Revelation (Written)

Thursday, 15 October 2020

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. Revelation 3:15

Here, the Lord is using an analogy of what would be completely understandable to the people in the church of Laodicea. From his commentary on the book of Revelation, Jack Kelly says the following –

“The church in Laodicea receives no commendation, only this criticism, rich in symbolic sarcasm. Laodicea got its water from nearby Heiropolis, a hot spring resort that still flourishes today, now called Pamukkale. The water came across the valley in an open aqueduct. Having begun its journey fresh from the hot springs, it was luke warm by the time it arrived. Too cool to be used for cleaning or bathing, and too warm to be refreshing, it was unfit for use until it could be either heated up or cooled down. The fire of the Spirit had gone from the Church in Laodicea leaving its members engaged in “form without substance” ritual. Not that they minded. They were happy as clams with their no commitment, no responsibility religion. So it is in much of the emergent church today. They look like a church and do some things that a church does, but you won’t detect the power of the Holy Spirit there and the gospel of our salvation is only obvious by its absence. Even though their congregations are often large and well financed, their spiritual condition is one of poverty.”

Understanding this typology, the Lord begins with, “I know your works.” He again repeats what He has stated to all six of the previous churches. Like an attentive administrator in a company, or like the observant general among his troops, so is Christ among His churches. He walks among the lampstands and observes all that occurs among His people. In the case of Laodicea, He says, “that you are neither cold nor hot.”

Like the lukewarm water that flowed into their city, they were not on fire for the Lord, nor were they completely dead to the things of religion as if living their lives like the somnambulant masses. Instead, they were in a state of tepidity, unable to find footing in what is right concerning the faith, or what is wrong in a complete rejection of the faith. Because of this, the Lord next says, “I could wish you were cold or hot.”

The words here, at first, seem contradictory to what one might expect. It is true that the Lord would want His people to be hot – on fire for Him and for the sharing of His gospel. But why would he wish they were cold? The answer is well explained by the scholar Alford –

“This as well as the opposite state of spiritual fervor, would be an intelligible and plainly-marked condition; at all events free from the danger of mixed motive and disregarded principle which belongs to the lukewarm state: inasmuch as a man in earnest, be he right or wrong, is ever a better man than one professing what he does not feel.”

In other words, the Lord looks to judgment upon those who reject Him outright as less burdensome than pronouncing judgment upon those who claim to know Him and yet have no heart for Him. It gives the sense of, “If only they realized the horrors which await them, even they who claim to know Me.” His remark then is not because the burden is greater upon Him, but because it is greater upon them. He could wish that it would not be so.

And the same is true with those who are, in fact, saved but who are only warm in their pursuit of Him. They (the saved but lukewarm) will stand before Him at the Bema Seat and expect great rewards because of their wealth and secure state in this life. And yet, they will find that they will receive nothing of honor or reward. It too will be burdensome upon them. Their hearts will surely say, “Oh! How I squandered my years that could have been spent reaching others for the cause of this glorious God before whom I now stand.”

The word translated as “hot” is zestos. One can see the etymological root of the word zest in it. When something is zesty, it is spicy and even hot – such as with chili peppers added into a meal. In the case of the word zestos, it signifies “boiling hot,” coming from the word zeó. It is an onomatopoetic expression where the sound of the word reflects what is happening. As water boils, it bubbles – zeó, zeó, zeó, or as we would say today, “bubble, bubble, bubble.” The Lord would wish this for them.

The word translated as “cold” is psuchros. It is found only in Matthew 10:42 and then three times here in Revelation 3. In the use of Matthew 10, it is referring to the giving of a cup of cold water to a child. This would be to refresh him. Thus, the analogy by Alford (above) could be incorrect, and the Lord could be saying that He wishes the people were refreshing to those around them. However, the word is ultimately derived from the verb psuchó, which is found only in Matthew 24:12. There, it speaks of the love of most growing cold. This may be the sense that is given by the Lord at this time. Being dogmatic on this, however, might not be the best case. Being cold, as in “refreshing,” may be what is intended. Either way, the Lord finds the lukewarm state of Laodicea intolerable.

Life application: As noted above, Jesus starts His condemnation with a metaphor that they would be completely aware of. Two other cities were nearby to Laodicea. The first was Hierapolis, a city with hot springs that would have been a tourist attraction. They would use the water for health spas and in other relaxing ways. The other city was Colossae (also known as Barclay) which was renowned for its pure cool water. Archaeological finds show that there was an aqueduct that carried the water from the hot mineral springs to Laodicea which was about 5 miles away. By the time this water got there, it would have been tepid. It also would have been hard water.

As you can see, the picture here is that just as the water they had was blah and unpalatable, so were the people in the congregation. Hot water has its usefulness and cold does too, but the tepid water was comparatively disgusting. This is exactly how Jesus saw the church in Laodicea – disgusting.

This is a lesson and a warning to all of us. Jesus wishes for us to be either hot or cold. Those who are on fire for Him will receive a great reward and those who are cold will receive their just condemnation. On the other hand, those who are regenerated by the Spirit, but who are unwilling to act like it, are a hindrance to the cause of Christ. Their lives in Christ are wasted and there will be no reward for works. What a waste of the victory Jesus wrought on their behalf!

Lord, we often get lukewarm about our Christian lives and we know this is displeasing to You. Please rekindle the spark in our souls and bring us back to the place we should be…burning with the fire of the Spirit and bringing great honor and glory to You. We pray this so that You will be praised among the people that we interact with. Amen.

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: Revelation 3:14

We now come to the final letter addressed to the seven churches. As with all of the other letters, it is addressed “to the angel of the church.” This speaks of the leader of the church, not an angelic being. He is the leader (angel) “of the church of the Laodiceans.”

The name Laodicea comes from two separate Greek words, laos which is a gathering of people, normally of the same stock and language, and dike (pronounced deekay) which is translated elsewhere in the New Testament as “judgment,” “vengeance,” and “punish.” It is associated with a judicial hearing or decision which especially contains a sentence of condemnation. What a fitting name for the words which will come from the Risen Lord.

Of this location, Laodicea, Charles Ellicott gives us the following insights –

(14) Laodicea.—Situated half way between Philadelphia and Colossae, and not far from Hierapolis. It received its name from Laodice, wife of Antiochus the second king of Syria, by whom it was rebuilt and beautified. It had borne in earlier times the names of Diospolis and afterwards Rhoas. It shared with Thyatira and Sardis in the dye trade; the woods grown in the neighbourhood were famous for their quality and the rich blackness of their colour. Prosperity in trade had so enriched the population that when their city suffered in the great earthquake (A.D. 60) they were able to carry on the work of rebuilding without applying, as many of the neighbouring towns were compelled to do, to the Imperial Treasury for aid. The language of St. Paul (Colossians 1:5-8) suggests that the churches of Colossae and the neighbourhood first received Christianity from the preaching of Epaphras, though it seems strange that so important a city, lying hard upon the great Roman road from Ephesus to the east, should have been passed over by St. Paul in his journeyings throughout Phrygia (see Acts 16:6; Acts 18:23); yet, on the other hand, Phrygia was a vague term, and the language of Colossians 2:1 is most generally understood to imply that the Apostle had never personally visited either Colossae or Laodicea. (… Colossians 2:1.) But it was a Church in which St. Paul took the deepest possible interest; the believers there were constantly in his mind. He knew their special temptations to the worship of inferior mediators, and to spiritual paralysis springing from wordly prosperity and intellectual pride. He had great heart-conflict for those of Laodicea (Colossians 3:1), and in proof of his earnest solicitude he addressed a letter to them (Colossians 4:16), in all probability the epistle we call the Epistle to the Ephesians. From the Epistle to the Colossians we may gather that when St. Paul wrote the Christians at Laodicea assembled for worship in the house of Nymphas (Colossians 4:15) probably under the presidency of Archippus (Revelation 3:17).

It is to this church in Laodicea that John is instructed to “write.” Jesus’ words are spoken to John in his vision, and he is to then transmit the Lord’s words to the church, saying, “These things says the Amen.” This is a title only here ascribed to Jesus as a proper name. However, it is another confirmation that He is Yehovah incarnate.

The phrase is taken from Isaiah 65:16 which twice says concerning Yehovah, b’elohe amen, or “in the God of Amen.” Of this, Vincent’s Word Studies rightly notes, “The term applied to the Lord signifies that He Himself is the fulfillment of all that God has spoken to the churches.” The term not only speaks of what Christ says, but of who He is. He is the embodiment of the truth, and, therefore, everything He speaks is the truth. In this, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown then reconfirms the deity of Christ by saying –

“The saints used Amen at the end of prayer, or in assenting to the word of God; but none, save the Son of God, ever said, ‘Amen, I say unto you,’ for it is the language peculiar to God, who avers by Himself. The New Testament formula, ‘Amen. I say unto you,’ is equivalent to the Old Testament formula, ‘as I live, saith Jehovah.’”

This title, the Amen, is given now to contrast the character of those in Laodicea where it will say, “that you are neither cold nor hot.” The Amen is firm, fixed, and unwavering. But to be neither hot nor cold is vacillating at best, and totally uncommitted in any important way at all.

To bolster this marvelous title, the Amen, the Lord next says, “the Faithful and True Witness.” The term ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστός, or “the Witness the Faithful,” is repeated from verse 1:5. To this is added καὶ ὁ ἀληθινός, or “and the True.” Being the Faithful Witness refers to Christ’s testimony, but especially his death. The word martus, or “witness,” is where our word “martyr” comes from. When standing before Pilate, Jesus said –

 “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37

John understood that Christ’s life, even to the point of death, was a witness to God’s plan of redemption that had been promised since the very fall of man. Christ Jesus faithfully accomplished His work. In doing so, and without sinning during the process, He became the firstborn from the dead as noted in verse 1:5. Along with this, the term “the True” isn’t referring to the speaking out of truth. Rather, it conveys the sense of true as a witness. Everything that embodies Christ as a witness is the absolute truth of God.

Finally, in this verse, Jesus says He is “the Beginning of the creation of God.” The word is archē. It does not indicate being a part of creation, but rather He is the Beginner of the creation. He is not a caused part of creation, but rather the principality behind the creative effort. He is thus the Lord over creation. This is seen, for example, in John 1:1-3. In Colossians 1:15, He is called the prōtotokos, or “firstborn,” over all of creation. It is He who possesses life which is self-existent, meaning without dependency on anything else.

Life application: Laodicea is mentioned last and it certainly fits the state of many churches in the world today, just as it has been true at other points in church history as well. As such, it is fitting that we should take the words from the Lord to heart and carefully contemplate what is being said. There are no words of commendation given in this letter. The church is wealthy, arrogant, and dead in its own self-satisfaction.

As noted, “Amen” is a word spoken to indicate security, soundness, reliability, and complete assurance – all things which are lacking in this corrupt church. As the “Faithful and True Witness,” He testifies to His own nature, needing nothing to be added to it.

In both testaments, the “testimony of two or three witnesses” establishes a matter. But Jesus testifies to Himself because He is the second member of the eternal Godhead; He is complete in and of Himself. His witness therefore testifies to His gospel upon which the faithful can peacefully rest. And His faithfulness means that He is true, and His word is true. They can be fully relied upon.

As He the First Cause of the creation, He is the sovereign Ruler of it. He is the Lord, Yehovah, revealed in His fullness. He was, and is, and ever will be. He is unchanging and immutable. He is the initiator of all things and He is the One who will bring all things to their satisfactory completion. In the Risen Lord, we serve the eternal and glorious manifestation of God. He is Jesus.

Oh Lord Jesus! The thought of You and Your greatness fills our souls with joy. We know that we can trust completely and wholeheartedly in You. You are ever faithful and ever true, and Your glory fills the earth as the waters cover the sea. Praises belong to You, now and forever! Amen.

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:13

Again, as with the previous churches, the Lord calls out for those of the church (and thus all who will hear during the church age) to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” But in order to hear, they must have an ear, meaning an ear willing to listen. Like the fourth and fifth churches, this call comes at the very end of this letter to Philadelphia.

Nothing negative was conveyed to those at Philadelphia, and great promises were given to them. This was highlighted in the words, “I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Great spiritual blessings are promised to those who overcome as well, just like all of the churches.

The Lord is perfectly fair in His dealings with all people – in how He metes out punishment and in how He hands out rewards.

Life application: This is the sixth of seven times that the Lord repeats this advice – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Hearing, in these cases, implies more than just sound going into the ear and causing the little ear-bones to resonate. It implies understanding leading to faith and faith leading to obedience. Hearing without acting upon Jesus’ words would be no different than smelling a gas leak in the house and lighting up a burner on the stove anyway. When the stove is lit, you will find yourself making an unanticipated and forced exit through the kitchen window and out of the house.

In the same way, there are people in the seven churches, and in all churches since, who have heard the words of the Bible that were given through the Spirit, but who will find themselves unexpectedly, and against their will, tossed into “outer darkness” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The question for each of us as we read these verses is, “Have I read and thought through the admonition given to these churches?”

Are you in a church that condones homosexuality, even from the pulpit? Are you in a church that is doing “good stuff” for people without giving Jesus the credit? Are you in a church that has idols that people service in one way or another? These things have been addressed in the first six letters and Jesus does not tolerate them.

It is time to really evaluate where we stand and take to heart what the Spirit is saying. We have one more letter to go, and then we will be off of the subject of the state of the churches. When Jesus returns, if you haven’t taken to heart what has been relayed to you, then why should He return for you? He is coming, and when He does, may He find each of us ready for that unexpected and sudden moment.

O God, turn our hearts to the voice of Your Spirit as it speaks to us through Your word. Help us to be attentive to what is said, and to be obedient to the words we have been given. May we faithfully act upon them. May You receive the glory You are due as we live our lives in Your presence each moment. To Your praise and honor we pray. Amen.

Monday, 12 October 2020

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. Revelation 3:12

The Lord, still speaking to the church at Philadelphia, now relays the honors to be anticipated for the one who overcomes. As He says, “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.”

As previously noted, to “overcome” is to believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ. When one is saved through belief in this good news, he has overcome. The Greek, as before, is a present participle – the overcoming. It is a continuous process until the end of the church age. Whoever overcomes is included in the promise. Such a person then will become a fixed and immovable part of the building that God is erecting.

This edifice is referred to by both Paul and Peter with various other terminology –

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4, 5

Such terminology is used of both Jew and Gentile, again demonstrating the lunacy of the doctrine of hyperdispensationalism which speaks of two gospels – one for the Jew and one for the Gentile. The promises to both are united in Christ.

Jesus’ promise here of being made a pillar speaks of permanency and that which is immovable. This is seen in both testaments. When the Lord spoke to Jeremiah, He said –

“For behold, I have made you this day
A fortified city and an iron pillar,
And bronze walls against the whole land—
Against the kings of Judah,
Against its princes,
Against its priests,
And against the people of the land.” Jeremiah 1:18

Paul speaks of the apostles as being “pillars” in Galatians 2. Pillars uphold and establish a temple through their strength and support. Next, the Lord says, “and he shall go out no more.” The Greek is emphatic, reading more precisely, “and out no not shall he go anymore.”

To the one who has overcome the Lord gives this promise that he has, in fact, overcome. In other words, the deal is done. This is a note, once again, of eternal salvation. In overcoming, he is made a pillar, and he is forever secure within the edifice God is erecting. Again, the act of overcoming for the individual is in this life. It is based on belief in Christ, and its effects are eternal. Of this, Jesus says, “I will write on him the name of My God.”

What this is referring to is debated. However, the “name of My God” is certainly the divine name of the Lord – YHVH. This was the inscription placed upon the one who was high priest in Israel as is recorded in Exodus –

“You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet:

HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

³⁷ And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban. ³⁸ So it shall be on Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.” Exodus 28:36-38

Having the name of God written upon someone signifies ownership, rule, authority, and so on. Adam was given the right to name the animals, signifying that he had authority over them. When the city of Rabah was about to be taken, Joab called for David to come and complete the battle –

“Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city. ²⁷ And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, ‘I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city’s water supply. ²⁸ Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.’ ²⁹ So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it.” 2 Samuel 12:26-29

Those who overcome will be called after the name of Yehovah. They will be forever under his ownership and rule. Next, Jesus says, “and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem.” Just as Rabbah was to be named after David because David prevailed in the battle, so those who are the Lord’s will be named after the city of the Lord, being recognized as belonging to that city. This is reflected in the 87^th Psalm –

“And of Zion it will be said,
‘This one and that one were born in her;
And the Most High Himself shall establish her.’
⁶ The Lord will record,
When He registers the peoples:
‘This one was born there.’ Selah” Psalm 87:5, 6

Those who overcome are born again of God. They are born into the city of God. And, they are named after that city and under His rule and authority. With this in mind, Jesus continues with, “which comes down out of heaven from My God.”

The same idea is expressed in Revelation 21:2 and 21:10. The idea is that New Jerusalem is of heavenly origin. Its source is from God, and thus it is holy, pure, and undefiled. Those who enter it are likewise holy, pure, and undefiled because of the work of Jesus Christ. The corruptible state in which we exist will be changed to that which is incorruptible. In this, there will be a reuniting of man with God in a state which cannot exist at this time.

To show a contrast between the earthly Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem, in the book of John, the Greek form of the name is used, Hierosoluma. However, in Revelation, the form transliterated from the Hebrew is used, Ierousalém. Thus, John is making a noticeable distinction between the two.

Finally, the Lord speaks out one more promise in this verse, saying, “And I will write on him My new name.” What this name is can only be speculated on. In Revelation 19, it says –

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.”  Revelation 19:11, 12

The name “Jesus,” or Yeshua, means “Salvation.” That is derived from Yehoshua (Joshua), meaning Yah (short for Yehovah) Saves. This is what Christ came to do. He came to save His people. The new name will reflect something of the nature of Christ that will be understood by His people when it is inscribed upon them.

In this, there is a threefold naming of the one who overcomes: 1) The name of God, 2) the name of the New Jerusalem, and 3) the new name of the Lord. Thus, there is the total possession of the person by God – complete and full restoration of what was lost in the fall. There is granted eternal citizenship in the city of God. And, there is the connection to the eternal glory of Christ in a relationship that is not yet comprehended by the people of God.

Life application: The word for “temple” in this verse is the word naos. Elsewhere, it refers to the temple in Jerusalem, but specifically to the sanctuary itself. Jesus equates this temple with Himself in John 2:21. Then in Paul’s writings, he says that when we call on Jesus, we become such a temple. This is because the Holy Spirit resides in us. Paul then says that the members of the church are being built into a temple of the Lord. All of this shows the progression of what has been and what will be.

This verse is telling us of the great glory to come which will be bestowed on the believer. We will eternally be in the very presence of God, in the Most Holy Place. It will be a permanent state, but it is one already realized in God’s mind because of our acceptance of what Christ has done for us.

This is clearly reflected in the words of Paul –

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:16, 17

What God has done for us in Christ is a done deal when we believe. Don’t let anyone rob your joy by saying you can lose your salvation. If this were true, your salvation would be up to you, not to the Lord. Think clearly, be reasonable, and have assurance that God saved you and continues to save you, despite your failings.

Lord, the honors which You have promised to Your faithful are grander and more glorious than we can imagine. We are undeserving of Your honor and only deserving of Your wrath, but You promise to crown us with eternal riches and glory. How can we but praise You! Amen.

Sunday, 11 October 2020

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Revelation 3:11

Jesus, as He has previously stated, poignantly remarks, “Behold, I am coming quickly.” As before, the word translated as “quickly” signifies “without delay.” That can mean “soon,” or it can mean “suddenly.” The Lord will come at the appropriate time, and when He comes, it will be sudden. Those who are not prepared for it will suffer the loss of what the visit anticipates. With that in mind, He next says, “Hold fast what you have.”

This is referring to what was just said in verses 8 and 10. They have kept His word, they have not denied His name, and they have kept His command to persevere. They are to hold fast to such things and remain steadfast as a church. The reason for this is so “that no one may take your crown.”

In verse 2:10, Jesus said, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Whether the reference in this verse is to the crown of life (see also James 1:12) or not remains unstated. Elsewhere, Paul speaks of a crown of righteousness, a crown of rejoicing, and an imperishable crown. Peter speaks of a crown of glory that does not fade away. Because the crown’s purpose here is undefined, it can be assumed that Jesus is speaking in a general way about an honor that is conveyed, and yet one which may be lost.

How this would be lost is probably defined in Colossians 2:18, 19 –

“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, ¹⁹ and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”

In other words, this is not saying that the crown would transfer from one person to another. Rather, it means that the crown is stolen away from the one to whom it was anticipated would receive it. It is not a crown that is already possessed, but rather a crown which could be possessed if the person remained faithful.

As Jesus’ words in this verse are in the second person singular, He is talking to the church as a whole. Thus, this is not speaking of individual loss of salvation. Rather, it is referring to a loss of what could be obtained by any given member of the church. This is certain based on the note of those who overcome presented in the next verse.

Life application: The church in Philadelphia had “a little strength,” but they still held fast to the truth of the gospel and the message of Jesus Christ. In this verse, Jesus says, “I am coming quickly.” We as Christians are not to miss this fact.

A haphazard attitude toward our faith will only result in sadness. When the Lord returns for the church, it will be in the “twinkling of an eye.” Whether you believe this or not, or whether you accept the premise of the rapture or not, it is what the Bible teaches. We all have our warning and none of us can say we just didn’t know, or we needed a little bit more time.

The areas of the Bible we struggle with are no excuse for being lax in what we do understand. Therefore, Jesus asks us to “hold fast” to what we have. The areas that we are performing well in are areas we need to shore up for the long haul because we don’t know the day of the Lord’s return. If we do hold fast, we can be sure that no one will take our anticipated crown.

Whatever is promised to all can be obtained by each. When it is obtained, it belongs to that person forever. However, for those who fail to receive it, that anticipated crown will be taken from him.

Lord Jesus, of all the things we look forward to in our walk, nothing is more precious than knowing that You came to restore us to life and that You are coming again to grant that life. We love the thought of Your appearing and it is the joy that carries us through this world of trials and grief. We simply can’t wait to be in Your presence! Amen.