the prophet

We Christians, like even the secular non-believers, sometimes like to think of God as a benevolent dictator, someone who, because He is pure goodness, could only have good things in store for good people. Although God is Holy, He sent His son into the world for a purpose--the purpose of saving fallen man. Since the fall into sin, mankind has needed a Savior from our sins. There is a Heaven but there is just as certainly a hell and God, in His love, wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Eternal punishment is a just punishment for those who have heard the Gospel but have not responded in faith. Jesus gave us the Great Commission also so that we, His family of believers, can get the word out to all the lost before it is too late.

. The "woman" about to give birth appears to be the church or the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints. We are "about to give birth" in the sense that we are receiving eternal life through the sufferings and death of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. We receive this through faith, created in our heats by the Holy Spirit. The "dragon" comes and tries to deceive us and take away our salvation but the battle between our sinful flesh, Satan,and the world, on the one hand; and Christ, on the other; will result in a victory for Christ. The "birth" is also the literal birth of Christ, attacked by Satan from the beginning, when Herod tried killing Jesus by killing all the firstborn sons in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth. He failed again as an angel came and warned Joseph and Mary of the danger. Later Satan tried attacking Him through the threefold temptation in the wildernes after Jesus 40 days of fasting at the beginning of His three year ministry. Once again Jesus was victorious using Scripture to fight off the attacks. In so doing, Jesus showed all Christians for all times how to avoid the enemy. From His entry into the world through birth, to his departure during Passion Week even to his final breaths on the cross, Jesus was under attack. Love conquered as Jesus only had words of love and pleas of forgiveness from the Heavenly Father even for those in the very act of putting Him to death and causing Him some of the worst suffering anyone has ever had to endure. In the end times, also, Jesus and His angels will be victorious and we all will do well to hold to our faith, thus clinging tight to eternal life through Christ. We have all the same victories Christ won, through our faith in Christ.

I Peter 2:9 has told us we are a "chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God." Our membership in the body of Christ makes us joint heirs with Him and the saints in Heaven. We are the spiritual descendants of the lion of the tribe of Judah. Another passage says we are more than conquerors through Christ. How do we serve as priests? We intercede between God and others at times. We bring "offerings" (prayers, requests, confessions, petitions for forgiveness) before God. In what sens are we a kingdom? God is our king; therefore, we are destined for heaven, to rule with Him and serve before Him in Paradise.

Jesus was worthy to open the scroll because He is the Messiah, the promised one, the one who fulfilled all the prophecies. He is the one promised since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. He was the one promised to crush the serpent's head. Opening the seals involves the beginning of the punishment for the enemy and his minions so only Christ can and should be the one to do it. It is fitting that the one who suffered and died and rose again, bringing salvation to all who believe, whojld be the one who also brings death to all the enemies of the gospel.

I haven't sung from hymnals much in awhile. From the Lutheran hymnal I used to use, however, I found: All Praise to God Who Reigns Above; Oh,Bless the Lord, my Soul; Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise; I echo the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God, from Latin);also, the Sanctus says "Holy, holy, holy..." directly comes from Revelation 4, it appears.

Many churches get caught up in the religion aspect of the church--the rituals and tradition and externals. They may be blinded by the social aspect, by the beautiful building, or other elements that are only the visible trappings of the church. The real church is inside of each member's heart--the invisible Christian Church, where the Holy Spirit dwells and makes his presence felt. James says our faith must be an active faith, showing fruits of faith, acts of Christian love and kindness. To prevent apathy Christians must get involved and not become complacent in their faith, merely attending church once a week. The most vibrant and alive churches will mirror the early Christian church depicted in Acts where people also met during the week, shared in each others' joys and sorrows, and gave generously of their time and talents. God wants daily visible involvement from His church members, just as, in the Old Testament, He received daily offerings and sacrifices. We should be bold about our faith also and look for opportunities to share our faith with the world.