Far too often, when the book of Revelation is raised, believers tend to shy away. The reason for this, in part, is that John describes what will happen at the end of the age, including the terrible consequences of fulfilled Bible prophecies. Still, in essence, Revelation is the history written in advance so that we who believe in Jesus Christ by faith would know what is the end. Therefore, ironically, what is missing when we only look for the signs of the times within Revelation is that we miss the fact that John wanted us to know who Jesus the Christ was. And thus, in so writing was able to provide an unveiling of the Lord God, who in this current dispensation is JESUS,
Emmanuel, God with us, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4) Through the scriptures, known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. Nothing is hid from those who seek the truth. Indeed, Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14:6) There is no other Lord God and Saviour but by Me, saith the Lord. (Hosea 13:4)
But another way of describing Revelation is that God makes known to us His truths -- realities that we by our own understanding could never realize or discover. As well, we should recognize that Revelation is the final work of the New Testament, wherein we learn of the second appearing of our precious Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, our hope, our peace, our Redeemer. (Titus 2:13)
So, again, while there are numerous purposes for the book of Revelation being written, it is also so that we would understand who Jesus the Christ is. The King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. As Peter so aptly said, when he stood with the eleven on the day of Pentecost, the same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
Apostle Paul (who received his understanding of the gospel by revelation, and whose ministry was specific to the Gentiles) continued this very same teaching, when he said that in everything we do, in both word or deed, we should do in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Why?
So "that in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (I Corinthians 1:5-10)
Apostle Paul further explains it this way - "... so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (II Thessalonians 1:4-10)
As an aside, not just Paul but Peter similarly who wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you ..." (I Peter 1:3-10)
You see, when we study Revelation, we learn so much more about whom we serve, and His kindness and abundant love for His people. And within the revelation of Himself to us -- His beloved -- we begin to understand how much our Lord God and Saviour loved us -- that He willingly endured the cross. Don't lose sight of His goodness and grace and mercy in the day to day, for He does have a purpose for each and every one of us.
Thus, being justified by faith, we can have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) We can experience the peace that surpasses human understanding, made through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:20) And because of His love dwelling within, the God of hope can fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
So "that in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (I Corinthians 1:5-10)
Apostle Paul further explains it this way - "... so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (II Thessalonians 1:4-10)
As an aside, not just Paul but Peter similarly who wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you ..." (I Peter 1:3-10)
You see, when we study Revelation, we learn so much more about whom we serve, and His kindness and abundant love for His people. And within the revelation of Himself to us -- His beloved -- we begin to understand how much our Lord God and Saviour loved us -- that He willingly endured the cross. Don't lose sight of His goodness and grace and mercy in the day to day, for He does have a purpose for each and every one of us.
Thus, being justified by faith, we can have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) We can experience the peace that surpasses human understanding, made through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:20) And because of His love dwelling within, the God of hope can fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
In other words, when Jesus is our all in all, there is nothing that we should fear. Stand in the offering plate.
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