness to the truth (John 18:36-37). He would bear witness to the truth concerning man’s sin and God’s holiness . . . to the truth concerning man’s inability to deal with the “wages of sin” and God’s amazing grace in making way for redemption . . . to the truth concerning man’s hopeless situation and God’s love for the world . . . “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) . . . to the truth concerning a lost world and a Child come to save that world.

The Child, though He was Creator, “became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). And the Child would live to die on a cross for the sin of man . . . He would lie in a tomb for three days as the payment for our transgressions . . . and then, . . . O’ glorious then, . . . He would rise again the third day in victory, crushing the head of that dragon . . . defeating sin and death. Finally “her Child was caught up to God” . . .

. . . He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”   (Acts 1:9b-11 ESV)

Get that? The Child is coming again . . . soon . . .

What Child is this? . . . This, this is the Christ the King . . . Haste, haste to bring Him praise . . . the Babe, the Son of Mary . . .

I don’t think anyone’s saying, “Keep it down!” in heaven. I don’t think that there’s much concern about using your “inside voice” when you’re before the throne of God. And I don’t imagine that it’s because hosts of angels and multitudes from earth are trying to shout over one another in order to be heard . . . but rather, I sense it’s because of an energy . . . a passion . . . that it’s because everything is so alive. And, as I continue to read in Revelation this morning, I’m reminded that alive-ness is fueled by anticipation . . .

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God . . .  
                                                                             (Revelation 11:15-16 ESV)

Loud voices in heaven . . . anticipating the reign of Christ. Loud voices in heaven . . . awaiting the rule of heaven, which is currently established in the hearts of believer, to be established on the earth. Loud voices in heaven . . . speaking today to those with ears to hear.

It doesn’t say so explicitly, but imagine that those shepherds out in the fields some 2,000 years ago heard loud voices. There they are . . . maybe half asleep as everything has settled down for the night . . . I’m guessing it was dark . . . and then all of sudden . . . BAM!!!! . . . someone throws on a light switch . . . the glory of the Lord, the brightness of the unapproachable light which envelopes God, shines around them. Shield the eyes . . . squint up into the sky . . . feel your knees buckle. And then hear the voice . . . the angel’s voice . . . what I imagine to be a heavenly loud voice . . .

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 ESV)

Good news? Pretty much. He who would be King comes first as Savior. He who would reign comes first to rescue. He who in absolute essence is holy and spotless comes first to be made sin for those in bondage to sin. He, though being rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich (2Cor. 8:9). Loud voice stuff? Yeah . . . the sort of news worthy of some energy and passion . . . the kind of truth needing to be shouted from the skies.

Lots of things “competing” for the air waves at this time of year . . . easy for the loud voice to be lost in the cacophony of busyness and tradition . . . for the good news worthy of the loud voice to be like seed that falls along the path but is devoured by birds sent by an enemy before it can take root. I can’t help but feel that mine is to contend for the loud voice . . . to hear it afresh . . . to proclaim it anew . . . to join with “a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:13-14) . . . to become part of the choir of loud voices gathered around the throne . . . falling on their faces . . . worshiping their God . . . passionately proclaiming,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and and who was, for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign”   (Revelation 11:17a ESV)

O come let us adore Him . . . with loud voices even . . . Christ, the Lord!

A couple of mornings ago, as I read the Revelation to John, I was grabbed by how often the Risen Christ is recognized and regarded as the Lamb. It seems, that for eternity, we will not have very many “degrees of separation” between the wonders of heaven and eternity and the realities of the cross and Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice made on earth. What grabbed me this morning, as I read in chapter 7, is also how often the throne is mentioned in John’s amazing vision. A quick count on my e-concordance shows 29 references to “the throne” in these 22 chapters. . . and 7 of those occurrences are in this chapter . . . check out who’s where in relation to the throne . . .

First, there is God ON the throne. We know that from Revelation 5 . . . in chapter 7 “God who sits ON the throne” is being worshiped. The eternal Sovereign is seated in majesty and authority . . . a throbbing chorus of angelic voices declaring, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!” The One who is ON the throne is the focal point of heaven. He sets the tone of heaven . . . He defines the essence of heaven . . . He is heaven.

And then, John sees “a great multitude . . . from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” standing BEFORE the throne (v.9). These are those who have come out of the horrors of the great tribulation with a saving faith, having “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (v. 14). These are believers and they are positioned BEFORE the throne . . . they are opposite the One seated on the throne . . . they are in front of Him who dwells in unapproachable light (1Tim. 6:16) . . . and I imagine they are gazing, experiencing, interacting with the glory of God Almighty. They worship with loud voices BEFORE the throne extolling the praises of the God of their salvation.

Surrounding this worshipping throng are “all the angels” and they are standing AROUND the throne. They shroud the seat of God’s glory with their magnificent presence . . . for angels long to look upon the evidences of the dynamics of God’s wondrous salvation (1Peter 1:12). Though the throne is the center of attention, I imagine these angels AROUND the throne beholding the multitude BEFORE the throne. One set of God’s creation beholding another set that, having free will, have been brought to believe in the redeeming grace of God . . . by the Spirit of God . . . through the Son of God . . . for the glory of God. These angelic beings AROUND the throne marvel at the amazing grace of God who sits ON the throne as evidenced by the people of God BEFORE the throne.

And finally there is One is IN THE MIDST of the throne . . .

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.    (Revelation 7:7 ESV)

Ok . . . so I get that heaven isn’t a spatial place . . . but this stretches the mind a bit. God is ON the throne . . . the redeemed are BEFORE the throne . . . the angels are AROUND the throne . . and the LAMB is IN THE MIDST of the throne. He is in the middle . . . He is at the center of it all . . . you don’t see the throne and not see the Lamb. And I know the throne isn’t a “double seater” so I’m left to understand that He is inseparable from God ON the throne. He is the focus of the Father’s affection . . . He is the source of the angel’s wonder . . . He is the catalyst of the redeemed’s worship. The Lamb is IN THE MIDST . . . the Lamb and God are one.

You don’t see God without seeing the Lamb . . . you don’t behold the glory of God without beholding the Lamb . . . you don’t worship God without worshiping the Lamb. Am I getting the implications of what it means that the Lamb is IN THE MIDST?

O’ what will be to be BEFORE the throne . . . to be aware of the angels AROUND the throne . . . but to be solely focused on Him who is ON the throne . . . and to say “Thank you” forever and ever to the Lamb IN THE MIDST of the throne?

Gloria in excelsis Deo! . . . Glory to God in the highest! . . . Amen?

Often we Christians will talk of what it will be like to behold Christ in heaven. We try to imagine what it will be like when we no longer “see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” (1Cor.13:12). Sometimes we’ll close our eyes and ask the Spirit to place but a drop of heaven upon our tongues so that we might taste, here and now, something of the reality that awaits us there and then. What will it be like to look upon Jesus? What will we see? How will we process it? How will we respond? Will we see the King? Will we bow before the Light? Will we hear in “real time” the Shepherds voice? I’m thinkin’. But, if the Revelation to John makes any thing clear, it’s that we will behold the Lamb.

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain . . .   
                                                                              (Revelation 5:5-6a ESV)

The One introduced as the Lion of tribe of Judah . . . the One who is identified as the Root of David . . . the foundation and substance of the royal line . . . He who is King of Kings . . . when this One was beheld by John’s eyes, John saw a Lamb . . . a Lamb as though it had been slain.

Isn’t that kind of remarkable? In the vision John had of Christ when he was on the island, he saw the Ancient of Days . . . he beheld the glory of the Sovereign Judge . . . his senses tried to process the majestic sight of Him who walks among the churches. But when John is transported beyond earthly realms and escorted through the portal of heaven and encounters the risen Christ again, he sees a Lamb.

Don’t quote me on this . . . but doing some quick math with my handy-dandy Bible concordance it looks like Jesus is referred to as “the Lamb” or “a Lamb” some 32 times in the ESV New Testament. Only 5 of those references are outside the book of the Revelation to John. So that leaves 27 references to the risen Christ as the Lamb as John encounters heaven and is given a vision of concerning what is to come. It seems like, for eternity, we will never be far removed from the cross and One who paid the price for our redemption.

Oh the wonder of the Triune God. That they, in their Sovereign determination, would determine, before time began, that the Son would be the Lamb. That Jesus would play a role for just 33 years . . . 33 years is not even drop in the ocean of eternity . . . a role with which He will be identified forevermore. That the greatest event to ever occur on the earth will be immortalized for eternity in heaven. The Lamb, a continual memorial of the sacrifice . . . the Lamb, a forever tribute to the love of God . . . the Lamb, a never ending catalyst for awe and worship.

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”    (Revelation 5:11-12 ESV)

O’ that we might renew, or for some, that they might start, this heavenly activity of beholding the Lamb of God. That we would behold the Lamb even as we look upon the manger . . . that we would behold the Lamb even as we give and receive gifts . . . that we would behold the Lamb as we experience the joy . . . that we would behold the Lamb, the One who was slain . . . that men and women believing, might be possessors of eternal life.

Behold the Lamb . . . by His grace . . . for His glory!

Trying to follow along with John the Revelator as he is caught up to heaven by the Spirit (Rev. 4). Through the Word, and with the help of my resident Teacher, I’m trying to see what he saw . . . to take in what he took in . . . to behold what he beheld . . . perhaps, in some small measure, respond as he must have responded. And one thing that captured my attention is that I don’t think heaven will ever go silent . . . that there will always be a continual rumble creating a type of ambient sound that will just be there . . . that there will be a 24/7 (though in heaven there is no 24 nor any 7) background chorus that our ears will become attuned to. but never tired of . . . that there will be, pulsating for all eternity, the rhythm of heaven.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”   (Revelation 4:6b-8 ESV)

The first thing that catches John’s eye as he enters the door of heaven by the Spirit of God is a throne and the One seated on the throne. The appearance of the One who inhabits the throne is more light and color than it is features and form. And, it seems, there is constant activity about the throne . . . flashes of lightning . . . rumblings and peals of thunder . . . torches burning . . . and twenty-four elders moving back and forth between sitting on thrones they inhabit and going facedown in worship before the One in their midst. And around the throne, on each of its four sides, there are four magnificent creatures. Six-winged angelic beings . . . and theirs is to sustain this rhythm of heaven.

Day and night . . . without ceasing . . . without intermission . . . not needing to catch their breath from time to time . . . with no thought of “changing it up” so that it doesn’t become stale . . . they set the backdrop for life around the throne . . . their focus is singular . . . their message is simple . . . their declaration never growing common place . . . their voices never becoming hoarse . . . as they cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Can you hear the rhythm of heaven? It’s not “white noise” intended to go unnoticed in the background . . . but I imagine it is the heartbeat of life in the presence of God. Underlying all the activity amidst the throne . . . creating the perfect backdrop for worship before the throne . . . in perfect harmony with all the songs being directed towards the throne . . . the rhythm of heaven sustains an ever-present, majestic rumbling worthy of Him who sits on the throne.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” . . . it is the character of God . . . it is the context of heaven . . . it is the call to worship.

O that I might hear the rhythm of heaven. That I might be even more attuned to it this busy, busy season. That I might hear it in the stable as I gaze in wonder, with the shepherds, upon the Christ child. That it might reverberate as I remember that the babe in the manger became the Carpenter on the Cross such that the Holy, Holy, Holy God of heaven might atone for the sin that separates the defiled from His presence. That the rhythm would peak to crescendo as I consider that He who came once in humble flesh will one day come again in magnificent glory to reign forever.

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty . . . Who was . . . Who is . . . and Who is to come!

Can you hear the rhythm of heaven?

Zombies . . . the living dead . . . I understand that, in some circles, it’s all the rage. I haven’t really paid much attention to “the genre” . . . but even without knowing anything about the movies and games, to talk of “the living dead” has a way of conjuring up kind of disgusting images and unpleasant implications. Not a term we would necessarily connect with the church. But that’s exactly what I read this morning in Revelation 3:1-5.

Jesus tells John to write to “the angel of the church in Sardis”. And this letter doesn’t start off with “Hi, how are you?” It doesn’t even start the way some of the other letters to the churches do with some form of commendation for the good stuff that’s happening in their midst. Instead, Jesus gets right to the point . . .

“I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”    (Revelation 3:1b-2 ESV)

It seems that people who encountered the church at Sardis came away with an impression that this was a “happening church” . . . that things were alive in their meetings . . . that this must be what Christianity is about. But Jesus . . . “He who has the seven Spirits of God” . . . He who knows all things . . . the Head of the church says, I know your works . . . I know what’s keeping you busy . . . you are dead.”

What a tragedy!!! For a fellowship of Christians to be so busy, yet so dying from the inside-out. Maintaining the good show . . . feeding their reputation as an alive Church . . . but under the covers there’s decay and death . . . their reputation is a sham before the living Word, the Discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12). It’s not about how others assess how “good” our church is . . . it’s all about how our Lord assesses our gathering.

Sometimes we can get “so fancy” with what we think our meeting together needs to encompass that we forget what really defines us and what the “One who walks among the churches” is really interested in. It’s not just about what we’re doing but how we’re doing it. It’s about the heart behind the programs . . . the reality behind the messages . . . the motives behind the motions. Openness . . . honesty . . . that’s what God’s people need before His Son, the Great Shepherd of the flock . . . a candid assessment against the Word of God . . . and, if and as necessary, repentance.

In contrast to Sardis, I then read about the church at Philadelphia in 3:7-13. No rebuke here . . . only encouragement to keep on keeping on even though they are being hammered by those who say they are Jews but are really of “the synagogue of Satan” (v.9). This is a group with “little strength” but who have kept Jesus’ word and have not denied His name (v.8). Faithful . . . that’s what marks Philadelphia . . . Faking It . . . that’s what marks Sardis.

How do I want my Christian life to be assessed . . . as putting on a good show . . . or as putting on a real faith?

And so, the risen Lord says to the living dead, “Wake up!” He can say that . . . and for those who have ears to hear, stuff happens. Dead come alive . . . truly alive . . . fully alive . . . more alive than when they were alive. He is the Resurrection and the Life . . . He is the Raiser of the Dead . . . even of those who maybe have been going through the motions . . . playing church . . . putting on a good show but with little substance. He will give life . . . ours is to return to the Life Giver.

O’ to be an alive church . . . by His grace . . . and for His glory. Amen?