Daily Lesson for October 30, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Revelation chapter 11 verses 14 through 19:

14 The second woe has passed. The third woe is coming very soon.

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord

   and of his Messiah,

and he will reign for ever and ever.’

16 Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped God, 17singing,

‘We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty,

   who are and who were,

for you have taken your great power

   and begun to reign. 

18 The nations raged,

   but your wrath has come,

   and the time for judging the dead,

for rewarding your servants,* the prophets

   and saints and all who fear your name,

   both small and great,

and for destroying those who destroy the earth.’

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

The week before last I traveled back to Lubbock for a brief stay and spent the night with the great matriarch of our family, my Aunt Opal. One of what I am sure is very few remaining female World War II era veterans, she is still as strong in mind and spirit today at 96-years-old as she was when she signed up for the war against Fascism 75-plus-years ago. She is a survivor of many many things, and a source of wisdom and courage for us all. In the stay, she reminded me again what she always reminds me when I call or visit amidst times of distress — which seem to occur more and more often these days.  “God is still on the throne,” she says. “We know that.”

John the Revelator is channeling Aunt Opal this morning. 

The people are amidst great turmoil with woes befallen them and more woes to come. It is a distressing time for all indeed. And for some it is absolutely an terrifying and dangerous time.

It’s into that terrifying time that John speaks of his apocalyptic vision. He sees beyond the turmoil and terror.  He sees a vision behind all the madness. He sees the woes — never denying them. But he sees even more; he sees how all the woe and madness shall end. He sees resolution. He sees God on the throne.

John was probably an old man when he had this vision — maybe even nearing the age of Aunt Opal.  He had seen much. He had endured and survived much. And when he spoke, he spoke with courage and wisdom, that the saints on earth would not dismay, but stand strong and faithful until the end. 

So be it. Alpha and Omega. At the first and very last, God is on God’s throne.