Reflections

As I (Fred) reflect on 2014, many events stand out clearly in my mind as a series of high and low notes.  January 2014 began on a very happy high note: Fiona Bullard was born on January 3, 2014. This day also had a low note because on that same day many of us attended the funeral service for Leanna Terry Turner and her husband Samad Fard Muhammad Turner who were both killed in a car crash on December 31, 2013.  However, it was encouraging that her younger sister Gwyneth gave the graveside eulogy and essentially shared gospel with all who were present. 

Worship God

Revelation 19:10

Welcome! We have been going through the book of Revelation as a church for the last several months. Over the last few weeks we have been informally combining our study of Revelation with various aspects of the accounts of Christ’s birth. This week, we have only one verse to focus on in Revelation, which we will look at near the end of the message. Last week we focused on longing for Christ, an especially appropriate mindset for the Christmas season. I drew out the parallels between the how people longed for the coming of Christ before His birth and how we too should long for His return.

This week I want to talk about marveling at what God has done. This too is an especially appropriate mindset as we reflect on Christ’s birth. We see this again and again in the Luke account. Recall that the angel visits Zechariah and tells him he is to become the father of a great prophet and his to name him John. Because of Zechariah’s unbelief, the angel causes him to become mute. News of Zechariah’s sudden muteness spread throughout the area, but of course, because he was mute, it remained a great mystery. I do think Zechariah wrote to his wife, and so she knew what was going on. So their baby was born, and on the eighth day after his birth, they were going to name him in the circumcision ceremony. Tradition held to name him after Zechariah, but his wife said no, name him John. They asked Zechariah to write the name he wanted, certain that Zechariah would choose his own name. But Zechariah wrote “His name is John.” This was astonishing enough, but then he immediately was able to again speak. Here is what the account says next:

Fine Linen

Revelation 19:7-9

Welcome! Since August we have been working our way through the book of Revelation. Our pace, on average, has been about one chapter a week. But this week and next week we come seemingly to a screeching halt. We will look at other passages of scripture beyond the book of Revelation, but in Revelation, we only cover three verses this week and only one verse next week. Why?

If you were present at John Farmer’s last several messages in Revelation, he has had a wonderful chart that outlines the Book of Revelation. If you remember, the final part of this chart, representing the last few chapters of Revelation, was represented with smiley faces. We are on the verge, the cusp of the real smiley face stuff, but this Christmas season, we arranged this “screeching halt” so that you would have to wait. At this point in Revelation, Christ is about to return at last; Satan is about to be defeated. Soon. But not yet. I hope and trust that you long for that day as I do, when all is set right, when we begin the happily ever after, an eternity beyond imagining in the very presence of the Lord.

The Fall of the Fall

Revelation 18:1-19:6

 “The Man Comes Around”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9IfHDi-2EA

And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder:

 One of the four beasts saying: "Come and see." And I saw.

 And behold, a white horse. [Rev 6:1-2]

 There's a man going 'round taking names.

 And he decides who to free and who to blame.

 Everybody won't be treated all the same.

 There'll be a golden ladder reaching down.

 When the man comes around.

 The hairs on your arm will stand up.

 At the terror in each sip and in each sup.

 For you partake of that last offered cup,

 Or disappear into the potter's ground.

 When the man comes around.