Gtcotr/ws100213
By
this time in your spiritual walk you should know that you are Born Again, that
you are right with God, that you have a responsibility to serve Him and that
you will live forever. Forever is a really long time … we are immortal and we
will live for eternity – a life that will never, never, ever end.
The
next 12 LifeShape lessons will teach us truths concerning the future and what
we can expect to happen both in our lifetime on planet earth and in times
beyond that time. The topics we will discuss include: Heaven; Hell; Death; the
Rapture; the Tribulation; the Millennial Reign of Christ; Armageddon; the Great
White Throne Judgment; and a New Heaven and New Earth, to name a few. You see:
· God has planned a
future for you on planet earth before you die.
· God has planned a
future for you beyond earth after you die.
· God has also planned
a future for you after earth, as we know it, has vanished away.
Let’s
begin to discover our future together by first taking a serious look at John’s
introduction to the last book in the Bible – The Book of Revelation.
By
the way, the Greek Word translated “Revelation”
is where we get our common English word “Apocalypse”
= The Coming; The
Appearing; The Making Naked; The Laying Bare; The Disclosure; The
Manifestation; The Revelation.
Key Scripture Revelation
1:1 This is a revelation from Jesus
Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take
place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John,
Let’s
pause here for just a moment to review doctrine. Although not every scholar
might agree, many understand this as do I to make a clear distinction between
God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son. Study of this scripture will reveal
that it means just what it says at face value. Let’s look at it again with
these chosen words in mind. Follow along:
“This is the revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him …”
What
follows in the Book of Revelation is a disclosure of future events which God
has made manifest, or revealed, to Jesus His Son, with a purpose in mind. The
revelation is not John’s revelation but rather it is Jesus’ revelation. The
Revelation is not a Revelation of Jesus but rather a Revelation to Jesus. Jesus
is going to share the revelation He has been shown by His Father God with His
friend and Apostle, John.
It
is important to realize that in John’s time, God the Father and Jesus the Son
are two separate entities, two separate beings, One in the sense of unity and
purpose but two in the sense of being separated as a Father and Son. As a Son,
Jesus had already revealed to His followers that He was did not know everything
but was limited in knowledge according to what His Father had given Him to
know. For example: When asked about his second coming Jesus replied:
Mark 13:32 "But of that
day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only
the Father.
It
is certain that at one point Jesus did not know everything the Father knew. We
can easily understand this from reading the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of
Gethsemane. However, to assume that Jesus does not now know things pertinent to
His coming or does not know everything the Father knows would perhaps be a poor
assumption.
Revelation 1
1 This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show
his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present
this revelation to his servant John,
2 who faithfully reported
everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of
Jesus Christ.
Jesus
sent an angel, a heavenly messenger, to present this revelation to John. The
Book of Revelation is the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.
3 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.
It
is important that we understand how meticulously God has planned the future. The
Book of Revelation stands to represent just how forethoughtful and just how
detailed God is concerning His plans for the future. God the Father has laid
out each step and has a specific timetable already set in motion for each step
to be taken. The unfolding of the future is in no way a surprise to God. Not
only has God already seen it, He planned it and is orchestrating each day and
every event to complete His calculated outcome.
No
other book gives us such comfort and blesses us so much to know God is in
ultimate control of world events and even the whole interaction of every atom
in the universe than does the book of Revelation. I do not claim to understand
the as yet hidden mysteries of this apocalypse but I do understand its implication.
God, not mere coincidence or happenstance or demonic powers or world
governments … but God and God alone is in control! And He knows the future …
Verse
3 gives an added blessing to those who read and listen and follow the
disclosures written in this apocalyptic book. Let’s read on with limited
commentary:
4 This letter is from John to
the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one
who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit
before his throne;
5 and from Jesus Christ. He
is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and
the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has
freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.
6 He has made us a Kingdom of
priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
7 Look! He comes with the
clouds of heaven. And everyone will see
him— even those who pierced him. And
all the nations of the world will
mourn for him. Yes! Amen!
8 “I am the Alpha and the
Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who
always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
10 It was the Lord’s Day, and
I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a
trumpet blast.
11 It said, “Write in a book
everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus,
Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
John describes seeing Jesus wearing a long
robe with eyes like flames of fire and hair white as snow. Jesus holds the
Churches and the strength of their purpose firmly in His hands. I am fully
convinced that the fate of the Church is completely determined by the will of
God. And, God is so good as to speak directly to each need of every Church with
encouraging words and a hope for the future. In every situation the Holy Spirit
gives promises and speaks victory to those who overcome. John continued:
17 When I saw him, I fell at
his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t
be afraid! I am the First and the Last.
18 I am the living one. I
died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and
the grave.
I love the personal touch of Jesus … he laid
His right hand on me. Though He is busy with so many important things, like
holding up those seven stars with His right hand – He also takes time for one –
each one – everyone …
Important Points
1.
God is both the beginning and the end of all creation.
2.
God has a meticulous plan for our future and every world event is
subject to His timetable.
3.
John received a special message from heaven while he was worshipping
on Sunday.
4.
Do not be afraid of the future – Jesus is Lord over death and the
grave.
5.
Jesus has time for everyone … including you and your future.
