Anticipation of the End

Revelation 1: 1-7 - 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. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,  and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.  Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

Satan tried to lock John up….to stop his wonderful preaching.  He convinced the rulers of Rome that John needed to be banished to the island of Patmos…where he lived for about a year...legend says in a dark cave. But Satan’s great plans were foiled once again and the good guy won…as God  used this time that John was truly alone to send his very angel and give him the prophetic visions that were transcribed into this marvelously complex book of the Bible.  The book that tells us that Satan will once and for all be defeated on Earth…because Jesus has already conquered him in death. One’s mans punishment and persecution multiplied the great message of faith and hope we have in Christ Jesus beyond the human numbers we use to count our fingers and toes.

We are closer than we have ever been to the time when we will all see his glorious form…descending back to earth in the clouds that took him up to heaven to sit at his father’s right hand. Whether we have already passed into his presence….or are still living on this troubled Earth…we will ALL see him coming back! God and his precious son Jesus have been up there watching us struggle since John’s day….and like any great father…they sent us the directions we need to prepare ourselves for …the mightiest of all battles…the one that will end the world as we know it today.  Like any reader hooked on a great book… I peeked at the last chapter…22…and the good guy wins. He will rule Earth…and banish Satan forever to the darkest place of all.

John’s words are comforting….because even though he says a horrible battle is coming…his words also say that we will be blessed.  We will be blessed through the knowledge this book contains…IF….we take them to heart and believe.  My mind is trying to wrap itself around the wonder John must have felt as he penned these pages for us.  It must have been beyond amazing to have seen the visions he saw. Oh how he must have relied on the holy presence of God when he awoke from his trances and searched for just the right words to describe the full deity of God.  It serves to remind me that I must all rely on God to understand the supernatural occurrences that John penned in these great pages.

Father…I am filled with a mixture of fear and excitement….in anticipation of your coming. Help me today to drink in the fact that you are in control of all history.  You are the creator of this world…and even though it looks bleak and evil in the world today….you are up there watching…preparing to come in your glory and save all those who believe.  Let this be a reminder to me to be more urgent in my prayers for the lost….they will all be banished with Satan in the end.  Help me to stand firm to the end…to use your power to stay righteous and work to win as many of these lost to the good side. Amen.