Weekly Recap #52 - Revelation

Today, Pappy and I finished reading the last four chapters of Revelation....the last four chapters of the BIBLE!!!  For those of you who are following along....can you even believe that we've made it?!?!?

FIFTY-TWO weeks.....WOW!!!

 Today....when I finished....wrote my last note....read the last chapter and verse....I praised the Lord and thanked HIM for helping me thru.

What a privilege....to be able to pick up my BIBLE....and read HIS Word....anytime I want!!!

I've been asked if I'll do this again next year.

I won't be doing a "weekly recap" again in 2011....but I will keep my "Reading The Bible Thru" page up and running thru next year....so if you want to follow along that way, you can!!!

So....let's see what I gleaned from Revelation.

First of all....please know that I don't begin to understand the Book of Revelation.  There have been so many interpretations over the years....and so many people with different opinions.  When we reach the end of this recap....I'll let you know what my beliefs are!!!

This is not a book of "revelations"....but of one REVELATION....JESUS CHRIST!!

Jesus final promise....

Revelation 22:20

"Surely, I am coming quickly."

JESUS CHRIST is the fulfillment of the HOPE of believers!!!

Revelation assures us of these three things about God:

1) He is PRESENT

2) He is PURPOSEFUL

3) He is POWERFUL

The Book of Revelation contains seven visions that were presented to John by an angel while he was on the Isle of Patmos, off the coast of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).  The grand theme of Revelation is that of two warring powers....God and Satan....and of God's ultimate victory.

(AMEN!!!)

At the final battle, Satan and his followers are destroyed without a contest with fire from heaven.

(Revelation 20:7-10)

God's angel presented His "revelation" to His servant John.  God communicated His inspired message thru mysterious symbols, numbers, and word pictures.  These imaginative works are called "apocalyptic"....which is Greek for "uncover"....or "reveal" (hence Revelation).  These types of writings often used these symbols, names and numbers as a code so that outside readers (enemies) who didn't know the "key" to the code would not understand the message.

Revelation 1:8

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end," says the Lord God.  "I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come - the Almighty One." 

John was instructed by the Lord to write down everything he saw and to share it in a letter to the seven  churches of Asia.

I loved my own vision that I got from these words of Jesus....

"They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.  All who are victorious will be clothed in white.  I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and His angels that they are mine"!!!

Don't you just get chills when you read the part...

"THEY ARE MINE"?!?!?

Revelation 3:19a

"I correct and discipline everyone I love."

Revelation 3:20

"Look, I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends."

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty...the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.  You are worthy, O Lord our  God, to receive glory and honor and power.  For you created all things,  and they exist because you created what you pleased.

In Chapter 12, there was a war between the angels and the dragon (Satan) and the dragon lost the battle.

(well, of course he did!!!)

The term "antichrist" appears only in John's letters.

Revelation 17:14

.....but the Lamb will defeat them because He is Lord of all lords and King of all kings.  And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.

At one point, John fell at the feet of the angel who had been speaking to him....showing him the visions....to worship him....and the angel told John....

Revelation 19:10

.....No, don't worship me.  I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus.  

Worship only God.

For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.

Proof that we should NEVER worship another person....only God!!

Revelation 20:2

He seized the dragon - that old serpent, who is the devil,  Satan - and bound him in chains!!!

(oh, this is soooo good!!!)

The Thousand Years (the Millennium)

There are three perspectives as to how the millennium relates to the coming of Christ....

1) Pre-Millennial

Christ will return before the millennium years to begin a literal 1,000 year rule on earth with His holy people before the final judgment.

2)  Amillennial

1,000 years is a metaphor representing the current age between Christ's first and second coming.  Christ reigns spiritually with His people.  At the end of this age, Christ will return and execute final judgment.

3)  Post Millennial

Good News will triumph on earth and Christ will establish thru the church an age of peace on earth.  Then, Christ will return to begin his eternal Kingdom.

Revelation 21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain.  All these things are gone forever.

I told you at the beginning that I would share with you my beliefs.  Many people....Bible scholars (of which I am certainly not one)....interpret the Book of Revelation in many ways.  

In my humble opinion....what does it really matter? Is it worth a heated discussion over?

No....I don't think so.

The main thing....is be ready to go.

Then....when the Lord comes to call His children home...we're gonna all be so happy to see JESUS....that all else will be forgotten!!!

AMEN???

AMEN!!!

Thank you soooo kindly for allowing me to share my thoughts as we've read the Bible thru together in 2010.  My HOPE is that each of you dig into your  Bible more in 2011 than you ever have before.  

May God bless each of you in 2011!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!