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Tag: revelation

The Lamb

Posted on by Bob Christopher

Revelation 5 shows us more of the heavenly scene introduced in chapter four. John saw a scroll sealed with seven seals in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. John could see writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll. The scroll contained God’s plan for the world that was soon to be revealed.
But who will break the seals? No one is worthy. John wept bitterly at this thought. One of the twenty-four elders consoled John and directed his attention to Jesus Christ. The elder described Jesus as

  • The Lion of the tribe of Judah
  • The Heir to David’s throne
  • The Victor
  • The One worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.

John looked at the Lamb. The marks of His death were visible.  He had seven horns, indicating His complete and absolute power, and seven eyes, representing the complete work of His Spirit. The Lamb was standing between the throne and the four living beings and the twenty-four elders.
Jesus stepped forward and took the scroll from His Father’s right hand. At this, the four living beings and the elders fell down before the Lamb. Each elder had a harp, and held a gold bowl filled with incense, which represented the prayers of God’s people.
The four living beings and the elders sang a song of praise. As they did, angels joined the chorus. Even those under the earth, known as the place of the dead, and in the sea, a reference to evil, joined in. Isaiah spoke of this vision (Isaiah 45:23-25), as did Paul in his letter to the Philippians (Philippians 2:10-11) when every knee would bow and every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
They sang that all blessing and honor and power belong to God and to the Lamb. The four living beings gave the “Amen”, and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped the Lamb.
Revelation for You
How does this revelation of Jesus change your understanding of His worth and power?
In what ways does the victory Jesus won through His death, burial and resurrection impact your day-to-day life?

A Message to the Church

Posted on by Bob Christopher

John was instructed to write down everything he saw of the revelation of Jesus Christ and then send the report to the seven churches in Asia. These churches did exist and all were located in what we know as Turkey. Today they lie in ruins.
7 churchesThe seven different messages form a single message that is applicable for the church in every time and in every place. In essence, Jesus is encouraging each church body to examine itself in light of who He is and what He achieved through His death, burial and resurrection.
Each distinct message follows a pattern. First, Jesus addresses the “angel”, or the messenger, of the church. Then Jesus reveals something about Himself that ties to what John recorded in Revelation 1:12-16. This is followed by a “state of the church” analysis, complete with judgments against the church and a call to repentance.
The Message to Ephesus
Even though this church stood strong against heretical teaching and evil people, it had lost its first love. The revelation of Jesus to them is meant to draw them back to Christ and to the joy of experiencing His presence in their midst. After all, He is the One who walks among the seven lampstands.
The Message to Smyrna
The church was suffering mightily with more to come. Much of it was from Jews who stood in opposition to Christianity. The real source of the persecution was Satan. He is the one fixed on destroying God’s people. The message to this church was hope. The crown of life is waiting for those who overcome, who trust in the One who is “the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive.”
The Message to Pergamum
It was not easy to be a believer in Pergamum. Temptation surrounded this city. Jesus commended them for standing firm in the faith. He also warned them about compromise. A teaching had entered their circle that was leading many to idolatry and sexual sin. Jesus called them to repent, to realize that all they needed was found in Him – the manna of life and an eternal identity. Jesus’ word would bring that victory to them.
The Message to Thyatira
Jesus sees and knows everything. Nothing can be hidden from Him. He knew the church in Thyatira was improving in their faith, love, service and patience. He also knew they were entertaining heretical teaching. This heretical teaching had as its foundation shifting sand. Jesus encouraged this church to find its stability in Him, the One with the feet like polished bronze. The promise to those who overcame was authority and power and resurrection in Jesus Christ.
Revelation for You

  • How do these messages to the churches apply to your life today?
  • Why do you think Jesus began every message with a revelation of Himself?
  • How would you summarize what Jesus is saying to the churches?

How the Bible Comes to Life

Posted on by Bob Christopher

At the beginning of my freshman year at the University of Georgia, I had determined to be God’s guy. Reading the Bible daily, I thought, was the key to getting me to that goal. The first morning of my college career I picked up my Bible and started reading the Gospel according to Matthew. I read four chapters that day, and four the next, and so on for several months.
I have to confess. I didn’t get very much out of what I was reading. If someone asked, I could tell them the chapters I read, for example, Matthew 9 – 12, but I couldn’t speak with understanding about the content of what I read. Honestly, it was nothing more than words on a page. But why? What was I missing?
It was four years before the answer came. When it did, the Bible came to life. Here is what I learned and what I am continuing to learn.

  •  The Bible is about Jesus; it is God’s testimony concerning His Son. Jesus put it this way: “These are the Scriptures that testify about Me” (John 5:39). We are to read the Bible to know Jesus and discover all that He has done for us. That is what I missed. I was reading to ascertain the rules and regulations I was to live by in order to be God’s guy. For some reason I was trying to make the Bible about me. But the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, points us to Jesus. The Bible is His story, and when we read it with that understanding, we grow in our knowledge of Him.
  • God’s Spirit teaches us the meaning of the Bible. We cannot figure out the mind of God through human intellect, logic or reason. Our finite minds are not capable of such an enormous undertaking. Paul made this point to the Corinthians: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”– 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV). God wants us to know what He has prepared for us. He never intended for His love and grace to be unlocked mysteries. He sent His Spirit to us so that we can understand what He has “freely given us.” Apart from God’s Spirit, we cannot comprehend the meaning of the Scriptures. When reading the Word of God, do so with a dependent attitude, a teachable spirit, trusting God’s spirit to open your heart and mind to the meaning.
  • The Spirit of God reveals the meaning of the Bible to us through the lens of the New Covenant. As believers in Jesus, we live in the New Covenant, not the Old. Trying to blend the purposes of these two covenants leads to great confusion. Everything in the Old Covenant was written to point us to the New. The Old consists of shadows and types and examples. In the New Covenant, we see and experience the realities of all that God has for us in Christ. Those days in college, I approached the Bible with an Old Covenant mindset. I was looking for rules, regulations and commandments. I was reading the Bible with a veil over my eyes and I missed Jesus. Seeing the Bible through the New Covenant lifts the veil and enables us to see the glory of God in the face of Christ.

The Bible is unique among all other books. It contains the very words of God, and specifically His word, or testimony, concerning His Son. God wants us to know Jesus and to share His life. The next time you open the Bible, do so knowing that God’s Spirit will take the message of Jesus and make Him real in your heart.