Nate with Auntie Brooke – Esther begins tomorrow. She will rock your world!

Reflections on Revelation

Several weeks ago as we were reciting the Lord’s Prayer in church, I realized more than ever (after reading and praying through Revelation) that the Lord’s Prayer is thoroughly Millennial in its meaning. First, it makes sense that the Lord’s Prayer is in its fullest form in Matthew (Matthew 6:9-13).  Matthew is primarily directed toward the Jews and upholds Jesus as the Messiah and the future coming King of the Jews who will return on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. Consider the first phrase of the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be your name.”

God in Heaven

Over the years I have asked myself, why emphasize that God is in heaven? The awesomeness of God is that He is everywhere, right? In prayer, I like to think that He is with me, near me, in me and I’m in Him. I like to think of the intimacy of the Father communing with me, close to me and looking after me.  Look back over these last two sentences and you see a lot of “me” there. In these opening phrases of the Lord’s Prayer, I now think primarily of Revelation 4. Revelation 4 is the transition of John’s focus from the church on earth (ch 2,3) to heaven. “…I looked, and behold a door standing open in heaven…come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things,” Revelation 4:1. Following in chapter 4 is a scene that John describes in heaven and we see God on His throne.  The word “throne” with the definite article “the” in front of it occurs 10 times in 10 verses. The Throne is in heaven and the One who sits on it is GOD our Savior. The description of this scene is filled with glory, light, thunder, wonder, amazement and awe. The angels surround the throne; the redeemed of all ages clothed in white surround the throne; the focus is on God in Heaven. “…day and night they do not cease to say, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God The Almighty, Who was and Who is and Who is to come.”

Thy Kingdom come

Chronologically in Revelation, the massive chaos of the tribulation is about to happen (chapters 6-19).  But first, let’s be reminded here in chapter 4 that God is heaven; His name is hallowed and He is on the throne. He is not on “a” throne. He is on “the” throne. “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power,” 4:11. Yes, there is chaos and tragedy on the earth now and 100X during the tribulation. But ask yourself, what often drives us intensely to prayer? Often it is fear, difficulty, sickness and pain. We want to draw near to God and for Him to draw near to us. There’s nothing wrong with that. But, as we begin our prayers, first acknowledge, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed by your name.” Our world is in a mess with the things of Satan being lifted up and the things of God being dishonored. But it is only temporary. Because in heaven, everything is as it should be. God is on His throne and all living creatures in heaven honor Him. That is why we pray, “thy Kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Come, Lord Jesus, come.