Revelation - Week 15

Serving Before the Throne

READ

Revelation 7:15

15 “That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter.”

One of the 24 elders continued to tell the apostle John about those who had been martyred during the Tribulation and were now praising God before the throne. They serve God “day and night in his temple.” They are also promised that God “who sits on the throne will give them shelter.” What does this shelter include? More is explained in the following verses.

REFLECT

Thank the Lord that even though circumstances may be extreme, God is your ultimate protector.

RESPOND

The Ascent Psalms (120-134) promised God’s care for those marching up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts. These psalms have been of encouragement to believers over the years. Suggest to a friend that these be read for a reminder of how God cares for His people. Possibly follow a plan to read one of these psalms each day. Even more protection will be provided in eternity.

Every Tear

READ

Revelation 7:16-17

16 “They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. 17 For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Those martyred for their faith during the Tribulation are promised they will never go through such horrible times again. Above all, “God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” One can only imagine the heartache and tears shed when these were martyred, but never again will that occur because God will wipe all tears from their eyes.

REFLECT

It is one thing to stand for Christ when friends do not appreciate your opinions, but think of the grief of those families and loved ones who had someone put to death because of believing in Jesus.

RESPOND

Read Revelation 21:3-4 to see that when all believers are with God in the New Jerusalem all the sorrows of their previous lives will be gone forever.

Silence in Heaven

READ

Revelation 8:1-2

1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. 2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

After the brief interlude after the sixth seal was broken, the seventh seal is broken. The judgments on earth will become more severe. The seventh seal introduces seven trumpets and each of them will describe judgments on earth. Perhaps the silence for about a half hour was because of the terrible judgments expected. The seven angels are now given seven trumpets, the contents of which will be revealed in the following verses.

REFLECT

Rejoice that if you have placed your faith in Jesus as Savior, you will not experience these judgments in the Tribulation. There will be troubles on earth, but nothing in comparison to those that will occur during the 70^th Week of Daniel, known as the Tribulation.

RESPOND

To distinguish the troubles of this time in contrast to the time in the Great Tribulation, see John 16:33 for the troubles in these times, and Matthew 24:21-22 that refers to the Tribulation of the future.

An Offering

READ

Revelation 8:3

3 Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne.

Again it is seen that incense is associated with prayers. It should be encouraging to believers of all times to realize their prayers are sweet incense to God. In this case, the prayers were mixed with the incense as an “offering on the gold altar before the throne.” In the Old Testament many offerings were presented and sacrificed. Even today believers can present offerings pleasing to God.

REFLECT

What can you offer to God today as an offering? Your prayers are pleasing to Him, but you can also present your life as a pleasing sacrifice.

RESPOND

With a friend, read Romans 12:1-2 that will show the kind of sacrifice believers can give today that will please God and be an act of worship.

Fire from Heaven

READ

Revelation 8:4-5

4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. 5 Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.

These verses reveal what the angel did after the prayers with the incense went up to God. The incense burner was filled with fire and thrown to the earth. There have been violent storms in the past, but what happens to the earth now will be greater and more extensive than anything seen before. This leads into what the seven angels will do with the seven trumpets.

REFLECT

Major events often cause people to think about god. Have people turned to God as a result? Some do; many do not. Even after people think about God during a major incident; many neglect Him afterwards.

RESPOND

Pray that whatever difficulty you may be going through now you will learn from it and remain with a tender heart towards God afterwards. It is seen in Revelation 6:15-17 that after warnings of severe judgment came through nature, people turned away from God, not to Him.