In Hosea 3, 4, 5 and 6 Hosea does as God commands. He then calls the priest and king of Israel to task for leading the people astray. While the entire country will pay for their sins God holds the leadership particularly accountable. Ephraim and Judah are also going astray and worshiping other gods. God turns His face away from them as well and allows them to get into trouble. This leads them to pray for His favor. God wants commitment from His people, not just a fleeting faith. Until they truly and sincerely repent, God will continue to look away.

 Revelation 1 begins with a picture of the triumphant Jesus. The writer is taken up in a vision and is told to write down what he sees. John hears a voice and sees one like the Son of Man. He appears similar to the human in Ezekiel and Daniel. Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man, a title for the Messiah. Jesus is standing in the midst of seven lampstands with seven stars. The lampstands are seven churches and the stars are the churches’ angels.

It is interesting to consider that each church had its own angel. Could it be that God has appointed an angel to be with every church? Is the angel there to be a messenger from God?  Is the angel there to protect the church? It is something to think about.

Jesus is not the meek and mild servant we knew on earth. Jesus is now the one who has dominion over all creation. He speaks with a loud voice like a trumpet or many waters. He looks at us with eyes of fire that burn into our souls. His righteousness shines like the sun. His judgments are swift like a two-edged sword. He has power over life and death.