At the centre...
On the penal colony on the island of Patmos, the Apostle John, who was imprisoned for spreading the gospel, had a vision of heaven. Some think it is a vision of the future, but that reduces and diminishes the incredible message of Revelation. The vision John saw wasn't merely of something that would happen one day far far far in the future. No, his vision is one that applies to the past, the present and future.It is a vision of how Christ overcomes evil and will ultimately put an end to it forever. The vision he had comforted the early Christians oppressed by the power of Rome. Throughout history, Revelation has comforted Christians who have been persecuted and it comforts those who are being persecuted today.
There are numerous visions in Revelation. The vision of the scroll with seven seals is a picture of suffering from the perspective of the throne-room of heaven. The beautiful moment in this vision is when John is weeping because there seems to be no-one who is able to open the 7 seals on the scroll that deals with the suffering of the church over the ages. Then there is great relief because Jesus appears as the Lamb who was slain who is able to open up the scroll of suffering.
So what does all of this have to do with thanksgiving?
Well, before John describes the scroll and how Jesus opens it, he describes heaven as the control room of history. In this control room we meet four strange creatures (who represent the earth) and 24 elders (who represent the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles - the faithful of the Old and New Testaments)
And what is their job? "To give glory, honour and thanks to God."
As we draw our series on Thanks-giving to an end, let's pause with this image in our minds: In the control room of heaven, where even our suffering is seen, there is ongoing praise and thanks-giving. Why? Because the scroll of our suffering is opened by none less than Jesus, the Lamb of God, who hung on the cross and defeated sin, death and Satan.
For this we GIVE THANKS!
| In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, |
(With this series completed, I'll be taking a small break for a day or two...)
