The cast of characters around God’s throne is a bit unusual and take a bit of details to interpret.  But what is clear and needs no interpretation is why they are worshiping.  God is worthy of all praise, and, honor, and power, and glory.  The word worthy is simply giving worth to another.  It is similar to the worship or as some spell and pronounce it worthship.  Because of who God is and all that he has done, he is the object/focus of our worship.  The lamb is also mentioned to be on the throne in the center of these worshipers so he is equally worthy of praise.  And so we can praise God and Jesus.  But I hope you noticed in the message that the Holy Spirit (the seven blazing fires) is also in the center (literally in the eye) of the throne as well.  Therefore, he too should be the object of our praise and worship.  He too is divine and equal with God and Jesus.  When was the last time you praised and worshiped the Spirit?  Maybe we should give him equal treatment as well.

Yesterday we started a new series entitled Back to the Future.  As I have studied the book, the more I realized the parallels to the movie.  The past is repeated in the future and the future is a reflection of the past.  As we start this series, we will find time and time again that John is just looking to the future by seeing the past and placing the past in a new setting of the future.  And one of the things I did not stress in the message this morning (we will see it come out next week much more) is how exalted Jesus is in the book of Revelation.  Here in chapter one, he is placed on par with God.  Jesus is called the ruler of the kings of the earth.  There are several passages in the OT that give this job to God (Ps 2:10-11; Ps 47:9).  Later on Jesus calls himself the first and the last (vs 17) which parallels what God calls himself in vs 8, the Alpha and the Omega.  Jesus says he is the Living One which is what God is called in Deut 5:26, Josh 3:10, 1 Sam 17:26, 36; Ps 84:2, and many other places.  Jesus is divine and his death and resurrection attests to this.  Hence why it is mentioned twice in this opening chapter (vs 5 and vs 18).  And he holds the key which is reminiscent of the prophecy from Isa 22.22 (also see Rev 3:7-8).  And finally he accepts the worship of John in vs 17 which we will see in other places in Revelation is not accepted by non-divine beings (Rev 19:10; 22:9).  Jesus is God, who became a man to suffer and die, and who was raised to life as a sacrifice for our sins.  Tune in next week to discover more.

Conforming is one of the easiest temptation to fall into.  Everybody likes to “fit in”.  No one likes to “stick out” and be different.  But that is what God has called his people to do ever since Abram when God asked him to circumcise everyone in his household.  But idea behind being different is because God has called his people to be holy and our “differences” are a picture of how God is “different” (i.e. separate from nature and not a part of nature: transcendence).  Plus it is how Jesus lived his life.  So remember Romans 12:2 and do not be conformed to the pattern of the world but let God transform you with a new (and different) life.

Opportunities are all around us.  But too often we only see the obstacle.  We pray and plead for the obstacle to go away or struggle to force our way through it.  But if we use the spiritual eyes of God, we will see that the obstacles are really opportunities.  We only need to ask God to help us see them in this way.

Usually I get these devotionals out the first of the week, but my week has been thrown into confusion and if you check deeper, this post was not made until Thursday.  I have been finding myself in several DIY projects that suddenly needed done.  Our washer sprung a leak that took longer to fix then I care to admit.  (Still waiting on parts after finding something else wrong)  The ice maker at church quit (repairman called and fixed), a toilet at church also needed a new float valve installed.  My icemaker/crusher in my fridge went on the fritz.  A blind at my parents house needed replaced.  Much of my time on all these projects was spent looking for the right parts on line (and at the lowest price with the speediest delivery).  On top of that school is starting next week and so all the signups, orientations, checkups, etc. has interfered with my schedule while my wife and I scramble to get everything done in time.  So here in the devotion this week.  In your business, do not forget God.  Take time to spend with him on a daily basis.  Then your days will go smoother (or at the very very least, with him on your mind)

Had a great vacation, although due to medical emergencies in my family it was cut short.  I am looking forward to continuing it down the road when things clear up.

I am going on vacation this week so this will be short about about vacations.  Vacations are good and everyone one needs one every once in a while.  So if you have not taken a vacation recently, save your money and go.

The question, Are you Ready?, is important in the Bible.  Whether you are pre-trib rapture believer or a post-trib rapture believer, you need to be ready.  Notice I used the noun “believer” in both cases.  Because I think you can still be a Christian and have one or the other opinion.  I personally believe the Bible teaches a post-trib rapture, but since we cannot know for sure until the future events happen we cannot (nor should not) hold too tightly to this belief.  God can and will fulfill scripture according to his plan and not our.  But either way we need to be ready.  We need to be ready if the rapture takes place tomorrow or after the great tribulation (or in the middle for all those mid-tribers out there).  And be ready if the opinion you have is wrong.  If you believe in pre-trib, are you ready to live into the tribulation (with all the persecution of Christians)?  If you are post-trib, are you ready right now to be raptured if you are wrong?  As I said, I would rather teach/preach a post-trib rapture and be wrong because once the rapture takes place no one will blame me for teaching in error.  However if I teach/preach a pre-trib rapture and I am wrong, I am going to have to live here on earth with the fact that I was wrong and will have to justify why I was wrong to others.  If I was wrong about something so critical as the last time, how will anyone believe I am right about all the other things the Bible teaches.  So I guess what I want to leave with you is to be ready.  Ready to suffer or ready to be raptured but most importantly to be ready to die and stand before our maker and judge.  Because whether or not we are living in the last times or God tarries for another 1000 years, most of us have a greater potential to die before the rapture takes place.  The death rate still is 100% (even Christ died).  Are you ready for that?