Note for 20240823 - Revelation 1 KJV - Part 1 - Tribulation
Audio Version of the Note
Revelation 1 KJV
[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: [2] who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. [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. [4] John to the seven churches which are in Asia: 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 his throne; [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, [6] and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. [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. [8] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. [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. [10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, [11] saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, 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. [12] And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; [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 with a golden girdle. [14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; [15] and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. [16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. [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: [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. [19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; [20] the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.1.1-20.KJV
Note for 2024/08/23
Friends, I am not even going to profess that I am some kind of expert on the book of Revelations. And I would like to start our right, by giving the warning right up front.
Revelation 22:18-19 KJV
[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: [19] and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.22.18-19.KJV
So, this is a book that I have reverence for. I will bring you along as I am led. There are a few things though, that must be pointed out, and I will try my best to highlight those. Taking on a chapter each day might be a bit ambitious. So we will follow the pace as guided by the Spirit.
Apart from that which is obvious in reading, note that the Revelation is of GOD the Father, to our Lord Jesus Christ, which was testified to John by the Angel of our Lord Jesus. Don't scratch your head friends, this is but the first two verses. But, it is important to understand that the Angel of the Lord as it is mentioned here is as the Spirit of the Lord, as an appearance of The Lord Jesus, a messenger to reveal these things to John on Patmos. Thus, the appearance of The Lord to John is described in detail, and it is Christ that is speaking to John.
The second thing that we must make clear is this, that John must write of the things that he has seen, the things as it was at the time and of the things that were still to come, as we find in verse 19. Now the things that were, would pertain to the testimony John had regarding his witness of Christ in the flesh, as a disciple and apostle of Christ. His works and teachings in His ministry but also of the crucifixion of Christ, His resurrection and ascension into the Heavens to His Father and ours.
Now friends, I am just now starting to see that a chapter a day is ambitious. We may take it for granted that all that read here now with us, followed along since the 1st of January 2023, when we started in Genesis 1. Permit me to take a slow pace through this Book of Revelations.
It is my understanding at this time, that the things written of what was, we find in the Gospel of John, and as it was at the time, the letters of John, which I believe includes the first 3 chapters of the Book of Revelations. Then from there on, it goes into what is to come. But please note, that is my current understanding. And since I am just a man, a fellow servant in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I myself can be wrong. What I think, is not worthy of comparison to the Word of GOD. Though I do write here, by instruction of the Lord, according to my calling and my training in the inner-room.
Let us look at verse 9, where John states that he is our brother and a companion in tribulation... What is this? A companion in tribulation? Wait... What? Have we not all been sold on the 7 years of tribulation, that is known by scholars as the Week of Jacob's Trouble from the book of Daniel? Why does John then state this about his tribulation, even as He was on the Isle of Patmos, for the Word of GOD and the Testimony of Jesus Christ; John was in exile.
Do you agree that maybe we should look into this matter of tribulations a little further then? Friends, how grand is your life right now? Do the people of this world agree with your faith in Christ Jesus, do they live righteous and godly lives? How many have pushed you aside for your faith? Does this world agree with you in your faith? Is financial prosperity not mostly withheld from the believers in Christ by virtue of the means of making money, and what is considered by our faith as fair trade? And believe me, Christians are still persecuted in many places, in some, to the death.
Friends, and here is where I must come with a stark warning to you, my brothers and sisters in the Faith. What practices are we involved in that we should not be involved in? What are we part of for the sake of survival?
For quite some time, I have called on you to keep the watch to see and hear what this world is all about around you. And now, it has become necessary for me to start speaking even more plainly. Are you not in a form of tribulation right now? Are the systems of this world then in a godly righteousness?
So, in order to put a bit of attention on our current situation, let me ask you this: Who is the first fruit of the promised resurrection? Is it not our Lord Jesus Christ, somewhat 2000 years ago? Did the disciples and apostles of Christ not go through tribulations and persecutions being handed over to be imprisoned and put to death? Were they not called to testify before kings, just as Christ spoke of in Matthew 24? The Apostle Paul was first a persecutor of the church, ordained by the council of the priests. A Pharisee, before the Lord Jesus called him to service to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.
If you were born in prison, you do not call it prison; you call it home. What were you born into? Would you even recognize the time you are living in?
There is more, oh so much more my friends. But, sadly, we are limited in time each day. So, we will have to make this "part 1" of Revelations 1. And we have not even come to the meat of the Word in this yet. So, in closing I will ask you this: how many of our fellow brothers and sisters do you imagine have been martyrs for our faith in Jesus Christ, since He ascended into Heaven? How many have lost their heads, been crucified, stoned to death and given to be torn to pieces by wild beasts?
So, yes, maybe my view of things might be considered radical by those who stand in the doctrines of this world, and regardless of my views, we are in this trial of life. So, yes! We have a choice to make each day of who we will follow and what we will be part of, as I stand the witness of how humanity is being lured into a false sense of security in this world as long as they do not become true followers of the Way of Christ.
The question still somewhat hanging in the air for today, is this matter of tribulation. So, we will first look at that, before we carry on. My question would then be, how long have we been in tribulations, and what is the week of Jacob's trouble then about?
We will look into that a little as we go on.
Shalom
YouVersion Bible Verse of the Day
Romans 5:3-5 KJV
[3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] and patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.5.3-5.KJV
Note on Daily Verse
I just have to make a note here, in conjunction with the Note on Revelations 1 today. Friends, do you think it chance that this is the verse of the day today?
Because, I don't. To me, it is confirmation by the Word of GOD of the Word of GOD. What tribulation is then spoken of here?
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