On the day when we remember Stephen, our passage from Revelation is actually very appropriate. Stephen was a victim of the powers, rules who had the authority to sentence him to death for his witness to Christ. In his final speech, he also has a bit to say about waiting on God. Abraham and David had to yield some of their own hopes and dreams, as both of them had disappointments that might have almost seemed like God not keeping his promises. Of course, that’s not what God does. If we learn to trust God, we will find the faith that God is making the world right, working for our good, even that’s not what our world looks like right now.

Our Savior is born! While this physical event is obviously not happening today, it still has deep meaning for our lives. Because Christ has come, the victory is already sealed in him. This also includes victory over worldly kingdoms that think they have absolute power; they do not. That Savior born in a manger thousands of years ago remains at the right hand of the Father, and the world is his.

It’s Christmas Eve, and it feels a little odd to be in Revelation. Still, God coming to live among man is relevant to Revelation. It was one of God’s many attempts to let himself be known to mankind, so that we can learn to be more like him. In this chapter of Revelation, we see God in his wrath giving man one of the last chances. God needs us to be followers of Jesus so that we will be ready for life with him, and pouring our the wrath is intended to bring all who will come in the last days. We see that he is still rejected, even hated, by many. Such was the case when Jesus came as well.

If God did not judge wickedness, He could not be a holy God. This is what is coming: the unfurling of final judgement and the preservation of the Church. The Church is not the one doing the fighting, though, that action is reserved for God. As we draw closer to the time of God restoring creation (sorry, spoiler!) God is keeping his people close to him, and their suffering has not been in vain. Their (our) place is in worship, God’s place is in judgement.

There is a LOT going on in this chapter of Revelation, so it might be helpful to situate ourselves somewhat in the position of its original audience. The Romans had probably already destroyed Jerusalem and the temple prior to this book being written, and that time was full of intense suffering. The suffering of God’s people does not go unnoticed by him, and worship can still emerge from the madness his people encounter. We do see his chosen ones caught up with him as a precious possession, worship continuing past the madness, and God reigning supreme. If you had the destruction of your religious center in your memory, this would have been a very good thing to know.

Thomas has gotten a pretty scathing title through the years: “Doubting Thomas.” He was certainly the one who piped up demanding proof, and he was the one asking the hard question before Jesus in this case as well. But Jesus did not reject him. He didn’t cast him out as a heretic. He kept Thomas in the group of 12, and kept answering his questions. This should encourage us because our questions are also welcome.

Here's a version of the Christmas story you're not likely to hear read to the children this week! Christ came as a man, and certainly Satan tried to destroy him. The victory was always Christ's, it was never in question. This is the Savior we serve. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he will fight for us.

In this chapter of Revelation, prophecy precedes worship. Witnesses preach the word, but it is ignored, even despised. Their death is celebrated. After that, worship continues. This act of worship is the point, the prophets are merely preparing the way for what will come much later. We worship God now for many of the same reasons: we are preparing for an eternity before our Lord.

This time of judgement is to be a bitter time indeed. Not only for those who have rejected Christ, but for those who have followed him. To observe judgement will not be pleasant. We can actually take some peace from the passage from Wisdom of Solomon: God has already put us to the test, and this testing in judgement will not be to judge us. And of course, this whole show is being run by the Jesus we know. He is on our side if we have followed him faithfully.

A LOT of wild visuals in this verse today. Evil is being let loose, and it is doing its work. It is not running rampant because God hates mankind, though, very much the opposite. For Christ to complete the work of God and bring the new Heaven and earth, the things that need to be purified are brought out. Death and destruction are their tools, and they do their job all too well.