Constantly in the presence of God

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Constantly in the presence of God

December 10, 2023 • David Picken • Revelation 7

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Read: Revelation 7 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

‘They cried out in a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’’ Revelation 7:10

Cathy and I were watching a TV drama the other day. It involved a depiction of heaven and hell. We were commenting that people find it easier to portray hell, however inaccurate that may be. The idea of fire, eternal torment, shame seems to come relatively easily to us. Heaven is a rather different matter.

In today’s passage we see a depiction of the gathering of the people of God in heaven. It may give us a clue as to why people find it difficult sometimes to see heaven in dramatic form. The truth is that when in eternity the whole people of God are gathered it will be a glorious time and we will experience the full beauty and the benefit of salvation. We often talk about heaven as being a time of worshipping God, day and night for eternity as is stated in this passage. The trouble is that is limited by our own experience of worship here on earth. No doubt, in truth, like me you have seen worship at its most beautiful and uplifting and bluntly, somewhat dreary, so that may not help to have an idea of what worship in heaven is like.

We will always be limited in our understanding of what heaven will be like by our own limited expectation and experience of life on earth. What we really need to know is that heaven is, as the passage says, to be constantly in the presence of God in the fullness of that sense. However much in this life we may experience God as a daily reality we are also hampered by life’s difficult experiences and even the mundane ones. The promise of eternity is of a promise of a people constantly caught up in the reality of all that is good, of all that is beautiful, of all that is uplifting about their experience on earth and so much more. It is in the end the limitation of our own experience and imagination that will make us unsure about the promise of heaven.

Today, let us give thanks for the promise of the great gift of eternity that will surpass any understanding that we currently have. To know the gift of salvation and the hope of life spent in the glorious reality that we see promised in Jesus is as much as we could possibly hope for and desire.

Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you for the gift and promise of resurrection and we look forward with confident hope to sharing eternal joy with you. Amen.

The Venerable David Picken, Archdeacon of Lancaster.

FOREWORD

Ian Paul

'I think I’m quite ready for another adventure!’ So says Bilbo Baggins as he boards the ship at the Grey Havens, on his way to the Undying Lands. Many Christians feel a little nervous about the adventure of reading this book. So here are my suggestions for getting the most out of these studies. 1. Be curious Whenever we open the Bible, we are (in Augustine’s words) reading a love letter from home. But this home of ours is another country, so we are also at the same time going on a cross-cultural adventure. The Bible was written in another language by people from another time and place, with different habits, cultures, and expectations from us. This is especially so with the Book of Revelation, which is ‘strange’ to us in all sorts of ways. So we need to be curious as we embark on this adventure, ready to learn of its strange ways, and open to hearing what God might say to us on the journey. 2. Be careful When you travel to another country, you need to learn its customs, ways of doing things, and ways of speaking, if you want to avoid misunderstanding or causing offence. There is a widespread vacuum of understanding about some important aspects of this book (such as the way it uses numbers), and vacuums always collect rubbish! We therefore need to exercise a historically disciplined imagination as we read. Many popular interpretations of Revelation are simply not possible, as they could not have been what John intended to communicate to his first audience, and we need to attend to such questions. 3. Be confident And yet, as Rev 1:3 makes clear, we are not on our own as we read. Scripture is not so much a gift to each of us as individuals (though it is that)—it is primarily a gift from God to His people. So we are reading in good company, of those around us, of those who have had time to explore the difficult issues, and those who have gone before us. Paul tells us that all Scripture is profitable to help us grow in faith—and Revelation is part of those Scriptures! So be assured that God will speak to us through this part of His word to us as we read faithfully—as we set out on this adventure together. The Revd Dr Ian Paul, Adjunct Professor of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary. Images: Cover: Unknown Artist, Christ in Majesty, 1025–1050. http://www.getty.edu Foreward: Duccio di Buoninsegna, The Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, 1308-1311. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Devotion for Monday 25th December: Master of Imola, The Nativity with Six Dominican Monks, 1265/1274. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Patiently endure

December 3, 2023 • Mark Ireland • Revelation 1

Press 'more' to read the daily devotion... Read Revelation 1 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘Suffering and kingdom and patient endurance’ Revelation 1:9 (NIV) This phrase reminds me of my honeymoon! Gill and I spent the last weekend of our honeymoon in London, and I took her to an Anglican church with a strong reputation for Biblical preaching. The sermon was on Revelation 1 and the preacher spent half an hour explaining that suffering, kingdom and patient endurance were hallmarks of the Christian life. I spent the sermon quietly hoping that my new bride wasn’t taking this as a warning of things to come! John, the author of Revelation, had been exiled to the lonely island of Patmos (v.9) by the Roman authorities because of his testimony to Jesus. When John met the risen Jesus in a vision (v.13) he was given a message that related to events in the first century, ‘to show what must soon take place’ (v.1). He was writing to encourage seven local churches to keep the faith in a time of persecution ‘for the time is near’ (v.3) and to show patient endurance for the sake of the kingdom of Christ. The seven churches listed in verse 11 were in a small area of what today would be western Turkey. Interestingly, the order in which the cities are listed is exactly the order that the carrier of the letter would visit them in, following a circular route along the trade routes of the time. So as we embark on reading the book of Revelation let’s first try to imagine what this message would have meant to these young churches under threat of persecution. As we do so let’s realise that these words are deeply relevant for today too, for ‘suffering, kingdom and patient endurance’ have been the lived experience of faithful disciples of Jesus in every generation since the first century. Suffering and persecution are signs of a world that is not yet fully under the rule of Christ. But God’s kingdom continues to break into this world, and local churches are called to be signs and agents of God’s kingdom in their communities. Let us pray: Lord Jesus, ruler of the kings of the earth, help me to patiently endure whatever suffering may come today as I strive for Your kingdom to come. Amen. The Venerable Mark Ireland, Archdeacon of Blackburn

Looking to Jesus

December 4, 2023 • Anne Beverley • Revelation 2:1–17

Press 'more' to read the daily devotion... Read Revelation 2:1-17 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible). ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance’ Revelation 2:2a I find reading these words right at the beginning of Advent rather thought provoking. Especially considering how busy the next few weeks will become. To know that God sees my work and my toil, and that He sees my patient endurance, brings me much comfort in the middle of the chaos of this season. And yet there is also a warning for us, because the passage goes on to say that ‘you have abandoned the love you had at first’ (v.4). How very easy it is for us, not just at this time of year, but throughout our lives, to get so caught up in the ‘doing’ of being Christian that we forget the God whom we worship. Many are the times when I sit down at the end of the day to read by Bible and pray, only to find myself falling asleep because the day’s tasks have left me too tired. Don’t get me wrong, many days are spent doing lots of good works for the Lord, that is one of the privileges of being able to work full-time as a Priest. And yet, all the good works in the world are worth nothing unless I put Jesus at the centre of them. If not careful I can be guilty of doing just that; of focusing so much on the doing that I fail to find time to be with God. This is a timely reminder to us, right at the beginning of Advent, not to let the business of Christmas divert our attention from the reason behind the celebration. The 25th December will come and go as it does every year, whether I am ready for it or not. But daily focus on Jesus cannot be put off. As we travel through the book of Revelation let us turn our eyes towards Jesus, place Him first and foremost in our minds, give Him the best part of our days, remind ourselves each and every day of our love for Him, and then open ourselves to receive His love and care for us. Let us pray: Father, may we find your peace in the joy of the upcoming season. In the middle of the excitement, help us to focus on You as we prepare to celebrate the wonder of Your Son coming down to earth to live with us. Amen. The Revd Anne Beverley Vicar of Christ Church, Wesham & Dean of Women’s Ministry.