Revelation Trepidation

"God blesses the one who reads the words

of this prophecy to the church,

and he blesses all who listen to its message

and obey what it says,

for the time is near."

Revelation 1:3 NLT

The men closed their Bibles as they finished another Wednesday morning study.  "Well, what now?" one man asked since they had concluded their look at Hebrews.

"How about Revelation?" someone suggested.

Groans of protest rose from the group.  "That's really deep, do you think we're ready for that?"

"It's so hard to understand, maybe we should choose something else."

"I never could comprehend all that imagery.  What's the point?  The end will come and then we will find out what God has in store for us!  Do we really need to know ahead of time?"

Can you relate?  I can.  There is much anxiety when it comes to reading the final book found in the Bible.  This revelation of John as revealed by Christ has long intimidated believers young and old.  The widely-held belief that I need a PhD in Hermeneutics or Theology to grasp the meaning found there keeps me away.  But there is blessing in studying this prophecy, if only I would trust God to lead me.

Read It

No time like the present, I thought to myself as I plunged forward into the unknown.  I had volunteered to lead a women's Bible study with a small group of ladies in our neighborhood.  Never having taught adults before, I was a bit afraid and intimidated.  Instead of letting my fears stop me, though, I stepped out in faith, trusting that God would give me understanding as I prepared to teach through a portion of the Old Testament.  

Sure enough, as I dedicated myself to obeying God's calling, He gave me insight into His Word, just as Jesus did for His disciples before His ascension.  (Luke 24:45)  When I dive into His Word, trusting Him to open my eyes to the Truth found there, He is always found faithful.  (Psalm 119:18, 1 Corinthians 2:13-14)

I will find blessing from studying Revelation when I trust God enough to simply commit myself to reading it.

Heed it

"Stop!"  the mother warned her two-year-old daughter who was running down the sidewalk and heading toward the road.  It was almost as if I could see the struggle going on within the child:  Part of her knew she should obey while the other part relished defiance.  She wanted to heed her mother's warning but her sinful nature pushed her toward the mischievous.

Thankfully, obedience won out in the case of the toddler and her mom, but that does not always happen with me.  I love to read God's Word and am growing fond of Revelation as God provides insight, but it does me no good if I don't heed the warnings and exhortations found there. (James 1:22, 2 Timothy 3:16)

God's Word is meant to change me, and this record of John's revelation is no different.  When I read, then, it is to be with an open mind, pliable heart, and willing spirit, ready to receive whatever message God will send to stretch me, prepare me and transform me into the image of Christ.  

I will find blessing from studying Revelation when I don't merely read it, but pay attention to the warnings found within.

Don't Leave it

Aaron Burr, 18th-19th Century politician and adventure, is credited with what I like to call the procrastinator's creed:  "Never do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow."  While this may give, as he claimed, a clearer understanding of what is to be done, the same philosophy cannot be taken with the warnings found in Revelation.  I have less time than I may think.

I tend to carry the attitude that I can wait until the end times come and see what God has in store for me instead of reading about it ahead of time.  This makes sense to my own understanding, but knowing that God made the point of including these exhortations in His Word means there is something there I need to know.  

Part of trusting God is to understand His Sovereignty and how much higher His ways are from mine. (Isaiah 55:8)  I can't begin to think I can decide which parts of Scripture are meant for me and which are not.  Instead, I would be considered wise if I take His Word as a whole as vital to my journey.  

I will find blessing from studying Revelation when I realize the importance of learning the meaning found there.

As intimidating as is John's revelation found in God's Word, I can let my fear go when I realize the blessing found there.  Instead of letting it threaten me, I can plunge forward in faith to read it, taking it's messages to heart, and trusting in it's relevance to my life.  Now I can let go of my Revelation trepidation!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can step forward to continue studying Revelation as a show of faith in the God who gives wisdom. (James 1:5)

How do I let my fear and doubt hold me back from the blessing found in studying and heeding the words of Revelation?

When do I think I need to rely on my own intellect to study God's Word? 

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in the heavenly realms

with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world

to be holy and blameless in his sight.

In love,

he predestined us for adoption to sonship

 through Jesus Christ,

in accordance with his pleasure and will--

to the praise of his glorious grace,

which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

In him we have redemption through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

in accordance with the riches of God's grace

that he lavished on us.

With all wisdom and understanding,

he made known to us the mystery of his will

according to his good pleasure,

which he purposed in Christ,

to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment--

to bring unity to all things in heaven

and on earth under Christ."

Ephesians 1:3-10

I don't know much about the Catholic Church, but it is interesting to watch the process of choosing a new Pope.  Once he is elected, that man will receive power and authority to make decisions that will affect millions of people.  

It makes me think of the power I have in Christ.  God chose me before creation to live a holy life for Him.  The only way I can do that, however, is through the power and authority that comes by Christ and in Christ.

As one who has received this power, I have many spiritual blessings in Christ awaiting me in the heavenly realms.

Predestination

He was destined to rule over his older brother, chosen by God for His own purposes.  The boy did nothing to deserve any special favor; in fact, he was found to be quite the trickster, preferring to get what he wanted using deceptive methods.  The bottom line, however, was that God had chosen Jacob as the one who would carry forth the lineage of blessing that came through his grandfather Abraham.  (Genesis 25:23, Romans 9:11-12, Genesis 12:2-3)

For no other reason than to fulfill God's plan, I was also chosen before birth, just like Jacob, to be adopted into God's family through faith in Jesus Christ.  While I might think I accepted Jesus as my Savior completely out of my own good judgement, God is the one who opened my heart to my need for Him and drew me to Himself.  (John 6:44)

One of the spiritual blessings I have received is the adoption as God's child through His sovereign grace.

Redemption

She was living in a foreign land; widowed, childless and destined to live a beggar's life with her mother-in-law.  Unless a close relative was willing to take her as his own, forfeiting the right to any children they would have in order that the offspring would carry on her first husband's family line, she was as good as dead.

Thankfully, Boaz was such a man.  At great sacrifice to himself and his own legacy, he took on Ruth as his wife. (Ruth 3-4)  She was saved from the shame and hardship of living without the protection of a man and was able to give her beloved mother-in-law, Naomi, a son.

In the same way, I have been saved from the death my sins deserve through the sacrifice of Jesus.  He took my sins upon Himself so that I might live the life of a righteous woman.  (Isaiah 53:5-6, Romans 3:22)

One of the spiritual blessings I have received is redemption in the forgiveness of my sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

Revelation

The curtain kept all out except a select few who, after consecration and preparation, were allowed to enter only once a year on the Day of Atonement.  The veil prevented anyone else from entering into the Holy of Holies and the presence of God Himself.

Once this curtain was torn at the moment of Christ's death, I gained access to the presence of God through the cleansing of my sin by the blood of Jesus.  The mystery of God has now been revealed to all who believe on Jesus as their Savior. (Colossians 1:27)  Instead of wondering who God is, I can know Him intimately.  (John 17:3)

As I keep myself from going in the way of the world and instead let Christ transform my way of thinking through my relationship with Him, He reveals the plan God has for me.  (Romans 12:2)

One of the spiritual blessings I have received is the revelation of the mystery of God's will.

Once I realize the spiritual blessings Christ has freely given to me, I can live as He has called me to live.  In His love, He has adopted me through no doing of my own.  Through His blood, I have been offered forgiveness of all my sins.  Finally, in accordance to God's amazing grace, I have been granted understanding into the ways of God.  For this I say as Paul did, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" (v 3)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live with these blessings always at the forefront of my mind.

How do I forget I was chosen by God and instead try to take credit in some way for my salvation?

When am I living a life of shame and regret instead of fully forgiving myself as I've been forgiving?