Redemption Calvary Podcast

God is good and right when He judges sin and saves sinners. The Bible has many paradoxes within it, things that seem to be opposing ideas but that actually work together in the mind and plan of God. While it might be easier for us to understand God as either just or merciful, the biblically correct to understand Him is not as either/or but as both/and. The justice and mercy of God are on display through the cross of Jesus where His sacrifice appeases the justice of God and His mercy is dispensed to those in desperate need. The justice and mercy of God are also on display through Revelation 7 where we see vast multitudes receiving salvation even as the judgment of God falls on the rebellious unbelieving world.

Vince Maldonado, one of the Deacons at Redemption, preaches through Revelation 6. Our attention is directed from the worship service in heaven to The Great Tribulation on earth. As as Jesus removes the seven seals from the scroll that was in the right hand of God the Father, the wrath of the Lamb is unleashed. Through this chapter we see that Jesus is in control of human history and when his wrath is released no one will be able to stand. Yet Jesus took the wrath of God against sin on His cross, and still extends the offer of salvation to any who would take it. The choice is yours, will you accept Jesus’s sacrifice in your place? Or will you choose to take the wrath of God against your sin by yourself? Choose Jesus, and choose life.

The attention shifts from God’s throne in chapter 4 to the scroll that God is holding in chapter 5. While we cannot be sure what the scroll contains, we will see in the following chapters of Revelation that this scroll is intimately connected to the completion of Jesus’s work of judgment and redemption. Though no one in heaven, on earth or under the earth is worthy to open the scroll, Jesus steps forward as the only one who is. Because He alone is the Redeemer, Jesus is worthy to receive worship.

Revelation 4 marks a significant shift in the progression of this incredible prophecy. According to Jesus’s divine outline in 1:19, chapter 4 begins the future prophetic events. John is instantly taken from his task of writing letters dictated by Jesus to the 7 churches, to the throne room of God in heaven. Before any of the judgment begins to descend upon the earth, God’s presence and power are established, and He is glorified as the eternal, almighty, creator who is worthy of worship.

Complacency obscures your ability to see Jesus clearly and reflect Jesus correctly. The church in Laodicea had grown increasingly passive and passionless. They were indifferent and complacent and Jesus had an issue with their lukewarm attitude toward Him. Jesus has an issue with their lukewarmness, not necessarily that they are lukewarm but because they are O.K. with it. So he goes after their complacent arrogance with force and precision because He loves them and wants to wake them up from their passivity. When a "good enough" mentality grips our hearts, we must hear the voice of Jesus calling us back into a relationship that is hot and passionately burning. As Jesus knocks on the door of your heart, will you open it? 

Jesus miraculously opens doors for you when you have a right relationship with Him. The church in Philadelphia is one of only two churches who do not receive any correction from Jesus, only commendation and encouragement. The source of strength for this church, and their position of favor with Jesus is found in their willingness to keep His Word and confess His name. It is as we know God's Word and submit our lives to His standard and authority that we experience the open doors for life and ministry that we hope for. This church did not have great strength in itself, but they relied on Jesus for their strength and He caused them to hold fast and persevere. Jesus has doors that He wants to open for us, but those doors will remain shut and locked if we will not keep Jesus's word and confess Jesus's name. 

The appearance of life is not necessarily the presence of life. The church in Sardis had a great reputation. If we were to visit this church, we would likely seek to model much of our churches after the great things taking place in Sardis. But there was only one problem, they weren't really alive. Everyone thought that this church was filled with life and vibrance, those in the church as well as those in the surrounding community...everyone that is except Jesus. The church in Sardis is one of only 2 churches to receive no commendation from Jesus, only rebuke and correction. Jesus lays out 5 necessary components for this church, and any person, to experience a revived relationship with Him. If we will take Jesus up on His offer of resurrected life, then He extends the promise of eternal reward and eternal life. It is time to stop playing the religious games of trying to look good on the outside, and come to Jesus in sincerity and truth. 

If the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are true, and they are, then the implications are massive and life altering. It means that Jesus is God who paid the price of your faults and failures, what the Bible calls sin, on His cross and His resurrection guarantees your eternal life in Him. The only question is, do you believe this?

Jesus entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before His cross with very specific purpose and meaning. This day has come to be known as “Palm Sunday” because of the way that the crowds honored Him by laying palm branches along the road as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus reveals Himself as the lowly King, coming in humility to bring peace through His blood.

Jesus reveals Himself to the church in Thyatira as the infinite, eternal, righteous judge who clearly sees everyone’s life. He is fully aware and fully engaged in what is taking place. Even though Thyatira was not a significant city from the world’s perspective, Jesus was interested and fully aware of the church in this city. You are seen by Jesus and you are valuable to Him no matter what you feel or what others say. Jesus know and He cares. In fact, He is invested enough to correct the wrong things that are taking place. Thyatira was experiencing the same deception of idolatry and immorality that Pergamos was, just repackaged, and our world today faces the same two deceptive temptations. Your life is on full display before Jesus. He knows you, and His judgment about you is right. Jesus is calling you, either to repentance or to hold fast to Him.