[Please join me in praying for our nation and world on Tuesdays this year.]
“Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:4-6 NIV)
Last weekend I finished reading the book of Revelation, the final book in my year-long travel through the Bible. As you probably know, Revelation is full of symbolism and fantastic scenes, most of whose meanings are debated. (In the things I researched, I sometimes wondered if all the commentators could agree on was that the book is one “Revelation” of John, not more than one “Revelations.”) I have always resonated with the scenes of worship in heaven in Revelation chapters 4, 5, and 21-22. I love coming across verses I have sung in various places, including “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our God” (Revelation 11:15 TPT) which is a modernized version of the King James translation used in the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah:
“Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” (Revelation 19, v.6);
“The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11, v.15)
“King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” (Revelation 19, v.16) *
Although I’ve read Revelation a handful of times, one thing that caught my attention was the difference in experience of the people marked by God verses the people who were marked by the enemy. The people marked by God were protected from some really rotten experiences. All the scary stuff in the book – horsemen, earthquakes, beasts, dragons, etc. – come for those who do not know God or have rejected him. In the end, though, God’s people are triumphant.
I heard a quote recently that said that before our enemy ever thought to come up with a new scheme to hurt us, God already had a countermeasure ready to go. The enemy can’t win in the end.
Today, let’s pray that God’s judgement will be poured out, that people will turn from sin, and that God will be exalted in our world.
Hallelujah! You, our Lord God Omnipotent reign over this world! You are king of kings and lord of lords; you reign forever and ever. Worthy are you to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice to purchase all people from the ravages of sin. Thank you for your Word and the reassurances it gives us. Thank you that all plans and schemes of the enemy of our souls are no match for your omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Thank you that your justice and judgement are perfect. Thank you for your hope, love, grace, and protection for those who seek you. We pray that those who currently choose someone other than Jesus Christ to be Lord of their lives will repent and turn to you as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Give them a hunger and a thirst for Truth, Justice, and Righteousness. We pray that your will would be done, and your Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17 NIV)
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:9-10, 12, 13 NIV)
*https://haventoday.org/blog/handels-messiah-lyrics-verse-references/