Weekly Devotional 11-5-18 The entire Message

Weekly Devotional 11-5-18 The Entire Message

The apostle John had been exiled to the Island of Patmos because of his faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ and his unwavering testimony of the gospel. Sometime during his exile, perhaps early on, he received a visitation by the Lord Himself. In this visitation, John was commanded to write in a book a message that Jesus had for the church. Consider the record of this in chapter one. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia and to Laodicea” (vv.10-11). “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this” (Revelation 1:19).

As we considered in a previous devotional, “Jesus’ Message to the Universal Church 10-15-18”, Jesus’ message was intended to reach beyond the seven mentioned churches. It was intended for the entire church, the universal church. The church that existed during the time of the revelation, the church down through these many centuries and the church of our day. The message consists of condemnations, commendations, warnings, and promises. All of these things were meant to lead the church toward purity and an undefiled witness during the coming years. Included in the message was a detailed account of what was to happen on the earth after the church was caught up into heaven. Chapters 6-19 give those details. They describe events that are so horrible Jesus said of them, “21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22). But, the Lord graciously did not close His message negatively. John was shown the end of it all and below is given the Lord’s benediction.

“1And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. 6Then he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true.’ And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’8Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’ 10And he said to me, ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. 12And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.’ 14Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. 16‘I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’ 17And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.’”

Oh, that we might let the message of the Revelation so penetrate into our souls that we are moved to love and compassion for those who are still outside of the church.

stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man

All Scripture used is from the NKJB

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