Podcasts about reading revelation

Full-chapter, Jesus-centered Advent readings, rooted in themes of longing, preparation, incarnation, and hope. Each passage invites joyful anticipation of Christ's coming. May this daily rhythm of listening to God's Word shape your heart in this season of waiting

And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast." - Revelation 18:2

December 19, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 7:1-17Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 40:1-17; Revelation 7:1-17"These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14b)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.As we said on Wednesday, Revelation is not a timeline of the last days, but an image of Christ and His Church at all times. And also, there is once again a difference between what is heard and what is seen. 144,000 is 12 (the number of the church, both Old and New Testament) squared, times 1,000 (the number of completeness). We know it isn't meant to be a literal number of those saved, because we see how many are saved: more than we can count. Who are these countless number? They are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. Now, imagine the worst trouble you can think of. Does it fit the word tribulation in your mind? Is it worse than a perfect world where humanity was made by God to not die, being infected by sin, which destroys ourselves, harms one another, and causes all people to die? This fallen world is the great tribulation that Christ calls us out of. And He does so by washing us. That Baptism He gives you delivers the death of Jesus to you. It brings where He shed His blood to where you are now. And by that blood, your dirty, filthy, rotten sin is taken away. By His death on the cross, your sins are paid in full. And you are made clean, purified. Your Baptism is the seal that the Lord has put upon you. He has written His name across you, to let the world know that you are His. That's why He gives so much to save you. That's why He dies so that you would live. You are that important to Him. So important that He wants you to be in eternity with Him. He has grafted you into His people. He places you before His throne. He shelters you with His presence. He feeds you and gives you drink from Himself, so that you will hunger and thirst for righteousness no more. He has delivered it to you. And Jesus Christ, on the Last Day, in eternity, will indeed wipe away every tear from your eye.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright! With palms they stand; Who is this band Before the throne of light? These are the saints of glorious fame, Who from the great affliction came And in the flood Of Jesus' blood Are cleansed from guilt and shame. They now serve God both day and night; They sing their songs in endless light. Their anthems ring As they all sing With angels shining bright. (LSB 676:1)Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

Full-chapter, Jesus-centered Advent readings, rooted in themes of longing, preparation, incarnation, and hope. Each passage invites joyful anticipation of Christ's coming. May this daily rhythm of listening to God's Word shape your heart in this season of waiting

And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. - Revelation 16:16

A Sunday morning sermon by Pastor Brett Deal.Years ago, Bebe Winans in a live recording of Nothing but the Blood, as the piano keys tinkled in the background, shared how across American Christianity, we sang the same songs, just with different arrangements. He demonstrated what he meant by taking the song, commonly sung as a single voice, arranged the lyrics as a call and response. Winans asks, “What can wash away my sin?” and the choir reply, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!” And as the drums kick back on the rhythm, the bass line bouncing up and down, together the voices rejoice: “O precious is the flow / that makes me white as snow / no other fount I know / nothing but the blood of Jesus!”Reading Revelation 15, we've heard this song of before, just with a different arrangement. What we've sung before crossing on the dry ground through the Red Sea, a song of Moses, a hymn of praise to our Almighty God (Exodus 15), has become the song of the Lamb. Amos Young artfully said it this way: “As the Hebrews cried out to their God and then celebrated with Moses in the wake of their deliverance, so also can the church today pray to the Almighty one and continue to sing Moses's song, albeit attuned now to the Lamb's new key.”Beloved, take time today as you sing the songs of Eternity, hear John's revelation as a call to which we respond. Here him exalting: “This is all my hope and peace” and join all creation singing “nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Together, let's sing of His great and awesome works among us! Let's lift our hands in praise as we entrust ourselves to His ways that are just and true (Revelation 15.3)! In the assembly of the saints, let's hear the Apostle's humble worship, “This is all my righteousness,” and join him—bowed low before the Lamb who was slain, by whose blood we are ransomed to be a people for God,” (Revelation 5.9)—knowing we stand before the Lord God by “nothing but the blood of Jesus.”Whatever arrangement you sing, friend, let's go through this day rejoicing!

Full-chapter, Jesus-centered Advent readings, rooted in themes of longing, preparation, incarnation, and hope. Each passage invites joyful anticipation of Christ's coming. May this daily rhythm of listening to God's Word shape your heart in this season of waiting

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. - Revelation 12:13

December 17, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 5:1-14Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 33:1-24; Revelation 5:1-14"...I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain..." (Revelation 5:6)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Revelation is not a timeline of the last days, but an image of Christ and His Church at all times. Sure, the pictures described inside make the imagination run wild. But all of Scripture tells us about Jesus and what He has done for us. This chapter is no different. There is only one worthy to open or close the book of life. Hailed as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, we instead see someone very different. A slain Lamb. Slain, yet standing. The English is a bit awkward here, since the Lamb doesn't merely appear slain, yet isn't actually slain. No, the Lamb is slain, and yet stands alive. This is Jesus. The one who can reveal the sealed is the same one who is the lionlike Lamb and is the same one who died and yet lives. And he has revealed to you that He has written your name in His book of life. After all, He has placed His own name upon you. The name I AM when He speaks of Himself. The name Yahweh, which is Hebrew for HE IS, when we say it. His name, which He gives to you, also gives what it says. You are, through Him. You exist, you live, through Him. And to put that name upon you, the lionlike Lamb, the one who stands though slain, the one through whom all things exist, died. And He died for you. Only God can lay down His life and pick it back up again. And that's exactly what He did. Almighty God traded His life in exchange for yours. He suffered in your place for your sins. He was nailed to a cross so that you would be saved. His blood is what blots out all the sins written in crimson, and your name is written in His book. You are buried with Him by baptism into death in order that when He rose, you now have His resurrection promised to you. This is why all the powers of heaven praise Him. Because He has gone out and found you, rescued you, saved you. That's what every verse in Scripture is about, including these.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Yea, her sins our God will pardon, Blotting out each dark misdeed; All that well deserved his anger He will no more see nor heed. She hath suffered many a day, Now her griefs have passed away; God will change her pining sadness Into ever-springing gladness. (LSB 347:2)Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

But that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. - Revelation 10:7

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. - Revelation 6:9

Before we can understand what God has said, sometimes we need to understand how God has said. Different genres of Biblical literature require different understandings. How should we read the book of Revelation? What is Apocalyptic Literature? What is symbolic and what is literal? How can we determine the difference? And what does it all mean?

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. - Revelation 3:20

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. - Revelation 1:3

November 26, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 22:1-21Daily Lectionary: Daniel 6:1-28; Daniel 9:1-27; Revelation 22:1-21“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” (Revelation 22:14)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Bible ends with hope. Christ will return soon. The faithful pray, “Amen. Come Lord Jesus,” and the grace of the Lord Jesus is with them all. If there's that much hope, it can endure even when the evildoer still does evil. The filthy will still be filthy. The righteous still do right, and the holy still are holy. Don't worry. Hope. And in hope, live. It's going to look messy. As we live closer each day to the last when Christ returns, the evil and the holy will live alongside one another. It will look so messy that at times, we'll lose sight of who is who. We find ourselves in plenty of filth, committing plenty of sin, and arguing about the right context of it all so we can appear righteous. Every war is fought so that the winner can proclaim their deeds righteous at the end and vilify the loser. Every sinner knows the pattern of self-justification. People blame others. People excuse themselves. So do you. Everyone will just keep doing what we're doing until the end. But the Lord sees through the mess as to who is who. Not by your excuses. Not by your self-justifications. By His water. By His grace. By His Baptism. You who have been baptized, who have washed your robes, have the right to the Tree of Life. Even your sin can't take that right from you. For Jesus has taken that sin away through your Baptism. You are holy. Jesus makes you that way through your Baptism. Let the one who is holy still be holy. It's just who you are. Even when you fall into sin. Daily, you are washed clean again. That's why, in faith, you worship Christ. Keep doing what you're doing. Take your sin to Jesus. Let the one who is thirsty take the water of life without price. Rejoice in your Baptism. Live in hope. The end will be soon. But even while it's messy, never worry about who you are. You are baptized. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Spirit, water, blood entreating, Working faith and its completing In the One whose death-defeating Life has come, with life for all. (LSB 597:5)Author: Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

What comfort can believers find in the book of Revelation? The Rev. David Fleming (Associate Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI, and Executive Director for Spiritual Care with Doxology: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why someone might invest time in reading the book of Revelation this time of year, where we find the real presence of God in Revelation, how we can prepare to read Revelation, themes to look for and helpful ways to approach the figurative language that is used, common pitfalls to avoid when reading Revelation, and how Revelation brings comfort to believers in Christ. Resources mentioned in this episode: Companion to Revelation (Martin Franzmann), ebook: cph.org/the-revelation-to-john-ebook-edition Concordia Commentary (Louis Brighton) on Revelation: cph.org/revelation-concordia-commentary As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Thank you to Rhonda, Barbara, Don, Ed, and everyone else involved in this service. Thank you to Lee for our new video intro! Songs & videos from this service: Faithful Love - https://youtu.be/u42Z4qIQO4Y -- Nothing But The Blood - https://youtu.be/qUinZRGUaGk -- There Is Power In The Blood - https://youtu.be/PxzfkfAfcio -- Redemption - https://youtu.be/uib2G8GkG60 -- Have You Been To Jesus - https://youtu.be/aaUblt4SHCU -- There's a Fountain Free - https://youtu.be/63rPh-Oyztg Scriptures from this service: Communion - Matthew 10:29-31. Reading - Revelation 12:1-11. Sermon - Revelation 12:11; Galatians 5:22-23; Revelation 12:9; 12:10; 9:11; 12:10; 12:12; 12:11; Ephesians 1:5-7; 1:10; Acts 20:28; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 4:14-15; 4:16; 4:17; 5:14; Revelation 12:11; Hebrews 11:36-40; 12:22-23; 12:28; Revelation 21:3-4; 21:1. [accordion] [accordion-item title="NIV Copyright" state=closed]Scripture quotations marked (NIV) taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version© NIV© Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][/accordion]

What is the book of Revelation really about? For ages, it has been the source of sensationalism, idolatry, confusion, and end-times predictions. But at its root, it is about the power and worship of the Lamb who was slain. Biblical scholar Michael J. Gorman joins Mark Labberton to explore how Christians can read the book of Revelation with wisdom, faith, and hope rather than fear or sensationalism. Drawing from his book Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness—Following the Lamb into the New Creation, Gorman offers a reorientation to Revelation's central vision: worshipping the Lamb, resisting idolatrous power, and embodying faithful discipleship in the world. Together they discuss Revelation's misuses in popular culture, its critique of empire and nationalism, and its invitation to follow the crucified and risen Christ into the new creation. Episode Highlights "The book of Revelation is about lamb power—not hyper-religious or political power. It's about absorbing rather than inflicting evil." "This book is for those who are confused by, afraid of, and or preoccupied with the book of Revelation." "We shouldn't look for predictions but for parallels and analogies." "Worship, discipleship, and new creation—that's where Revelation hangs its hat." "At its root, Christian nationalism is a form of idolatry." "The only way to come out of Babylon is to go back into Babylon with new values and new practices." Helpful Links and Resources Reading Revelation Responsibly – https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Revelation-Responsibly-Following-Creation/dp/1606085603/ Reverse Thunder by Eugene Peterson – https://www.amazon.com/Reversed-Thunder-Revelation-Praying-Imagination/dp/0060665033 St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore – https://www.stmarys.edu About Michael J. Gorman Michael J. Gorman is the Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. A leading New Testament scholar, he is the author of numerous books on Pauline theology and Revelation, including Reading Revelation Responsibly, Cruciformity, and Participating in Christ. Gorman's teaching and writing emphasize Scripture as a call to cruciform discipleship, faithful worship, and the hope of new creation. Show Notes Introducing Reading Revelation Responsibly "This book is for those who are confused by, afraid of, and or preoccupied with the Book of Revelation." "Apocalypse" means revelation, not destruction. Emerging from twenty-five years of study and teaching, aimed at rescuing Revelation from misinterpretation or neglect Growing up amid 1970s end-times obsession—Hal Lindsey's The Late Great Planet Earth and fearful youth-group predictions of the world's end Fear of the book of Revelation until he studied it with Bruce Metzger at Princeton Seminary Why he wrote the book: for people who have been scared or confused by Revelation's misuse Interpretation and misreading the book of Revelation Early questions: Does Revelation predict particular events or people? No predictions, but symbolic speaking into every age "Our task is not to find predictions but to discern parallels and analogies." Warning against mapping Revelation onto modern crises or personalities "When those predictions fail, the book gets sidelined or scoffed at." Keep one foot in the first-century context and one in the present Worship and discipleship The heart of Revelation is worship. "This is a book about worship—and about the object of our worship." Explaining the subtitle: Uncivil Worship and Witness—Following the Lamb into the New Creation "Uncivil worship" contrasts with "civil religion"—worship that refuses to idolize political power Influence from Eugene Peterson's Reverse Thunder and his own teaching at St. Mary's, where Peterson once taught Revelation Worship leads to discipleship: "Those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes." True discipleship mirrors the Lamb's humility and non-violence. The lamb and the meaning of power Interpreting Revelation's vision of the slain and standing Lamb as the key to understanding divine power "The crucified Messiah is the risen Lord—but he remains the crucified one." The Lamb appears twenty-eight times, a symbol of universality and completeness. "Revelation is about lamb power—absorbing rather than inflicting evil." Discipleship is cruciform: following the Lamb's way of self-giving love. The unholy trinity and the danger of idolatry Chapters 12–13 depict the dragon and two beasts—the "unholy trinity" of satanic, imperial, and religious power. "Power gone amok": political, military, and spiritual domination that mimic divinity How true worship resists empire and exposes idolatry Warning against reading these beasts as predictions of the UN or the pope; rather, they reveal recurring alliances of religion and politics "At its root, Christian nationalism is idolatry." When political identity eclipses discipleship, "political power always wins, and faith loses." Faith, politics, and worship today Christian nationalism as a modern form of "civil religion," conflating patriotism with divine will "It's only Christian in name—it lacks Christian substance." Idolatry is not limited to one side: "It permeates the left, the right, and probably the centre." Labberton agrees: false worship is endemic wherever self-interest and fear shape our loves. Both stress that Revelation calls the church to worship the Lamb, not the state. "Revelation critiques all human systems of false worship." Revelation's goal: Not destruction, but new creation "Destruction is penultimate—cleansing the way for renewal." Believers already live as citizens of that new creation. "The only way to come out of Babylon is to go back into Babylon with new values and new practices." Communal, not merely individual, discipleship: "Revelation is written to churches, not just believers." Reinterpreting Revelation 3:20: Jesus knocking isn't an altar call to unbelievers but Christ seeking re-entry into his own church. "Jesus always wants to come back in." Living revelation today Spirituality of hope, not fear or withdrawal "Reading Revelation responsibly means engaging the world through worship and witness." How true worship is dangerous because it transforms our allegiance. "Following the Lamb into the new creation is the church's act of resistance." Conclusion: "Worthy is the Lamb." Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.  

Recorded live at Ivy Central on 28 September 2025, Rev Dr Ian Paul reveals how and why we should read the book of Revelation.

Revelation closes with Hope and a warning.

God's wrath against His enemies and the enemies of the believers who have faith in Him.

Now we see how diabolic satan is, trying to get the world to worship him rather than the true God.

The battle between God and Satan, won by Jesus Christ when He died on the cross, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven.

There will be war against the church/the Bride of Christ, but we are to continue to be witnesses of the resurrection of Christ and of ourselves.

God commissions John to write the message down so that all can read it.

In the second scene showing us what to expect in the time between Jesus' Ascension and His second coming, we are reminded of Satan, a fallen angel, who is behind the evil that is in our world, along with the promise that God still is over him for our sake.

Jesus opens the seal on the seventh scroll as more of the sad history of the effect of sin on the whole world is revealed.

A description of heaven and where we end up after death, with new life and being in God's presence forever.

Through the image of the four horseman, God shows us the evil that is to come, and His protection of His Church.

Another glimpse into heaven and the plan of God for the future to save us.

The 2nd scene in the revelation given to John, which gives us a glimpse into Heaven, where Jesus reigns and we reign with Him and worship Him eternally.

The second chapter of the letters to the seven churches, assuring them that God sees their works, but that their hope is in Jesus Christ and in listening to the Holy Spirit.

The first of two chapters of the letters to the church, the ones who are receiving this instruction by revelation of God through the Apostle John, to encourage all believers to be deligent in faith and works and trust God.

God reveals to us the times since the time of Jesus' ascension into heaven until His coming back at the end of the world.

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 46 Gary discusses how to read the book of Revelation. Christians too often fail to take the context of the first century into consideration when reading Revelation and instead interpret it based on events in their own time. But how would the original audience and readers have understood and interpreted the letter based on what they had available to them soon after Jesus' ascension in the days of the early church? 

June 3, 2025 Today's Reading: Revelation 22:1-6 (7-11) 12-20Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:1-22; Luke 19:11-28“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.” (Revelation 22:3)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When you think about heaven, what are the things you look forward to the most? Is it having your resurrected body? Maybe it's being reunited with your believing family and friends for all eternity. I, for one, am looking forward to that feast of rich food that God promises to Isaiah (Isaiah 25:6)!  Or maybe you look forward to not having the things that will be missing. When St. John was given his vision of heaven, he saw that there was nothing “accursed” there. There won't be anybody in heaven who hates you. You won't have all those terrible thoughts or do or say wicked things because your sinful nature will be gone, along with all other temptations. There won't be any sickness or disease or danger. No sin of any kind!These are certainly all wonderful things to look forward to. But St. John reminds us today that there's one thing (or one Person, rather) in heaven that should be our main hope. “The throne of God and of the Lamb” will be there. God the Father will be there. The Holy Spirit will be there. And Jesus will be there. God isn't some kind of door prize that comes along with heaven; He is what it's all about.Besides, what could be better than basking forever in the presence of the God who made you and loved you so much that He took on your flesh, suffered and died for you, and then came to you in the Word and Sacrament to grant you saving faith? Remember the 1st Commandment? “You shall have no other gods.” Hidden in this commandment is a wonderful promise. When you have the Triune God as your Lord, you have everything you could ever need and more! You don't need any other gods. There is nothing better than being in the gracious presence of God.Thankfully, we don't have to wait until heaven to enjoy the blessings of God's presence! Even now, God comes to us through His Means Of Grace, the Word and Sacraments to bless us. He comes to us to give us everything that we need to join Him in heaven. That would include especially the forgiveness of sins won by Jesus. But God also comes to us to give us the fruits of the Spirit, like patience, strength, repentance, and every Gift that we might need as we wait for the day that God gathers us to heaven.There truly is nothing better than being in God's presence—now and forever!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O Christ, do Thou my soul prepare for that bright home of love. That I may see Thee and adore with all Thy saints above. (LSB 673:6 )- Rev. Aric Fenske, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Bear Creek, WI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Basics for reading the last book of the Bible and growing to understand it for what it means for our benefit.

May 27, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27Daily Lectionary: Numbers 9:1-23; Luke 16:1-18“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.” (Revelation 21:23-25)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Katy, bar the door!”Where does that phrase come from? No one really knows. If you want, you can try to follow that rabbit hole, but it's probably not worth it. It is fun to say, though: “Katy, bar the door!”  What does it mean? Danger is coming! Shut the gates! Lock the doors! Doom is impending!Why do we shut gates? To keep the bad things out! The gates are shut at night when darkness rules. We batten down the hatches on the ship when the storm is coming. We tie down the tent when the wind picks up. We secure things so they aren't destroyed. We shut and lock the gates at night to keep the cold, the dark, and the scary things out. But the gates will not need to be shut any longer. That's what St. John tells us as he sees a picture of the New Creation. There, he sees a city with wide open gates that will never be shut because “there will be no night there.” No night, no darkness, no cold, no scary things. “Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)  The former things have passed away. They are gone. That's the promise. That's why Jesus died. That's why Jesus was raised. That's why Jesus ascended. That's why Jesus will come again.The hatches won't need to be battened down. Katy won't need to bar the door! The gates will be open. Sin, death, and the devil will no longer be a threat. Doesn't that sound wonderful? No darkness that will cause us to stumble when we walk. No terrors of the night. No devil prowling around like a lion seeking to devour. No sin crouching at our door.  Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Wide Open Stand the gates adorned with pearl, While round God's golden throne The choirs of saints in endless circles curl, And joyous praise the Son! They watch Him now descending To visit waiting earth. The Lord of Life unending Brings dying hope new birth! (LSB 639:1)- Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May 20, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 21:1-7Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:1-22; Luke 12:13-34“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.'” (Revelation 21:3-4)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Where is God? Everywhere, right? He's omnipresent, it's true. But here in Revelation, it says that the “dwelling place of God is with man.” How is that? On the one hand, we can acknowledge that it's a mystery. On the other hand, we can also recognize that throughout the Scriptures, we see God seeking to be with man. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, there was God, seeking them in the cool of the garden. When God visited Jacob, revealing to him the ladder to heaven, that place became “Bethel,” the “House of God.” When Moses was given the instructions for the Tabernacle, God said of the tent in it, the “Tent of Meeting,” “There I will meet with the people of Israel” (Exodus 29:43). So, this is not a new idea at the Resurrection of the dead at the end of time that we see in Revelation 21.  But what are we to make of this? To begin, as we often need to, we have to realize that the issue is sin. It's because of sin that we can't see God face-to-face. As God says to Moses, we can't see God and live (Exodus 33:20). That's why this is hard for us to understand. However, God came and met with us in Jesus. He came into a body. He came to a place, Judea and Jerusalem. In that place, He carried our sin to the cross so that by the life in the resurrection of His body in that place, now we have life and the victory over sin won by this forgiveness. Now, God meets with us in His Word, in the Waters of Holy Baptism, in His Holy Supper. He does this to deliver that forgiveness to us, to make us holy so that we can dwell with Him forever in that place.  What does this ultimately mean for us to understand how God is everywhere but in a place? Once again, we still have to say it's something of a mystery, but we can understand more of it in light of Jesus. Yes, God is everywhere, but He's made us to be in a place and He wants to be with us, which He does in Jesus in a very specific way. Through Jesus, then, we see that the fullness of God dwells in a man bodily (Colossians 2:9). It's Jesus that we'll see on that Last Day, and when we do, it will make a lot more sense. It will also be the greatest comfort as He promises to be with us and even wipe away our every tear.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Lord Jesus, thank you for meeting us in Your Word and Sacraments to cleanse our sin and prepare us to live with you forever on the Day of Your Return. Amen.- Rev. Matthew Zickler, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Western Springs, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May 13, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 7:9-17Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 10:1-20; Leviticus 11:1-15:33; Luke 9:37-62“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'”  (Revelation 7:9-10)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus speaks to His lamb: My dear lamb, sin is much dirtier than you can know. Only one thing can wash it away… only My blood washes away your sins. My Father sent me to cleanse you because He loves you.When you were baptized, the Holy Spirit gave you this washing, and He keeps you in the true faith all your life.In this life, you won't see the washing with your eyes. You'll still struggle with temptation and sin until you die. But you know you're washed because I've told you— in My Word, in Holy Baptism, and when you eat and drink at my Supper. In all these ways, I give you forgiveness.In Heaven, when I take you home, you will see my glory, and you'll also see the forgiveness I've showered upon you with your own eyes. You will wear a robe I made for you, washed clean by My blood shed for you on the cross.For now, though, you can trust that I have cleansed you from your sins and that I love you forever.Jesus' lamb responds to Him: Thank you, dear Shepherd. You know better than anyone how many sins I need to have washed away. When you wash them, they are gone forever. You set me free by Your grace. I don't deserve the love that You've given to me. But You've promised never to stop loving me, and I believe You.I'm sorry for the times I forget Your Word. Even after all You've done for me, I still chase after the sins You died to wash away. Please don't let me forget the price that my forgiveness cost You.Lead me in repentance every day of my life, and to walk with You in love.Thank you for giving me salvation!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Around the throne of David, the saints, from care released, raise loud their songs of triumph to celebrate the feast. They sing to Christ their leader, who conquered in the fight, who won for them forever their gleaming robes of white. (LSB 672:3)- Rev. Jeffrey Horn, pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May 6, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 5:(1-7) 8-14Daily Lectionary: Exodus 34:1-28; Luke 7:18-35“And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.'” (Luke 7:22-23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. John the Baptist is confused. He spent the bulk of his ministry calling Israel to repentance and proclaiming the Messiah who was to come, with all this eventually culminating in John baptizing Jesus then being tossed in prison. Perhaps he had a good sense of how things were supposed to go, and they aren't going to plan. Perhaps he knows he is being punished for calling the ruler Herod to repentance for his sins and assumes that in the age of the coming Messiah, these sorts of injustices would never happen. Scripture doesn't give us the specifics of John's doubt; we just know that John wasn't sure if Jesus was The One. Whatever the root of John's doubt, however, I think we can all relate. We assume things should probably work out a certain way if we are faithful followers of our Lord, or perhaps we cannot stomach the injustice we see in a world supposedly ruled by a benevolent God. It's not that unusual to doubt. But what's important here is what John does with his doubt. John goes to Jesus with it. He asks if Jesus is the promised Messiah. On the surface, this is reasonable, but it's also a little odd when we remember John is related to Jesus. Their mothers knew each other, and I would imagine that John grew up steeped in the knowledge of exactly who Jesus was—angels, archangels, shepherds, Wise Men, all of that. So, it's strange that he doesn't quite know, but stranger still, that Jesus doesn't refer to his relationship with John to reassure John of Jesus's identity. Instead, Jesus points to His works as proof of who He is. Where Jesus is, there is life and salvation; that is, His person is not separate from His work. What are these works of Christ? The blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have Good News preached to them. If you're struggling with doubt or frustrated with how things are in your life or the world, look to Jesus and his work. He continues this ministry today to you as He declares in the Word, the water, the bread, and wine that you are healed and your sins are forgiven.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O be our great deliv'rer still, The Lord of life and death; Restore and quicken, soothe and bless, With your lifegiving breath. To hands that work and eyes that see Give wisdom's healing pow'r That whole and sick and weak and strong May praise You evermore. (LSB 846:3)- Deac. Eleanor Corrow, Higher Things Board Member and coordinator in LCMS Missionary ServicesAudio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

April 29, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 1:4-18Daily Lectionary: Exodus 23:14-33; Luke 4:31-44“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘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.'” (Revelation 1:17-18)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How often do we see the words “fear not” in Scripture? I read somewhere that there are 365 “fear nots” —one for each day of the year—but I'm not sure that's true. There are many encounters people have with God and His angels where they have to be admonished to not be afraid. We see this at Christmas when the angels tell the shepherds not to be afraid, we see it when God speaks to Abraham, we hear it from the prophets, and we hear it from Jesus during His earthly ministry. Why would John be afraid here? He is seeing his beloved friend and teacher, and yet he “falls at his feet as though dead.” John is seeing Jesus in His glory, who knows all and sees all, whose face is shining like a sun, and out of his mouth is a sharp, two-edged sword. The visual description is stunning, and that alone is enough to conjure fear, yet even more than that, John knows that the Lord knows all our sins and failings. That alone can be a terrifying prospect. At times, in our sinful nature, we think we can hide our sins from God; sometimes, we even try to hide them from our own consciences through excuses and self-justification, telling ourselves we didn't really sin because we found a loophole. But John here cannot hide. He knows he is bare before not only his teacher and friend but the Lord of all, who, if he were to hold John's sins against him, could strike him down for them. Yet Jesus answers here by reaching out and touching John and telling him not to be afraid, not because they're friends and Jesus is nice, but because He is the first and the last, who has conquered sin and its wages—death and Hell. Jesus tells John that He holds the keys of death and Hades; this means that they are restrained on His behalf and that in order to get into either of them, you have to go through Jesus. Just as Jesus told John not to fear, as He is alive, He also tells you to take comfort in these truths. You need not fear death and Hell because they have been vanquished, locked up, and are restrained by our Lord, who is alive forevermore. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.At the name of Jesus Ev'ry knee shall bow, Ev'ry tongue confess Him King of glory now. ‘Tis the Father's pleasure We should call Him Lord, Who from the beginning Was the mighty Word. (LSB 512:1)- Deac. Eleanor Corrow, Higher Things Board Member and coordinator in LCMS Missionary ServicesAudio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God's people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today's Bible Verse: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." - Revelation 21:4 This is it! Our top most downloaded episode of the year! Surprisingly, this is another episode from 2021. As we take a break for the holiday season, we’re thrilled to share the top downloaded episodes of the year from "Your Daily Bible Verse." These powerful messages have deeply resonated with you, offering inspiration and encouragement throughout the year. We hope these episodes continue to uplift you during this festive time. Be sure to tune in for more enriching content when we return in January 13th. Thank you for being a valued part of our community! We will be back to our regular programming on Monday! SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Crosswalk the Devotional: https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-devotional/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

December 18, 2024Today's Reading: Revelation 6:1-17Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 34:1-2, 8-35:10; Micah 1:1-7:20; Revelation 6:1-17Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” (Revelation 6:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The four horsemen of the apocalypse. 450 words. Cool. Books have been written speculating what each horseman symbolizes. Because there's so much wrong here that it's hard to pick out just one thing that it could be. And that speaks volumes to the idea that what's coming might be even worse. But it was the Lamb who opened the seal to them. And that's even more concerning. After the sixth seal, everyone, slave and free, hides in caves, begging mountains to fall on them to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. The daily lectionary doesn't quite line up with “Silent Night.”The might behind the angel chorus that sang to shepherds attests to the power of the God made man who will be born on Christmas. That power, that glory, that urgency for justice is found in the Christ child, too. When we pray for God to advent, we prefer the weakness of baby Jesus to the wrathful Lamb sending horsemen of death and destruction. Repent. Both pictures are the same Jesus. We live in the end times and pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Spare us from more tribulation. Rescue us from ourselves and the power of the foe. But the tribulation is God's tribulation. The devil is God's devil. All creation serves His will because creation has already been won back from the devil. Christ has died and risen to claim the victory. Evil is still evil, but God commands it now that it would do more than just sow tears. The evil points us to a need for salvation, and the cross not only answers the need but paints a picture of a God amidst the fray, wearing a crown of thorns, conquering death itself to save you.  Now even death and destruction simply point to the cross where the God made man, the Lamb who sits on the throne, was slain for you and for all. The catastrophes of the Revelator pull us from the fantasy that we can conquer God and His horsemen even as they drive us to the hope that the Lamb has conquered to save us. And the presence of God marks a silent night, peace on earth, not by measure of the earth, but by measure of God's Advent to save us from it. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Glory to the Father sing, Glory to the Son, our king, Glory to the Spirit be Now and through eternity. (LSB 332:8)-Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

December 13, 2024Today's Reading: Revelation 1:1-20Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:15-30:14, Revelation 1:1-20“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood…” (Revelation 1:5b)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. A man in my congregation was a renowned high school basketball coach and the son of a Lutheran pastor. He had a collection of wise sayings, and one of my favorites was this: “There are some things in the Bible I can't understand, but there are many things I can't misunderstand.” That's a great saying to keep in mind when reading the last book of the Bible.The book of Revelation is notoriously difficult to interpret. Bible scholars and churchmen throughout the ages disagree on what every last symbol or image refers to. That can be frustrating when you really want to know what every word means. But even though some details elude us, there are many things you “can't misunderstand.”For example, in the first chapter, it is clear that John was given a prophecy from God, and all who read it and take it to heart will be blessed. It is also unmistakably clear that John is living with the expectation that Christ's return in glory is imminent, and he wants Christians to be prepared for that day. He also wants them to know how great and glorious our Lord Jesus is, and this is perhaps the best part of this book, namely, what it tells us about Jesus. In this introduction, we learn that Jesus is the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of the kings on earth. He loves us, He has set us free from our sins by His blood, and at His coming, every eye will see Him. He is eternal and almighty, the Alpha and Omega, who was and is and is to come. And John's description of Jesus' appearance is striking! He is powerful, glorious, and terrifying. No wonder John fell at his feet as though dead when he saw Him.In the four gospels, we read of the great mercy that Jesus shows and demonstrates to those desperately in need, while in Revelation, Jesus is described as an all-powerful judge. But the two are one and the same. The Almighty and eternal Son of Man is the one who loves us and humbled Himself for us. The timeless one without beginning or end entered into time and was born of the Virgin Mary. No one less than the King of Heaven came down and died for us to free us from our sins. The All-Powerful judge who holds the keys of Death and Hades is, for us, a suffering servant who opens heaven to all who believe.I may not fully understand a number of things about the Lord Jesus Christ, but when it comes to His love for us, I cannot misunderstand. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Ev'ry eye shall now behold Him Robed in glorious majesty; Those who set at naught and sold Him, Pierced and nailed Him to the tree, Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, Shall their true Messiah see. (LSB 336:2)-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Dr. Eric Bryant interviews Dr. Ben Blackwell who serves as a Professor of Early Christianity and as the Vice Principal at Westminster Theological Centre in the U.K.. He completed his PhD through Durham University where he studied under John Barclay and worked as N.T. Wright's research assistant.  Ben is the author or editor of the following books: Engaging Theology: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Introduction. Reading Hebrews in Context: The Sermon and Second Temple Judaism, co-edited with John Goodrich and Jason Maston. Reading Revelation in Context: John's Apocalypse and Second Temple Judaism, co-edited with John Goodrich and Jason Maston. Reading Mark in Context: Jesus and Second Temple Judaism, co-edited with John Goodrich and Jason Maston. Reading Romans in Context: Paul and Second Temple Judaism, co-edited with John Goodrich and Jason Maston. THE POST-CHRISTIAN PODCAST AND GIVEAWAYS: We help you make disciples in our increasingly post-Christian world. We discuss reaching new people and raising up leaders while removing the barriers of churchianity. Be sure to sign up for Eric's email newsletter at www.ericbryant.org for a chance to win future book giveaways and assessments! Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Post-Christian Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.com/@ericbryant777. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eric-bryant1/support

Reading Revelation 5, Pastor Ethan talks about who is worthy to open up the scroll with the seven seals.

In this episode, Rob and Vinnie continue their discussion with OT scholar Tremper Longman. They discuss Rev 13 and the Beast and what the book of Revelation means for the church today.  Dr. Tremper Longman III (B.A. Ohio Wesleyan University; M.Div. Westminster Theological Seminary; M.Phil. and Ph.D. Yale University) is Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. He has written over thirty-five books including commentaries on Genesis, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel, Nahum, and Revelation. Among his most recent books include Confronting Old Testament Controversies: Pressing Questions about Evolution, Sexuality, History and Violence and Revelation through Old Testament Eyes. His book The Old Testament as Literature just appeared with Baker Books. He is also Senior Translator of the New Living Translation. He is married to Alice and has three sons and seven granddaughters, and a grandson. He and Alice now live in Alexandria, Virginia. Reading Revelation through OT Eyes Confronting OT Controversies the Bible and the Ballot Daniel NIVAC Please "follow" this podcast and give a review on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your review will go a long way toward helping others find this podcast. Then share it with others so that we can get the word of the Gospel of the Kingdom to more people!   Also, our goal is to keep these episodes free of charge. I do not intend to ever hide them behind a paywall. I can only do this if those of you who have been blessed by them and can afford to give ($5, $10, $25, or more/month) do so. You can give a tax-deductible contribution by following this link.  

In this episode, Rob and Vinnie begin a conversation with OT scholar Tremper Longman. Tremper has written a fantastic commentary titled "Reading Revelation Through OT Eyes."  Dr. Tremper Longman III (B.A. Ohio Wesleyan University; M.Div. Westminster Theological Seminary; M.Phil. and Ph.D. Yale University) is Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. He has written over thirty-five books including commentaries on Genesis, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel, Nahum, and Revelation. Among his most recent books include Confronting Old Testament Controversies: Pressing Questions about Evolution, Sexuality, History and Violence and Revelation through Old Testament Eyes. His book The Old Testament as Literature just appeared with Baker Books. He is also Senior Translator of the New Living Translation. He is married to Alice and has three sons and seven granddaughters, and a grandson. He and Alice now live in Alexandria, Virginia. Some of his books include:  Reading Revelation through OT Eyes Confronting OT Controversies the Bible and the Ballot Daniel NIVAC Please "follow" this podcast and give a review on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your review will go a long way toward helping others find this podcast. Then share it with others so that we can get the word of the Gospel of the Kingdom to more people!   Also, our goal is to keep these episodes free of charge. I do not intend to ever hide them behind a paywall. I can only do this if those of you who have been blessed by them and can afford to give ($5, $10, $25, or more/month) do so. You can give a tax-deductible contribution by following this link.     Good news: the determinetruth App: If you wish to view these podcasts on your smartphone through the Determinetruth app simply download the “tithe.ly church” app on your smartphone. As it downloads you will be asked “What church do you want to connect with”—insert “determinetruth” as the church name you wish to follow (and Mesa as the city if needed). Then you will be asked if you want the tithe.ly logo or the Determinetruth logo—choose the Determinetruth logo. Once it finishes installing, you will be good to go.       Finally, we just want to say thank you for listening in and supporting the work of determinetruth. If you have any questions that you would like us to address, we would love to hear them. Use the contact page on Determinetruth.com If you have been blessed by these episodes, we want to encourage you to make sure you follow this podcast, share it with others, and post a review. By posting a review you make it easier for others to find the podcast on Google searches. If you would like to have Rob and/or Vinnie speak at your church or organization in person or via Zoom, please let us know by filling out the contact info on the Contact me tab on the determinetruth.com site. If you have questions that you would like addressed in future episodes, you may submit them in the Contact me tab on this site.

End Times, the mark of the beast, and the Antichrist. Oh, my! Were these your takeaways from reading Revelation? You're not alone! Today's guest, Scot McKnight, author of Revelation for the Rest of Us, also grew up viewing this book as a prediction of End Times events. But what's wrong with reading Revelation as a predictive prophecy? What's the real purpose of this apocalyptic literature? In this fascinating episode, McKnight explains how John designed his Book of Revelation to disciple readers into dissidents of the ways of the world and empire, or "Babylon." Learn how the Bible repeatedly uses Babylon as imagery, how Babylon finds its way into the church, and how Christians can learn to live in Babylon without being contaminated by it. We hope you leave this episode experiencing the real wisdom, witness, and worship lessons Revelation was meant to offer. Listen now! Have you benefitted personally from Truth Over Tribe or seen it have a positive effect on someone you know? have you used the podcast, book, or blog as a catalyst for conversation on polarizing topics? We want to hear about it! Share your story at choosetruthovertribe.com/story. Ok, truth time... Did you like this episode? Tell us by leaving a rating or review!