Only the Lamb who was slain is worthy to break the seven seals and open the scroll. We will address the first four seals that are opened. As he breaks each seal a horse and its rider is unleashed upon the earth. John is shown specific things that will happen with much imagery. It is Jesus who releases these forces.

John is given a vision of the throne room of God. We are at the very center of the universe! In the center is a throne. This isn’t just about a magnificent chair where God the Father sits. It is about His ruling power and authority in His heavenly court. The God of the universe rules over human affairs. All that the church goes through is in the hands of His Sovereign power. There is repeated emphasis in chapter 4 of the throne—indicating that while the world is running out of control, John is (as are we) assured that everything is being governed by God and the Lamb (which we will cover next week).

Jesus addresses the churches at Sardis and Philadelphia. The first, Sardis, has a reputation of being alive, but are in fact dead. Outward appearances can fool many. But God looks at the heart. They are told to wake up! They must assess their spiritual decline and become doers of His word, not just hearers. The second, Philadelphia Jesus presents an open door to them. They are a church that have endured, kept His word, not sullied His name, but are tired and worn out. Jesus’ promise to them? “I. am. coming. soon.”

Jesus addresses the churches at Smyrna and Pergamum. As with all seven churches that John is told to write to we can relate to their hardships, what they get right, and the sin they have as well. Smyrna has been afflicted and are about to suffer more. They are encouraged to remain faithful. Faithful, even to the point of death. Jesus points out those who think they are God's people because of their outward profession, but are not. He says to Pergamum that they live where Satan has his throne. They are told to be aware of their surroundings, what they listen to, and to repent. Those who overcome will get God’s hidden nourishment!

In John’s vision of Jesus, He is among the lampstands. Here we have a picture of Jesus as the Great High Priest trimming the wicks and filling the lamps with oil, drawing heavily from Old Testament pictures. He reveals that the symbolism used of lampstands and stars represents His Church—the light of the world. This teaching prepares the way for the next few weeks where we look at the seven churches that Jesus tells John to write to. He is moving among the churches and will give His assessment of what He sees.

What a daunting task it is for many of us to start to study and understand the Book of Revelation. How can one make sense of the great imagery of the only prophetic book in the New Testament? In week one we established what the subject and object of the book is. Now we turn our attention to how we must read the Revelation; learning to position ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our study. We are promised that those who read it, hear it, and those who keep what is written in this book will be blessed.

The arrival of Jesus Christ in this world as flesh and blood is why we celebrate Christmas. We will explore why Jesus had to have a virgin birth and why He had to become human, coming to us in our likeness. Without Jesus accomplishing this, we would have died in our sins; never being reconciled to God. What a reason to celebrate His first coming and look forward to His coming again!

The Apostle Paul’s message was not one of persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power! We have been reconciled to God through Christ Jesus and have become a new creation if we put our faith in Him. This is accomplished through the Spirit’s great power as our actions and words should demonstrate based on our fruit. We have also been given the ‘ministry of reconciliation’ in which God makes His appeal through us. Like Paul, we do not do this with persuasive words but instead with the demonstration of the Spirit’s power!

Jesus uses an analogy of a vine, its branches, and the fruit that it bears as relating to our being connected to Him. He also uses the term, ‘remain’ repeatedly. How do we remain in Him? In His love? What does it truly mean to remain? Being connected to the vine brings great joy into our lives and enables us to bear fruit. It is fruit that lasts only when we are attached to the life-giving Source. Apart from Him, we can do nothing!

When we think of Luke’s writings about the Holy Spirit we would generally think of his second volume, the book of Acts. However, the third person of the Godhead is front and center in his gospel account as well. Luke has a special understanding of the power and activity of the Holy Spirit. He shows vividly the Spirit’s involvement before Christ, throughout His incarnate life on earth, and the promise of all those who are thirsty being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The second theme that emerges from the pages of Matthew’s gospel is that of faith. Faith is SO IMPORTANT to Jesus! He remarks concerning a person’s or group’s great faith when healing them. He even says that their faith was the reason for their healing or restoration. He rebukes His disciples numerous times because of their lack of faith. This occurs when they do not understand spiritual concepts that they should and it extends even to the reason that they are unable to cast out a spirit from a demon-possessed boy. They have so little faith. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” How can we possess greater faith? How does it go hand-in-hand with spiritual authority?

God uses the metaphor of adultery in a spiritual context throughout Scripture when we turn to other things or people for our comfort, affection, and even salvation. God goes so far as to have the prophet Hosea marry an unfaithful woman, have children with her, and then watch her go into the arms of another man. Why? Because Israel was guilty of adultery in departing from the Lord. It was a demonstration of the anguish that God feels. Wow! Hosea is then told to go to his wife, though she is now with another man, and “love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods.” How are we unfaithful to our Bridegroom? The Lord begs Israel to return to Him and promises that He will “heal their waywardness and love them freely.” That is available to us too!