The Revelation of Jesus Christ - Rilegato

Ratcliffe, Tom H.

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 1872734596 ISBN 13: 9781872734590

Casa editrice: John Ritchie Ltd, 2021

Riassunto

We shall see that the book covers three periods of time. 1) Chapter one has to do with all that is past. 2) Chapters two and three relate to all that is current, i.e., today, being the day of God Grace to the world, which commenced on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), and will end with the rapture of the church to heaven (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). 3) All that we read from chapter four through to the end of the book, are details of events which are still prophecy.Unless we understand and accept the teaching about the rapture of the church to glory, referred to above; we shall not be able to comprehend the grand design of God’s majestic objective, and His divine movements toward the glorious exaltation of his Beloved Son as King of kings, and Lord of lords.Readers will note in their studies that the greater part of the book of: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, covers the period known as the time of tribulation. At this time, God’s governmental judgments will impact upon the entire world, being the fulfilment of the 70th week of years, as prophesied by Daniel in his book, Daniel 9:27. The last half of the said week, i.e., three and a half years, will be as the Lord Jesus defined it, a time of: great tribulation (Matthew 24:21), when the nation of Israel will experience the greatest of all trials it has ever known. All the saints of God should comfort their hearts with the knowledge that when that grievous time falls upon the world, they will be in glory (Revelation 3:10), and spectators of all events happening on earth.

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Informazioni sull?autore

Tom’s Christian life covers a period of nearly eighty years. From the day of his conversion to Christ through repentance and faith, he has been an active pupil in the School of God. An avid reader of the Word of God; Tom remains a committed student in God’s academy of divine learning, and will continue as such until taken home to glory, either at the rapture of all the saints, or earlier, if it is God’s will. Tom loves to rehearse the precious words of the apostle Paul: For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).This book is the outcome of many years of prayerful and devotional study of: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Apart from his personal study of the Word of God; Tom, for the greater part of his Christian life, has been spiritually, richly blessed from attending conversational Bible Readings. A few years ago, Tom and his wife Muriel, moved to West Wales, to be near to their daughters, Lois and Naomi.

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CHAPTER 1.The noun REVELATION, means Unveiling. In this book, God is unveiling the Lord Jesus Christ and His plans for this world. So, this book is not only the final book of the Bible, it is also the book of final things. It is a book of Judgments, and about the unveiling of the One who will execute those Judgments. What we have in the first chapter is an introduction to the entire book. In this chapter 1, we have the things which have been, i.e., passed into history. In chapters 2 and 3, we have the current history of the church, i.e., the things that are; and in chapter 4 through to chapter 22, we have the record of all the things which shall be hereafter. The book reveals the events which will occur during Daniel’s 70th week, the last of a period of 70 weeks of years, a prophecy revealed to Daniel by the angel Gabriel, detailed in Daniel 9:21-27. In Jeremiah 30:7 the week is spoken of as: the time of Jacob’s trouble. The last half of the week is referred to by the Lord Jesus Himself as a time of: great tribulation (Matthew 24:21). The book details the rise and fall of the world’s last Gentile ruler, called the Beast; also, the False Prophet who is a Jew and called the Antichrist, plus details of their final doom (Rev. 20:10). This book also sets out the eternal destiny of all mankind, saved and unsaved; it is therefore, the Book of Destiny. God gave this book to the Lord Jesus; the Lord Jesus then gave it to an angel; the angel gave it to John, and John gave it to the seven churches. No other book of the Bible was so given; thus, the manner of its giving, adds divine gravitas to all that is written. God’s objective was to shew to His servant, all things that must shortly come to pass, from the beginning to the end.v.1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants, things which must shortly?come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel, unto his servant John. The first five words in verse 1, give us the correct title of the book; The Revelation (Unveiling) of Jesus Christ. It is not the book of John the divine, as given in some Bibles.Our Lord veiled His official glory when here as Son of Man, but His unparalleled moral glory, which was evident day by day, was apparent for all to see. On earth, our Lord was the lowly, suffering Lamb, born in a stable, harassed by Satan, rejected by His own people, mocked, ridiculed, and hated by the world. He was assaulted, falsely accused, nailed to a cross, and then buried in a borrowed tomb. However, in this unveiling, the Lord Jesus is seen in an entirely different light. We see the power of His glory, the authority of His Word, and the righteousness of His judgments on the saved and unsaved. The Lord is going to see the fruit of the travail of His soul and be eternally satisfied (Isaiah 53:11).v. 2. Who, (John) bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. John faithfully testified to the Word of God; secondly, to the Testimony of Jesus Christ, and thirdly, he faithfully testified to all that he saw. John was, for the entire period of the unveiling, wholly taken up by the Holy Spirit of God. Furthermore, all that is recorded happened on the one Lord’s Day (verse 10). Just as John confirmed the truthfulness and accuracy of all he wrote about in his Gospel (John 21:24), so with equal integrity, he recorded all he saw and heard of the unveiling of the Lord Jesus while on the Isle of Patmos.v. 3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand.This is the only book in the Bible which promises a blessing to all who read and keep (believe) the words written. The assured blessing is given at the beginning here in verse 3; also, at the end of the book in chapter 22:7. So, I ask myself, why are so many dear Christians reluctant to study the book, a book so full of blessings? See also Revelation 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; and 22:14.The words of this prophecy. This confirms that much of what is recorded has yet to happen. Albeit, John says that the time is at hand, or near. John was 90-95 years old when exiled to the Isle of Patmos by Emperor Domitian. So, it is now well over 1900 years since the words, the time is at hand, were written. Just as God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, so, His time is not our time. However, when specific periods of time are mentioned in the Bible, we should take note and ask ourselves, are they literal or figurative periods of time? Peter’s words that, one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8), signify that in the eternal state with God, where there is no night (Revelation 21:25), time, does not feature; instead of time we have eternity. So, the statement a thousand years, is figurative, confirming that eternity is without measure. However, when we read in Revelation 20:2, that Satan will be bound for one thousand years, we must understand that the period referred to, is literal. The saints will reign with Christ for the one thousand-year period as recorded in chapter 20, verses 4 and 6.In verse 7 of chapter 20, we read that after the one thousand years, Satan will be loosed out of his prison. For this statement to be meaningful and correctly understood, we must accept the time given as literal. If, as some erroneously think, that the millennial reign of Christ is figurative, how should we understand chapter 20 verse 7, which clearly states that Satan will be released after 1,000 years? Surely, the one-thousand-year reign of Christ is literal.On his release, Satan will deceive all the nations of the earth by gathering them around the beloved city (Jerusalem) to war against the saints. But fire will come down from God out of heaven to devour all the enemies of Christ (Revelation 20:9). So, here in verse 3 it is God’s time, the time for the unveiling of all that we read from chapter 4 to Chapter 22. The time is at hand (near).v.4. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia (Turkey). Grace be unto you and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before the throne.The seven churches were and are, in testimony and character, representative of all the churches from the time of John’s exile, to the second coming of Christ when He will come with power and great glory with His saints, as recorded in Jude, verses 14-15. In Jude, the number 10,000 is figurative of an innumerable company. The reason the figure 10,000 is given, is that it is the highest numeral which can be expressed in the Greek language; accordingly, Scripture gives us multiples of 10’s of thousands. Grace unto you, and peace. Grace is the source of all blessing from God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 8:9). Peace applies to our happy and rightful state before God; it is: the peace of God that passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7). One can never know the peace of God until one knows the Grace of God which comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.From him which is; has reference to our Lord’s omnipotent, independent, unchangeable existence, the self-existing One. To Israel, He was the I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:14). The power of such a divine title was demonstrated on the occasion when officers of the chief priests, together with Pharisees, and Judas who betrayed Him, came to arrest the Lord Jesus. In declaring it was Jesus the Nazarene whom they sought, Jesus replies: I AM, and immediately they went backward, and fell to the ground (John 18:5-6). We wonder at the infinite mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus to allow such brigands to arise and pursue their nefarious objective! From him which was, intimates Jehovah’s relation to the past. From him which is to come, declares His inseparable connection with all that is future, i.e., the Unveiling.And from the seven spirits which are before his throne. Clearly, there are not seven Spirits of God. The seven refers to the seven attributes of Jehovah which fully define the character and function of the Spirit of God as given in Isaiah 11:2, where we read, The spirit of the Lord Jehovah, spirit of wisdom, spirit of understanding, spirit of counsel, spirit of might, spirit of knowledge, and of the fear (reverence) of the Lord (Jehovah). That the Spirits are before his throne, implies that the divine attributes of God’s Spirit are ever ready to be exercised, as and when the occasion demands.v. 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.Here we have a three-fold title.i. Faithful witness. Being in stark contrast to preceding O.T. witnesses. The Lord Jesus said to Pilate: for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the Truth (John 18:37).ii. First begotten of (from among) the dead. The Lord was the first Man to rise from among the dead with a glorified body. First born signifies He was the first in time of the coming harvest of all who have died in Christ. Being the first fruit, implies that He is the First in rank of all who will rise from among the dead to enter the glory of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:20). Our Lord was the first of a new race, a new creation,God’s family.We have three resurrections recorded in the Gospels, but none of the individuals were raised with glorified bodies; they were raised with their natural body, to die again. 1. The widow of Nain’s son, Luke 7:14; 2. Jairus’ daughter, Luke 8:54; and 3. Lazarus, John 11:43-44.iii. The Prince of the kings of the earth. In resurrection, our Lord said, All power is given unto Me, in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28:18). Everything in the universe belongs to Christ, He has purchased it with His blood (Matt. 11:27). As a Prince, He is first in authority, power, rank, status, and position. No one is more supreme than He, He is the omnipotent One. The title Prince, confirms our Lord’s association with all on earth who recognise the supremacy of His being. He has: washed us from our sins in His own blood; not the blood of beasts. The efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ will impact on all that God has purposed for the establishment of His new creation. v. 6. And has made us kings (a kingdom), priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.As members of God’s family, we are a kingdom of priests, and as saints of God we belong to the heavenly Kingdom of which the Lord Jesus is Sovereign, being King of kings, and Lord of lords. The character in which we shall rule and reign with Christ over the earth, is given as priests. Why priests, you may ask? Peter wrote: ye…are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). Throughout eternity, we shall be worshippers of God through Jesus Christ. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. The outburst of praise from John signifies his apprehension of the magnitude of the redemptive work of Christ, and its impact upon the whole of creation. John cannot refrain from attributing glory and dominion to the One who loves us, and washed us from our sins in His precious blood. The, Amen, at the conclusion of John’s doxology, is a solemn asseveration of the truth stated. As successive disclosures of our Lord’s rich character deepen, so the doxologies increase in their fulness. Here in verse 6 the fulness is two-fold, glory and dominion. In chapter 4:11 the fulness is three-fold, glory, honour, and power. In chapter 5:13 the fulness is four-fold, blessing, honour, glory, and power. But in chapter 7:12 the fulness is seven-fold (perfection), blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honour, power, and might. It is beyond human ken to comprehend the fulness and richness of the character of our Lord in glory: For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9).v. 7. Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.Behold, He cometh with clouds. This verse refers to the second coming of the Lord Jesus to the world, about which Paul wrote in his epistle to Titus: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). The Lord Jesus will be prominent and visible for all to see and wonder. The saints of God coming with the Lord Jesus will be enveloped in the great cloud of the glory of Christ. Every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced him. Here, we have a description of the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world. It will be His second coming, but this time it will be with all His redeemed saints, with power and great glory, as confirmed by the Scriptures; Zech. 14:5; Colossians 3:4; Jude 14; and Revelation 19: 11-14. The reference to those who pierced Him, includes not only the Roman soldiers, but also those reprobate and unregenerate of the Jewish nation.However, seven years earlier, at the very least - the actual period of time may well be greater - the Lord will have come to the clouds and raptured away to glory all the saints of God, from the time of Adam to the end of the current day of His Mercy and Grace to the world. The event will not be witnessed by the ungodly world; albeit, the world will awake to realise that a vast company of people have disappeared from this scene. It is most likely that millions of souls will suddenly become aware that they are eternally lost. They will reflect on the many opportunities they had to repent of their sins and put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ; thus, they will for ever rue the day they rejected God’s offer of a free salvation. The great event of the rapture of the saints to heaven is confirmed in the following Scriptures, John 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:23; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.The dead in Christ will rise first, then we which are alive and remain will be caught up and changed into the likeness of our blessed Saviour, to be with Him throughout the golden ages of eternity.When the Lord comes with His saints, every eye shall see Him, including those which pierced Him. The last sight ungodly men had of the Lord Jesus here on earth was when He hung upon a cruel cross, with a crown of thorns upon His head, nails through His hands and feet, and blood flowing from His wounded body. The next time the world sees the Lord Jesus, will be when He comes with majesty, power, and great glory, with 10’s of thousands of His saints (Jude 14).All kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. There is little doubt that those who are referred to here, comprise the faithful remnant of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which will have come through great tribulation, together with the ten tribes who were scattered throughout the world, together with the Gentile nations. All will mourn and be grief-stricken with a profound sense of guilt on seeing the One whom they rejected as the Messiah, now the Lord of glory, power, dominion and might. Then will come to pass the fulfilment of the Scripture in Romans 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written. There shall come out of Zion, the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Millions of the nations of the world who will have survived the cataclysmic judgments of Almighty God, will likewise see the Lord when He comes with 10’s of thousands of His saints. Even so, Amen; is a double affirmation of the Spirit’s seal to this striking, prophetic testimony. Even so (yes), is in Greek, but Amen, is in Hebrew. It is for both Gentile and Jew throughout the world to understand the importance of this prophetic testimony. v. 8. I am Alpha and Omega, saith the Lord God, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.The words: the beginning and the ending, in the KJAV and other versions of the Bible, are an unwarranted interpolation. The subject of the verse is the communication God has made through His Son, hence the titles: Alpha and Omega. The titles, beginning and ending have reference to God’s calendar of events in relation to this world and the people in it; such titles are correctly found in Revelation 21:6; and 22:13.Alpha & Omega (Gk.) are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, an example of all the alphabets which make up the lexicons of human language in which we have the fullest expression and complete definition and revelation of the Godhead. The declaration of these divine titles, the renown of the speaker and the nature of what He discloses, demands our close attention. God Himself is the speaker as He announces His own titles and glories. God is the source and the origin of all truth revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the beginning of all divine testimony is in God and ends in Christ. All honour and glory will centre in God the Alpha & Omega. Everything necessary to be known about God and the Godhead has been recorded for man’s blessing. No matter what depths of knowledge man may plumb, he can know nothing beyond what God has revealed through His Word. Which is; has reference to our Lord’s independent, unchangeable self-existing, eternal being, the ever great, unique ‘I AM.’Which was; intimates Jehovah’s relation to the past, His eternal existence, as with Melchizedek, without beginning and without ending (Hebrews 7:3). Which is to come; declares His inseparable connection with all that is future. The Almighty, such a title is full of divine strength and power, implying that God, who is without equal, is Almighty in sustaining His people, and Almighty in judgment upon His enemies. v. 9. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the Isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.Because of his faithful testimony of Jesus Christ, John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea, by Emperor Domitian. John was a brother in Christ to all believers in the churches to which he was to write. He was not a brother to unbelievers. The great lie of Satan today is that all men are brothers, and that God is the Father of all. The Lord Jesus had to tell the Pharisees: ye are of your father the devil (John 8:44), confirming they were neither God’s children, nor His sons.A companion in tribulation. John readily identified with all who were suffering for Christ sake. John, by his words was confirming his belief that no matter how much he might be called upon to suffer at the hand of men for Christ, nothing could possibly separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Do we have that assurance? And kingdom and patience of (in) Jesus; relates to the present time. We are not yet in the kingdom of power with Christ, but we are in the kingdom and patience with, and in Jesus Christ. While awaiting our Lord’s coming to call His saints to Himself, we shall experience suffering and trial from the world. So, we must not be surprised by the world’s hostility toward us (John 15:18). The Lord’s word to His disciples was: in the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). v.10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and heard behind me, a great voice, as of a trumpet. Being in the Spirit, implied that John’s heart, mind, and soul, were wholly taken over by the Holy Spirit. No other thought would occupy his mind, no other word or sound would enter his ears, no other sight would fill his eyes, no other feeling would enter his heart, save what would come to him by the Spirit of God. So, John was the perfect vessel to have revealed to him, the unveiling of the Jesus Christ.John heard behind him a great voice, as of a trumpet. His back was to the churches and his face toward the kingdom. John was called to look back and take account of the state of the churches: the things that are. It was a matter of great public importance which had to be communicated to the churches. The voice, being as of a trumpet, would imply the loudest possible, unmistakable voice of the Lord, to leave none in doubt as to the divine origin, power, authority, and reliability of the communication. v.11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. The words in this verse: I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, are an unfortunate interpolation; but in verses 8 and 17, they fit beautifully within the context. When man alters what is written in the inspired Word of God, he spoils and corrupts the text. In this verse, the Lord is not speaking about communication, i.e., Alpha and Omega, neither is He speaking about His Origin and Omnipotence, i.e., first and last; but He is advising John to write what he sees, and to send the letters to the seven churches. What thou seest, write in a book. What John wrote was not to be put into a drawer, filed away or hidden where no one could read it. The written book was to be given and acted upon by the seven churches. Sadly, there are so many Christians today who, to their spiritual loss, never read or study the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. To them, it is a closed book. They overlook the fact that it is the only book in the Bible where, in the first and last chapters, a blessing is assured to all who read, hear, and act upon its teaching. We know that in the dark ages of Roman Catholicism, to possess and/or read the Bible, was an offence punishable by death. Such was the cruelty of man’s religion, void of the love of God. We also know that the seven churches listed are in Turkey. Today, Turkey is a 100% Islamic country, and intolerant of Christian teaching. v. 12. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.From verse 12–20, we have what John saw and heard when he turned to see the voice that spoke to him. It was the vision of the glory of Christ’s person in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (Lampstands). Verse 20 tells us that the seven golden candlesticks (Lampstands): are the seven churches. Gold, being the most precious of all metals, speaks of divine righteousness as seen in Christ. The churches, in their testimony, were to reflect the divine righteousness of Christ. In the symbol of the seven golden lampstands we have the completeness and perfection of the church on earth as seen by God in Christ. Alas, we know that the church in testimony, did not and does not reflect such divine perfection. The lampstands represent separate churches, each responsible to be a witness of the love of God to the world, to be a light in the world of spiritual and moral darkness. We may ask ourselves as members of the church of God; are we bright, faithful, and active enough, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to have a spiritual and moral impact upon the local community where we live?v.13. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps (breasts), with a golden girdle (sash).In the midst of the seven candlesticks. The Lord is walking in the midst of the candlesticks as a judge. The subject of the entire book is judgment; acceptance of this fact will greatly help in our understanding of the unveiling of the Lord Jesus. As ‘Son of Man’ He quickens the dead, physically and spiritually, and because God will have Him honoured in the very nature in which man outraged Him, God has determined that the Lord, as Son of Man, will execute the final judgments on unregenerate man at the Great White Throne (Acts 17:31; and Revelation 20:11-15). Clothed in a garment, down to the foot. Although we are not told the fashion of the garment nor its colour, we may safely assume the garment to have been after the pattern of the Ephod (Exodus 28:6-7), and in all probability white, similar to the garment Aaron wore as High priest on the great day of atonement (Leviticus 16). The flowing garment was not girded about the loins, but left free to signify the dignity of the priestly judgment which the Lord was freely exercising, for He walked in the midst of the seven churches as the Son of Man. The Lord’s feet were uncovered that John might understand the Lord’s response to all who had trodden His name under foot. Ref. verse 15. Girt about the paps (breasts) with a golden girdle. The girdle worn by Aaron the High Priest, when wearing his garments of glory and beauty, was multi-coloured (Exodus 39:5); but here the girdle is golden, and worn about the breasts, signifying the Lord being ready to exercise divine judgment in righteousness. Gold in Scripture speaks of divine righteousness. v.14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire.The whiteness of His head and hair were indicative of the perfection, maturity, and fulness of the divine attributes residing in the Head of Christ; His holy thoughts, His divine wisdom, His pure, righteous, and inscrutable perfection in judgment; all in alignment with the mind of God. Notice also, there is no diadem or crown, no mitre as if He were acting in gracious intercession, for He is about to pour out His governmental judgments upon the world.And his eyes as a flame of fire. Who can escape the penetrating scrutiny of the all-seeing divine eyes of judgment? All the nakedness, wickedness, and evil, man has sought to cover up, will be searched out, exposed, and judged.v. 15. And His feet, like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.His feet as fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. Undefiled feet that will tread down all opposing forces with unyielding ferocity and red-hot judgment. They tell us that the Lord God is a God of Justice and of Judgment. The Scriptures record that the ungodly have trodden underfoot the Son of God (Hebrews 10:29). However, with unbending, judicial strength, the Lord will tread down all His enemies under His feet (Hebrews 2:8). In the coming day of divine judgment everything that is unholy will be erased and stamped out for ever by God’s anointed One; then shall righteousness dwell on the earth (2 Peter 3:13).His voice as the sound of many waters. The loudest and continuous sound in nature is the sound of mighty waterfalls; e.g. Niagara Falls on the border between the U.S. and Canada; and the Victoria Falls between Zimbabwe and Zambia in Africa. The thunderous sound of the falling water blocks out all other sounds of nature. In the great day of judgment, only the Lord’s voice will be heard above all the sounds of nature, including the sounds of waterfalls, as He pronounces His judgments.v. 16. And He had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. In His right hand, seven stars. Being in His right hand implies supreme authority, honour, and security. The stars speak of those with spiritual responsibility, who give light in the assembly of God’s people. It is well to bear in mind that a star does not announce itself or boast of its light; it simply shines for others to discern and benefit from its shining. So, the function of a star in the assembly of God’s people, is to shine and guide the saints in these days of spiritual and moral darkness. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. The Word of God cuts open everything, nothing is any longer hidden. The Word exposes all, and distinguishes between right and wrong. Ref. Solomon and the baby (1 Kings 3:24-27). Thus, the Sword of His mouth not only separates right from wrong being two-edged, but it also pierces the conscience to effect moral and spiritual conviction, so discerning between good and evil. And His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. When Saul, on his way to Damascus was struck down, he later recorded that he saw a Light brighter than the mid-day sun. Nothing will be concealed from the One who is the Light of the world (morally and spiritually). Here, John was seeing the Lord in His shekinah (dwelling) glory. At the transfiguration, the favoured three were afraid when they entered the cloud of glory (Matt. 17:6; and Luke 9:34). Later, Peter writes: we were eye witnesses of His majesty (2 Peter 1:16). Today, we are privileged, by faith, to gaze upon Him. In that coming day of glory, there will be no clouds to diminish the out-shining of His Person, nothing to conceal the dignity and glory of His enthronement in heaven.v. 17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me Fear not, I am the first and the last.John, who pillowed his head on His Master’s bosom, who witnessed His shekinah glory, who out-ran Peter to the sepulchre, who worshipped Him as risen from the dead, and who witnessed with rapt gaze his ascension to glory; is now alone on the Isle of Patmos. Seeing the Lord in all His glory, so overwhelmed him that he fell at His feet as dead. John wasn’t dead, but the glorious sight was so astonishingly breath-taking and unexpected, that he falls prostrate before Him. Christ here, is in the midst of the churches in the full display of the attributes that betoken His power and majesty: He laid His right hand upon me. It was more than a touch; it was the hand of power. The pressure of that hand in its live-giving energy and strength, thrilled the disciple whom Jesus loved. His Right Hand speaks of honour, power, authority, and favour. When did we last experience the hand of the Lord Jesus upon us? It should be a daily experience. We might recall the occasion when the Lord put out His hand and touched the leper (Matthew 8:3). When Peter was about to drown in the Sea of Galilee, the Lord put out His hand and saved him (Matthew 14:31). The incident when Peter’s mother-in-law was sick of a fever; the Lord took her by the hand and lifted her up and she recovered to good health (Mark 1:31). Then there was the occasion when the Lord took Jairus’ daughter by the hand, and immediately she was restored to full life (Luke 8:54). We should cherish the touch of the Master’s hand from time to time, to lift us up, to encourage, strengthen, and guide us.Fear not, I am the first and the last. We should have no fear in this life with our faith secured in One with such a divine title. The first and the last, is a title of Jehovah which the Lord claimed 3 times for Himself, ref. Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; and 48:12. The Lord here in Revelation likewise claims the title 3 times; 1:17; 2:8; and 22:13. First and last has to do with Christ personally. He was foremost in time, order, place, and importance. The title, first, emphasises the absolute supremacy of the eternal, self-existing One. As the first, He is before all, above all, and from Whom all things proceed. As the last, nothing will follow once the final judgments on this creation are enacted. Finally, the glorified Son of Man, the Lord Jesus, will surrender all to His Father, that God may be all in all (1 Cor. 15:24 and 28).v. 18. I am He that liveth, and was dead, and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death. (N.B. The destinies should be reversed, as death comes before the destiny of the soul). The risen Lord assures John that He is truly alive. That should be the message in every gospel preaching, to leave souls in no doubt that we believe in a Living Christ; One, who died for our sins, but now is alive for evermore at the right hand of the Throne of God, who alone is able to save to the uttermost all who come un God by Him (Heb. 7:25).The keys of death and of hades. Having the keys of death and hades confirms that our Lord has total control of all the souls of mankind, saved and unsaved who have passed this life. Spiritism and necromancy can never interfere with the souls of men and women who have left this scene through death. The Lord holds all souls secure against the day of divine judgment. The greatest mimic in this creation is Satan, who ably mimics the voices of individual This work is the product of much prayer, and time spent in the sanctuary before the Lord. It is the result of a long-held exercise, occasioned by an earnest desire for all the saints of God, young and old, to avail themselves of the blessings God has promised to all who read, hear, and keep the things written in: The Revelation of Jesus Christ.Some readers may already have the little book with the title: John’s Letters to the Seven Churches, covering the first three chapters of: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. For the benefit of readers who have not had sight of the little book, the complete text is included in this study as the first three chapters. Many dear saints of God, mistakenly believe the book: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, is not for them; claiming the teaching is far too complex for the ordinary person to understand. On this latter point, we must never forget that every child of God is indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God, which enables us to understand what God has been pleased to reveal to us from His Word by the Holy Spirit. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him; but God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: John Ritchie Ltd
• Data di pubblicazione: 2021
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1872734596
• ISBN 13: 9781872734590
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 290
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile