The woman represents Mary, the Israelites and the Church. Her child is Jesus Christ, our Messiah, and the dragon is Satan who misled a third of the angels (stars) and they were flung to the earth.

The dragon's attempt to devour the Child reminds us of Herod and the command to kill all the baby boys. But the Child is destined to rule with an iron scepter (a rule of power and authority) which points towards Christ's victorious resurrection. The "snatching up" refers to the Ascension.

The woman - now representing the church goes into the desert (a place of spiritual shelter) for 1260 which is three-and-a-half years which is half of seven and simply points out that the church goes through periods of trial and tribulation.

In the verses that follow we read that the Dragon and his followers go to war against the armies of heaven and are finally defeated...

So, here we have the story of the history of human-kind.
As John sees it, it all centres around the birth of the Christ-child and hinges on the Church.

While the Bethlehem-baby-in-a-manger narratives of Matthew and Luke are comforting to us, John's cosmic story reminds us of the high stakes and that the birth of Jesus is really really significant.

Maybe it is appropriate that we consider this passage on Ash Wednesday. It is a powerful reminder that Christmas, Lent and Easter are about a war. A war in which God gave His Son and established the Church. We go into Ash Wednesday cognisant that God went to war for us!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

Just a reminder... We are in the second act: the suffering church (4:1-8:1) John in the control room of heaven. Creation represented in the creatures and the throne is central. Worship features very strongly. The suffering of the church throughout history is explored and there are Seven Seals that are opened.

Suffering has been placed in perspective as we see that it is no-one less than the Lamb of God who opens the seals that represent suffering. We've already seen the horsemen of conflict, chaos, plague and famine each unleashed by an opened seal and now as the fifth seal is opened, we come face to face with the persecution of the church.

We tend to think that the persecution of the church is something that belongs to history, but the facts tell us that more Christians have been killed for their faith in the last 100 years than in the 1900 that came before. Today in North Africa and some other countries people take huge risks by becoming people of faith.

It's hard to think that God allows His church to be persecuted. In order to take the gospel into the corners of the world, the message must go even where it is not welcomed. In these unwelcoming corners, God's people pay a great price to live out the good news.

They are depicted as being in a privileged position - under the altar because their sacrifices are aligned to what Christ has done for us. In faith they cry out "How long?" and are given a white robe and encouraged to wait and endure.

The white robes represent blessedness, purity and belonging.

Persecution is a tough reality of the life of the church. It is OK for us to cry out "How Long?"
God doesn't always rescue us from persecution, but those who are persecuted are placed under the altar: They are very close to Jesus. They are robed in white because their suffering has brought them to a place of close dependence on God.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

Just a reminder... We are in the second act: the suffering church (4:1-8:1) John in the control room of heaven. Creation represented in the creatures and the throne is central. Worship features very strongly. The suffering of the church throughout history is explored and there are Seven Seals that are opened.

Suffering has been placed in perspective as we see that it is no-one less than the Lamb of God who opens the seals that represent suffering. We've already seen the horsemen of conflict, chaos, plague and famine each unleashed by an opened seal and now as the fifth seal is opened, we come face to face with the persecution of the church.

We tend to think that the persecution of the church is something that belongs to history, but the facts tell us that more Christians have been killed for their faith in the last 100 years than in the 1900 that came before. Today in North Africa and some other countries people take huge risks by becoming people of faith.

It's hard to think that God allows His church to be persecuted. In order to take the gospel into the corners of the world, the message must go even where it is not welcomed. In these unwelcoming corners, God's people pay a great price to live out the good news.

They are depicted as being in a privileged position - under the altar because their sacrifices are aligned to what Christ has done for us. In faith they cry out "How long?" and are given a white robe and encouraged to wait and endure.

The white robes represent blessedness, purity and belonging.

Persecution is a tough reality of the life of the church. It is OK for us to cry out "How Long?"
God doesn't always rescue us from persecution, but those who are persecuted are placed under the altar: They are very close to Jesus. They are robed in white because their suffering has brought them to a place of close dependence on God.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

Here in the opening of the seals we are offered a breath-taking and beautiful picture:
John is weeping because no-one can open the scroll - suffering is not something we can afford to be glib about. One doesn't want to stick cheap plaster on serious wounds. Whoever opens the seals can't be a lightweight.

Suffering is something we struggle with and whomsoever deigns to open the seals of suffering needs to have the necessary integrity, authority and comprehension of our struggle with the pain, violation and anguish that suffering causes us.

So who is capable enough to open the seals and the scroll??
Who has the credibility and integrity to open these tough seals of suffering in a worthy way??

John gets his answer: "'Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.' Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne."

Jesus is worthy to open the painful seals of suffering!
- He is the Lion of Judah who has taken on suffering and overcome
- He is the Lamb who was slain - He has tasted the worst of suffering
- He has sent the Holy Spirit ("seven spirits") into our hearts to comfort us.

Suffering is a theological, philosophical, and emotional heavyweight. We dare not risk cheap answers.
The good and beautiful news of Revelation is that Jesus our Champion takes on the heavyweight of suffering and, at great cost, overcomes and comforts you and me.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

Michael Wilcock*, in one of the best commentaries on Revelation that I have ever read, argues that John has written Revelation like a play with 8 Acts. Each act reviews the story of God's dealing with humanity from a certain perspective. To get the full picture, we need to put all the perspectives next to each other. Each of the eight Acts have 7 scenes/themes/symbols/motifs.

I have provided a rough breakdown of the Acts and Scenes below... but what is the point of all this technical stuff???
It's to show that Revelations is relevant whether we live in 1st century or the 21st.

We have already been challenged by the first Act which looks at the Church in the world. Although the seven letters were written to actual historical churches, we saw how relevant their struggles are to ours...

So, let's give thanks for John who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gave us an amazing set of pictures to help us grasp how God works in our world.
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Here are the eight Acts and their seven sub-divisions
1. The church in the world: 1:9-3:22
Describes the condition of the church in the world.
Seven Letters to Churches in Asia Minor.

2. The suffering church: 4:1-8:1
John in the control room of heaven. Creation represented in the creatures and the throne is central. Worship features very strongly. The suffering of the church throughout history is explored.
There are Seven Seals that are opened.

3. Warnings to the World: 8:2-11:18
Explores the warnings God gives to the evil world throughout history.
There are Seven Trumpets blown

4. Drama of History: 11:19-15:4
Shows what is going on in history: The coming of Christ, the growth of the church, the reality of the enemy: 2 Beasts
There are Seven Visions or Scenes.

5. Punishment of the World: 15:5-16:21
Shows how points in history come where evil-doers are so committed to their evil that they continue in it and must be brought down.
There are Seven Bowls of Wrath

6: Babylon the Whore: 17:1-19:10
This scene focusses in on the destruction of evil. Babylon represents evil and oppressive world systems throughout history.
There are Seven Words/Poems/Songs

7: The Drama Behind History 19:11-21:8
Shows what is going on behind history: Highlights the key players and events.
There are Seven Visions

8: Jerusalem the Bride 21:9-22:19
This is what lies beyond history. This is our hope.
The are Seven Revelations

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* Wilcock, M The Message of Revelation, Series: The Bible Speaks Today, J.W. Stott (Editor), IVP, 1975.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.(Rev5:9) Revelation4:11-5:9

The whole of Revelations chapter four is a description of God's throne in heaven. The One sitting on the throne shines like a jewel and an emerald-like rainbow encircles the throne. There are four living creatures who represent the whole of creation worshipping around the throne and there are twenty four elders who lay down their crowns before Him and say "You are worthy..."

After starting with the church and the call to "hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches, John now devotes a whole chapter to the idea that God is on the throne and should be worshipped.

Why is worship so important?
Because it is the best way to deal with the obvious reality:
God is _so_ big and _so_ good that to do anything other than worship would be an inadequate response.

John uses the word "worthy" in ch.4 and 5. In chapter four he argues that God is worthy of our praise because of creation. In chapter five he shows us that God is worthy of our praise because He alone was able to save us.

God is WORTHY: He created atoms, molecules, quarks and quasars. He lit the fires of the sun and spoke oceans and rivers into being. He paints sunsets and knits babies together in the womb. Whether we discover a universe in our microscopes or in our telescopes, we know it all comes from Him and when our jaws drop at the beauty of the mountains or the power of the tsunami, we recognise that the "Lord God made it all."

But there's more: He was slain! He entered our humanity and came to explain Himself to us in words and in actions that we were able to understand and then He let us crucify Him. There on the cross, He embraced our failure to worship and carried our resulting brokenness on Himself. Then He triumphed over that darkness and brought life to you and me.

Worship is celebrating God's "worth-ship" and John shows us that this just makes sense!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

The Lord Jesus writes them a tough letter: there is nothing positive about the church in Laodicea.
They are indifferent, inbetween, indecisive and ineffective: LUKEWARM.

It was in their successes that their failures lay.

They thought they were wealthy, clothed and of good-sight. But spiritually they were poor, naked and blind.

Jesus counsels them to get three things:
-Gold refined by fire - be willing to suffer for your faith
-White clothes - pursue righteousness rather than mediocrity
-Salve - Initially eye salve burns and so does facing up to the truth

Here's His challenge to them:
"19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

Materialism, comfort and independence are some of our greatest enemies. When we are not aware of our need for Christ, we tend to live our own lives, becoming indifferent, inbetween, indecisive and ineffective: LUKEWARM.

Let's remember that we were once poor, naked and blind and that in spite of our material comfort, we still desperately need Christ.
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Andre' Steenekamp sent me this stunning weblink that lets you look at pictures of these seven churches.
http://www.welcometohosanna.com/REVELATION/index.html

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

Jesus commends this congregation: Like the city, they have an open door of ministry in front of them and although they have little strength, they have kept and shared the faith in spite of strong opposition.

What does Jesus have to say to this enduring congregation?
- He is coming soon: the people in Philadelphia had learned to live in readiness for the persistent aftershocks. Jesus' coming will be as unexpected as the aftershocks and we should be ready.

- Hold on to what you have: So often we concentrate on what we don't have. Jesus isn't concerned about what we DON'T have. He would like us to use what we DO have. I hear many people say "I can't preach like so-and-so" or "I can't lead like such-and-such." But God asks us to use what we have. His gifts to us are our crowns if we use them to His glory!

- Overcomers are pillars: In Philadelphia, the frequent aftershocks meant that pillars were needed to strengthen the buildings. When your buildings were dodgy and the aftershock came, you would have to run out onto the street for safety. But overcomers are pillars and if your building has pillars you don't have to flee ("leave") to the open when the shaking comes!

Overcomers are those who recognise that Jesus is coming and use what they have to serve Him and He makes them pillars to His glory.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/