I lead a college women's small group, and for the past year, we have been walking verse by verse through the Book of Revelation together (at their request!) And what a blessing it has been! Truly though, did you know Revelation is the only book of the Bible that promises that anyone who reads it will be blessed? "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophesy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." Revelation 1:3
You might be wondering why I am writing a Christmastime blog about Revelation, and I promise you that I do have some good reasons! For starters, Christmas was the incarnation of Jesus Christ and Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, so Jesus is central to both. His birth was the beginning of many prophecies being fulfilled and the events foretold in Revelation will be the consummation! It brings it all full circle. The prophesies of Christ began to be realized in Bethlehem, but did not end on the cross or even at His resurrection. They will be completely fulfilled when He comes again to establish His kingdom on earth, do away with evil forever and live eternally with His people in perfect peace, like He has always wanted!
Also, The Book of Revelation is a gift from God to Jesus, and then a gift from Jesus to us! "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw-- that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 1:1-2 We think a lot about gifts this time of year. But what about this amazing gift we have sitting right there in the back of our Bibles? Open it up, I can't recommend this to you enough! It is a great tragedy that so many churches and people avoid this marvelous section of Scripture. I get that it is pretty unique and can be difficult to wrap your mind around, but it is literally Jesus unveiling parts of Himself and His future plans to us! Isn't that what most of us want... to know Him more and have insight into the future? How extremely kind of Him to share any of that with us! Truly such a gift. You do the reading and He'll do the revealing!
I've always loved the song, "Joy to the World!" I even chose some words from that great song for our Christmas card this year. A few weeks later, I was preparing for small group and made a very cool discovery! This beautiful poem (later turned song), was not written about Jesus' first coming (Christmas), but His second coming! Isaac Watts wrote it in the year 1719, in anticipation of Christ's return to rule and reign on the earth:
"Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart, prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat, 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.
Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, 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,
And wonders of His love, and wonders and wonders of His love."
What began at Christmas will be fulfilled when He returns again in glory...
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing it with justice and righteousness, from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:3-5
Talk about JOY TO THE WORLD when that day arrives!
If there is one word that keeps coming up in discussion during small group, it is "urgency." That is because we know that between now and Christ establishing His kingdom on earth, there will be a lot of judgement and wrath that takes place, especially during a 7 year period known as the "great tribulation." Humanity has always been very stubborn, and many people sadly continue to reject Christ's sacrifice on their behalf and His free gift of salvation. What no one wants to think about or talk about is how those who do not repent and receive this gift will be subjected to His wrath and will ultimately be tormented forever and ever in the lake of fire (hell). God is love, but God is also just! He is actively holding back His wrath right now because He desires for everyone to be saved. He will judge the ungodly, but not before going to great lengths to try and save them first. Are you certain that you are in Christ? If not, I pray that today be the day! Nothing else matters like this. And nothing breaks my heart more than thinking about people I love enduring God's wrath and not spending eternity with Jesus in glory. You get to choose your destiny. Hell is real, heaven is real, and both are eternal.
"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Revelation 21:17
I'd love to talk more with you and try to answer any questions you may have. You are not alone. "I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see." Your life can change in an instant, just like mine did! I pray you will answer His call.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, loves of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-4
If you are a believer, I encourage you to read the Book of Revelation so that Christ will be revealed to you even more and so that you will have a renewed sense of urgency to share the truth with the lost. And also to help you keep an eternal perspective as this world continues to go downhill.
"He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." Revelation 22:17, 20-21
I pray that meditating on both the first coming and second coming of Jesus will challenge and bless all of you this Christmas, as it has me! Look upon the manger with great gratitude, while remembering that our humble newborn King is now seated at the right hand of God and will come again in glory to establish His eternal kingdom on earth! We have so many reasons to be full of hope here between the already of Christmas and not yet of His return. Let's extend that hope to the hopeless all around us!
In closing, I want to share with you a little remix of a verse of "The Christmas Song" that I wrote the other day as I was pondering all of this:
We know that Christ is on His way,
All of heaven will be with Him on that day.
And every human being is going to find,
that some horses really know how to fly!
to kids from one to ninety-two,
Although it's been said many times, many ways,
Merry Christmas to you!
