Revelation

The small group that I lead each Wednesday is just beginning a study of the book of Revelation. What was I thinking?

It wasn't my idea. Really. They made me do it. I simply asked, "So do we want to study through another book of the Bible?" and someone (I won't mention names) suggested the Revelation. Before I knew it, the whole room was backing the idea. So then optimistic me went along with it.

But here's the deal. No other book of the Bible says anything like this:

"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (1:3)

How can you ignore that?

So last week we, as a group, read through the entire book in about an hour and twenty minutes. I've done that many times. In fact I once produced and directed a, shall we say, production of the Revelation wherein we had 6 narrators, a group of musicians providing a soundtrack and multimedia elements being projected.

I think the most enduring image(s) from my encounters with God's final written word is the worship. To begin with we have many fabulous descriptions of our risen Savior. Those in and of themselves offer sufficient reason to worship Him.

Then there are the descriptions of those worshiping. In chapter 5 we see worship beginning at the throne of God with the 4 creatures and the 24 elders. They are soon joined by "the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand."

Our author continues: "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!' The four living creatures said, 'Amen,' and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Wow! I've been in some worship services where it seemed that everyone was really into it, but man, I look forward to experiencing heavenly worship, don't you?

There are several other mentions of worship that stick out to me. One is where John twice tells us that after seeing the fantastic things that he saw, he fell down at the foot of an angel to worship him. I love what the angel tells him. "Don't do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"

The other aspect of worship that sticks with me is the worship of the counterfeit. John speaks of those who worship demons, idols, the dragon, the beast and its image. Satan is seeking worshipers just as God is. For him it matters not whether people worship him or some idol. What matters to him is that people don't worship God. He wouldn't even mind if we were to worship godly angels.

When you see all the alternatives there are in world of religion, one thing becomes clear to those who know the truth. There is the One True God and there are the counterfeits. No gray areas. No "other" paths to God. Jesus himself says, "I am the way the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father except by me." He didn't say "a way, a truth and a life."


Selah




So - I'm glad we're studying the Revelation. It will be a challenge and will take commitment from the whole group, but it will be good. In the end, it is a book of hope. We all need that today.