Commissioned

From Revelation 7:1-4 we learn that God protects His faithful servants by having them marked with the "mark of God," before judgment came to the earth. This seal also identified and included 144,000 Jews who were faithful in serving God.

The fifth seal revealed that the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God were under the altar, in the presence of God. These wer killed because they upheld their testimony and in the face of great persecution they remain faithful and overcame the enemy, Satan, by the word of their testimony. It is for this testimony they were killed. They ask for vengeance because God tells us in His word that vengeance belong to Him. With that said, as Christians in spite of the hatred being levied against us we are to walk in obedience to Christ's command to love your enemy and do good to them who despitefully use you. The Christian prayer should include a plea for the salvation of all those who persecute the Church. The white robe represents purification, worn by the redeemed who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.

This great storm of destruction represented by the Seven Seals is initiated by the Lamb of God who was found worthy to open the Scroll, and it directed against the inhabitants of the earth, those who remain after the Church is taken out of the earth. Is it just? That prophecy be fulfilled is the faithfulness of God. The great storm is the beginning of what must take place on the earth prior to the establishment of a new earth.

In Revelation 5:13 we see that every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, were heard saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. The worship to God the Father and to the Lamb of God is indistinguishable. Jesus tells us that He is one with the Father and we should worship both with utmost reverence.

We are told that our destiny as believers include reigning. In Ephesians 2:4-6 (KJV) the Apostle tells us that, "God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" And John tells us that God, in Revelation 5:10 (KJV), "... hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." Seated together with Christ in heavenly places we reign with Him. We serve as priests in our continuous oblations to our worthy God. We are we a kingdom under the rule of God.

Jesus alone is so worthy of opening the scroll and thus bringing history to its consummation because He is the Lamb slain for the redemption of mankind. This act is so noteworthy and praiseworthy because it was the only means for mankind to be redeemed for eternal life.

Insights that have been adopted by the Christian church from these chapters are worshipping God for who He is. He is worthy of our worship. We lught to worship God continuously. He is worthy to receive power, and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. He is King of kings, and Lord of lords. Every creature in the heavens, in the seas, under the earth and on the earth worship the one true God who sits on the throne. Every tribe and every nation will bow and worship Him. All that we have we present to Him, He is worthy!

Hymns and choruses that come from Revelation 4 and 5 are: Holy, Holy Holy Worship the King In The Presence of Jehovah Crown Him With Many Crowns All HAil The Power of Jesus Name Worship His Majesty

To summarize the lessons of this chapter each of the churches are representative of the Body of Christ and the various stages of Christian spirituality. The churches are criticized for leaving their first love, encouraging corruption and sexual immorality, also imperfection in service to God. They praised for showing strength in the face of poverty and being small in number. All of these observations should be a lesson and a warning for shaping the twenty-first century Church?

Many churches are a "hotbed of apathy" because they fail to be "salt," and "light" in the world. We can combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves by going out into the community/world and be the witness that we are called to be.

When participation in any societal association prevents complete freedom to serve and honor God, then such involvement would engender spiritual destruction. In the twenty-first century Christians struggle with being accepted in social settings while not compromising. The real compromises that dilute vital Christianity is the failure to be a witness, not sharing the gospel.

Loosening of sexual standards to conform to the prevailing morals of the culture is destructive of vital Christian faith and witness as it is an oppossion to God's standard. In this culture the tendancy to take the edge off Christian moral convictions or to forced one to be quiet about them as government dictates and promotes tolerancy.

A local congregation can lose its "first love" for Jesus when its love for the world is causing slackness in it carrying out its assignments. It is not letting it's light shine in the world. The signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry is submission to the Word of God. Seeking to obey the commands of God and living a life of true worship in words and in deeds. The lack of love show up when we mistreat those we come in contact with, now showing them agape love and leading them to Christ. A congregation regains this love when it turns its complete faith and trust in the Savior and take the challenge to do our very best to live as Christ taught us.

The significance of the exalted Jesus walking among the lampstands tells us that Jesus is indeed in the midst of His Body, the Bride of Christ, the church. This teaches us that the church is of a major concern to Christ and we ought to revere His presence.

The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea because He stands as the soon returning King of Kings, who completed the work of redeeming the world while here on earth as the carpenter-teacher. The overall emotions isevoked by this vision of Jesus among the lampstands in the reader ought to be that of absolute awe of being in the presence of a Holy God. This is the stance that we should abide in continuously, because whether we realize it or not He is present with us always.

Today, many Christians are experiencing persecution in countries where Moselm is the dominant religion. For those Christians, they can be comforted in reading Revelation; for one, God has promised that any one who reads it will be blessed.

In verse eight (8) we are told that God our Father and Jesus Christ His Son are both eternal having no beginning and no end. The significance of this is that we can be assured that our Savior and Father are in harmony and are working to bring us safely home to be with them in heaven.

The theme of testimony and witness is important in Revelation as it is written to encourage and strengthen a church facing intense persecution. The authentication of the revelation presented is satified because the testimony and witness is Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus as the "faithful witness" (1:5) is supposed to encourage us because of His divine rulership over the earth. We are afraid to be clear witnesses in a culture where we aren't persecuted for fear that we will be persecuted for sharing the gospel in our circle.

God act as a Shepherd to Jacob because he led and directed him all the days of his life. God act as a Shepherd to me when He does the same for me as He did for Jacob. Many times I look back and can see the hand of God in circumstances of life. Daily I pray and commit my self and undertaking to Him for His leading and directing. I try to trust Him in everything.

We equate blessing with a lack of crisis in our lives because we chose to see the blessing as bringing good times in every aspect of life. Butin teaching His disciples, Jesus said, "... so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:45b (NASB). And yes, He also told the disciples that He came so that they may have abundant life, living life to the fullest, but we know that the Apostles and other followers of Christ suffered much persecution. As Believers we must live expecting the fight of the enemy. In John we are told that the thief, Satan, comes to kill, steal and destroy. He is after us to make our journey as unplesant as he can, but these bouts will strengthen our walk with God as we faithfully believe on and trust Him. As we remain faithful to our God He delivers us from the snares of the enemy and strengthens us. It is only when we fail to take everything to God, then we find ourselves weakening and the enemy steps in to take a strong hold. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you, and to all to be sober, watchful, and firm in the faith. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:7-1 (KJV).

Both Jacob and Joseph has suffered great loss. Jacob's loss included separation from his dearly beloved son Joseph. Joseph's loss included being separated from his father and brother Benjamin. Joseph's great injustice came by the hands of his brothers who sold him into slavery. He also suffered in justice when he was thrown into prison for an evil accusation. Jacob's vision is is yet to be fulfilled through his sons and his sons sons. Joseph is already seeing the fulfillment of his vision in his lifetime. For both Jacob and Joseph their faith in God sustained them, however, when it comes to fear the elder allowed his mind to reflect upon the many losses in his lifetime; Joseph young and fully trusting that God would fulfill His will in his life. This attitude of trusting God is what has kept Joseph from being bitter towards his brothers.