In this episode of our "Revelation" devotional series, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff tackles a key and often debated question: What is the Great Tribulation?

While the term itself points to a significant period of suffering and distress, Pastor Mike focuses on the theological and pastoral heart of the issue. He places the concept within the broader biblical theme that God’s people should expect seasons of hardship and refining, tracing this pattern from the Old Testament prophets to Jesus’ words in Matthew 24.

Rather than getting tangled in the debates over timing or specific eschatological frameworks, this discussion offers a crucial pastoral perspective: we must be prepared for difficulty, knowing that God does not abandon us in suffering. The ultimate promise of Revelation remains—struggle gives way to triumph, and God wins. This message is a call to patient endurance, trust, and hope, anchored in the assurance that for those in Christ, the story ends in victory.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this "Revelation" devotional, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff unpacks one of the most dramatic and often misunderstood sections of the book: the seven seals described in Revelation chapters 6-8.

Beginning with the powerful scene of the sealed scroll in God’s hand, Pastor Mike walks through the significance of each seal—from the four horsemen symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death, to the cries of the martyrs, cosmic upheaval, and the solemn silence of the seventh seal. While the imagery is intense and can feel unsettling, he emphasizes that this unfolding judgment is under the complete authority of the slain Lamb, Jesus Christ. The seals are not a puzzle to solve out of fear, but a revelation of God’s sovereign plan moving history toward final restoration and victory.

This message is a call to find hope and assurance in the One who holds the scroll, reminding us to live with perseverance and faith, trusting that God is in control even when the world seems undone.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation

In this installment of our "Revelation" devotional series, Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff tackles a commonly asked and culturally charged question: What happens at Armageddon? Is it a literal battlefield, a symbolic war, or something else entirely?

Pastor Mike turns to Revelation 16:16—the only verse in the Bible that mentions the word "Armageddon"—and explores its historical, geographical, and theological significance. While acknowledging the debate over a literal versus symbolic interpretation, he focuses on the undeniable and hopeful truth that Armageddon points toward: a final, decisive confrontation where God triumphs completely. This isn't a story of a close fight, but of a certain and overwhelming victory for Jesus.

Join us for a clarifying look at this often-misunderstood topic, and be encouraged to live with the confidence of those who already know how the story ends.

Don't Miss the Rest of the Series:
Watch the full "Revelation" Devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrtLuCNhew7-vYFAjG0kGaDHsWMdEtot

Connect with Us:
Visit our website: https://christchurchil.org
More Revelation Series Resources: https://christchurchil.org/revelation