Day 2

 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, ² who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. ³ Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Rev 1:1-3 NASB

The Book of Revelation is a guaranteed classic. It is an expression of God’s care for His people. Peter told us that Biblical prophecies are like a lamp shinning in a dark place (2Pet1:19). They are intended to provide guidance for our life today and hope for our future. The primary purpose of Biblical prophecies is to assure us that no matter what the future brings, God is in control. It can bring you into a closer walk with Jesus – the promise for the readers is a blessing. The book is called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, not the Revelation of last day events!

Jesus is the beginning of the book, it ends with him and it uplifts Him as the centre of all hope. From this book we can be assured that Jesus Christ is with us throughout this world’s tragic history and its alarming final events. It gives us confidence to live for him today and to prepare for the future.

The books prologue ends by pointing to the true focus of the whole book: the return of Jesus in power and glory. The same words pronounced at the beginning are repeated at the end – the promise of His return and histories end point. V:7 “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” NASB points to the literal, visible and personal coming of Christ in majesty and glory where “every eye will see Him.” Jesus had said in Matthew his return would be like lightening from the east – filling the sky around this planet with one blaze of glory. (Matt 24:27 & 30) An event that Paul said would destroy the unsaved with the brightness of his coming. (2Thess 2:8)

The promise is affirmed by the words, “Even so Come.” V:7 c.f. 22:20 I trust the integrity of the promise maker and believe that in His own time God will fulfil his word. This is not a time to become weary or lose hold of faith when we are so near. We soon shall see the King in His beauty.

Tomorrow we will discuss the “keys” for the code.