Prophecy 57 - Revelation

Rev 1:1 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:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3 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.


Now I've studied this before but it bears studying again and again, and again. This is the revelation of JESUS CHRIST. This isn't John's revelation, this is our SAVIOR's revelation. And God gave this revelation to His Son so the servants of His Son would see all the things that would come to pass. Yes, it says shortly and in the grand scheme of eternity the time is shortly.


Jesus sent this revelation and signified it by His angel and His angel gave this revelation to our Savior's servant, John. How amazing is this, seriously, God used Daniel as His prophet , a prophet our Savior even referred to. Now God gives a revelation to Jesus Christ to give to Jesus' servant John. John, like Daniel is the human instrument who records the revelations. John spent three years with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry until it's end. John who since the death and resurrection of our Savior spent His life spreading the gospel of the kingdom was chosen to receive the revelation of Jesus Christ. John bore record of Jesus- the Word of God. John bore record to the message that Jesus Christ had to bring to the world. John had seen so much of Jesus', so much of His life that he could give first hand testimony to all. First hand testimony means so much. People who live with someone for three years come to know them quite well. Even those who go to school- let's say college for a couple years and live in a dorm room with someone- gets to know them and that's not a very good analogy to the day in day out living with Jesus that His Apostles did. It is safe to say with all certainty that the Apostles, of whom John was one, knew Jesus like no others, including those who lived with Him all His life up to that point. How can I say that last bit? I can say it because it wasn't until Jesus was baptized that He began His ministry, He did not live His ministry before that time. Yes, He went about His Father's business as instructed but the message of salvation, the message of the gospel of the kingdom was not preached until He was anointed by His Father upon His baptism. Only His Apostles knew Jesus so intimately it could be said of them that they bare record of the word of God, that they had the testimony of Jesus Christ and all things that he saw.


Jesus chose the Apostle John to bring this revelation to others by recording it and we must understand the revelation is prophecy and prophecy is the foretelling of what WILL come to pass if God wills. Do you remember talking about how not ALL things prophesized come to pass? Remember when God issues prophetic warnings they are done to get His people to see the error of their ways and if the people do, God can will that the thing prophesized not come to pass. Prophetic warnings have this possibility, but prophetic history does not. There was little warning, but a lot of fact in Daniel's prophecies of our history. As we study this book of Revelation we will see a lot of warning, as well as history- of things which must come to pass.


Rev 1:3 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.


Blessed- are the readers.
Blessed- are the hearers.
Blessed- are the keepers.


Read, hear, keep and we are blessed.


By the grace of God may we truly READ with eyes wide opened, with our hearts kept in Christ, with the blessing of the Holy Spirit to give us understanding.
By the grace of God may we truly HEAR all that is said to us, may we comprehend all that Christ would have us comprehend and be blessed.
By the grace of God may we KEEP all that we comprehend from reading and hearing.


All through Christ's righteousness! All through His love! By His mercy, by His grace forever!!!!!!!


Amen.