Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Revelation 10:1-7 (ESV) – to be read aloud

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”

And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

Reflection

THE SECOND VISION – THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

Interlude: The Mighty Angel (10:1-7)

Overview: In the first of two visions that make up the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet John encounters a mighty angel coming down out of heaven…. In this vision (Chapter 10) the scene shifts from heaven to earth and John himself becomes involved in the vision. The dramatic appearance of the resplendent angel would provide encouragement for the church about to enter a final period of hostility from the unbelieving world. (Mounce, p.200-1)

The mighty angel: John views the angel as he descends from heaven to earth. Coming directly from the presence of God, he arrives on a mission of crucial significance for the persecuted church…. The visual impact is that of an enormous and resplendent angel descending from heaven and standing astride both sea and land. This dramatic appearance of an authoritative figure from heaven stands in marked contrast to the immediately preceding tableau of humanity’s idolatry and immorality…. The voice is commensurate with his gigantic size… and forebodes the coming peril of divine retribution. (Mounce, p.201-3)

The seven thunders: Human nature being what it is there has been a good deal of speculation as to what the thunders said…. However, it is better to think of the thunders as conveying a revelation to John (clearly he understood them), but which he was not to pass on to others…. It is timely to be reminded that there are some parts of the counsel of God which people like John can know but are beyond ordinary people like ourselves. A further value in our knowledge that the thunders are sealed is that it is a warning against the kind of date-fixing that has characterized some schemes of prophecy based on this book. On John’s own showing we do not have all the information. God has kept some things back from us. Let us not proceed as though all has been revealed. (Morris, p.135-6)

No more delay: Apocalyptic thought has always been concerned with the question, How long until the end? The mighty angel’s answer is, “There will be no more delay!” Now nothing stands in the way of the final dramatic period of human history. From this point forward God will not intervene to give the human race further opportunity to repent. Restraint is to be removed, and the Antichrist is to be revealed (cf. 2 Thess 2:3ff). The forces of God and Satan will meet in final confrontation…. The appointed delay is over, and the period of the end is irrevocably set into motion. (Mounce, p.205-6)

The One who lives forever and ever: Soon many believers in the Asian churches will be called upon to sacrifice their lives out of faithfulness to Christ. Only a God who lives beyond the threat of death can promise them life after the sword has taken its toll. God is not only eternal; he is creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and everything therein…. All of which underscores his power to accomplish what he set out to do…. The One who brought all things into being can carry them through in fulfillment to his redemptive purpose. The end of history, as was the beginning, is under the sovereign control of God. (Mounce, p.206)
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Canticle

Christ, as a light – illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield – overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Peanut Gallery: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.

This will not be a Bible Study per se: we will not attempt to unravel the “mysteries” of Revelation… that is far beyond our abilities and is not our interest here. However, so as not to get too far afield, we will rely on three study resources: primary – A Commentary on the Revelation of John (George Elton Ladd); supplemental Revelation (Leon Morris) and  The Book of Revelation (Robert H. Mounce).

The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.