After declaring His victory over death and that He has taken away all of Satan’s power, the Lord gives John His outline, not just for the Book of Revelation, but for the ages. We serve a Savior Who does not just know the future. He declares it, and no one can stop Him from fulfilling His agenda! Continue reading
A Lord to be Feared, a Savior to be Trusted
After finishing his description of the glorified Savior, John describes his reaction. It is the only reaction one could have at such a sight: “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead” (Revelation 1:17). Like the prophet Isaiah, John was completely undone at the sight of God in His glory. Unlike the prophet, however, he was not viewing this at a distance. In Isaiah chapter 6, the prophet saw God in His temple, surrounded by angels. The Lord was observed at a distance. In Revelation, John is close enough to fall at the Savior’s feet and the Lord is close enough to touch him. What we enjoy as believers is a close and intimate relationship with our Savior. The cross of Christ has closed the distance between us. Continue reading
Jesus the Great Shepherd
The Lord maintains personal control over His Church down to the level of individual churches, and all the way down to the level of the leadership itself. Our church leadership needs our prayers and support because they have a solemn task to perform and a very high level of accountability before the Great Shepherd Himself. Continue reading
Jesus Our GREAT High Priest!
As we look at John’s description of the Savior we have to remember to discern between what is literal and what is spiritual. What John sees here is literally Jesus, but Jesus is manifesting Himself in a way that John can bear. Scripture teaches us that no man can look on God in His full glory and live (See Exodus 33:20-23). So, when the glorified Lord reveals Himself to John in our passage, it is in a form that John can comprehend and survive! (Think about the infinite power and the infinite control our Lord possesses.) As Jesus manifests Himself to John, it is important to note what it is about Himself He chooses to reveal. Continue reading
One Like Unto the Son of Man (Revelation 1:12-13a)
When John turned to see the voice that spoke to him, he saw something truly amazing: A Savior who was like one of us. Glorified, exalted, yes, but one not untouched by the feeling of our infirmities. Continue reading
A Layman’s Thoughts On Revelation: Jesus the Alpha and Omega
Praise and worship of God is easy when things are going our way. It’s not so easy when we are in the midst of trial. John wrote Revelation to people who were suffering tremendous persecution. When Jesus appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos, John himself was under duress. In the midst of all that, Jesus showed John that He is the God worthy of all glory and honor. Why? Because God is constant, so our worship and praise of Him should be constant also. Because Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, He is worthy of my worship and my praise, not because of what He’s done for me lately, but because of the character of Who He is. Continue reading
A Layman’s Thoughts on Revelation 1:7 — “Behold, He cometh with the clouds”
The return of Christ will be both glorious and terrifying. It will be glorious in that all of creation will see Him as He is and will clearly recognize Him as the Son of God. More importantly, Israel will at last see Jesus as her Messiah and it will lead to national repentance. In all this, God will be glorified. But this will be a terrifying day as well because in the returning of Christ, the unrepentant will see their judgment. Continue reading
Nine Reasons the Lord Must Return
When we look at our circumstances, it’s hard to imagine that the Lord is ever coming back. Thankfully, His return is not based on our imaginations, but on the sure promises of His Word. Continue reading
A Layman’s Thoughts on Revelation 1:4-5a
In greeting the seven churches, John spends more time speaking about the God Who greets them than he does talking about the churches being greeted because the focus of the church should be on God. Continue reading
A Layman’s Thoughts on Revelation (1:1-3)
Before I get started down this path, I just want to say that these are just my thoughts on the book of Revelation. The material is from commentaries, sermons, and other resources that I have run across over the years regarding this book. I don’t claim to have anymore knowledge than anyone else on the topic of Revelation because even on a good day the most I can claim is that I have the same gift as Balaam’s donkey: I can put some words together. As a gift, it is not something I can lay claim to as my own, but something God has been pleased to allow me. It is my hope as you read my notes on this book that you will receive blessing, insight and instruction. Most of all, I hope that these notes will draw you closer to my Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ.
Prologue
Revelation 1:1-3
(1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
(2) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
(3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
The Title of the Book
The very first phrase of this book makes its title clear: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Often this book is mistakenly referred to as “Revelations” plural, but this is The Revelation (singular) of Jesus Christ. Other Bible prophecies can also be described as “revelations” because they all reveal something about God and his future plans for mankind, but this book claims “revelation” as its title because it is the revelation to end all revelations. It is literally the ultimate (definitive, final, decisive) book of prophecy. It has no equal and it comes to us from none other than Christ Himself. To add or detract from it is to destroy its message and diminish its worth. This the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Continue reading
