Author: Kristen Kansiewicz, LMHC

“Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: ‘Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.”

These few verses hold a lot of intrigue for me. We’ve just spent the first four chapters of Revelation getting an inside glimpse into heaven and the throne room of God. There are unusual creatures and twenty-four elders on thrones and this Son of Man glowing figure. Enter the scroll. It is in the right hand of the one who is sitting on the throne. And yet seemingly no one is able to open the scroll.

Why couldn’t the one on the throne open the seal? He seemed like a Messianic/Jesus figure up until this point. I noted a few days ago, however, that there was a lot of metaphor so far. What we know is that the glowing figure on the throne was “like” the Son of Man. But we see here that it isn’t Jesus. Notice also that John’s reaction is bitter weeping. Why is it so crushing that no one can open the scroll? What is written on it?

Imagine this overwhelming and somewhat frightening scene that John has experienced in these first four chapters of Revelation. Things perhaps start to make a little bit of sense when this scroll comes along that no one can open. Clearly the scroll is a symbol of hope. If no one can open the scroll, then what? Is there no hope? The depth of emotion in his bitter tears reminds me of my need for a Savior. OUR need for a Savior. If no one can win the most significant spiritual battles that are happening in the supernatural realm, then what? I have no power to open any supernatural scrolls, I’m sure of that! Take a moment today to sit with your own smallness. If Jesus does not come, no one can save us.

Take a moment to read Revelation 4 before reading the devotional below.

Be sure to read the whole chapter of Revelation 4 before you read this devotional. When the passages are too long I don’t copy and paste it here, but if you read my words and not the Bible it’s harming your spiritual life.

In today’s passage we get a vision of heaven. I’m not interested in using this devotional series to figure out what’s literal or figurative or what every symbol means. There are plenty of scholars who have done that and I’d encourage you to dig deeper if it interests you. For our purposes, I want to notice the bigger picture. Who is God and what is his kingdom like? Two key themes I notice in today’s chapter: diversity and worship.

John can barely put words to what he is seeing. Twenty-four thrones, twenty-four elders, and four living creatures that are unlike anything we’ve ever seen. What I see in that is images of diversity. The richness of diversity in God’s kingdom extends far beyond even human diversity to include even creatures we have never seen before. And what is this diverse group doing? Worshiping God. Bowing at the feet of Jesus. Will heaven be a constant worship concert? I doubt it, since the Bible talks about worship in all kinds of ways that don’t involve singing. However, it is interesting to see this diverse kingdom united in worship. Perhaps that picture could serve us even here and now.

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

‘I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

‘Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

‘Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.'”

Again, we being today’s reading by asking, “What does this passage tell me about who God is?” I constantly have to remind myself to start there so that he is the main character of the story instead of me in the lead role. It seems clear that God does not like things halfway — go big or go home. Throughout the Bible there are contrasts to earthly riches or earthly wisdom and supernatural riches and wisdom. We see here God’s heart to offer a better way.

It is amazing how many times I have heard this “lukewarm” concept and the idea of God spitting us out of him mouth. What a picture of disgust and anger. And yet reading this today I was surprised by what comes next: an invitation into a supernatural life. He’s offering them supernatural gold, offering to cover their shame, offering to share a meal as a friend. This picture reveals a lot about the nature of God that gets missed when we only look at him as disgusted with us.

This passage does say that God will spit this lukewarm church out of his mouth. But it’s not because he is repulsed by the people themselves. The focus here is on the ways that they have bought into earthly ideals. They’ve compromised and he has something more for them. I don’t know if you’ve ever used the bitter pet spray that is supposed to stop them from chewing on things (side note: it doesn’t work). When you get that stuff on your hands, it’s hard to get off. I have thought my hands were clean only to pick up a bite of food and taste the residue of that bitter taste. Imagine if my response to that was to cut my own hands off and throw them in the trash! I would be momentarily disgusted by my hands but not because I dislike my hands. Instead, I am disgusted by what is on my hands and my desire would be to clean them once again. This is God’s heart: call out what is evil and then restore. Thankfully, he returns to our house and waits for a friendly invitation in every time.

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:

‘I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

‘Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

‘Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.'”

As a counselor, I’ve heard a lot of people wonder if we are living in this “great time of testing” as we live through a pandemic. Are these the last days? We know that the authors of the New Testament wrote that THEY were living in the last days, and we have come after them so logically we must be in the last days too. Everything after Jesus is the “last days.” But are these the LAST last days? It’s hard to say (and in fact the Bible says we will never have any idea, so trying to guess is probably a fruitless endeavor). We do know that other places around the world experience war and suffering in ways unfamiliar to those who have lived their whole lives in the United States. We also know that there have been plenty of plagues and pandemics throughout history. I would encourage us all to think historically and globally before jumping to extremes about our current context.

Let’s get back to God’s heart as he reveals it in today’s passage. What do we know about Jesus from what he says here? We know he values perseverance, we know that those who do persevere will be rewarded, and we know that he is making a new Jerusalem. An eternal city directly from heaven. It’s interesting to see the new Jerusalem described as a city that “comes down” from heaven, as opposed to being the same as heaven itself. There’s a lot we don’t know about what God has in mind for his new heaven and new earth. We’ll hear more about that in coming chapters.

Perseverance is the theme of this letter. Pressing on to victory. Crown of life. It’s an eternal hope that drives us in our faith journey. One thing is for sure: once you reach that crown of life no one can take it from you. You will become a pillar in the Temple of God. In some way those who are faithful to Jesus will literally be the building blocks that hold up the dwelling place of God. Never underestimate the importance of the faithful church in the eternal story.

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

‘I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

‘Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.'”

I deeply believe that these verses are a word for the American church in the Trump era. The riots and insurrection on Capitol Hill with many waving Jesus flags and claiming to be Christian show the death of the church in America. Many Christian leaders have spoken as if Trump was the new messiah, and they defended him and propped him up even when he made racist, sexist, or extreme remarks. Many have been led astray by conspiracy theories and calls for violence. Even after clear rioting and inciting of violence, some Christian leaders claimed that other groups were acting as Trump supporters to make them look bad. Already these have been shown to be lies. The message to these so-called Christians: “I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.”

This is not a political post. This is not about whether or not Trump has created any good policies. But I believe that when the church chases political power and religious rights, we die. We have been dying a slow death in that regard for at least the past 40 years, with the horrific results of the Trump era placing a nail in the coffin. How many more nails will there be?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: any “gospel” or teaching that is Jesus + something is not the Gospel. Jesus is it. He summed it up with love God and love neighbor. Violence is evil. Racism is evil. Placing our hope in a larger-than-life political messiah is evil. Placing support of a political party over condemnation of wrong is evil. The church needs to wake up, repent, and return to the heart of the Gospel before it is too late. For those who have stood firm during this time, be encouraged that God sees you and he will not forget.