STUDIES IN REVELATIONS
A study in the Revelation of Christ
As I am going through this study with you, I am also concerned about my preconceived notions about the end times falling by the wasteland. We all have heard different denominations and scholars preach what they believe is the pattern of God and the tell tale signs of the end times. I think that it is important to remember that we are all men with opinions on the interpretation of God. We are sinning men that come to this God breathed, pure book with unclean hands. This is why we are to be blessed by the word, but also to be humbled by our own humanity that sometimes gets in the way. Remember this first, that sometimes sin gets in the way of well meaning servants of God. The most common sin that is a factor in interpreting Revelation is impatience. Every generation since the resurrection has determined that they were in the end times. I do not know if it is because we want to feel that we are of most importance to God or if our minds are yet to determine the meaning behind this beautiful, prophetic book. These are questions I am asking God to reveal in this study of Revelation.
Revelation 1: 1-3
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show Ms servants things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by Ms angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near."
1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Mm to show His servants things which shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to his servant John,
In the first verse, God is comforting us and reassuring us that He blessed John with the words of this book. He is blessing us with comfort and reassurance that through all life God is sovereign. He is trying to tell us why this life is worth the fight with the evil one. He is not trying to give us stereo instructions on how He will work in the end times. So many times we as humans are concerned with the how, what and where. And in this pursuit we never ask the correct question. Why? The why is the comfort that God will reclaim the Earth and the heavens in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
The term shortly is why we have been pulling our hair out about when the wrath of God will come. I think the people who know the love and joy of a relationship with Christ should not be concerned with such matters. However, once again our evil sinning nature gets in the way. The impatience and pride of knowing when and where the signs will come override the message of the book itself. Then it becomes a war of scholars and educated men on who has the most knowledge; this has no place in the kingdom of God. I think God sheds a tear ever time He sees us bash another Christian for the sake of our own righteousness. Please pray that the strength of conviction you possess as Christ loving people does not overshadow the love and compassion of Christ.
1:2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
A study in the Revelation of Christ
As I am going through this study with you, I am also concerned about my preconceived notions about the end times falling by the wasteland. We all have heard different denominations and scholars preach what they believe is the pattern of God and the tell tale signs of the end times. I think that it is important to remember that we are all men with opinions on the interpretation of God. We are sinning men that come to this God breathed, pure book with unclean hands. This is why we are to be blessed by the word, but also to be humbled by our own humanity that sometimes gets in the way. Remember this first, that sometimes sin gets in the way of well meaning servants of God. The most common sin that is a factor in interpreting Revelation is impatience. Every generation since the resurrection has determined that they were in the end times. I do not know if it is because we want to feel that we are of most importance to God or if our minds are yet to determine the meaning behind this beautiful, prophetic book. These are questions I am asking God to reveal in this study of Revelation.
Revelation 1: 1-3
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show Ms servants things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by Ms angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near."
1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Mm to show His servants things which shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to his servant John,
This is just reassuring us that every word of this divine book was brought down to earth by angels and God inspired. This is the story of the rule Christ. This is not Christ the compassionate servant. This is the story of Christ the ruler and one who deserves honor and glory forever, The last thing that is stated, "To all things he saw", makes me think that John was not even asked to understand the writings. He was asked to get the words down in his mind or on paper and not to analyze these things. However, every generation thinks they are the special ones to understand the mind of God as revealed in Revelation.
1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
We are blessed by the words of the book, not in the understanding. I do not think the people of the end times will be blessed by the understanding of this book. If we truely understand the message of this book, that means we are the end times. This in my opinion this wfll be painftill for believers. Think about this, even if you believe that we will swept away before the judgement, do not feel the heartache of the ones left behind? Do you not feel compasion for those who have to learn the hardest of ways in all history that Christ is Mng. We should keep our houses in order and continue to look up in the Hope of seeing our master. Please brethren, do not step on others in your pursuit of the One true Lord's Second Coming.
The last thing I wish to talk about is the reference to the time being near. In this whole book, it continues to tell of the time being near. There are scholars that have tried to calculate exactly when God is talking about, This is the vanity of humanity getting in the way of what God wants to reveal to us. First of all, do we honestly think that our minds can understand the movements of God. I know from my own testimony, that every time I think I understand what God wants in my life, I could have not been farther from the truth. We have a difficult time determining God's hand on our own individual lives. Do we honestly think that we know the day when he will save all humanity?
LET US PRAY
Lord, please help us to determine your path in our own lives and not be consumed by the knowledge of when the wind will sway the earth. Let us be comforted by the fact that one day that wind will howl in a mighty way.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYER
Lord Thank you for our word of comfort and continue to guide our lives and bless us.....
AMEN