Give me Revelation - Day 12 of Lent

I know that yesterday I said that I was not going to be posting about my Lent journey everyday but I just had to share something with you. Today, I read Revelation (sticking with my John books from the previous days) and, wow, what a book. You know Revelation is one of those books that to be perfectly honest you read (particularly as a pastor) when you are wanting to preach about the lukewarm church or else you are doing a study of the end times. As such you read it trying to pick apart all of the beasts and dragons and lake of fire. You try to figure out who is who and what represents what. And perhaps what we really look for is "signs of the time."

However, as I sat down and simply read it straight through not concerning myself with if I fully understood all of the imagery and time line, I found myself pulled into a wonderful story. I remember years ago hearing someone say that we in America often read the book of Revelation and focus on the tribulations, while people in the Soviet Union (again this was years ago that I heard this) when given the opportunity to read the book do so with a focus on the hope of which the book speaks. That's what I saw this morning. Sure the book has plenty of tribulation, plenty of destruction, death, and horrifying images but what is really there is the triumph of the Lord. What is spoken of by John with grand and magnificent words, almost beyond his own ability to describe is the glory of God.

"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." Revelation 22:17

Come. Drink. Glory in Him.

In His grace, for His glory,
John.