Rev. 11:17 HEAVY-HITTER SACRIFICE

June 26, 2026

"because thou hast taken unto thee thy great power, and hast reigned." (Rev. 11:17)

Babe Ruth has ruled the baseball diamond since the invention of the sport, and what's more, altho' he had the ability to whack the ball clean out of the park, IF NECESSARY, HE WOULD SACRIFICE to bring someone Home. There was hardly anyone better to send into the batter's box.

To those who might not be acquainted with baseball terminology, a quick explanation: usually, a good player, would simply hit the ball hard when it was his turn to bat. Rarely would he let himself look bad for the sake of a teammate, but apparently, Babe Ruth did this.

On the Cross, Jesus had the authority to call 10,000 angels and show everyone He was God. But He sacrificed Himself for my sake, that I would be able to get to Heaven. It didn't make any difference that He didn't look good and people would say He was weak and helpless against those who nailed him to the Cross. Jesus has the power. 

Something else God tried to tell me:

"That's my grandson." a proud grandmother at a little league game beamed at the achievement of a boy on the grounds. SHE KNOWS HIM PERSONALLY--HE IS FAMILY.  "Let not the wise, the rich, the mighty boast; but even the weakest person can boast: I know Him - He's my Father! (Jer.9:23,24)

It doesn't really matter how weak and insignificant a person feels; if he's been adopted into God's family, "JESUS is BIG BROTHER"! I'm playing on HIS team (A lot of us assume God is playing on our side instead of asking to play on God's side). HE can hit ANY BALL out of the park OR sacrifice without a moment of hesitation for me, if it becomes necessary! 

Babe Ruth ruled the baseball diamond, maybe. Jesus has reigned as King of the Universe!

(Daddy played a lot of baseball when he was younger, did a lot of coaching too. I found a photo of him in 1948 but hoped I could post it without all my readers forgetting the rest of the post. I'm sure Daddy would be saddened if he thought a photo of his own baseball years, instead of furthering God's truth, lessened interest in it! That won't happen, will it?)

Rev. 11:17 DEPRIVED OF SAND CASTLES

 June 24, 2026

"saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty," (Rev. 11:17)

But even when the Christian leader's task would be to speak to men, let him ever be conscious he speaks for God, and altho' any visible forces and audible voices may be turned to those of the earth, our hearts and invisible desires must always be turned to Him, our Lord God Almighty, the Changeless One, Whom we thank for reigning in His great power.

I still don't see why He doesn't just crush us, but I'm so glad He hasn't done so.

I have decided I do not want "to leave a mark" in the playground of the mind, in the kingdoms of this world. After all, its best edifices are but sand castles. No, I want to side with a mighty God Who sends boulders rolling to squash those fortresses (Gideon's story), and erects eternal towers into which the meek and humble can run and be safe (Prov. 18:10).

Go ahead and have your beach parties and "We have made a difference building this castle" affairs -- I hope you have the best time you can possibly know. I'll stay at home comfy and cared for, ok? The crowd feels sorry for me while I have meat they know not of -- steak -- and walk around on a shag carpet in a centrally air-conditioned yacht home sheltered from real damage listening to whispered nothings from a Confidant Who is Rich, Powerful, Good, and crazy about me for life. How poor I am...?

It may drive them mad to see I do not envy them for their juicy mud pies, exotic bungalows with natural shades and cool ocean breeze, exciting raft rides admiraled by veteran oarsmen...the person must be, they say, a hermit denying reality. 

Rev. 11:16 FALL IN AWE...BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

 June 23, 20226

"fell upon their faces, and worshiped God," (Rev. 11:16)

Is this not the attitude-response we creatures ought to automatically have towards our Creator? Too many of us say, "I don't know what God is doing, but I'll trust Him anyway. Isn't He fortunate to have such a loyal, worthy subject?"

No, we don't form those words consciously, but many of us feel them as we congratulate ourselves for being one of God's faithful, pious ones. Our focus must always be on GOD Who is merciful to us! We fall off our pedestals, our thrones, or whatever else holds our faces up; and we worship HIM.

Let us peons see we cannot take a grain of sand and imbue it with life as Omnipotent God can (pearls are sand irritations in oysters, after all), or make two of the same thing, bringing pairs into a vessel that has taken over a hundred years to craft out of materials, again, I myself have created, and design some storyline of rescuing life forms from a natural disaster of a phenomenon I will cause: deluge of a sphere of clay which I have formed, to remake into a different globe...taking care that sufficient life forms will be salvaged to start up the new one. (Water droplets, Izena Beach)

We created peons, of course, who have no capacity to create life; have no capacity to work miracles either, which is why that word was actually made. It is a label given us peons who are limited; the Creator is not.

He can raise from the dead as well as rise Himself as many times as He pleases; and virgin births are no problem; turning water into wine or walking on it or drinking poisonous water are not problems. The winds and waves obey Him; as do all the creatures in it; even the fire falls from the sky; and God can get the sun to stand still.

IF GOD THE CREATOR WISHED, HE COULD LOOK DOWN AT ENEMIES MARCHING OUT AGAINST HIM AND WITH ONE THOUGHT CAUSE THEM TO DISAPPEAR. But He loves them too much to do that.

I often think of the television host that spoke of seeing 2-year-olds on his show who thought they were so smart and answered all his questions with the stupidest answers. But they were SO CUTE, he said. He just wanted to take them up and squeeze them; they were so adorable!

Is that comparable to the way God sees us? Even the greatest of us is "so darling" in His sight, and He has extended personal, unthinkable reconciliation to All!

Recently, I was re-reading a memory of Judy Fingeroot, (a friend of one of my sisters) who told me if she believed what I did, she'd crawl on broken glass to tell people about my message. Father, there is some truth to that sentiment, altho' we cannot be driven by that alone, I know; but we need to see the reality of the situation, don't we? Let us, Your children, be empowered, with Your Love, to implore compellingly:

"Be ye reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20) before it's too late!

Rev. 11:15 GLIMMERING KINGDOMS

 June 20, 2026

"the kingdoms of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev. 11:15)

I think this part of this verse was so easy to "memorize" because it's been sung so much before. I'm sure the angels and redeemed will turn their faces toward each other when it's time to sing this in the "actual revelation", and not in the written prophecy; so many created beings will have mouthed those words in chorus during their earthly pilgrimages too.

And I think of Miss Powell's voice of instruction to her high school class, how these were merely the lyrics set to a great musical composition we were going to experience (she had to say that; the majority of the students were Jewish!) Perhaps that was so for those who could not access the true value of "the experience", not aware there was gold underlying the shiny -- even radiating coating of the "composition". The musical radiation of the Messiah is praiseworthy, to created men. To the kingdoms of this world.

But when we know of the life-purpose of the Eternal I AM under that "sheer veneer," we even question the concept "Worth", almost the same way anyone would speak of how wonderful the epidermis of man is while the others in the room know about his intellect, his compassion, his desire, his will and determination, his ability to form organization and improve with education and training and regulate with government and enrich with art...and someone whispers from the corner,

"Yes, and he has a wonderful epidermis! His covering is something all of us can agree on, even if we disagree on other things, yes? Let us celebrate his excellent SKIN!"

~~~~~~~

...The artist that says "look at the beauty that I create!" is wrong. He is part of "the kingdoms of this world." But we see art everywhere: in the glowing sunset, in the glorious clouds of the summer sky with its rainbows, in birds' wings, in flowers, in luscious greens, in gurgling waterfall and brooks, in crystal rays, in frosty snow, in patterned butterflies, and we hear them and feel them and they make us smile and go ahh --  God is so perfect -- this is "the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ!"

When men want others to sigh and go -- this is the way it's supposed to be -- not try to grab them for themselves in any way --I wonder if God doesn't smile at that too. I don't know, but I wonder.

Rev. 11:14 AS LONG AS WE WANT

 June 17, 2026

"The second woe is past," (Rev. 11:14)

God has laid out things in our lives for our learning, and we can decide to take as long as we want to learn them or choose to get out of uncomfortable situations more quickly perhaps by being willing to swallow them completely. I usually do not like the humiliation of utter surrender and unconsciously cling to a last ditch claim to justification, vindication...and it isn't until the little monkey lets go of the bananas in his hand he can slip free of the trap...but the moment he does, his "woe is past."

Circumstances in this world may not change, but the heart can be totally emancipated from them, move free despite them. Even the monarch of the land is bound by its laws -- King Herod cowed to his advisors; and Ahaseurus got rid of his wife; Darius was strongarmed to send a dear friend to a lion's den. But a simple prophet boldly followed the instructions of his God, period! It didn't matter to him if he were defamed, removed from his post (actually, he had none to lose), or even executed, which he was -- he felt absolutely unrestrained to do what he felt he wanted to do to honor his God. His woe was past him.

* Every child of God should be able to say "There is NO CONDEMNATION that can hold me down -- my woe is past!" Do I live like it? -- or --

"and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly." (11:14b)

Am I too busy looking past what I could be living like today by worrying about what I'll be facing tomorrow? Shouldn't I be facing  tomorrow's trials with tomorrow's grace, and TODAY'S walk should be lived in TODAY'S GRACE? O Lord, help me to do so.

Rev. 11:12 SIGHTS SET ON GOD'S HAND

 June 14, 2026

"And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them." (Rev. 11:12)

When Moses' life on earth ended in the Old Testament--well, when God was through with the task He wanted him to do--He raptured him "silently," you could say; and his body, bones, could not be found. But this next time, in Revelation, it is an audible call Home to Heaven in a Cloud on which his enemies behold clearly; there is no mention of an invisible rapture.

When Elijah's life on earth ended in the Old Testament--when God was through with him and wanted to take him Home in front of Elisha--it was also a rapture on chariot and Horses of Fire that only the younger prophet was to see. But in Revelation, Elijah's corpse, first seen for 3 1\2 days before secular eyes, then becomes infused with life and stands on its own to go to Heaven. Again, he has no part of an invisible, secret rapture.

What is the "Rapture" of the people of God supposed to indicate? I could be all mixed up with the following, but this is the impression that came to me:

Perhaps if you think of it as a husband who has watched his wife being offended. An invisible rapture seemed akin to the wife quietly running back to the husband in the middle of the night.

However, the last trumpet and call where Jesus has enemies see wronged Christians vindicated--some even resurrected before eyes of blasphemers--speaks to me of a husband that says, "NO ONE does that to my bride and gets away with it," and he vents his fury on perpetrators of offense toward His beloved. I am thinking in the ultimate spiritual reality, our God has potential to tear down our enemies. 

Some may counter this is not necessarily the case in our broken world, that often it is the wicked ones who have greater power and can squash those under them who would rise up to complain. Husbands, it will be argued, cannot defend their spouses or mothers to their children. God, can You show me how to deal with this?

Meanwhile, the truth remains that the eternal, infinite, powerful GOOD God is fully ABLE to overpower the -nthest fiend of earth, that argument is just a distraction from what He may want to do.

He says NO ONE does that to my bride and gets away with it. A secret rapture would be cowardly for a husband if he has the power to exact vindication for his wife!

More and more, I am thinking people get the wrong conclusions when they look at things from the HUMAN perspective instead of from GOD'S side. I mean, if you simply think about OUR secretly, silently, stealing away, it doesn't sound so bad. But that's if you're looking at it from our side only. If God has nothing to do with it.

When the people of God our insulted, offended, hurt--God watches, but is NOT CONSIDERED IMPORTANT?! And the "Rapture" is taught as Christians stealing away--Christians are the acting nouns here--while God becomes the accepting, receiving arms...just the passive parts of the equation. No one is expected to apologize to--even face, or acknowledge GOD--about the matter whatsoever; Christians just "steal away; God isn't considered worthy of consulting before coming and going; He's just background, right?"

WRONG.

We need to keep GOD central. He is the active subject, and we humans merely respond to what He decides! If we really feel a sovereign God would watch His bride being insulted, shamed, offended, humiliated, hurt, violated, pressured, forcibly held under conditions against her will; and she not only did not enjoy it but repeatedly shed tears of distress; AND HE HAD THE POWER TO PUT DOWN THOSE THAT WERE BULLYING HER

Now wouldn't you think my computer broke if my next words were: "but He told her He didn't want to get His hands dirty or tire His nerves dealing with evil men; perhaps, when the bullies were caught sleeping, he'd send a secret whistle for a secret meeting in the clouds.  Actually, I don't know why she would want that, since if evil men came wanting her, He would not hesitate to hand her over again, not wanting to tire His nerves.

Yet if we believe there is a Sovereign God Who sees the tears of His Bride, something wells up within Him that says, "No one does that to My Beloved!" We do well to believe in an audible trumpet call; the groom ANNOUNCES His presence; He calls His Bride to His side and says, "No more of this foolishness!"

And the rest of Revelation shows us how He makes all of the world right away, how it was SUPPOSED to be. The groom is going to set up house for his bride, making sure: all the thermostats are set right; the birds are chirping, the fish are in the pond (clear, unpolluted); the neighborhood is safe (free of criminals, good legal system and officials set in place); the weather, everything.

JESUS is the only groom that can do this. And He does. (I found a pic of us on the way to our honeymoon right after our wedding in 1987!)

*******

About what to do when the Unrighteous Oppressor is STRONGER:

I think I grinned real big when I think I heard this back from God.

To some extent, we do see repeatedly we must put up with quite a bit of nonsense from fools above us simply because they have more power. But isn't that why God tells us to endure (wait! hang on; there's more), and is that not what makes longing for Jesus, the last Adam, sweeter (wait! there's more!)...

At the same time, I do believe that God can give wisdom here and there to resist powers of evil, to stand up against wrong, to make it difficult for them and not merely "lie down and take it". This is where one can constantly pray for wisdom.

We are hearing more and more wartime stories now, for example, of civilians in occupied countries who could not outwardly fight back resident soldiers. They carried no weapons yet acts of resistance ended up costing enemy forces thousands of lives, and a bonus was that some of them were aiding persecuted Jews, so hundreds of their lives were saved too.

In other words, while it is true that individuals may feel like mere ants before oppressive wicked forces, there is always a way to fight. Tho' not immediately apparent, it's just as real and strong. We pray, and not only are we told how to deal with the Mighty Titan Ant we must face, now we see him crawling around on God's palm.

Rev. 11:10 DOES MY WANTER HAVE EARTH-SIZE LIMITATION？

 June 10, 2026

"And they that dwell on the earth" (Revelation 11:10)

It occurred to me God is saying here to John, to the angel, "Look, look. This is what the people down there are doing. And they call it "reality". That's all they see. Some of them say they'll believe only what they can see and hear and touch and know. As far as they're concerned, in their little minds, what they can't perceive doesn't exist.

Altho' it seems a little...almost pitiful that little insects would not understand that there could be an entire world, something actually functioning and moving around them, that they could possibly have no knowledge of: human beings way larger than they could perceive with their vision or distances they could fathom, ages...even things like reason, emotion, education, finance, creativity, falsehood, eternity, god, architecture, politics...insects could not understand how human beings exist, other than in terms of expressions used in their own limited lives!

I began my above sentence "Altho'" because I was thinking that's what some of us do too, in a different way, so actually, we're just as pitiful. We may not call God a giant hornet; some realize we cannot limit God to being a mere super hero; yet there are Christians who, w/o realizing it, feel we can keep God w/in the level of human understanding and actually insult an infinite God. The very fact that most people, yes, I claim guilt here too, want God to explain Himself to us says we think GOD IS ON OUR LEVEL! (Actually, He has explained Himself, but created man is so far inferior to an infinite Creator;  most of us have a hard time hearing what He says; cannot understand it; nor want to accept it anyway.)

Rev. 11:9 UNBURIED BODIES

June 7, 2026

"shall not permit their dead bodies to be put in graves" (Rev. 11:9)

I am thinking it is a sin perhaps, to not put dead bodies into graves and to allow a dishonoring, even a concrete scientific corruption of physical decay. But isn't it just as wrong to allow decay and dishonor before a person has died? Actually, isn't that unthinkable?

Maybe it's unintentional, but sometimes it feels like now the younger folk at church (yes, the one my family got started, but no one there even knows I was there then or about that time) no longer have need of me.

Call it silly wishing. I dreamed of having ONE HUMAN BEING rush up to me with the sentiment, "June! You're finally back after all these years! What has God given you for us?"

When I'd left Okinawa, it had been with a dream of returning to a field white unto harvest to help out with the work. I thought the people would be glad to have me back. And I went to Tokyo for language training then was led into a Japanese marriage and family life for three decades. But God proved His faithfulness ever stronger through it all.

But, it's rather tragic (that's understatement) NOT A SINGLE PERSON PRESENT at our 1976 Furugen grassroots home meetings, even one person of the church Charter Members when it was formed in 1981 in the Tairagawa clinic building, IS STILL ALIVE AND PRESENT AT GUSHIKAWA BAPTIST CHURCH built in 1987. 

The county ladies who collected personal spending money and handed me an offering on that last Sunday before leaving for my Stateside training are all gone now. "Come back," they'd said, "and serve the Lord with us." And some had sent audio encouragement during my years in college.

They're all gone now. And none of the people in Gushikawa Baptist Church today even know about how the church got started. Maybe it's silly, but I'm "just" the sister of Miss Oshiro (Joyce), the pianist. I don't think the people even know I used to be a missionary.

The customary questions were asked if I could come to certain activities but I have medical limitations now, restricting them (Even regular church attendance!). I can, however, write--I feel that is a gift God has given me--and prayed and submitted something I felt the Lord could use (including the story of God's faithfulness in church beginnings), but heard no response. After I die, the church people may do the outwardly respectable thing and aid in taking care of my remains (at least, I hope they do).

I remember when I was little, I read about how the young ought to respect the elderly because they'd want the same thing when they got older. But I felt I did my very best when I was younger yet feel shoved aside today anyway. Okay--there's one young person, Saaya, who seems to be reading all my writing and has responded with comments showing she's really thought about it; and there's someone nearer my age: Ai-chan, who seems to respond positively too...but others want sensationalism and technically good art...well, that's not what I want people to WANT/VALUE me for.

I know when I was young and met older folk, I asked God to show me the real value behind their experiences, the wisdom in the years God had given them that others did not possess, and I felt I gleaned from friendship with them. Those things were, when I got older, what younger folk would get from me too. But it feels like they don't want those things anymore, and I feel like I will die with a lot "leftover" to give in writings I haven't been allowed to put out.

So I'm just posting some things here for whoever would like to take. I realize now that's what Jesus' written word is, isn't it? His Words for free.

Rev. 11:3 POWER TO DIE

 May 19, 2026

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses" (Rev. 11:3)

I was noticing the contrast between this and Acts 1:8 in which believers were promised power to be witnesses. Takashi pointed out in a previous message that often, we see the central message of the word "witness" is martyr. We need to be willing to die for God. In truth, the two "witnesses" in Rev. 11 actually do die for Him, then are raised for Him!

Is not the message clear to us, that if we would want His power given to us, it may be given to us to die and show His glory in rising for Him too?

After all, the power every Christian needs to "rise", to walk, to serve Him, to follow Him: does that not come because the Holy Spirit indwells our hearts, and HE is the One Who causes us to see things in the Word then Leap to our feet and charge around the Temple like a wild boar (Martin Luther), even when no angel stirs the surface of the water (Jn.5:1-9)! We should not lie around and wait for someone to come give us help--that would destroy us (Mic.2:10)--but get up and get moving.

Rev. 12:8 , 12 FIGHT AND FLIGHT

 July 17, 2026

"And prevailed NOT, neither was their place found any more in heaven." (Rev. 12:8)

They fought and lost. I wonder if they had tried struggling against God Almighty? I mean, if He had really taken them seriously? The thought came to me, not concerning them, per se, but concerning God's dealings with His creations, with those like ME. How often have I wanted to "look Him in the Face" and challenge His working in my life?

How many times have human beings questioned His providential wisdom, the outcomes of DUI's, terminal illnesses, wicked-violent guardians, Holocaust, natural disasters, totalitarian oppression, global warming, and TELL GOD He doesn't know what He's doing; we know better?

God didn't think a cheeky rebellion was worth His time, so He sent Michael and his angels (they were created beings too) to take care of it, and since the impudent creatures were unhappy with the Lord of the Manor, they were free to move out; He was not holding them to a lease. Staying in heaven rent-free in fact, had been a privilege, a blessing, it had been thought, of being one of the created beings of the God of the Ages.

He was the Owner. The "walls", the housing of residents, were mercy, grace, love, light, humility. Those who preferred "I WILL's" of competence, comfort, confidence need not stay, but were sent to make new "tent abodes" in a place called earth.

Whew. That is where we see this group of renegade winged brigade.

July  21, 2026

"Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you," (Rev. 12:12)

Well, it's as if the Father nodded, "That's the way it's gonna be, Honey." After the Father's archrival was cast out of Heaven and careened his way down to earth then said he was going to wreak havoc in the life of all of God's own as well as wreck God's creation, if a child of God felt absolutely cool about it, wouldn't you say something was wrong? In fact, wouldn't it be logical to assume it might not even be his child???

If, however, any individual felt uncomfortable with that archrival's seeming offers of comfort and power, of youth and fame in exchange for the values in the strongbox his Father had given him: values of humility, meekness, putting oneself down to lift another up, of mundane faithfulness...and his heart BREAKS when others claiming to love the Father seem to have no more need for these "old" values either...could it be the brokenhearted individual has been evidencing he IS regenerate?

"A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him" (John 10:5), it was said.

"Flee" was the word used. The Holy Spirit may've chosen that word on purpose. Sometimes, it is not an act of cowardice, but a proof of sonship, a litmus test result, or what today might be called a result of a DNA test.

The magnet that was repulsed showed what charge it possessed. Maybe you were supposed to flee, not to stay put; did that ever cross your mind? The human mind thinks it's always the braver thing to remain stalwart, but the Bible, God's Word, says "to every thing there is a season." including a Time to Run.

WHAT HAPPENED AT JAKE'S CAFE

The barista saw that half-breed every noon, standing on the corner across the street, waiting until everyone was gone then coming over and ordering her daily cup. Hiding behind that thick scowling mask and loud costume seemed to be a lonely, guarded female in survival mode, but Jake wordlessly poured her coffee then left her alone.

He remembered that day however, when someone new to the neighborhood stepped into the cafe. The whole place was empty, but he chose the stool...next to the customer who HATES social interaction!

She seemed startled at first but didn't dislike it, and responded to his greeting.

They were actually talking for a little bit. She seemed to get animated. Jake wondered if they knew each other from before. Who knows what happened next, but she jumped off her stool and flew out of the shop, leaving her coffee untouched.

"What did you say?!" Jake rushed over and asked the stranger; "Did you hurt her feelings?"

"No!" Someone standing at the door answered, coming in. She wanted to stay longer but wanted to go call friends and neighbors right away." I happened to be coming, and she crashed into me on her way out.

Turning to the stranger, he said, "She said, 'He knows EVERYTHING ABOUT ME but still cares about me and will give me everlasting life. She says I MUST hear what you have to say. She sounded pretty mixed up, but by what I saw in her (and this is the most I have seen her talk), I think I want to hear anything you have to say. LAY IT ON ME, BRO!"

5, 10 minutes later, there were streams of curious folk pouring into JAKE'S CAFE, all friends and neighbors who wanted to see this stranger who could've caused their foreigner friend to change so much.

Yes, you probably got it. This is the story of the woman at the well (Jn. 4:5-39), told in modernized version...the barista? There was no barista in Jesus' day...Jacob was long gone.

Oh-oh; now readers will remember the barista, and not what happened at the coffee shop!

She left her pot to go call her friends, relatives, neighbors

Rev. 11:13 SOBERING THOUGHTS (Come into Kitchen excerpt)

"The same hour...the tenth of the city fell...in the earthquake...seven thousand" (Rev. 11:13)

The same hour - sometimes, the very same time God seems to be doing something, He may be doing something else too; and he can operate on multiple levels at one time in ways that man's mind cannot fathom. We can never assume on the mind of God.

the tenth of the city - isn't this a minority? but it's of no consequence to God. Just a corner of a handkerchief or the center of it too, and to a great God, it's still a handkerchief. Perhaps it's called representation. Even the fallen minority can tell God about the heart of the standing majority.  The way God announces His woes or executes His mercies may be according to responses of this minority. Do Christians, the minority, call down God's mercies on fallen man, then turn and cry to the majority, "please, be reconciled to God"?

Fukushima Earthquake, 2011

in the earthquake - make no bones about it, this was an act of God. Recently, I was going back over 2011-3-11 earthquake we had in Fukushima, Japan, and how our family had to move out--all U.S. citizens within a certain radius of the damaged nuclear reactors were encouraged to move then, I remember. And with only what we could carry in our backpacks, we got on a bus moving through a back way--resourceful minds had patched together an exit route for the bus--and left Koriyama City, barely getting out of the metropolis. The Sendai airport was destroyed, train rails were uprooted but the bus--and few of us even managed to get gasoline then, so I don't know how they did it--somehow bounced over those split but manageable roads. Much could be said of that time.

were slain of men - not troubled, lost, or hurt, but killed; pretty final. And God Himself had punctuated the "period" there. And was not man the crowning act of creation, made in the image of the One...Who had killed him? Why?

seven thousand - wait...this was the number, the Holy Spirit seemed to bring to my memory, of faithful prophets who would not bow the knee to worship Baal, wasn't it?

This is just me. I couldn't help but see Moses' and Elijah's corpses from previous verses being infused with life and ascending to Heaven; believers praising God for His undeniable power; the unsaved deciding to shut these faithful Christians up but before they get around to it, a great earthquake comes from Heaven as if to say, "Oh, no you don't; I can get them Home Myself, thank you."

Hospital Window, Okinawa

Perhaps it's the YouTube movie I just viewed. The main character wanted to free her child from an institution and bring her home. Wouldn't that be a Heavenly Father's desire, not to leave His faithful loving children in the dark and broken walls of a cruel earth where they are mistreated, mocked, tortured, not given what they need, labeled hatemongers-criminals of society-minority outcasts?

The institution seemed to want to keep its patients medicated and unable to even recognize-respond to the rightful custodian who could grant her actual freedom. Is this "catatonic" inducement not brought about by the world's allure of social status, material security, and offers of satisfying vindication? Most human beings seem to lose sight of, desire for, Creator God Who can truly liberate and bring beauty out of ashes.

Back to "my vision". I saw a merciful Heavenly God taking His children Home in death, very aware, at the same time, those human creatures who remained and were not His would be terrified and then be given opportunity to give glory to the God of heaven.

We do not know this is what happens in Revelation, of course. But if God were to so choose, to use our deaths to lead unsaved to repentance, how many of us would willingly die for Him?

Garden, Missionary Acres

"And Jesus answered them saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." (John 12:24)

BRAKING IN REVELATIONS, Rev. 11:1,3

 "Just start recording," I felt led.

I'd put up one post per chapter of the thoughts God had sent me while reading through Revelation in doing my memory work. But it felt recently like God has really put on the brakes from chapters 11 (over 25 entries per chapter). I went back in my journals and well...I'll stop talking and just start recording.

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May 15, 2026

"measure the temple of God" the angel said to John.  (Rev. 11:1)

Sometimes, children of God may wonder why God asks them to do some things. I mean, what is the reason in measuring the temple? It's not going to change anything, is it? The price of the property isn't going up or devaluing nor the condition for the entrance to Heaven changing as a result, and surely, there will not be second thoughts as to the feasibility of its being able to fit in as many spirits as desirable to worship there? I mean, that will be a spiritual thing, not physical, so even the properties of space will not actually limit them then...so why the instruction to "measure"? It has to be for my good: the concepts of time and space are units created for finite beings, yes?

Yes. But that is as far as I will go. Anything farther than that, I will leave for God to show me a little at a time; my mind is tired.

Meanwhile, today...(more of journal entry)

May 18, 2026

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses" (Rev. 11:3)

I've been spending much time going back and forth communicating with Saaya. She and Rana will be coming, "Lord willing," Wed., for lunch and fellowship...I wonder if she knows how the Tomiokas were the ones who prayed for our getting together from before we were led into marriage; how she sang at our wedding and he officiated it; they prayed for us as a family in Bangladesh and even shed tears when we had marital problems? It was at the Tomiokas we had lunch as a newlywed couple, I remember, and now Saaya and Rana are eating at our place...and I was remarking to Kinya, next year, we will have been married 40 years!!! Time has gone by so fast. I remember Mrs. Tomioka telling me how 10 years goes by quickly!!! Lord, would You have me share old photos with Saaya? (How old? The youngest daughter pictured here has her doctorate!)

Rev. 13:6 MALFUNCTIONING MOUTH

 "And he opened his mouth" (Rev. 13:6)

Let us imagine a boy anticipating a fully functioning piece of incredible technology as he switches it on. He has been working on it for some time. But instead of just serving its purpose, it turns to the scientific prodigy and lets him know he has no more use of him. He is, after all, fully automatic so can think for, regenerate, repair, improve himself with no outside help, and, in fact, will one day soon become the Controller of all functioning things. He also sees no need for aspects like love, beauty, character; they complicate matters. It seems almost reasonable that the self-determination chip installed in this formerly considered "marvel" would be declared faulty and need to be removed and rewritten before being reinserted or could be hazardous.

"and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name," (Rev. 13:6）

I know a creation that goes around claiming he is his own person and no one can tell him how to live. When his circuits hiccup, he spouts, "Oh my God" or "OMG". Altho' once pronounced Crown of Creation, now he says he will be Master of his own soul, even teaching others they need to TAKE LIFE INTO THEIR OWN HANDS BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL. Of course, the mainstream model of this device has no use for attributes of holiness, deity, denying the Creator that formed him. Man's only hope, at the foot of the Cross, is the removal of a wrong heart and instilling of a new life.

"I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." (Ezek. 36:26)

Rev. 12:6 WOMAN FLEEING INTO WILDERNESS (Come Into Kitchen post)

 "The woman FLED into the wilderness," it says in Rev. 12:6. I shared with some friends today about this passage. I hadn't realized how many characters in the Bible actually fled. Because I've berated myself in being such a big chicken, a coward, running away. I hear about people facing dangers so bravely...I know I probably wouldn't do that. I'd be looking for EXITS out of the room and using any energy to figure out the most efficient way to use them.

Sometimes I feel as Brave as a Worm...

But wait. Bible characters? Jacob fled from Esau's wrath. Joseph fled from Potipher's wife. Moses fled from "murderer!" David fled from Saul's men. Elijah fled from Jezebel. Jeremiah fled from Jonathan the scribe. Joseph and Mary fled from Herod. Paul fled from the Pharisees. And yes, the Woman in Revelation 12 fled from the Dragon.

And what I saw, in the phrase right after the comma after the information that she ran was what blew me away: "where she had a place PREPARED BY GOD"! I still remember the time Jesus defended a woman, "Leave her alone; she's MINE." (When she was criticized for extravagant use of oil.) I thought then, I'd love someone to think of me like that. A heartbeat later, I realized SOMEONE does! 

And then this verse affected me in the same way: GOD HAD TAKEN SPECIAL PAINS to prepare a special place out in the wilderness for a loved one HE KNEW would come running out there and would need a shelter! The God of the Universe gave the woman V.I.P. treatment!

Readied Room

He didn't call her a coward. He caught up the infant she'd given birth to (v.5); made sure His bride would be nourished 'til fully recuperated (v.6); and told Michael the archangel to get the servants under him to confront and expel any threatening renegades unhappy with God or heaven (vs.7-9).

Some people would say the woman of Revelation 12 is Israel, and the prophecy there is not for all. This is true. We cannot "claim" these promises to be ours accurately. But...

There was a Gentile mother who, when Jesus looked at her and told her He'd come to give bread to the Jews, and it would be wrong to take bread away from the children to which they were intended and give it to the puppies, she responded by saying even they'd be happy with the crumbs under the table. I am thinking the God who'd receive a mother in the wilderness--who'd run away from a dragon--and not call her a coward would be large-hearted enough to allow her to have a puppy, and whisper to those feeding the woman to make sure her bread is the extra crumbly type. Even Boaz told his reapers to allow handfuls of barley to fall for Ruth to glean, didn't he? Can we not hope for our Lord to be at least as gracious as a human lord?

Again, after reading these few verse and thinking these thoughts, I found myself saying, "Hey--I'm not supposed to be feeling this way. I'm reading in Revelation, not Psalms."

MCC - where Ron Sisco taught Revelation

One of the friends I was talking with was the person I had to thank most for giving me real desire to look at the book again. Ron Sisco, a retired missionary and interim leader-pastor of the English department of a church up in mainland Japan I fellowshipped at 10 years ago, preached through studies in Revelation, and his messages then got me interested. They were recorded then posted on the church website several years later. I've listened to them repeatedly since. He'd emphasized then the blessing that comes along with its reading. A lot of people avoid it, he said, because Revelation looks scary-difficult.

Maybe I'm a bit strange, but if it's not being studied, I think it feels kinda good.

Rev. 11:12 HE'S STILL SPEAKING TO ME! (Come into Kitchen)

 "And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up here."

(Rev. 11:12)

Today's portion speaks of how God's voice sounds, but it is only after the prophet had been willing to be killed--shamed and overcome by evil for God--and there's a period of silence. Am I ready to pass through a time of temporary not knowing why, even experiencing a season of darkness and obscurity, of fruitlessness--that's what death feels like--or will I too "kick at the goads" and say "No! I won't serve God then!" It may be only after that I would hear God's still, small voice saying, "Come close by my side, and let me whisper to You the way I see things."

I look at I Kings 8:58 (Solomon's temple dedicatory prayer) and Psalm 51:17. King David did not parade his uprightness before God and offer himself to serve Him--no; by Ps. 51, he knew he had committed atrocious, unforgivable sin before God and was fully broken. But that broken spirit was the heart the Eternal Spirit would not despise--in fact, had inclined the variables of life to turn to Him, and it was Him alone Who would keep that heart fixed there, in God's forgiveness and acceptance and choosing to accept us, in spite of how so very unworthy we were!

There is a big difference in Peter's first declaration, "I will DIE before I deny you," and his latter: "You know I love You." 

The child of God can only say, brokenhearted, "You know what is in my heart; but You can have all of it anyway."

 And, I think, God responds, "That's what I needed to hear."

(Photos taken above in 1970,  right in 1986)

Rev. 10:1 ANGEL INTO CLOUD (Come into Kitchen post)

  "And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud;" (Rev. 10:1)

Yipes. Oh No. I'd seen the tail end of Rev. 9, about how men needed to repent of worship of gold and silver, so I was all set on drawing a pretty picture of contrasting Prov. 25:11 glistening gold apples in a background of silver. But the verse I'm actually on now, and what God seems to be talking to me about, is something in the next chapter.

I came out of a negative situation several years ago I saw as walking around in a dark cloud, not really knowing what I was doing, just putting up a mental-emotional guard and surviving moment by moment. What had looked like a menacing, nebulous mass couldn't possibly be where my Heavenly Father wanted me to go...could it?

"I'm sending along a mighty angel," the verse seemed to whisper; and farther on, it even mentioned the rainbow...letting me know the Jan. post had been seen too, of course. "FOLLOW ME."

Hm. What looks like a shiny road could be an angel of light I shouldn't follow; and what looks like a shadowy way could sometimes be the way of trust I should take instead? Oh Lord, help me to run from the voice of strangers but to heed Your every beckoning.

Rev. 9:1 KEY OF BOTTOMLESS PIT (Come into Kitchen post)

"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth; and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit." (Rev.9:1)

Ooh; this year's memory work is starting out with a verse telling about a fall?! And the "best" part is that to him was given a key...the key to the bottomless pit!

What will I seek THIS YEAR as the apex of my attainments, my absolute "Best"? Will God look at it and shake His head, saying, "You want to attain it sweetie, but that's only Passage to Quicksand (Key to Bottomless Pit)."

• Some people think getting a key to a brand new super expensive car is a dream, not realizing that it will lead to needing to purchase premium fuel, keeping up insurance, putting on burglar alarms, not knowing any more if friends are real...or if they're just interested in a luxury motor vehicle.
• Others think a large ministry would be desirable, not realizing this may mean needing to mediate an increasing number of disputes between members; having less time to spend with family, hobbies, even rest; due to demands of constant pressure, exposing the soul to the danger of artificiality.

We must not say "I WILL" rise to where God does not put us. We may find ourselves too, falling, instead of staying in our place. Even Satan was once the highest archangel of Heaven, Lucifer, until he said in his heart: "THIS YEAR, I WILL GO UP HIGHER!"

God made him the Prince of this world (John 12:31), shutting him off to something "limitless": the bottomless pit. He was to look up at his Maker from there.

Thoughts are still incomplete, but...

Rev. 8:5 SAFE THUNDER (Come into Kitchen post)

"and there were voices, and thunderclaps, and lightnings, and an earthquake." 

 

What could those voices be saying before all those scary things mentioned in Rev.8:5?

Well, I imagined angels couldn't refrain--rather like me, at the beginning of this post--from slipping in the words: "Children of God, LOOK! Your Loving Heavenly FATHER has been watching all the evil you have had to endure! He saw what was being done to His truth, to His world, and He is putting an end to it!"

I can imagine one angel's voice assuring His own; another voice declaring an Omnipotent Sovereign's Perfect Justice; still another commanding all nature to yield to its Creator; finally, a joyful voice ringing out a call to see what God does...

Actually all that is extra, I realized. JUST ONE WHISPER from GOD of: "HOW DARE YOU!" would be enough to make anything get out of the way.

When I was a little girl, I remember learning the lyrics to the hymn: "How Great Thou Art". The teacher reminded us, whenever we're in a thunderstorm and "hear the rolling thunder", to think of our powerful Heavenly Father.

Some people don't want to see God's all-powerful side; they prefer a God Who is soft, always accepting, forgiving. Maybe it's been songleaders like this, but I've always felt safe with a FATHER-GOD whose voice is like thunder (but makes Himself slave to lambs like me), Who one day no one will dare stop when He make all things right.

Rev. 7:11 FALL, WORSHIP (Come into Kitchen post)

I looked at past posts and realized it's taking me a while to get through memory work. Will you put up with another entry about "fell" again? I think I'm sensitive to that word now, whenever I see it. Falls may seem to be interruptions, irritations. But some irritations can be coated over to form priceless treasures, can they not? Anyway...

"...and fell before the throne on their faces to worship God" (Rev. 7:11) 

Do I listen to God like that, or is it more like taking a stroll through nature and "feeling at one with all things;" lifting up my face to the sky and letting out a slow breath of utter contentment? We need to take care that we do not give obeisance to the Prince of the Power of the Air. He did promise to give "ALL THESE THINGS; just fall down and worship him". Jesus' response was: "Get thee hence, Satan. for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

Some angels fell worshiping before the throne of God; some refused, chose to follow the Prince of the Power of the Air so were cast out of Heaven and it sounds like they fell from the sky.

Hm; I said to myself; the first "fall" expressed worship; whereas the second "fall" was part of punishment.

. . . (I skipped over some of the journal entry. This one was rather long.)

So we lift our hands; we go down on our knees; we open up our hearts; we fall on our faces; and we realize we have been invited to approach the throne of God. Yes, we are on earth, but those of us in the Beloved are also in the heavenlies. Take off our shoes; this is holy ground. This is worship.

Rev. 6:12-13 UNTIMELY FIGS (Come into Kitchen post)

 "And I beheld, when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." (Rev.6:12-13)

I had to smile. I wonder what that earthquake will be like? Our family's been through a "Shindo 6" quake in 2011. And Sun., at 4:30 AM it was still black-ish out. But I suppose in an eclipse, it's not even dark-ish, but completely black--I wonder what'll happen then? And the blood I saw wasn't the moon, but a physical filter between my nose and the heaven...will man be living under some sort of dome at the time of the prophecy, a dome which will be spattered red with blood? And when I looked up Sunday, altho' the stars looked small, at least they stayed up there, didn't get tripped up by some crevice as they traveled across the heaven to fall to the earth in spectacular collisions. I tried to envision what it would be like that day in the future when those things happened.

They're not supposed to--are untimely--like figs being shaken from trees. Is that the way I looked when I turned from the vending machine to walk home and flew splat onto the sidewalk? But it was shi-kua-sa, not figs. God can use anything. And even a slight breath from His nostrils can be a mighty wind shaking man senseless. Lord, help us fear You as we ought.

I think what happened Sunday was a Heavenly Daddy's loving spanking. The past few weeks, I was overworking, sometimes pulling all-nighters. I had the idea I could lightly speak of getting my days and nights mixed up but I forgot this body is not mine. When I do not get the sleep I need, I am desecrating the Temple of God, and that is serious sin. 

So He saw what I was doing; patted me on the head; let me go for a little ride through the air before making a crash landing (ouch!); and tucked me in bed to get the rest I so need. I know I "so need" it because I have absolutely no problem falling asleep at night or to stay asleep in the morning.

Rev. 5:2, 12 WHO IS WORTHY?

 "Who is worthy to open the scroll" (Rev. 5:2)

No doubt Christians have been exasperated. From the street, this church building doesn't seem to be "New Age" or bear the hallmark "Brotherly Love" signs with emphases on global brotherhood that shun actual cornerstones of faith: repentance of sin and washing in the blood. No, this church boasts a cross and preaches Christ as being the only way of salvation, the Bible as being man's guidebook for all of life. It looks good--yes!

But perhaps personal separation standards at that assembly keep you off balance. Or you manage to find a place that you feel comfortable with even that; but the way the people view other ethnic groups/financial or educational backgrounds just doesn't feel right. Even if the church is OK with all of that, well, handling of finances, church hierarchy, power play is a strong undercurrent here--yuck. Other places free of that still battle with female roles, neglect of missions/family. SOMETHING is wrong. As they say, "You're never going to find a perfect church."

In the same way, you're never going to find a perfect pastor. There must be sheep all over the place who thought they found godly leadership where they could settle down and relax, being fed spiritual truth...then shockingly realized there are only redeemed SINNERS around them! Who is worthy to open the Word of God to them and care for their souls? It seems somewhere, somehow, something is lacking in everyone they find.

Perhaps that's it. We need to see, as it says in verse 4, there is no man who is worthy, and our expectation must be set, as we are told in verse 5, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus, the Son of Man, is the ONLY ONE worthy. Altho' today, the qualities like confidence and competence are praised--Jesus, altho' He really was a lion, as we were just told, appeared before us as a harmless, approachable lamb.

If Jesus had hung up on the cross then growled like a lion, I don't think I would've dared near the cross or ask for pardon. But Jesus knew even criminals wouldn't hesitate to listen to a lamb's baa and reach out to stroke it. He let us think it was something good in our hearts, but He'd programmed that urge in our hearts to make it easier for us to reach out for His goodness! That is the wise humility of Calvary.

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." (Rev. 5:12)

Rev. 4:4 ONE-UPPING GOD? I NEVER! ...DO I? --journaled:

 "Round about the throne were four and twenty seats, and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment" (Rev. 4:4)

Aug. 26, 2024:  Not actually "four and twenty elders", but Father, Thank You for such a wonderful, wonderful treat!

I went down to MCC yesterday. I'm coming to see God doesn't want us trying to improve on His arrangements, to "make things better." I'm such a perfectionist and also have this bad one-up-on-you tendency, horrify myself to find myself doing it by habit to God too!

Do it better than God?!

I don't say so, even mentally, but that's what it is, when I think well, maybe I'll just change this or wear that or go this way because it's faster or start earlier or make it safer for myself by doing such-and-so...and another leetle voice whispers, "Wouldn't God be pleased with me for the earnestness and wisdom and maturity I am displaying?" when it's really immature lust being allowed to be lured away by demons of distrustful thoughts? moooo.

At least the mother cows pulled the cart of the Israelites' ark back to the tribe away from the Philistines' camp. They knew better than to give first thought to lying natural instincts--even that of staying with their young! (I'm referring to the I Sam. 6 incident.)

Rev. 3:2 READY TO DIE

 ”Strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die;" (Rev. 3:2)

"Ah...leave that be...it looks as good as dead...wait! There's some movement! It's alive! "

I was taking a walk right after the rainstorm let up, looking for blooms that might've survived the horrible pelting.

A little yellow flower near the wooden bridge had been spared most of the rain. But it was apparent the terrible dry spell right before the rain had nearly killed it anyway, as could be seen by some of the translucent bare spots. Clearly, it had been ready to curl up into a yellow wrinkle and die. But moisture from the thundershower had seeped back into its veins, and the movement I detected was the unfurling petals of a charming golden star on a dark green canopy.

God is so very kind, I remember thinking to myself, one little flower, and He made sure it got the water it needed. There was another evening and other flowers that came to memory. It wasn't the flowers' needs then, but mine...and my sister Joyce's.

We'd just come home after my stepmother's funeral activities--it had actually started in the morning, fellowshipping with believers at church; we went on to crematorium exercises with unsaved relatives; and there were meals in between, as well as the gravesite programs. Anyway, I think Joyce and I both felt like we could die--we were bone tired physically, emotionally, spiritually--by the time we came home that evening. 

I don't remember much of anything. We walked into the house; I think we locked the door; and fell asleep (I was on the floor). We'd brought home some potted flowers and set them down at the end table. I realized when waking up its reflective quality had been like a night light for us, dead to the world for hours.

Little wilted flower after a thundershower or two exhausted females after a funeral...it's so good to know our Heavenly Father never slumbers nor sleeps; and He gives us extra grace to pass on strength to others!

Rev. 2:5 CANDLESTICK

Think back on what you once were, and unless there is a clear repentance and heart-regaining of what you lost, "I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of its place," (Rev. 2:5) the church at Ephesus was admonished.

I suppose that can sound rather threatening. But I found wee bits of comfort in even those words. After all...

I don't think there's one Christian out there who has felt like he cannot make a difference in a big, cruel world. What's just one candle, right? But I pictured the Owner of this flaming stick holding it with one hand and protectively cradling it, with the other, from the draft. It got me all woozy. That's how our Heavenly Father feels about His candles!

Also...I've heard that the way the Churches are spoken to here shows how God the Father sees His children, about how He affirms positives before criticizing negatives. But it would do well to notice He took time out to talk to His Bride in chapters 2 and 3, before the rest of the book of Revelation. What does that tell us about the priority He gives Family? 

Rev. 1:3 UTTERLY BLESSED

Today, I'll take time not only to review my readings for today but also go back and get Rev. 1:3, remind myself of the BLESSING that comes along with merely the reading and heeding of this book. I'd forgotten!

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand."

Scary Scrolls?

It's not just a book with some scary things in it, as some people think the book of Revelation is. It tells me a lot of things about what Jesus Christ is like, what God wants us to be like, and what He will do for us...and what I'm looking forward to most, the thing I can hold onto most--how do you say it--the "bottom line," the "When you get right down to it," kind of like Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon (Song of Solomon? How'd that get there? Oh--Solomon--because he was the wise one who wrote Ecclesiastes), but actually showing how it all ends up: the "final episode," so to speak.

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" is the OT forecast. In Revelation, we see God actually judging every single individual who will find he has no place to hide.

But that "judgment" perspective is only for those who have a judge--plaintiff relationship with God. It shows if you're more interest in how smart and successful you are--Solomon wrote those books, after all. But for those who are children of the King, Revelation should be very different--but too bad it's not. Most Christians think that Revelation's frightening "book reviews of the unregenerate" is for them too. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Throughout the Bible, the Potentate of the Universe has been bending Himself down to express His infinite Father-love to His Own through the most Precious Way Possible: the Gift of His Lifeblood in Jesus Christ.

This is His Ultimate Revelation of Himself to His own Children. It is His Seal of Faithful Love, not a Horror Film, as the Unsaved think it is! Well, it probably would be, for them! Do we notice the little alerts God gives to us...for example, Ecclesiastes may've been written by Solomon, but GOD CHOSE JOHN, known as the disciple of love, to pen the book of Revelation. It seems to me He wanted to communicate a special message of endearment, to speak through this last book of the Bible.

Father, today, OPEN THE HEART-EYES OF YOUR CHILDREN more fully to what YOU would have us see, to have us want to see more and be more blessed! O Lord, I know this is in line with what You desire as well...in Jesus' blessed Name, Amen!

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

Something came back to me from DECADES ago. It's a snatch from a dream, only a few seconds long, if even that long. Daddy was alive then, and I was still single.

I was running away from something, and I saw Daddy up front. I ran in behind him, and he didn't know what was chasing me, just knew I was being threatened by something. He stepped fully facing whatever it was, almost announcing, "Nothing is going to hurt my daughter." and I felt utterly safe. I woke up then.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

That, I think, is a little what Revelation should do to us. It should let us hear a voice booming from Heaven, "NOTHING TOUCHES MY CREATION ANYMORE!" And any of us who are His and have groaned in a broken world until now can know He will make all things right.