Revelation
This book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John while he was exiled on the isle of Patmos. It is a culmination of the entire Bible. Yet people argue about what it really means, what all of the imagery really signifies. But this we know: it tells the end of the story. God wins. Satan, death, pain, and sorrow are all gone forever. On the way to that culmination, John conveys letters to the seven churches of Asia. Then he is invited by Jesus into the very throne room of God. Then the events of the end of this world, as we know it, are displayed for John to record. As difficult as it is to read through the troubles coming on this world, there's great joy for the Christian who reads of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! Hallelujah! Praise God, indeed!
(**denoted very visual devotions)
**Revelation 2:23 - What's Inside
**Revelation 3:17 - Abundance or Fruitfulness?
Revelation 4:11 - Worthy are You, O Lord (Holy Day Lesson - The Sabbath)
**Revelation 4:11 - A Broken Bottle (YEA lesson - YE2D.2)
Revelation 11:15 - Go for the Gold (Holy Day Lesson - Feast of Tabernacles)
Revelation 19:7 - The Bride of Christ (Holy Day Lesson - Feast of Tabernacles)
Revelation 21:4 - For the Former Things Have Passed Away (Holy Day Lesson - Days of Unleavened Bread)
Revelation 21:4 - The Bread of Affliction (Holy Day Lesson - Days of Unleavened Bread)
Revelation 21:5 - The Last Great Day (Holy Day Lesson - Eighth Day)
**Revelation 22:17b - Water of Life (Holy Day Lesson - Feast of Tabernacles)
**What’s Inside
And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, . . . Revelation 2:23
Materials: embroidery project
Have you ever watched someone embroider a tea towel or pillowcase? It’s actually pretty interesting to see the even stitches and intricacies they weave with just the embroidery floss!! But have you ever looked at the back of the project? It’s a mess! There are knots and threads going in all directions. It doesn’t look at all impressive from underneath.
Sometimes we forget that the people around us are much like that embroidery. People can look like they have it all together, are super intelligent, or are just intimidating to be around because they are so impressive - but the reality is that each person is a human being with faults and foibles and fears. Of course, we don’t see that - or actually we see only as much as that person allows us to see.
But there is One who sees the whole package. God sees the outside and He sees the heart. This verse in Revelation 2:23 says that God (Jesus Christ, the Son) not only sees the heart and what’s inside, He searches both the mind and the heart. He looks deeper to see what you’re thinking and why. He looks at your motives and your fears. He digs deeper to know you completely.
There’s a couple of results of knowing that God sees us, outside and in. First, there’s no sense in pretending with God. He sees right through to the truth. So if you’re angry with someone, you might as well tell God that you’re angry. He already knows. If you did something wrong, you might as well tell Him about it; He already knows. Secondly, since God knows where you are in your thinking, who you truly are, and what you are capable of, He can be trusted to take care of everything in your life. He will protect and guide you. He will intervene for your good (even if we don’t understand how it could possibly end up good). And thirdly, God sees all of you, inside and out, and He loves you enough to redeem you from sin and death with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He loves you that much! All of these facts should lead us to one conclusion: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Abundance or Fruitfulness?
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, , , , Revelation 3:17
Materials: herb jars of homegrown dill, cilantro, coriander, mint
If you ever talk to an experienced gardener about planting dill, cilantro, or mint, they will strongly caution you about where you plant these three common plants. (I’m sure there are others!!) I remember my mom telling me, “You only have to plant dill once.” It comes back year after year. It’s very prolific. So is cilantro. To the inexperienced person, it seems like an overabundance of caution. What’s the big deal? You get lots of dill or mint or cilantro. So what? That may have been what the pilgrims on the Mayflower thought when they brought over dandelions to use for medicinal purposes! They would be shocked to find that today so many people work very hard to eradicate dandelions from their gardens and yards. Dandelions are considered weeds - a plant that comes up where you don’t want it! And that’s what happens, especially, with the cilantro and the dill. It comes up and takes over, choking out what you really wanted to grow.
Similarly, you’ve seen people work very hard to get their fruit trees to produce lots of fruit - only to find that the tree is so laden with fruit that the branches start breaking. If that happens, the fruit won’t mature on that branch. And if it’s a big enough branch that breaks, it can kill the tree! Or sometimes the tree is so laden with fruit that it overextends itself - and ends up dying even if the branches don’t break!! And sometimes the overabundance of one plant interferes with the fruitfulness of the plant next to it.
There are several lessons for us. First, abundance doesn’t necessarily mean fruitfulness. You can have an abundance of mint, dill, or dandelions. They could be considered a blessing. Sometimes things we consider blessings can take over your life, like weeds, and get in the way of other parts of your life that really need your attention. So be careful of the projects you undertake.
Secondly, be careful about taking on a project that sounds good, but it saps all of your time and energy so that you can’t do other things that have to be done. Sometimes we think we’re doing a Godly work, but we neglect to ask God for His wisdom and direction first. We find ourselves worn out, doing something which we end up realizing God didn’t want us to do in the first place. Like a tree whose branches are broken or a bush that has overextended itself, we can get to the end of a project with no energy left for what is truly valuable.
The Laodiceans thought they were rich and had an abundance! And physically, perhaps they did. But they were not rich in the ways God wanted them to be. We can think we are rich and are producing an abundance of fruit. Yet, in reality, we have an overabundance of something which does not benefit us or the people around us. In fact, it’s detrimental!! And it doesn’t bring glory to God.
Worthy are You, O Lord
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11
The Greek word for “created” is ktizo (#2936). It means to create, or produce from nothing. It’s hard to get your mind around that. There’s a song in The Sound of Music where Maria sings, “Nothing comes from nothing . . .” That’s the whole problem with evolution. It can’t account for how matter came into existence. But the Greek word for “created” specifically emphasizes that which was created came from nothing.
Interestingly, this Greek word is used in Mark 13:19 talking about the Great Tribulation. That time will be worse than any time since the creation which God created. Mark makes a point of using that word which indicates that God produced the world from nothing.
Again, it’s used in Colossians 1:16 when Paul states, “for by him all things were created” - talking about Jesus Christ. Paul specifically uses a word that emphasizes Jesus’ ability to create something from nothing - namely us and everything around us.
Why did God create this world? Have you ever wondered about that? The ESV (and many others that I checked) say that God created everything by his will. The KJV translates it a little differently. It says that God created the world and everything in it for His pleasure. Think about it. God created the world on purpose. He had a plan. He did it because He wanted to, and the KJV implies that God knew that ultimately it would bring Him great joy.
When I make a plate of chocolate chip cookies, I plan it out because it brings me pleasure. When I weed the garden, even if it’s hard, I do it because I know that ultimately it will bring me pleasure. I do what I do because there’s some pleasure, joy, reward, ultimate good that will result. That’s the idea in this verse. God created the world because it was His will; it was for His pleasure. Remember when God finished His creation, He said it was very good. When all is said and done (see Revelation 21 and 22), it will be very good again.
Eventually, we’re going to be in the very throne room of God, singing praises to His name - much like this vision that is recorded by John. Then all of creation will praise Him, using all of their power, given to them by God, to glorify and honor Him.
Why? Do you see the reason in this verse that God is worthy to receive glory and honor and power? Because He’s the Creator!
In Revelation 5:12, it’s a little different. It says, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” What’s the reason given here for the adoration? Jesus, as the Lamb, is the Redeemer.
Can you think of anything in the Bible that is directly tied to God as Creator and God as Redeemer? Exodus 20:8-11 gives the command for keeping the Sabbath holy. It says that God created everything in six days and the seventh day He set aside as holy. Here the reason for the observance of Sabbath is because God as Creator said to.
In Deuteronomy 5:12-15, there’s no mention of the Creation in the Sabbath commandment; it is all about redemption from slavery in Egypt. The Sabbath is to be observed because God as the Redeemer said to.
He is still the Creator. He is still the Redeemer. So today, each week, every sabbath, we honor God by keeping the Sabbath holy. Not only is it a command of God, it’s good for us physically. Not only is it good for us physically, it’s good for us spiritually. It’s a good reminder that He is worthy of glory and honor and power in every part of our lives. The Sabbath is God’s gracious weekly reminder to each of us that He is our Creator and He is our Redeemer. We didn’t make ourselves. And we can’t earn eternal life in His kingdom. In other words, we didn’t bring ourselves into this world, and we can’t take ourselves into God’s kingdom.
Each Sabbath I hope you stop and think: I’m celebrating the Sabbath today because God is worthy as my Creator and Redeemer to receive glory and honor and power. Selah!
**A Broken Bottle
Memory Verse: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power . . . Revelation 4:11 (NIV)
Materials Needed: doughnut, trash can; packing material, tissues, YEA lesson (YE2D.2 - borntowin.net/yea/primaries/)
Does it bother you to waste something? A perfectly good gallon of milk . . . a brand new car . . . a roll of toilet paper? What about time? Do you waste time? What about tissues? Do you take a handful of tissues, wipe them across your nose and throw the whole handful away? What about a doughnut? Do you ever take something during potluck and then decide you didn’t want to eat it and just throw it away? What about popping packing material? Do you ever waste that?
The problem is the definition of wasting. Is it wasting if there’s a perfectly good reason for using the resource in a particular way?
That’s what happened the day that Mary anointed Jesus’ head and feet with expensive perfume (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-8). Some people sitting there watching wondered why in the world Jesus would allow Mary to waste so much expensive perfume on Him! Judas Iscariot even stated that the perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii. A denarii was a day’s wage for a laborer. This perfume was worth a lot of money. Judas asked why it couldn’t rather have been sold and used to help a poor person. Judas thought the bottle of perfume was wasted on Jesus. Jesus quickly corrected Judas - and anyone else down through the ages who might have thought the same thing. Jesus said that what Mary did was a beautiful thing: she anointed his head and feet with perfume and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair! Mary didn’t think it was wasteful to honor Jesus in this way! And she was right!!
There’s a song by Steve Green (“Broken and Spilled Out”) which relates to this. The idea is that not only did Mary break the perfume bottle and spill it out for love of Jesus, we also should make it our goal in life to be used for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ. That’s what Romans 12:1 says: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Our perspective in life should be that we are totally and completely servants of Almighty God - to go where He tells us to go, to do what He tells us to do out of reverence and love and devotion to Him!!
But then Steve Green goes on to make another connection. He points out that God’s most precious treasure, His Son, Jesus Christ, was broken and spilled out for each one of us. If you have entered into a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ, then Jesus was sacrificed for you. What should your response be?! Was that sacrifice just wasted? Or do you recognize the incredible love that God has for you that He would make that sacrifice on your behalf?
If you truly understand the enormity, the extreme cost, the value of what Jesus did, it will change your life. You will respond by showing your love back to God. How? By keeping His commandments, doing what He says - all the time, not just when it’s convenient.
Just as that bottle of perfume was broken and spilled out for Jesus Christ, just as Jesus was broken and spilled out for us, so we should totally be broken and spilled out for Him. And it’s not a waste. It’s God’s plan.
Go For the Gold
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 Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15
This is the goal! The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. This is what we’ve been working for.
Remember Galatians 6:9? And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Let us not grow weary . . . why? Because of the goal! We will reap in due season, at that time, when the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ!
Remember 1 Timothy 6:12? Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Fight the good fight. Why? So you can take hold of the eternal life - the goal - the kingdom of our Lord!
Remember Hebrews 12:1? Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. What race? What race had the witnesses already run? It was to get to the goal - the kingdom of our Lord!
Remember 1 Peter 3:15? but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. What is your reason for hope? It’s the kingdom. It’s the goal. That’s the motivating force that keeps us moving each day!
These are just a few of the verses which encourage us to endure and overcome. Think of the letters to the seven churches in Asia! Why is there this repetition in Scripture? Why did God say the same thing so many times? Why is it necessary?
We’re going to face obstacles to our faith. We’re going to encounter difficulties in this walk as a believer in Jesus Christ. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be hard. But we must persevere.
There was a church marquee near where we live last summer. It said:
Go for the gold.
Give your best to the Master.
Reward ceremony later.
We can’t get bogged down in the temporary. We can become distracted by the carnal, our own agenda, our desires. We have to fix our minds on the goal - the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
There’s another verse that we memorized recently that will help when this world closes in too much: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phil. 4:8).
I believe that thinking about Revelation 11:15 fits that description! 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 Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” I want to add my voice to those loud voices in heaven. I want to be among those who proclaim with joy, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!” Amen!!
**The Bride of Christ
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; Revelation 19:7
Materials: blue yarn dolls (one for each student)
There’s an old rhyme associated with weddings about what the bride wears:
Something old, something new,
something borrowed, and something blue.
Because we know that marriage is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ and the Church, perhaps we ought to think more about what the Bride is wearing.
The idea of the Bride of Christ and the marriage suppler fo the Lamb fits right in with our topic yesterday, of being chosen by God to fit into His family. This is just one more special reason to rejoice. God the Father has chosen us, the Church, to be the Bride for His Son. Talk about a special place, relationship, and role! As a bride and groom pledge themselves to each other until death, we will pledge ourselves to be united with Christ forever because there will be no more death in God’s kingdom. We get to be a helpmate to Jesus for eternity. Talk about a special reason to rejoice!
Because we know that this is what God has planned for us, we spend these days preparing for the wedding. We want to get as close to Jesus, knowing and doing His will. We study the Bible, spend time in prayer and meditation, and celebrate the Feast. God says He’s going to purify for Himself a Bride. So we accept, with joy, the cleansing process which may not be much fun. But we know it’s preparing us for a future in His kingdom as His bride.
We also need to think about what we will wear as the Bride of Christ. Revelation 19:8 says the Bride of Christ will be given fine linen, bright and pure, for fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. But we know that our righteousness comes from Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). So the Bride puts on the Lord Jesus Christ, His righteousness (Romans 13:14). That’s definitely something old; nothing could be older than our eternal God. At the same time, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). The borrowed? Perhaps that’s the life, the existence, that He has given to us. And the blue? Isn’t it interesting that the tassels commanded to be worn were supposed to have a blue thread in them (Numbers 15:38)!!
Today, as you rejoice here at the Feast of Tabernacles, think about the marriage supper of the Lamb and think about the wedding garments of the Bride of Christ. What should you be wearing?
For the Former Things Have Passed Away
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
The goldfish that we’ve had for almost 10 years is dying. I will be very surprised to wake in the morning and find her still alive. It’s going to be a painful way to start the first of God’s spring holy days, the First Day of Unleavened Bread. And yet, it will make this verse all the more poignant to the children. We do cry. We do feel pain. We do mourn. There is still death in this world. But it won’t always be that way.
And in fact, it wasn’t that way in the beginning. In June 2011, we started reading Genesis, beginning our second trip through the Bible. The first verse the children memorized was Genesis 1:31: And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
When God finished creation, He said it was very good. There was no death, no mourning, no crying, no pain. But that was before Adam and Eve disobeyed God. It was before sin entered the world, bringing decay, sorrow, pain, and death with it.
And yet, God had a plan. The second verse the children memorized that summer was Genesis 17:1: When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.”
God began working through the Father of the Faithful. It would be through the Seed of Abraham, through Jesus Christ, that mankind would be redeemed and sin, sorrow, and death would be dealt with once and for all.
God foreshadowed His plan for mankind in the lives of Abraham and Isaac (and many, many others!). Genesis 22:8 says: Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. This is the picture of Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac as God commanded. But God stayed the knife in Abraham’s hand, telling him that now He knew that Abraham would not withhold from God his precious son. It’s a fascinating foreshadowing of how our Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son to this earth, to live a physical existence, and to die for our sins. When we read the story from Abraham’s perspective, we get a glimpse of the Father’s perspective of Jesus’ torture, crucifixion, and death. God, indeed, did provide for himself the Lamb.
Another verse the children memorized as we made our way through Genesis and Exodus was Exodus 13:9: And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.
What’s the context of Exodus 13:9? It was talking about God’s command to celebrate the Days of Unleavened Bread every year. That observance was to serve as a reminder of what God had done for His people. Eating the unleavened bread is a sign on your hand - the hand being a symbol of what you do - and a memorial between your eyes - between your eyes being a symbol of what you think. Eating the unleavened bread each day during the seven days is an action that causes us to think about what God has done in our lives.
Furthermore, it causes us to think about what God did in Genesis 22, when He provided the lamb for Abraham, causing him to stay his hand above Isaac. It causes us to think about what God did in Exodus 12-14 when the blood of the lamb stayed the hand of the death angel who passed over at midnight killing the firstborn in Egypt. It causes us to think about the torture, crucifixion, and death of our Savior Jesus Christ on our behalf - the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. It causes us to think of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, who was the only one found worthy to open the scroll. It causes us to think of that time in the future, when the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. That will usher in God’s kingdom when he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Once again, God will look at His creation and He will say that it is very good.
I hope you think about each of these things as you eat unleavened bread all week long!
The Bread of Affliction
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
What’s gone? What is “no more”? tears, death, mourning, crying, pain.
The Greek word translated death in this verse can mean natural or physical death or it can mean spiritual death. It’s application is very broad. So when I think about death being no more, two verses come to mind:
1 Corinthians 15:26: The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Revelation 20:14: Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
What else is gone? Mourning - the Greek word here can be translated grief, mourning, or sorrow. Crying - the Greek word translated crying here means an outcry, tumult or grief. We’re talking about an intense crying. There are other references to crying, but it’s a different word. The word used here is also used in Hebrews 5:7 when it’s referring to Jesus’ loud cries and tears. (Hebrews 5:7: In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.)
But this kind of sorrow and crying will be gone, over, finished. It must be important for us to know that because Isaiah tells us three times:
Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 51:11: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 65:19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
Pain is the other thing that shall be no more. The Greek word translated pain here means “labor, pain, misery. It is labor which does not stop short of demanding the whole strength of man.” This is intense pain!
The other thing that will be gone are the tears, and the Greek simply means tears. But we can have tears for many reasons. They can be a reaction to physical or mental pain, physical or mental grief and sorrow. It’s important to remember that God doesn’t take them lightly.
Psalm 56:8 says: You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
Whether or not this is literal, it would seem to indicate that God keeps track of the tears we shed. But the other thing to remember is that sometimes God intentionally causes our tears.
Psalm 80:5 says: You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.
Why would God intentionally feed His people the bread of tears?
Psalm 119:67: Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
Psalm 119:71: It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Psalm 119:75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Affliction from God and “bread of tears” sounds very similar to “bread of affliction” - what we associate with the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Deuteronomy 16:3 says: You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste—that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.
Why does God afflict us? To discipline us, to remind us what He’s done for us, to bring us back to Him, to teach us to obey.
But eventually, the tears will all be wiped away. Why are there tears? We cry because of pain and sorrow. Sometimes it’s because of physical pain; sometimes it’s because of the impairment of the relationship with God. But eventually we are told that the tears will be wiped away by God Himself. We find it here in Revelation 21:4, but in two other places as well.
Revelation 7:17 speaks of those who have come out of Great Tribulation: For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
The reference in Isaiah 25:8 is very interesting, especially when you consider the definition of “wipe away.” The Greek word mean to erase, smear out, obliterate; figuratively, it means to pardon!
Think about this! If there is no more death, then there’s no more sin because Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death! If there’s no more sin and no more death, then God truly will have wiped away, for the last time, all of our sin debt. We will be fully, completely, for all time, pardoned.
Look at the language here: Revelation 21:3: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. We’re speaking of a time when the battles have been fought, death has been conquered forever, Satan has been forever dealt with, and God is dwelling with us. This is huge! Remember, God cannot look on sin. God is holy and righteous. He will have no part of anything else!
So think again about Exodus 13:9: And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. We eat unleavened bread during the week of Unleavened Bread so that the law of the Lord may be in our mouths. Why? Because God wants to bring us to Christ. He is working to purify for Himself a people. Titus 2:14, speaking of Jesus, says, he gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
The Days of Unleavened Bread picture Jesus putting sin out of our lives through His blood. But we also have to make that choice daily to distinguish between the holy and the common, the unclean and the clean. Remember, the unleavened bread should remind us not to hang around sin any more! Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1
If we cannot do the physical, putting leaven out of our lives for seven days and only eating the unleavened bread for seven days, how will we ever make the harder spiritual and mental and physical choices of distinguishing between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. How will we ever become wholly devoted to God?
Make no mistake: there is coming a day when death, mourning, crying and pain are no more. Sin will be gone. Death will be swallowed up in victory. Tears will be wiped away and all sins pardoned forever for those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
It’s important to remember that God, in His great mercy, gave us the bread of affliction, the bread of tears, to eat that we might ultimately be in His kingdom! But we can’t mix unleavened and leavened. There’s no communion between holy and common, clean and unclean. You’re either all in or you’re all out. You can’t sit in the middle.
So - have you eaten your bread of affliction yet today?
**The Last Great Day
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5
Materials Needed: dry erase board, dry erase marker, permanent marker, rubbing alcohol
I love God telling us that He’s going to make everything new - as in fresh and unused, as opposed to making us new age-wise (like infants). So what comes to mind when you think what will be made new? (Write the students’ ideas on the dry erase board in permanent marker, i.e. death, pain, earth, sin.)
The heavens and the earth - no more pollution, no more space junk, no more systems out of whack
No more pain. No more death. No more sorrow or tears.
No more sin. No more carnal nature.
No more separation from God.
How is God accomplishing all of this? All of what is wrong with our world is due to sin, aka rebellion against God. How is this all rectified? Can you do anything through your own efforts to make everything new? (Let the students try to erase the permanent marker. Won’t work, not even a little.)
Only through the blood of Jesus Christ is it possible for everything to be made new - because the Builder is worth more than the house (Hebrews 3:3). (Cover the words the students gave with a dry erase marker. Then use a cloth to wipe it all away. The dry erase marker will take the permanent marker off the board.)
We’ve just celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. Don’t forget the lesson that we’re just here temporarily - dwelling in tents, as it were. Don’t forget that our goal is to live in Christ! That means reading your Bible daily, praying, and fellowshipping with people who love God, who seek Him, and who follow His commandments because they love Him.
Things are going to continue to get more and more out of whack as people become more and more sinful and estranged from God. But take heart! You persevere in following, loving, seeking, and serving our Great God. And one of these days, we’ll get to stand before God and hear Him say, “Behold, I am making everything new!” What a day that will be!!
**Water of Life
And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Rev. 22:17b
Materials: two water balloons, one filled with water, candle, lighter
If you hold a balloon (air-filled) too close to the flame of a candle, what will happen? Yes, it will pop. The heat of the fire doesn’t dissipate from the focal point before the balloon melts. But what happens if you hold a balloon filled with water the same distance from the flame of the candle? The water does not allow the balloon surface to get hot enough to melt. The water dissipates the heat away from the focal point. You can even hold the balloon until the water starts boiling and the balloon still will not pop.
This happens because of water’s large heat capacity. Liquid water can take in and give off huge quantities of heat. Because of this quality, life is possible on earth. Water moderates the temperatures on Earth. In contrast, on the Moon, temperatures swing from daytime highs of 200ºF and nighttime lows of -200ºF.
Water is the only chemical found at earth temperatures in the three states: solid (ice), liquid, and gas (humidity or water vapor). All three forms are necessary for the Earth to be healthy and function.
It’s no wonder then that water is used as a metaphor for both the Holy Spirit and Eternal Life. Think of John 7:37-39 - the Water Ceremony during the Feast of Tabernacles: On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
There are so many verses which refer to water. Think of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, when Jesus told her that if she asked, he would give her living water. Think of the desert wilderness blooming at the return of the Lord (Isaiah 35 - the whole chapter is a beautiful promise of the joy of the redeemed). Think of the water coming from the rock when it was struck at Horeb for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 17:6) - an incredible type of the Holy Spirit flowing from Jesus when He became the Savior for sinners lost in the wilderness of sin.
Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we will not be in God’s kingdom. (The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the children and heirs of God. Romans 8:16-17) Without water within the balloon, it perishes. The water saves the balloon - aka, keeps it from popping. Water, the living water from Jesus Christ, gives life to these mortal bodies.
John said in Revelation 22:17b, And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Are you thirsty for the living water of God?
Inspiration from: Science and the Bible, DeYoung, Donald B., “Water of Life,” pgs. 108-110, Baker Books, 1994,
ISBN 0-8010-3023-4
This book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John while he was exiled on the isle of Patmos. It is a culmination of the entire Bible. Yet people argue about what it really means, what all of the imagery really signifies. But this we know: it tells the end of the story. God wins. Satan, death, pain, and sorrow are all gone forever. On the way to that culmination, John conveys letters to the seven churches of Asia. Then he is invited by Jesus into the very throne room of God. Then the events of the end of this world, as we know it, are displayed for John to record. As difficult as it is to read through the troubles coming on this world, there's great joy for the Christian who reads of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! Hallelujah! Praise God, indeed!
(**denoted very visual devotions)
**Revelation 2:23 - What's Inside
**Revelation 3:17 - Abundance or Fruitfulness?
Revelation 4:11 - Worthy are You, O Lord (Holy Day Lesson - The Sabbath)
**Revelation 4:11 - A Broken Bottle (YEA lesson - YE2D.2)
Revelation 11:15 - Go for the Gold (Holy Day Lesson - Feast of Tabernacles)
Revelation 19:7 - The Bride of Christ (Holy Day Lesson - Feast of Tabernacles)
Revelation 21:4 - For the Former Things Have Passed Away (Holy Day Lesson - Days of Unleavened Bread)
Revelation 21:4 - The Bread of Affliction (Holy Day Lesson - Days of Unleavened Bread)
Revelation 21:5 - The Last Great Day (Holy Day Lesson - Eighth Day)
**Revelation 22:17b - Water of Life (Holy Day Lesson - Feast of Tabernacles)
**What’s Inside
And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, . . . Revelation 2:23
Materials: embroidery project
Have you ever watched someone embroider a tea towel or pillowcase? It’s actually pretty interesting to see the even stitches and intricacies they weave with just the embroidery floss!! But have you ever looked at the back of the project? It’s a mess! There are knots and threads going in all directions. It doesn’t look at all impressive from underneath.
Sometimes we forget that the people around us are much like that embroidery. People can look like they have it all together, are super intelligent, or are just intimidating to be around because they are so impressive - but the reality is that each person is a human being with faults and foibles and fears. Of course, we don’t see that - or actually we see only as much as that person allows us to see.
But there is One who sees the whole package. God sees the outside and He sees the heart. This verse in Revelation 2:23 says that God (Jesus Christ, the Son) not only sees the heart and what’s inside, He searches both the mind and the heart. He looks deeper to see what you’re thinking and why. He looks at your motives and your fears. He digs deeper to know you completely.
There’s a couple of results of knowing that God sees us, outside and in. First, there’s no sense in pretending with God. He sees right through to the truth. So if you’re angry with someone, you might as well tell God that you’re angry. He already knows. If you did something wrong, you might as well tell Him about it; He already knows. Secondly, since God knows where you are in your thinking, who you truly are, and what you are capable of, He can be trusted to take care of everything in your life. He will protect and guide you. He will intervene for your good (even if we don’t understand how it could possibly end up good). And thirdly, God sees all of you, inside and out, and He loves you enough to redeem you from sin and death with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He loves you that much! All of these facts should lead us to one conclusion: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Abundance or Fruitfulness?
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, , , , Revelation 3:17
Materials: herb jars of homegrown dill, cilantro, coriander, mint
If you ever talk to an experienced gardener about planting dill, cilantro, or mint, they will strongly caution you about where you plant these three common plants. (I’m sure there are others!!) I remember my mom telling me, “You only have to plant dill once.” It comes back year after year. It’s very prolific. So is cilantro. To the inexperienced person, it seems like an overabundance of caution. What’s the big deal? You get lots of dill or mint or cilantro. So what? That may have been what the pilgrims on the Mayflower thought when they brought over dandelions to use for medicinal purposes! They would be shocked to find that today so many people work very hard to eradicate dandelions from their gardens and yards. Dandelions are considered weeds - a plant that comes up where you don’t want it! And that’s what happens, especially, with the cilantro and the dill. It comes up and takes over, choking out what you really wanted to grow.
Similarly, you’ve seen people work very hard to get their fruit trees to produce lots of fruit - only to find that the tree is so laden with fruit that the branches start breaking. If that happens, the fruit won’t mature on that branch. And if it’s a big enough branch that breaks, it can kill the tree! Or sometimes the tree is so laden with fruit that it overextends itself - and ends up dying even if the branches don’t break!! And sometimes the overabundance of one plant interferes with the fruitfulness of the plant next to it.
There are several lessons for us. First, abundance doesn’t necessarily mean fruitfulness. You can have an abundance of mint, dill, or dandelions. They could be considered a blessing. Sometimes things we consider blessings can take over your life, like weeds, and get in the way of other parts of your life that really need your attention. So be careful of the projects you undertake.
Secondly, be careful about taking on a project that sounds good, but it saps all of your time and energy so that you can’t do other things that have to be done. Sometimes we think we’re doing a Godly work, but we neglect to ask God for His wisdom and direction first. We find ourselves worn out, doing something which we end up realizing God didn’t want us to do in the first place. Like a tree whose branches are broken or a bush that has overextended itself, we can get to the end of a project with no energy left for what is truly valuable.
The Laodiceans thought they were rich and had an abundance! And physically, perhaps they did. But they were not rich in the ways God wanted them to be. We can think we are rich and are producing an abundance of fruit. Yet, in reality, we have an overabundance of something which does not benefit us or the people around us. In fact, it’s detrimental!! And it doesn’t bring glory to God.
Worthy are You, O Lord
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11
The Greek word for “created” is ktizo (#2936). It means to create, or produce from nothing. It’s hard to get your mind around that. There’s a song in The Sound of Music where Maria sings, “Nothing comes from nothing . . .” That’s the whole problem with evolution. It can’t account for how matter came into existence. But the Greek word for “created” specifically emphasizes that which was created came from nothing.
Interestingly, this Greek word is used in Mark 13:19 talking about the Great Tribulation. That time will be worse than any time since the creation which God created. Mark makes a point of using that word which indicates that God produced the world from nothing.
Again, it’s used in Colossians 1:16 when Paul states, “for by him all things were created” - talking about Jesus Christ. Paul specifically uses a word that emphasizes Jesus’ ability to create something from nothing - namely us and everything around us.
Why did God create this world? Have you ever wondered about that? The ESV (and many others that I checked) say that God created everything by his will. The KJV translates it a little differently. It says that God created the world and everything in it for His pleasure. Think about it. God created the world on purpose. He had a plan. He did it because He wanted to, and the KJV implies that God knew that ultimately it would bring Him great joy.
When I make a plate of chocolate chip cookies, I plan it out because it brings me pleasure. When I weed the garden, even if it’s hard, I do it because I know that ultimately it will bring me pleasure. I do what I do because there’s some pleasure, joy, reward, ultimate good that will result. That’s the idea in this verse. God created the world because it was His will; it was for His pleasure. Remember when God finished His creation, He said it was very good. When all is said and done (see Revelation 21 and 22), it will be very good again.
Eventually, we’re going to be in the very throne room of God, singing praises to His name - much like this vision that is recorded by John. Then all of creation will praise Him, using all of their power, given to them by God, to glorify and honor Him.
Why? Do you see the reason in this verse that God is worthy to receive glory and honor and power? Because He’s the Creator!
In Revelation 5:12, it’s a little different. It says, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” What’s the reason given here for the adoration? Jesus, as the Lamb, is the Redeemer.
Can you think of anything in the Bible that is directly tied to God as Creator and God as Redeemer? Exodus 20:8-11 gives the command for keeping the Sabbath holy. It says that God created everything in six days and the seventh day He set aside as holy. Here the reason for the observance of Sabbath is because God as Creator said to.
In Deuteronomy 5:12-15, there’s no mention of the Creation in the Sabbath commandment; it is all about redemption from slavery in Egypt. The Sabbath is to be observed because God as the Redeemer said to.
He is still the Creator. He is still the Redeemer. So today, each week, every sabbath, we honor God by keeping the Sabbath holy. Not only is it a command of God, it’s good for us physically. Not only is it good for us physically, it’s good for us spiritually. It’s a good reminder that He is worthy of glory and honor and power in every part of our lives. The Sabbath is God’s gracious weekly reminder to each of us that He is our Creator and He is our Redeemer. We didn’t make ourselves. And we can’t earn eternal life in His kingdom. In other words, we didn’t bring ourselves into this world, and we can’t take ourselves into God’s kingdom.
Each Sabbath I hope you stop and think: I’m celebrating the Sabbath today because God is worthy as my Creator and Redeemer to receive glory and honor and power. Selah!
**A Broken Bottle
Memory Verse: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power . . . Revelation 4:11 (NIV)
Materials Needed: doughnut, trash can; packing material, tissues, YEA lesson (YE2D.2 - borntowin.net/yea/primaries/)
Does it bother you to waste something? A perfectly good gallon of milk . . . a brand new car . . . a roll of toilet paper? What about time? Do you waste time? What about tissues? Do you take a handful of tissues, wipe them across your nose and throw the whole handful away? What about a doughnut? Do you ever take something during potluck and then decide you didn’t want to eat it and just throw it away? What about popping packing material? Do you ever waste that?
The problem is the definition of wasting. Is it wasting if there’s a perfectly good reason for using the resource in a particular way?
That’s what happened the day that Mary anointed Jesus’ head and feet with expensive perfume (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-8). Some people sitting there watching wondered why in the world Jesus would allow Mary to waste so much expensive perfume on Him! Judas Iscariot even stated that the perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii. A denarii was a day’s wage for a laborer. This perfume was worth a lot of money. Judas asked why it couldn’t rather have been sold and used to help a poor person. Judas thought the bottle of perfume was wasted on Jesus. Jesus quickly corrected Judas - and anyone else down through the ages who might have thought the same thing. Jesus said that what Mary did was a beautiful thing: she anointed his head and feet with perfume and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair! Mary didn’t think it was wasteful to honor Jesus in this way! And she was right!!
There’s a song by Steve Green (“Broken and Spilled Out”) which relates to this. The idea is that not only did Mary break the perfume bottle and spill it out for love of Jesus, we also should make it our goal in life to be used for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ. That’s what Romans 12:1 says: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Our perspective in life should be that we are totally and completely servants of Almighty God - to go where He tells us to go, to do what He tells us to do out of reverence and love and devotion to Him!!
But then Steve Green goes on to make another connection. He points out that God’s most precious treasure, His Son, Jesus Christ, was broken and spilled out for each one of us. If you have entered into a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ, then Jesus was sacrificed for you. What should your response be?! Was that sacrifice just wasted? Or do you recognize the incredible love that God has for you that He would make that sacrifice on your behalf?
If you truly understand the enormity, the extreme cost, the value of what Jesus did, it will change your life. You will respond by showing your love back to God. How? By keeping His commandments, doing what He says - all the time, not just when it’s convenient.
Just as that bottle of perfume was broken and spilled out for Jesus Christ, just as Jesus was broken and spilled out for us, so we should totally be broken and spilled out for Him. And it’s not a waste. It’s God’s plan.
Go For the Gold
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 Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15
This is the goal! The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. This is what we’ve been working for.
Remember Galatians 6:9? And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Let us not grow weary . . . why? Because of the goal! We will reap in due season, at that time, when the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ!
Remember 1 Timothy 6:12? Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Fight the good fight. Why? So you can take hold of the eternal life - the goal - the kingdom of our Lord!
Remember Hebrews 12:1? Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. What race? What race had the witnesses already run? It was to get to the goal - the kingdom of our Lord!
Remember 1 Peter 3:15? but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. What is your reason for hope? It’s the kingdom. It’s the goal. That’s the motivating force that keeps us moving each day!
These are just a few of the verses which encourage us to endure and overcome. Think of the letters to the seven churches in Asia! Why is there this repetition in Scripture? Why did God say the same thing so many times? Why is it necessary?
We’re going to face obstacles to our faith. We’re going to encounter difficulties in this walk as a believer in Jesus Christ. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be hard. But we must persevere.
There was a church marquee near where we live last summer. It said:
Go for the gold.
Give your best to the Master.
Reward ceremony later.
We can’t get bogged down in the temporary. We can become distracted by the carnal, our own agenda, our desires. We have to fix our minds on the goal - the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
There’s another verse that we memorized recently that will help when this world closes in too much: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phil. 4:8).
I believe that thinking about Revelation 11:15 fits that description! 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 Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” I want to add my voice to those loud voices in heaven. I want to be among those who proclaim with joy, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!” Amen!!
**The Bride of Christ
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; Revelation 19:7
Materials: blue yarn dolls (one for each student)
There’s an old rhyme associated with weddings about what the bride wears:
Something old, something new,
something borrowed, and something blue.
Because we know that marriage is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ and the Church, perhaps we ought to think more about what the Bride is wearing.
The idea of the Bride of Christ and the marriage suppler fo the Lamb fits right in with our topic yesterday, of being chosen by God to fit into His family. This is just one more special reason to rejoice. God the Father has chosen us, the Church, to be the Bride for His Son. Talk about a special place, relationship, and role! As a bride and groom pledge themselves to each other until death, we will pledge ourselves to be united with Christ forever because there will be no more death in God’s kingdom. We get to be a helpmate to Jesus for eternity. Talk about a special reason to rejoice!
Because we know that this is what God has planned for us, we spend these days preparing for the wedding. We want to get as close to Jesus, knowing and doing His will. We study the Bible, spend time in prayer and meditation, and celebrate the Feast. God says He’s going to purify for Himself a Bride. So we accept, with joy, the cleansing process which may not be much fun. But we know it’s preparing us for a future in His kingdom as His bride.
We also need to think about what we will wear as the Bride of Christ. Revelation 19:8 says the Bride of Christ will be given fine linen, bright and pure, for fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. But we know that our righteousness comes from Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). So the Bride puts on the Lord Jesus Christ, His righteousness (Romans 13:14). That’s definitely something old; nothing could be older than our eternal God. At the same time, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). The borrowed? Perhaps that’s the life, the existence, that He has given to us. And the blue? Isn’t it interesting that the tassels commanded to be worn were supposed to have a blue thread in them (Numbers 15:38)!!
Today, as you rejoice here at the Feast of Tabernacles, think about the marriage supper of the Lamb and think about the wedding garments of the Bride of Christ. What should you be wearing?
For the Former Things Have Passed Away
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
The goldfish that we’ve had for almost 10 years is dying. I will be very surprised to wake in the morning and find her still alive. It’s going to be a painful way to start the first of God’s spring holy days, the First Day of Unleavened Bread. And yet, it will make this verse all the more poignant to the children. We do cry. We do feel pain. We do mourn. There is still death in this world. But it won’t always be that way.
And in fact, it wasn’t that way in the beginning. In June 2011, we started reading Genesis, beginning our second trip through the Bible. The first verse the children memorized was Genesis 1:31: And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
When God finished creation, He said it was very good. There was no death, no mourning, no crying, no pain. But that was before Adam and Eve disobeyed God. It was before sin entered the world, bringing decay, sorrow, pain, and death with it.
And yet, God had a plan. The second verse the children memorized that summer was Genesis 17:1: When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.”
God began working through the Father of the Faithful. It would be through the Seed of Abraham, through Jesus Christ, that mankind would be redeemed and sin, sorrow, and death would be dealt with once and for all.
God foreshadowed His plan for mankind in the lives of Abraham and Isaac (and many, many others!). Genesis 22:8 says: Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. This is the picture of Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac as God commanded. But God stayed the knife in Abraham’s hand, telling him that now He knew that Abraham would not withhold from God his precious son. It’s a fascinating foreshadowing of how our Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son to this earth, to live a physical existence, and to die for our sins. When we read the story from Abraham’s perspective, we get a glimpse of the Father’s perspective of Jesus’ torture, crucifixion, and death. God, indeed, did provide for himself the Lamb.
Another verse the children memorized as we made our way through Genesis and Exodus was Exodus 13:9: And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.
What’s the context of Exodus 13:9? It was talking about God’s command to celebrate the Days of Unleavened Bread every year. That observance was to serve as a reminder of what God had done for His people. Eating the unleavened bread is a sign on your hand - the hand being a symbol of what you do - and a memorial between your eyes - between your eyes being a symbol of what you think. Eating the unleavened bread each day during the seven days is an action that causes us to think about what God has done in our lives.
Furthermore, it causes us to think about what God did in Genesis 22, when He provided the lamb for Abraham, causing him to stay his hand above Isaac. It causes us to think about what God did in Exodus 12-14 when the blood of the lamb stayed the hand of the death angel who passed over at midnight killing the firstborn in Egypt. It causes us to think about the torture, crucifixion, and death of our Savior Jesus Christ on our behalf - the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. It causes us to think of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, who was the only one found worthy to open the scroll. It causes us to think of that time in the future, when the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. That will usher in God’s kingdom when he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Once again, God will look at His creation and He will say that it is very good.
I hope you think about each of these things as you eat unleavened bread all week long!
The Bread of Affliction
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
What’s gone? What is “no more”? tears, death, mourning, crying, pain.
The Greek word translated death in this verse can mean natural or physical death or it can mean spiritual death. It’s application is very broad. So when I think about death being no more, two verses come to mind:
1 Corinthians 15:26: The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Revelation 20:14: Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
What else is gone? Mourning - the Greek word here can be translated grief, mourning, or sorrow. Crying - the Greek word translated crying here means an outcry, tumult or grief. We’re talking about an intense crying. There are other references to crying, but it’s a different word. The word used here is also used in Hebrews 5:7 when it’s referring to Jesus’ loud cries and tears. (Hebrews 5:7: In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.)
But this kind of sorrow and crying will be gone, over, finished. It must be important for us to know that because Isaiah tells us three times:
Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 51:11: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 65:19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
Pain is the other thing that shall be no more. The Greek word translated pain here means “labor, pain, misery. It is labor which does not stop short of demanding the whole strength of man.” This is intense pain!
The other thing that will be gone are the tears, and the Greek simply means tears. But we can have tears for many reasons. They can be a reaction to physical or mental pain, physical or mental grief and sorrow. It’s important to remember that God doesn’t take them lightly.
Psalm 56:8 says: You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
Whether or not this is literal, it would seem to indicate that God keeps track of the tears we shed. But the other thing to remember is that sometimes God intentionally causes our tears.
Psalm 80:5 says: You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.
Why would God intentionally feed His people the bread of tears?
Psalm 119:67: Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
Psalm 119:71: It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Psalm 119:75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Affliction from God and “bread of tears” sounds very similar to “bread of affliction” - what we associate with the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Deuteronomy 16:3 says: You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste—that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.
Why does God afflict us? To discipline us, to remind us what He’s done for us, to bring us back to Him, to teach us to obey.
But eventually, the tears will all be wiped away. Why are there tears? We cry because of pain and sorrow. Sometimes it’s because of physical pain; sometimes it’s because of the impairment of the relationship with God. But eventually we are told that the tears will be wiped away by God Himself. We find it here in Revelation 21:4, but in two other places as well.
Revelation 7:17 speaks of those who have come out of Great Tribulation: For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
The reference in Isaiah 25:8 is very interesting, especially when you consider the definition of “wipe away.” The Greek word mean to erase, smear out, obliterate; figuratively, it means to pardon!
Think about this! If there is no more death, then there’s no more sin because Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death! If there’s no more sin and no more death, then God truly will have wiped away, for the last time, all of our sin debt. We will be fully, completely, for all time, pardoned.
Look at the language here: Revelation 21:3: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. We’re speaking of a time when the battles have been fought, death has been conquered forever, Satan has been forever dealt with, and God is dwelling with us. This is huge! Remember, God cannot look on sin. God is holy and righteous. He will have no part of anything else!
So think again about Exodus 13:9: And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. We eat unleavened bread during the week of Unleavened Bread so that the law of the Lord may be in our mouths. Why? Because God wants to bring us to Christ. He is working to purify for Himself a people. Titus 2:14, speaking of Jesus, says, he gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
The Days of Unleavened Bread picture Jesus putting sin out of our lives through His blood. But we also have to make that choice daily to distinguish between the holy and the common, the unclean and the clean. Remember, the unleavened bread should remind us not to hang around sin any more! Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1
If we cannot do the physical, putting leaven out of our lives for seven days and only eating the unleavened bread for seven days, how will we ever make the harder spiritual and mental and physical choices of distinguishing between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. How will we ever become wholly devoted to God?
Make no mistake: there is coming a day when death, mourning, crying and pain are no more. Sin will be gone. Death will be swallowed up in victory. Tears will be wiped away and all sins pardoned forever for those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
It’s important to remember that God, in His great mercy, gave us the bread of affliction, the bread of tears, to eat that we might ultimately be in His kingdom! But we can’t mix unleavened and leavened. There’s no communion between holy and common, clean and unclean. You’re either all in or you’re all out. You can’t sit in the middle.
So - have you eaten your bread of affliction yet today?
**The Last Great Day
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5
Materials Needed: dry erase board, dry erase marker, permanent marker, rubbing alcohol
I love God telling us that He’s going to make everything new - as in fresh and unused, as opposed to making us new age-wise (like infants). So what comes to mind when you think what will be made new? (Write the students’ ideas on the dry erase board in permanent marker, i.e. death, pain, earth, sin.)
The heavens and the earth - no more pollution, no more space junk, no more systems out of whack
No more pain. No more death. No more sorrow or tears.
No more sin. No more carnal nature.
No more separation from God.
How is God accomplishing all of this? All of what is wrong with our world is due to sin, aka rebellion against God. How is this all rectified? Can you do anything through your own efforts to make everything new? (Let the students try to erase the permanent marker. Won’t work, not even a little.)
Only through the blood of Jesus Christ is it possible for everything to be made new - because the Builder is worth more than the house (Hebrews 3:3). (Cover the words the students gave with a dry erase marker. Then use a cloth to wipe it all away. The dry erase marker will take the permanent marker off the board.)
We’ve just celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. Don’t forget the lesson that we’re just here temporarily - dwelling in tents, as it were. Don’t forget that our goal is to live in Christ! That means reading your Bible daily, praying, and fellowshipping with people who love God, who seek Him, and who follow His commandments because they love Him.
Things are going to continue to get more and more out of whack as people become more and more sinful and estranged from God. But take heart! You persevere in following, loving, seeking, and serving our Great God. And one of these days, we’ll get to stand before God and hear Him say, “Behold, I am making everything new!” What a day that will be!!
**Water of Life
And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Rev. 22:17b
Materials: two water balloons, one filled with water, candle, lighter
If you hold a balloon (air-filled) too close to the flame of a candle, what will happen? Yes, it will pop. The heat of the fire doesn’t dissipate from the focal point before the balloon melts. But what happens if you hold a balloon filled with water the same distance from the flame of the candle? The water does not allow the balloon surface to get hot enough to melt. The water dissipates the heat away from the focal point. You can even hold the balloon until the water starts boiling and the balloon still will not pop.
This happens because of water’s large heat capacity. Liquid water can take in and give off huge quantities of heat. Because of this quality, life is possible on earth. Water moderates the temperatures on Earth. In contrast, on the Moon, temperatures swing from daytime highs of 200ºF and nighttime lows of -200ºF.
Water is the only chemical found at earth temperatures in the three states: solid (ice), liquid, and gas (humidity or water vapor). All three forms are necessary for the Earth to be healthy and function.
It’s no wonder then that water is used as a metaphor for both the Holy Spirit and Eternal Life. Think of John 7:37-39 - the Water Ceremony during the Feast of Tabernacles: On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
There are so many verses which refer to water. Think of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, when Jesus told her that if she asked, he would give her living water. Think of the desert wilderness blooming at the return of the Lord (Isaiah 35 - the whole chapter is a beautiful promise of the joy of the redeemed). Think of the water coming from the rock when it was struck at Horeb for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 17:6) - an incredible type of the Holy Spirit flowing from Jesus when He became the Savior for sinners lost in the wilderness of sin.
Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we will not be in God’s kingdom. (The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the children and heirs of God. Romans 8:16-17) Without water within the balloon, it perishes. The water saves the balloon - aka, keeps it from popping. Water, the living water from Jesus Christ, gives life to these mortal bodies.
John said in Revelation 22:17b, And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Are you thirsty for the living water of God?
Inspiration from: Science and the Bible, DeYoung, Donald B., “Water of Life,” pgs. 108-110, Baker Books, 1994,
ISBN 0-8010-3023-4