Month: May 2026

Revelation 4:1 – Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” ² And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. ³ The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. ⁴ Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. ⁶ In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. 

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. ⁷ The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. ⁸ Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” (NLT) 

In chapter 1 & 2, the Risen Christ was giving his message to the churches, now the scene changes to a vision of the heavenly court. This chapter begins with ‘Then’, other translations have ‘After this’.  What is implied is that John did not receive everything we have in this book during one day. It could have taken weeks, even months. The Spiritual application for us is that sometimes it takes time to fully understand God’s plan.  

The voice in verse one tells John that he will be shown “what must happen after this”.  This letter was originally written to the churches in that part of the Roman Empire, many of whom were facing trials and persecutions. ‘What must happen after this’ refers to what must take place during their lifetime. This letter was not written to predict the distant future.  However, like anything we find in the Bible, the application of its teaching’s are timeless and we can learn something for our days.  

What follows is a description of God, and it is interesting to note that John uses no human characteristics.  Along with this description of God was the glow of a rainbow. This was significant. Remember that a rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant to never destroy humankind again. This book is not about the destruction of the world! It is about overcoming evil and the temptation to compromise our faith. These are words of hope, not of doom and gloom! This is why this book is so powerful, for Christians have always battled evil and the desire to compromise.

Who were the twenty-four elders? There are several interpretations.  One states that they represented all the faithful, for there were twelve tribes of Israel, and the Gentiles made up the other twelve. Whoever they were, they represented the faithful who had conquered evil in this life.  

The four creatures will appear frequently in this book, and they are always found near the throne, praising and worshiping God. They are guardians of the throne. It has been interpreted that they represent the created order (four winds, four points of the compass).  In the common literature of that day, each creature had significance. The lion was supreme among the beasts; the ox supreme among the cattle; the eagle supreme among the birds; and man supreme among all creatures.  What we can take away from this is twofold.  God cares for all of creation, and all of creation worships God. This is a common theme in the psalms: “Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs” (Psalm 66:4). 

Today, let us join in with all of creation, worshiping and praising God.  Let us also remember that God has a place reserved for us in this great heavenly court!  

Posted by Ramon Torres 

Revelation 3:7 – “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:

⁸ “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. ⁹ 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.
¹⁰ “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. ¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. ¹² 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.
¹³ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” (NLT)

Today’s passage is Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia.  Philadelphia was founded as a center for Greek culture, sort of a governmental mission to that part of the world.  It had various schools and many artists. The same earthquake that destroyed Sardis destroyed Philadelphia in 17 AD.  Strong aftershocks, however, continued to rock the city for years, and many of its inhabitants left the city for the surrounding countryside.  The result was a city in ruins whose remaining inhabitants lived in fear. 

Like Sardis, there really isn’t much in the way of accusations against the church.  The key to this passage is found in verse eight: “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.”  Because of the trying times in their city, they had little strength.  It is important to note that Jesus recognizes their weakness, and the reasons for their weakness.  Jesus does not, however, abandon them in their weakness.  Jesus tells them that he has opened a door for them.  What could this mean? 

There are several theories as to what exactly this could have meant, but one thing is for sure, it meant an opportunity.  Perhaps it was an opportunity to reach out to the shell shocked citizens of Philadelphia with something more than brotherly love.  Maybe it meant they could reach out with the unconditional love of Jesus.  It may have been an opportunity for the Christians in Philadelphia to draw closer to Jesus, for we know that in John 10:9, Jesus says that he himself is the door.

The Spiritual lesson for us from this passage is that even when all around us seems tragic and dark, Jesus is there for us.  Jesus will not abandon us in our time of need. Today, regardless of what takes place in our lives, let us never grow discouraged.  Instead, let us be confident in the one who is always with us! 

Posted by Ramón Torres 

Revelation 3:1 – “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. ² 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. ³ 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.

⁴ “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. ⁵ 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.
⁶ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. (NLT)

Today we examine the letter to the church in Sardis.  Sardis was a center for the woolen trade.  It is recorded that the art of dying wool was actually developed in Sardis (and this is why Jesus references soiled and white clothing).  In 17 AD there was a severe earthquake that essentially destroyed the city.  The city was faltering, and relied heavily upon Rome’s money to keep going.  Rome did its best to rebuild the city, but they could not revitalize the spirit of the inhabitants.  The church in Sardis reflected the surrounding society, both were dead spiritually.  Jesus speaks of this in verse one: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.”

Unlike the churches in the other letters we have looked at, the church in Sardis is not rebuked for idol worship or immorality, so they must have been living good, moral lives.  They probably went to church, and did good church ‘stuff’, yet they were still dead.  There are a lot of good Christians who go to church and do good church stuff, but God desires more from us.  God desires that we have passion!  This letter teaches us that a lack of passion for our Christian walk does not meet the requirements of God (verse 2).

Perhaps, this was a church without real Christian action.  Remember what James tells us: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).  Christians often regard Jesus as the one to whom we look for something – strength, help, comfort, forgiveness.  While Jesus is always ready to supply these in abundance, the truth of the matter is that Jesus looks for something from us, as well.  Jesus looks for and desires our love for others; our loyalty to Jesus; and our service towards humanity.  We are to be Christ’s witness to the world.  As the Apostle Paul said, we are to be the Body of Christ at work in the world.

Today, let us strive to move beyond church ‘stuff’.  Let us allow our relationship with Jesus to be modeled in all that we do!  

Posted by Ramón Torres