Introduction: As those of you who regularly read these devotionals, will have worked out for yourselves that almost every eighth day I change between Psalms, an Old Testament and a New Testament book. At special times in the church calendar I will deviate a bit for a few days. I am doing a review today which you can either quickly read, or read back over the Revelation devotions, or slowly and thoughtfully open your Bible and read the book of Revelation from the beginning until the end of ch 9. When it is Revelation’s turn again I will comment beginning at Ch 9! There follows a quick listing of the subjects of ch 1-8. Except in the title of chapter 7, ‘seven’ in Biblical numerology represents perfection!
Ch 1-3 – messages from the glorious Risen Jesus, who is described beautifully, to the 7 churches of Asia, Ch 4 – John in the Spirit enters heaven, Description of those who are there – God, 24 Elders, Seven Spirits of God represented by seven burning torches, four living creatures Lion, ox, man and eagle. Words of the Hymn of Praise. Ch 5 – In God’s Hand there is a Scroll, with seven seals; Nobody apart from the Lion who looks like a slain Lamb is found worthy to ‘open’ the seals attached to the scroll held by God. Elders and Living Creatures sing praise to the Lamb. Ch 6 – 4 seals are opened to reveal four horses white, red, black & deathly pale – they deliver messages. The 5th seal is opened, giving a vision of those slain for their faith in God. They are under the altar. 6th seal opened with earth and sky catastrophes. Ch 7 – Forehead sealing – 144,000 from the 12 tribes + a great number from every tribe and nation. An angelic explanation of what is going on. Ch 8 – 7th seal is opened to reveal a golden censer and 7 trumpets heralding messages. Four trumpets are sounded and they deliver extensive but not total destruction of the physical world. The chapter ends with 3 trumpets remaining and told that their messages are woeful!
Ch 9 –1 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.
7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8 their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9 they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10 They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.
John 5: 39,40 – You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
Prayer: Help me to find You revealed as I read Your letter sent to us, Your creations.