Revelation - Letter One

Reading the book of Revelation can be difficult. Its a strange book, filled with all sorts of unfathomable statements - at least for me.

So why write about it?

I maintain that the bible is coherent beginning to end. After listening to some teaching on it and reading it a number of times lately, I think I see a bit of it.

The first Beatitude: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

The first letter in Revelation (chapter 2)

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp-stands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

I see a warning to good, hard-working, tough people that are trying to serve God: your heart is emptied out, your spirit is poor. If this keeps up, you're not going to make it. Change your course and go back to who you were when you started believing.

Go back to what? What was my "first love"?

For me it was the initial realization that God was there, and he wanted to connect with me. The maker of the universe made himself available to me so we can get to know each other. It filled my mind all the time.

So that's what I aim to do - not take his friendship for granted, not just focus on getting stuff done. I want to invest the time and the energy in continuing to build our relationship.

I think the imagery of Jesus holding the seven stars - the leaders - in his hand, and walking among the seven lampstands - the churches - is to communicate that he is right here among us. He is not far off.

Finally, in many of these letters Jesus says "repent". It sounds ominous - I think its the opposite. I think he is saying "It's OK to come back, I won't hold any mistakes against you."

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Mondays | My heart is in chaos, and God wants to change it
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God
- Our Father in heaven, your name is holy

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