pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: trance


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Worthy is the Lamb

Reading: Revelation 3-5

Revelation 5:5 – “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll.”

Chapter 3 concludes the messages to the seven churches. The church in Sardis looks good on the surface but is really dead. They need to remember what they first learned, changing hearts and lives. If so, their names will be declared in heaven. The church in Philadelphia has little power but they have stood strong. They will be pillars in heaven, names written there. And Laodicea… neither hot nor cold, just lukewarm. This church is perhaps most relevant today. Jesus is about to “spit them out.” They are “miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, naked.” Yet Jesus stands at the door and knocks. If they hear and open the door, he will come in and be with them. If they emerge victorious, they will sit with Jesus on his throne in heaven.

Chapters 4 and 5 shift to heaven as John enters his second Spirit-led trance. At the center God sits on the throne. 24 elders on thrones surround God. There are seven torches and four living creatures before the throne of God. The creatures have six wings and are covered all over with eyes. They never rest but praise God, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” The elders join in the praise, declaring God to be the one worthy of glory, honor, and power.

John then noticed that there is a scroll in the hand of God. He weeps because no one is worthy to open it. Then an elder says, “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll.” The Lamb, Jesus Christ, comes and takes the scroll. The elders, the living creatures, millions of angels, and all of creation praises and worships the Lamb, the one who was slain. What a glorious day it will be!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the reality check as we began today. Draw us out of the comfy middle ground. Empower us to stand boldly for you. And thank you for the peak into heaven, for the reminder of your majesty and power, for the reminder of who and what the Christ child will be and become. All praise and honor and glory are yours! Amen.


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Struggles and Promises

Reading: Revelation 1-2

Revelation 1:8 – “I am the Alpha and Omega… the one who is and was and is coming, the Almighty.”

Photo credit: Noah Silliman

Today we begin Revelation, a vision given to Christ’s servant John. It is to the “seven churches” and is from Jesus Christ, the “firstborn from among the dead.” John writes that when Jesus comes in the clouds, all will see him and the nations will mourn. The Lord God then declares, “I am the Alpha and Omega… the one who is and was and is coming, the Almighty.”

John shared that he also suffers hardship, exiled on Patmos, an island where political opponents were sent. In a “Spirit-led trance,” John receives these words for the seven churches. He receives these words from Jesus Christ, whose appearance is “like the sun shining with all its power.” Jesus directs John to write down these words and to send them to the seven churches.

In today’s reading Jesus addresses the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. There is good to be found: good works, endurance in suffering, faith in hardship, service to others. Some have rooted out false teachers but others have fallen to their lies, following them into sin. Ephesus has forgotten her “first love” – Jesus. To the faithful, promises are made. The faithful and those who change hearts and lives will “eat from the tree of life,” will receive the “crown of life… the hidden manna… the white stone… authority over the nations… the morning star.”

These struggles remain in our churches and in our lives. The promises remain for those who are faithful. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, today we are first reminded of your eternal power and mighty. All glory and honor are yours! We are also reminded that faith is not easy, that trials will come, and that temptations are aplenty. Lead and guide us, O God, to remain faithful to you alone. Thank you. Amen.