Revelation!!!!

God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and He blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

Revelation 1:3 (NLT)

I am about to do the unthinkable....at least I thought it was unthinkable for me!!! Due in large part to the world as we know it falling apart around us and our culture falling into the depths of immorality more and more each day, I am going to attempt a discourse on the final book of the Bible; the book of Revelation. I don’t know how far I will get as this is a difficult enough book to just read on your own never mind interpret and publish for the world to see. The book of Revelation can be interpreted several different ways and as we work through it let me be clear that I am only writing what I feel. My only resources as I write are my study Bible and any insight that God grants me along the way. I am not reading outside material and I am going to try not to bring anyone else’s opinion to the discussion. This is going to be a difficult undertaking so I ask for your prayers. I will tell you I feel led to do this and the more I read of it on my own the more I want to share with you. So, by the grace of God, here we go!!

The first time Jesus invaded His creation He came in the most humble of forms. He was born in the most simplest of places and His first nap came bundled in strips of dirty cloth and lying on a bed of straw. He subjected Himself to time and to parents and as He grew His hands got tough and calloused as He became a man working in his earthly fathers trade. He was raised in a land that was under heavy oppression from foreign rulers and as He traveled the countryside doing miracles and preaching the will of God He was dogged and hounded at every step by those that wished to rid the region of His influence. Those closest to Him hardly understood Him at all and when the chips were down they abandoned Him. Finally He was caught, tried, convicted, and put to death in the most disgraceful manner possible by foreign hands no less. And as He died He was spat upon and cursed.

The book of Revelation reveals that the next time Jesus comes back it is going to look really, really different from that first time 2000 years ago. The first time He was the suffering servant, next time he is kicking @$$ and taking names!! His first appearance was as a lamb but when He returns He comes as a lion!! Two thousand years ago He lived in a land that was ruled by a foreign army, when He returns He is coming as The King with an army like no one has ever seen before in the history of mankind!! Let there be no mistake about it, when Jesus returns the whole world is going to know it!! Evil will be vanquished and He will settle accounts with all who reject Him while ushering His faithful into eternity.......but I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning.

As the book of Revelation opens the apostle John was on a prison island and he was advanced in age. He saw a vision of Jesus that was very different from the person he walked all over the Judean countryside with for three years as a follower and disciple. Jesus looked nothing like John remembered. He didn’t look like the Sunday school paintings of a gentle shepherd holding a sheep on His shoulders. He wasn’t smiling gently with outstretched arms either. John says that when he saw Jesus he fell down as if dead. He saw a vision of Jesus the Almighty not Jesus the suffering servant. He saw Jesus as he never had before, and this was a guy that witnessed the transfiguration. Here Jesus revealed Himself as the mighty Son of Man with white hair and fire in His eyes. John saw Jesus as The High Priest who is the only one allowed into the presence of God to obtain the forgiveness of sin. His voice thundered with authority and power and the force of His message was evident as John quivered in fear. But Jesus told John to get up and write down what he was about to be shown.

“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look – I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and the grave.”

Revelation 1:17-18 (NLT)

This vision of Jesus should drastically alter the way we view Him. I don’t think it is enough to think of Him as the gentle shepherd protecting and watching over His flock. I don’t even think it is enough to think of Him bloodied and beaten while hanging on a cross. To view Him only in this manner does Him a disservice and it makes Him very small. Jesus is much, much bigger than that. Jesus is the Creator of the universe, He is all powerful, and He holds all the keys to your future in His mighty hands. He will defeat all the armies of the evil one and His power will reign supreme. The book of Revelation should make you reevaluate the way you think about Jesus. As your view of Him changes you should allow His power, not only His great love, transform your life.

That could probably sum up the book quite well. Jesus is coming back. He is all powerful. He wins. But the book of Revelation is packed with so much more to dissect and ruminate over. Of course the themes of God’s sovereignty, Christ’s return, and judgment run all over the pages of this book but there are also vital messages to God’s people; messages of hope and also of warning. Be ready for the time is near!

Next week we will look at the letters that Jesus had John write to the seven churches. There is a lot of fascinating material to look at!! Until then, God bless you and have a great week!