# 29 2021 Dev. Revelation 1:3. In God’s Hand! Read all of Chapter 1 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Revelations 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
Introduction: This book is perhaps the most misunderstood and the most misinterpreted book of Scripture. But it does not have to be: Scripture must interpret the Scriptures of which this book is a primary example. There are four ways that have been used to interpret this prophecy: (1) “Preterists understand this book primary in terms of its first century setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place.”(2) “Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from Patmos to the end of history.”(3) “Futurists place this book primarily in the end times.”(4) “Idealists view it it as symbolic pictures of such timeless truths as the victory of good over evil.” (NIV Study Bible). While these four approaches have merit, we see # 2 as most helpful, this book is about what Jesus said; “we are in the last days.” From the time of Jesus till today, we are still in the last days; Jesus is on the way
Vs. 1:3 Says it all: “The revelation from Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his servants what must take place”. This book is to be a blessing for followers of Jesus. “The time is near.” Many people think the time is near today. Given all that is going on one would think so. What do you think?
Vs. 3-8 Given that this is a letter to the 7 churches, John starts with a greeting and a doxology. In Scripture 7 is a complete and holy number, indicating that this letter is written to all churches in all times, it is intended for us today. John’s greeting ends with a powerful statement (a blessing for followers of Jesus) “I am the Alpha and Omega,’ says the Lord God ‘who is, and who (always) was, and who is (surely) to come, the Almighty.”
Vs. 9-19 “John’s Vision of Christ”. It was on a Sunday, (Sabbath) he heard: write what you see and send it the the seven churches (meant for all churches then and throughout history, as well as today). John “was in the Spirit”, in intense prayer and deep meditation. Read the description of what John saw as he turned around, John had not known Jesus in the way he saw him now, all of us would fall down as if dead. We understand the double edge sword as the Word of God. Jesus explains the seven stars and lamp stands: The seven stars are the leaders, pastors, lay leaders of the seven churches, Jesus is holding them in his right hand, the symbol of God’s power. Even today Jesus is holding on to leaders protecting, guiding not only leaders but because 7 is a complete and a holy number Jesus is holding onto, protecting and guiding every true follower of Jesus. Amen. Jesus explains the seven golden lamp stands as the seven churches. They were to give light in a very dark world at the time. That translates to every church through out history, outside of the community of followers of Jesus the world is a dark place, as we are experiencing right now. There are evil forces at work in society and government and followers of Jesus must bring light into every dark corner and situation as individuals and as churches.
How? Intense prayer and fasting, living our faith intentionally, even in the faces of those opposed to the values of Jesus. We will be canceled, persecuted, maybe even lose jobs but as in John’s time, Jesus is holding us in His right hand, protecting and guiding us, praise be to God!
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