This afternoon, it was announced that the Circuit Breaker will be extended by 4 weeks. We will be cooped up in our homes for an even longer period of time, might experience what Rahab experienced as she was cooped up in her home waiting for the Israelites attack.

Rev 4:1-2
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

Rev 4:1-2
John heard a voice telling him, “I will show you things which must take place after this.” These things were all recorded in the 7 seals, 7 bowls and 7 trumpets. We are often very interested in the things that must take place in the future, so we have a sense of urgency in trying to find out about them. We wonder which seal has been opened already. We wonder about the 7 trumpets. We try to speculate as to what the calamities and plagues that come with the 7 bowls will be like. But the Lord Jesus first allowed John to see a throne in heaven. v4 tells us that around the throne were 24 elders. v6 tells us that around the throne were four living creatures. v8-11 tell us the four living creatures and 24 elders were all together worshipping and praising the one on the throne. This scene was meant to depict worship in heaven. Not only chapter 4, but also chapters 5, 7, 11, 14, 15, 19 depict the worship in heaven. All in all, if we were to count, there’re 7 records of the heavenly worship in heaven. Each worship has a different special point. The heavenly worship depicted in chapter 19 is the hallelujah chorus, which can be said to be the epitome of the worship in heaven. If we were to have a comprehensive look at the service devoted, we can have a full understanding of the worship in heaven. This is an important point of emphasis in heaven. The crux in the book of revelation isn’t in the 7 seals, 7 bowls and 7 trumpets, because there’re hidden mysteries behind them. Even when some of these mysteries are explained today, we may not understand them. Actually it doesn’t quite matter that we don’t, when the time comes, all these mysteries will automatically be revealed and we will come to understand. When that time comes, we will automatically understand what these mysteries refer to. The crux of the book of Revelation is hence not in the 7 seals, bowls and trumpets, but in the 7 churches. Because all the problems recorded in the 7 churches will also surface in the true church today. We see some people have fallen in these matters regarding the 7 churches. But others have been victorious in these matters. We remember what the Lord Jesus said - only he who overcomes will be given the fruit in paradise; only he who overcomes will be given the crown of life; only he who overcomes will be able to die and rise again.

In some countries, the COVID-19 virus situation has gotten so bad, not everybody who gets infected can be treated. This situation can be applied to many situations where resources and time are scarce. For example, when there’s a great fire. There’s just so much time left to save, there’s some few people who can run in and save. Or in a war-zone where bullets are flying and so few of us are able to pull people out of danger. In such a situation, what would we do?

May the peace of our Lord Jesus be with all our brothers and sisters. This afternoon, I’d like to continue this morning’s topic - Facing the challenges of our faith.