The Christ that John saw in the vision God gave him on the Isle of Patmos appeared quite different from the Christ in the gospels.
Revelation 1:13-16 . . . . clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. . . . Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Christ's garments were not of a carpenter, His head not bleeding from thorns, His eyes not shedding tears over a fallen city, His feet not weary from travel. His voice was not agonizing on the cross. His right hand was not nailed. His mouth was not speaking love and grace but of war and death. His face was not being spat upon and bruised.
We have lost sight of Christ's holiness, majesty, power, dignity, and character. He refuses to change His holiness for our culture.
When John saw Him, he fell at His feet as dead.
Revelation 1:3 For the time is at hand.
The Holy Spirit is trying to force everybody in God's churches -- from the time this was written (first century) and on -- to live in the light of the fact that the return of Jesus is the next event. And since we don't know when it's going to happen, we have to live as if it were going to happen in the immediate future -- at any moment.
Some one might say, "What's the rush? It's been 2,000 years."
Man: "God, how much is a million dollars to you?"
God: "A penny."
Man: "God, how much is a million years to you?"
God: "A minute."
Man: "God, could I have a penny?
God: "In a minute."
Two thousand years to us is a mere two days to God. He is coming.
The last recorded words of Jesus in the Bible are the hope of our faith.
Revelation: 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
The only thing certain about life is uncertainty. Our plans, dreams, and goals may end in glorious victory or frustrating defeat. Those we trust may remain loyal or they may betray our confidence. Such is the nature of life.
We don't have to be defeated by disappointment. Negativity surrounding disappointment exists more in our minds than in reality. It's not the event, but our interpretation of it that causes pain.
We set ourselves up for disappointment when we forget that God is in control of our circumstances. Our perspective is often different from God's.
Lamentations 3:22-24 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul: therefore will I hope in Him.
Next time you find yourself suffering from disappointment, whether with circumstances or with people, remember that God is faithful and is concerned with the best for your life whether you understand now or not. Just trust God.
Preservation of the Bible is a miracle. It took a Holy God to protect a Holy Word -- a Spirit-breathed inspiration.
The 66 books of the Bible were written by 44 different people over 1,400 years, and all 66 books agree. No other book has the power to give us salvation through Jesus Christ.
Fulfilled Bible prophecy is a miracle. The hundreds that have already come to pass exactly as the Bible said proves that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
Psalm 12:6,7 The words of The Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
We should study the Bible, believe it, cherish it, meditate on it, and obey it.
Scriptures tell us where we are wrong, instructs us in righteousness, and enables us with power to be what God wants us to be
The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit determined a plan in the council of eternity past that called for God the Son to take our sin upon Himself and go to the cross.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Many Christian denominations have "toned down" the death of Jesus -- "avoided" hymns about the blood.
Through Jesus' suffering and shed blood and death on the cross, there is now full pardon for sin to all who believe.
No one will strut or stroll into heaven. When believers approach heaven's throne room, there is One who will take us by the hand and bring us in. Jesus' hands will bear the marks to prove who He is and the price He paid to bring us before God.
Alas! And did my Saviour bleed,
And did my Sovereign die.
Would He devote that sacred Head
For such a worm as I?
Was it for crimes that I have done,
He groand upon the tree.
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree.
Isaac Watts
God's Word is still profitable for a pathetic world. We need its wisdom more than ever.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect. thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Because The Word of God is inspired and accompanied by the Holy Spirit, it is profitable for the following:
DOCTRINE: Romans tells us that a man is not justified before God by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
REPROOF: 1st and 2nd Corinthians tells us to keep the Passover by purging the sin from our lives.
CORRECTION: Galatians helps us to return to the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.
INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: Ephesians to Colossians instructs us to "put off" the old man and "put on" The Lord Jesus Christ.
God's Word tells us what is right, holy, wholesome and acceptable in the sight of God. It is a healing balm, offering medicine for the soul. It helps us to heal and learn from our mistakes.
