When I was a child our church published “THE ORBIT.” ‘The Orbit’ was a great name for a paper coming from a Houston church in the early 1970s—the space race was the biggest news of the ’60s and ’70s and our city was its home. One of the best features of the Orbit was aContinue reading “THE LAMB WHO IS A SHEPHERD. Revelation 7:15-17.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
A Gift from the Ancient of Days. Revelation 6-7.
God often allows things we do not understand: poverty, illnesses, suffering, death. He welcomes your questions. Questions are allowed. But we are not called to ask questions. We are called to worship God, to fall on our faces in awe and reverence and fear. And such fear is not crippling, it is empowering. The FearContinue reading “A Gift from the Ancient of Days. Revelation 6-7.”
When Will You Repent? Revelation 8 and 9.
A woman once told me she had never been spanked, that she was so sensitive, a strong word from a parent was enough to change her behavior. I could not relate to that. As a child I heard strong words every day. I ignored them. I was a strong-willed child. Nothing would deter me fromContinue reading “When Will You Repent? Revelation 8 and 9.”
The Throne of God. Revelation 5.
My wife encourages her middle school Bible students to draw a picture of God’s throne and symbolically placing all their problems at the foot of the throne. She has found it to be a helpful way to release her troubles into His hands. I just read Revelation 4. There’s a lot to God’s throne. ThereContinue reading “The Throne of God. Revelation 5.”
COOL COFFEE. Revelation 3:15-17.
Ever had cool coffee? Not cold coffee—not “iced coffee.” That’s a whole thing. I mean coffee that should be hot but cooled down to a degree less than warm, but not quite cold. Cool coffee. It’s not great, right? Or what about when you put leftovers in the microwave? A big plate of spaghetti withContinue reading “COOL COFFEE. Revelation 3:15-17.”
RENEW YOUR VOWS. Revelation 2:4-5.
My father frowned on the notion of married people renewing their vows. “When you renew your vows, it implies you broke those vows—or at least that you didn’t take them seriously the first time.” Daddy took vows seriously. There was no way he would need to renew his—not when those vows shaped his life likeContinue reading “RENEW YOUR VOWS. Revelation 2:4-5.”
HISTORY’S GREATEST WELCOME HOME. Revelation 2:7-3:21.
Imagine a soldier returning from war—what a party! Even the Prodigal Son received a ring, a robe, and a fatted calf. What will God do for you? “I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise” Revelation 2:7. “The victor will never be harmed byContinue reading “HISTORY’S GREATEST WELCOME HOME. Revelation 2:7-3:21.”
YOUR PRAYERS ARE THE INCENSE OF HEAVEN. Revelation 5:8.
Image created with AI. The book of Revelation reveals an amazing picture of Heaven. John sees “One like the Son of Man” in a long robe, gold sash, head and hair white as wool, eyes like fire, feet like polished bronze, and the voice of a waterfall. In his right hand, Jesus is holding—what? Stars.Continue reading “YOUR PRAYERS ARE THE INCENSE OF HEAVEN. Revelation 5:8.”
INFANT LOWLY. Revelation 1:13-16.
Some think of Jesus as a baby. Consider the songs: “little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,” “I played my drum for him… then he smiled at me,” “Sweet little Jesus boy, born in a manger way down.” Others think about Jesus the man, but emphasize only his suffering. Indeed, we call him “theContinue reading “INFANT LOWLY. Revelation 1:13-16.”
TWO GREAT BOOKS. Revelation 1:3.
Great stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Genesis (Hebrew for “in the beginning”), is literature’s greatest story of beginnings—no religion or culture has an “origin story” to match it. Likewise, Revelation is literature’s greatest story of endings—unmatched by anything in the world’s greatest libraries. Revelation is the essential “final chapter.” It tiesContinue reading “TWO GREAT BOOKS. Revelation 1:3.”
Household Words: 