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Harps & Heaven

Remember watching cartoons as a kid? Sometimes a cartoon character would “pass away” and you knew this was the case when you saw that character float upwards, land gently on a cloud and start playing a harp.

The stringed instrument, a harp, is mentioned three times in Revelation. In chapter 5:8 it says the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each one had a harp… and in Chapter 15:2 by a sea of glass mixed with fire, those who victorious over the beast (see Rev. 13) held harps given them by God. Revelation 14:2 says, And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing water and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders.

A loud noise of rushing water, thunder and harpists. Bless John the apostle, describing with pen on paper the dramatic sounds and scene of heaven. A group of redeemed heavenly singers singing a new song—this celestial chorus is described as pure, followers of the Lamb . . . verse 5 says “no lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.”

Ephesians 4:1 says God chose us, in Christ, before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Holy and blameless.

How’s your week been? How holy and blameless are you feeling lately?

Those are big words, a lofty expectation when God chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight. Yet the singers in heaven are described as pure, blameless, honest through and through, followers of Jesus, the Lamb.

I don’t see myself as holy and blameless nor do I I see myself playing a harp and sitting on a cloud in the sky. But God planned this. God saw this before the creation of the world . . . saints, followers of the Lamb that was slain. God saw it all from before the beginning of time. He saw holy saints singing in heaven, blameless saints redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. He saw his beloved creation before Adam met Eve, with harps in hand, singing a new song before the throne. He saw His church, his followers made holy and blameless in Christ.

Lord, may your kingdom come and your will be done, may we live as you chose us, and predestined us to live—holy and blameless in your sight. May we follow the Lamb.

Harp or no harp—may we, with confidence, sing a new song, the song of the redeemed.

Donielle Winter
EFCC Member

by Donielle Winter

“Come What May, I Will Love You”

In John chapter 21 some disciples go fishing, the job they’d worked before following Jesus. They rowed the boat, threw the nets, they were fishermen. But hours later, muscles fatigued, sleep deprived, they had caught nothing.

Time to give up….

Rowing back to shore, a familiar voice called out, “FRIENDS!!” “Haven’t you any fish?” hollered Jesus. “Throw your nets on the right side of the boat.”

Having trusted this voice before, they obeyed. And caught too many fish to hoist into their boat! Then the apostle John, the same John who wrote the book of Revelation, proclaimed, it is the Lord. Jesus already had hot coals burning in the fire and together with his favorite friends, grilled fish that morning. After breakfast, Jesus cornered Peter, who had very recently denied his Lord three times. He said, Do you truly love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. Again Jesus said, …do you truly love me? He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, …do you love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17 (NIV)

Why ask the question repeatedly? Why hurt Peter’s feelings? Peter answered easily…But Jesus knows faithful love isn’t easy.

In Revelation 13:9-10 John writes to the saints whose names are written in the book of Life, who belong to the Lamb that was slain…He who has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

Verse 10 serves as a reminder to believers in all generations. There is a cost to following Jesus. (Luke 9:57-62) Loving Jesus may result in persecution and has resulted in death for many faithful followers past, present and future.

The question Jesus pointedly asked Peter, he asks every believer today. Do you truly love me? Will you patiently endure? Will you be faithful? Will you cast your nets if there’s no fish? Will you do as I say when life doesn’t make sense? On difficult days when the red dragon deceives and his beasts attack, will you follow me still?

Jesus, I will love you until the end of time.
I will love you until my dying day.
I will love you, come what may.

Donielle Winter EFCC Member

by Donielle Winter

Deception Looks Gentle

I’ve often thought that if the devil showed himself as a gruesome, vicious, terrifying monster that people would have a much easier time resisting him. We are naturally scared of what looks scary. Most people run away from fire, when they are fully aware it is fire. But how about when evil looks friendly. When a temptation is viewed as a cure. When deception looks gentle.

The dragon, known as the devil, in Revelation 12 certainly has a terrifying appearance: enormous, red, seven heads, ten massive tails and seven crowns - no thank you! Then in Revelation 13 John goes on to describe the first beast, coming out of the sea, with ten heads, seven horns, and ten crowns. John says that this first beast resembled a leopard, a bear, and a lion. I wouldn’t want to encounter any one of these, let alone all three!

But then John goes on to describe the second beast, coming out of the earth. He says that it had the horns of a lamb, but the voice of a dragon. In verse 12 John says that this second beast exercised authority over the first beast, and he required all of the people of the earth to worship the first beast. Verse 13 says that he performed astounding miracles. Yet listen to verses 14 and 15, “And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. 15 He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.”

Deceived… ordered… commanded… that anyone refusing to worship it must die. These words are minced with chaos and confusion. The second beast is known as the False Prophet. He comes to create chaos, confusion, and deception. He comes to enslave, to trap, to control.

Yet we who hope in the Lord know that we do not have a God of confusion. We worship a God of clarity, love, purity, and compassion. Our God has set the captives free. At first glance, the second beast may appear less vicious, maybe even gentle, but don’t be deceived. Understanding the true motives of this beast requires discernment. John says in Revelation 13:18, “This calls for wisdom.”

Having wisdom requires practice and asking for guidance from the true, the only, Holy Spirit. As you step out into another chaotic day on this place called earth, ask for God’s wisdom; pray for discernment. And then step out in confidence knowing that although battles rage around us, the ultimate victory belongs to our God.

Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director

by Lynette Fuson

Counterfeit Kingdoms

Revelation 13:2-4

I had the privilege of leading the first short-term mission trip after Covid. A few brave leaders and a group of high school students—who had already lost so much during those years—were eager to see what the Lord would do as we helped with English camps, games, and connecting with other students.

What we didn’t plan for was the political instability that shut things down only three days after we arrived. The mission we thought was our purpose was suddenly halted because those in power took advantage of the very people they were meant to serve. In that moment, we saw a small reflection of what John describes in Revelation 13.

Revelation 13 shows what happens when political power takes on a godlike role and twists the people it governs. In verse 2, John describes a beast that combines the strength of a leopard, bear, and lion—images drawn from the kingdoms of Daniel 7. This beast receives its authority from the dragon. It is not God’s power, but for those who look to it, the beast becomes a counterfeit hope.

In verse 3, the beast receives a mortal wound but appears to recover. Scholars have debated what this means, but what is clear is that this “healing” mimics Christ’s resurrection without His true resurrection power. It is an illusion—an empty display that distracts the world from their need for the true King, Jesus. Verse 4 shows the result: people worship the beast and the dragon behind it, giving ultimate allegiance to what is false.

The lesson for us is clear: Satan’s goal has always been to deceive and distract hearts from Jesus. He will use beasts, kings, or political systems to misdirect hope and steal worship. But Revelation reminds us that our calling is greater than deception—we are called to endure in faith (Rev. 13:10) and to keep Christ as the only one worthy of worship.

Our plans—even mission trips—may not go as we expect. But our King never fails. So keep your faith in Jesus, keep following your Savior, and keep worshiping the One who reigns forever.

Pastor Jeremy Johnson

by Jeremy Johnson

Authority Given to the Enemy

Authority, and the believer’s response to the authorities of the world, is a fascinating part of the Biblical description of the end times.

Paul explains in Romans 13:1-2, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

That instruction is clear. What is less clear to many Christians today is that prophecy and revelation warns that the coming authorities are going to try to kill believers because of their faith.

Jesus explained it in when discussing the end in Matt 24:9-10, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.”

Then in Revelation 13:2,5,7-8 Satan, the dragon, gives his authority to the antichrist, the beast. “And to it (the beast) the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”

That passage from Revelation 13 reflects the Devil’s offer to Jesus while he tempted him in the wilderness in Luke 4:5-8, “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”

On the night he was arrested, in John 14:30, Jesus confirmed that Satan had authority in this world, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me.” Despite having no claim on Jesus, death was what Jesus faced at Satan’s coming. Jesus is our example, in life and in death, we can follow him. Revelation 6:9-11 reads, “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” Most Christians know the Lord’s return won’t come until after someone from every tribe and tongue is converted, but in Revelation we read that the Lord also waits till the last believer, “their full number,” is killed for their faith. Live strong and die strong for Jesus!

Pastor John Riley

by John Riley

The Dragon Roars, but the Lamb Reigns

What do you do when the fight right in front of you feels impossible to win?

Most of us know that feeling... the weight of circumstances that look like they won't budge, the ache of prayers that seem unanswered, or the sting of temptations we thought would be long behind us by now. It can feel like you’re standing on the battlefield alone. But the truth of the gospel, and the heartbeat of the song “You’ve Already Won,” is this: you don't fight in order to win the victory; you’re fighting from the victory Jesus has already won for you.

Revelation 12 pulls back the curtain and lets us snag a peek of the cosmic battle that rages behind the scenes. John writes about the dragon (Satan) hurling accusations at God’s people. But then comes the declaration of hope: “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11, ESV). The victory is already decided. The Lamb has won.

So when we sing the lyric “I don’t know what You’re doing (can I get an"Amen "?), but I know what You’ve done. I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won,” we align our hearts with what we see in the Scriptures. Here is a link to the song if you'd like to listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEGI6DPJ9Lg

And though we may not understand why our present struggles linger - whether it’s the daily dose of anxiety, the relentless pull of sin, or the heartbreak of deep loss - we can cling to what Christ has already accomplished. His cross has silenced the accusations of the enemy, and His resurrection has secured our eternity.

But maybe you're asking, "If Christ has won, why do I still feel so much tension?" I get it. I've been there. We've all been there. And we probably will be again.

Some battles will find resolution here and now. Does Jesus really bring peace in the middle of anxiety? Yes. Does He really bring freedom from chains of sin? Absolutely. Does He really heal hearts and relationships in ways that testify to His power? He sure can!

But there are other battles... grief that cuts deep, sickness that remains, or injustice that persists. These battles may not be fully healed until eternity. And that’s not a sign of God’s absence, but a reminder that our story is still unfolding. It's a reminder that the day is coming when the Lamb will wipe every tear and make all things new. For that day, our hearts cry out, "Oh, Lord, please come quickly!"

But for today, whatever battle you’re in, remember this... you are not alone. Jesus has already won the battle, He will win the war, and one day, you’ll see every conflict, every wound, every tear swallowed up in His eternal victory.

Until then, brothers and sisters, we hold on in faith, lifting our voices in the song of Revelation and echoing with confidence... “You’ve already won.”

Grace and Peace,
Nate Keating

by Nate Keating

Nourished in the Wilderness

I was reading Mark a few mornings ago, and the parallels to Revelation 12 (which I happened to be studying for a sermon) stopped me in my tracks.

Revelation 12 paints a striking picture of a woman, representing God’s people, who flees into the wilderness to escape the dragon’s fury. At first glance, the wilderness appears to be a place of barrenness, isolation, and danger. Yet John tells us that it is precisely there, in the wilderness, that God has “prepared a place” for her, where she is “nourished” (Rev. 12:6, 14). What looks like exile or even punishment becomes provision. What looks like scarcity becomes sustenance.

This is not a new theme in Scripture. The wilderness has always been a place where God meets His people. Israel wandered there for forty years, yet “their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell” (Deut. 8:4). Elijah fled into the wilderness and found bread delivered by ravens. And Jesus Himself was driven into the wilderness, where He was ministered to by angels. God’s provision shows up most clearly when our resources run out.

That’s where Mark 6 comes in and gives us a vivid parallel. Herod throws a banquet in his palace. Right after that, and in stark contrast, Jesus leads the crowds into “a desolate place,” a wilderness, and feeds them. What begins with five loaves and two fish ends with every person satisfied, and twelve baskets left over. Two tables are set: one of violence and fear, and one of abundance and life. The first meal takes place in a palace but ends in death. The second takes place in the wilderness but ends in life.

Revelation 12 reminds us that the wilderness is not God’s abandonment, but God’s arrangement. It is the place He prepares for His people to meet Him and to receive nourishment from his gracious hand. When life feels stripped down, when we’re pressed, tested, or waiting, God has not left us empty-handed. Like manna in the desert or bread multiplied on the hillside, His provision comes in surprising ways.

The wilderness moments in our lives reveal where we are tempted to believe the dragon’s lie . . . that God has left us to starve. But the truth of Scripture tells a different story: He is the God who prepares a place, who feeds His people, who satisfies hungry souls. So, where in your life right now feels like a wilderness? How might God be using this season not to abandon you, but to nourish you?

Pastor Ryan Paulson

by Ryan Paulson

How to Out-Train The Dragon, Part 2

I thought of the animated movie “How to Train your Dragon” as the writing team discussed Revelation 12 last week, (love the sweet dragon movie) and some of us decided to write on how to OUT-train the Dragon. In other words, how to train ourselves to be on our guard and prepared to defeat the dragon or enemy of our souls by hiding Scripture in our hearts, praying constantly for God’s Spirit of wisdom and discernment, and relying fully on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives, etc.

Yesterday, Lynette reminded us that Satan is the accuser and the Father of lies. (John 8:44) Even knowing this, are we prepared for his cunning deception in our own lives? Do we really understand spiritual warfare? Do we think because we are believers, attend church, maybe even serve somewhere and/or give, that we are immune from his deceptive attacks? Are we prepared for the wolf in lamb’s clothing?

John, the writer of Revelation, uses the dragon image to reveal Satan's true, vile nature rather than his literal physical form. The dragon is a metaphor for Satan's character and attributes, not a literal description of his appearance. Scripture portrays Satan as a dragon because he is powerful, terrifying, and capable of causing much harm. (1 Peter 5:8)

We know, and Scripture teaches that this enemy of our souls will ultimately be defeated. Until then, we can continue to study and speak the truth of Scripture, keep our hearts clean, strive to treat others as we want to be treated, stay low (humble) before the Lord, pray continually, intercede on behalf of others, and love our neighbors as ourselves.

During my seven decades on this earth, one important thing I’ve learned is that we need the friendship and encouragement of other Christ followers. We need to encourage those going through hard times, new believers in their growth, and mature believers facing burnout or physical challenges. In other words, we all need to know that someone cares no matter where we are (or aren’t) in our Christian walk. Be a listener not a fixer, share your own testimony when appropriate, remind them of the good you see in them, and most importantly let them know you are praying for them.

Through all of that, light will pierce the darkness, and the enemy will be defeated in his attempt to deceive, accuse, discourage and make people feel less than. A small act of kindness, care and concern for someone else will have a ripple effect. So, we have a choice–what will we do today to make the light of Christ’s love burn stronger and the dragon’s schemes dimmer?

Deb Hill
EFCC Member

by Deb Hill

How to Out-Train the Dragon

Have you seen the animated family movie How To Train Your Dragon? It’s the story of a Norse boy, Hiccup, from the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life and a means of survival. In his endeavors to be an accomplished dragon slayer, Hiccup encounters an injured dragon named Toothless, and feels compassion for the beast. Through a series of events including a growing friendship, intense battles, and convincing the village people that dragons are not all bad, they end up learning to live peacefully together.

In this fictional story, dragons can be tamed. That is not the case however with the dragon in Revelation 12. Verse 9 says, “This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” This dragon cannot be trained – it can only be out-trained. Out-training requires knowing just how dangerous your enemy is and then using the exact weapons that are necessary to overcome it.

One of Satan’s greatest tactics is to accuse God’s people. He is the great deceiver; the father of lies. He works overtime trying to convince us that we aren’t good enough, we’re not really loved, and that our sins create our identity. He tells us that we are known for what we have done, or haven’t done, and the world will look on in disdain. Bottom line – we are each a hopeless cause – doomed to destruction, so we might as well stop trying. In John 8:44, Jesus says of Satan, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Father of Lies – What a name! Satan tells us anything he can to convince us that we are hopeless, wretched people who will never amount to anything. False accusation is one of his greatest tactics.

Oh, but the beauty is that we, the redeemed children of God, have the most powerful weapon of all to overcome the accuser: the blood of Christ. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

You are forgiven. You are redeemed. You are righteous! So when the dragon attacks, when he throws accusations from every angle, remember, you are forgiven and protected; covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. You have weapons at your disposal that far exceed any of Satan’s tactics. You can out-train the dragon!

Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director

by Lynette Fuson