Join Mike for a special update! He shares his gratitude for your deep engagement with the Book of Revelation and announces a brief pause on the Q&A sessions for the holidays. But more importantly, he introduces a wonderful resource to prepare your heart for the Advent season.

Our Lake Light Institute has created a beautiful Advent devotional to help you look back at the birth of Jesus and look forward to His promised return. This digital resource is our gift to you, designed to help you think deeply, live faithfully, and celebrate the wonder of this season.

KEY LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED:
📖 GET YOUR FREE ADVENT DEVOTIONAL: christmasatchristchurch.com
📧 Send Mike Your Questions: [email protected]
✉️ Alternative Way to Get the Devotional: You can also request the devotional by emailing Mike directly at the address above.
🏠 Join Us for Church: In person or online as we continue our series in the Book of Revelation!

We pray this devotional is a blessing to you and your family as you journey through Advent. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don't miss when our daily devotions return in the new year!

In this Revelation Devotional, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff examines what it means to have the discernment of the church in Ephesus today. The church in Ephesus was commended for testing false teachers and hating the sinful practices that God also hates. But how do we practice this kind of biblical discernment in our polarized world, especially when it comes to political issues? Pastor Mike explores the critical balance between holding firmly to truth and maintaining Christ-like love for people. Learn how to reject evil and hypocrisy without falling into harshness, and how to start with repentance in your own heart before seeking to correct others.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this Revelation Devotional, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff tackles one of the most significant titles for Jesus found in the Bible. When John sees a vision of "someone like a son of man" in Revelation 1:13, it’s a reference packed with Old Testament meaning. Pastor Mike explains how this title brilliantly captures both the profound humanity and the supreme deity of Jesus. It points to His humility in coming to earth to live among us and His exalted authority as the King to whom all glory, power, and worship are due. Discover the comfort and strength found in this dual nature of Christ.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this devotional, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff tackles one of the most foundational questions for reading the Book of Revelation: What does Revelation 1:19 actually mean? This verse is often presented as an outline for the entire book, but is that the correct interpretation?

Pastor Mike breaks down the scene where the Apostle John receives this vision and explores the four major interpretive camps for understanding Revelation's timeline—Preterist, Futurist, Historicist, and Idealist. He offers a thoughtful perspective on what the first-century readers would have understood and why he is skeptical of overly specific, modern-day predictions. The big picture, however, remains clear and certain: Jesus wins, and His kingdom will come.

Don't miss the rest of the series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with us:
Visit our website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this installment of our "Revelation" devotional series, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff tackles a question that has sparked much debate: Is the millennium a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on Earth, a symbolic era, or a present reality?

Diving into Revelation 20, Pastor Mike breaks down the three main theological perspectives—pre-millennialism, amillennialism, and post-millennialism—to provide clarity on this complex topic. More importantly, he pivots to the practical, timeless truths we can all hold onto regardless of our theological leanings: that Jesus is ruling now, our hope is anchored in the end of the story, and the church has a vital job to do.

Join us for a thoughtful exploration that grounds us in what is essential and calls us to live faithfully as signposts pointing to the King.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this episode of our Revelation Devotional series, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff addresses a fundamental and frequently asked question: Which parts of Revelation should be taken literally, and which parts figuratively? How can we tell the difference?

Pastor Mike provides essential guidance for navigating the book's rich and often confusing imagery. He explains that Revelation is a work of apocalyptic literature—a genre that uses visions, symbols, and numbers to communicate profound spiritual truths. Rather than getting bogged down in speculative details, he encourages us to focus on the primary purpose of the book: to reveal the supremacy of Jesus Christ and His ultimate triumph over evil.

This devotional will help you read Revelation with greater confidence, understanding how to approach its symbolism in light of the entire biblical story. The goal is not to satisfy every curiosity, but to allow God's Word to shape us, assuring us that Jesus is God, He will win, and those who stand with Him now will stand with Him in glory.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our Website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this episode of our Revelation Devotional series, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff tackles a complex but important theological framework: What is Dispensationalism?

This interpretive model, popularized by works like the "Left Behind" series, provides a specific way of understanding biblical history and prophecy by dividing it into distinct periods, or "dispensations." Pastor Mike offers a high-level overview of this system, explaining its emphasis on a literal interpretation of prophecy, its distinction between Israel and the Church, and its common association with a pre-tribulation rapture and a premillennial view of Christ's return.

While this framework offers clarity for some, Pastor Mike emphasizes that it is not the gospel itself and should not be a source of division among believers. This devotional encourages us to focus on the core promise that unites all Christians: Christ is coming again, God wins, and we are called to live with faithfulness and hope in light of that certainty.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our Website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this episode of our Revelation Devotional series, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff addresses a deeply hopeful and frequently asked question: What will the new heaven and new earth be like?

While the Bible doesn't provide a detailed brochure, it gives us profound promises to anchor our hope. Pastor Mike explores the powerful imagery from Revelation 21, Isaiah 65, and 2 Peter 3, explaining that the new creation will be a place where the brokenness, pain, and decay of our current world pass away. It will be characterized by God's immediate presence, the wiping away of every tear, and the end of death, grief, and pain.

This devotional focuses on the relational reality of eternity—a place of joy, rest, perfect communion, and peace. Let the promises of the world to come steady you for today, reminding you that the best is yet to come and calling you toward faithfulness now.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our Website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this episode of our Revelation Devotional series, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff tackles the mysterious identity of the two witnesses described in Revelation chapter 11.

Are they Moses and Elijah, Enoch and Elijah, or a symbolic representation of the church? Pastor Mike explores the various interpretations, explaining the significance of their prophetic ministry, their power to shut up the sky and turn water to blood, and their ultimate martyrdom and resurrection. While the specific identity remains a topic of debate, the core message is clear: these witnesses represent God's call to be faithful, bold, and persevering in a hostile world.

This devotional shifts the focus from speculative mystery to practical application, challenging us to live as faithful witnesses today—speaking truth, standing firm, and serving others with courage, knowing that God ultimately wins and vindicates His people.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our Website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this powerful installment to our Revelation Devotional series, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff explores the ultimate question: What does the end of the Book of Revelation teach us about God?

Far from ending in darkness and chaos, Revelation concludes with a breathtaking vision of glory, joy, and restoration. Pastor Mike reflects on the beautiful imagery of Revelation 22—the river of life, the healing of the nations, and the end of all curse—to reveal a God who is both powerfully sovereign and profoundly merciful. This episode explains how the entire biblical story, from Genesis to Revelation, demonstrates God's unwavering love and grace, as He chooses to redeem what we ruined and invite us to live in His light.

Be encouraged that in Christ, we are on the winning team. This devotional will leave you with a profound understanding of a God who is just and patient, mighty and merciful, and who prepares a glorious future for His people.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our Website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation