TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 3:1-6
If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. - Revelation 3:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the most frightening things we can imagine is for our home to be invaded, and Americans spend millions of dollars each year on home security systems ranging from watch dogs to elaborate walls and gates. We can probably remember a scene in a movie where the intruder creeps about the house as the family sleeps. Our pulse races as we wonder if they will wake up or be rescued in time!

The church of Sardis was like the sleeping homeowner, and Jesus warns them that they are indeed in danger of not awakening (vv. 2–3). Christ uses the image of a thief coming in the night to rouse them from relaxed religiosity (cf. Matt. 24:43–44; Luke 12:39–40).

Indeed, the church in Sardis was in terrible spiritual condition. This is a church that has forgotten the saving reality of communion with Christ. The description of Christ as holding the “seven spirits of God and the seven stars” again sheds light on the problems at Sardis. The seven spirits of God doesn’t mean that there are many Holy Spirits; rather, the number seven signifies completeness. Jesus is fully, completely God, and only His Spirit can bring to life that which is dead.

Jesus also holds the stars in His hand, an image of holding the churches. In this instance, being in the hand of Christ doesn’t only mean safety and security--it means that He is in complete control over these churches and can do with them as He sees fit. He is the sovereign Lord who can execute judgment on those who claim to be following Him, but who, in reality, are in a listless slumber.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Even if you don’t have a home security system, you probably check your locks at night. But have you checked your spiritual security system lately?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 3:7-13
I will place on [him] the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. - Isaiah 22:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sapamurat Niyazov is the President of the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan. But Niyazov isn’t content with that mere title--he has declared himself the Turkmenbashi, meaning “Great Leader of All Turkmen.” Apparently being Turkmenbashi comes with wide and sweeping powers, including the ability to name a month after yourself and family members; the Parliament has agreed that January now be named Turkmenbashi, and April be named Gurbansoltan after his mother.

Titles do carry meaning and power, whether from the Turkmenbashi’s ability to put his picture on all Turkmenistan’s currency or the parking privileges of the CEO. In His message to the church in Philadelphia, Jesus claims a title for Himself that in the Old Testament is reserved only for God--He is holy and true (v. 7; cf. Isa. 6:3; 65:16). But Jesus isn’t trying to puff Himself up. He can claim these titles because He is God, and He wants to remind the beleaguered believers in Philadelphia of that fact.

Jesus next describes Himself as holding the key of David, a reference to Isaiah 22:22 and the ability to open or close the royal palace. The Philadelphian church was being persecuted by the Jewish community in their city, and Jesus used this image to remind them that He alone has full authority over membership in the kingdom of God. Although the Jews thought that they had the monopoly on the house of David, they could not enter into God’s presence unless they accepted Jesus as Messiah.

The church in Philadelphia had been persevering for some time, and Jesus promises that He is coming soon (v. 11). Unlike the ominous tone He uses regarding His coming to Sardis, this announcement of His imminent return is full of hope and expectation. Our view of Christ’s return depends on whether we are faithfully holding on to His Word.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Throughout the journey of the Christian life, there are difficult and dark times. Whether from doubt and worry or from friends and relatives who just don’t understand or appreciate our commitment to Christ, these challenges test our faithfulness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 3:14-22
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. - Revelation 3:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mother Teresa gained worldwide respect for her sacrificial work to care for the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India. During a trip to Europe and the United States, her hosts were eager to show their admiration, and she was housed in some of the world’s finest hotels and treated to amenities one would associate with royalty. Imagine the shock when she declared that in all her experience with poverty, the poorest people she had met were in Europe and America. Though rich in material possessions, these wealthy people had forgotten their need for God, and so had a poverty of the worst kind--spiritual poverty.

The church in Laodicea may have been similarly shocked when they heard Jesus’ message to them. He declared that they were “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (v. 17). How could this be a description of a church located in a city renowned for its banking, ophthalmology, and textiles? Their material possessions didn’t impress Christ in the least, especially with their dire spiritual poverty. They needed the refining process for spiritual wealth, the white clothes of spiritual purity, and the eye salve of spiritual discernment (v. 18).

The first image that Jesus uses to introduce Himself, the Amen, emphasizes that He has the consistency and purpose that the Laodiceans lack. He is the answer, the response, to God’s purpose for man. He’s true and dependable (cf. Isa. 65:16).

Jesus is also the faithful and true witness who testifies of His Father. He wants this church to rouse from their complacency and follow His example. Laodicea did not have a good source of drinking water; in fact, its water could actually make people sick. When Jesus declares them to be water that He will spew from His mouth, they got the message quite clearly.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Each of these messages has relevance today, but the exhortation to the Laodiceans may be the most pointed of all for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 4:1-5:5
The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. - Revelation 5:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his wonderful series The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis uses the character of the lion Aslan to represent Christ. Throughout the books, as children encounter Aslan they have to be reminded that indeed he is not a tame lion, nor is he really safe--they can’t manipulate him as a pet or a toy. But he is good. He protects them, guides them, and even sacrifices his life to save them from the power of evil. As we will see, Lewis chose an apt image indeed to represent our Lord Jesus.

At the end of Revelation 3, Jesus promises that those who overcome will sit with Him on His throne (v. 21). From this promise we then move into chapters 4–5, a scene from God’s heavenly throne room itself, filled with awe-inspiring sights and sounds. We get a small glimpse of the beauty pictured as precious jewels and the glorious heavenly praise. It’s no wonder that these verses have inspired some of the best-loved music for Christians!

But John’s mood changes from rejoicing to mourning as no one is found worthy to open the scroll of God (5:4). He understood the dire consequences if there is no one who can enact the will and purpose of God. But his assessment of the situation was a bit premature; one of the elders directs John to “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (v. 5).

The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David are both images from the Old Testament that describe the conquering Messiah (cf. Gen. 49:9). By applying these titles to Christ, it’s clear that He is indeed the Messiah who has overcome His enemies, has the right of judgment, and will rule in majesty. This also indicates that the messianic hopes of Israel are not forsaken--they are fulfilled in Jesus, and in a way far greater than any earthly king from the line of David.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you keep a spiritual journal, today might be a good time to start a list of the images of Christ that we’ll be studying throughout our study of Revelation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 5:6-14
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! - Revelation 5:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Going to garage sales is a popular weekend pastime in communities all over the country. The allure of garage sales lies in the hope that as you stand there gazing at tables of things that someone doesn’t want, you might find something valuable--maybe a great bargain or a rare collectible. Instead of seeing the usual discards of last decade’s home décor, there’s the chance that you’ll see an unexpected treasure.

As we read yesterday, the elder comforts John by instructing him to look at the Lion who is able to open the scroll. But when John looks, he sees not a powerful Lion, but “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain” (v. 6). What does this mean, this Lion that is the Lamb? Surely this isn’t what John expected from the description given by the elder!

We learn some wonderful things about Jesus from the descriptions here. First, the triumph of the Lion is possible because Jesus is also the Lamb. In a stunning reversal of what many expected from a conquering Messiah, Jesus has triumphed and is worthy because He shed His blood and died to redeem His people (v. 9). He is the triumphant Lion, the Messiah, because He was also the Lamb who was slain.

Second, what are we to make of the seven horns and seven eyes? Throughout Scripture the horn represents strength (cf. Ps. 89:17; Dan. 7:7). Seven is the number of fullness or completeness, so the seven horns of the Lamb indicate that Jesus has total and complete power. He is omnipotent. The seven eyes represent His omniscience--He sees and knows all (cf. Zech. 3–4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In Revelation 4–5 we see that the glory of God inspires every creature to praise Him. Take some time today to express your own praise toward God and the Lamb.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 6
Hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! - Revelation 6:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
President Theodore Roosevelt had a reputation as a fearless man who welcomed adventure. He gained fame for his exploits on African safaris and adventures in America’s Wild West. When he became president, his foreign policy reflected his personality; his approach was to “speak softly and carry a big stick.” Teddy Roosevelt did not intend for the United States to waste time with verbal attacks--if American interests were threatened, he would respond strongly and swiftly with force.

In Revelation 5 we saw that the Lamb, Jesus, is worthy to execute the plan of God because of His death and resurrection. But Jesus is not just the Ruler over individuals--He is also the Ruler over all the earth. In Revelation 6 we see that the wrath of the Lamb is the consequence of rejecting the Person and work of Jesus.

As the Lamb begins to open the seals of the scroll, God gives Him the authority to work His plan in history (v. 1). The calamities that result don’t mean that God has abandoned the world; rather, they show that the world is subject to the will of God. No one who has rejected the Lamb will be able to stand, whether king or slave (v. 15).

This picture of the sovereignty of God through the wrath of the Lamb was something that John could relate to personally. In the past thirty years his world had been ravaged by an earthquake in a.d. 60, persecution under Nero in 64, a terrible war between Rome and Israel that culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70, the destructive eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79, and a grain famine in 92. Yet John could still trust in the sovereignty and glory of God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It’s difficult to imagine the agony and devastation pictured in today’s reading. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 7
Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. - Revelation 7:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you ask children what their parents are like, the age of the child will probably determine the answer. For a five-year-old, Dad is the smartest, strongest superhero in the galaxy. A ten-year-old thinks Dad is good at things like math homework, but not so great at things like picking out cool sneakers. And a fifteen-year-old thinks Dad is the most embarrassing person in the world, especially if he dares to go to the mall.

Dad probably hasn’t changed--it’s the perspective of the child that has changed. We see a similar difference in perspective as we look at the Lamb in our reading yesterday and today.

In Revelation 6 the wrath of the Lamb is depicted, closing with the question, “Who can stand?” (v. 17). Revelation 7 provides the answer: those who have accepted the salvation of the Lamb (v. 14). Those who reject Christ will see the wrath of the Lamb, but those who accept Him will see the Lamb as their salvation.

The white-robed multitude offers a song that combines different psalms of praise to God (see Ps. 3:8; 38:22; 42:1; 43:5). But here the praise is expanded to include the Lamb, again definitively proclaiming the deity of Christ. This is indeed the Lamb who sits upon the throne of God!

We have seen the paradox of portraying Christ as the Lion and the Lamb. Here we see that Christ is both the Lamb and the Shepherd (v. 17). Christ is the sacrifice for us, and also leads us as we follow in His footsteps (cf. Ps. 23:1). He makes salvation possible through His death, and makes our life with Him possible through His unfailing guidance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We’ve read several glorious passages of praise to God in the last few days. Why not choose one of these to memorize? What better encouragement than to remember our awesome God in the middle of our daily routine!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 12
I will make the nations your inheritance . . . You will rule them with an iron scepter. - Psalm 2:8–9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom celebrated her Golden Jubilee--she has reigned as queen for 50 years. Flags and banners waved in celebration all over England, and observers noted a surge in national morale. Whatever challenges the royal family has faced in recent years, the national mood seemed to focus on what people appreciated in their long-ruling monarch.

Queen Elizabeth’s many years on the throne of the United Kingdom may be impressive, but Christ will rule all the nations of the world forever (v. 5). This image of Jesus has its origin in our verse for today from Psalm 2, where we see the royal authority of the Messiah from the line of David, manifested in His rule of the nations with a rod of iron.

This rule of Christ means that God’s Son will defeat all worldly enemies. They will be subject to Him, and no power will be able to come between Jesus and His people (cf. Rom. 8:37–39). Again, we see that the blood of the Lamb is the basis for His authority, His rule, and the victory over Satan (vv. 10–11).

This passage in the final book in the Bible also fulfills God’s promise made in the first book of the Bible. In Genesis 3, He promises that Christ will ultimately defeat Satan, and here we see the beginning of that final triumph. Satan is cast out of heaven--with even greater defeat to come at the hands of the Lamb.

We may not always be able to see God’s hand working in our world, but we do have the assurance that “no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes’ in Christ” (2 Cor. 1:20). Christ began the defeat of Satan through His shed blood on the Cross, and He will one day destroy that “ancient serpent called the devil” utterly.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we read the Book of Revelation, it may be tempting to think, “Those things are so far away! How can it possibly affect me today?”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 13
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. - 1 Peter 1:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Con artists have always found people who can be lured with the promise of easy money. One large scam told hundreds of Americans that they were heirs to the fortune of Sir Francis Drake, the 17th century English explorer, but the government of Great Britain wouldn’t turn over the jewels and gold. “We need money for the lawsuit against Great Britain,” the scam went. “If you send us the money, we’ll be able to recover this vast inheritance for you.” Needless to say, there was no lawsuit--there wasn’t even a Drake fortune.

Revelation 13 tells us of another great lie that deceives people, this time with deadly, horrible consequences. And there is only one way to avoid this dreadful scam.

As the chapter opens we see that Satan is establishing worship for himself that is clearly contrary to God. Those who don’t comply find themselves ostracized from human society, and they are even hated (vv. 16–17). But there are still some who resist this overwhelming pressure to join Satan’s lie--those who have the security of having their names in the Lamb’s book of life (v. .

The book of the Lamb pictures the protection of eternal life for those who trust in Christ. Though they may be persecuted, they are safe from Satan’s deceit.

John uses an exhortation that we saw repeatedly in the letters to the seven churches: “He who has an ear, let him hear” (v. 9). This repetition highlights that this message is intended to encourage believers who are facing great trials. They will be tempted to believe Satan’s lie, but they need to have “patient endurance and faithfulness” to the Lamb (v. 10).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Bible calls Satan the father of lies and the accuser of the saints. What lies do you struggle against?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 14
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. - Revelation 14:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Governments all over the world lose billions of dollars each year because of counterfeit currency, and they spend almost as much to try to protect their money. Through advances in technology, paper money now has watermarks, ink variations, and imbedded plastic strips. Yet with all these safeguards, the best line of defense against counterfeit money are bank employees who are trained to know every detail of the legitimate bills.

In Revelation it isn’t money that’s being counterfeited--it is the very authority of God Himself. In chapter 13 one of the beasts allied with Satan is described as having two horns like a lamb (v. 11). Despite his power to do miracles, however, this beast is just a cheap imitation for the power of the Lamb standing on Mount Zion (14:1). Everyone who has bought the counterfeit will experience the fury of God and the judgment of Christ (v. 10).

The beast has forced everyone to take his mark in order to exist in the world economic order. But those who are faithful to Christ have a greater mark, His name that identifies them as His. The mark of the beast permits people to buy and sell, but the mark of the Lamb provides eternal protection from the wrath and judgment of God. It’s not hard to see which mark is more valuable!

Jesus is pictured as coming on a cloud to execute divine judgment (v. 14, cf. Dan. 7:13; Matt. 24:27–51). This judgment is the consequence of human rejection of the demonstration of God’s power. The golden crown on the Son of Man emphasizes His sovereign position to carry out this harvest of wrath.

In the middle of this des-cription of God’s justice, a soothing note of peace resounds. No doubt some of those faithful to God will suffer and even die in this war between Jesus and the beast, but God makes it clear that these saints will receive rest from the struggle (v. 13, cf. 1 Thess. 4:16; Heb. 4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We are focusing our study on the images of Christ in Reve-lation, but as you read through this book you may have other questions.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 15
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. - Psalm 98:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
People often identify a certain song with a meaningful experience or relationship in their lives. It may be the song that was playing when a couple met for the first time, or a piece of music that captures the feeling and emotion of a special moment. If you have such a song, it reminds you of that special memory every time you hear it.

The story of the Exodus is one of the most powerful accounts of God’s deliverance of His people. Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt until God brought ten plagues upon the land at the hand of Moses. Pharaoh then urged them to leave, but had a change of heart and pursued them with his army. But at the Red Sea God miraculously parted the waters for the Israelites to escape and then drowned the Egyptian forces in the raging sea. Moses sang a great hymn of thanks and praise to God, recorded in Exodus 14–15.

As great as that deliverance was, the salvation of the Lamb is even greater. In Revelation 15, elements from the Exodus are present--plagues, the sea, and the song. But this is the ultimate judgment and ultimate victory. The song of the Lamb celebrates the triumph of God over the enemies of His people, a victory won by the Cross of Christ.

While this is also called the song of Moses, the actual contents of the song of the Lamb are not from Exodus 15, but are a collection of other Old Testament passages (notably Psalms) that extol God’s character (cf. Rev. 15:3–4). The reference to the song of Moses signals that this is a song about deliverance. Even the forces that war against God must finally admit that He is sovereign. He is the only holy and just God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Did you know that your “quiet time” doesn’t have to be quiet? After this study on the song of the Lamb, it seems appropriate to celebrate with some music of praise!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 16:1-17:18
He is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. - Revelation 17:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
The impostor is one of the favorite characters in movies and books. This person looks and sounds very much like another person, and uses that to his own advantage. He may seek the wealth or family of

the man he has supplanted, or the impostor may want to avoid punishment for a past crime. As the plot progresses, the suspense builds--will the impostor be unmasked before he wreaks havoc and mayhem?

There have been many impostors to the claims of Christ throughout time, all of them aligned with Satan. In today’s reading we see the enemies of God again aligned for war against the Lamb (Rev. 17:14). But the Lamb leaves no doubt about who is the real power. He wins the war because He alone is Lord of lords. He exposes all false claims to deity, whether from the emperor or Rome or the Antichrist.

From the time of Caesar Augustus, about one hundred years before Revelation was written, Roman emperors had claimed for themselves divine attributes in order to shore up loyalty from their subjects. At the time that John wrote Reve-lation, the title “Lord of lords and King of kings” was associated with the emperor, who demanded respect and even worship by using this title. In Scripture this title is used to refer to God (cf. Deut. 10:17; Dan. 2:47; 1 Tim. 6:15). By giving it to the Lamb, Revelation makes another strong statement that it is the Lamb who is the victorious God.

The Lamb’s victory is shared with His followers, those whom He called and who have remained faithful. This is a great promise and an exhortation. First, those who are aligned with Christ will share in His triumph over His enemies. How exciting to be on the winning team! But this is also a reminder to stay faithful to Jesus. Again we see the word overcome, the echo throughout Revelation that calls us to endure difficult times in our Christian journey.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever considered doing your own Bible study through a particular book or theme? There’s no better way to get deeply into the Word of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 19:1-10
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. - Revelation 19:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
When you attend a wedding, you expect certain things. The bride will be in a beautiful dress especially for the occasion. Music and food will celebrate the union of this couple. Guests share in the happiness of the bride and groom.

We see many of these same things in the wedding of the Lamb in Revelation 19, and we learn wonderful things about our Lord as a result.

This marriage takes place after the destruction of Babylon recorded in chapter 18. Although painful, oppression from Babylon was the fire that refined the faith of the saints and made them ready to be the bride of the Lamb (cf. 1 Peter 4:12). Three images permeate this wedding: the bride, the garments, and the feast.

We will learn more about the bride in Revelation 21 (see Feb. 23 and 24). But it’s clear that the bride is the people of God who have been faithful to the Lamb. The bride is dressed in beautiful garments of fine linen, and we are told that this linen represents the righteous acts of the saints (19:. Many Bible commentators think that this means both the righteous acts done by the saints and God’s righteous acts for the saints. This is consistent with what we have seen elsewhere in Revelation.

The notion of God preparing this clean garment for the bride reminds of a scene from last month’s Today in the Word study in Zechariah. God clothes the high priest Joshua in clean white robes to signify His forgiveness of sins (Zech. 3:1–5). We’ve also read exhortations to believers to keep their garments pure, not to be found naked (cf. Rev. 3:4–5, 18; 16:15). Our righteous acts cannot save us, but our faithfulness to Christ in response to His salvation indicates that we’re truly His bride.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the happiest days that we experience on earth--a wedding--will be even more wonderful than we can imagine in heaven.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 19:11-21
There before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. - Revelation 19:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
There has been much discussion in the United States in recent months about the idea of “just war.” This concept, usually traced back to the writings of Augustine in the fourth century, outlines situations in which the horror and devastation of war is justified. This issue concerns not only policy makers, but also Christians who want to be sure that their support for such an action is morally defensible.

As we read about the war in Revelation 19, there is no question about which side believers are on--the Rider, an image of Jesus, goes to battle in perfect justice (v. 11). This passage is packed with descriptions and pictures of Christ, so we’ll spend several days studying these verses.

The color white appears numerous times in the book of Revelation, and here it’s used to describe the Rider’s horse. White symbolizes heavenly purity and vindication, usually as a result of overcoming suffering (cf. 14:14; 20:11). As the hymns of praise throughout the book remind us, Christ is holy, and His triumph through the Cross is the basis of His authority.

The title Faithful and True should resound like an echo . . . we first saw this title for Christ back in the letters to the seven churches (1:5; 3:7, 14). The title assures us that He will keep His promises, and He is faithful to judge the wicked and vindicate the righteous. Because He is faithful and true, He can also be described as the Word of God (19:13), which we’ll examine more over the next two days.

This Rider is not passively waiting to see what will happen; He is actively judging and making war against the enemies of God (v. 11). It may trouble us to see Jesus “making war,” until we realize that He is perfectly just and has the complete authority. He does not have to react to Satan and his cronies--He alone actively contends with them and brings about their destruction and God’s purposes.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may not have a high government position, influencing decisions about the fate of our country and the world. But through prayer, you do have access to the King of kings!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 19:11-21
The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. - Isaiah 62:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Great Britain, judges are easily identified by white powdered wigs and long flowing robes. Judges in the United States don’t wear a white wig, but they still have identifying objects like black robes and a gavel. Such objects are images of the authority of the office of a judge.

Revelation has presented us with many images that show Jesus’ authority as judge, and we’ll continue to look at more of these today and tomorrow.

For the second time in Revelation we have a description of Jesus with eyes like blazing fire (v. 12; cf. 1:14). He sees everything, and nothing is hidden from His sight; therefore He can judge fairly. This image, along with the sharp sword that we’ll look at in more detail tomorrow, was first used to describe Jesus’ authority over His church. Now we see that He has authority over all the world, including those who rise up against Him in evil rebellion.

The beast is described in Revelation as having ten crowns on each of his ten horns (13:1). This sounds like an impressive array--until we see Christ (19:12). The number of Jesus’ crowns isn’t given, indicating they can’t be counted. His many crowns demonstrate His overwhelming kingship, grander in scale than any beast or dragon. Whatever power Satan has is miniscule compared to Christ--and all of Satan’s power is subject to the will of God.

Next we see that Jesus has a name known only to Himself (cf. Isa. 62:2–3). This may be an actual name that only Christ knows, but we can still learn some important information about Him from it. In ancient cultures, names had great significance, and knowing someone’s name meant a kind of intimate identification with that person. Christ’s unknown name means that no one can control or manipulate Him--He is sovereign over all creation. Our access to Him is on His terms and as He allows.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The unknown name of Christ should remind us of how significant His other names are; we can learn so much of His character and purpose from His names.