- Difficulties encountered in understanding the BOOK OF REVELATION are rooted in the IDENTITY of God, who “GAVE” the message to Jesus Christ “TO SHEW UNTO HIS SERVANTS”, as it is written: “The REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, which GOD GAVE unto him, TO SHEW UNTO HIS SERVANTS things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and SIGNIFIED IT BY HIS ANGEL UNTO HIS SERVANT JOHN” [Revelation 1:1] If you do not KNOW IDENTITY of God, try as you may, it will remain a MYSTERY. The MYSTERY is resolved in Jesus Christ, “For IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY” [Colossians 2:9] Some unwittingly take the wrong turn from the first verse, separating God who “GAVE” the message from Jesus Christ who “SHEW” to His SERVANTS. Beloved, the TWO are ONE, “And without controversy great is the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, …” [1 Timothy 3:16] Jesus Christ is the WORD that was in the BEGINNING, became FLESH and dwelt among us [John 1:1 & 14] Whosoever accepts Christ as the IDENTITY of God is ONE with the FATHER and SON, as it is written: “At that day ye shall know that I AM IN MY FATHER, and YE IN ME, and I IN YOU” [John 14:20] In Christ, the VAIL is removed, the eyes of our understanding ENLIGHTENED to SEE the MIND of God.
- This BOOK is addressed to the SERVANTS of Jesus Christ and to His SERVANTS it is given “… to know the MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD: but to others in parables; that SEEING THEY MIGHT NOT SEE, and HEARING THEY MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND” [Luke 8:10] We are not SERVANTS of Christ by reason of TITLES, but by CALLING of God and steadfast FAITH in the WORD OF LIFE, “… WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING, which we have HEARD, which we have SEEN with our eyes, which we have LOOKED upon, and our hands have HANDLED, of the WORD OF LIFE; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear WITNESS, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)” [1 John 1:1-2] When we have HEARD from those who preached Christ to us, yet are we not His SERVANTS until we our INNER EYES are initiated into the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS to SEE and LOOK UPON Jesus Christ SEATED on the throne. He alone chooses His SERVANTS, instructs and equips them with great GRACE to HANDLE the WORD OF LIFE, “… not walking in craftiness, NOR HANDLING THE WORD OF GOD DECEITFULLY; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” [1 Corinthians 4:2] We are STEWARDS of Christ, not of men, therefore, “Let a man so account of us, as of the MINISTERS of Christ, and STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD” [1 Corinthians 4:1]
- John was IN THE SPIRIT when he received instruction to “Write the THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN, and the THINGS WHICH ARE, and the THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER” [Revelation 1:10&19] God is SPIRIT, John was in the SPIRIT and it evident we must be in the SPIRIT both to READ and UNDERSTAND this BOOK. If the language and imagery are confusing, it is so to those who are not in the SPIRIT. We are in the SPIRIT, when we wholeheartedly SUBMIT to Jesus Christ as LORD and SAVIOUR, “CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST” [2 Corinthians 10:5] Our IMAGINATION reflects the intellect not the SPIRIT and compounds the limitations of squeezing heavenly things into TIME and earthly DIMENSIONS. When we CAST DOWN IMAGINATIONS, we do away with restrictions of TIME and SPACE, and our INNER MAN is enabled to SEE and HEAR what John SAW and HEARD, in real time. This BOOK was written some 2,000 years ago and there are apparent differences in language and choice of imagery. These challenges are resolved when you are in the SPIRIT of Christ, praying always,” That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be STRENGTHENED with MIGHT by his SPIRIT in the INNER MAN” [Ephesians 3:16]
- This BOOK is in two broad parts. The first section, Chapters 1-3, were dictated and received on earth. The second part, Chapters 4-22, were received after John was caught up to heaven in the SPIRIT [Revelation 4:1-2] Both subdivisions make up the CAPSTONE MESSAGE of Jesus Christ to His Church, and a “MUST READ” for the SAINTS. It is the only BOOK of the Bible that has a BLESSING attached and a CURSE too. First, the BLESSING, “Behold, I come quickly: BLESSED is he that KEEPETH the SAYINGS of the PROPHECY of this BOOK” [Revelation 22:7] To KEEP the SAYINGS of this BOOK require we STUDY it and WATCH diligently for the fulfilment thereof. If any man shall ADD to it, “… God SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES that are written in this book” [Revelation 22:18] If any man REMOVES from it, “… God SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” [Revelation 22:19] Some of the prophecies are fulfilled, some are being fulfilled and every one shall be established. I encourage you to READ and STUDY this BOOK with reverence, in the SPIRIT, looking forward with WATCHING and PRAYER for the appearance of the Lord, when we shall be caught up to be with Him forever [1 Thessalonians 4:17]
- Now we proceed to Chapter 1. TO BE CONTINUED
1. Difficulties encountered in understanding the BOOK OF REVELATION are rooted in the IDENTITY of God, who “GAVE” the message to Jesus Christ “TO SHEW UNTO HIS SERVANTS”,“The REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, which GOD GAVE unto him, TO SHEW UNTO HIS SERVANTS things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and SIGNIFIED IT BY HIS ANGEL UNTO HIS SERVANT JOHN” [Revelation 1:1] If you do not KNOW IDENTITY of God, try as you may, it will remain a MYSTERY. The MYSTERY is resolved in Jesus Christ, “For IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY” [Colossians 2:9] Some unwittingly take the wrong turn from the first verse, separating God who “GAVE” the message from Jesus Christ who “SHEW” to His SERVANTS. Beloved, the TWO are ONE, “And without controversy great is the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, …” [1 Timothy 3:16] Jesus Christ is the WORD that was in the BEGINNING, became FLESH and dwelt among us [John 1:1 & 14] Whosoever accepts Christ as the IDENTITY of God is ONE with the FATHER and SON, as it is written: “At that day ye shall know that I AM IN MY FATHER, and YE IN ME, and I IN YOU” [John 14:20] In Christ, the VAIL is removed, the eyes of our understanding ENLIGHTENED to SEE the MIND of God.
2. This BOOK is addressed to the SERVANTS of Jesus Christ and to His SERVANTS it is given “… to know the MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD: but to others in parables; that SEEING THEY MIGHT NOT SEE, and HEARING THEY MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND” [Luke 8:10] We are not SERVANTS of Christ by reason of TITLES, but by CALLING of God and steadfast FAITH in the WORD OF LIFE, “… WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING, which we have HEARD, which we have SEEN with our eyes, which we have LOOKED upon, and our hands have HANDLED, of the WORD OF LIFE; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear WITNESS, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)” [1 John 1:1-2] When we have HEARD from those who preached Christ to us, yet are we not His SERVANTS until we our INNER EYES are initiated into the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS to SEE and LOOK UPON Jesus Christ SEATED on the throne. He alone chooses His SERVANTS, instructs and equips them with great GRACE to HANDLE the WORD OF LIFE, “… not walking in craftiness, NOR HANDLING THE WORD OF GOD DECEITFULLY; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God” [1 Corinthians 4:2] We are STEWARDS of Christ, not of men, therefore, “Let a man so account of us, as of the MINISTERS of Christ, and STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD” [1 Corinthians 4:1]
3. John was IN THE SPIRIT when he received instruction to “Write the THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN, and the THINGS WHICH ARE, and the THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER” [Revelation 1:10&19] God is SPIRIT, John was in the SPIRIT and it evident we must be in the SPIRIT both to READ and UNDERSTAND this BOOK. If the language and imagery are confusing, it is so to those who are not in the SPIRIT. We are in the SPIRIT, when we wholeheartedly SUBMIT to Jesus Christ as LORD and SAVIOUR, “CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST” [2 Corinthians 10:5] Our IMAGINATION reflects the intellect not the SPIRIT and compounds the limitations of squeezing heavenly things into TIME and earthly DIMENSIONS. When we CAST DOWN IMAGINATIONS, we do away with restrictions of TIME and SPACE, and our INNER MAN is enabled to SEE and HEAR what John SAW and HEARD, in real time. This BOOK was written some 2,000 years ago and there are apparent differences in language and choice of imagery. These challenges are resolved when you are in the SPIRIT of Christ, praying always,” That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be STRENGTHENED with MIGHT by his SPIRIT in the INNER MAN” [Ephesians 3:16]
4. This BOOK is in two broad parts. The first section, Chapters 1-3, were dictated and received on earth. The second part, Chapters 4-22, were received after John was caught up to heaven in the SPIRIT [Revelation 4:1-2] Both subdivisions make up the CAPSTONE MESSAGE of Jesus Christ to His Church, and a “MUST READ” for the SAINTS. REVELATION is the only BOOK of the Bible that has a BLESSING attached and a CURSE too. First, the BLESSING, “Blessed is he that READETH, and they that HEAR the WORDS of this PROPHECY, and KEEP those things which are written therein: for the TIME IS AT HAND” [Revelation 1:3] To KEEP the SAYINGS of this BOOK require we STUDY it and WATCH diligently for the fulfilment thereof. If any man shall ADD to it, “… God SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES that are written in this book” [Revelation 22:18] If any man REMOVES from it, “… God SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” [Revelation 22:19] Some of the prophecies are fulfilled, some are being fulfilled and every one shall be established. I encourage you to READ and STUDY this BOOK with reverence, in the SPIRIT, looking forward with WATCHING and PRAYER for the appearance of the Lord, when we shall be caught up to be with Him forever [1 Thessalonians 4:17]
5. Now we proceed to Chapter 1. TO BE CONTINUED
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