October 19, 2021 – Revelation 4-6

“After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!” (4:1) The Lord invites John into the heavenly places. The Lord is constantly opening doors and inviting us in. “Come in!” “Go there!” “Receive this!” He reaches out to us. He is a gracious and inviting God. Of course, as John is told what is yet to come, he also sees that God is holy, and he is eternal: “And the four living creatures . . . never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come’” (4:8). He is worthy of worship, and he has created all things (4:11).

John sees many other things: the scroll opened, the nations before the Lamb, the living creatures, the elders, and the horses and their riders and all else that was revealed with the breaking of the seals, and the martyrs robed in white, great judgment, and so much more. All these details are so important, but the details ultimately give testimony about the One who is orchestrating it all. When I read the book of Revelation and reflect on its title, I understand that it is the revelation of things to come. But, like the book of Acts, which, I think, should properly be entitled The Acts of Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit by Way of His Apostles (it tells the ongoing story of what the Savior accomplishes after his ascension), so maybe this last book might be entitled The Revelation of God through His Mighty Acts at the End of the Ages. That is, both books ultimately point to God, the One who is directing all of history for his purposes.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

and with fear and trembling stand.

Ponder nothing earthly minded,

for with blessing in his hand

Christ our God to earth descending

comes, our homage to demand. --Gerard Moultrie (1864)