Restraining order....

My husband has been in law enforcement since before we met.  I’ve learned lots of the language and terminology involved.  Google says a restraining order is “ a temporary court order issued to prohibit an individual from carrying out a particular action, especially approaching or contacting a specified person.”

Such an order is often issued by a judge to aid a law enforcement officer to protect a person or the public or entity.   As a result of being served with such an order, a person is commanded to stay away, to cease some activity or behavior, or to not have contact.

It works most of the time, if for no other reason than fear of being thrown in jail if you do not comply.

As I read thru Revelation 11 I thought about the restraints that God Himself has issued.  I confess I am baffled by the meaning of so much I read in this Revelation John was given. But just as He promised, I am blessed.  I see glimpses of the character of God in His majesty and holiness as He gives fallen man myriads of opportunity to believe and repent.

I see the restraining order of human history past and the promises of human history yet future.

I don’t have the restraining patience of God.  But He is all powerful and because He has the last word in every single thing, He restrains and keeps perfect order in the course of human history.  When it looks like the power of darkness prevails, it is not so.  Even in the vision John was given, the rebellious unbelievers seemed to claim the victory.

“ When they (the two witnesses) have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them….their dead bodies will lie in the street …..peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth…..


 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.  And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.” (Revelation 11:7-12 NIV)

God has often issued a restraining order.  He issues it.  He enforces it.  He lifts it.

When He sees fit.

He is God and I am not.

Hallelujah.

Don't tell....

John was ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.”  (John 13:23 NIV)  He was with Jesus day after day.  He loved Jesus and knew that Jesus loved him.  And it was John that was chosen to be shown what lay ahead.  John was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ and he was told to "Write on a scroll what you see…” (Revelation 1:11 NIV)

And boy was there plenty to see.  It seems that John struggled to find language to describe what he was being shown.  He was instructed to send what he recorded to God’s people, the churches.

So John wrote and told it…detail after detail.

But then after writing and writing John “heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."

I wonder how hard it was for John to not write this part down with the rest.  Once he got started telling all he saw, did he have a hard time not telling the rest of the story?

Just like Daniel was told that some things weren’t to be revealed, John was told not to reveal certain parts of this revelation.    “He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.” (Daniel 12:9 NASB)



There is a common thing among many of us that prods us to tell everything we know.  We often want to be the first to tell it, whether good or bad news.  Especially if it is something that should be kept secret or quiet.  Those are hard things to keep to ourselves.  Many times we tell it in ways that puts our own spin on it.


 I have no doubt that John didn’t spin anything about these magnificent scenes.  John saw and heard such otherworldly things, how could he possibly need to spin it?  He just wrote what he saw and we read thru his words and wrestle to find the nuggets of truth.  We ponder the meanings of all the symbols.

But just as scripture says,  “How blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words, all the words written in this book! Time is just about up.” (Revelation 1:3 The Message)

There is indeed blessing in reading John’s account.   It is within our nature to want to know what the future holds.  We want and need to be ready for the end that will certainly come.

But the more important thing in our waiting is the Lord Jesus Who is revealed in John’s account.  We live for Him now and trust Him with what is coming, knowing that when He places His seal on us we are protected and loved.   Whatever John did not write won’t matter in our now.  There are obviously some things that just do not need to be told.

Silence is golden....

My brain has so much going on it is too noisy to sleep.  I can’t seem to turn it off tonight.  It has been a busy day, lots of people, lots of business, lots of fun, and lots of details to tend to.  I need at least one more of ME.  I’m not complaining.  It’s a wonderful problem to have.


I remember when my boys were still at home.  There was lots of noise then too.  I remember craving just an hour of silence.  Then I woke up one day and had it.  They were grown and gone and there was no noise.  Empty nest they call it.  The noise is good to hear again when they are under this roof to visit.

God has always taken care of my needs.  He has even blessed me enough for it to pour out on others.  I sure am glad He has the steering wheel because some days I feel like I’m on a ten lane freeway!

Yep.  Today was noisy and busy.  Tonight it is still and quiet and my mind is to busy to sleep.  It is in the sleepless quiet that I recall “….the silence in heaven…” (Revelation 8:1 NIV)

The Bible study I attend is studying  Revelation this year.  Up until the scene in chapter 8 there has been anything but quiet.  There are spectacular events described, Jesus indicating His power and authority, the throne room of heaven, and the multitudes praising The One upon the throne.

“….Then there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (Revelation 8:1 NIV)

The hush of heaven.  It brings me almost to tears thinking  about the anticipation in that half hour.

I think about the old song lyrics, “Silence is golden, golden.  But my eyes still see.”   I wonder if it is not when we hush our mouth and quiet our brain that we really see.  Stop talking.  Stop thinking.  And just be quiet before God.

The multitude in heaven certainly got an eye full in their silence.