REVELATION 1:14-17 JESUS BEYOND COMPREHENSION

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me!"

Jesus, Beyond Comprehension

Revelation 1: 14-17 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; ¹⁶ He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. ¹⁷ And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.

In the last note we talked about Jesus the Lampstand and delved into what John saw just a little. I’m not doing this study so I can know the details of the end times or the possible meaning of numbers.  I’m not touching on too much symbolism except when obvious. I don’t need to know exactly when Jesus is coming back or exactly what will happen. The Word says it’s for the Father to know the exact day and hour of Jesus return and no man will know. We can know seasons though and we can look into the things God has revealed to us. The book of Revelation is just that! It’s a Revelation.

John saw one that looked like the Son of Man as revealed in previous verses. Let’s delve a little deeper….. Who else had a similar vision?  Daniel did.  Daniel said he saw “THE ANCIENT OF DAYS,” sitting on a throne and he had hair as white as wood.  John said he saw one like the Son of Man with hair like wool and eyes like fire. Daniel saw “THE ANCIENT OF DAYS,” with hair like wool and his throne was of fire!  Then Daniel saw one like the Son of Man come TO THIS ANCIENT OF DAYS.  Daniel saw the Son of Man receive all power and authority from the ANCIENT OF DAYS.  They are one and the same yet the Son of Man is yielded to The ANCIENT OF DAYS!

Vision of the Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:9 “I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
¹⁰ A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.

First, Daniel saw one identified as THE ANCIENT OF DAYS.

The one John saw was identified as THE SON OF MAN!  

Daniel also saw THE SON OF MAN a few verses later!

Revelation 1: ¹² Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

The one John saw had hair as white like wool! 

The one Daniel saw had hair as white as wool!

Are these one and the same or are they different?  Is both true! 

Friends, this is why you can’t explain God in human, secular, natural terms.  Jesus our Savior is both one with God and distinctly the Son of God! He is also distinctly man, born of a virgin!  Everything about Jesus is both supernatural and natural. Jesus is God in the flesh! He and his Father, the ANCIENT OF DAYS are ONE! They can’t be separated. This is what makes our God different from any God.  This is what makes our book, the bible different than any other “alleged” religious book.  No other book makes the claim our book makes.  Our Jesus, our Savior is both the ANCIENT OF DAYS AND THE SON OF MAN!  He IS THE ANCIENT OF DAYS and he is submitted TO the ANCIENT OF DAYS!  His claim is that there is only ONE God but that he IS God and that he has a FATHER who is God!  In God three CAN BE ONE and they are inseparable and distinctly individual.  With God all things are possible!

Look at more of Daniel’s vision.  One like the Son of Man comes to the ANCIENT OF DAYS who is on the throne!

Daniel 7:¹³ “I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
¹⁴ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.

Here, one like the Son of Man comes TO the Ancient of Days!  John saw one like the Son of Man! He looked the same as THE ANCIENT OF DAYS!  Now look at the throne of the ANCIENT OF DAYS.  His throne in Daniel’s vision in verse 9 says it is a throne of fire!

Ezekiel was another one, in addition to John who fell on his face when he saw God’s glory.  He also had a Revelation very similar to both Daniel and John.  Read the whole chapter of Ezekiel 1 to find what Ezekiel saw! I’m excluding the whole text for the sake of space saving.

Ezekiel first saw a vision of the glory of God that could not be imagined in the mind of mere man!  He didn’t just see 3 as 1. He saw 4 living creatures, all moving in unison, being lifted by wheels within wheels.  Each creature reveals something about God. The creatures look in four directions which represent the directions of the earth, the directions of man and then they move as the Spirit leads them.  The bible says the eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout the earth looking for those whose heart is toward him, that he can show himself strong to (2 Chronicles 16:9!) There was glory all around. Ezekiel could barely describe the glory!  I have another study where I break down this glory to the best of my ability but that’s for another time.  Ezekiel saw wheels in the middle of wheels.  He saw the appearance of fire and brightness and in the middle of it all he saw a man!

Ezekiel 1: 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. ²⁷ Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. ²⁸ Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one speaking.

This ONE Ezekiel saw was both God and man! It says he saw the appearance of the glory of the Lord! It says from within that glory he saw the appearance of a man!  He said he saw a throne.  Daniel saw a throne of wheels. Ezekiel saw a throne of wheels. Upon that throne Daniel saw was THE ANCIENT OF DAYS! Coming from that throne and on and above that throne Ezekiel saw a man!  God is not a man! The Word of God says he is not a man that he should lie! 

What we are seeing friends is another shining example of our beloved Trinity!  These examples are found in many places throughout the Word of God!  God who is not a man has a son, called The Son of Man.  He is submitted TO the Father but he and the Father are one!  Jesus is God. The Father is God. They are both one and the same and they are also different.  The Father is not a man. Jesus is both God and Man!  God became flesh so he could be a man and in all points be tempted as we are yet without sin!  Jesus is both God and Man!  Praise his name! This is beyond human description! As the beautiful song says, “You are beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words, too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard!”  If our book and our God was comprehendible to the human mind, he wouldn’t be God but he’s not comprehendible to the human mind. It takes a Spiritual revelation as John, Ezekiel and Daniel saw!  Ours is the only book that goes beyond human comprehension which is why our bible must be read and understood with spiritual revelation from God! Praise God!  Aren’t you glad you are not in the hands of man but in the mighty hands of a living God, who is more beautiful and powerful than human minds can fathom!

Maybe that’s why they fell on their face! When we get a Revelation of God, we may also fall on our face.   Let’s address that for a moment!  As Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, Prophets and Apostles, those of us in ministry and those of us who are lay ministers should see people fall on their face.  If God is coming through our ministry, he’s going to touch people and when he does, if they get a Revelation as John, Daniel and Ezekiel did, they too may fall on their face.  When we are so dignified, we are embarrassed to respond to the touch of God, we may be finding ourselves too dignified to receive a touch from God because most people touched by God in the bible showed a physical reaction.  Both Ezekiel and John fell on their face!  As I think about it so did the guards present at The Resurrection! So did the soldier when Jesus healed his ear!  So did Abraham and Paul and the disciples present at Pentecost!  So did the keeper of the prison at Paul and Silas’ supernatural jailbreak!  Daniel was already down in a lying position but said he was troubled in his spirit and body! He said his countenance changed when he had visions from God.  I myself have been supernaturally touched while in a lying position and found myself unable to get up until the Spirit released me. I have also been touched while standing to the point I could no longer stand.  May we get back to believing in the Power of God and may all ministers be as Paul and let their preaching not be done with just convincing Words but with demonstration and power!

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Our God is supernatural.  He is above and beyond all things. He is beyond comprehension with the natural mind. Look at this scripture in 1 Corinthians 2: 9-14:

1 Corinthians 2: ^9-14 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man, The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

We can’t comprehend our God or the things of God with a natural mind. Our God is Super-Natural and that is why he is above all.  Every other religious book on the planet can be understood with the human mind but our book takes Spiritual revelation and is veiled to those who read who do not have the Spirit of God within!  Praise his name, he reveals himself to his servants!

Revelation 1:11 YOUR ALPHA AND OMEGA

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me!"

REVELATION 1:11 YOUR ALPHA AND OMEGA 

Revelation 1:11 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

Jesus is Alpha and Omega.  He's not only THE Alpha and Omega but he is YOUR Alpha and Omega.  Both are Greek words meaning beginning and end or first and last.  Jesus isn't just the beginning or just the end.  In your own life, don't just start well with Jesus without finishing with Jesus because he isn't going to abandon you. He's going to stay with you through it all! He isn't going to begin with you and then tire of your relationship, nor is he going to give up on you when the going gets tough.  He's the author of your faith and he's the finisher of your faith and he's doing a perfect work with and in you.

Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him...

Hebrews 12:1,2  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Recognizing Jesus as the author of our faith, we recognize our faith was his idea.  Just coming to him to be born again means we lay all of our burdens at the foot of the cross.  We enter into a race in which we run with him. Our goal is the same as his, the joy set before us.  Our joy is in him.  Our new life is in him and although there are trials and temptations, finishing the race means we endure in-between the obstacles that come our way and cross the finish line.  Our life on earth is just the beginning.  While there's a finish line, which is our eternal destination, our life doesn't end there! Praise God we live forever in a place with no more tears and no more sorrow...a world without end! Let's therefore take the advice in Hebrews and lay aside sins and weights.  Let's lighten the load and place every burden at his feet.

Jesus is not just the author and finisher of our faith as individuals but for the entire body of Christ. He mentions the 7 churches and names them one by one.  Later, he will address each one according to their present state.  He will speak his Word in a way that will minister directly to their most desperate need.  We all will find ourselves somewhere in the Words to his church and the Word that ministered to them will minister to the intimate places in our hearts.   Although he is risen from the dead, ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father, he is present by his Spirit. John was "in the Spirit," and heard a voice and SAW what he spoke.  Jesus named the churches one by one!  He didn't say the letter was only FOR those churches but he said to distribute them there.  He knew that through this distribution, this WORD, the prophecies of THIS BOOK would reach the entire body of Christ, becoming part of the Canon of Scripture. God is intimately aware of his church; his bride; his love and he is the author and finisher of HER faith.  He is ever present and ever making intercession.  What a comfort to know Jesus sits at the right hand of the father and there, he is praying for me! There, he is praying for you!  He ever lives with that purpose, to see his bride come home!   His Word is alive and well as he is and he is with us! He will never leave us or forsake us. He will bless us and correct us.  He will make his bride ready. He is not only our author, our starter, and our companion.... he is our finisher!  When we as his body, lay aside our weights and look unto him, we will walk through this life and one day we'll step across that finish line and be with him forever! Amen and glory! It excites me to think about that!

Jesus is also not only the author and finisher of our faith, he is the author and finisher of this world. The bible says by his Word, the earth both came into existence and is held in existence.  One day, every Word of this prophecy will come to pass and we'll see the end of the story of earthly creation.  May we find ourselves "in Christ" on that day!  If "in Christ," the story ends well.  If not, the ending isn't so great but we'll leave that for another study.  Just know he is the beginning and the end.  The Word of God opens with the phrase, "In the beginning," and ends with these words:

Revelation 22: 20-21  He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”  Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

Everything in between is all about him and the joy set before him. He is gathering all things to himself but the choice is ours whether we will be gathered and end in his joy or will we have that undesirable end? The choice is ours! May we be found in his grace!  Won't you accept his grace today? Won't you lay your burdens down at his feet? Won't you hear his voice calling you to run your race with him by your side?  If you've never asked Christ to be your author and finisher, please do so today with a simple prayer, "Lord I give myself to you! Mold me and make me! Precious Lord take my hand!"  Amen!

REVELATION 1:6-7 THE PRIESTHOOD OF YOU

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

 

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

 

Revelation 1:6 & 7 Part III: The Priesthood of You

Revelation 1: 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen....

⁷ Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Part III- cont’d from Parts I & II

Jesus is coming quickly!  When he comes, there will be many on the earth that never knew him.  Every eye will see him!  With modern technology we now know that is possible naturally as we already knew it was possible spiritually. I used to wonder how every eye would see, even as recent as in the 80s.  I don’t wonder that anymore! Modern technology is advancing at lightning speed. Truly every eye on earth will see Jesus! The Jews will be here, who in times passed, asked for a thief and murderer to be released and for Jesus, the perfect lover of their soul to be crucified by piercing.  Ultimately we can say all mankind was responsible for the piercing of Jesus since all mankind has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory! People truly need the Lord!  When he returns the tribes of the earth will mourn, some from repentance as they realize they were wrong and some as they realize the judgments that are coming and are here and life as they know it will change and unless they get saved it won’t go well for them!

Before God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the rest of the law, there were priests who stood before God.  There was no law from God dictating who would be priests.   There were priests in other nations and religions that were not necessarily priests of God.  Only God knew if a person was really approaching him.  God did recognize one priest who was not a priest according to the law, who had no record of birth and who did not fit the description of the qualifications of the law and his name was Melchesidek.  There were other priests. The bible tells us Moses’ father in law was a priest.  Later God established the priesthood according to the law but before the law, whether a priest truly was a priest of the one true God was determined by the heart and by God.   Abraham recognized this Melchizedek and gave him tithes long before the tithe in the law was established.  Abraham tithed to Melchizedek because he recognized he was greater, not because of the law.  The law had not been established, yet, Melchizedek was a Priest of the Most High God, and later in Hebrews was recognized by God! In fact, God himself said Jesus would be a high priest, after the order of Melchizedek! Jesus’ priesthood was not according to the law but was according to the truth. Remember, the law is a schoolmaster to teach truth!

God later established the law and the order of the priesthood according to the law.  Priests had to enter into the line of the priesthood according to their birth.  If one wasn’t a Levite one could not be a priest.  In addition to being chosen by birth, priests were chosen and anointed for their task.  The wonderful lesson here is although the priesthood is no longer Levitical, even today, God chooses men and women for tasks and anoints them.  Once he chooses you, he puts his anointing upon you to enable you to fulfill your call.

God said he would make up his kingdom and nation a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  Some may say he was speaking to Israel but this was never established or fulfilled through Israel and the law because only Levites were priests.  God’s goal is to have a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. This is fully accomplished in Christ alone!

Exodus 19:5-7  ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ⁶ And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”⁷ So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. 

Priests were chosen by God to minister both to and before him. They were to live consecrated lives, set apart for God.  Today were are to live our lives both for and before God. We are to live a consecrated life, set apart. We are called out to be distinctly separate from the world even if among the world.

2 Corinthians 6:17 ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Priests were to go before God for the people carrying the sacrificial blood of bulls that atoned for sins.  Priests put fire on the altar that became a sweet smell acceptable to God, reminding him, sins had been forgiven.... for a year!  Today we go before God making spiritual sacrifices of prayers, praise and thanksgiving.   Our lives become a sweet smell that reminds God of the blood of Christ that has atoned for sins.  Priests keep the flame burning so there never ceases to be prayers going up for the people.  They keep the flame without mixture.  Strange fire, not from God and unrecognizable to God isn’t allowed to keep the fire burning.  Only pure and holy oil from God creates the holy mix that burns brightly before God.

Priests were and are to stand in the gap for people.  They stand before the Lord and minister to him.  They weep in intercession and cry out for restoration.  They cry out for God to spare people from his judgment.

Joel 2:17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, “Where is their God?”

Priests were to stand before the Lord not only for forgiveness for the people, to keep the flame burning and to stand in the gap but one of the most important things the priests did was bless the Lord.  We today as priests come before God not only for our needs and the needs of others but we come before him to bless his name!

Deuteronomy 21:5 Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name of the Lord; by their word every controversy and every assault shall be settled.

Priests are called to build the house of the Lord and to give the Word of God its’ proper place.   The call to build the house of the Lord is one that moves the heart of priests.  While not all will go into the 5 fold ministry we all have a part in building God’s house. As God moves upon our heart, we are called to build his spiritual house and keep his Word before us and the people. Even if not in the full time ministry, this is done in your home, your life and your service.

Ezra 1:5 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 8:9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah 8:13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law.

The reason understanding the Priesthood is important is God has in the New Testament changed the order of the Priesthood. As he said he would make Jesus the High Priest after the order of Melchizekek. Everything in the Old Testament was a foreshadow of the truth of the New.  Jesus is our high priest, yes, according to birth but not according to the Levitical bloodline. Jesus was of God, not of Levi. He was not of the tribe of Levi. He was after the order of Melchizedek who was a priest before God before the law was ever established. Melchizedek birth was not recorded; he had no beginning or end. Jesus was with the Father in the beginning and Jesus has no end.  He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. His Priesthood was in the beginning before the law and has no end!  Now because of our birth into the family of God, with Jesus as our high priest, not after Levi but after his father, we are a priests after the new order of God before the law.  Jesus is High Priest after the truth, which came and was already in existence before the law. 

Psalm 110:4  The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 2:17  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 7:11-12 [ Need for a New Priesthood ] Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

God also said he has made us Kings and Priests, a Kingdom of Priests, a Holy Nation! We are now all Priests and we are the representatives of God that go before God for the people who are not yet saved and who will be saved. We weep between the porch and the altar for the lost. We stand in the gap. We are keepers of the flame!  We keep the Word in its place and communicate it in the earth. We bless the Lord and make spiritual sacrifices in praise, prayer and worship, all of which are a sweet smelling savor to the Lord!

1 Peter 2:5  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Revelation 1:6  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The bible says the time is short and he is coming back. If you have been born again into the body of Christ, you are a Priest of God, part of a Holy Nation and a Kingdom of Priests!  We must be not just living for ourselves but live to make his name known and make his name great.  We must be standing in the gap for those who are not yet his, pouring out our hearts as a sweet smell before God, making intercession and crying out for salvation for our loved ones and for those who don’t yet know him.  Behold he is coming quickly and has made us both kings and priests!  Let’s fulfill the role of priests while we still can! Amen!

REVELATION FROM WHO WAS IS AND IS TO COME

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A Journey of Studying What's Revealed to Me

 

Revelation 1:4

⁴ John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:  Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

This verse is about history in the making. This is how the Word of God spread.  The writer, inspired by God wrote and then distributed what was written under the Inspiration of the Spirit. Over the course of time, God protected his Word!

At the time of distribution there were seven distinct churches in Asia and these were who this book was originally written for.  

In the seven churches, John addresses problems which are found “in the church” at that time.  These problems appear today among the body of Christ.  Many say these seven churches represent seven eras.  I have no knowledge of that but I do know I, on a personal level can read the seven things written to the seven churches and I can learn the seven lessons and apply them to my life. If I am a leader or pastor, I can teach the seven lessons which will be distributed to various people living with various heart conditions (not physical heart problems, but spiritual problems, having to do with purity in heart!)

John was an apostle and the Word of God says, the body of Christ has been built on the foundation of the apostles.  Jesus is the one that called the original apostles and sent them out with authority. Because he had died didn’t mean the assignment of being sent into the world to establish the gospel of Jesus Christ was over. In fact it had just begun.  Not only the life and death of Jesus was the gospel but the resurrection and the gift of eternal life.  John’s message was part of the establishing and founding of the body of Christ. 

Luke 6:13

And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

The very opening message of John establishes the fact this is written, not just for the seven churches in Asia but would be for the times to come as well.  He makes the emphatic statement that Jesus was, Jesus is and Jesus is to come!

The name John means “gracious giver.”  John’s message to be delivered is one of grace and peace, not destruction and misery.  However, as John’s name states gracious giver, it signifies the gift of grace which must be accepted.  For those accepting the gift of Christ, their names will be found “in” the “Lamb’s Book of Life,” but for those who do not receive the free gift, it will not be so. Their end will be the same destruction as Satan and his angels, the antichrist and false prophet receive which will be discussed later.

As stated in earlier verses, “Blessed are those who read and hear” the words of this book.  Reading, hearing and heeding will be the determining factor of which end each person comes to.  The intent is clear: Read, hear, welcome, do and receive the free gift of grace!  What a good God we serve that gives us choice of our own free will but lays out clearly the truth of the results of either choice.  How often are we faced with choices, not knowing what the end will be but God so graciously gives us the choice but also gives us knowledge of the result so we can make the right choice.  Will your choice be “grace and peace,” offered by the “giver of grace,” or will you choose the destination of the other father, the devil? The choice is clear. Choose life that you may live eternally in heaven with the “giver of grace!”

Jesus was!  Jesus, the Son and Word of God, manifested in earth as a baby in the womb of a virgin!  He eternally existed with God the father prior to his earthly entrance.  This same Word of God, was not only with God, but he Was God!  This can only be true IN God as with God all things are possible, yet we live in an earthly, limited realm.  We must not accept him only on earthly terms but on heavenly terms.  He Was with God; He Is God; and through him we have been given the right to be the sons of God!  Just as he came and many did not comprehend what was happening, so today many do not comprehend the truth.  It’s not that the truth hasn’t been given nor has the truth not been well established but in spite of the truth being made plain and details given before their eyes, they choose to remain in darkness.  One has only to read the history of the recording of ancient prophecies and the fulfillment of the same to know the Word of God is true.  The Word of God, above all other books on the earth has been protected and preserved.  Its’ truthfulness has been proven time and again, yet many choose to stay in their sin and question its’ authority.  An honest study of the historical documenting, the fulfillment, the preserving as well as the authenticating and agreement of the God (author) behind the writers and the absolute agreement of all leaves one in awe that such powerful agreement could happen over thousands of years. Throughout the books of the bible runs a common personality, a common original author and a common theme.  Details only possible with Deity are found within the pages of the world’s best seller and an honest study will leave one worshiping the Author and Finisher of our Faith! 

The plan of salvation was “in the beginning,” God having full knowledge that man would be flawed and would fall short of his glory!  He made the way for mankind to be “made holy,” and live eternally, yet he did give the freedom to choose.  Jesus was before the foundation of the world.  We know he has existed eternally and clearly is established in our minds as God himself!

John 1: 1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it......

John 1:10-16 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Because of his resurrection he is. Because of his promise he is to come. Because he is eternal, he was and is and is to come.  May we choose the life of grace and peace found in his promises. May we be blessed by reading and hearing his book. May we welcome him with open arms as he has welcomed us. May we choose the paths of life! Amen!

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201:4&version=NKJV

REVELATION 1:3 - THE BOOK THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

Revelation 1:3

Verse 3  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

John the Apostle, the author of the book of Revelation speaks both a blessing and a condition over not only the readers but the hearers of the book.

One of the things people most often in life want is to be happy.  To be blessed is to be happy but it’s not the happiness the world brings but a specific happiness that comes from God.  When a life is blessed it is because God has invoked a blessing upon that life.  It means he has declared the blessing through his mouth which can’t lie.  Blessings are also the result of obedience.  While grace comes to an undeserving life, there is a correlation between obedience and blessing.  To read the book of Revelation with an understanding and receptive heart, with ears that are willing to hear what God says to his church (in all ages,) will bring the blessing of knowledge and understanding!  Reading and understanding the book of Revelation brings a blessing which can only be gained by carrying out the action.  The blessing is a direct result of the action.  

There will be happiness that comes from understanding the book!

Most people avoid this book because of the intensity of the prophecies.  They have erroneously believed the book will instill fear and uncertainty in their heart.  The contrary is true.  

The book of Revelation is a book of hope. It is a book of victory and a book of good news. 

While at times Revelation is sobering, it also contains the promises of victory, reward and the final making of things right on the earth. Reading and understanding revelation will make the lover of Christ happy!  

Understanding the book of Revelation will also fill you with important information in your witness.  Your knowledge and the confidence you gain in knowing the things which must shortly come to pass will help you in your witness of Christ.  Your knowledge and ability to communicate that knowledge could lead a person to the choice they make to place their hopes in the victorious King rather than the defeated deceiver!  Take courage as you read the book and be prepared to be made happy!

Understanding in the heart of a person prepares that person for life.  Understanding will bring you to a more fulfilled life and guide you in decision making.  Understanding dispels confusion.  Understanding helps you to judge situations more clearly.  As this world grows darker and the time for Christ’s return draws nigh, understanding will give you light. There is truly a blessing in reading AND hearing with an understanding ear the book of Revelation. 

God has revealed these things by his Spirit and not left them secret.  Many people avoid the book but God says to read it and hear it. You will be blessed if you do!

My recommendation would be to go through the book with the help of the Spirit of God. Only he can open the ears of your understanding. Ask him to give you wisdom and understanding in knowing him.  Let the Words of God take root in your heart understanding and growing from  what God reveals to you. 

God’s desire is not that we know times as in the day nor hour but that we understand seasons and grow in the knowledge of him.

There are things that are for babes in Christ and things that are for the more mature. Don’t worry about the things you can’t grasp but grasp the things you can, as the Holy Spirit helps! There’s no shame in being a babe in Christ but if you aren’t growing, it’s time to change!

Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 5:13  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

1 Peter 2:2  as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

May we walk through this book gaining the growth, wisdom, knowledge and understanding God will open our ears to hear!

Revelation is a book of prophecy.  That doesn’t mean everything is for the future. Take for example the letters written to the churches.  There are seven churches mentioned that address several issues.  These churches existed at the time of writing but are applicable both today and in the future.

Prophecy is the revealed will and Word of God. It may be true today, come to pass tomorrow or come to pass at some disclosed or undisclosed time in the future.  No matter when it comes to pass, it is the Word of God and we can glean from it now!  

No matter when the ultimate fulfillment, we can glean knowledge and understanding applicable for today! Through the Bible, we can know God. We can know his ways and we can know his plans. We can know his character, his attributes and his desires for mankind.  We will undoubtedly be blessed as he opens our understanding of the book of Revelation!

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%201:3&version=NKJV