"The Apocalypse ... Revelation!"

Day #361

Scripture Reading:  Revelation 1 - 5 …

"The time is near …" (1:3)  But 1900 years have passed since John penned these words at the direction of Jesus.  How could that qualify as "near"?  "Do not forget this one thing, dear friends:  With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (II Peter 3:8).  Peter goes on to say that God is being patient, calling people to "repent." This is now the call of the Spirit to the churches in Chapters 2 and 3.   In his "Revelation" John is given words that the church needs to hear, for in this "uncovering" lies a future that ends in victory!!

The path to victory for believers, however, will not be an easy one.  This message comes from God Himself:  "I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (1:8).  John’s “Revelation” is written to believers, as John states at the beginning:  "To Him who loves US and has freed US from our sins by His blood, and has made US to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father …" (1:5-6).  Jesus is the One who is speaking to the churches by His Spirit of things that were, that are and that will be (1:19).  How important, then, for those who are united to Christ by faith today to hear His words and to "overcome!"

Each of the seven letters begins with this phrase:  "These are the words of  …"  A description of Jesus follows each of those phrases:  " … Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands" (2:1); " … Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again" (2:8); " … Him who has the sharp, double-edged sword" (2:12); " … the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze" (2:18); " … Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars" (3:1); " … Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David" (3:7); " … the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation" (3:14).  

The Author of these messages to the churches is Jesus, the Head of the Church, the One Who is seated at the Father's right hand.  JESUS speaks to you and me through His Word, and to each of the churches He says, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22).

God is speaking!!  And the encouragement to listen is found at the end of each letter:  "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (2:7); "He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death" (2:11); "To Him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna.  I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it" (2:17); "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations" (2:26); "He who overcomes will … be dressed in white.  I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and His angels" (3:5); "Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God" (3:12); "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne" (3:21).  These are no small promises, and each is tied to "overcoming!"

Living as a follower of Christ has never been easy and will never be easy.  Jesus told His disciples, "In THIS world you will have trouble. Take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  Some believe the last generation of believers will escape the trials that are to come, that we will be "raptured" before the Antichrist appears and will escape the Great Tribulation.  But is that what GOD says?  Why the call to endure, to persevere, to overcome?  

Having received the messages for the churches, God begins to reveal things to John in visions.  First, He gives John the same vision of heaven that Isaiah describes in Isaiah 6:1-5.  What a glorious sight!  The throne of God, the visual display of God's glorious perfection, the "living creatures," the angels flying and proclaiming day and night, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come" (4:8).  God is worthy because He is the Creator.  But as John attempts to take in this scene, he sees "a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals" (5:1). “Apocalypse” means "uncovering" or "revelation."  The remainder of this letter describes what is revealed to John … and to us.

As the scene unfolds in Chapter 5, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David," who has triumphed, is the only one able to open the scroll.  Nothing happens except by His command or permission.  Verses 11-14 describe the worship of which only Jesus is worthy, for He is the only One who has given His life to ransom "men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation" (5:9).  The opening of the seals is preliminary to what takes place when the scroll itself is opened.

Many mistakenly believe that what follows in Revelation is an allegory, a series of symbols that we cannot understand.  But remember the words, "To him who overcomes …"  Revelation was an encouragement to the first century believers and to the church since then, but it will be the greatest encouragement to the generation that sees these things unfold, just as Jesus said they would.

God is with Christ’s Church now and our future is secure!  Jesus is Savior and Lord and in Him we find our hope.  Almost two thousand years have passed (two days from God's perspective) since John wrote Revelation and the signs are all around us that Jesus' return is near.  So we wait, thanking God for giving us "ears to hear" and grace to "overcome!"  "Amen!  Come Lord Jesus!!"




"Heavenly Father, as You speak to us by Your Word and Spirit we hear Your call to repent, to believe and to serve Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, our KING!  Give me grace to overcome the temptations to doubt or to fear, and help me keep my eyes on Jesus, knowing that He is seated at Your right hand, ruling over all things and directing all things toward the conclusion of Your plan for this world and for mankind.  I thank You that through faith in Jesus I have a sure and certain hope that I will spend eternity with You in a new heaven and a new earth where I will join with the angels in worship and praise forever!  In Jesus' name, Amen"




"Contending for the faith!"

Day #360

Scripture Reading:  Jude ... 

The Church was in its "infancy" when Jude and the other apostles wrote the letters of the New Testament.   It was a time like no other in the history of the world.  So many prophecies from the Old Testament Scriptures had been fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah.  And now, following His resurrection and ascension, Jesus had fulfilled another promise:  the pouring out of God's Spirit into the hearts of Jews and Gentiles alike.  Not only had God kept His promise to Abraham to make of him a great nation, but now He was fulfilling His promise that in His "Seed" all nations on earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).  Jesus was now building His Church through the proclamation of the Gospel and the work of His Spirit.

The apostles clearly understood this fact as they addressed their letters.  "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, to those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:  Mercy, peace and love by yours in abundance" (verses 1-2).  Remember that these words were written during the first few decades following Christ's death and resurrection.  Persecution against those who believed in Jesus was intense and false teachers were already leading many astray, trying to make a profit by pretending to be disciples of Jesus, promising people eternal life and miracles in exchange for worldly possessions (not unlike today!).  Jude was eager to write to his brothers and sisters in Christ "about the salvation we share," but there was something else on his heart ...

"I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (verse 3).  False teachers had slipped in among them and were already leading many astray.  That is true today as well.  His description of them is fitting:  "They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign Lord" (verse 4).

These men (and women) talk about Jesus, claim to believe in Jesus and even use verses from God's Word to deceive people into believing they are disciples of Jesus.  They do not talk about sin and its consequences, or about the need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness.  There is hardly a mention of the cross and what Jesus did there.  Instead, these declare that Jesus loves everybody, no matter what, and that the worst problem people have is not knowing God loves them.  They "sell" miracles and salvation to those who are gullible enough to "sow a seed" into THE(IR) kingdom.  They leave people in their sin and call it "grace."

Where the true Gospel is preached the Holy Spirit convicts the heart and mind of the need for a Savior, for one to pay the penalty for sin in our place, and points always to Jesus Christ, the only Mediator, our Redeemer, our Savior and Lord.  How sadly pathetic these false teachers are in their vain attempts to make a name for themselves, all the while claiming to love Jesus so much.  God will be their Judge.  Jude explains in verses 5-7 that God knows how to judge the ungodly and that false teachers will not escape His just judgment.  "They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire" (verse 7).  

As Jude explains in verse 11, they are like Cain, Balaam and Korah, who all rebelled against God and whose hearts were focused on themselves.  "These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm - shepherds who feed only themselves" (verse 12).  We must pray for discernment today, for such "teachers" are numerous in the church.  These supposed teachers take advantage of the widespread biblical illiteracy plaguing the church in our modern world where most people in churches take no time to read and study God's Word and so remain vulnerable to every wind of doctrine.  They tell people to listen to the “Spirit,” and ignore the very Word the Spirit inspired to bring God’s people to spiritual maturity in Christ.

These false teachers throw stones at those who proclaim the true Gospel.  "These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage" (verse 16).   Apart from the knowledge of God's truth that is found only in His Word, people are easily deceived.  As Peter warned his readers of the "scoffers" who would come, so Jude does the same (verse 18).  "These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit" (verse 19).  

"But YOU, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life" (verses 20-21).   God's grace brings salvation, from beginning to end.  Those who are true believers know we have been "called" by the Spirit, "loved by God the Father" and are "kept by Jesus Christ" (verse 1).  I didn't choose Jesus, He chose ME, gave me His Spirit, by whose power I was born again, confessed my sin, repented, believed in Jesus and am saved.  HE receives ALL the glory ... I receive NONE!  

If that describes you, then you are one of Jesus' sheep and you will heed His warning to watch out for false teachers.  You will never stop confessing your need for God to continue the work He has begun in you.  You will never rely on yourself or your own power, but always on the One who lives within You by His Spirit.  You will feed on God's Word because you know you need to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to mature and to be equipped to lead others to Christ for forgiveness and life.

And you who have received God's mercy, peace and love in abundance, will continually rejoice in the truth with which Jude concludes his brief letter: "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen" (verses 24-25).  

"My Father in heaven, I am not ashamed to declare that I need You.  You have shown me mercy, peace and love through the gift of Your Son, and by the power of Your Spirit alone You have made me alive!!  Give me grace each day to find all the wisdom I need in Your Word and help me to discern those who are false teachers, who have slipped in among Your people today.  To You, Father, I commit my heart, my mind, my soul, my life, giving You the praise and thanks for my salvation, trusting that You will complete what You have begun.  In Jesus' name, Amen"

"Friends in the truth ..."

Day #359

Scripture Reading:  III John …

It must have been lonely at times … being a believer in Christ during the first century.   Some have a romanticized view of the early church, and an inaccurate understanding of the life of the early Christians.  They seem to think they all agreed and were all together, constantly loving and encouraging one another.  Sadly, however, such was not the case, even then.  Some in foreign lands understand what it is to be a small minority.  At times like that true friends are hard to come by!  In this short letter John addresses such a friend - "Gaius."  As he writes to his friend he reveals the source of their friendship: the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of believers.  It is oneness in the truth that makes real friends!

The particular reason for John's letter was apparently due to a problem in the congregation Gaius was part of.  Some brothers in Christ, among them a man named, Demetrius (vs. 12), had come to the city where Gaius and other believers lived, but they had not been received by a man who must have been a leader, or at least a prominent person in the church.  John doesn't give a reason for this response, except that "Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us" (vs. 9).  Within the church, even then, were people who would not and did not live in love with others in the church. They made it about THEM rather than Christ.  This is nothing new!

John, the last of the apostles, had written to the church and was now writing to Gaius to address this situation.  As he does so, God speaks to all of us in the church today.  John commends his friend with great joy because he has been told that Gaius and others are continuing "to walk in the truth" (vs. 3).  He says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (vs.4).  The "truth" that John speaks about is outlined clearly in his first letter to the churches, I John.  There he says, "We love because He first loved us.  If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar.  For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen" (I John 4:19-20).

Diotrephes, and perhaps others, were not showing love to those who were coming either to visit them or to partner in ministry with them.  It may have been jealousy or a sense of competition (such as exists in many communities today), but whatever it was, Diotrephes was NOT walking in the truth of God's call to love Him and to love one another.  John declares, "So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us" (vs.10).  This man had "taken over" the church and was telling those who disagreed with him that they should leave.  Those who "walk in the truth” must be willing to confront such individuals and to exercise biblical discipline.  Otherwise, they become a cancer that can quickly destroy the oneness and love of the entire body.

It may have been John's intention to encourage Gaius to "take the bull by the horns," knowing that he had the support of John, an apostle who had walked with Jesus.  John doesn't reveal whether Gaius or Diotrephes were Elders in the church, but the situation reveals why God has established the role of Elders in every local congregation in order to govern His people and to guide them in the truth of His Word.  Accountability must be on a local level and without such accountability the sheep AND those responsible to shepherd the sheep may easily go astray.

John encourages his friend, who unlike Diotrephes, was walking in the truth and showing love to the brothers.  John also commends those who had gone out preaching the Gospel, saying, "It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.  We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth" (vss. 7-8).  The Apostle Paul often spoke about the "partnership in the Gospel" that exists among true believers in Christ's true Church.  In the visible church there are always those who are not true "friends in Christ," as well as those who are immature and who need to be instructed and corrected.  None of us ever reach the point where we do not need the instruction and correction of God's Word, and sometimes its rebuke!  What results from such correction is a partnership in Christ that cannot be broken when difficulties arise.  That is the beauty of the true and faithful Body of Christ.

John's desire was to speak with his friend face to face and he instructs him to greet the rest of their friends, their brothers and sisters in Christ, by name. How many friends in Christ do you have?  Partnering in ministry within the Body of Christ, in the community and in the world provides many opportunities to build friendships that will last a lifetime.

It is important to understand that the Church is different than any other "organization."  The Church is the Body of Christ and Jesus is our Head. True friendship must revolve around love for Jesus and love for His Body, our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Diotrephes was missing that!  He wanted to be noticed, he wanted to be "first," and his actions were causing division and harm to the Body of Christ in the eyes of others.  People are watching how we treat each other.  More importantly, GOD is watching!!

Peter wrote in his first letter to the churches, "Dear friends, ... Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us" (I Peter 2:11-12).  As you live together with other believers, build friendships on the truth of the Gospel, knowing that Jesus has called you to love Him AND each other, and to "work together for the truth" (vs. 8).  Friends in the truth share more than getting together once a week, we share life in the kingdom of God … we share Christ, who IS the Truth!

"Heavenly Father, it is such a joy and privilege to be part of the Body of Christ, His Church, and to work together with others to proclaim the Gospel, in word and in deed.  Move my heart to love others as You have loved me.  Fill me with Your Spirit and help me to continue to walk in the truth and to help others to do the same, knowing and experiencing the reality that Your truth sets us free from all the negative, sinful attitudes and behaviors of the old nature of sin.  Thank you, Father, for Your love and for all of my friends in Christ!  In Jesus' name, Amen"

"Loving one another in the truth of Jesus Christ!"

Day #358

Scripture Reading:  II John …

There is no love like that of those who are united to Christ and to each other.  It is something that is difficult to describe.  Some have wrongly understood that we are commanded to love everyone the same, but while God calls us to "love our enemies," it is certainly a different love than the love we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We "show" love to our enemies and we are concerned for them because we know that unless they repent and believe they will one day face the just judgment of God in an eternity of anguish, being separated from God forever … but it's not like the love we have for one another.  Why?  Because we don't share the love of God or the fellowship of the Spirit.  

John's second and third letters are brief "notes" to individuals, yet within them lies a message for all who know and love Jesus.  You can hear the loneliness of John as he has survived the persecution of the "60's" (A.D.) and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D.  Many, if not all of his brothers, the apostles, have been martyred … and yet, the true Church, the remnant, those who believed in Jesus Christ against all odds, has survived.  "This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4).  John must have felt alone, but he knew he wasn't alone.  So he writes "to the chosen lady and her children" (vs. 1).  We don't know who this was, but it is clear that she was a believer.  John greets her with the words, "whom I love in the truth - and not I only, but also all who know the truth - because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever" (verses 1-2).

When John uses the words, "the truth," he is referring to at least two things:  first, the Gospel, the truth of God's Word, and second, Jesus, Who is Himself "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6).  This is where our oneness with our brothers and sisters in Christ is found:  in Jesus and in the truth of His Word.  JESUS changes everything!  The TRUTH changes everything.  That's why Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).

Jesus is using a "play on words" because there is a double meaning to "knowing the truth."  Some people have heard about Jesus and may even say they believe in Jesus, but they don't KNOW Him, because they have not truly accepted the truth that He IS the eternal Son of God, that He IS Lord, that He IS worthy of worship, that He IS the only Mediator and Savior of those who KNOW Him, who believe His Words (the truth) and who trust Him ... who find their hope and peace and joy nowhere else but in Jesus.  John continues and says, "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love" (verse 3).  If you were facing persecution and possibly death for your testimony to the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior, how important would these words be to you?!  

The rest of this brief letter reveals the connection between truth and love.  John says, "It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us" (verse 4).  He goes on to talk about the command to "love one another" (verse 5).  Truth and love always go together.  The love Jesus commands us to have for one another cannot exist without truth ... cannot exist without Jesus.  Too many who claim to be followers of Jesus gather in “churches” that are more like social clubs - a place to get together, to get small doses of encouragement or inspiration, to play religion and to do a few good deeds to make people feel good.  The name of Jesus is used as a motivation, but the cross of Jesus is noticeably absent.  Sin is seldom, if ever, confronted; repentance is a word that has been placed on the shelf as old-fashioned and faith is simply a mental assent to a set of beliefs with which even those who don't know Jesus could probably agree.

Many seem to start out well, but like those in Jesus' parable of the sower (Matthew 13), the trials of life, riches, prosperity and trials distract them and pull them away from true love and devotion for and to Jesus, THE Truth. While many are deceived, others simply fall away because they fail to "continue in the teaching of Christ" and so show that they do "not have God" (verse 9).  John says, "Whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son" (verse 9).  

The mark of a true believer is seen in Paul's words to his young friend, Timothy:  "As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus" (II Timothy 3:14-15).  That is as good a description of a true believer as you will find:  one who continues in the Word.  Those who have no hunger for God's Word, who don't feed on its truth, and who are not growing spiritually are vulnerable to false teachers and do not mature.  

Truth and love always go together for those who know Jesus Christ and who live to love Him and each other.  John warns those who read his letter that "if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him" (verse 10).  The truth of Jesus Christ unites those who are truly part of His body with each other, and separates us from those who do not accept the truth of His Word and so who do not truly know Jesus.  Live together with your fellow believers, "face to face, so that (y)our joy may be complete" (verse 12).  Share His love and His truth with one another as you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

"My Father in heaven, I thank You for the Truth that unites Your family in Christ.  Give me grace to continue in the truth by reading, studying and meditating on Your Word as it points to Jesus from beginning to end.  Open my mind by Your Spirit, who lives within me, that I may understand what I read and share THE Truth with those around me, so they, too, may discover the freedom and the joy that only Christ can give.  Let Your love for us overflow to love for You and each other, in Jesus' name, Amen"