Category: Revelation

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The scroll is a will or testament. In ancient Rome, seven seals attested a will. Seven people put their seals on the will signed in their collective presence. It was hoped that at least one of the seven would be alive when the will was opened to attest its contents. In Revelation, There is no one who is able to open God’s testament to men and unlock the inheritance for us – except the Lamb!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please write Your word on our hearts today, deep down, and grow it – that we might be good soil and bear much fruit.

“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, …”

As they fell before the One on the throne, they fall before the Lamb.

This Lamb slain before the foundation of the world – He is the LION of Judah, the ROOT of David.

And WORTHY is He!

Remember Egypt, the blood of the lamb slain causing the Lord’s angel to pass over.

And so remember Christ on the cross, the spear bringing the blood and the water. His blood causing the wrath of the Lord God Almighty to pass over us and be placed on Him. We escape because of His taking the punishment.

This is the Lamb slain. Our King. Our Saviour.

He is WORTHY.

* Holy God,

You are the One seated on the throne, from which comes flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder.

You are not a weak and ineffectual entity – You are the GOD above all others, the LORD and KING. There is none like You.

And You are the Lamb slain.

WORTHY – May we cry this as the living creatures and elders do.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The imagery of this chapter comes from the Exodus, Ezekiel’s visions, Noah, the 12 Patriarchs of Israel and the 12 Apostles. What have you found worthy about God this past week or month?

SJA Notes

* All-Powerful God Above, You have shown us grace and mercy in giving us Your word. May we hear and obey today.

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

We find here in these words a great deep and wide aspect of who our God is.

God WAS.

He existed before creation, and even more, He is outside of time.

God IS.

We serve a living God, alive and powerful and working His purposes out.

God IS TO COME.

This world is not the end, we look forward to that day when our Lord God returns and calls us home to glory, into that eternal rest promised us His people.

* Lord God,

Please fix within us a hope of what is to come. Of Your return, of the last trumpet, our mortal become immortal. Of the new heavens and the new earth, for Your light on all, of You living with us Your people.

Please hasten that day!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The church at Philadelphia is the one church of the seven that did not receive a rebuke from Christ. What can you learn from what Jesus said to these Christians?

SJA Notes

* God of all wisdom, please teach us from Your word today.

“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.”

We have a door that is shut. There is a barrier.

John points us to a wonderful truth here, that Jesus is the key.

Remember in Matthew in the sermon on the mount, Jesus says,

“… And to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

How do we get through the door?

We ask of the Father, we seek Him out, we knock at the door – Which Jesus tells us will be opened at a knock.

But here in this passage, we read that Jesus Himself comes and knocks at our door. He stands and knocks.

The Majestic King of all creation, the Lord of Ages, the All-Powerful, Seeing, Knowing God – And He comes to us and asks that we open the door and invite Him in to our lives.

This is Jesus.

Praise God that He seeks us out, finds us. The Good Shepherd of His sheep.

* Great God Above,

You are the Holy One, the True One, who has the key of David.

That which You open none can shut. That which You shut, none can open.

Please teach us today from this passage, what You would have us understand.

Amen.