A Life of Thanks-Giving预览

At the Centre...

On the penal colony on the island of Patmos, the Apostle John, who was imprisoned for spreading the gospel, had a vision of heaven.  Some think it is a vision of the future, but that reduces and diminishes the incredible message of Revelation. The vision John saw wasn't merely of something that would happen one day far, far, far in the future. No, his vision is one that applies to the past, the present and future.

It is a vision of how Christ overcomes evil and will ultimately put an end to it forever. The vision he had comforted the early Christians oppressed by the power of Rome. Throughout history, Revelation has comforted Christians who have been persecuted and it comforts those who are being persecuted today.

There are numerous visions in Revelation. The vision of the scroll with seven seals is a picture of suffering from the perspective of the throne-room of heaven. The beautiful moment in this vision is when John is weeping because there seems to be no one who is able to open the 7 seals on the scroll that deals with the suffering of the church over the ages. Then there is great relief because Jesus appears as the Lamb who was slain who is able to open up the scroll of suffering.

So what does all of this have to do with thanksgiving?

Well, before John describes the scroll and how Jesus opens it, he describes heaven as the control room of history. In this control room we meet four strange creatures (who represent the earth) and 24 elders (who represent the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles, the faithful of the Old and New Testaments).

And what is their job? "To give glory, honour and thanks to God."

As we draw our series on Thanks-giving to an end, let's pause with this image in our minds: In the control room of heaven, where even our suffering is seen, there is ongoing praise and thanks-giving. Why? Because the scroll of our suffering is opened by none less than Jesus, the Lamb of God, who hung on the cross and defeated sin, death and Satan. 

For this we GIVE THANKS!

---------------------

This brings us to the end of our series. I pray it has been a blessing to you!