Revelation

The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is the most full statement of who Jesus is, what He is about, and why. This amazing book ends with heaven rejoining earth, just what the Father called "very good"...God with man on earth.


This book is one of the least understood books in the Bible, even though it is very straight-forward and clear. It is one of the least-taught books in the Bible, although the book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible with a promised blessing for anyone willing to read and teach it:


Revelation 1:3 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.


The book of Revelation is organized in an amazingly clear way. The first Chapter introduces us to the one the whole book is really about: Jesus! There are over 30 descriptions of Jesus describing who He is...God revealing God...on the first page of the book! The next two chapters describe who it is Jesus is so passionate about: the seven characteristic Churches at the time the events of the book unfold. Jesus addresses 7 Churches here, but after the events in Revelation begin to unfold, we only see Jesus addressing the Bride, for the book of Revelation is primarily about the Church becoming the pure and spotless bride through a time of intensity, leaning hard against Jesus in a time the earth is in the Great Tribulation:


Romans 5:3-4 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.


Chapter 4 describes the One who has the whole plan, and is the reason for Jesus' zeal for His Bride...for the Father is the One with the plan to extend the love of the Trinity...the fellowship of fiery and intense desire...to mankind. This is the Holy of Holies in the Bible, and in the created realm. This is the description of the Father's throne.


Chapter 5 describes the object of the action plan that unfolds over the next 17 Chapters: Jesus getting His inheritance as the man Christ Jesus. He takes the scroll, the Title Deed to His earth, won as a perfect man who paid for it all with an unjust death that won back everything we had lost in rebellion, only to share it with anyone who would choose Him. This is the prelude to the restoration of Genesis 1. Jesus is given all power, and honor, and wealth, and glory as a man with a resurrected body on a physical earth. Yes, He is God and was with God from eternity past, but you don't need to give God power, riches, wisdom, or strength...Jesus chose humanity for the Father and for us, forever. Ugh...the implications of what Jesus was willing to do for me wreck my mind!


Revelation 5:12-13 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”


Chapters 6 through 22 unfold the events of Jesus plan to physically take back the earth and separate the wheat from the tares:


Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”


Those who belong to Jesus are the wheat, those who choose rebellion, agreement with man over God, are the tares. This is the final choice: the tangible plan of man, which is allowed to ripen into evil in full, or the invisible Jesus, who matures His bride by carrying her through intensity.


This book is the final maturing of righteousness and sin. Light and darkness. A little light defeats the deepest darkness. Darkness has never overcome light, whether it is a flashlight in your closet, or rebellion against God, darkness has never won. But, agreement with the light IS essential. Because of love...because of free will....we get to decide how we approach Jesus' plan. We can approach it casually, thinking it is unknowable, or we don't have time, or my pastors, or family, or that guy on tv have always said "x." OR, we can study the book that promises a blessing, find out if it is, in fact, knowable, and get in agreement with what Jesus is about to do!


Jesus said the choice we make now really matters. This is for one simple reason: what Jesus is about to do is so intense that many, if they don't understand how and why He is doing it, will be offended and abandon Him right at the moment of what could have been their greatest victory! For His Bride WILL be victorious...a faithful witness that her groom is the One behind the events, and that He is good! The flourishing of light in the darkness is the final and most dramatic proclamation of the Good News! This is what brings in the great harvest! A casual approach to this plan of His is the most dangerous place for someone who claims to be His:


Matthew 24:7-14 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.


But there is also an amazing blessing for this one generation that lives in this time:


Daniel 12:1-3 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.


The wise know the plan and what to do in the time leading up to it, and will lead many through it. The wise know that if Jesus is the author of the tribulation, then the objects of His love have nothing to fear and have everything to gain by agreeing with Him and partnering with Him in HIS plan to reveal Himself! It IS the Revelation of Jesus Christ!


There will be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Bride to walk in supernatural power during this time. In fact, both John and Daniel were given a glimpse of a wealth of prophetic messages and power for this generation. Some of these messages were even heard by John. John wasn't allowed to write them down because they are only for us!


Revelation 10:3-4 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”


Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”


God has truly saved the best for last! I want to shine like the stars because I agreed with Jesus! Now is the time Jesus described, when He told His disciples that they should be prepared for what was sure to come:





Matthew 24:32-42 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.