ABADDON (Hebrew – “Destruction”) & APOLLYON (Greek – “Destroyer”)

Today’s Reading: Revelation 9 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

You can see the remains of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece. This temple and the idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood, which were in it, represents the efforts of man to replace Almighty God with likenesses of fallen angels and demons who desired to be worshipped as if they were “The Great Creator,” the One and only true God who is over and above His creation, yet is present everywhere, and who cannot possibly be represented by the works of man’s hands. At the writing of the “Revelation,” priests and people were in this building with the worship of (as Revelation 9:20-21 says), “demons and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Revelation 9:20a

But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands…

Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ Day Unto Day devotional series)…

By now you’ve seen how difficult it is to try to analyze and systematize the content of apocalyptic writing. John is describing a vision, and in doing so is attempting to describe the indescribable. Scores of well-meaning attempts have been made over the years to tell us what John “really meant,” but all such efforts should be taken with a grain of salt. Especially if the would-be interpreter is dogmatic about his interpretation!

This is why it’s refreshing from time to time in Revelation to come across material that hints at the purpose of the vision. Look at verses 20 and 21. These two sentences follow a description of two of the three remaining trumpet-disasters. The fifth trumpet precedes a fallen star unlocking “the shaft of the Abyss,” out of which a dense cloud of smoke produces a plague of tormenting locusts (verses 1-11). The sixth trumpet releases a supernatural army of 200 million who destroy a third of mankind. What’s the point of these cataclysmic horrors?

Apparently repentance is the point. Verses 20 and 21 tell us that the “work of [mankind’s] hands” is sufficient to bring heaven’s wrath upon the earth. That “work” is idolatry, murder, occultism, and sexual immorality. The scope of the disasters shows how enraged God is at sin. Were it not for the gracious work of Christ, mankind would have been destroyed long ago. That’s why we should repent of all sin now – while there is yet time.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Almighty God, I pray for continuous grace so that I may live in a repentant state, deliberately turning away from sin and moving always toward You! Lord Jesus, may I take my stand beside You at the entrance to the bottomless pit, Hell, and by every means at my disposal, seek to rescue the perishing multitudes. In Your Name, Jesus, I volunteer! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As a Pastor for many years, I would take the opportunity at least once a month to speak at a gathering of our young people. On one occasion I passed around papers and pencils, asking that they would describe modern warfare…tanks, fighter aircraft, flame throwers, etc., but they were not allowed to use any language which was developed in the past 100 years. One by one, I saw the lights going on in their faces as they understood what their Pastor was getting at. They faced the same challenge as did John in Revelation, trying to describe a battle scene which was 2,000 years into the future (Revelation 9:7-10). John uses the word “like” four times here. This means it’s symbolic, not literal.

It’s confession time for me. The reason I chose to use Jim and Kathy’s commentary on Revelation, besides my high respect for them, is that I can sometimes be a chicken (the opposite of a lion) when it comes to this book. Surprised? As I shared in a recent blog, I think it has something to do with my Doctor of Theology Dad telling me when I was just a boy that he had visited a library in London, England, which had over 1,000 commentary books on Revelation and, according to the librarian, not one of them, as far as he knew, agreed 100% in their interpretations. Sometimes, we just have to wait and see.  I remember coming home from grade 7 at Hopewell Public School, starting to cry when I saw my Dad, and telling him that my science teacher had made fun of me in front of the class because I had raised my hand and said that God created all things. My father put his hand on my shoulder and gently said, “Just wait David, God will prove Himself to you over the years.” I waited, and God has surely proven Himself to me over and over!

Yours for the blessing John promised we would receive from reading and hearing this book, even if we don’t understand everything at the present time,

David

THE SEVENTH SEAL

Today’s Reading: Revelation 8 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This is the original artwork for the musical “The Scroll” by Bruce Stacey, which Crossroads featured in the Pavilions of Promise at three World Expos in Vancouver, Brisbane, and Seville. Notice the seven seals! (Revelation, chapters 5-8).

Key Verse: Revelation 8:6

So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ “Day Unto Day” devotional series)…

The seventh seal is opened and a half-hour silence follows (verse 1). As the silence ends, John sees “seven angels who stand before God” being given “seven trumpets” (verse 2). These seven angels haven’t been mentioned as yet, but they are probably some kind of personification of the “seven spirits” before the throne in 1:4. They are given seven trumpets and each angel in turn blows his trumpet.

But before they blow their trumpets another angel appears. One author calls him “the angel of worship”. He offers incense at the altar, and it ascends “with the prayers of the saints…before God” (verse 4).

Here is what Lynn Harold Hough says about these events:

“It is remarkable that in the midst of all the rushing movement of the book of Revelation there is always time to set each particular experience in rich and noble perspective. The hour of worship has its own rights amid all the heavenly events. Even God’s judgments are not apart from the saints. They include the prayers of the saints.” (Interpreter’s Bible Vol. 12 p. 426).

Then the trumpet disasters begin. First come hail and fire (verse 7). Then a burning mountain falls into the sea (verse 8 ) followed by a blazing star falling on the fresh waters (verse 10). The result is a badly scorched earth and polluted sea and land waters. Then a fourth trumpet reduces all day and night light in the heavens by a third (verse 12).

The chapter ends with an eagle warning about the disasters yet to follow (verse 13). There are still three trumpets to be blown.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for the wisdom and strength I need in order to respond well to these warnings of coming judgment. In the light of these future events, may I serve You more fervently with my whole heart and mind. I ask for this working of Your Holy Spirit in me in the Name of the Person who lived life at 100% of His potential, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Jim and Kathy Cantelon spent seven years in Jerusalem planting a great congregation of Christians, and encouraging other such congregations throughout Israel. Some will be surprised to discover that there are several thousand Jewish Christians there. In some respects it is like the first century when all the early Christians were Jewish, and, of course, that included Jesus Himself (click here for the exciting ministry of Jerusalem’s King of Kings congregation). When the Cantelons returned to Canada in 1988, I immediately contacted Jim and invited him to join me as a host on the 100 Huntley Street telecast.

Revelation 7 makes interesting reading to a member of those who call themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” They originally claimed that they were the 144,000. I would ask them at the door, “Of which tribe are you?” When they got to be more than 144,000 in number, they had a problem. They had experience manipulating their teachings before. They provide an example of the dangers that can arise when attempting to interpret the Bible in general, and Revelation in particular, without reference to the historical understanding of the early church leaders, as well as those who are in the mainstream of prophetic understanding today. In his excellent book, Blood Moons Rising, Dr. Mark Hitchcock (in his chapter called “The Dating Game”) writes, “Jehovah’s Witnesses founder Charles Taze Russell set 1874 as the date of Christ’s return. After that, their leaders continually earmarked various years: 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925,1975, and 1984. After nine wrong dates, they claim to have given up on predicting the time of Christ’s coming.”

Yours for remembering the Apostle Peter’s words, “No Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20),

David

P.S. A lot of trumpets are blown in today’s chapter. Below is a photo of when a shofar was blown at the beginning of “Heaven’s Rehearsal” 2008 in Toronto (click here for info on Heaven’s Rehearsal). A shofar is a musical instrument of ancient origin, made of a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Like the modern bugle, the shofar lacks pitch-altering devices. All pitch control is done by varying the player’s embouchure.

The Bible in Christ Church Jerusalem is written in Hebrew. In the background you can see the menorah, a seven-branched lamp stand used in the ancient Tabernacle in the desert and Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of Judaism since ancient times and the emblem of the modern state of Israel.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

144,000

Today’s Reading: Revelation 7 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Shepherds’ Field in Bethlehem is said to be the place where the shepherds watched their flocks by night, when the angels appeared to them with the announcement of the birth of Jesus. In the symbolism of today’s reading, the Lamb is also the Shepherd. Tradition tells us that John was in a cave on the island of Patmos when he received the “Revelation.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ “Day Unto Day” devotional series)…

Reading Revelation is like looking through a kaleidoscope. The colours, the patterns, the overall picture keeps changing – it seems in constant flux. Suddenly, the martyrs “under the altar” of 6:9 are now “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (7:9). Numbered among them are “144,000 from all the tribes of Israel” (verse 4). I say “numbered” loosely, for we’re reading about an apocalyptic vision here, and any number’s value is symbolic. (Even the naming of “all the tribes” bows to symbolism in this case, for the tribe of Dan is not mentioned. Instead of Dan is Manasseh – see Genesis 49.)

As the martyrs glorify God – “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (verse 10) – the angels “around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures” (verse 11a) fall down and worship (verses 11b, 12).

In the middle of all this, a dialogue occurs between two people: John and “one of the elders” (verse 13a). The elder asks John if he knows who these countless thousands are. Then he answers the question himself, telling John that “these are they who have come out of the great tribulation” (verse 14a). They “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (verse 14b). And now, “the Lamb…will be their shepherd” (verse 17). That first martyr, Jesus, who gave His life that they might live, “will lead them to springs of living water” (verse 17b). The Lamb is a Shepherd.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

O “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b), Your servant, John, was likely there at the Jordan 70 years earlier and heard John the Baptist say those words. Thank You for all those years of faithfulness by John and for the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” which he shares with us. I pray for the faith to receive the promise. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As a child of probably 9 or 10, Revelation 6:14-17 made a huge impression on me at a family altar reading. The word picture here is so powerful! I could imagine all the rulers who thought they were so big, so important, and so powerful that they did not need God, and who had blasphemed His Name, cowering in the caves for fear. I could almost hear them crying out “to the mountains and rocks ‘fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!'” (6:16). I remember looking around at my mother and father and seeing peace and security on their faces. And when we knelt in prayer, their prayers for lost souls gave me a sense of that which is most important in preparing for eternity. Mother died when I was 12. I had no doubt that she was in a place of perfect peace and joy. For me, however, I wallowed in self-pity and resentment against God for almost four years. I urge, with passion in my heart, for everybody to come to Jesus now. He took upon Himself the judgment of God! At His death the rocks ripped apart, the skies were total darkness, and He said, “It is finished!” From that time until now He says to us who believe, “DO NOT FEAR!!!” Call 1-866-273-4444 for a loving person who will pray with you for assurance of your eternal safety, security, love and peace in Jesus!

Yours for NO FEAR!!!

David

The support pillars were not there in the cave with the shepherds and sheep at the birth of Jesus but are in place today as a safety measure for visitors. God chose the shepherds as the first evangelists. They proclaimed to all in Bethlehem, the place where the lambs for the Temple sacrifices were born and raised. Luke probably interviewed the shepherds for his Gospel. He wrote of the shepherds, “They made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child, and all those who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them concerning this Child” (Luke 2:17-18).

THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE AND THE BLOOD MOON

Today’s Reading: Revelation 6 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The moon over a northern Ontario lake. Today’s chapter refers to the moon turning blood red (6:12).

Key Verses: Revelation 6:12b, 16-17

The moon became like blood… And said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ “Day Unto Day” devotional series)…

The Lamb opens the first seal, releasing the first of seven plagues upon the earth. The imagery of the first four is powerfully vivid: horses of different colours and their riders, all symbolizing war and its tragic results. A white horse appears, its crowned rider holding a bow, and he rides out to conquer (probably representing an invader). Then a red horse follows, whose rider holds a large sword and the power to take peace from the earth. Next, a black horse, its rider holding scales in his hand, enters. This rider announces an exorbitant price for wheat, indicating famine prices, the sorrowful result of war. The fourth is a pale horse, ridden by Death itself, symbolizing the disease and casualties of war and famine.

The fifth seal reveals the multitudes slain in war because of their “testimony” (verse 9). They call loudly for vengeance and are told to be patient.

The opening of the sixth seal introduces ominous cosmic disaster: a great earthquake, a blackened sun, a blood-red moon, falling stars, and a vanishing sky (verses 12-14). Every human being on earth is so terrified that all of them seek sudden death…not for fear of the disasters but for fear of Him who precipitates them: the One “who sits on the throne…and the Lamb.” The issue is not the apparent anger of nature. The issue is the very real wrath of the Father and the Lamb at all unrighteousness and injustice. The “great day of their wrath has come,” and in light of their judgments and man’s accountability, “who can stand?”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

In the Day Unto Day eight-book series, Norma-Jean and I (David) wrote the prayers for each day of that two-year journey. This was our prayer to go with the Revelation 6 reading…We invite everyone reading this to pray with us. “Lord, we realize that You are a God of perfect love, but also perfect justice, and You punish all sin. We repent of all sin and evil in our lives and ask that we will be cleansed through the shed blood of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

At almost 80 I have many memories of fulfilling God’s call on my life. For example, I was almost 25 years old (June 1961) and was asked by Rev. George Ewald to conduct a week of evangelistic services in Lennoxville, Quebec. As far as I can recall, there were no people in attendance the first evening who were not already believers in Jesus. I prayed about this fervently. The next morning I did something which might bring disapproval from some reading this. I went into Sherbrooke to the store that sells suits and clerical garb to priests, and I purchased a clerical collar. I already had a black suit. That afternoon and every afternoon for the week, I was decked out in my high collar and knocked on doors throughout Lennoxville. At least the people knew I was not a JW or a Mormon. I was invited often into the homes and sometimes was sitting on the living room couch before they knew why I was there. “Please come in, Father.” I have not worn clerical symbols over the years except on unusual occasions. My Father always wore his high collar, so I was comfortable as an ordained minister wearing one. Night after night new faces were seen in the congregation, and quite a few made first-time decisions to give their lives to Christ.

Yours to fulfill the final Words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels, and yours believing that I would be the most selfish person on earth if I kept the Good News of Jesus to myself!,

David

P.S. Below is picture of two other helpers I had that week in Lennoxville…Caspar and Jasper. At about 4 p.m. with their help, I would play my trumpet standing on the sidewalk while the children were heading home from school, and I’d give them a note to take home to their parents, inviting the kids to come to the church at 5 p.m. I guaranteed the parents that the children would be home by 6 p.m. Many parents came to the church with their children and some invited Jesus into their hearts. I’m aware this all sounds crazy to many modern ears, but I’m convinced Jesus approved, and I know Rev. Ewald approved.

Ron took this picture when I spoke to the Crossroads staff in Chapel a while back. Caspar and Jasper would help me play the trumpet seen on the podium along with my Loyalist’s hat. There are lots of ways to have fun while sharing Jesus with children!

THE SCROLL

Today’s Reading: Revelation 5 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This is a several hundred year old Torah scroll that is on display in the “Quick Study” TV studio in Orangeville, Ontario. Rod Hembree, a former producer of the 100 Huntley Street daily TV show, is now host of “Quick Study.”

Key Verse: Revelation 5:9

You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ “Day Unto Day” devotional series)…

John now sees a “scroll” in “the right hand of Him who sat on the throne” (verse 1). It has writing on both sides and is sealed with seven seals. The value of its message is so great that no one “in Heaven or on earth” can break the seals and read it (verse 3). John laments, but then hears one of the elders say, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (verse 5).

But, rather than a Lion, John sees a Lamb, “looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne” (verse 6). The multi-dimensional factor is very evident here, in that “the One who sat on the throne” (verses 1, 7b) is still sitting there, even while the Lamb is at the “centre of the throne.” His “seven horns and seven eyes” represent “the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth” (verse 6). The “seven spirits” were previously described as seven lamps, but in this instance they may be a reflection of the seven eyes of God in Zechariah 4:10, “which range throughout the earth”.

The seven horns speak of power – omnipotence. The seven eyes speak of knowledge – omniscience. The Lamb of God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He is, in every way, very God. He is the only One “worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals” (verse 9). He and the One “who sits on the throne” are One. The hosts of Heaven sing, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” (verse 13). The Lamb is worthy!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I join the billions of people who, along with the angels, say with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” “Worthy!” “Worthy!” “Worthy!” I believe in Your infinite worth, Lamb of God. In You there is power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing. I speak as just one of that great multitude, and I’m confident that You hear me. As the hymn writer put it, “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean. How marvellous! How wonderful, then my song shall ever be! How marvellous! How wonderful is my Saviour’s love for me.” Amen and amen!!! (David’s prayer and the prayer of all who will join him)

100 PERSONAL WORDS:.

In our worship service in church recently we sang with a great congregation the Words of Revelation 5:12-13. I was lifted in spirit into the throne room of Heaven to join the 100 billion or so worshippers (5:11) in singing “Worthy is the Lamb!” (click here to join in). According to reports, there were at least 1,000,000,000 (one billion) here on earth in church Sunday morning who were singing hymns of worship to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Yours for the day when the saints go marching in. I want to be in that number, and by God’s grace alone, I will!!!,

David

P.S. My son-in-law, Bruce Stacey, wrote a magnificent musical work called, The Scroll. It was the centrepiece musical work for our Crossroads “Pavilion of Promise” at three of the four World Expositions in which Crossroads participated. Revelation 5 was his inspiration for this composition.

Close-up view of a Hebrew scroll. Rod Hembree has the most interesting artifacts on his TV show.

THE THRONE ROOM

Today’s Reading: Revelation 4 

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

There appears to be a “throne” in the back room behind the altar of Saint Paul’s Church in Tarsus, the home city of  Saul of Tarsus, now known as the Apostle Paul. In today’s reading we get a glimpse into Heaven through the eyes of the Apostle John, and we see “A throne set in Heaven, and One sat on the throne.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Revelation 4:11

You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.

Jim and Kathy Cantelon take us from the 7 churches here on earth through “The door standing open in Heaven.” They write,

Jim & Kathy Cantelon

The vision continues. Here we see the “throne room” of Heaven. It’s a key description for a number of reasons, not the least of them being that this “throne room” is the main “set” of the drama. For interest’s sake, you might try drawing the set as it’s described in verses 1-6. Probably you’ll do what I did – you’ll draw in two dimensions (a flat picture, rather like a disk). But try something else: try drawing it, or imagining it, in three dimensions (like a sphere) – the difference will be rather like that between a square and a cube. And don’t forget, our interpretations will always be less than satisfactory, for John is attempting to describe something that’s indescribable.

The main elements of the description are:

(a) A throne

(b) Someone on the throne

(c) A rainbow around the throne

(d) 24 other thrones around the throne

(e) 24 elders on these thrones

(f) Seven lamps before the throne

(g) A glass sea before the throne

(h) Four creatures around the throne

Add to this the colours of jasper, carnelian, rainbow, white, gold, and crystal – all lit with flashes of lightening and vibrating with peals of thunder, and you have three-dimensional description. It’s an awesome picture.

But the key factor in this picture is the verbal message: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come” (verse 8b). We’re dealing here with God the Father, Himself. The only adequate response is prostration (verse 10). No description can even come close.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, bless Jim and Kathy Cantelon and their family in every way, I pray. Thank You for Your call on their lives and for blessing me with their insights through the Day Unto Day series published in the mid-nineties, and now here on the 100words.ca blog for a few days. Thank You, also, for this look into Heaven which Your servant John has shared. I pray that my gaze will focus, not just on the surroundings of Heaven, but primarily on You, “LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME!” Through the Lord Jesus Christ, who opened up Heaven for all who call on His Name for eternal life. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I know I will be blessed by Jim and Kathy’s commentaries every day for 19 days here on my blog. After that, I expect, God willing, to finish off the first two-year journey through the Holy Scriptures with four blogs focusing on the final Words of Jesus recorded in each of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Then the plan is to start again for 24 more months! I’ve shared here before, but I think it’s worth repeating, that I promoted a one-year through the Bible plan during the 1960’s and 1970’s, and discovered that the majority of those who started with me in January each year got discouraged somehow and left the plan somewhere around the third to fifth book in the Old Testament. I prayed many times for the answer as to why this was so. I believe I heard from God something like this, “David, you need to expand the readings to two years. Start with Jesus in Matthew, then move to Genesis. This will encourage My precious people to maintain a consistent reading pattern and a majority will read every Word of the Bible with time to meditate on each day’s readings.” I began to promote this plan through the 100 Huntley Street TV show throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. It worked! I knew this because readers would ask for the next instalment of the written commentary materials. Eight books we published in the 1990’s were called, Day Unto Day. Jim and Kathy Cantelon wrote the New Testament commentaries in that series, and Nizar and Ellen Shaheen the Old Testament. After the completion of these eight books, I learned that over 70% percent of those who ordered the first volume also ordered the last one, proving that the new Bible reading program was much more conducive to actually completing reading the entire Bible.

Yours for continuing to do the same now on the World Wide Web!!!,

David

The exterior of St. Paul’s Church in Tarsus. Tarsus was the university city of the Roman province of Asia Minor. Today Tarsus is in eastern Turkey.

The interior of St. Paul’s Church in Tarsus.

LAODICEA

Today’s Reading: Revelation 3:14-22

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Evidences of settlements at Laodicea go back 5,000 years, according to the archeologists. Here they are reconstructing a temple from pieces of rubble found nearby. Laodicea was destroyed by earthquakes many times, the last being in the 7th century, after which it was abandoned. According to today’s reading, the people who lived here said, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (3:17a).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Revelation 3:20-21

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Today’s reading begins with Jesus giving three descriptive titles for Himself: (1) “The AMEN!” He is “Truth!” He is the “Absolute Certainty!” The Apostle Paul declares, “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen!” (read 2 Corinthians 1:19-22). Let us “Hear what the Spirit says to the churches!” (2) “FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS!” In court the promise is made to tell “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Jesus takes the witness stand! (read John 3:30-33). He is totally and completely accurate. It is impossible for Him to say anything other than truth! (3) The “BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD!” This does not mean that He was created! It means that He began the creation. We must always compare Scripture with Scripture. This is why we must read all of it, so as not to come up with error as does the false religion which teaches Jesus was a created angel (read Colossians 1:16-18).

History records that this city had a very poor water supply which was contaminated by impurities and literally made many people sick to their stomachs. If their water was cold, it would mean that it was from an artesian well. If it was hot (boiling), the impurities would be destroyed. It was “lukewarm.” These people made Jesus feel sick. “I will spew you out of My mouth!” Hey everybody! Listen up!!!

Let’s take time to meditate on 3:17-19. Imagine that we were there with John. We see Jesus in all His glory. We look into “His eyes like a flame of fire!” We hear “His voice as the sound of many waters!” (Revelation 1:14-18). John fell at the feet of Jesus as if he were dead! Let’s judge the temperature and purity of our experience with God by our reaction to Jesus’ Words!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I find myself overcome by my emotions. All I can pray, as I heard on a recent 100 Huntley Street telecast, is, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!!!” Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

John 6:37b is the verse of the Bible I’ve quoted more than any other throughout my life. That’s because Jesus said, “Then one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out!” That’s the verse an elderly man gave me as I stood at the front of the Glebe Collegiate Auditorium in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa. I had been angry at God since my mother’s death when I was 12. Now I was 16, and finally I had responded to an invitation to follow Jesus. A truly “hot” evangelist named Jack Wrytzen gave the invitation. One of my jobs for five months prior to that night was to deliver the audio tape of Jack preaching from Times Square, New York City, to CHOV radio each week. My boss for my part time job, Syd Healey, owner of the Chrysler dealership, paid the radio time and the tapes were mailed to him for radio coverage of the upper Ottawa Valley. Syd had always done this himself prior to this. No doubt he knew that by delivering these tapes, I would make it a point to listen to the preacher. I did! I was ready to get right with God the night that I heard the preacher from the Word of Life radio broadcast in person.

The other verse I think I’ve quoted often over the 64 years since that time is Revelation 3:20. Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him, and dine with him and he with Me.” As one who has sought to lead people to Jesus through the years, I now say to everyone who reads this, “Come, come to Jesus now.” He’s knocking on your heart’s door. Please, please, don’t turn Him away. The key to unlock the door is in your hand. It’s a simple prayer that Jesus gave us. Please say with me right now, “Lord God, be merciful to me, for I’m a sinner. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come in to my heart Lord Jesus!” It’s really important that you tell someone that you have unlocked your heart’s door and invited Jesus in. A good way to do this is to call one of our Crossroads/100 Huntley Street prayer partners at 1-866-273-4444. A caring, non-judgmental person will answer the phone. If you get a busy signal, try again. You can also confess Jesus in an e-mail to ministry@crossroads.ca. One way or another, you must not keep the wonderful news of your decision to yourself.

Yours for making our decision for Jesus known. Jesus said, “If you confess Me before men, I will confess your name before My Father in Heaven” (read Luke 12:8-9),

David

The rebuilding of ancient Laodicia has been going on for years. Jesus promised the people of Laodicea, “To him (the person) that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne” (Revelation 3:21a).

PHILADELPHIA

Today’s Reading: Revelation 3:7-13

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

There is not much to see from the ancient city of Philadelphia. The site is now covered over by the modern city of Alasehir (“city of Allah” or God), in Turkey. The only extant remains are the old acropolis, ruins of a 7th century AD church called St. John, an un-excavated theatre, and a length of the city walls and gate from the Byzantine era. In this photo, you can see the large piers (pillars) of a Byzantine basilica, the church of St. John.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Revelation 3:12

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the Name of My God, and the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God. And I will write on him  My new Name.

“Pillar,” according to Webster’s dictionary, is “a person or thing regarded as reliably providing support for something.” Webster also uses the words, “stalwart,” “champion,” “mainstay,” and “tower of strength.” Remember Jesus says, “I will MAKE HIM A PILLAR in the temple of My God” (key verse). He also said, “Follow Me and I WILL MAKE YOU A FISHER OF MEN” (Matthew 4:19), and “Behold, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW” (Revelation 21:5). GREAT!!! Jesus is the MAKER! We just follow Him! It’s amazing that He asks us to help from time to time. What is “the key of David”? It’s always wise to let Scripture interpret Scripture, thus bypassing interpretations based on opinions. Read Isaiah 22:20-22. The key that opens and closes doors is to be like David, whom God calls, “A man after My own heart” (read Acts 13:21-23). Again comparing Scripture with Scripture, read Psalm 37:3-5. The key is to delight oneself in the Lord! Then we want only what He wants. We line our desires up with His desires. “Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart!!” (Psalm 37:4) Also, Psalm 40:8, “I desire to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” God’s Law, His Word, is being written in our hearts daily as we are faithful and consistent in reading every Word of the Bible. This is a good time to mention that, God willing, we’ll start reading through the Bible again on June 3rd. Let’s do it again with fresh bread coming out of the oven at 6 a.m. every morning!

Our key verse also tells us of names of honour that Jesus will put on the person who “overcomes” and who “perseveres.” The Lord says through the prophet, “Those who honour Me, I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30). A smile on the face of Jesus would be more than we deserve, but this would be truly above and beyond, more than we could ask or even think!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, Your people in Philadelphia had “a little strength.” You said, “They kept My Word, and have not denied My Name!” I pray that, by Your grace alone, I will share such a commendation when I stand before Your throne in Heaven at the judgment of believers. Here’s my fervent prayer. May I recognize the “open door” (3:8a) that You have set before me. May I walk with purpose through that door into Your perfect will for the rest of my life. In Your Name I pray, Lord Jesus. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m looking forward to May 13th when we begin the next 19 mornings with the teachings of Rev. Jim and Kathy Cantelon. Recently I read over their commentaries on Revelation chapters 4 – 22, from the Day Unto Day series published in the mid 1990s by Crossroads, and they are so very good. Jim and Kathy are founders of a great congregation in Jerusalem called “King of Kings.” I encourage all readers to tell others about our guest commentators.

God willing, I’ll continue to do the “100 Personal Words” each day, and then we’ll conclude our two-year journey with my challenge from the final words of all four Gospels. I shared this plan a few days ago, but I think there are new readers each day. My beloved daughter-in-love (-law), Ann, has typed Jim and Kathy’s words into the blog for me. She’s at least three times faster than I am, and she doesn’t make mistakes. Thank You, Ann.

In my study Bible, all the messages for all seven churches are printed in red letters. They are “PERSONAL WORDS” from Jesus, not just to the seven churches of the end of the first century, but to the churches of every age. If I think I see churches around me that could possibly fit into some of the commendations or the condemnations of Jesus, I’ll pray hard and ask God to make me all I should be. I must remember that Jesus is the Judge, not me. For that I’m most thankful. My part in the process is clearly stated in Revelation 3:11b, “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown!”

Yours for receiving more personal words from Jesus and walking through doors He opens,

David

Another view of pillars in ancient Philadelphia. They are still standing in spite of severe earthquakes that have toppled everything around them.

SARDIS

Today’s Reading: Revelation 3:1-6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Backed onto one wall of the synagogue in ancient Sardis is a row of Byzantine-era (4th century AD) shops along the main road of the city (below). The road once formed the westernmost stretch of the Royal Road. Some of the shops can still be identified from inscriptions, such as: “shop of Jacob, elder of the synagogue,” “hardware shop,” “office,” “Jacob’s paint shop” and “restaurant.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Revelation 3:5

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Let’s understand that Jesus said, “I will NOT blot out his name from the book of life.” Some will immediately assume that He does blot out some names. That’s not what this means. Jesus does not do that! John tells us that not only does He not blot out names, but He confesses the names of the persons in the Book of Life before His Father. The other three writers of the Gospels all refer to this (Matthew 10:32, Mark 8:32, Luke 9:26) Read Matthew 10:28-33. The Jewish synagogue in Sardis was huge and it occupied the very centre of the city. Let us remember that until the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D., Christians worshipped with their fellow Jews in the Temple. It was the same for the synagogues throughout the world. Those believers in Jesus who were Jews continued singing the Psalms and sitting under the teaching of the Rabbis. On what became known as “The Lord’s Day” (the day of Jesus’ resurrection and the day of the birthday of the Church) those who were Christians gathered in each other’s homes where they were taught all about Jesus through the writings of the Apostles, and those of the lead Christian Pastor in the city. In these home churches, John’s “Revelation” would have been read. There may have been only one handwritten scroll of each of the Gospels, of the letters of Paul, and of the book of Revelation. They passed the scrolls around. To bring their Bibles to church they would’ve needed a cart to hold all the scrolls! Thank God for the invention of the printing press, and now the Bible is all over the World Wide Web (e.g. www.100words.ca). We have no excuse for not reading every Word of God’s Message to us over and over throughout our lives.

According to Jesus, the Sardis church was dead (3:1b). Yes, they said they believed in Jesus. Yes, they gathered together with other believers. Yes, they had a reputation of life. But where was the life which Jesus gives by the Holy Spirit? A few of the believers had genuine life in Christ, but the majority did not. Do we have ears, not just for decoration, but to hear God speak through His Word?

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, as I read and hear Your message to the believers of Sardis, I am moved to pray fervently that I will “Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die” (3:2a). I ask for grace daily that I may “remember” why I have “received and heard.” May I “hold fast and repent!” (3:3a). Grant me consistency in daily overcoming sin and living in the purity which will enable me to accept Your invitation, “Walk with Me in white!” (3:4b). Amen! Amen! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m aware of a Pastor (Bishop) called Melito of Sardis. Some of his written sermons have been passed on to us by Eusebius, Pastor/Bishop of Caesarea, who wrote the first church history book. Melito would probably have been a young man in the church in Sardis when “Revelation” was read to the believers. No doubt he was one of whom Jesus said, “walked with Me in white.” I’m going to include below in my “P.S.” just the conclusion of three of Melito’s sermons written around 160 A.D. (take a moment to read them now…). Based on this powerful preaching, I think that the “Dead” church of Sardis had experienced a revival and had come fully ALIVE! Of course, I am an incurable optimist! Jesus talked to dead people. There was the little girl in Capernaum. Jesus said to her, “Talitha cumi,” “Little girl, arise!” Jesus said to Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, “Come forth!” He specializes in resurrection!!! It is said that when a person is dying, hearing is the last sense still active, perhaps right up until rigor mortis sets in. Let’s never give up!

Yours for being faithful like Melito of Sardis,

David

P.S. Below is the last paragraph from three of Melito’s sermons, written in Sardis around 160 A.D.

1. From “The Easter Praise of Christ”:

Come, then, all you nations of men, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you. I am your forgiveness. I am the Passover that brings salvation. I am the lamb who was immolated for you. I am your ransom, your life, your resurrection, your light, I am your salvation and your king. I will bring you to the heights of heaven. With my own right hand I will raise you up, and I will show you the eternal Father.

2. From “The Lamb That Was Slain”: 

It is he who was made man of the Virgin, he who was hung on the tree; it is he who was buried in the earth, raised from the dead, and taken up to the heights of heaven. He is the mute lamb, the slain lamb, the lamb born of Mary, the fair ewe. He was seized from the flock, dragged off to be slaughtered, sacrificed in the evening, and buried at night. On the tree no bone of his was broken; in the earth his body knew no decay. He is the One who rose from the dead, and who raised man from the depths of the tomb.

3. From “On The Passover”: 

This is the alpha and the omega. This is the beginning and the end–an indescribable beginning and an incomprehensible end. This is the Christ. This is the king. This is Jesus. This is the general. This is the Lord. This is the one who rose up from the dead. This is the one who sits at the right hand of the Father. He bears the Father and is borne by the Father, to whom be the glory and the power forever. Amen.

One of the shops in ancient Sardis appears to have served as a Christian baptistery, with a rectangular basin (below) made of reused marble slabs with crosses superimposed over pagan inscriptions and decorations.

Among the ruins of ancient Sardis are the remains of the celebrated Temple of Artemis. It was built on the site of a former temple dedicated to the cult of the Anatolian goddess Cybele (burned down by the Athenians). Construction began about 334 BC, soon after Sardis was liberated from Alexander the Great. Artemis was the main goddess of the city and the Sardis temple was one of the seven largest Greek temples (more than double the size of the Parthenon in Athens). Artemis, known to the Romans as Diana, was the daughter of Zeus and twin of Apollo. She was the goddess of the hunt, the moon and fertility.

THYATIRA

Today’s Reading: Revelation 2:18-29

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Some of the ruins of ancient Thyatira, located in the modern Turkish town of Akhisar.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Revelation 2:28-29

…and I will give him the morning star.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Jesus describes Himself as “The Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16). He is, Himself, the most precious Gift. He gives Himself to those who overcome and those who keep His works until the end (2:26). As we have noted throughout this entire two-year journey through the Bible, God uses repetition for strong emphasis! He says, “Hear what the Spirit says to the churches!” “Listen!” “Pay close attention!” All who are consistent in reading God’s Word daily, and who have spiritual ears, are indeed hearing “what the Spirit says.”

Jesus is described (2:18) as having “eyes like a flaming fire” (He sees into our innermost hearts and knows our thoughts), and “Feet like fine brass” (we walk with Him and together we crush Satan under our feet…Romans 16:17-20).

Jezebel (2:20-23), probably not her real name, is the big problem in the Thyatira church. Jesus chose to name her by the name of the most wicked woman in the Old Testament. She manipulated some of the believers by her domineering personality and her claims to be a prophetess (nothing wrong with being a prophetess as were the four daughters of Philip the Evangelist – Acts 21:8-9). Satan beguiled this woman and she gave out false and destructive teachings. Jesus said that she would “teach and beguile my people to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols” (2:20b). The Angel (messenger or pastor) was not charged with any of Jezebel’s evil teachings and deeds, but for tolerating her and for failure to exercise his God-given authority. To be fair, Jezebel may not have been a member of the congregation which Jesus addressed. She may have been someone from the outside trying to draw the believers out of the church and into an independent group. The Apostle wrote to a young pastor some excellent teaching concerning all who are called of God to lead Jesus’ Church. This may be a good time to read again 1 Timothy chapters 3 & 4.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for grace to “hold fast” (as in fastened securely), and as You said, Jesus, “Keep my works until the end.” I pray most earnestly for the gift of “discerning of Spirits” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). I believe that if this gift had been operating in the church in Thyatira, Jezebel could not have beguiled some believers, and the Pastor would not have tolerated her. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS

In the course of doing my best to help Canada retain the traditional meaning of the word “marriage,” I met a Bishop at a conference on marriage in Toronto. With tears in his eyes he told me that he had written letters to all the priests in his diocese, which they were to read, but most of them refused to read his letter to their parishioners. We wept together and I found myself praying in the Name of the One who said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” I put my arm around his shoulders and prayed for authority to be restored to the God-called leaders in Jesus’ Church. I think that if I had met the Pastor of the Thyatira church, I may have done the same. I believe that most congregations want pastors that are strong, wise, and who do not tolerate manipulative personalities who would try to draw people after themselves. I’ve not been a local church pastor since November, 1971. Since that time I’ve had the privilege of ministering in a great many churches of various denominations, and I have an observation I’d like to share. Church members thrive and feel safe when they are convinced that they have a pastor who genuinely cares about them, who exercises gentle authority, and who, himself, submits to the authorities God has placed in senior leadership.

Yours for the protection and guidance of a thorough study of God’s Word day after day, and with the wise guidance and knowledge of a pastor that God has called into ministry,

David

Remains of a portico (a covered walkway or porch) which once stood on the west side of a column-lined street in ancient Thyatira. I wonder if the one Jesus called a “Jezebel” walked here. Her mission from “Apollyon,” meaning Satan the destroyer, is illustrated in these “ruins.” Jesus’ mission is the opposite. He said, “I will build My Church and the gates (rulership) of Hades (Hell) shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18b).

Intricate designs can be found amongst the ruins of Thyatira. In today’s reading we are encouraged to have a life designed by the great Creator for His glory.