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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Amy Boucher Pye and are based on Revelation 1:9–20
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Daniel 7
1I, John... was on the island of Patmos... 2On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet...: 11“Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches...” 12When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man’.... 14The hair on his head was white like wool... and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged
sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery... is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Revelation 1:9-20 (abridged)
Sunday November 30 - Fellow sufferer
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and
patientendurancethatareoursinJesus... Revelation1:9
As we continue in the world of Revelation, I wonder how you’re feeling? This may be a book you adore, the mystery and majesty of the images pulsing through you, instilling love and devotion to our Lord Jesus. Or you might shy away from it, wondering about such things as sulphur or the horsemen of the apocalypse! Although we often need to chew over the text, asking the Holy Spirit for inspiration, we trust that through it God will impart to us his message of love and grace.
Of course, John documented the seven letters of Jesus and the vision he received for the original readers, those who were living amid great pressure. John’s words would have built up their faith and belief in Jesus as they faced persecution and oppression. Yet through God’s grace, Jesus intends these words to strengthen our own faith too.
Note how John names the suffering his readers face, while saying that he shares in it. Patmos, the island from which he wrote, was used as a sort of prison, a place where people were sent to do hard labour among the marble deposits found there. Many scholars assume that John had been arrested and was sent there as punishment. Even in these harsh conditions, God met him amazingly with the gift of a revelation that still strengthens and encourages us today.
Loving Lord Jesus, open my heart and mind to receive your words of truth and grace, that I might serve and honour you fully. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY