As we close out this year, we close the book of Revelations as well. This year, we have journeyed from Genesis through Revelations to find every word is about Jesus. He truly was the word in the beginning and the end. The Alpha and Omega. Every part of history, every story told has been a revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is only fitting that the Revelation of Jesus Christ must conclude with His Triumphant Final Return to establish His eternal reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords in the New Heaven and New Earth created for Him and all His Own. Yet, for that to happen, He must return to pour forth judgement on all unrighteousness finally. To bring an end to all injustice, pain, and sorrow. Only then will we comprehend the fullness of His Glory.
Some object to the book of Revelations because it does display a fierce and valiant Jesus. Many want to only preach a Jesus meek and mild. But Jesus is the epitome of all that is Glorious, good, right, and beautiful. As such, He cannot overlook justice. Martin Luther for all that he did to lead the reformation still failed in this one aspect. He did not want the book of Revelations included in the Bible. That has led to many who do not teach Revelations; but what a mistake that is. For it is in Revelations that we really find hope and joy as we recognize this journey through chaos, sorrow and pain is but a moment in time compared to eternity with Jesus Christ. The glimpses of joy we experience here are nothing to compare to then. Our knowledge of Jesus is incomplete without Revelations.
Revelation of Jesus Christ
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. 3Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:1
The purpose of the Book of Revelations was to first Reveal Jesus Christ in His fullest nature as King and Lord of All. Second, in doing so it provides hope to all believers everywhere not to lose heart. Soon all of this will be made clear. No more pain, sorrow, questions, or loss. The trials and tribulation of this fallen world will be gone. Just hold on a little longer.
It is the final letter until He returns:
from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So, it is to be. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelations 1 (NASB)
A Vision of Jesus Christ in All His Glory
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
”12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands. 13 And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. Revelation 1 (NKJV).
Revelation of Jesus Christ as Judge and King of Kings
Now consider this. John had walked with Jesus for 3 years on earth. Also, he had seen Christ’s resurrected body in addition to seeing His glorified body on the mount of transfiguration. But none of that prepared him to see Jesus in His Absolute Kingship with power and might above all things. This was a Jesus not seen by John before that day. So, when John saw Him, he fell at His feet as though dead.
Then Jesus placed His hand on John’s shoulder and said,
“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. Revelation 1 (NKJV).
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Churches
Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelations are 7 letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor. These letters were to real churches of that day and outlined to them what errors were creeping into their midst or the fears of which to avoid. To Smyrna and Philadelphia, it was a letter encouraging them to hold on and a note that they would not have to endure the coming world judgement to be poured out during the tribulation. To Philadelphia He wrote:
10 Because you have kept my word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 3 (NASB)
And to the church of Smyrna He wrote:
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2 (NASB)
To Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea came harsh warnings because of their lovelessness, worldliness, false doctrines, lukewarmness and spiritual death.
The Rapture Revealed
Then suddenly, in Chapter 4, John is heralded up before the throne of God with the sound of a trumpet and a voice saying, come up. John was caught up into heaven before the tribulation events began and watched from there. As I fully believe we shall also be. Those who are left behind will face 7 years of judgement such as never has been upon this earth.
Joel 2
Blow a trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the day of the Lord is coming;
Indeed, it is near,
2 A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness.
As dawn is spread over the mountains,
So there is a great and mighty people;
There has never been anything like it,
Nor will there be again after it
To the years of many generations.
Revelation of Jesus as the Redeemer of the Earth
This all as Jesus takes back the title deed to the earth. Symbolically, God had Jeremiah buy a title deed to land in Jerusalem in Jeremiah 32 which was held in a scroll. So, it is the title deed of the earth is held in a scroll that can only be opened by Jesus.
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Revelation 5 (NKJV)
The Revelation of Jesus as Righteous Judge
To fully reclaim the land, the seals had to be opened. These are the judgements necessary to complete the time of Jacobs trouble, to cleanse the earth, and to re-establish the nation of Israel as God’s Kingdom. All the sins, all the failures, now must be cleansed. And all the horrors leveled against God’s chosen nation must be rectified. That is why the time of the Tribulation is mostly about the nation of Israel. The church has been removed. There will be many people of all nations saved during this time and they will be referred to as martyrs.
The next several chapters in Revelation are the opening of the seal judgments, the bowl judgements, and the trumpet judgements. Following the seven years of tribulation, Jesus will ride in on His White Horse to defeat Satan on earth, reclaiming the title deed to this earth.
The King of Kings Will Return
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19 (NKJV)
He defeats Satan and His followers
Jesus will set up a 1000-year reign on this earth. Then will come the final judgement. Satan is cast into eternal damnation as God destroys this earth to bring down a new heaven and a new earth where we will live with Him eternally.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21 NKJV
The River of Life
22 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 22 NKJV
Isaac Watts Joy to the World is to the Revelation of Jesus
The lyrics to Joy to the World were written from Psalm 98, a praise song to the Return of the King yet to arrive. We sing it at Christmas, but it should be a reminder of what is yet to come.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.