The Spiritual Ponderings of a Simple Preacher Tuesday, October 1, 2013 by Pastor Anthony Hovey For The Time Is At Hand – Part 2 Revelation 1:1-3 There are many today who are tirelessly researching and studying the ancient predictions of the Mayan Civilization that purportedly reveals that there will be widespread catastrophes that could possibly result in the total destruction of mankind beginning when the Maya’s “Long Count” calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era on Dec. 21, 2012 … Personally, I would rather spend my time studying the prophecies of the Ancient of Days than the predications of an ancient people… I choose to trust the Words of the Master rather than the works of the Mayans… Yet, there are those who would tell you and I that we can never understand the Book of Revelation… Leon Tucker in his book Studies in Revelation – An Expositional Commentary tells about a pastor of a large Church that was asked by some of his people to teach on the Book of Revelation. He gave them the following three points: (1) I don’t know anything about the Book of Revelation. (2) You don’t know anything about the Book of Revelation. (3) Nobody knows anything about the Book of Revelation… Well, I submit to you that it can be and needs to be understood… Through the Book of Revelation the future is unveiled, unfolded, and understood… You see, the beauty of the Book of Revelation is that it affords us an opportunity to look into the future and get a glimpse of what is soon to be… It declares, describes, and defines the future and the fate of both the saved and the unsaved… But, God did not inspire the Book of Revelation to illuminate our fate; He inspired it to increase our faith… Billy Graham is quoted as saying… I’ve read the last page of the BIBLE. It’s all going to turn out all right… Now, if the door to understanding the Book of Revelation is to be opened, then we need the key that unlocks the door. That key is found in the first three verses of Revelation Chapter 1… Let’s read them together… Revelation 1:1-3… 1 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: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 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… First, we notice… I. The Person That Is Described (v.1a) 1a The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him… Many have through the years mistakenly thought that the Book of Revelation was primarily a book about prophecy; it is not, it is primarily a book about a Person… Hence The Revelation (GR: apokalypsis ENG: apocalypse; the unveiling or unwrapping) of Jesus Christ… 1. The Return Of Jesus Christ… a. In The Book Of Revelation We Will See The Lord Returning For His People… John 14:2b-3; Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 b. In The Book Of Revelation We Will See The Lord Returning With His People… Revelation 19:14; Revelation 7:9 2. The Reign of Jesus Christ… Revelation 11:15; 2 Timothy 2:12a; Revelation 20:4,6 Further, we notice… II. The Prophecy That Is Detailed (vv.1b-2) 1. The Messages Of These Prophecies (v.1b)… to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass… While God has given us the truths of prophecy, He has withheld from us the timing of prophecy… Matthew 24:3-14,33… 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come... 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors… Luke 21:28… And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh… Matthew 24:36-39… 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 or as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be… 2. The Method Of These Prophecies (vv.1c-2)… 1c and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw… As with all of Scripture, God has revealed to us everything we need to know to find God and to have faith in God in the Book of Revelation… While the Book of Revelation is filled with symbolism, it can be spiritually discerned… 1 Corinthians 2:14… the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned… John 8:47… He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God… Proverbs 9:10 NCV… Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord, and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One… Selah, Think On These Things…
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 10:19:02 +0000
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