A few days ago, I mentioned that we read through the Bible every year. This lines up wonderfully with the Advent season, as it means we are typically reading through Revelation at the end of the year. Although Advent is most commonly known as a time for anticipating Jesus’ birth or first coming, a full celebration of Advent also acknowledges that we are once again awaiting Jesus’ arrival. But this time we are not awaiting His arrival as propitiation for our signs, but rather his arrival as the victorious King who will establish his earthly kingdom and heal everything that is currently broken. And that is why I personally find it so satisfying to read Revelation during the season when we commemorate his birth.

For today I wanted to share a passage from my quiet time that greatly encouraged me. The holidays can be a time of joy, busyness, and celebration, but for many of us they can also highlight circumstances and relationships that we’re still fervently praying for, or are not where we’d hoped they’d be this time last year. This passage, although it is specifically describing the reward awaiting those will give their lives for Christ during the tribulation, is also often used to describe the comfort awaiting all of us in heaven, and I believe there is merit to this application to. I particularly love the description of Jesus as both the Lamb and the Shepherd, which highlights his experiential sharing in our human suffering before he re-ascended his heavenly throne:

“They will never again be hungry or thirsty;
    they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.
For the Lamb on the throne
    will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
    And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:16-17

See you tomorrow!