On The Way Home Ministries

                                                                                             Revelation Chapter 1, Part 2

 

Before we go any further in this exiting book, there are more words that need our attention in order to fully grasp the meaning of the events of the end times.  First, let’s go back to the first few verses that we studied last week.  

 

The first word is a Greek word, apokalypsis meaning the unveiling or uncovering of something previously hidden. Now, what or who will be unveiled by the revelation given to John in verses 1-3 that we talked about last week.  You see, this book is the opposite of a secret or a mystery.  It is a disclosure of secrets.  There is an urgency and a great importance to get the word out if this revelation.  How do we know this? The very first verse tells us the book is about “things which must shortly come to pass.”

This phrase “shortly come to pass” is the translation of a Greek word entachie. It means something that will happen suddenly. Shortly, here means quickly.  The same word is used in Luke 18:8 where our Lord says “I tell you that he will avenge them (His elect) speedily”.  It means that when the vengeance begins, it will take place in a hurry.  No waiting around.  In a brief period of time.

 

The next word we need to look at is the Greek word, Parousia which is used to describe the second coming of Christ.  This is another word which describes a coming event but includes the thought that this event will immediately change the situation. Here is a modern-day example if a Parousia:   A teacher leaves the classroom, a wild eraser fight erupts.  Erasers thrown at each other, chalk dust flying everywhere. She returns; erasers

stop in mid- air, students become an instant model of perfect behavior.  Her return would be a Parousia.  Christ’s return will change the situation of earth---immediately. 

 

Do you feel this urgency and this importance about the return of  Christ? What would you do differently if you did?

 

Read verses 4 thru 7 of chapter 1. What are some of the ministries of Christ that are taught here?

1, He is a “faithful witness.  He reveals Himself to us.  Has He ever revealed Himself to you personally? How.  It may be difficult to believe other people but we can believe the Lord Jesus.  He is the only trustworthy witness to the facts of this book.  It is about Him.

 

2. “the first begotten of the dead:” – He gives Himself to us.

Firstborn translates the Greek prototokos, and has to do with resurrection.  He is the first to rise from the dead, never to die again.  We touched on this last week.  He is the only one back from the dead with a glorified body.

 

3. “has made us a kingdom of priests unto God”.   He has commissioned us.  To reign with Him, but before that, to work with Him.  What has he commissioned you to do?

 

4. The last ministry of Christ taught in this chapter is that He never asks us to do anything except that He stands with us. “He loves us”.  This is actually in the present tense in the Greek and should be read as a constant attitude toward His own, He loves  us.  He didn’t love us only when He died on the cross for us, although He loved us then.  But He also loves us today.  Right at this very minute, Jesus Loves You.  Have you experienced that love today?  Do you experience that love, even when you don’t deserve it?  Even when you don’t act like you love Him?

 

How do we know he loves us?  Because He never leaves us.  He stands with us always.  He loves us so much that He died for us.  He shed His own blood and washed us (or loosed us) from our own sins in His own blood, The blood of Christ is so very important.  It is not just a symbol.  It is reality.

 

In Leviticus 17:11 it says For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. God taught His people that the “life of the flesh is in the blood”.  Here in this verse in Leviticus God goes on to say that He has “given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls” When Christ shed His blood, I think every drop came out of His body.  He gave that for you and for me.  He gave His very life. 

 

Now go to 1 Peter 1:18, 19.  Peter writes, For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

 

Then in 1 Timothy 2:5, Paul went on to say “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”. He literally released us from our sins with His own blood

Wonderful, glorious thing. 

 

How can the knowledge that Christ is coming be an encouragement to you in the midst of suffering?  Do you believe He is coning again?  He’s gonna do it, you know. Not going to change His mind.  Nope. We have already seen that He is faithful back in verse 5.  He is Alpha and Omega – first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  From an alphabet you get words.  Christ is called the “word of God” – The full revelation and intelligent communication of God.  He is the only alphabet you can use to reach God.  “He’s the ABC’s”.

 

Something interesting, and then we will move on.  In the original Greek text of the Bible, the Alpha is spelled out but the Omega is not?  Why?  Because Christ is the beginning, and the beginning is already completed.  But the end is yet to be so He didn’t spell out the Omega in this instance.  One day He will complete God’s program.  Are you ready for it?

 

For next time, I want you to read back over the first 8 verses of Chapter 1 so that you are sure you understand it completely.  Then read the last half of chapter 1, starting with verse 9 and we will begin there next time.

 God bless you my precious friends.

See you there.

Maggie