I am not sure what your “take-home” on this will be today but mine is the Greatness of Jesus. I think my vision of him is as a “human or in his carnate” state. Jesus is not a man, He is Lord. Our vision of Him must not be what we see from movies on Easter but of the Mighty Warrior He is up in Heaven. John writes this “unveiling” of who Jesus our Christ really is.
A reminder of His love and our Purpose are stated in 1:5
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father
John is told in verse 19 to write: what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later. John writes of his vision of Jesus starting in vs 13, Jesus is dressed in High Priest garments, holding the angels in his hand. His hair is as white as snow, and His eyes blaze with Holiness and the only thing Jesus speaks is the Word of God (sword).
We could spend 5 months on these 5 chapters, but sometimes the less I say the better. Here are the 5 churches (which one describes your church or YOU)
- Ephesus: (Loveless), you are a hard worker, reject evil, persevere but have fallen out of love for Faith. Jesus tells them to repent and do what you used to do for God.
- Smyrna: (Suffering for good) Jesus comforts them with encouragement and for them to remain faithful for they will be given the crown!
- Pergamum (loves the world) You may love Christ and don’t deny him but tolerate other false religions “to each his own” mentality, and immorality in the world does not bother you. He warns us to repent!
- Thytira (False Doctrine), Jesus warns them that they are a “deed based” faith (MANY are) and you also tolerate other religions and worship idols and can be immoral. He warns Judgement is coming, so repent.
- Sardis (a restaurant in NY, how ironic) ( Spiritually dead) a group or church that is spiritually dead and Jesus warns to wake up to the few that remain so they will not be blotted from the book of life.
- Philadelphia (Spiritually Alive) they have kept God’s word! And they will be rewarded in Heaven.
- Laodicea (lukewarm, complacent). You are neither hot nor cold for Jesus and your Faith, and Jesus would rather you be one or the other! He warns, turn from your indifference or you may never see eternity.
Please know that there are soooo many views on the end of times but in 1 Thessalonians the Greek word for Rapture was used so, I believe in a Rapture of the Church. I believe in a literal Revelation and ALL of this book will come true Word for Word. (But I am truly ok if you take a different view( as many do) I believe that God first revealed himself to Israel, then to the Gentiles (Church) and then the Rapture will occur when CHrist will come and take believers before the tribulation occurs (Chapter 4). The Great Tribulation is a time when severe calamities will occur and people who come to know Christ then will still suffer greatly. Then the second coming of Christ will occur on earth and He will reign for what is called the Millenium here on earth and then finally there is a Final Judgment when the earth will cease to exist.
Chapter 4 speaks in vision and if you remember Ezekiel this lines up exact! What all of it means I really don’t know and I think it is dangerous to think we can “figure” it all out. Some scholars have represented the 24 elders and the uniting of the Old Testament and the New Testament with the 12 Tribes and the 12 chosen Disciples.
The four creatures may represent the four attributes of Jesus
- Lion is Power
- Ox is faithfulness
- Man is intelligent
- Eagle is Sovereignty.
But I also think it might me
- Lion is KING!
- Ox as a SACRIFICE
- Man as The Christ (Perfect) Man
- Eagle as Sovereign and Supreme
So now we begin to read of the End Times and what it will be like. There is a scroll with seven seals that only Jesus is worthy of opening. Note the constant comparison between Lion and Lamb. He is The King of Kings yet He was willing to take our place against sin as a Sacrifice to overcome satan’s grip on us. So tomorrow we will jump into the 7 years of tribulation, the seven seals broken…
If you want to prepare for what you about to read so that none of this comes as a shock take a few Minutes to read Matthew 24 again. Jesus has already told us the story and warning of his unveiling.
Posted by Erica on December 28, 2010 at 9:00 pm
I’m sure my head will explode before we ring in the new year
Posted by Penny on December 28, 2010 at 9:56 pm
I realize that this book contains lots of hard-to-understand ideas. However, here’s the deal: Christ knows what it’s about! Therefore, I don’t need to worry about all the teeny tiny details. Of course, they’re fun to discuss.
I really like the following…
The description of Christ stated in 1:4, “…and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first born from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father…” That’s so cool!
Jesus is the beginning and the end. Rev 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Awesome, totally awesome!!
Didn’t you enjoy reading about the throne in heaven? I don’t know all the ins and outs about the creatures and elders. What I do know is that they all bowed down to worship. Worthy is the Lamb!
Now I’m ready to read about the seals.
Posted by Erica on December 28, 2010 at 10:15 pm
I’m listening to some Piper sermons on Revelation to help with the reading. Try it out while you fold laundry or cook dinner. (hmmm, can you tell who I’ve learned from this year?)
http://desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/by-scripture/revelation
Posted by Penny on December 28, 2010 at 10:23 pm
If I hadn’t read the ‘Posted by Erica’ part then I would have assumed Shazamski wrote that comment. Thanks for the link.
Posted by Jennifer Ensley on December 28, 2010 at 10:36 pm
WOW . . . This is what rang through my head at the end of today’s reading. Hopefully this link works but it’s called the Revelation Song by Kari Jobe.
Posted by Lori on December 29, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Wondering if anyone else has any thoughts on the whole “blotting out from the book of life” subject. That stands out to me in this reading. What exactly is the book of life? I guess I grew up thinking it was the book our name is written in when once we are saved.
Posted by brittany devault on December 29, 2010 at 12:18 pm
i was a day or so behind so just now read this and this was amazing!! I didnt understand half of it until i read the blog, but the description of every one every animal bowing and giving praise to God just gave me chills!!! it really is going to be amazing!!
Posted by Ciji Gilley on December 29, 2010 at 1:47 pm
So I’m just now reading from yesterday & WOW!!! I definitely prayed a lot before ever starting because I’m going to read ALL of Revelation for the 1st time! I knew I’d need some major wisdom & understanding from JC!! I’m just in amazement of our Lion & Lamb!
~I do have 1 burning question, which I’m sure I’m looking too much into but…I don’t really understand when it talks about the “seven spirits?” (Ch1,V4…Ch5,V6) I know God “likes” the number 7 but does it symbolize something??
I researched a little but I figure either He’s just referring to the Holy Spirit in general or…way back in Isaish 11:2 reads, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord-”
~So maybe the 7 Spirits could symbolize
1-Lord
2-wisdom
3-undersanding
4-counsel
5-power
6-knowledge
7-fear
~Like I said…I’m sure I’m way off base & thinking way too much:)
Any takers???
Posted by Patricia on December 29, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Lori, the book of Life. This phrase is used in several parts of the Bible and has different meanings. Here, though is exactly how you are thinking of it. The Book of Life, the Book that has our names in it for Eternity. However, we read this Scripture (I am assuming you are reading 3:5) “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.”
Our human reaction is to grasp an armchair and say “what? We can be blotted out? I thought once saved always saved…no one can snatch us from the Father’s Hand…can we really be blotted out of the book of life?”
The answer is right here in Revelation…Jesus proclaims those clothed in His Garments (lots of cross referecnes in my head right now) WILL NOT be blotted out of the Book of Life. Here is our confirmation. When Jesus presents us to the Father, Jesus is confirming, those who are His, are safe in His hands.
Does that make sense?
Posted by Patricia on December 29, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Ok, so does anyone want to study Revelation next year VERSE BY VERSE or what????
Ciji, my very complete answer is “I don’t know”. But here is what I do know: The is one of the coolest Scriptures in tbe Bible. Break it down into three parts. Who is it adressing? THE TRINITY! This is called a Trinitarian Benediction:
“Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth”
God the Father: Him who is and who was and who is to come
The Spirit: the seven Spirits (seven meaning complete, full)
Jesus Christ: Jesus Chirst (you knew that one I bet)
But cirlce the word “throne” and keep your eye on the theme, of who we are reading about and His authority. We need to see Jesus in this Character, and not for the flesh that walked the earth, but ALL of Him.
Posted by Patricia on December 29, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Cmon….any other discussions? I am bed riddened (broken tail bone…nice huh, you would think being plump down there would have padded the fall…nope) so give me some quesitons
Posted by brittany devault on December 30, 2010 at 10:05 am
i would love to study revelations!!!