His Whisperings

15 “That is why they stand in front of God’s throne
and serve him day and night in his Temple.
And he who sits on the throne
will give them shelter.
16 They will never again be hungry or thirsty;
they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.
17 For the Lamb on the throne[c]
will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

–Revelation 7:13-17 (NLT)

How might worship be different at the end of the age than it is for us today? I read about the angels and these who are clothed in white praising God day and night and wonder. We get restless sitting in our pews for an hour and struggle with dozing off.

Consider the elders answer to who these dressed in white were – those who died during the tribulation, the ones who have been through the worst scenario of all times yet held tight to their faith in God. They understand fully what it means to trust in God and to find deliverance. How do our struggles compare with what has been promised for the tribulation? Like a drop in a bucket maybe?

Maybe our faltering worship attempts are the result of our persistence in staying in our comfort zones and not stepping out in faith in areas where we must put our trust in God.

Our Shepherd is forever faithful to us. May we be faithful to him with a heart of continual thanksgiving and praise.

12 I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places.

15 Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

–Revelation 6:12-17 (NLT)

I don’t like to dwell on “hell fire and brimstone” topics because so many use them in the wrong way – to scare people into believing in God. Likewise I didn’t pick this scripture out for today, it is simply next in the “Uniform Series” that is used by so many different denominations.

But I don’t have to apologize for it either. God saw fit to include it in his Word. So here it is… What do we do with it?

It is no coincidence that it is at the back of the book – like the end of any good book, it tells the end of the story. We may not like how it ends, but maybe that’s why we aren’t God – nor should we want to be.

There is a continuous story that begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation that tells how God has sought to reveal himself to man, beginning with face-to-face revelation with Adam and Eve (who blew that for us all), then through many special leaders and prophets, and ultimately through Christ Jesus, his Son.

God is willing to put up with man’s rejection only so long. He has shown us a better way and is giving us these thousands of years to get it and to embrace it. But the time is coming when he is going to wipe out those who insist on messing it all up. Then he will repair the damage and will bring heaven on earth. Oh glorious day!!!