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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 30 November 2023:
Note: Here is a video overview of Revelation 1-11: https://youtu.be/5nvVVcYD-0w
Revelation 1:1 – The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.
This is not a revelation of John. This is a “revelation of Jesus Christ” – The Father first revealed it to the Son, and then the Son revealed it to John by sending His angel. John’s very first point is that he is only transmitting Jesus’s message, not something inspired by his Christian thinking. He is just a messenger, not a philosopher. Too many Christians are trying to be teachers rather than transmitters. The Holy Spirit is the teacher.
Revelation 1:3 – Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
We are blessed when we read Revelation and share it with others who in turn are also blessed.
Revelation 1:5, 6 – To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
In our salvation, we are not only freed from our sins, be we have also become subjects in the Kingdom, citizens with all other believers under the rule of Jesus. We have become priests to God with the sole duty of glorifying Him forever. John, though exiled on the island of Patmos, did not see himself as any less of a priest or as having any less of a part in the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God does not manifest itself in the way the kingdoms of the world do. John, who identifies himself to the reader as a ‘partner in the kingdom,’ also identifies himself as a ‘partner in tribulation.’ John points out that Kingdom people must unite through tribulation. Daniel was a great example of a ‘priest’ of the Kingdom who was being subjugated by earthly rulers. Through intense study of the Scriptures, he understood the ‘signs of the times’ which drove him to relentless intercessory prayer and fasting for his people and for himself.
Remember, Lions’ Den Daniel also understood, “we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules…. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame…. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you…. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.” (Daniel 9:2-13) Daniel felt compelled to fast and mourn for three weeks because of the transgression of God’s people and his understanding of the Holiness of God. (Daniel 10:2, 3) Daniel understood from his study of Scripture (Jeremiah) that 70 years of captivity were drawing to an end, but he could not understand how God would fulfill this prophesy based on the current situation. So he went to God in prayer for answers rather than just speculating. This is a good example for us as we begin a quick study of Revelation and the remaining books of prophesy in the Old Testament. Hang on to what you know and pray earnestly about what you don’t know with expectation that God will reveal truth to you when you are ready for it. In the meantime, be a faithful ‘priest’ one day at a time, remaining in intercessory prayer for those around you. Also, remember that you were saved into a Kingdom, to be united with fellow believers. Be a good citizen of the Kingdom of God and join your people. Give your full allegiance to the KING.
Revelation is a confusing book though it comes with a blessing to those who read it and take it to heart (Revelation 1:3). Since there is so much that I don’t understand in Revelation, I try hard to hang on to what I can understand, hoping to comprehend a little more each year. Today, some important points jump out at me: First, This is “Revelation,” not “Revelations” as some say. It is a single revelation “of Jesus Christ” intended for “His servants.” It is a “testimony of Jesus Christ.” So, the first big takeaway: This book further reveals Jesus – an important reason to read it and seek to understand it. The first testimony of Jesus: He is the faithful witness; He is alive, and He IS the ruler of the kings of the earth (your King is King); every eye shall see him in his glory – The Almighty was and is, but He is also “yet to come” (Revelation 1:8). The first big revelation about you: Jesus loves you and has freed you from your sins through His blood. He has made you to be part of His Kingdom, serving God the Father as a priest, yes, a priest (Revelation 1:6). Take this revelation “to heart” as stated in Revelation 1:3 because “the time is near.” Consider these words in comparison to the “Lord’s Prayer”: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.” Honor your King as King and give Him all glory. As a priest in the Kingdom, bring glory to God by doing His will on earth, trusting Him and faithfully serving Him, one day at a time without worrying about tomorrow. Seek to be a good steward of today.
Revelation 1:7: — Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
As Ambassadors and Priests, our bold message is that God is Almighty and will come again to hold all accountable. That is not a popular message. How well are you communicating it?
Revelation 1:9 – I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus.
Christians are united in Jesus but also united in tribulation, citizenship, and patient endurance. Adversity strengthens unity.
Revelation 1:10 – I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.
In the Spirit, John was no longer limited in the physical sense and could now transcend the physical aspects of time and space. He could also see what is not physically visible but real nonetheless. When we are guided by the Spirit, we move far beyond mere intellect.
Revelation 1:14-15 – His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.
From Henry T. Blackaby — “At times it is tempting to conclude: “If only I could have walked with Jesus, as the twelve disciples did, it would be so much easier to live the Christian life!” This thought reveals that we do not comprehend the greatness of the risen Christ we serve today. The Jesus of the Gospels is often portrayed as One who walked along the seashore, loving children and gently forgiving sinners. Yet the image of Jesus that we see at the close of the New Testament is far more dramatic! He stands in awesome power as He rules all creation. His appearance is so magnificent that when John, His beloved disciple, sees Him, he falls to the ground as though he were dead (Rev. 1:17). We grossly underestimate the God we serve! To ignore God’s word or to disobey a direct command from Him is to ignore the magnificent nature of Christ. Our fear of other people proves that we do not understand the awesome Lord who walks with us. The Christ we serve today is the Lord of all creation. He is vastly more awesome and powerful than the gentle rabbi we often imagine. If you struggle with your obedience to Christ, take a closer look at how He is portrayed in the Book of Revelation. If you are succumbing to temptation, call upon the powerful One who dwells in you. If you have forgotten how great and mighty the Lord is, meet Him through the vision of the beloved disciple. The encounter will dramatically affect the way you live!
Revelation 1:17 – When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
Our problems always relate to a limited or superficial perception of Jesus Christ. The reality of Jesus Christ should completely overwhelm us and transform us.
Jesus’ most repeated prohibition is “Fear not.” We can rest assured because or confidence is in Jesus, the First and the Last.
Revelation 1:19 – Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
Revelation is not just about the future. It is also an explanation of past and current events.
Revelation 1:20 – As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Jesus is the Head of the churches, and He is in the midst of the churches. Note that there are seven churches, all different, all with different strengths and weaknesses. When Jesus speaks to the seven churches, He will speak to them all individually.
Micah 5:7, 8 – Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which delay not for a man nor wait for the children of man. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.
God has spread His people amongst the nations to infiltrate their worldly systems, subverting the powers of evil, and tearing down spiritual strongholds with spiritual weapons. Christians operate “behind enemy lines” to seize territory in the Name of the Lord, not by military might but by the power of God through the Gospel and transformed lives committed to living for Him as King. “Be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth.” God has called His priests and Ambassadors to be united in purpose, across the globe as a Kingdom among the kingdoms of men, conducting ‘distributed operations’ with unity of effort and unity of action, making disciples from among the nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey God, all under the authority and power of Jesus Christ.
All of Christianity should see themselves as a ‘people’ on a mission for the King, working in unison to prepare the way for the return of the King and His physical reign on earth. Of course, His people will never be fully united and the Kingdom will not be fully established on earth until, “then…. In that day” when Jesus returns, but blessed are those who the King finds doing His will when He does return, those diligently working towards “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” So why don’t Christians today feel connected to a powerful, global Kingdom that is advancing God’s Kingdom, one heart at a time across the planet, tearing down evil strongholds, usurping evil empires, and defeating their adversaries? Perhaps, in part because the church has trusted in the strength and protection of the earthly kingdoms in which they live (confused Ambassadors); because the ‘priests’ of God’s Kingdom have ‘bowed down to the works of their own hands’ and have been consumed by the ‘worries of the world.’ We don’t see ourselves as, first and foremost, Kingdom People. We do not see ourselves as truly ‘on mission’ day-by-day to “be fruitful, multiply, and subdue the earth.” We are not united as a Kingdom as ‘stones of the Temple.’ Too often we see our faith as a means to achieve the ‘American dream’ rather than a call to serve the Master at all costs. God is at work, accomplishing His plan, with or without you. Are you part of our generation’s Gideon’s army, or did you skip the fight to go back to the comfort of your house? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17; spoken by Jesus not to the ‘unchurched,’ but to those who claimed to be God’s people).
In Micah the Lord challenges His people who are being punished and exiled: “Why do you now cry aloud— have you no king? Has your counselor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?” (Micah 4:9) As the Magi understood, the King of kings is Jesus, born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6). “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord (Micah 5:4).” Until Christ’s return, His ambassadors, His kingdom of priests, will be “in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind (Micah 5:7).” The Kingdom People “will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue (Micah 5:8).” This is not a passive, weak, compromised church that has lost its saltiness and hides the light under a bowl – this is a bold church that powerfully proclaims the Gospel throughout the entire world, making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey ALL that the King commands (Matthew 28:19). This is not a church that surrenders to the enemy the institutions of influence such as media, schools, arts, government, etc. but rather dominates them in order to “tear down all your strongholds (Micah 5:11).” Again, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (stated in 2 Corinthians 10:4).” God’s people are a Kingdom among kingdoms, and they serve the King of kings. They “do not put [their] trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save (Psalm 146:3).” God’s people “seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness.” Kingdom People: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28).” Your King is king – “The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations Praise the Lord (Psalm 146:10).” It is time for the Church to come out from the caves and face the enemy.
1 Samuel 14:6 — Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few (1 Samuel 14:6).”
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 30 November 2023: Today, make your every response to others loving, patient, kind, gracious, uplifting, and encouraging regardless how they treat you. Treat others greater than yourself regardless how they treat you. As stated in Philippians 2, “In humility count others more significant than yourselves…. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who… emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.., he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Deny self, take up your cross in relationships, and follow Jesus – today.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 