Jesus wasn’t “God with us” just for a few first-century years. He pledged to remain with us in the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:16-18). More than that, Revelation’s amazing symbolic vision said that by his life, death and resurrection Jesus, “the slaughtered Lamb,” made God’s presence with us a reality for all of eternity. No matter what life throws at us, we can live, like those first Christians, trusting that THIS is where history is going: “He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

• The symbols in Revelation 5 can seem bizarre at first (e.g. a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes?). To people with Hebrew backgrounds, the number “seven” meant “complete” or “perfect.” These images said that Jesus, perfect in power (7 horns) and able to perfectly “see” what you need (7 eyes) is the Lamb of God, the center of all true worship now and forever. In what ways have these Advent studies deepened your understanding of Jesus as your true king, as your savior, and as God with us? How fully are you able to join in singing, “Blessing, honor, glory, and power belong to the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb forever and always”?