PKRAUSE

WELL this a interesting

dgrimm60

Revelation 4:1-11(Good News Translation)
Monday
December 14, 2009

Called to be Free to Spread Tidings of Joy

Introduction

Revelation 4:1-11: John reports his vision of the Holy One on the throne who is being praised by four living creatures and by 24 elders. The number of elders most likely represents the sum of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of Jesus. Together, these symbolize all of God's chosen people.

Today's Scripture: Revelation 4:11a
"Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power."

How is this Scripture passage speaking to me today?

Today's Reading
1At this point I had another vision and saw an open door in heaven. And the voice that sounded like a trumpet, which I had heard speaking to me before, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.2At once the Spirit took control of me. There in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it.3His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald.4In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, on which were seated twenty-four elders dressed in white and wearing crowns of gold.5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne seven lighted torches were burning, which are the seven spirits of God.6Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Surrounding the throne on each of its sides, were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and behind.7The first one looked like a lion; the second looked like a bull; the third had a face like a human face; and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight.8Each one of the four living creatures had six wings, and they were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop singing: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.9The four living creatures sing songs of glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. When they do so,10the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. They throw their crowns down in front of the throne and say,11Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. For you created all things, and by your will they were given existence and life.

Reflect
The four living creatures are similar to the creatures the prophet Ezekiel saw in a vision (Ezekiel 1:5-11). Over the centuries, these creatures became associated with the four Gospel writers. These living creatures represent the people of God, just as the four creatures in Daniel represent the evil empires that try to rule the world (Daniel 7). The many eyes likely symbolize that they can see everything in every direction. The lion, bull, human, and eagle faces probably represent authority, strength, wisdom, and swiftness, all things valued in creation. These creatures never stop praising God. How can John's vision of worship inspire your worship?

Pray
Holy, holy, holy are you Lord, who was and is and is coming! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. You created all things and care for all things. Thank you for your great love. Amen.

Prayer Concern
Growing churches

pk

PKRAUSE

YES we need to give GOD the honor and glory
that HE deserves

dgrimm60

Revelation 5:1-14(Good News Translation)
Tuesday
December 15, 2009

Called to be Free to Spread Tidings of Joy

Introduction

Revelation 5:1-14: Today's passage describes John's vision of a scroll and a lamb. The scroll is sealed with seven seals and is held by the one on the throne. At first John cries because no one is worthy enough to open the scroll. But then a lamb appears and takes the scroll, as all beings in heaven and on earth rejoice.

Today's Scripture: Revelation 5:13b
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!"

How is this Scripture passage speaking to me today?

Today's Reading
1I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne; it was covered with writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel, who announced in a loud voice, Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? 3But there was no one in heaven or on earth or in the world below who could open the scroll and look inside it. 4I cried bitterly because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside it. 5Then one of the elders said to me, Don't cry. Look! The Lion from Judah's tribe, the great descendant of David, has won the victory, and he can break the seven seals and open the scroll. 6Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb appeared to have been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that have been sent through the whole earth. 7The Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. 8As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. 9They sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race. 10You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they shall rule on earth. 11Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders, 12and sang in a loud voice: The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise! 13And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea—all living beings in the universe—and they were singing: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever! 14The four living creatures answered, Amen! And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Reflect
Today's passage contains poignant symbolism. The scroll represents God's plan for the future. To break the seals is to cause these events to happen. The lamb represents Christ. The lamb shows signs of once having been slaughtered, just as Christ once died but became alive again. This lamb image is based, in part, on Isaiah 53:7, which talks about a servant of God who is silent like a lamb about to be slaughtered. Other New Testament passages describe Jesus as a sacrificial lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19). How are symbols useful in telling a story?

Pray
Loving God, your Word speaks to us in so many ways: symbols, visions, stories, poetry, sayings and more. Thank you for the many ways in which you teach us your will and your way. Amen.

Prayer Concern
People who are illiterate

pk

PKRAUSE

YES WE can be thankful that the bible can
be understood even with all the symbols

and also be thankful that JESUS did GOD WILL

dgrimm60

Revelation 7:1-17(Good News Translation)
Wednesday
December 16, 2009

Called to be Free to Spread Tidings of Joy

Introduction

Revelation 7:1-17: In today's passage, John sees four angels who hold back the four winds as a fifth angel puts the "seal of the living God" on people. Then he sees a large crowd representing the whole community of God's people. They have "washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb" meaning that Christ has forgiven them. The white clothes show that their lives have been made pure. The crowd worships God together.

Today's Scripture: Revelation 7:10B
"Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!"

How is this Scripture passage speaking to me today?

Today's Reading
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so that no wind should blow on the earth or the sea or against any tree. 2And I saw another angel coming up from the east with the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given the power to damage the earth and the sea. 3The angel said, Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we mark the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads. 4And I was told that the number of those who were marked with God's seal on their foreheads was 144,000. They were from the twelve tribes of Israel, 5-8twelve thousand from each tribe: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. 9After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 10They called out in a loud voice: Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb! 11All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God, 12saying, Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen! 13One of the elders asked me, Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from? 14I don't know, sir. You do, I answered. He said to me, These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb. 15That is why they stand before God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will protect them with his presence. 16Never again will they hunger or thirst; neither sun nor any scorching heat will burn them, 17because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Reflect
In this passage, an angel puts the seal of the living God on 144,000 people. This mark may have been like the design on a king's signet ring, used to put the king's seal on official papers or to mark the king's personal property. It is a sign of ownership. The number 144,000 is a symbolic number for the twelve tribes of Israel multiplied by twelve and then by one thousand. Among other things, the number twelve was considered a symbol of completeness. This group represents the complete people of God. Yet we know that the complete community of God grows with every generation. How do we mark God's ownership of us today?

Pray
Holy God, baptize me with the power of the Holy Spirit and anoint me with your word, that I may become a living member of your holy community. Amen.

Prayer Concern
Fragmented communities

pk

PKRAUSE

THIS is a good thought


dgrimm60

Revelation 14:1-20(Good News Translation)
Thursday
December 17, 2009

Called to be Free to Spread Tidings of Joy

Introduction
Revelation 14:1-20: Today we start reading a section that begins with a vision of the Lamb worshiping with those who bear his name. They have been rescued by Christ and are the first of many who will share in the new life of God's people. The vision continues with a description of how God will judge everyone. Those who worship the beast will face God's anger and punishment.

Today's Scripture: Revelation 14:7
"Honor God and praise his greatness! For the time has come for him to judge all people. Worship him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water!"

How is this Scripture passage speaking to me today?

Today's Reading
1Then I looked, and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; with him were 144,000 people who have his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven that sounded like a roaring waterfall, like a loud peal of thunder. It sounded like the music made by musicians playing their harps. 3The 144,000 people stood before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders; they were singing a new song, which only they could learn. Of the whole human race they are the only ones who have been redeemed. 4They are the men who have kept themselves pure by not having sexual relations with women; they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from the rest of the human race and are the first ones to be offered to God and to the Lamb. 5They have never been known to tell lies; they are faultless. 6Then I saw another angel flying high in the air, with an eternal message of Good News to announce to the peoples of the earth, to every race, tribe, language, and nation. 7He said in a loud voice, Honor God and praise his greatness! For the time has come for him to judge all people. Worship him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water! 8A second angel followed the first one, saying, She has fallen! Great Babylon has fallen! She made all peoples drink her wine—the strong wine of her immoral lust! 9A third angel followed the first two, saying in a loud voice, Those who worship the beast and its image and receive the mark on their forehead or on their hand 10will themselves drink God's wine, the wine of his fury, which he has poured at full strength into the cup of his anger! All who do this will be tormented in fire and sulfur before the holy angels and the Lamb. 11The smoke of the fire that torments them goes up forever and ever. There is no relief day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, for anyone who has the mark of its name. 12This calls for endurance on the part of God's people, those who obey God's commandments and are faithful to Jesus. 13Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write this: Happy are those who from now on die in the service of the Lord! Yes indeed! answers the Spirit. They will enjoy rest from their hard work, because the results of their service go with them. 14Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was what looked like a human being, with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15Then another angel came out from the temple and cried out in a loud voice to the one who was sitting on the cloud, Use your sickle and reap the harvest, because the time has come; the earth is ripe for the harvest! 16Then the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth's harvest was reaped. 17Then I saw another angel come out of the temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18Then another angel, who is in charge of the fire, came from the altar. He shouted in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, Use your sickle, and cut the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because the grapes are ripe! 19So the angel swung his sickle on the earth, cut the grapes from the vine, and threw them into the wine press of God's furious anger. 20The grapes were squeezed out in the wine press outside the city, and blood came out of the wine press in a flood two hundred miles long and about five feet deep.

Reflect
Reread 14:18-19. The prophets of Israel spoke of God's people as a vineyard where grapes are grown (Isaiah 5). They also compared God's judgment on the people for their disobedience to the harvesting of grapes (Joel 3:13). Similar images are used here to describe what will happen to people who reject God. How do these images contrast with the images of God's followers? What can we learn from this passage today?

Pray
Holy Lord, I yearn to be among your precious people. Yet too often I fail to follow your word. Forgive me for the times when I worship false idols rather than following you. Redeem my life that I may live by your word. Amen.

Prayer Concern
Those struggling to change the way they live
See God's Word at work in lives today

pk

PKRAUSE

THIS reminds me of a song
I would rather have JESUS than anything this world
has to offer

dgrimm60

Yes I think your right dgrimm

pk