Tag: revelation

The Great Multitudes. The Great Promise of Completion. When our God begins a work, He completes it. Revelation 7:9-17

Revelation 7:9-17 New King James Version

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, [a]“Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15  Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to [b]living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Every Nation, People, and Language

What are we to believe about the promises contained in the Book of Revelation?

How and When and Where will it all be revealed?

How and When and where will it all be completed?

Will I be there to witness it as John was?

Will I be one among the Great Multitudes?

Will there really be a Great Multitude – how many of us must just be skeptical?

In our text today, God gave the apostle John a magnificent vision of a far distant diverse multitude—people from every diverse, every nation, every part of the human family—visualized as coming together forming a great multitude, a great chorus worshiping the Lord and proclaiming his victory over evil.

This vision portrays what believers in Christ have been laboring and praying for through the centuries.

The goal of God’s mission in Christ is that people from all over the earth will receive his salvation and worship him. But this great chorus is not yet complete.

Not all of God’s people are gathered in; many are missing. There are still many language groups and people groups that have no followers of Jesus.

The original Greek word used for “nation” in the New Testament is ethnos, from which our word “ethnic” comes.

Sometimes ethnos refers to major countries in Bible times, like Egypt, Syria, and Persia. Sometimes it is translated as “Gentiles,” referring to non-Jewish groups of people. And sometimes ethnos refers to smaller cultural, linguistic groups.

One country can include many such groups.

So even though there are Christians in every country on earth today, there are still many people and language groups that have no Christians.

https://oll.libertyfund.org/publications/reading-room/2023-10-05-urban-banning-and-censoring-bible

As Jesus’ followers, we need to bring, to take, sometimes by hand, backpacks, the gospel (the good news of Jesus) to them.

What role does God want His Body to play in this great multitudinous task?

Philippians 1:6-11 New King James Version

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

True or False?

Fact versus Fiction?

Convinced or Unconvinced?

Wishful thinking?

When God begins a work, He always completes it.

In Acts 16, we meet Lydia, a successful woman with her own business and a nice house in Philippi.

She had an interest in religion—and then she was changed (Acts 16:14-15).

What happened?

God began a work.

Later in the same chapter, we see a Philippian jailer come off his night shift also radically changed (v 30-34).

What happened?

Again, God began a work.

We can imagine, then, that when Lydia or the jailer were tempted to give up, the word of God through Paul’s letter to Philippi was there to remind them:

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

In other words, 

You didn’t start the work within you, and you aren’t going to finish it. If you feel you can’t keep going, you’re right. You can’t. But God did, and He can, and He will.

God has a long-term plan for His people: that each of us will see and share in the glory of His Son.

That is the end to which He is working (Romans 8:28-30).

So we, like Lydia and the jailer, like the original apostles, Like Saul to Paul, Luke each have both the need and ability to stay in the race of faith for the long haul.

While it always remains true that God gives all of us many gifts, our finite lives nonetheless can seem to be filled with disappointments.

We continue to give in to sin.

We struggle with doubts, and life’s circumstances make it hard to keep going in faith. But we can and will continue on the journey, because Scripture promises us over and over that our God “began a good work” and that He will finish it.

As we stumble along the way and face difficulties, we’re tempted to go back down to the bottom of the mountain, trade our hiking boots for slippers, and head back home.

But there’s a view at the top that’s worth every ache and pain along the way!

And so the word of God comes to us again and again, saying, 

Revelation 1:8 New King James Version

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, [a]the Beginning and the End,” says the [b]Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 22:13-14 New King James Version

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the [a]Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

14 Blessed are those who [b]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Come on, just a little farther. Don’t be concerned about all of your tomorrows. God Himself is helping you. Keep walking the way today.

From Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, God 100% finishes what He starts. And if you are trusting Christ, then He has started something eternal in you.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 19 New King James Version

The Perfect Revelation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament[a] shows [b]His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their [c]line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a [d]tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, [e]converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the [f]honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of [g]great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my [h]strength and my Redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Come, Let Us Worship – What Would it Look Like to Glorify, Worship God 24/7? Revelation 4:8-11

Revelation 4:8-11 New American Standard Bible 1995

8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night [a]they do not cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who [b]is to come.”

9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they [c]existed, and were created.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Heaven’s throne room is filled with sounds of praise and worship.

The four living creatures give round-the-clock adoration to the One on the throne.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,” they proclaim.

This is a picture of all creation eternally honoring God as the Creator and Lord over all things—the only one worthy of all praise.

Creation’s eternal song of praise—led by the four living creatures— serves as a call to worship for the twenty-four elders.

God’s people cannot help responding in worship when surrounded by the authentic, enthusiastic praises of all the rest of creation.

All God’s people in his worldwide church—young and elder­ly, seekers and established followers—help each other cele­brate and confess with praise.

Together, we join with the rest of creation, eternally saying, eternally singing;

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you [alone] created all things, and by your will they . . . have their being.”

This picture serves to remind us that just as creation constantly, and eternally proclaims the glory of God (Psalm 19), so can all God’s people—in our work, our play, our relationships each day as well as when we gather for a worship service.

Psalm 19 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Works and the Word of God.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their [a]line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 Its rising is from [b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is [d]perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be [e]blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

All things identified in Psalm 19 give their glory and honor and praise unto God for bringing them all into being, and he keeps all creation in his constant care.

With all that revelation of what God has implanted onto our souls, realize that Our all creating, all life-sustaining God is worthy to receive our praise always.

In this moment of writing, I couldn’t help but enter into a sacred time of prayer;

Psalm 19:12-14 Amplified Bible

12 
Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.
13 
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins;
Let them not rule and have control over me.
Then I will be blameless (complete),
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.

And in the midst of that praying, this thought was placed deep into my soul;

There is something about those words “eternal” and “worship” used together!

It puts one’s soul into a deeply sacred place of indescribable amazement and too wonderment, one should wonder how amazing would it be to worship God 24/7!

What Would it Look Like to Worship God 24/7?

Revelation 4:8-11 Amplified Bible

8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying,

“Holy, holy, holy [is the] Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], who was and who is and who is to come [the unchanging, eternal God].”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.”

I rose to my feet in the dim light of the Orthodox sanctuary as the opening strains of music and chanting called the congregation to a time of worship.

This was my very first time experiencing worship of God in an Orthodox church.

I had no idea what to expect when the two priests began to chant and pray.

My heart lifted to God as I joined in singing about the glories of heaven.

I closed my eyes, and the lyrics formed a picture in my mind.

Leaning into the presence of God and Jesus, Holy Spirit, I basked in His love.

However, in the second stanza of the song, like nails on a chalkboard, a wrong word or an unintelligible word wrenched me out from my attitude of worship. 

I realize you’re probably wondering who notices such things. I admit, I’m one of those grammar freaks who’s bothered by a subjective pronoun used as the object of a preposition. If your eyes glazed over at this explanation, please don’t stop reading. I promise I will bring this around to a point quite relevant to you.

I must profusely, sincerely apologize for how easily a small grammatical error derailed my soul away from my worship of the God who created the universe.

I wonder if you, too, have been distracted from giving God all the attention He is worthy of receiving.

I assume most people will not be bothered by a deviance from English language standards.

But I suspect we all have felt the tug-of-war between the world and worship.

The writer of Revelation painted a scene depicting the throne room of heaven.

Almighty God sits at the center in the place of honor surrounded by four unusual beings and twenty-four elders.

The main purpose of the four beings is worship. Day and night, they repeat words of praise to the King seated on the throne.

The elders respond by saying,

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased” (Revelation 4:11 NLT). 

Please notice though that absolutely nothing ever distracts these worshipers.

The presence of God is so utterly riveting that all else fades into insignificance.

Then this thunders into my soul: God created us to be 24/7 worshipers too!

Worship is more than the musical or sermon or ending part of a church service.

The Apostle Paul said every aspect of our lives can glorify God, even our daily consumption of nutrition.

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT).

Try contemplating 24/7 that all of the following can be filled with worship:

• Attention to excellence in our jobs to please God

• Sacrifice of ourselves to raise the next generation to love Jesus

• Wholesome thoughts that elevate God to His rightful place of honor

• Time spent in meditation on the Word and communication with God

• Confession of sins to cleanse our hearts

• Study of the Bible to increase our knowledge and magnify the Lord 

How often, though, do distractions yank us from our worship of God in these activities?

For most, grammar won’t divert our attention from our Lord.

But if you’re like me, your own agenda and plans can eclipse the view of our Creator.

Economics, Entertainment, politics, and social media also rank high on my list of distractions.

Even more insidious are the thoughts inside my head that control me—worry about the future and memories of the past. Finally, incorrect ideas about God’s character too interfere with our desire to live a life that glorifies, worships Him.

God is worthy of our dedicated worship that offers much more than perfunctory singing on Sunday mornings. He deserves all the praise we can muster because He created us. He designed us to please Himself. Even more, with unconditional love, and provision He provides all we need. Our worship brings Him pleasure.

As our Creator, God knows wholehearted 24/7 worship of Him is best for us.

When we eliminate distractions and make Him the center of our attention, we enjoy the rich and satisfying life Jesus promised (John 10:10).

John 10:9-16 Amplified Bible

9 I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

11 [a]I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd [b]lays down His [own] life for the sheep. 12 But the hired man [who merely serves for wages], who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13  The man runs  because he is a hired hand [who serves only for wages] and is not concerned about the [safety of the] sheep. 14 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]— 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep. 16 I have [c] other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become [d]one flock with one Shepherd.

Friends, let’s examine every facet of our lives to root out any distractions from 24/7 worship of God.

We don’t want anything, even a small grammatical error, to pull us away from our God-given purpose.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Consider this article I found on my news feed … thoughts and comments?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/step-back-time-americas-catholic-040718410.html

Ask God to help you evaluate the various parts of your life for distractions that might be diluting your wholehearted worship. Meditate upon psalms of praise and Lament until they dominate all your thoughts and influence your actions.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 96 New American Standard Bible 1995

A Call to Worship the Lord the Righteous Judge.

96 Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
3 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are [a]idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

7 [b]Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
[c]Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 [d]Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name;
Bring an [e]offering and come into His courts.
9 Worship the Lord in [f]holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with [g]equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea [h]roar, and [i]all it contains;
12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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