The Risen Lord

 

    John had one of the most provoking visions or dreams in recorded history.  He saw the end of the world.  Imagine seeing things that don't even exist yet and trying to explain what they are or define what it means.  It is so mind blowing that we still have a hard time comprehending it today.  

    An angel came to John and planted a vision in his head of what the world will come to when God is done holding back.  If you read this book, then you are blessed.  It is full of curses, but if you know what to expect, then you have time to change things.  You have time to prepare and that is the purpose of  Revelations.  Listen to the words, pray for personal revelation and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal things to your heart and mind.

    John wrote this book with urgency because he didn't understand all of it, but knew it was important.  He thought it would happen in his lifetime, but none of us know the time when the end will happen.  We just know that it will end.  This is John's testimony from his vision.

    John wrote this book to give hope and peace to the reader's soul.  There are seven spirits that come from Jesus' faithfulness.  These spirits give us our ability to work for God in a way we would not be able to do without faith.  They represent Jesus' faithfulness.  His faithfulness blesses us by sharing in His glory and dominion forever.

    Christians are the priest that are meant to bring Jesus, the Risen Lord, glory and power.  When He returns, it will be on the clouds.  He will descend like he ascended.  It will not be an event that can be ignored.  God is the alpha and the omega (beginning and the end: eternal).  We need to put things in perspective to that fact.  It makes life a lot easier to endure affliction.  

    The seven spirits represent the seven churches of the Asia province: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.  Each church has their own spirit.  Over the next few days, I will be going over each church.

    John described Jesus as pure power: white hair of wisdom, piercing fiery eyes, feet like molding bronze, riveting voice like cascading water. Everything about him demands your attention.  

    Jesus held in his hands the seven churches looked like lampstands.  In his right hand the seven angels looked like seven stars.  They were the overseers of the seven churches.  When he spoke it was like a double edged sword that cut right through because it was full of light of the full sun.  Everything about Jesus was overwhelming to John.

    Jesus held the keys to Hades, so he wanted John to write down everything he saw.  That way John would not forget any vital detail as Jesus destroys death and Hades.  He represents the promised judgment.  We needed to know what happened in his dream.  It is still a mystery, but so were the prophecies that we said about Jesus before he came for the first time.  We may not understand all the aspects, but we do know what is to come.  We can't claim ignorance.

Revelations 1