3-1-2023

C. Hayden

 

I love the Book of Revelations. I know that many read it and have difficulty understanding the hidden meanings found  in the Apostle John’s writing (I do too sometimes), and some ministers will even council believers not to even attempt to read it because, in their opinion, “it cannot be understood!” Well, those “councilors”are wrong to the nth degree! God would never have John write this most important, although cryptic, portion of the Bible if it was not meant to be understood and/or meant to edify Christians as other portions of the Bible most certainly do.

 

Now I will admit, some portions of this Book seems to have hidden meanings, and we often see passages that are difficult to pin down with perfect understanding, but the Holy Spirit was given to us so that we can actually have a decent grasp on what the Book has to say. First of all, the title of John’s prose is “The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.” While “Revelations” does reveal end time events and a panorama of futuristic scenery, it teaches so much more. The Book actually is a revelation of who Jesus Christ is, has been, and always will be. Through Revelations, we get the picture of Christ, not as the baby in a manger, or suffering Messiah on the cross, but He is displayed as the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the omnipotent, omniscient Conqueror who will soon return to bring justice to the world and receive His Church unto Himself. Revelations 1:7-8 says this, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him. Even so, Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Jesus is not just a wonderful Holy Man; He is so much more!

 

Revelations is also a writing which is sent to the Churches to receieve encouragement and warning on what they are doing and what God wants them to do. Would you like to know what God wants you to do?! The first 3 chapters of the book is mostly Jesus speaking to John, dictating to him on the message He wants to send to His Bride through the Angelic head of each Church. Verse 1:11 declares that John heard a voice saying (it was Jesus) “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, the Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphio, and to Laodicea.'” Wowser!!! 

 

The Lord revealed to John what to write SO THAT THE CHURCH MIGHT KNOW SOME THINGS THAT GOD WANTS THEM TO KNOW. Well, in the next couple of months, we will explore some things from Revelations that God wants us to know.

 

May God bless you even more!!

Pastor Chris