Matching jammies are a traditional for us on Christmas Eve! Leigh started it when our girls were young and the tradition continues!

Revelation 6

In chapters 4 & 5 John was “swept up” to a scene in heaven. It’s a scene where all things are “right”. God is on the throne and He is the center of all things and all inhabitants of heaven worship Him. There are no rebels, no tyrants, no detractors. There is no diversity of opinions and alternate points of view on religion and philosophy.  It is an indescribable place of peace, joy and worship!

It’s difficult to ascribe a timeframe to events in heaven and how they correlate to time on earth.  Nevertheless, the chronology of chapters 4 & 5 seems to be after the rapture of the church and at the beginning of the tribulation. Remember, chapter 5 sets the scene for the upcoming tribulation with the lamb holding the book with seven seals. Each seal unleashes a form of tribulation and judgement from God. The book that is sealed is described as a legal document and it makes sense that it represents a title deed to the earth. All things are right in heaven, but earth has devolved to a low point and chapter 6 begins the turbulent events (the tribulation) of Jesus breaking the seals and taking back the title deed to the earth.  These events will ultimately lead to all things being “right” on earth. Specifically, these events lead toward Jesus being on the throne of the earth and a time when “every knee will bow and ever tongue confess that Jesus is Lord”.

At this point it gets a little tricky for me in my present and daily life. I want to say “Lord, come quickly”. I yearn for all things to be “right” where I live, whether heaven or earth. But at the same time, I’m earthbound in my current life. I live and breathe things from an earthly standpoint. I want to go to heaven, but do I want to go today? I want Jesus to come but do I really want the earth to go through the great tribulation that is about to be described here in Revelation?

Reading Revelation 4-6 has been like watching a movie that transports me to a storyline of another time with characters that I connect with. Watching a great movie is a 2-hour escape where we forget about our current life and live vicariously through the events and emotions of the characters. Then the movie ends, I walk out of the theatre and return to my daily life. When I read Revelation, I get swept up into heaven and into the events surrounding the consummation of the world but then I close my Bible and go out and live my earthly life. I guess what I’m saying is, do I really want Jesus to come quickly? Do I prefer the events of Revelation to not happen now and not interrupt my life? Do I want to live the rest of my life out by enjoying my family, building a house in the hill country and enjoying the prosperity God has given me? I’m just being honest!

Lord, keep teaching me how to set my mind on the things above and to live my life now to honor You while also looking forward to your coming. Truly looking forward to You coming!!! During this time on earth, help me live here with a heavenly mindset.