"Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him...." Revelation 1:7a, NKJV)
Those who trust their employment, their 401k, their government social security check, their armies, their gated communities, their cleverness/intelligence, in short, anything other than our text are headed for disillusionment and failure. On the contrary, "Jesus is coming," will sustain any person in any nation in any condition of wealth or poverty, "stability" or chaos.
Our text is both the theme and "reason" Jesus gave this revelation to John. If we read Revelation with our text always in mind, we will not go astray. If we fail to keep our text in our minds and in our hearts, well, history reveals just how erroneous people can become. This is not a call to reject any attempts to "understand" the prophetic utterances in the Book. It is, however, a call to keep our eyes on where and to Whom we are headed, "Behold, Jesus is coming"!
Again, the Book of Revelation to me is like a New Testament Book of psalms. We read some of the most wonderful confessions of worship anywhere in the Bible. It is worship of the Living Triune God, of Him Who Is, "the Lamb," Who Is, "The Word of God." Throughout the Book there is great rejoicing that the generations who have never "seen" Jesus--- will, e.g., "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him....I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes...."
And what more can God say to us to encourage, uplift, empower, sustain and keep us than, "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" Later, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last." Moreover, those who read vv. 12-18, accept and embrace these Words of God, and have them written in their hearts and minds will never succumb to doubt, discouragement, despair. Whatever your day has been like so far, you can determine your heart if you take to heart, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,..the First and the Last." We are well covered, my friend.
Father, in Jesus' Name, well, thank You. Amen.
*******************
* Berlin/Bosnia Mission, May 1-20.
* News, Commentary: jhs58.blostpot.com
Those who trust their employment, their 401k, their government social security check, their armies, their gated communities, their cleverness/intelligence, in short, anything other than our text are headed for disillusionment and failure. On the contrary, "Jesus is coming," will sustain any person in any nation in any condition of wealth or poverty, "stability" or chaos.
Our text is both the theme and "reason" Jesus gave this revelation to John. If we read Revelation with our text always in mind, we will not go astray. If we fail to keep our text in our minds and in our hearts, well, history reveals just how erroneous people can become. This is not a call to reject any attempts to "understand" the prophetic utterances in the Book. It is, however, a call to keep our eyes on where and to Whom we are headed, "Behold, Jesus is coming"!
Again, the Book of Revelation to me is like a New Testament Book of psalms. We read some of the most wonderful confessions of worship anywhere in the Bible. It is worship of the Living Triune God, of Him Who Is, "the Lamb," Who Is, "The Word of God." Throughout the Book there is great rejoicing that the generations who have never "seen" Jesus--- will, e.g., "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him....I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes...."
And what more can God say to us to encourage, uplift, empower, sustain and keep us than, "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" Later, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last." Moreover, those who read vv. 12-18, accept and embrace these Words of God, and have them written in their hearts and minds will never succumb to doubt, discouragement, despair. Whatever your day has been like so far, you can determine your heart if you take to heart, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,..the First and the Last." We are well covered, my friend.
Father, in Jesus' Name, well, thank You. Amen.
*******************
* Berlin/Bosnia Mission, May 1-20.
* News, Commentary: jhs58.blostpot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
