The End

I praise God for the written, holy Word. I am grateful for God's grace, leading me through this year of biblical reading and reflection. If you read through the Bible chronologically this year and if you looked at this blog from time to time, then I hope and pray that the blog helped you in some way.

May the peace of God surround us always.

Revelation 19:1-22:21

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

John, the author of the Bible's book of revelation, sees everything from heaven to earth being renewed. He hears the news that God lives among the people and that the processes of their becoming God's people and God's becoming God to the people is underway. Whenever I see tears dried, mourning turned into joy, crying replaced with songs, or pains alleviated, I think of this promise.

I thank God that the old order of things is passing away. We need a new earth.

Revelation 15:1-18:24

Beginning with the Bible's book of Revelation, chapter 15, John's vision of seven angels bearing seven bowls of plagues begins. The plagues are to be emptied on earth, so that more and more people suffer. 

Again and again, God's people are encouraged. Take, for example, Revelation 16:15, "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” 

I am clothed in Christ. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. (Romans 13:14) I hope to grow more and more awake to to God's presence with me and to dress myself more and more in the grace of Jesus, so that whenever I encounter temptations, challenges, pain, or troubles, I can own the Bible's encouraging words.

Revelation 11:1-14:20

St. Savin - Woman, Child, and Dragon (Detail), from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=33281 [retrieved December 29, 2015]. Original source: Images donated by Anne Richardson Womack, Vanderbilt University, and James T. Womack, Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, TN.

Revelation 6:1-10:11

The Bible's book of Revelation, chapter 5, discloses John's vision of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb who was slain, poised and ready to open a scroll sealed with seven seals.

Beginning with Revelation, chapter 6, the Resurrected Christ--for that is who is symbolized by the Lion-Root-Lamb--breaks six seals one by one. When each seal is broken a horse and rider appears, spreading first one calamity then another throughout the world. Chapter 6 ends with the breaking of the sixth seal.

Revelation, chapter 7, discloses a somewhat peaceful interlude in John's vision before the breaking of the seventh seal. During this interlude, destruction is forestalled until a number of God's servants can be sealed--12,000 servants from each of Israel's 12 tribes. Immediately afterward, John sees countless martyrs before the throne of God; and the martyrs are worshiping God with shouts of praise. The chapter ends with some of the most comforting words to be found in scripture: 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 shelter them with his presence. 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,' nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water.' 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'" (Revelation 7:15-17)

Revelation, chapter 8, begins with John's vision of the Resurrected Christ's breaking the seventh seal. The seal is broken. Silence ensues. Then seven angels, each bearing a trumpet, appear. As the prayers of God's people mingle together with incense burning before the throne of God, the angels begin to sound their trumpets one by one. As each trumpet sounds a calamity strikes the earth--hail and fire scorching the earth, the poisoning of seas, lakes, rivers, springs, and wells, darkness, etc. John's vision of the woes heralded by the sounding of six of the angels' seven trumpets continues through Revelation, chapter 9.  There is an element of judgment to these woes, as John observes. Those who survive this second round of calamities do not stop worshiping idols and demons. (Revelation 9:20) They do not repent of murders, magic, sexual immorality, nor thefts. (Revelation 9:21)

Revelation, chapter 10, begins another interlude in John's vision. The seventh angel will sound the fateful seventh trumpet, but the angel waits for the time being. One outcome of the interlude is that John is commissioned with prophecy once more: Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (Revelation 10:11)

At times I feel the world threatened almost as much as is described here in John's apocalypse. So I hope to be faithful in my witness to Jesus Christ. 

Revelation 2:1-5:14

John is instructed to write messages to seven churches. Those messages are recorded in the Bible's book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. The messages provide critiques of churches' shortcomings. They commend faithfulness found in the churches. The messages warn churches of imminent dangers. They give churches reasons to hope.

Toward the end of each message this statement is repeated: "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Lord, let me hear.

1 John 4:1-5:21; 2 John 1:1-13; 3 John 1:1-14; Revelation 1:1-20

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. (1 John 4:16b-18a)

I believe; I trust God's love for humanity. If I become fearful, then it is time to allow more God, more love to wash over me. Letting go of anxiety and fright, I am free to live in love. I am free to live in God and God in me.