The Things That Thou Hast Seen
- 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: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.(Revelation 1:1,2) -
This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him. Why? To show His servants things which must "suddenly" come to pass. The word "shortly" is translated from the Greek word "tachos" which means a brief space (of time), in haste, quickly, shortly, speedily. I believe the closest English equivalent is "suddenly." In other words, once these things begin to happen, they will happen in what could be considered a rapid succession. He sent and signified it... The Heavenly Father rendered the revelation of Jesus Christ into symbols and signs. Then He sends this message to His servant John by way of His angel. I think this is particularly interesting, as there is only one angel that the Heavenly Father ever refers to specifically as His angel.
- Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. (Exodus 23:20-22) -
- In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9) -
I believe this angel to be none other than the Angel of the Lord... the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. God Himself implies that this angel is capable of pardoning sin. He further reveals that His name is in this angel. This Angel of the Lord could be none other than Jesus Christ... for who but God can forgive sins?
- And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. (Luke 5:21-25) -
So God the Father gives Jesus the signified revelation message, and Jesus delivered the message to John personally as the Angel of the Lord, in the power of the Holy Ghost.
- 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. (Revelation 1:3) -
This is the special blessing specific to this that I mentioned earlier. I'm of the opinion that it should be acknowledged and claimed anytime this book is read.
- 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; 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, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:4-6) -
The Asia referenced here is not the continent of Asia. This was an ancient Roman province in western Asia Minor. Today this is the country known as Turkey, located in Europe between the Mediterranean and Black seas. Within this opening preface we see an acknowledgement of the Holy Trinity. Him which is, and which was, and which is to come... God the Father. God the Son, Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness. Between the two are the seven Spirits which are before His throne. There are scholars that believe these spirits to be a certain kind of angel that will show up later on. However, I believe these seven Spirits to be a representation of God the Holy Ghost as revealed in Isaiah.
- 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. 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. (Revelation 1:7,8) -
Four aspects of Christ's return are mentioned here, each of which alludes to another passage of Scripture. He will come with clouds in the sky.
- I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (Daniel 7:13) -
Every person will see him.
- And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30) -
Those that pierced Him... that is those who have wounded Him by rejecting Him as the Messiah... and the majority that will continue to wound Him by rejecting His Spirit and neglecting the gift of salvation.
- And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10) -
And all of the kindreds of the earth that shall wail because of Him.
- And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.(Zechariah 12:10,11) -
The majority will lament, weep, and accuse because their time has come, they've lost the battle... and yet they will remain bitter, unrepentant enemies of God. However, a remnant will morn, lament, and weep in repentance at the realization of Jesus Christ being the Messiah. This is a reference to the return of Jesus Christ to earth to establish His kingdom.
- 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. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 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. (Revelation 1:9-11) -
- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2) -
Seek God in humility for understanding and revelation of His Word and His ways.
- Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (Proverbs 4:5) -
- Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.(Proverbs 4:7) -
- Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.(Amos 3:7) -
Have faith... and believe that He is faithful to reward those that diligently seek Him.
- But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) -
Be prepared and willing to entertain whatever is revealed to you.
- But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.(Isaiah 64:8) -
- O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:6) -
- Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.(1 Corinthians 1:25) -
If your revelation and understanding harmonize with the Scriptures then the thing is true. If there is contradiction with the Scriptures, then the source of that contradiction should be tossed out. However, we must be careful not to confuse contradiction of the Scriptures, with contradiction of our understanding of the Scriptures.
- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.(Proverbs 3:5) -
TO BE CONTINUED...
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