Podcasts about in revelation

In Revelation 2-3, Jesus speaks candidly to seven churches of the ancient world. Can you imagine a church congregation looking the other way when public, persistent sin was happening in their midst? Is your church supposed to be tolerant at any cost? What would Jesus say to a negligent church that continues to tolerate sin? (Seven Letters, part 5)

In Revelation the apostle John receives a vision of the glorified Savior. Fortunately for us, he wrote it down. And we're about to read his incredible description of what he saw. We'll then transition to a very helpful divine outline, that will help us grasp what's to come in our study, and where we're at right now on the prophetic timeline. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1459/29?v=20251111

What if you could focus on just 7 core areas and know your kids are getting what they truly need? Meredith Curtis discovered the Seven R's during one of the hardest seasons of her life—caring for dying parents while homeschooling five children. This framework helped her "major on the majors and minor on the minors," and it will transform your homeschool too.In this episode, you'll discover:✅Why relationships are the foundation that makes all other learning possible—and what happens when they're broken✅The secret to raising kids who actually love to read (hint: it's not assigning book reports)✅How to teach writing so your kids can communicate clearly, graciously, and persuasively for any audience✅Why math mastery matters more than moving through a curriculum—and what to do when kids fall behind✅The difference between Googling answers and true research skills your kids will need for lifeReady to simplify and focus? The Seven R's will help you cut through curriculum overwhelm and build confident, capable lifelong learners.Resources Mentioned:Get your FREE Basic Pass to Life Skills Leadership Summit 2026 to give you confidence that your kids will be ready for adult life: The Seven R's of Homeschooling by Meredith Curtis - Practical guide to majoring on the majors and minoring on the minorsWho Dun It? Literature & Writing by Meredith Curtis - Teach high schoolers to write their own cozy mysteryHIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis Meredith Curtis, pastor's wife, mom to 5 homeschool graduates, and Grand-Merey to 8 angels, loves to read cozy mysteries, travel, hit the beach, and meet new people. She is always learning because the world is just full of mysteries and beauty! Meredith loves to encourage families in their homeschooling adventure because her own was such a blessing. She is a curriculum creator and author of Jesus, Fill My Heart & Home Bible Study and Who Dun It Murder Mystery Literature & Writing. Find Meredith at PowerlineProd.com, along with her online store and blog.You can also follow Meredith on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and on the Finish Well Podcast.Show Notes:Kerry: Hey everyone, Kerry Beck here with Life Skills Leadership Summit where we are going to be talking about an extremely important topic that is tools of learning because I think all of you want your kids to be able to learn as an adult and not be dependent on a teacher or on you. And that's what Meredith Curtis is here to talk to us about. So, welcome Meredith. Thanks for being here.Meredith: Oh, thank you for having me. I'm really excited about this year's conference and I love this topic we're talking about. I either call it tools of learning or the seven Rs and they're just so helpful in staying focused and making the majors the majors and the minors the minors.Kerry: That's a great way to put it. We're going to dive into her seven Rs and how it can apply to your homeschool. But before we do that, could you just tell our listeners a little bit about you?Meredith: Yes, I would love to. So, my name is Meredith Curtis and I am a pastor's wife. I'm the mother of five homeschool graduates and I have eight grandchildren that are perfect angels and I feed them too much sugar.I love spending time with my grandchildren. I love to travel. I love to read. I love Jesus. That's probably the most important thing. And I'm a writer and a speaker.Kerry, I love creating curriculum. I love teaching. I love creating curriculum. I love writing Bible studies, studying the Bible. Probably one of my favorite things is I wrote a curriculum called Who Done It? It's my most popular book, and it basically is a high school English class that teaches teens how to write their own cozy mystery.And I actually started writing a cozy mystery series. I have three books in it so far—Tea Time Trouble, Pumpkin Patch Peril, and Old-Fashioned Christmas Murder.Kerry: Okay, y'all. She has two interviews and we've talked about the cozy mysteries in the last one. So, y'all go listen to that. But I was just fascinated. I knew she taught the kids, but now she's written three of her own mystery books. And so, I just think that is so exciting as well. Plus, her husband, does he have four books out now?Meredith: He does. Well, he actually has a fifth book that's not fiction. It's called Forging Godly Men, and it's about mentoring godly men.Kerry: The other ones are novels. So he's got the four novels plus the one on raising our boys to be godly men. Today we're going to talk about writing, but let's back up. I know you either call it the tools of learning or the seven Rs. How did you discover these tools of learning?How the 7 Rs Were Born from CrisisMeredith: Okay. So, I was in my early 40s and I had a four-year-old, five-year-old, six-year-old. My oldest was already graduating from high school, starting college. And so I had this wide range of five children.And my parents got really sick, Kerry. They were so sick and they live four hours away. So I was constantly taking a trip down to South Florida. I live in Central Florida and I would drive that 4 hours and stay with them a few days and then come home.I had to leave one of the older kids in charge of one or two of the younger ones and bring another older one with me with the younger one. And it was just very challenging. And of course, I was heartbroken because my parents were very sick.So during that time, I had to just ask the Lord, "What is the most important thing for my kids to get done?" Because they're going to be doing school apart from me. And the other one, we're going to be in the hospital or we're going to be in doctor's offices or we're going to be taking care of my parents. And I need to be able to at a glance know that they're getting it. So I really need help, Lord.And that is, you know, this is kind of birthed from that. You think about the three Rs, reading, writing, arithmetic. So, this is kind of what I felt like I discovered as a homeschool mom, that these were the tools of learning, the majors, and that if some of the other stuff fell by the wayside, these tools that I kept focusing on were going to allow them to learn anything at all that they needed.It was a really sad season in my life and my mom ended up passing away. My father moved close to us and then two years later he passed away. So it was a very hard season but out of that the Lord taught me not just life lessons but homeschooling lessons. God always brings good things out of very sad things.Kerry: I'm so sorry for your loss. And yet I see it because you got to take care of the majors and let go of things. And there are seasons in homeschooling, seasons in our lives that you may not go to every activity or every art lesson or whatever. You've got to just take care of the majors.Relationships: The Foundation of EverythingKerry: I know that you and I, there's one thing in particular even beyond academics and that's relationships. So why would you say relationships are so foundational to everything else?Meredith: Well, I think that life is basically number one thing relationship. God says he wants to have a relationship with us. In Revelation, he stands at the door and knocks and if anyone hears his voice, he comes in and eats with them. And you only eat with people you like. You know what I mean? Like that's relationship.So I think we have a relational God. He created people to be relational. And learning, I think when learning is birthed out of strong relationships, it is so different because I love Jesus. So I want to learn because I want to glorify him. I want to know what did he create and how does things work.When I became a Christian at 16, learning was a whole new thing for me. It just fascinated me. What is God doing in history? What is he doing here? And so I think when relationships are strong, that's the vertical relationship, but my relationship with my children, if my children know how much I love them, how much I respect them, how much I want their life to be blessed and fulfilled, they're going to be motivated to learn, not just for me, but with me.I think we learn as a family. I didn't know everything when I started homeschooling. I loved learning along the way. And every time we went back through US geography, I learned more.In contrast to that, when relationships are bad and there's yelling, there's always going to be fighting in a home, especially if you have more than one child. But how you resolve it can be resolved in a way that they can be closer afterward.But if there is constant bickering, if your children don't feel like you're for them, if you don't have a high opinion of your children, you're frustrated with them, learning doesn't really take place well. They might be learning, but so often in those situations, I see kids memorizing facts for a test, but they don't enjoy learning.I have just had some of my middle school classes that I teach online. These kids, they're not shy yet, you know, like some of the high schoolers are shy, but they're just—I love learning. And I think they have a family, a home that's happy, that they feel loved by their family and it always bears it out when they talk about their parents, they talk about their siblings, it's positive.So, I think relationships set the atmosphere, but also all the studies I've ever read, the most confident people know that they're loved. And when our children know that they're loved, it gives them a confidence that they can learn anything.Kerry: So good. And really, relationships are what's going to last forever and ever. I mean, even beyond this earth. And so we want to build those good relationships.Plus sometimes, you know, later in life, your kids, their siblings, they may need their siblings to be there for them. And we need to build that relationship and that security so that when they take that risk to go learn something that they're not really sure if they know how to go learn it, then they still feel safe in doing that.The Seven Rs ExplainedKerry: I know you've got these seven Rs. Can you just sort of rattle them off real quickly for us so people sort of have an understanding of what we're talking about?Meredith: Okay. So it would be relationships, reading, rhetoric—it's really communication and thinking—and then writing, research, arithmetic, and right living.Kerry: We're going to dive into some of these. And you mentioned rhetoric and that's a term that's sometimes thrown around. I believe that a couple hundred years ago, everyone really understood that because it was just part of education. And in the 20th century, we have really gotten away from that term. So tell us just a little bit about what that is and why that would be a tool of learning for our kids.Rhetoric: Learning to Think and CommunicateMeredith: Okay. So rhetoric is basically communicating in a way to inform or persuade. Cicero wrote about rhetoric, Aristotle wrote about rhetoric and people still read those. They're not really difficult reading, but some high school kids would enjoy reading those two men. Aristotle was Greek, Cicero was Roman.And it's basically being able to think through things and being able to communicate. So it would cover everything from greeting people and having casual conversations with them, saying, "Oh, Kerry, how are you today?" things like that. And then it would go all the way to watching the news and saying, "Okay, is this logical? Does this make sense? Does this jive with this over here?"And then being able to communicate in conversations, even as far as speaking, eventually reading aloud, all those things to communicate clearly and concisely and graciously.We have some really dynamic speakers in our day, Kerry, that are so ungracious. And sometimes I listen, I'm like, I agree with everything you say, but I wish you would be nicer or you wouldn't use bad language. And so, all of that is involved in rhetoric—the thinking and then what we allow to come through our mouth.Kerry: That is so good. And we need to teach our kids how to communicate instead of just regurgitate a bunch of facts which tends to be sort of our school system. And I could go off and tell y'all stories but we're not going to.Reading: From Struggle to SuccessKerry: I sort of jumped straight to rhetoric and I overlooked reading. Because you sort of have to be able to read. I mean, you can communicate like this, but we need to be able to read to then be able to make decisions and think through and think critically to then communicate. So, can you tell us just a little bit about raising our kids to be able to read and not hate it, maybe actually enjoy it a little bit?Meredith: Yes. Yes. And so, I mean, I could do a whole workshop on this, so I'm going to be really quick, but basically, teach your kids to read. I taught with phonics. I thought it was very simple. But teach them to read and then once they can read, give them everything possible that they can read that's easy and makes them feel successful.In everything when you're homeschooling, you want to lead children from success to success to success, a challenge, then more success, success, success, so that they're mostly feeling confident and then sometimes challenged.And so with reading, they read all these easy readers and then you start introducing classic literature like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little and then you just keep going with classic literature.The reason I say classic literature is because a lot of the writing even for adults in our culture is at about a third grade level if you went a hundred years ago. So, if we want our children to value freedom, they're going to have to read things by John Locke. They're going to have to read things by Edmund Burke, and they're going to need to be able to read at a stronger level.So, when you keep giving children classic books, the stories are amazing. It's going to build their vocabulary. It's going to help their reading, and they're eventually going to be interested. They hear about a topic, they'll think, "Oh, I'll pick up that book and read it."The way I really made sure that my children enjoyed reading, that was my goal for them to enjoy reading. So I never assigned books until they were in high school.What I did is I had a bookshelf and it had about six shelves and I filled it. They could read anything they wanted from that bookshelf and they just had to tell me the book they read and I would write it down and I would say did you like it or who was your favorite character or what was your favorite thing about it.I never had them—I taught them how to write a book report and they wrote like two or three but that wasn't my goal because I wanted them to love to read and I wanted them to meet friends in make-believe places, in real places and say I want to go back, I want to read that again. So that was my goal.My son was my hardest and he just hated to read and he loved math but he didn't like reading. And so I remember he got saved in like middle school and he came to me. He's like, "Mom, I didn't read any of those books I told you that I read." And so this summer I'm going to read them all because now I want to live for God.But in high school, by the time he graduated from high school, his favorite book was The Count of Monte Cristo, which is like a thousand-page book. So eventually he learned to read. I never gave up on him. But I always tried to find things that he would like, series that he would like. He loved biographies and I got him a lot of biographies. I got him like all these war books about, you know, this bomber, this plane.My goal the whole time was I want my children to love to read and to be able to read anything they want.And I just want to add this. If you have a child with a learning disability, don't just limit them to listening to audio books for the rest of their life. Maybe they need to listen to every other book audio because the reading assignments are too much. But if they're going to do audio, have them read along with the book and follow with the book because that is going to help them to become a stronger reader.There's also a lot of tools for kids with learning disabilities. Don't give up on reading. I've met like 11th graders and they're like, "I don't read. I just listen to audiobooks" and I'm like, "Oh, I'm going to challenge you to read."I had one student like that. And he said, "Okay, I'm going to read this book." And we were reading Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford. He didn't get the modern translation. He got the one from the 1600s.And I said, "Honey, this was the worst book that you will ever read in your life. And if you got through that, you can read anything." And he loved to read after that, but his mom had told him he couldn't. He had a learning disability. And so he had a lot of drive to be able to read like the other kids in our homeschool co-op.I think reading opens the door. You have to read emails, you have to read texts, but reading is just such an open door to adventure. So, I love reading. I'm a very big fan. My parents were both big fans of reading, too.Kerry: Well, and I think your story plays out. I know for me, you've got to get if you have a child that doesn't like to read, continue to search for something of their interest. And you just have to be patient and give them grace. Give yourself grace.My son did not—I mean he could read, he could read a book and he would do it but did he enjoy it? No. And now he's 31 years old and once he got out of college, he loves to read. We exchange titles but like that was 15 years of time just waiting and you're thinking oh next month they're going to love to read.Look, God takes time to work with me so be patient and give yourself years. For my son, it was 12 years.Kerry: And we're like, okay, our kids are grown. Take it from someone that's already been there, not someone that's in the same level as you are.Writing: From Speaking to the PageKerry: So we have reading, we've got rhetoric. Then the next thing, what do you see as any kind of secret to writing effectively?Meredith: Well, I think if you can communicate an idea, then it's easier to write it. So if you can speak, it's easier to write.So what I would often do with my children is—number one, if I was asking them to write a paragraph, we would read paragraphs together. See how this is a topic sentence and how these sentences—or let's read this essay. This is so interesting.First of all, I think for writing, you have to be able to read the kind of writing that you're going to write. Children just don't naturally know how to write an essay. And if you give them the directions, but you don't give them an example, they still don't know what to do.I would always have my children talk to me. Tell me what you want to write about. And then we would just talk and oh that's a great idea. And you know, kind of helping them think through. I had a pattern for teaching writing.I spent a couple of years on sentences because a good sentence makes or breaks a paper. And I still, you know, I teach high school kids and I have some of them who can't write good sentences. So we spent a lot of time writing sentences.First they were so young they would dictate to me and I would write it and then soon they could write their own and then we wrote paragraphs and we wrote all kinds of different paragraphs and we always enclosed our writing in a letter to grandparents because that teaches children early on.Okay, so you're writing this paragraph for grandma, then you're going to write it differently than this paragraph that you're writing for Aunt Julie because she's interested in horses whereas grandma is interested in books and knitting. It teaches them to think in terms of an audience which is really important when you write.So then from paragraphs we would actually move to reports, essays and things like that in middle school. So we did a lot of basic writing and then whenever they wanted to write stories, I'd say, "Oh yeah, write the story." And if they couldn't write well, they could dictate to me and I would type it on the computer.Then in high school, we did all the analyzing literature, writing a research paper. We wrote a novel one year. And fiction is very different than writing non-fiction. So I think my kids wrote every kind of essay, every kind of report. But I tried to make it really fun.And one thing I also did in high school was I'd say, "Okay, here's a paper from two years ago. I'd like you to turn it into a blog post." And they really enjoyed that. But blogging is a completely different kind of writing than writing an essay.We always shared our writing with other people because I wanted them to have in their mind an audience. Whenever I teach homeschool co-op classes, I always have the kids read their papers out loud and that allows them to have an audience.So I say when you're writing this paper, look around the room. This is your audience and you're going to read it out loud to them and you want to write something they'll enjoy. So when I grade their writing papers, I always look for readability. Is it enjoyable to read? Is it written for the audience?And three of my children went into writing. So one became an editor at a magazine and she writes—now she has her own business. She writes. My other daughter taught writing and literature at the local university and now she's a stay-at-home mom. And my youngest daughter has written a screenplay and short stories and stuff like that.Now my daughter Juliana who works for Verizon says she hates writing but she's actually a very good writer. She just doesn't like it.Kerry: That is so good. You know you said something that I know we did a lot in the beginning years. It is easier for kids to speak sentences than to write their first few sentences. So if they speak it as a sentence, I would type up—Hunter would be talking to me about snakes or whatever we read about and we would type it, then the next day he would copy it or edit it.The other thing is giving your kids a reason to write and getting a grade is not a real life reason to write. You've got to have an audience. And if there's an audience, that alone can motivate some kids to actually do a better job because they feel like they're writing to a person. And if you're just writing for a grade, that's sort of dull sometimes.Arithmetic: Consistency and MasteryKerry: We've got writing, then we have arithmetic. And I know there's some moms that have some fear. I was a math minor and by the time my kids got in high school I was like what did I learn in my math minor years? I loved math in high school but by then I didn't really care for math as much. So what kind of tips can you give them because we do need our kids to be able to use math skills?Meredith: I think my number one tip for math would be do math every day and put a time limit on it so it doesn't feel like, oh my goodness, I'm going to be here two hours to finish this lesson. But I think consistency is the most important thing with math.And be confident. Don't be afraid to hire a tutor for math or to put your kids in a co-op class for math because if mom hates math then it's hard for kids to like math. And I have a friend named Leanne and she did so much tutoring in our church for co-op kids because their moms just hated math.I was like you—when my son took calculus I said honey, no idea. I don't know. But so I would say make sure that they're scoring 90% or higher on their tests and they know why they got the problems wrong.And here's why. The early years they learn so many foundational things. And a lot of times when I'm helping kids who have trouble with pre-algebra, with algebra, with algebra 2 or geometry, it goes all the way back to fractions and decimals and multiplying and dividing.One child was really struggling with math. So I just repeated a grade. I just repeated a whole grade in a different curriculum. And she ended up joining this engineering club called Math Counts in middle school and went all the way to state. So she wasn't dumb. She just needed more repetition.I hear people say, "Well, why should they do repetition?" Well, I would say that math is learning to get the problems right over and over and over again until you're solid.I always started with math because I feel like it kind of gets all the neurons charged and working—like sort of the workout for the brain. But again, I would just do it every day. It's better to do a half hour of math every day than do like a slug session for three hours because you're behind.If kids get behind in math, they get behind in math and that means we do some math over the summer. That was kind of how I looked at it. But I was a real stickler with math and as a result the kids did well with math. But it wasn't necessarily anyone's favorite except for Jimmy my son.Kerry: Well you know I think you hit on another good point—mastery. I was a public school teacher and we did have a minimum but nowadays it didn't matter if you know it or not. You just keep moving those kids through the school. What's the point?If those kids do not understand single-digit division, they're not going to understand long division. So, work on it. And, you know, you can find some fun activities to make it all work. There's lots of hands-on. I do believe mastery in math because it is sequential and it keeps building on it like you said with geometry.Meredith: That's a good point. Math is one of the few things that is sequential. Everything else you could learn, you know, American Revolution and then ancient history. It doesn't matter. But math is sequential. And so if they don't learn the basics, they're always going to struggle.Research: Beyond "Hey Google"Kerry: Okay. So after arithmetic, next we have got research. So how is that a tool? How would you encourage moms?Meredith: Okay. Well, I think right now if you say research, people just look things up on Google.Kerry: I know that's true. Or you know what? My grandkids wouldn't look it on Google. I'm not going to do it because I've got a little Google machine. They just go, "Hey, Google." And then they'd ask whatever that question is and let it speak to them and they don't even have to read it. They'll just listen.Meredith: I always think, what if an enemy of the US just shut down our internet for a week? It would be like, oh my goodness.But I think it's important for kids to know how to find things in books, like how to read a textbook to find the table of contents and how to go find the subject you're looking for. How to use directories, how to use an atlas, how to use maps. They could use Google Maps, but how did they find stuff on Google Maps?And then just being able to go to different kinds of research books like a dictionary, a thesaurus, an encyclopedia, and then actually to research—to look things up and to find different books about it and research a topic and especially in research to read about opposing viewpoints.I think that's very important to read about this viewpoint and this viewpoint that are completely polar opposites. I think that's an important part of research because there's been a main point in our school system for years and it's been like almost brainwashing kids but we don't want to do the same thing.We want to make sure that our children know both sides of the issue and then where we stand and why we stand where we stand logically, not just based on emotion.I think that's an important part of research. It kind of ties in with rhetoric. Also everything is research from looking up a recipe and finding the best recipe to researching for a research paper.And so, you know, one of the things about research is trying out different things until you find what's best. Trying out different exercises till you find the one that works the best or you enjoy the most. So, research is really a lifelong thing.Kerry: Even if you are saying, "Hey, Google."Meredith: Yes. They're like, "Oh, Gigi, that's okay. We'll go find—here. Come here." And they take me over to their little machine and ask it a question. Sometimes they understand, the girls, sometimes they don't.Kerry: That is so good. And I like that idea of research is all different things. It's not just writing a research paper. My kids actually every year in high school had to write one research paper. And we just really—the requirements in ninth grade were different than the 12th grade because hopefully they were growing in their research skills as well. And they do have to write so many research papers in college. So that was probably really helpful for them.Now we got AI. So y'all go listen to the AI talks that we have in this summit because we're going to show you—no, you can't just go get AI to write your research paper. So we got a few little speakers on that. Y'all probably need to go listen.Meredith: Oh, I need to listen to it because someone mentioned it and I was like, "My children in my classes would never use AI."Right Living: The Closing BookendKerry: The last one we started with relationships, which I think is super important. We got a lot of academic things. Right living—and that's the last one. But I don't think it's the least. So, tell us a little bit about that and why you put that there.Meredith: Well, I put it last because it's kind of a sandwich of the academics. Relationship and then right living because right living is weaving through everything.And you teach children to be polite, to be obedient, to work hard, not just with their chores, but with their schoolwork. And so it just makes sense.And also there's something about living right even before children give their hearts to Christ. When you live the right way in a way that's moral, you feel better. You don't have like a lot of guilt. You don't have a lot of shame because you've done the right thing. You've worked hard. You've done what you need to do.So, I feel like it's a confidence booster as well to have right living be part of a focus, but it makes teaching easier when you're focused on training children to have manners, to have virtue. It makes it easier to get school done because it's just part of their character to—okay, this is kind of my job. I'm going to do it well.Kerry: That's so good. And I was thinking I didn't mean to steal your thunder by saying what I said, but relationships, right living—that's the most important. And I got the academics in the middle.Meredith: Exactly. Yeah. It's like a sandwich. And so it's a reminder—I think when you start with right living, you can become legalistic, you can become harsh. But if you start with relationships and sandwich it with right living, I think it helps you have a really good balance between the two.The 7 Rs ResourceKerry: That is so good. Hey, I know you've got a really good resource about these seven Rs that could help our homeschoolers. Could you tell people a little bit about that?Meredith: So, this is called The Seven Rs of Homeschooling. And you can tell all my books have a little Florida flair. A lot of them do. But it goes through each of the seven Rs I mentioned—how to teach them, practical resources.It was again birthed out of that season where it was a necessity for me to major on the majors and minor on the minors. And so it's not like oh this is my theory from my Ivy League tower but this is where we had to live. And it really helped me kind of refocus.And it ended up putting writing assignments and speaking, conversational—that's how we ended up putting book clubs in our literature classes and history classes because I found out how important conversation was. We just would have conversations all the way down to my parents' house.So I really recommend The Seven Rs. It's an easy read and it goes through each one and how it's a benefit and how you can in practical ways—it talks about if you have some issues with reading with your kids and how to go step by step.It's written for elementary, middle, and high school. So, you can pick it up when they're still in high school and just sort of give an overview of your children. If you pull your kids out of high school, out of a public school, and you bring them home, one of the things you want to do is you want to kind of evaluate where they're at in these—not with a test, but with just observing what are they able to do, what are they confident in, what do they still need more help. So, this is another good tool for that.Kerry: That is awesome. So, wherever you're listening to this, look below and we will have a link that you can click on and go grab a copy of this excellent resource because I mean this will give you practical tips to be able to implement these seven Rs and evaluate where your kids are.Meredith, thank you so much for being here. I am going to put a little note on there saying I'm sorry for the darkness on parts of the video, but I know we were in the late of the day and the sun's going down and we couldn't get the light to work. But you know what? The content here is excellent. So, thank y'all for just listening as well. And thank you for being here, Meredith. I appreciate it.Meredith: Thank you for having me. I always love being here. Thank you.Kerry: All right. And I'm Kerry Beck with Life Skills Leadership Summit. We'll talk to you next time.Ready to major on the majors in your homeschool? Grab Meredith Curtis's book The 7 Rs of Homeschooling and discover practical, battle-tested strategies for raising lifelong learners. Visit lifeskillsleadershipsummit.com for the for a free Basic Pass to this year's summit and build confidence in teaching life skills and leadership!

Some names in Scripture roar like thunder. Others move like steady footsteps on a quiet road.This message dives into James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Thaddeus — three apostles barely mentioned in the Gospels, yet eternally remembered in heaven. While Peter preached at Pentecost and John leaned close at the Last Supper, these men walked faithfully without headlines, hashtags, or historical fanfare.And yet Jesus chose them.In Matthew 19:28 (ESV), Jesus promised that all twelve would sit on thrones judging the tribes of Israel. In Revelation 21:14 (ESV), the twelve apostles' names are written on the foundations of the New Jerusalem. Not just the famous ones. All of them.This sermon explores:• James the Son of Alphaeus — called “James the lesser” (Mark 15:40). No recorded sermons. No spotlight moments. Yet faithful to the end. A reminder that heaven measures devotion, not platform size. • Simon the Zealot — once aligned with Jewish nationalist zeal, possibly even revolutionary movements (Luke 6:15). Jesus transformed his political fire into gospel flame, uniting him with Matthew the former tax collector under one King. • Thaddeus (Judas, not Iscariot) — a man of three names who asked one recorded question (John 14:22). He expected a visible kingdom. Jesus revealed a deeper one — an indwelling presence (John 14:23).In a world obsessed with recognition, likes, and visibility, this message reminds us:Heaven does not count followers. Heaven counts faithfulness.We examine:• Matthew 6:4 — The Father who sees in secret rewards openly. • 2 Corinthians 5:10 — The Bema Seat of Christ, where believers are evaluated not for salvation, but for stewardship. • 1 Corinthians 3:12–15 — Works tested by fire. Gold remains. Straw disappears. • 2 Corinthians 4:5 — The messenger is never the focus. Christ is. • Matthew 28:19–20 — The mission was never about building apostle brands, but making disciples.Some applause on earth may be silence in eternity. Some quiet obedience here may echo forever.If you have ever felt unseen, overlooked, or “lesser,” this sermon will encourage you. God sees. God remembers. God rewards.Faithfulness, not recognition, is what heaven celebrates.

When Paul says the Gospel should be preached to every creature under heaven in Colossians 1:23, should this be taken literally? Is it unscriptural for a woman to give a testimony in word in a congregation where men are? Can you explain when God says heaven and earth will pass away but not one drop of tittle of my Word will pass away? In Revelation, where they overcame by the blood and the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, is that that tribulation saints or saints today? Please explain the passage that says women ought to learn in silence or be silent in the church. When Paul says to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, is someone from a different denomination in Christianity an unbeliever to you - and is it referring to marriage only? Why is addiction growing in Antigua? Can a real Christian be affected by witchcraft? Listen as Pastor/Dr. David Murphy discusses these and other listener questions.

In John 1:29 it says, the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John the Baptist presents Jesus as the one who will die in our place to take away our sin.  One man says in the Old Testament the question is 'Where is the lamb?'. Here he says it twice in John 1 and in all the Gospels that is the emphasis "Behold the Lamb of God!" In Revelation 5:12 those that know Him as Savior will sing "Worthy is the Lamb!” He speaks here of Jesus as that perfect, sinless, substitute who would die in our place as taking away the “sin” not sins of the world. I believe he is referring to the one unforgivable sin John 16:8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; have you believed On him and trusted in him, if not do it today.        Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

Have you ever felt locked out — like life is happening and you're standing on the outside looking in? In Revelation 3, Jesus stands at a door and knocks. In Revelation 4, John sees a door standing open in heaven. What he sees next reframes everything. Before seals are opened. Before judgment unfolds. Before chaos erupts. There is a throne. And it is not empty. This week, we explore Revelation 4–5 — the heavenly worship scene that recenters the church around the reality that God reigns. We look at the Lion who appears as a slain Lamb, and why sacrificial love is not a detour in God's plan — it is the plan. This is not a message about decoding end-times charts. It's about aligning our lives with heaven's song. Because if heaven is giving everything to the Lamb… why are we still giving our best to lesser things? The Lamb is worthy. The throne is occupied. And worship is the evidence that heaven is breaking into earth.

What do you do when life squeezes you from every side; financially, emotionally, relationally and staying faithful feels costly? In Revelation 2:8–11, Jesus writes to the church in Smyrna, a church under intense pressure, public opposition, and real loss. They weren't comfortable, admired, or thriving by the world's standards; yet Jesus calls them rich. This message explores how pressure doesn't create faith, it reveals it; why faithfulness isn't about comfort but conviction; and how staying faithful now has eternal weight later. If you're feeling pressed, tempted to compromise, or wondering where God is in the middle of your struggle, this message is for you.

God's goal is not to scare you — it's to save you.In Revelation 15–16 we discover a hopeful truth: Jesus already took the cup of wrath on the cross so you wouldn't have to face it. The invitation is simple: you don't clean yourself up first — you come to Him, turn from what can't save you, and trust the One who can.You're not too far gone. You're not too late. Today can be the day you come home.

Join us as we explore where we exist in the timeline of history. God is revealing to Pastor Bryan where we are in time and how to live, survive and even thrive in such a time as this. In Revelation, Jesus provides a promise of blessing for those who take that prophecy to heart and allow it to affect their life and lifestyle. Since this prophecy in Daniel is another, less detailed, prophecy on the same events, I believe this blessing will be ours, as well. It is time for the church to move in harmony with the soon and climactic coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, hence the title, "All In at the End."

In Revelation 9, the sounding of the trumpets reveals that God's warnings are expressions of mercy to wake people up before judgment escalates. Jesus has authority over evil, preserves those who belong to Him, and exposes the false idea that we can remain neutral toward Him. This message invites us to examine where we have set our gaze and to give our settled allegiance to Jesus.

What is really happening when the world feels chaotic, unjust, or out of control? In Revelation 6, the Lamb opens the seals of history and shows us that suffering is not random, prayers are not ignored, and justice will not be postponed forever. Join us this Sunday as we consider how the Lamb rules, the Lamb hears, and the Lamb will one day judge—and why that is good news for weary saints.

Most people think spiritual danger looks like rebellion. But Jesus warned about something far more subtle — and far more dangerous.This video explores what the Bible says about lukewarm faith, spiritual drift, and how believers slowly lose passion for God without realizing it.In Revelation 3, Jesus delivers one of His strongest warnings to the church — a warning about becoming spiritually lukewarm. But what does lukewarm Christianity really mean? And why is spiritual indifference often more dangerous than outright rebellion?In this message, we talk about:• The slow fade of faith• How believers drift from God without noticing• The warning signs of spiritual complacency• Why lukewarm faith is so dangerous• How Jesus lovingly calls drifting hearts back to HimIf you've ever felt spiritually dry, distracted, or stuck going through religious routines without passion, this message will help you recognize the warning signs and rediscover spiritual fire.⸻

7 takeaways from this study Incense shows us what prayer really is. The altar of incense in Exodus isn't just ancient ritual. It pictures our prayers rising continually before God, like what we see in Revelation 8. Hannah is a model of real intercession. Her silent, anguished prayer in 1Samuel 1–2 shows what it means to pour out your soul before the LORD, with no pretense and no Plan B. The “horn” is God's power to lift up the lowly. When Hannah's “horn” is lifted, it ties into the larger Bible picture of the horn as strength and victory — from the Psalms to Daniel to the Lamb with seven horns in Revelation. From bronze altar to golden altar is a journey. Sacrifice at the bronze altar leads to transformation, and the golden altar of incense pictures a life that now draws near and sends up a pleasing fragrance of prayer. Yeshua is our eternal High Priest and advocate. Unlike mortal priests, He lives forever and always intercedes for us (Hebrews 7; 1John 2). He doesn't just officiate; He fights for us. John 17 ties incense to truth and unity. Yeshua prays that we'll be set apart by God's truth and that we'll be one, just as the LORD is one. That unity is part of our “incense” to the world. Malachi warns us how not to worship. God rejects cheap, half‑hearted offerings and religious show. Yet Malachi also promises the Sun of Righteousness and an Elijah‑type call to return and be restored. There’s line from the altar of incense in Exodus 30 through Hannah's prayer, Yeshua's high priestly ministry, and Malachi's rebuke of corrupt worship, showing how Scripture presents prayer as something like heavenly incense—fragrant, costly, and “most holy to the LORD” (קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים qodesh qodashim, “most holy”; Exodus 30:10). In Exodus 30:1–10, the altar of incense stands right in front of the curtain that separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant/Testimony rests. The Ark often receives the most attention, and rightly so, because the visible manifestation of God's Presence dwells above it. Yet the golden altar of incense is placed just outside the veil, very near to that Presence. The Mishkan (“Dwelling Places,” i.e., the Tabernacle) and its furniture are not merely ancient religious artifacts. They are earthly replicas of heavenly realities (cf. Hebrews 8:5). The altar is a replica of what happens in heaven; the pattern given to the priests teaches Israel what is already true in the heavenly realm. That pattern still speaks to believers today in Messiah. Hannah's Prayer: Incense of the Heart To understand what the altar of incense signifies, we must listen to חַנָּה Channah (Hannah) in 1Samuel 1–2. Her story offers a narrative picture of incense-like prayer. Hannah's deep longing for a son moved her to pour out her soul before Adonai with unusual intensity and sincerity. In the biblical world, barrenness was viewed as a source of reproach and grief for a woman, and 1 Samuel 1:9–20 emphasizes that this sorrow is what drove Hannah to such fervent, heartfelt prayer.  Channah is “greatly distressed” and “wept bitterly” as she prays at the Tabernacle, at that time pitched in Shiloh. She vows: “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…” 1Samuel 1:11, NASB95 Her prayer is silent — only her lips move — so that Eli the priest misreads her anguish, assumes she is drunk (1Samuel 1:12–14). But Hannah explains that she is “a woman oppressed in spirit” who has “poured out [her] soul before the LORD” (1Samuel 1:15). This language of pouring out the soul parallels the outpouring that incense imagery conveys: something deep within rises up toward heaven. Yet, considering Eli's broader story and the moral decline he witnessed around him, it is understandable why he initially assumed the worst. Once he listened and understood the true nature of her prayer, he affirmed her request and blessed her. God remembers Hannah; she conceives and bears שְׁמוּאֵל Shemu'el (Samuel), saying, “because I asked him of the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:20). Her answered prayer leads to a song of praise in 1Samuel 2:1–10. The Horn: Power and Exaltation In Hannah's song, she says: “My heart exults in the LORD;My horn is exalted in the LORD” 1Samuel 2:1, NASB95 The Hebrew term קֶרֶן qeren, “horn,” appears repeatedly in Scripture as a symbol of power, victory, and strength. In the Psalms we read: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2, NASB95 Prophetic books like Daniel 7 use horns in visions to represent kings and kingdoms rising and falling. In Revelation 5:6, the Lamb appears with seven horns, signaling complete and perfect power. 7 and 8: Completion and Overflow The number seven holds special resonance in Hebrew thought. The word שֶׁבַע sheva (“seven”) is related to שָׁבַע shava (“oath”), giving seven the sense of something you can rely on, something complete and confirmed. Thus seven horns on the Lamb picture power brought to its full, reliable, oath-like completion. The symbolism of seven lamps in Revelation 1–2 connects to the מְנוֹרָה menorah in the Tabernacle — the seven‑branched lampstand that symbolizes God's complete insight into, and care for, His people. The number eight, שְׁמוֹנֶה (shemonah), connected to שֶׁמֶן (shemen), “oil” or “fatness.” If seven is fullness and completion, eight suggests overflow—fullness that spills over, like rich oil. In the pattern of Scripture, seven stands for complete cycles (Sabbath, feasts, etc.), while eight can signal new beginnings that flow out of that completed work. In this context, the Lamb with seven horns represents perfect, complete power; the Lamb stands amid the seven lamps as the One who fully sees and fully empowers the congregations. This ties the imagery of horns, lamps, and incense together around the person of Messiah. From Bronze Altar to Golden Altar: A Journey of Transformation The bronze altar in the courtyard of the Tabernacle connects with the golden altar of incense in the Holy Place. Both have horns (קַרְנוֹת qarnot), but they serve different roles. The bronze altar (Exodus 27) receives burnt offerings; animals are consumed by fire there, and their smoke rises. The golden altar of incense (Exodus 30:1–10) stands inside, by the curtain, and receives only incense — no animal sacrifices. This layout illustrates a progression: The worshiper enters the courtyard and encounters the bronze altar. Here, a substitutionary life is poured out in blood; the offering is consumed. Only the blood of certain offerings proceeds further, toward the inner sanctum. The golden altar of incense represents the completion of that process: what has been offered and transformed now rises as a pleasing fragrance, close to God's presence. In Messianic Jewish terms, this progression points to the way a believer, Jew or Gentile, approaches God through Yeshua the Messiah. The life laid down (sacrifice) leads to cleansing and transformation, and from that transformed life arises prayer as incense before the throne. ‘Most Holy to the LORD’ Exodus 30 describes the golden altar as “most holy to the LORD” (קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים הוּא לַיהוָה qodesh qodashim hu la‑Adonai). This expression is rare and weighty. קָדוֹשׁ kadosh means “holy, set apart”; qodesh qodashim is literally “holiness of holinesses,” usually translated “Most Holy” or “Holy of Holies.” The same language describes the inner sanctuary where the Ark is kept and certain offerings that are entirely set apart for God (e.g., Leviticus 2:3; 6:17). When something is “most holy,” it is not negotiable, not a casual add‑on to life. It belongs to God in a unique way. The altar of incense stood in intimate connection with the Holy Place, positioned directly before the veil and closest to the presence of Adonai. Though smaller in size than other furnishings, its spiritual significance was immense.  The study draws a parallel between this and prayer itself. When prayer rises from a life genuinely devoted to God, it resembles that incense on the most holy altar: entirely set apart, fully given over. ‘Devoted’ Beyond Recall Leviticus 27:28 introduces the concept of חֵרֶם ḥerem: “…anything which a man sets apart to the LORD out of all that he has… shall not be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction is most holy to the LORD.” Leviticus 27:28, paraphrased from NASB95 The Hebrew root חָרַם ḥaram basically means “to devote,” though in many contexts it takes on the sense “devoted to destruction,” as in the conquest of Jericho. Once something is ḥerem, it is irrevocably given over; you do not get to pull it back or swap it out. Applied to prayer, this becomes a vivid image: true prayer is ḥerem-like—wholly given to God without reservation. Hannah's plea for a child and her vow to dedicate him to the LORD (1Samuel 1:11) exemplify that kind of devotion. The High Priest and the Cloud of Incense Once a year, on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16), the high priest enters the Most Holy Place. Crucially, he must bring incense from the golden altar in a censer, so that a cloud of incense covers the mercy seat, “that he may not die” (Leviticus 16:13). The study emphasizes that this cloud is not a mere ritual flourish; it is a protective and mediating sign, wrapping the high priest as he draws near. This leads naturally to the role of Yeshua as the eternal High Priest. Hebrews 7 contrasts mortal priests, who die, with Messiah: “…because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:23–25 NASB95 In a Messianic Jewish reading, Yeshua is the heavenly כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל Cohen Gadol, who not only offers atonement but continues in intercession—like incense continually rising. The Tanakh shows that Israel's priests, descendants of Aaron, were human and varied—some served faithfully, others struggled deeply, and some, like the sons of Eli, acted in ways that dishonored their calling. Their priesthood, though divinely appointed, was limited by mortality and human weakness. Yeshua, on the other hand, is not a priest who “clocks in and out,” but the One who stands between the living and the dead, just as Aaron once did with the censer of incense to stop a plague in Israel (Numbers 16:46–48). John 17: The High Priestly Prayer of Yeshua John 17 is often called the “high priestly prayer.” Here Yeshua lifts His eyes to heaven and prays for: The glorification of the Father and the Son (John 17:1–5) Revelation of the Father's name and word to the disciples (John 17:6–8) Protection from the evil one (John 17:9–16) Sanctification in truth (John 17:17–19) Unity of believers in Him (John 17:20–23) Eternal presence with Him and experience of the Father's love (John 17:24–26) Yeshua says: “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:17, NASB95 The Hebrew concept behind “truth” here parallels אֱמֶת (emet), “truth, reliability.” Sanctification (qiddush) is not vague spirituality; it is being set apart by the Word of God, as revealed in Torah, Prophets, Writings, and fulfilled in Messiah. Yeshua's emphasis on unity (“that they may all be one,” John 17:21) resonates deeply with the שְׁמַע Shema: “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” Deuteronomy 6:4 NASB95 Just as יהוה Adonai is one, His people are called to Oneness in Him — Jew and Gentile together in Messiah, reconciled and united (cf. Ephesians 2:14–16). That unity is not theoretical. It is part of the fragrance of genuine incense-like prayer that displays God's reality to the watching world. Prayer and Judgment in Revelation 8 Revelation 8:1–5 presents a striking scene: the prayers of the saints (“holy ones,” קְדֹשִׁים kedoshim), like incense, rise before God, and then the angel takes the censer, fills it with fire from the altar, and throws it to the earth, triggering thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. Those prayers are not only requests for comfort; they include cries of “How long?”—longing for justice, the end of oppression, and the final setting-right of the world. Prayer and judgment intertwine: the persistent prayers of God's people are linked to the release of God's righteous judgments that end evil and suffering. As the narrative unfolds, these prayers are connected to the sounding of the seven trumpets, showing that intercession invites divine intervention against the forces of darkness. The cries of the saints for healing, peace, deliverance, wisdom, and righteousness are heard by God and elicit His response. Other New Covenant passages reinforce this life of continual prayer: “pray without ceasing” (1Thessalonians 5:17), “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 NASB95), and the assurance that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16 NASB95). In this way, Revelation portrays prayer not as passive devotion but as active participation in God's triumph over evil and the restoration of creation. Malachi 1–2: How Not to Offer Incense Malachi speaks to a weary and disillusioned people and to a corrupt priesthood who, amid spiritual decline, begin to question the love and faithfulness of Adonai Malachi 1:11–2:9 uses incense language to rebuke corrupt worship. “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting,My name will be great among the nations,And in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure…” Malachi 1:11 NASB95 This universal vision is immediately contrasted with the failed priesthood of Malachi's day. Priests bring stolen, lame, and sick animals — offerings that cost them little and misrepresent God's holiness. God calls such behavior “despising” His name (Malachi 1:12–13). In Mal 2:3 the language becomes graphic: God threatens to spread the refuse — literally, the vomit of their festival sacrifices — on their faces. Instead of fragrant incense, their corrupted offerings produce stench. The priests' hypocrisy becomes a stumbling block for the people, leading them astray rather than drawing them near. This is not merely ancient history. It warns any community claiming to serve the God of Israel, including Messianic congregations and the wider body of Messiah. Ritual correctness without integrity of heart can become an abomination, just as Isaiah 1:11–15 says, where God refuses multiplied sacrifices and prayers because they are joined with iniquity. Crisis, Reboot, and Return to Torah Historically, Malachi stands after the Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of the Second Temple. There has been a kind of spiritual letdown: the people expected a glorious restoration, but they remain under foreign empires and spiritual zeal has cooled. The prophet confronts a generation coasting on older revivals. In times of crisis, people often cry out to God and even see short-term renewal, but unless each generation reboots back to God's original instructions — the תּוֹרָה Torah (“instruction”) — the slide returns. This “reboot” analogy works well: when a computer system is corrupted, you shut it down and restart from the manufacturer's instructions. Spiritually, that means returning to what God commanded through Moses at Horeb/Sinai (Malachi 4:4), testing every new word, teaching, or movement against the standard of Scripture (cf. Deuteronomy 13; 18). Elijah, the Day of the LORD, and Multiple Fulfillments Malachi ends not in despair but hope (Malachi 4:1–6). A coming “day” will burn like a furnace, consuming the arrogant and evildoers. Yet for those who fear God's name, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2, NASB 1995). God promises to send אֵלִיָּהוּ Eliyahu (Elijah) before the great and terrible day of the LORD, to turn hearts — fathers to children, children to fathers. In the Apostolic Writings, Yeshua identifies Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) as an Elijah‑figure for His generation (e.g., Matthew 11:14). Yet Revelation's two witnesses, calling down fire from heaven, again echo Elijah's ministry, suggesting multiple fulfillments of the Elijah pattern — each time God confronts widespread corruption and calls His people back to faithfulness. In each case, God's goal is the same: to distinguish between those who merely play at religion and those truly devoted (ḥerem) to Him, and to invite the undecided to step off the fence and follow truth. The Power of Pure, Hidden Prayer An ancient commentary on Malachi 1:11 notes how pure prayer — even when silent and hidden — is more precious than loud, showy words. Purity of heart constitutes prayer more than do all the prayers that are uttered out loud, and silence united to a mind that is sincere is better than a loud voice of someone crying out. My beloved, give me now your heart and your thought, and hear about the power of pure prayer; see how our righteous ancestors excelled in their prayer before God and how it served them as a “pure offering.” For it was through prayer that offerings were accepted, and it was prayer again that averted the flood from Noah. Prayer has healed barrenness, prayer has overthrown armies, prayer has revealed mysteries, prayer has divided the sea, prayer made a passage through the Jordan. It held back the sun, it made the moon stand still, it destroyed the unclean, it caused fire to descend. Prayer closed up the heaven, prayer raised up from the pit, rescued from the fire and saved from the sea. Aphrahat the Persian Sage (A.D. 270–345) It recalls how prayer in Scripture: Averts judgment (Noah and the Flood; intercession in the Prophets) Heals barrenness (Hannah) Overcomes armies Divides seas and rivers Stops the sun and moon Calls down or withholds fire and rain Raises up from the pit and rescues from danger Yeshua Himself warns against prayer done to impress others (Matthew 6:5–6). Public prayer is not wrong, but when its motive is human recognition, the “reward” is already spent. Like Hannah, genuine prayer may be misunderstood outwardly, but God hears the heart poured out. This aligns with the calling of Israel and the nations in Messiah: to become a people whose lives are living sacrifices (cf. Romans 12:1), whose prayers are like incense on the golden altar, and whose worship is qadosh qadashim — most holy to the LORD. The post ‘Most holy to the LORD’: What the altar of incense reveals about prayer (Exodus 30; Malachi 1–2; John 17; Revelation 8) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

In Revelation chapter 1, the apostle John sees Jesus Christ in His glorified state—holy, all-seeing, all-powerful, and alive forevermore. Christ is revealed walking in the midst of His churches, holding authority over death and eternity.This message explains who Jesus is today, the purpose of the local church, and why Christ's presence among His churches still matters. Before studying prophecy, Christ calls us to behold Him and examine the church He loves.Revelation 1:9–20

In Revelation 2, Jesus speaks directly to His Church and He doesn't waste words. He commends endurance, faithfulness, and a refusal to compromise, but He also exposes what can quietly die in a church that keeps “doing the right things” with the wrong heart.We started with a sobering truth: a church that's not under the control of the Holy Ghost will eventually be out of control. We aren't called to be open-minded people drifting with culture, we're called to be Christ-minded people anchored in the Word.Jesus rebukes the church for this: they had the fire of truth, but they lost the flame of love. It's possible to be doctrinally sound and still spiritually dry. Truth without love becomes cold. Holiness without intimacy becomes hollow. And sometimes we can prioritize ministry, activity, and effort while our first love fades in the background.The call of Revelation 2 is clear: Return. Repent. Be rekindled. Not just keep going, but come back to the heart of it all, Jesus Himself. Everything must exalt Him.We also confronted compromise head-on. The Nicolaitans taught a mixture of Jesus and pagan values, treating grace like a license to sin. But Pastor Jon made it plain: you cannot walk with Jesus and dance with the devil. In a world trying to blur the lines, the Church must hold both truth and love, the way Jesus walked in truth and grace.Then we looked at Smyrna, a church that wasn't popular, but was faithful. They paid a price for truth. And we were challenged with a powerful gut-check: If the Bible doesn't cut you at least once a week, you're not reading it right. God's Word is supposed to examine us, expose motives, and align our living with what we say we believe.Jesus closes with a promise to those who have ears to hear and the courage to endure: Don't be afraid. Be faithful. Because whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death, the death that doesn't end life, but ends hope. Eternity is real, and the decisions we make now matter forever.Takeaway: Examine yourself. Is what you're reading reflecting how you're living? Let His Word search you, let His Spirit lead you, and let your love be rekindled. The Lord is still speaking. Are you listening? 

Permit me to share a story from my own experience that helps explain why it took me so long to preach a sermon series on the book of Revelation. When I was twenty-eight, I had been ordained as a minister of the gospel only a short time earlier and was serving as an interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, a congregation of roughly three hundred people. The church was struggling. Years of poor leadership decisions and the dismissal of one of its senior pastors had left it in a fragile state. I was young, inexperienced, and keenly aware that I had far more to learn than to offer. When Calvary eventually called its next senior pastorwhom I will refer to as Bobhe inherited both me and another assistant pastor. Less than a year into his tenure, Bob called me into his office to discuss my future. He asked what I hoped for in ministry, and I told him I planned to finish seminary and learn as much as I could from him, given his decades of pastoral experience. Then, without warning, he asked me what I believed about the rapture. Caught off guard, I answered honestly: I believed Christ would return for His people, but I was not yet certain whether that would be before, during, or after the tribulation. Bob paused, looked at me, and said simply, Well, thats a problem. It was a problem because Calvarys doctrinal statement treated a pre-tribulation rapture not as a point of discussion, but as a nonnegotiable. One passage often cited in support of that view is 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet the wrath Paul describes there is not the suffering believers endure in this world, but the final judgment reserved for the condemned. That conversation marked me deeply. It revealed how quickly the book of Revelationand the questions surrounding itcan become a test of loyalty rather than a call to faithfulness. And it helps explain why I approached Revelation for so many years with caution, hesitation, and no small measure of pastoral concern. Suffering (Tribulation) is a Part of the Christian Life (v. 9) What troubled me about Pastor Bob and the doctrinal statement Calvary Baptist Church has since removed is that this view is difficult to reconcile with Jesus own teaching on what Christians should expect as His followers. Jesus said plainly, You will be hated by all for my names sake (Matt. 10:22). And again, In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). The apostles echoed the same expectation. Paul warned new believers, Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God just after he was stoned and left for dead outside of the city of Lystra (Acts 14:22). Peter likewise urged Christians not to be shocked by suffering, but to see it as participation in Christs own path: Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you rejoice insofar as you share Christs sufferings (1 Pet. 4:1213). The word tribulation simply means affliction. In Revelation, tribulation is never portrayed as some vague or theoretical idea, but as a real and immediate experience for faithful believers.1It is the context of Johns exile, the churches suffering, and the cry of the martyrs. Tribulation is the setting in which the church endures, bears witness, and waits for Christs victory. Let me press this one step further. In Matthew 24, Jesus warned His disciples, And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains (vv. 68). Then He said, They will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my names sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (vv. 914). Jesus then went on to prophesy about events we know with certainty occurred in AD 70: So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be (vv. 1521). History records that everything Jesus warned would happen did, in fact, occur. Roman soldiers under Titus breached Jerusalem, entered the temple, slaughtered priests while sacrifices were being offered, piled bodies in the sanctuary, erected pagan images, and offered sacrifices to Roman gods, including sacrifices to the emperor himself. The temple was dismantled stone by stone, fulfilling Jesus words: Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down (Matt. 24:2). John lived through those events. More than twenty years later, he wrote to seven churches not as a distant observer but as a participant: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. The question to consider until we reach Revelation 6 is: What tribulation is John participating in? The persecution of Christians didnt end in AD 70. What began as local opposition has become global. Some regions where the gospel once flourishedsuch as North Korea and Nigeriaare now among the most dangerous for Christians. A challenging reality of the Christian life is that faithfulness to Jesus often leads to suffering. John introduces himself not as an exception, but as a fellow participant in this tribulation. Whatever view of the tribulation you currently hold, know that John and the first-century church were convinced they were living in itnot as a fixed or future timetable, but as a present season of suffering that began with Christs ascension and will end only with His return. Jesus Will Not Abandon the Christian in Life (vv. 9-16) When John received his visions, it was on the Lords Day. Before anything was revealed about Gods plan for the world, it was a day set apart for worship. Many believe this is the earliest technical use of the Lords Day to refer to Sundaythe day of Christs resurrection and the dawn of the new creation. What is most significant is that John hears from the Lord while worshiping the Lord. While in a state of worship, John hears a loud voice behind him like a trumpet. This recalls Sinai, where we are told, there were thunders and lightnings and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled (Exod. 19:16). The trumpet-like voice commands John: Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches (v. 11). When John turns, he does not see a trumpet, but seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man (v. 12). Do not miss the significance: the lampstands represent the churches (v. 20), and Jesus stands in their midst. The Greek word mesos means among and in the middle. In other words, in the midst of tribulation and suffering, Jesus has not abandoned His people. This is the fulfillment of His promise: Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20). The long golden sash Jesus wears is that of a priest (cf. Exod. 28:4; 29:5). His golden sash is not a fashion statement but a firm reminder that He is our great High Priest, who intercedes on our behalf as the One who advocates for all those He has redeemed through the shedding of His blood once and for all. As Hebrews 7 tells us, He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (vv. 2425). The hairs on Jesus head are white like the whitest wool, as Daniel describes the Ancient of Days: His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire (Dan. 7:9). Here Jesus is identified with eternal wisdom and divine purityequal with the Father, yet uniquely the Son. He is the Everlasting One, and His wisdom is infinite. Jesus eyes are like a flame of fire. This does not mean He has literal beams shooting from His eyes any more than the sharp two-edged sword from His mouth is a literal sword (v. 16). His eyes blaze like fire, revealing that nothing escapes His sightno motive hidden, no deed overlooked, and no wound His people suffer that will go unnoticed. His knowledge knows no bounds. Our Saviors feet are like burnished bronze. There is no tiptoeing with Him. Our great High Priest and awesome King embodies unshakable strength as the One who will judge the nations with perfect justice and holy resolve. He is omnipotentsolid, sure, and infinitely strong. The voice of our Savior matches His divine wisdom, all-encompassing knowledge, and unequalled strength as Yahweh. When He speaks, He does so with pervasive power: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through him and for him (Col. 1:16). His wordevery wordcarries divine weight. Why does this matter in light of what John and the churches suffered? Why does this matter for your brothers and sisters in North Korea or Nigeria? Why does this matter for us today? It matters because in the right hand of the Divine Sonwho is infinitely wise, who sees His bride perfectly and completely, and who stands with omnipotent strengththe seven angels of the seven churches are held. Whether these refer to messengers who shepherd the churches or to angels with a particular charge, the point is unmistakable: His servants belong to Him. They are His, and they serve under His protection. We are told that Jesus not only holds the seven stars and stands among His churches, but that from His mouth comes a sharp, two-edged sword (see Heb. 4:12). There are no dull edges on this sword, because it is the Word of Godliving and powerful, with the authority to judge, cut, cure, wound, and heal. And if that were not enough, His face shines like the sun in full strength. What John sees is Jesus in His gloryholy, majestic, and awesome, worthy of all our worship. This Jesus is not the one often presented as safe, domesticated, or passive. This is the glorified Lord, whose word creates, sustains, and brings all things to account. Richard Phillips wrote of these verses: This vision does not show us what Jesus looks like but rather what Jesus is like,symbolically depicting his person and work. Biblically trained Christians organize the work of Christ in his three offices of Prophet, Priest, and King.2 With Jesus, there is No Need to Fear in Life or in Death (vv. 17-20) It is no wonder, then, that when John sees this Jesus, he falls at His feet as though dead (v. 17). The beloved disciple, who once leaned against Jesus chest during His earthly ministry, is now an old manweathered, worn, and wiser. Confronted with the risen and exalted Christ, John collapses in reverent awe. Yet it is this Jesus, standing in the midst of His church, who places the same right hand that holds His servants upon John. Johns response is both right and appropriate. It echoes Isaiahs encounter with the Holy One, in which he saw the Lord seated on the throne and heard the seraphim cry, Holy, holy, holy (Isa. 6:3). Isaiah responded in terror, Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts! (Isa. 6:5). Johns response also mirrors Habakkuks reaction before a holy God: I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble (Hab. 3:16). Throughout Scripture, when sinful people encounter Gods holiness, fear is the natural response. But notice Jesus response to Johns terror: Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (vv. 1718). Fear not. Why? Because unlike Caesar, the Roman Empire, or any power that seeks to silence Christs church, Johnand all who belong to the true churchbelong to Jesus. He is the One who died to save John from his sins, the One who rose again to secure his salvation and resurrection, and the One who now holds the keys of Death and Hades. This is why Jesus can promise all who belong to Him: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand I and the Father are one (John 10:2730). With Jesus, there is no need to fearnot in life, and not in death. Conclusion Let me leave you with three points of application in light of all that we have seen in these verses: First: Dont be surprised by sufferingfaithful Christians have always faced tribulation. If tribulation is the normal setting of the Christian life, then suffering is not a sign that something has gone wrong; it is often a sign that something has gone right. John does not present himself as an exception but as a partner in tribulation, reminding us that faithfulness to Jesus does not remove us from affliction but places us squarely within it. So when hardship comespressure tocompromise, opposition at work, isolation for following Christ, or quiet endurance no one else seeswe are not abandoned; we are walking the same path marked out by the apostles, the early church, and believers around the world today. Second: Find your security in Christ, not in your circumstances. Revelation does not calm our fears by minimizing danger but by revealing Christ. John is not comforted by explanations or timelines but by the presence and power of Jesusthe eternal Son, our great High Priest, the all-seeing Judge, the omnipotent King, and the living Lord who has conquered death itself. Fear loosens its grip not when life becomes safe but when Jesus becomes central, because the size of our fear is always tied to how clearly we see Christ. Third: Do not fear deaththe One who died and rose again holds the keys of life and death. Because this Jesus holds the keys of Death and Hades, nothingnot persecution, loss, or even deathhas the final word over those who belong to Him. The same hand that holds the stars touches His servants, and the same voice that thunders like many waters speaks reassurance to fearful saints. So we need not fear what tomorrow brings or what awaits us at the end. With Jesus, there is no need to fearnot in life, nor in death. 1 Revelation consistently presents tribulation not as a distant, isolated future event, but as the lived experience of faithful believersexpressed through imprisonment, martyrdom, deception, and violent oppositionbeginning in the first century and continuing until the final vindication of Gods people (Rev. 1:9; 2:910; 6:911; 12:17; 13:7; 17:6; 20:4). 2 Richard D. Phillips, Revelation, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: PR Publishing, 2017), 64.

Everyone is following something. But not everyone considers where it leads.In Revelation 14, God reveals the coming harvest and calls us to fear Him, give Him glory, and follow the Lamb.Who you follow today determines the destiny you face tomorrow.

In a world that feels fractured and unresolved, many of us quietly wonder whether anyone is truly capable of bringing hope, justice, and healing. In Revelation 5, we encounter a surprising vision of Jesus as both the Lion and the Lamb. The only one worthy to carry the weight of history and redeem what is broken. Join us this Sunday as we explore how Christ's sacrificial love draws people from every nation into worship, unity, and lasting hope.

What does it mean to win when faithfulness costs everything? In Revelation 2:8–11, Jesus speaks to a persecuted church and redefines comfort, wealth, and victory through the lens of eternity. Discover how believers like Polycarp and Jim Elliot stood fearless and faithful in the face of flak—and how you can too.We need to tap into sources of...1) Unexpected comfort2) Unconventional wealth3) Unheralded victoryText: Revelation 2:8-11

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” — Revelation 21:5 Have you ever felt like you've missed an opportunity or that life has passed you by? Maybe you have faced setbacks, disappointments, or closed doors. It can be easy to feel that your chances for new beginnings are over, but the truth is that, with God, there is always an opportunity for something new. In Revelation 21 we get a glimpse of the ultimate renewal God has in store: “a new heaven and a new earth.” And even today God is at work making things new in our lives. Whether it's a new relationship, a new calling, a new season of growth, or even a new perspective on the circumstances we find ourselves in, God is always offering new opportunities. I remember a time in my life when everything seemed to be falling apart. Relationships were strained, work was stressful, and I felt as if I had nothing left to offer. But in the midst of that I felt a deep pull to start fresh, to rebuild, and to pursue something new. As I stepped out in faith, God opened doors that I never expected, and he renewed my heart, mind, and spirit in ways that I could not have imagined. If you feel stuck or as if the best parts of life are behind you, know that God is the God who makes all things new. His opportunities never run out, and his plans for you are always fresh and full of hope.  Lord Jesus, thank you for the new opportunities you bring into my life. Help me to trust you and to embrace the newness you have in store for me. Amen.

Keith Miller Meadowbrooke Church January 25, 2026 Behold Our Great God Revelation 1:1-8 Introduction In a world that exalts earthly power and demands allegiance, the book of Revelation pulls back the curtain and shows us the true throne of heaven. It calls Gods people to place their hope and loyalty not in the rulers of this age, but in Jesus Christthe One who governs history and alone deserves our allegiance. To grasp Revelation rightly, we must consider the circumstances in which it was given. Most scholars agree that the book was written near the end of the first century, likely between AD 90 and 95, during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian. John tells us that he received this revelation while exiled on the island of Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 1:9). His exile was not a voluntary retreat, but punishment for unwavering faithfulness to Christ. John had lived a long and costly life of discipleship. He had outlived the other apostles, witnessed the rise and fall of emperors, and seen friends and fellow believers martyred for their allegiance to Jesus. He had watched the brutality of Rome unleashedmost notably in the devastation of Jerusalemand he had seen firsthand what happens when earthly powers claim absolute authority. Long before Romes pressure intensified, many Jewish believers in Jesus had already been pushed out of their own communitiesexcluded from synagogues, cut off from family life, and treated as apostates rather than brothers. Faithfulness to Christ often meant losing ones religious home before ever confronting the power of the empire. By the time John was exiled, the pressure on the church had intensified. Under Domitian, emperor worship became a test of loyalty, especially in Asia Minor. For most citizens, participation was routine. For Christians, it was a crisis. To confess Jesus is Lord was to deny Caesar that title, and refusal could lead to social exclusion, economic loss, exile, or worse. This was not a moment of widespread slaughter, but of steady compromise. Christians were not being asked, Will you die for Christ today? They were being asked, Will you bendjust a little? It is into this world that Revelation was given. The very wordrevelationmeans unveiling. God is not hiding His purposes; He is revealing them. This book was written to a pressured church to show who truly reigns, how history is moving, and why faithfulness to Jesus is always worth the cost. And that is where Revelation begins. Behold the Blessing (vv. 1-3) When it comes to Revelation, the book is notRevelations. It is not a series of secret disclosures reserved for the most skilled students of prophetic Scripture. It is not a collection of clues designed to help us identify the next antichristespecially since we are told that many antichrists have already come. It is also not a puzzle to figure out the timing of Christs return, for Jesus even said, But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only (Matt. 24:36). Revelation isarevelationbut more precisely, it isthe Revelation of Jesus Christ. That is how the book begins, and that is what the book is about. So what does Revelation reveal about Jesus? Everything. From beginning to end, Revelation presents Jesus in the fullness of His person and work. He is thefaithful witness, thefirstborn from the dead, and theruler of the kings of the earth(1:5). He is theFirst and the Last, theLiving One (1:1718), theHoly One, theTrue One(3:7), and theoriginator of Gods creation(3:14). He is theLion of the tribe of Judahand theRoot of David(5:5), yet also theLamb who was slainand theWorthy One(5:6, 9, 12). He is theSon of Man(14:14), theWord of God(19:13), and theKing of kings and Lord of lords(19:16). He is theAlpha and the Omega, theBeginning and the End(22:13), theRoot and the Descendant of David, and theBright Morning Star(22:16). For this reason, the book of Revelation may rightly be calledthe most Christ-centered book in the Bible. How can I say that? Because, as Paul tells us,all the promises of God find their Yes in Jesus Christand Revelation is the book that shows us, again and again, how Jesus is Gods Yes to every promise He has ever made. This is the primary reason why we are assured a blessing for all who read, hear, and keep what is written in Revelation. You do know, dont you, that you can read something and not hear it right? You can read a verse in the Bible and not really hear it, just as easily as someone can tell you something and it goes in one ear and then out the other with little to no effect. I believe part of that blessing is reflected in whatThe Center for Bible Engagementdiscovered through a large-scale study on Bible engagement involving more than 600,000 participants. The results surprised many peopleincluding those who conducted the research. The study found that individuals who engaged with Scripture at least four times a week experienced: a30% drop in loneliness a32% drop in anger a40% drop in bitterness in marriage and relationships a57% drop in alcoholism a60% drop in sexual sins, including pornography addiction a62% drop in those who felt distant from God So what does it mean to keep the book of Revelation? It means more than reading it or debating itit means treasuring its words and following the Christ it reveals in obedient faith. The very first sentence of the book gives us this clue:The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servantsThe word translatedservantsis the Greek worddoulos, a term that speaks of belonging, allegiance, and obligation. A true Christian, then, is not someone who merely speaks well of Jesus, but someone who gladly submits to Himyielding not just words, but life itselfin faithful service to the One who is revealed as Lord. And this is why we are called to read, hear, and keep the words of Revelationnot only because of the blessing it promises, but becausethe time is near.What time is near? Not simply the final return of Christ, though that hope is never absent. Rather, John is pointing to the nearness of pressure, opposition, and persecution that come when allegiance to Jesus collides with the demands of the world. Revelation prepares Gods people to remain faithful when conformity is rewarded and faithfulness is costly. Behold Our Triune God (vv. 4-6) So why should we press on in light of what is coming? Why read, hear, and keep the words of this book? Because of who God is. Our God is the LORD AlmightyYahwehand there is no one like Him. He is the One who greets His people and extends grace and peace to those who belong to Him. Johns greeting is not casual; it is deeply theological and addressed to the seven churches. These were seven real, historical congregations located in strategic cities of Asia Minor. Yet because the number seven signifies fullness and completeness, they also represent the church as a wholeGods people in every generation and in every place. In that sense, the seven churches represent us. And it is to this churchthen and nowthat grace and peace are given. They come first from the eternal, self-existent God, the One Isaiah proclaimed when he said,Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god(Isa. 44:6). This is the God who stands at the beginning and the end of historythe God who is never threatened, never surprised, and never displaced. This God is also all-sufficient and unchanging. James calls Himthe Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change(Jas. 1:17). In a world where rulers rise and fall and circumstances shift, God remains the same. That is why His grace does not fade and His peace does not fail. In Revelation 1:4, He is described as the Onewho is and who was and who is to come.This is God the Fatherthe great I AMwho once set His people free by crushing Pharaoh and now meets His suffering church with grace and peace. This grace and peace also come from the sevenfold Spiritthe Holy Spirit. The language of seven spirits speaks not of multiple beings, but of the fullness and perfection of the one Spirit who proceeds from Gods throne. It is the Holy Spirit who applies Gods grace to our hearts, sustains us in suffering, and empowers faithful witness. And finally, this grace and peace come from Jesus Christ, the Son. John describes Him asthe faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.Jesus is the faithful witness because He perfectly revealed God and bore faithful testimony to the trutheven unto death. As the firstborn from the dead, He conquered death on our behalf, guaranteeing resurrection life for all who belong to Him. As Paul declares,Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep(1 Cor. 15:20), and again,He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent(Col. 1:18). Our risen Lord is not waiting to ruleHe already reigns. He is not described as one whowill bethe ruler of the kings of the earth, but as the One whoisthe ruler of the kings of the earth. Having lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved, and risen in victory, Jesus is now exalted at the right hand of the Father. As Scripture declares,At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father(Phil. 2:911). But thats not all, dear brothers and sisters. Scripture tells us that truth is established by two or more faithful witness. Again and again, God confirms His testimony through two witnesses. And in Revelation 1:56, John gives us exactly that. Christ bears witness to His love for us in two unmistakable ways:He has freed us from our sins by His blood, and He has made us a kingdompriests to His God and Father.These two witnesses proclaim one glorious truthnot merely what Christ has done, but who we are to Him. They testify to this above all else:He loves us. He loves us. The love of Christ is never passive. The One who loves us frees us, and the One who frees us forms us into something new. Revelation does not simply assure us that we are lovedit tells us who we now are because we are loved. And that is where John now turns our attention. Behold the Coming King (vv. 7-8) Where is the love of Christ leading us? What was it in these words that was meant to encourage John and the seven churches? Jesusthe faithful witness who lived the life we could never live, the firstborn from the dead who died the death we deserved, and the ruler of the kings of the earth who has made us a kingdom of priestsis coming back for us. How is He coming back? He is coming to be seen, and He is coming in glory. Long before John ever saw this vision, the prophetDanielwas given a glimpse of that day when he wrote,I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away(Dan. 7:1314). When Jesus returns, every eye will see Himincluding those who pierced Him. Jesus Himself described what John records in Revelation 1:7 when He said,Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt.24:30). At His appearing, the tribes of the earth will mournthose who rejected Him, mocked Him, and sought to silence Him by silencing His church. But not all tears will be tears of grief or fear. For those who belong to Christ, for those who have longed for His appearing, our tears will be tears of joy, relief, and celebration. Throughout the book ofRevelation, Jesus promises His coming again and againno fewer than seven times (2:25; 3:11; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20). This is the first of those promises, but it will not be the last. So what confidence do we have that this will happen? What guarantee do we have that Jesus is truly coming back? Our assurance rests not only in the empty tomb He walked out of, nor only in His promise as the faithful and true witness, but in God Himselfthe One who declares,I am the Alpha and the Omega.He is the great I AM. He is the Lord Almightythe One who is and who was and who is to come. Because He does not change, His promises do not fail, and it is this unchanging God who has guaranteed that these promises belong to His redeemed sons and daughters. Conclusion Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, devote yourselves wholeheartedly to the risen and reigning Christ, rather than to the temporary powers and fleeting trends of this world. Anchor your plans, your hopes, and your very lives in Him alone. Let your hearts rest in the deep assurance of His unfailing lovethe love that has freed you from your sins by His precious blood and has made you a kingdom of priests to His God and Father. As you await the glorious appearing of the King who will come with power for all to see, endure the pressures that seek to silence your testimony, resist the subtle temptations to compromise, and hold fast to the blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy. Do all this with unshakable confidence and living hope, for the One who calls you is faithful, and He will surely fulfill all that He has promised. So here is what I want to leave you with. If you would remember what it means to read, hear, and keep the words of the book of Revelation, remember this one word:HEAR. H Hold fastto the blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy. E Endurethe pressures that seek to silence your testimony. A Anchoryour plans, your dreams, and your hopes in the incomparable Christ. R Resistthe subtle temptations to compromise, trusting that God will fulfill all His promises.

Keith Miller Meadowbrooke Church January 25, 2026 Behold Our Great God Revelation 1:1-8 Introduction In a world that exalts earthly power and demands allegiance, the book of Revelation pulls back the curtain and shows us the true throne of heaven. It calls Gods people to place their hope and loyalty not in the rulers of this age, but in Jesus Christthe One who governs history and alone deserves our allegiance. To grasp Revelation rightly, we must consider the circumstances in which it was given. Most scholars agree that the book was written near the end of the first century, likely between AD 90 and 95, during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian. John tells us that he received this revelation while exiled on the island of Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 1:9). His exile was not a voluntary retreat, but punishment for unwavering faithfulness to Christ. John had lived a long and costly life of discipleship. He had outlived the other apostles, witnessed the rise and fall of emperors, and seen friends and fellow believers martyred for their allegiance to Jesus. He had watched the brutality of Rome unleashedmost notably in the devastation of Jerusalemand he had seen firsthand what happens when earthly powers claim absolute authority. Long before Romes pressure intensified, many Jewish believers in Jesus had already been pushed out of their own communitiesexcluded from synagogues, cut off from family life, and treated as apostates rather than brothers. Faithfulness to Christ often meant losing ones religious home before ever confronting the power of the empire. By the time John was exiled, the pressure on the church had intensified. Under Domitian, emperor worship became a test of loyalty, especially in Asia Minor. For most citizens, participation was routine. For Christians, it was a crisis. To confess Jesus is Lord was to deny Caesar that title, and refusal could lead to social exclusion, economic loss, exile, or worse. This was not a moment of widespread slaughter, but of steady compromise. Christians were not being asked, Will you die for Christ today? They were being asked, Will you bendjust a little? It is into this world that Revelation was given. The very wordrevelationmeans unveiling. God is not hiding His purposes; He is revealing them. This book was written to a pressured church to show who truly reigns, how history is moving, and why faithfulness to Jesus is always worth the cost. And that is where Revelation begins. Behold the Blessing (vv. 1-3) When it comes to Revelation, the book is notRevelations. It is not a series of secret disclosures reserved for the most skilled students of prophetic Scripture. It is not a collection of clues designed to help us identify the next antichristespecially since we are told that many antichrists have already come. It is also not a puzzle to figure out the timing of Christs return, for Jesus even said, But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only (Matt. 24:36). Revelation isarevelationbut more precisely, it isthe Revelation of Jesus Christ. That is how the book begins, and that is what the book is about. So what does Revelation reveal about Jesus? Everything. From beginning to end, Revelation presents Jesus in the fullness of His person and work. He is thefaithful witness, thefirstborn from the dead, and theruler of the kings of the earth(1:5). He is theFirst and the Last, theLiving One (1:1718), theHoly One, theTrue One(3:7), and theoriginator of Gods creation(3:14). He is theLion of the tribe of Judahand theRoot of David(5:5), yet also theLamb who was slainand theWorthy One(5:6, 9, 12). He is theSon of Man(14:14), theWord of God(19:13), and theKing of kings and Lord of lords(19:16). He is theAlpha and the Omega, theBeginning and the End(22:13), theRoot and the Descendant of David, and theBright Morning Star(22:16). For this reason, the book of Revelation may rightly be calledthe most Christ-centered book in the Bible. How can I say that? Because, as Paul tells us,all the promises of God find their Yes in Jesus Christand Revelation is the book that shows us, again and again, how Jesus is Gods Yes to every promise He has ever made. This is the primary reason why we are assured a blessing for all who read, hear, and keep what is written in Revelation. You do know, dont you, that you can read something and not hear it right? You can read a verse in the Bible and not really hear it, just as easily as someone can tell you something and it goes in one ear and then out the other with little to no effect. I believe part of that blessing is reflected in whatThe Center for Bible Engagementdiscovered through a large-scale study on Bible engagement involving more than 600,000 participants. The results surprised many peopleincluding those who conducted the research. The study found that individuals who engaged with Scripture at least four times a week experienced: a30% drop in loneliness a32% drop in anger a40% drop in bitterness in marriage and relationships a57% drop in alcoholism a60% drop in sexual sins, including pornography addiction a62% drop in those who felt distant from God So what does it mean to keep the book of Revelation? It means more than reading it or debating itit means treasuring its words and following the Christ it reveals in obedient faith. The very first sentence of the book gives us this clue:The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servantsThe word translatedservantsis the Greek worddoulos, a term that speaks of belonging, allegiance, and obligation. A true Christian, then, is not someone who merely speaks well of Jesus, but someone who gladly submits to Himyielding not just words, but life itselfin faithful service to the One who is revealed as Lord. And this is why we are called to read, hear, and keep the words of Revelationnot only because of the blessing it promises, but becausethe time is near.What time is near? Not simply the final return of Christ, though that hope is never absent. Rather, John is pointing to the nearness of pressure, opposition, and persecution that come when allegiance to Jesus collides with the demands of the world. Revelation prepares Gods people to remain faithful when conformity is rewarded and faithfulness is costly. Behold Our Triune God (vv. 4-6) So why should we press on in light of what is coming? Why read, hear, and keep the words of this book? Because of who God is. Our God is the LORD AlmightyYahwehand there is no one like Him. He is the One who greets His people and extends grace and peace to those who belong to Him. Johns greeting is not casual; it is deeply theological and addressed to the seven churches. These were seven real, historical congregations located in strategic cities of Asia Minor. Yet because the number seven signifies fullness and completeness, they also represent the church as a wholeGods people in every generation and in every place. In that sense, the seven churches represent us. And it is to this churchthen and nowthat grace and peace are given. They come first from the eternal, self-existent God, the One Isaiah proclaimed when he said,Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god(Isa. 44:6). This is the God who stands at the beginning and the end of historythe God who is never threatened, never surprised, and never displaced. This God is also all-sufficient and unchanging. James calls Himthe Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change(Jas. 1:17). In a world where rulers rise and fall and circumstances shift, God remains the same. That is why His grace does not fade and His peace does not fail. In Revelation 1:4, He is described as the Onewho is and who was and who is to come.This is God the Fatherthe great I AMwho once set His people free by crushing Pharaoh and now meets His suffering church with grace and peace. This grace and peace also come from the sevenfold Spiritthe Holy Spirit. The language of seven spirits speaks not of multiple beings, but of the fullness and perfection of the one Spirit who proceeds from Gods throne. It is the Holy Spirit who applies Gods grace to our hearts, sustains us in suffering, and empowers faithful witness. And finally, this grace and peace come from Jesus Christ, the Son. John describes Him asthe faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.Jesus is the faithful witness because He perfectly revealed God and bore faithful testimony to the trutheven unto death. As the firstborn from the dead, He conquered death on our behalf, guaranteeing resurrection life for all who belong to Him. As Paul declares,Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep(1 Cor. 15:20), and again,He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent(Col. 1:18). Our risen Lord is not waiting to ruleHe already reigns. He is not described as one whowill bethe ruler of the kings of the earth, but as the One whoisthe ruler of the kings of the earth. Having lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved, and risen in victory, Jesus is now exalted at the right hand of the Father. As Scripture declares,At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father(Phil. 2:911). But thats not all, dear brothers and sisters. Scripture tells us that truth is established by two or more faithful witness. Again and again, God confirms His testimony through two witnesses. And in Revelation 1:56, John gives us exactly that. Christ bears witness to His love for us in two unmistakable ways:He has freed us from our sins by His blood, and He has made us a kingdompriests to His God and Father.These two witnesses proclaim one glorious truthnot merely what Christ has done, but who we are to Him. They testify to this above all else:He loves us. He loves us. The love of Christ is never passive. The One who loves us frees us, and the One who frees us forms us into something new. Revelation does not simply assure us that we are lovedit tells us who we now are because we are loved. And that is where John now turns our attention. Behold the Coming King (vv. 7-8) Where is the love of Christ leading us? What was it in these words that was meant to encourage John and the seven churches? Jesusthe faithful witness who lived the life we could never live, the firstborn from the dead who died the death we deserved, and the ruler of the kings of the earth who has made us a kingdom of priestsis coming back for us. How is He coming back? He is coming to be seen, and He is coming in glory. Long before John ever saw this vision, the prophetDanielwas given a glimpse of that day when he wrote,I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away(Dan. 7:1314). When Jesus returns, every eye will see Himincluding those who pierced Him. Jesus Himself described what John records in Revelation 1:7 when He said,Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt.24:30). At His appearing, the tribes of the earth will mournthose who rejected Him, mocked Him, and sought to silence Him by silencing His church. But not all tears will be tears of grief or fear. For those who belong to Christ, for those who have longed for His appearing, our tears will be tears of joy, relief, and celebration. Throughout the book ofRevelation, Jesus promises His coming again and againno fewer than seven times (2:25; 3:11; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20). This is the first of those promises, but it will not be the last. So what confidence do we have that this will happen? What guarantee do we have that Jesus is truly coming back? Our assurance rests not only in the empty tomb He walked out of, nor only in His promise as the faithful and true witness, but in God Himselfthe One who declares,I am the Alpha and the Omega.He is the great I AM. He is the Lord Almightythe One who is and who was and who is to come. Because He does not change, His promises do not fail, and it is this unchanging God who has guaranteed that these promises belong to His redeemed sons and daughters. Conclusion Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, devote yourselves wholeheartedly to the risen and reigning Christ, rather than to the temporary powers and fleeting trends of this world. Anchor your plans, your hopes, and your very lives in Him alone. Let your hearts rest in the deep assurance of His unfailing lovethe love that has freed you from your sins by His precious blood and has made you a kingdom of priests to His God and Father. As you await the glorious appearing of the King who will come with power for all to see, endure the pressures that seek to silence your testimony, resist the subtle temptations to compromise, and hold fast to the blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy. Do all this with unshakable confidence and living hope, for the One who calls you is faithful, and He will surely fulfill all that He has promised. So here is what I want to leave you with. If you would remember what it means to read, hear, and keep the words of the book of Revelation, remember this one word:HEAR. H Hold fastto the blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy. E Endurethe pressures that seek to silence your testimony. A Anchoryour plans, your dreams, and your hopes in the incomparable Christ. R Resistthe subtle temptations to compromise, trusting that God will fulfill all His promises.

Have you been serving, staying doctrinally sound, and doing all the “right” Christian things—but feel your love for Jesus growing cold? In Revelation 2, Jesus praises the church in Ephesus for their diligence, discernment, and perseverance, but then gives a sobering rebuke: “You have left your first love.”This episode is sponsored by The Master's University. To learn more about how you can invest in a college education devoted to Christ & Scripture, visit: https://www.masters.eduIn this episode, we unpack what it means to leave your first love (not in sequence, but in prominence) and why a cold, apathetic heart is spiritually dangerous—even if your life looks strong on the surface. Using the Challenger space shuttle tragedy as an illustration of a “missing critical piece,” we look at Christ's clear prescription for spiritual apathy:Remember where you've fallen (preach the gospel to yourself)Repent (this is a heart issue, not just burnout)Return to “the deeds you did at first”We also discuss what those “first deeds” can look like: renewed hunger for God's Word, fervent prayer, love for God's people, evangelistic zeal, and honest confession—not just going through the motions.If you've been asking:“Why don't I love Jesus like I used to?”“How do I overcome spiritual dryness?”“What does Revelation 2 teach the church today?” …this conversation is for you.Scripture: Revelation 2:1–7

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 7SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God. In Revelation 5, a mighty angel loudly proclaims, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open this scroll?” John says he wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll. Then, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb, takes the scroll from the right hand of Him who sits on the throne.At the end of chapter 6, the sixth seal is opened, and people on earth try to hide from God (see Revelation 6:15-17). Chapter 7 of Revelation begins with God sending four angels to hold back the winds of judgment until His own are sealed and protected. After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.Revelation 7:1 As the chapter ends, John sees a vast multitude from all nations and cultures standing before God's throne, clothed in white robes. They are identified by the angel as those “who have come out of the great tribulation” (verse 14). The angels are gathered around the throne, while the elders and the four living creatures fall face down before God and worship Him. What a beautiful worship scene! Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 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 7:15-17"The Lamb will shepherd His people and lead them to living water. Every sorrowful memory of pain and suffering will be taken away by the Heavenly Father.Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!"Revelation 7:12SONG: "Before the Throne of God Above" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MUNywhsZPU

In Revelation 11, we read about two figures who show up near the end of the world and prophesy about God in Jerusalem.Revelation 11:3 says - "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."These mysterious two men are never named, and that's resulted in 2000 years now of speculation as to their identities.They demonstrate supernatural powers, such as the ability to call down fire from heaven, bringing plagues upon the earth, and they even die and rise again- and it's all gonna be on TikTok. The whole world is going to be clued in on what these guys are doing and saying.But who are they? Let's study and speculate about these two superstuds of the end times - today on the God and His Prophets podcast.Watch these episodes at my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LukeTaylorPodcastsNeed to get in touch with me? Reach me at GodAndHisProphetsPodcast@gmail.comIf you're looking for a Bible study podcast that goes deep into the major and minor prophets, God and His Prophets offers a verse by verse Bible study through these powerful Old Testament writings. Each episode explores the prophecy in the Bible, from the Book of Ezekiel study and later in Zechariah, helping listeners in understanding prophetic books and seeing their relevance today. We also connect the prophets' words to end times Bible teaching and highlight connections to Revelation, giving you a Christian Bible commentary that equips you for spiritual insight and growth.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 13:1-10 Much of the focus of Revelation is on what God will doing on the earth during the time of tribulation.  The holy Judge will pour out His righteous justice on the inhabitants of the earth, in a series of horrendous, global judgments.  In Revelation 12-14, however, the focus is on what Satan will be doing on the earth during the tribulation. Chapter 13 introduces us to two new figures … the antichrist (Rev 13:1-10) and the false prophet (Rev 13:11-18).  Along with the devil, these three form a kind of unholy 'trinity'.  The antichrist and the false prophet seem to be human beings, which arise during the time of tribulation and preside over a kingdom with global influence.  These figures are both described as being 'beasts' … perhaps suggesting the brute power and ravenous desires of darkness.  They are agents by whom Satan carries out his war against believers and leads unbelievers into a settled rebellion against God.  God grants authority to the antichrist to "make war on the saints and to conquer them" (Rev 13:7).  This chapter makes clear that everything that transpires is according to a plan, laid down before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8).  What is on display here is the endurance of Christians, willing to give up their lives for the honor of the name of Christ.  The fury of Satan will be overcome by the King and His children. 

God sits on His throne, not reacting to the events of this world, but sovereignly orchestrating a perfectly organized plan. A plan that requires a uniquely worthy individual—Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God. In Revelation 5, we see heaven and earth longing for God's plans to be fulfilled and praising the Son of God for His unique role in it all. https://midtownchurch.com/

Introduction I remember the first time I sat down to read the book of Revelation. It was the summer of 1992a pleasant Pennsylvania eveningsitting on the back patio of the small house where I spent my teenage years. That night, I read all twenty-two chapters in one sitting. Early on, I underlined a verse that encouraged me:Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy(Rev. 1:3). Those words felt like a promisethat something good awaited anyone willing to step into this book. But as I kept reading, I grew more and more confusedespecially when I reached chapter 6. The imagery became overwhelming, the questions multiplied, and when I finished, I had only highlighted a handful of verses. That night marked both my introduction to Revelation and the limits of my confidence in ita confidence that, for many years, did not grow much beyond that patio chair. Part of the reason I read Revelation in the first place had to do with a movie I watched with my friends calledA Thief in the Night, which focused on what theologians call the rapturethe belief that believers will be caught up to meet Christ in connection with a future tribulation. Passages like 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 are often cited in support of this view. For the sake of time, we read just the words from 1 Thessalonians:The Lord himself will descend from heaven and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words (v. 16). Because the wordrapturedoes not appear in the Bible, many people encounter it through popular books and films, such as theLeft Behindseries. Those works helped popularize one particular way of reading prophetic textsknown as dispensationalismwhich has had a significant influence on American evangelical churches. Dispensationalism is one of several interpretive approaches Christians have used to read Revelation, and it developed in the nineteenth century before spreading widely through conferences, study Bibles, and evangelical institutions. My own thinking as a new Christian was deeply shaped by this framework. I share that not to critique my past, but to be honest about the lenses I brought with me as I opened this bookand the lenses many of us bring with us still. Its also important to know that dispensationalism is not the only way Christians have read Revelation. Throughout church history, believers have approached this book in several major ways:Preterist,Historicist, andIdealistreadings. Faithful Christians have held each of these views while confessing the same gospel and worshiping the same Lord. That diversity of interpretation is not new. In fact, G. K. Chesterton once observed,Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.[1] How to Read Revelation Today When I began myRevelation and Its Parallelsproject, I heard a simple statementone Ive never been able to trace to a single sourcethat has guided everything since:Revelation cannot mean for us what it did not first mean for John and the first-century church.That sentence has served as a compass for my book, my preparation for this sermon, and every message in this series. I believe this principle is confirmed by Revelation 1:3, where we are given one of the clearest clues for how this book is meant to be read:Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.This is the first of seven blessings in Revelation,[2] and it was originally spoken to seven real churches that existed in history. That blessing was not abstract or theoreticalit was given to ordinary believers gathered in local congregations. To read Revelation rightly, we must first recognize that it is aletterwritten to seven churches. At the same time, it is alsoapocalypticfrom the Greekapokalypsis, meaning unveiling. Apocalyptic literature communicates truth through visions and symbolic language, revealing heavenly realities that are normally hidden from everyday sight. It invites us to question the assumption that appearances always reflect reality. What seems powerful and permanent by earthly standards may already be exposed as temporary when seen from heavens perspective. What does that mean for us today? Revelation was writtentofirst-century churches, but it was writtenforthe church in every generation. It speaks across time, culture, and ethnic boundaries precisely because it first spoke clearly and meaningfully to the first-century church. And one of the clearest ways John teaches us to read this book is through the careful and consistent use of numbersespecially the number seven. Let me show you what I mean. Reading Revelation Through Its Use of Numbers There are a series of numbers that you must be aware of that are used throughout the Bible. When you are trying to figure out what those numbers mean, you MUST understand how those numbers are used throughout the Bible. So, the important numbers you need to be aware are 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 24, 3 (also 42 months, and 1260 days), and 1000. I have a whole chapter in the beginning of my book on the use of numbers in the book of Revelation, but for now let me highlight why this is important without getting into the weeds. The Number Seven The most predominant number used throughout the book of Revelation is the number seven. Many people associate seven with judgmentbut Revelation begins withseven churches, not seven disasters (Rev. 13). Before Christ judges the world, He walks among His churches, knows them by name, commends their faithfulness, and calls them to endurance. Throughout Revelation, the number seven consistently communicatesdivine completenessthe fullness of Gods purposeful and perfect work. There are not only seven churches, but alsothe seven Spirits of God. The seven Spirits are before Gods throne (Rev. 1:4) and are sent out into all the earth (Rev. 5:6). John is drawing on the imagery ofZechariah 4, where the emphasis is not on multiple spirits, but on thefullness of Gods Spirit at work. John is not describing seven distinct spirits, but the complete, sevenfold Spirit of the Lord. Each time we encounter this phrase, we should hear the echo of Zechariah 4:6:Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. In Revelation 5, John is told,Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals(v. 5). Then something that happens often in Revelation occurs: John hears one thing, but when he turns to see, he sees something unexpected. In verse 6 he seesa Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes.Jesus is the Lamb. The seven horns do not describe physical features, butcomplete authority, since horns symbolize power. The seven eyes representperfect knowledgethe Lamb fully knows His people and their suffering. Throughout Revelation there is a scroll withseven seals, followed byseven trumpetsandseven bowlsof wrath. But here is what often surprises people: there are alsoseven blessings, sometimes called the seven beatitudes of Revelation. So let me ask this question: if the number seven is used everywhere else in the book to communicate a real and meaningful theological truth, why would we assume it functions differently when applied to a period of suffering often called the tribulation? The number seven is even applied toevil powersnot to suggest their equality with God, but to show how evil attempts tomimicthe completeness that belongs to God alone. Even then, its power is borrowed and its end is certain. We will return to the number seven again at the end of the sermon. The Number Three The number three is also an important number in Revelation. It does not appear as obviously or as frequently as the number seven, but it is woven throughout the book in meaningful ways. We see it immediately in Revelation 1:4, where John writes: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. In the Greek, John begins very simply and deliberately:from the One who is, and who was, and who is coming.[3]This threefold description refers to the Father and emphasizes His faithful presence across all of timepast, present, and future. Before Revelation introduces conflict, judgment, or suffering, it grounds the church in the identity of the eternal God. Heres the encouragement: before Revelation tells uswhatwill happen, it tells uswhoGod is. The book does not begin with fear, but with divine testimonya settled assurance that the God who was faithful in the past is present now and will remain faithful in what is yet to come. Before Revelation confronts the church with suffering, it anchors the church in the faithful, triune God who speaks with one unified voice. The Number Four After Revelation reveals the nature of God, it shifts focus to encompass all of creation and its relationship to Him. In the Bible, the number four frequently symbolizes the entirety of the created worldrepresenting the total extent of Gods handiwork. By utilizing this number, Revelation emphasizes that Johns vision is not limited to a specific location or group, but instead embraces the whole of creation. We see this in Revelation 4 with the four living creatures who surround the throne of God (Rev. 4:6-8). Have you ever thought about the way they are described? The first living creature had the appearance like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third was like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Taken together, the point is that the entire created order is made to worship the One who is on the throne. God rules over creation! So when you read in Revelation about the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the four corners of the earth, the four winds, know that what is being referred to is the whole created world. One of my favorite places the number 4 is used is in Revelation 5:9-10 regarding the song that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing: Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Jesus ransomed a people for God 1) from every tribe, 2) from every language, 3) from every people, and 4) from every nation. The Numbers Twelve and Twenty-Four The numbertwelverepresents the people of God. In the Old Testament, it refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, and in the New Testament, to the twelve apostles. Scripture consistently uses twelve to communicate that Gods people are known, formed, and established by His saving work. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2, Gods people are being built together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone (Eph. 2:1922). In Revelation, the numberstwelveandtwenty-fourfunction together to identify the people of God as a unified whole. Twelve signals Gods covenant people, and twenty-four brings that picture to completion. In Revelation 4 and 5, John seestwenty-four eldersseated around the thronetwelve representing Gods people under the old covenant and twelve under the newtogether, at rest, and worshiping. The emphasis here is not on calculation, but on reassurance. Revelation is not telling us how many belong to God; it is assuring us thatallwho belong to Him are gathered, secure, and present with Himnot one is missing. The Number 1000 A final number worth mentioning isone thousand. Like the other numbers weve seen, Revelation does not use one thousand to satisfy curiosity or to function as a precise chronological measurement. Throughout Scripture, the number one thousand often communicates theall-encompassing scopeof Gods work and promises. We see this clearly in the Old Testament. Psalm 50:10 says,For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.The point is not that God owns exactly one thousand hills and no more. The psalmist is using the number to say thateverything belongs to God. One thousand functions as a way of expressing abundance and totality, not limitation. That same use of the number helps us understand Revelations reference to144,000. This number is not meant to be decoded, but understood. Twelve tribes multiplied by twelve apostles, multiplied by one thousand, forms a picture of thecomplete people of God, fully known, fully gathered, and fully secure. The emphasis is not on how many are counted, but on the assurance thatno one is missing. In the same way, when Revelation later speaks of a period described as a thousand years, the focus is not on constructing a timeline, but on affirming that Gods purposes arefull, complete, and lacking nothing. In Revelation, one thousand does not tell ushow longGod reignsit tells ushow completelyHe reigns. Conclusion Now, back to the number seven. One of the most startling discoveries I madeone that truly floored mecame as I traced the biblical parallels shaping the book of Revelation. As I worked through both the Old and New Testaments, I began to see a repeated pattern suggesting that Revelation is intentionally structured in a particular way. As I sketched out what I was seeing, that structure took shape as aheptagon, reflecting seven distinct yet interconnected perspectives. At the same time, I noticed that Revelation consistently moves toward a single, overarching theme:a new Eden, infinitely better than the firstwhere redemption reaches its climax in the new heaven and new earth. I also became convinced that theseven Jewish feastshelp govern the movement of the book. As you can see in the diagram, Revelation is designed to be read fromseven different vantage points, much like the four Gospels present Jesus from four complementary perspectives. What this prepares us to see is that Revelation is not laid out like a straight timeline moving neatly from beginning to end. Instead, John repeatedly returns to the same redemptive realitiessometimes from the perspective of the church, sometimes from heaven, sometimes through judgment, and sometimes through worshipeach time helping us see more clearly what is already true. You may have noticed the small slinky on your seat this morning. I put those there intentionally. A slinky doesnt move forward in a straight lineit advances by looping back over itself. And in many ways, thats how Revelation works. The book moves forward by returning again and again to the same redemptive realities, each time from a different vantage point. Thats what I mean when I talk about therecapitulatory natureof Revelationand thats what thisseven-fold vantage point diagramis designed to help us see. Rather than presenting a single, forward-moving sequence of events, Revelation shows us the same story from seven different angles, each one reinforcing the same central truth:God reigns, the Lamb has conquered, and His people are secure. This diagram isnt meant to flatten Revelation or oversimplify it. Its meant to help us see how its visions relate to one anotherhow seals, trumpets, bowls, and worship scenes are not competing timelines, but recurring perspectives on the same unfolding reality. Revelation isnt a puzzle to be solved, but a picture book meant to be seen. When we view it from heavens perspective, it becomes a source of assurance rather than confusion. Its purpose is not to challenge us with riddles, but to steady our faith, strengthen our hearts, and draw us into worship of the Lamb. [1] G. K. Chesterton,Orthodoxy(London: John Lane, 1908), 21. [2] On the seven beatitudes of Revelation, see 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14 [3] Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 54.

Introduction I remember the first time I sat down to read the book of Revelation. It was the summer of 1992a pleasant Pennsylvania eveningsitting on the back patio of the small house where I spent my teenage years. That night, I read all twenty-two chapters in one sitting. Early on, I underlined a verse that encouraged me:Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy(Rev. 1:3). Those words felt like a promisethat something good awaited anyone willing to step into this book. But as I kept reading, I grew more and more confusedespecially when I reached chapter 6. The imagery became overwhelming, the questions multiplied, and when I finished, I had only highlighted a handful of verses. That night marked both my introduction to Revelation and the limits of my confidence in ita confidence that, for many years, did not grow much beyond that patio chair. Part of the reason I read Revelation in the first place had to do with a movie I watched with my friends calledA Thief in the Night, which focused on what theologians call the rapturethe belief that believers will be caught up to meet Christ in connection with a future tribulation. Passages like 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 are often cited in support of this view. For the sake of time, we read just the words from 1 Thessalonians:The Lord himself will descend from heaven and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words (v. 16). Because the wordrapturedoes not appear in the Bible, many people encounter it through popular books and films, such as theLeft Behindseries. Those works helped popularize one particular way of reading prophetic textsknown as dispensationalismwhich has had a significant influence on American evangelical churches. Dispensationalism is one of several interpretive approaches Christians have used to read Revelation, and it developed in the nineteenth century before spreading widely through conferences, study Bibles, and evangelical institutions. My own thinking as a new Christian was deeply shaped by this framework. I share that not to critique my past, but to be honest about the lenses I brought with me as I opened this bookand the lenses many of us bring with us still. Its also important to know that dispensationalism is not the only way Christians have read Revelation. Throughout church history, believers have approached this book in several major ways:Preterist,Historicist, andIdealistreadings. Faithful Christians have held each of these views while confessing the same gospel and worshiping the same Lord. That diversity of interpretation is not new. In fact, G. K. Chesterton once observed,Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.[1] How to Read Revelation Today When I began myRevelation and Its Parallelsproject, I heard a simple statementone Ive never been able to trace to a single sourcethat has guided everything since:Revelation cannot mean for us what it did not first mean for John and the first-century church.That sentence has served as a compass for my book, my preparation for this sermon, and every message in this series. I believe this principle is confirmed by Revelation 1:3, where we are given one of the clearest clues for how this book is meant to be read:Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.This is the first of seven blessings in Revelation,[2] and it was originally spoken to seven real churches that existed in history. That blessing was not abstract or theoreticalit was given to ordinary believers gathered in local congregations. To read Revelation rightly, we must first recognize that it is aletterwritten to seven churches. At the same time, it is alsoapocalypticfrom the Greekapokalypsis, meaning unveiling. Apocalyptic literature communicates truth through visions and symbolic language, revealing heavenly realities that are normally hidden from everyday sight. It invites us to question the assumption that appearances always reflect reality. What seems powerful and permanent by earthly standards may already be exposed as temporary when seen from heavens perspective. What does that mean for us today? Revelation was writtentofirst-century churches, but it was writtenforthe church in every generation. It speaks across time, culture, and ethnic boundaries precisely because it first spoke clearly and meaningfully to the first-century church. And one of the clearest ways John teaches us to read this book is through the careful and consistent use of numbersespecially the number seven. Let me show you what I mean. Reading Revelation Through Its Use of Numbers There are a series of numbers that you must be aware of that are used throughout the Bible. When you are trying to figure out what those numbers mean, you MUST understand how those numbers are used throughout the Bible. So, the important numbers you need to be aware are 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 24, 3 (also 42 months, and 1260 days), and 1000. I have a whole chapter in the beginning of my book on the use of numbers in the book of Revelation, but for now let me highlight why this is important without getting into the weeds. The Number Seven The most predominant number used throughout the book of Revelation is the number seven. Many people associate seven with judgmentbut Revelation begins withseven churches, not seven disasters (Rev. 13). Before Christ judges the world, He walks among His churches, knows them by name, commends their faithfulness, and calls them to endurance. Throughout Revelation, the number seven consistently communicatesdivine completenessthe fullness of Gods purposeful and perfect work. There are not only seven churches, but alsothe seven Spirits of God. The seven Spirits are before Gods throne (Rev. 1:4) and are sent out into all the earth (Rev. 5:6). John is drawing on the imagery ofZechariah 4, where the emphasis is not on multiple spirits, but on thefullness of Gods Spirit at work. John is not describing seven distinct spirits, but the complete, sevenfold Spirit of the Lord. Each time we encounter this phrase, we should hear the echo of Zechariah 4:6:Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. In Revelation 5, John is told,Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals(v. 5). Then something that happens often in Revelation occurs: John hears one thing, but when he turns to see, he sees something unexpected. In verse 6 he seesa Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes.Jesus is the Lamb. The seven horns do not describe physical features, butcomplete authority, since horns symbolize power. The seven eyes representperfect knowledgethe Lamb fully knows His people and their suffering. Throughout Revelation there is a scroll withseven seals, followed byseven trumpetsandseven bowlsof wrath. But here is what often surprises people: there are alsoseven blessings, sometimes called the seven beatitudes of Revelation. So let me ask this question: if the number seven is used everywhere else in the book to communicate a real and meaningful theological truth, why would we assume it functions differently when applied to a period of suffering often called the tribulation? The number seven is even applied toevil powersnot to suggest their equality with God, but to show how evil attempts tomimicthe completeness that belongs to God alone. Even then, its power is borrowed and its end is certain. We will return to the number seven again at the end of the sermon. The Number Three The number three is also an important number in Revelation. It does not appear as obviously or as frequently as the number seven, but it is woven throughout the book in meaningful ways. We see it immediately in Revelation 1:4, where John writes: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. In the Greek, John begins very simply and deliberately:from the One who is, and who was, and who is coming.[3]This threefold description refers to the Father and emphasizes His faithful presence across all of timepast, present, and future. Before Revelation introduces conflict, judgment, or suffering, it grounds the church in the identity of the eternal God. Heres the encouragement: before Revelation tells uswhatwill happen, it tells uswhoGod is. The book does not begin with fear, but with divine testimonya settled assurance that the God who was faithful in the past is present now and will remain faithful in what is yet to come. Before Revelation confronts the church with suffering, it anchors the church in the faithful, triune God who speaks with one unified voice. The Number Four After Revelation reveals the nature of God, it shifts focus to encompass all of creation and its relationship to Him. In the Bible, the number four frequently symbolizes the entirety of the created worldrepresenting the total extent of Gods handiwork. By utilizing this number, Revelation emphasizes that Johns vision is not limited to a specific location or group, but instead embraces the whole of creation. We see this in Revelation 4 with the four living creatures who surround the throne of God (Rev. 4:6-8). Have you ever thought about the way they are described? The first living creature had the appearance like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third was like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Taken together, the point is that the entire created order is made to worship the One who is on the throne. God rules over creation! So when you read in Revelation about the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the four corners of the earth, the four winds, know that what is being referred to is the whole created world. One of my favorite places the number 4 is used is in Revelation 5:9-10 regarding the song that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing: Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Jesus ransomed a people for God 1) from every tribe, 2) from every language, 3) from every people, and 4) from every nation. The Numbers Twelve and Twenty-Four The numbertwelverepresents the people of God. In the Old Testament, it refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, and in the New Testament, to the twelve apostles. Scripture consistently uses twelve to communicate that Gods people are known, formed, and established by His saving work. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2, Gods people are being built together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone (Eph. 2:1922). In Revelation, the numberstwelveandtwenty-fourfunction together to identify the people of God as a unified whole. Twelve signals Gods covenant people, and twenty-four brings that picture to completion. In Revelation 4 and 5, John seestwenty-four eldersseated around the thronetwelve representing Gods people under the old covenant and twelve under the newtogether, at rest, and worshiping. The emphasis here is not on calculation, but on reassurance. Revelation is not telling us how many belong to God; it is assuring us thatallwho belong to Him are gathered, secure, and present with Himnot one is missing. The Number 1000 A final number worth mentioning isone thousand. Like the other numbers weve seen, Revelation does not use one thousand to satisfy curiosity or to function as a precise chronological measurement. Throughout Scripture, the number one thousand often communicates theall-encompassing scopeof Gods work and promises. We see this clearly in the Old Testament. Psalm 50:10 says,For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.The point is not that God owns exactly one thousand hills and no more. The psalmist is using the number to say thateverything belongs to God. One thousand functions as a way of expressing abundance and totality, not limitation. That same use of the number helps us understand Revelations reference to144,000. This number is not meant to be decoded, but understood. Twelve tribes multiplied by twelve apostles, multiplied by one thousand, forms a picture of thecomplete people of God, fully known, fully gathered, and fully secure. The emphasis is not on how many are counted, but on the assurance thatno one is missing. In the same way, when Revelation later speaks of a period described as a thousand years, the focus is not on constructing a timeline, but on affirming that Gods purposes arefull, complete, and lacking nothing. In Revelation, one thousand does not tell ushow longGod reignsit tells ushow completelyHe reigns. Conclusion Now, back to the number seven. One of the most startling discoveries I madeone that truly floored mecame as I traced the biblical parallels shaping the book of Revelation. As I worked through both the Old and New Testaments, I began to see a repeated pattern suggesting that Revelation is intentionally structured in a particular way. As I sketched out what I was seeing, that structure took shape as aheptagon, reflecting seven distinct yet interconnected perspectives. At the same time, I noticed that Revelation consistently moves toward a single, overarching theme:a new Eden, infinitely better than the firstwhere redemption reaches its climax in the new heaven and new earth. I also became convinced that theseven Jewish feastshelp govern the movement of the book. As you can see in the diagram, Revelation is designed to be read fromseven different vantage points, much like the four Gospels present Jesus from four complementary perspectives. What this prepares us to see is that Revelation is not laid out like a straight timeline moving neatly from beginning to end. Instead, John repeatedly returns to the same redemptive realitiessometimes from the perspective of the church, sometimes from heaven, sometimes through judgment, and sometimes through worshipeach time helping us see more clearly what is already true. You may have noticed the small slinky on your seat this morning. I put those there intentionally. A slinky doesnt move forward in a straight lineit advances by looping back over itself. And in many ways, thats how Revelation works. The book moves forward by returning again and again to the same redemptive realities, each time from a different vantage point. Thats what I mean when I talk about therecapitulatory natureof Revelationand thats what thisseven-fold vantage point diagramis designed to help us see. Rather than presenting a single, forward-moving sequence of events, Revelation shows us the same story from seven different angles, each one reinforcing the same central truth:God reigns, the Lamb has conquered, and His people are secure. This diagram isnt meant to flatten Revelation or oversimplify it. Its meant to help us see how its visions relate to one anotherhow seals, trumpets, bowls, and worship scenes are not competing timelines, but recurring perspectives on the same unfolding reality. Revelation isnt a puzzle to be solved, but a picture book meant to be seen. When we view it from heavens perspective, it becomes a source of assurance rather than confusion. Its purpose is not to challenge us with riddles, but to steady our faith, strengthen our hearts, and draw us into worship of the Lamb. [1] G. K. Chesterton,Orthodoxy(London: John Lane, 1908), 21. [2] On the seven beatitudes of Revelation, see 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14 [3] Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 54.

Join us this Sunday as we continue in our series on the book of Revelation. In Revelation 3:14–22, Jesus addresses a church that appears successful yet has grown comfortable and self-sufficient. He exposes how prosperity can mask spiritual distance and calls His people to return to true fellowship with Him. This message invites us to open the door and rediscover the life found in daily dependence on Christ.

A Sunday morning sermon by Pastor Brett Deal. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus tells us a parable revealing the nature of the heavenly kingdom we see in Revelation. He says: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,” (Matthew 22.2).Can you imagine then how shocked Jesus' disciples were as the parable unfolded? The king's servants went out with the good news of the wedding feast but so many of the invited guests didn't care! They declined to come. They paid no attention to the joyous news, prioritizing their own plans. What's worse, some seized the king's servants, treated them shamefully and killed them. Because of their violent refusal, the king sent his army to measure out justice against the violent. Once again, king sent out his servants, “The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find,” (22.8b). His invitation to the table was for everyone! Regardless of their past or their worth. Good and bad, rich and poor, all were invited to celebrate the wedding feast! In Revelation 19, we see the eschatological truth of this revealing parable. All those who chose to build their own kingdoms, who rebel against the Lord, who opt for Babylon over the Son of God are given over to their decision. After one last invitation, the door is closed to them. But to those who will listen, these are the true words of God: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,” (Revelation 19.9).Friend, we've been invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! Every Sunday, we gather around the Table and, holding the symbols of Jesus' real and mysterious presence among us, we take the break and the cup. Friend, His invitation deserves thanksgiving! The King of Glory has invited us to draw near! His invitation deserves our best. Let's take this time we have, to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6.8); to cloth ourselves in righteous deeds (Revelation 19.8) which bring glory to His name. Let's get ready, the wedding feast is closer than we think (Revelation 3.11; 22.7, 20)!

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14 SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.In Revelation 4 and 5, John is taken in the Spirit to heaven. He is shown the heavenly throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. The majesty and splendor are breathtaking. Then, he saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne, sealed with seven seals.And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice,“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.Revelation 5:2-4John's sorrow eases when one of the elders announces that someone has “triumphed.” He looks to see the mighty Lion (the conquering warrior-Messiah from the Root of David) but instead sees the striking figure of a “Lamb” as if it had been slaughtered, standing in the center of the throne room.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.”Revelation 5:5The Lamb is victorious and has been given all power and authority from the One seated on the throne. When He takes the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down and sing a new song as they worship the Lamb.And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”Revelation 5:9-10Song: Worthy is the Lamb – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alJOStsdw3s&list=RDalJOStsdw3s&start_radio=1

Hi, I'm John Sorensen, President of Evangelism Explosion International, and you're listening to Share Life Today. Have you ever wished you could start over? A fresh page. A clean slate. Maybe you're carrying regrets from last year, or even years ago. Things you wish you could undo. But the good news is this: God specializes in new beginnings. In Revelation 21:5, the Lord declares, “Behold, I make all things new.” Not some things. Not most things. All things. Through Jesus Christ, God offers forgiveness for sin, healing for our brokenness, and new life that begins now and lasts forever. Jesus died on the cross and rose again so we could be made new, not by our effort, but by His grace. When we trust in Him, our past no longer defines us. Our future is secure in Him. If God has made your life new through Christ, don't keep that to yourself. Share the Gospel—the message of new life through Jesus alone—with those around you today. For help, visit sharelife.today.

In Revelation 21:4, we receive the promise that one day God “will wipe away ever tear.” But in the present, we weep. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage, addressing four questions: Why must we weep? Why don't we weep? How can we weep? And what do we do now? From Sunday Evening Worship, January 11, 2026. ------------------------------- allsoulspca.org All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.

Scripture Reading; Revelation 12:1-12 To this point in the book of Revelation, much of the focus has been on what God will be doing on the earth during the time of tribulation.  God will pour out His holy justice on the inhabitants of the earth, in a series of horrendous, global judgments.  In Revelation 12-14, the focus is on what Satan will be doing on the earth during the tribulation. In richly symbolic language, the events and activities of this chapter center around Satan and the people of Israel. Having been cast out of heaven, Satan has opposed the Israelites of old ... through leaders like Pharaoh, Haman, and Herod ... and as well as Christians since the coming of Christ. In the tribulation many Jews will turn to Christ and Satan will seek to destroy them.  In Revelation 12, Israel is seen in the symbolic image of a woman. ". . . the dragon . . . pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child [Jesus]" (Rev 12:13).  God, in a display of His power and authority, protects the Jews who flee from Jerusalem (cf. Rev 12:14,16). We do not know all the reasons why God permits Satan to blind and destroy so many people, but the Bible reveals to us, in general terms, the ultimate reason.  "Satan's fall and ongoing existence are for the glory of Christ.  The Son of God, Jesus Christ, will be more highly honored and more deeply appreciated and loved in the end because he defeats Satan not the moment after Satan fell, but through millennia of long-suffering, patience, humility, servanthood, suffering, and decisively through his own death" (John Piper, Spectacular Sins, 49).

Jesus addresses the church in Smyrna with a sobering warning about deception from within. In Revelation 2:9 (NIV), He says:“I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”Who exactly is this synagogue of Satan?And how did such a group come to exist — claiming religious authority while opposing the truth of Christ?In Episode 125 of Wired for Impact, I sit down with Dr. Laura Sanger, a clinical psychologist, author of The Roots of the Federal Reserve, and expert in spiritual mapping and biblical worldview. Together, we explore the difficult question:

Scripture: Revelation 4:1-11 Title: Worship at the ThroneSHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.In Revelation, chapter 4, we see a marvelous example: The Throne of God in heaven. Worship there is endless, unceasing, constant, and everlasting.John is the last remaining disciple, living on the Island of Patmos. He is given a specific assignment from God. John is transported in the Spirit to heaven and receives a fresh view of God's majesty and power.After this, I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.Revelation 4:1-2 The throng surrounding the throne of God consists of twenty-four elders, seated on twenty-four thrones, and four living beings. The four living beings never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever.Revelation 4:9-10 He is holy. The Lord God Almighty is worthy to receive glory and honor and power. Song: Behold Him - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_izK4kI_wmA&list=RD_izK4kI_wmA&start_radio=1

Tuesday January 6, 2026Epiphany

John thought he knew Jesus—until he saw Him in glory. In Revelation 1, the eternal Son of God reveals Himself as the First and the Last, the High Priest who stands among His churches, and the King who holds authority over death itself. This vision reminds us that Jesus is not just the Savior who came—He is the King who reigns forever.

What if eternity isn't escaping this world—but living in a resurrected one, fully renewed by Jesus? For many of us, our childhood picture of heaven looked more like floating on clouds than living in a place that feels real, physical, and gloriously renewed. But Scripture tells a far better story. In Revelation 21, we're given a vision of where everything is ultimately headed—a new heaven and a new earth where Jesus reigns, peace is complete, perfection is normal, and God Himself dwells personally with His people. In this message, we trace the arc from Christmas to eternity, from the birth of Jesus to His promised return. You'll learn what the Bible actually teaches about heaven, resurrection, and the future God has secured for those who trust in Jesus. No more fear. No more pain. No more distance between us and God. Just full joy, full presence, and full life forever.

What if eternity isn't escaping this world—but living in a resurrected one, fully renewed by Jesus? For many of us, our childhood picture of heaven looked more like floating on clouds than living in a place that feels real, physical, and gloriously renewed. But Scripture tells a far better story. In Revelation 21, we're given a vision of where everything is ultimately headed—a new heaven and a new earth where Jesus reigns, peace is complete, perfection is normal, and God Himself dwells personally with His people. In this message, we trace the arc from Christmas to eternity, from the birth of Jesus to His promised return. You'll learn what the Bible actually teaches about heaven, resurrection, and the future God has secured for those who trust in Jesus. No more fear. No more pain. No more distance between us and God. Just full joy, full presence, and full life forever.

The first message of the year matters. It sets the tone for everything ahead. Pastor Alex highlighted the importance of this message as we enter into the new year. In Revelation 3:14–22, Jesus speaks to the church of Laodicea with both warning and deep compassion. This wasn't a church in obvious sin, it was a church that had become lukewarm. Self-sufficient. Comfortable. Looking just like the world. Laodicea sat between Hierapolis, known for healing hot springs, and Colossae, known for refreshing cold water. But Laodicea's water was lukewarm. It was good for nothing. Jesus used what they understood to show them their spiritual condition. The western church faces the same danger today. Prosperity can lead to complacency. Success can lead to self-reliance. And when we lose intimacy with Jesus, we lose our authority, our boldness, and our impact. Yet this letter is rooted in love. He's standing at the door, knocking, calling us back to intimacy. As we step into this year, may we refuse lukewarm Christianity. May we be refreshing and healing to those who come to us. Scriptures: Revelation 3:14–22 Colossians 4:13–16 Matthew 5:13–16 Revelation 3:15–16 Revelation 3:17 Revelation 3:18 Revelation 3:19 Revelation 3:20 Revelation 3:21 Revelation 2:7

In a world filled with uncertainty, we are reminded that God is firmly seated on the throne. In Revelation 4–5, John gives us a vision of heavenly worship, where the Creator is praised and the Lamb who was slain is declared worthy. In this message, Pastor Ben Palka invites us to lift our eyes to the glory of God's reign and find hope, confidence, and assurance in the victory of Christ.

No one is immune from burnout. It comes in our jobs, friendships, and even our church life. Sometimes even our hobbies become dry and tedious! But in Scripture, God gives us hope for the future.John 7:38 says, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”Jesus is telling us that in Him alone is true life. He is always pointing us to the future, to a time when that dry creek bed will be filled forever.In Revelation 22, He showed John a river flowing with the water of life, crystal-clear and coming from the very throne of God.The whole picture is one of healing and new life. He promises us that this scene will be very real and very permanent! The key is what we read in John 7:38…we must choose to believe! If you long for a new start and a bright future, you'll find everything you need and want in the person of Jesus Christ.The living water that He offers is perfect, and the supply is limitless.Jesus is the well that never runs dry.Let's pray.Lord, You are calling each of us to follow You and let You lead us to a place of perfect paradise. We eagerly look forward to joining You in Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

"In Revelation 15–16, the seven bowls of God's wrath are poured out on the earth. How do we reconcile God's justice and wrath in these passages with His love and mercy? In Revelation 17, what does Babylon represent, both in the first-century world and for us today? In today's episode, Watermark Community Director, Katie Shemanske talks with Watermark member, Bobby Crotty about Revelation 15-17. Additional References: Matthew 24:15 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665 Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources! https://www.jointhejourney.com/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df"

"Revelation 12 describes the woman, the dragon, and the child. How should we understand this symbolic story, and what does it reveal about the bigger spiritual battle behind history? In Revelation 13, John sees two beasts—one from the sea and one from the earth. How would the first-century church have understood these images, and how should we recognize the ongoing reality of false powers and counterfeit worship today? Revelation 14 contrasts those who follow the beast with those who follow the Lamb. What does this teach us about endurance and what it really means to remain faithful to Jesus? In today's episode, Emma Dotter and Watermark member Nathan Wagnon talk about Revelation 12-14 and unpack the imagery that is found in these chapters. You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665 Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources! https://www.jointhejourney.com/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df"

"How should we understand the symbolism in Revelation 4-5, and why is worship central before the judgments unfold? In Revelation 6, the seals are opened and we see conquest, war, famine, and death. How do these images relate to real suffering in our world today, and what does this teach us about God's sovereignty over history? How should we understand the imagery of hte multitudes in chapter 7 and what does it show us about God's mission and the future of His people? In today's Christmas episode, Watmermark Students Director, Jermaine Harrison and member Jacob Alger talk about Revelation 4-7, showing us how worthy of worship Jesus is and the fullness of God's plan for people through Christ, starting from the very first Christmas! Additional references: John 5:4 Luke 2:10 To hear T.A.'s message on Eschatology, you can check it out here https://www.watermark.org/message/12631-eschatology You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665 Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources! https://www.jointhejourney.com/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df"

"Come prepared to give a brief contextual overview of each books - don't summarize each book, share any details we need to know about author, audience, and main themes. Then be ready to answer the following: 1. In Revelation 1, John sees a vision of the risen Christ with blazing eyes, a sharp sword, and a voice like rushing waters. What do these images mean, and why is it important that the book begins with such a powerful picture of Jesus? 2. Revelation 2–3 contains messages to seven specific churches in Asia Minor. How should we read these letters—as just historical, or as words for the global church today? 3. Each letter ends with a promise to ‘the one who conquers.' What does it mean to be an overcomer in Revelation, and how does that theme prepare us for the rest of the book? (Bonus points if you can tie in Christmas) Daniel 10:6; Ezekiel 43:2 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665 Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources! https://www.jointhejourney.com/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df"

Thursday December 18, 2025III Week if Advent