Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness.
We have arrived together at the final book of the Bible. Many Believers find Revelation daunting and perplexing. Some ignore it altogether while others spend their time arguing about it. This book, however, is named for its purpose, which interestingly is not to conceal or to confuse but rather to unveil or reveal something of importance to those who call themselves Followers of Jesus —that is, Jesus Christ Himself and His sovereignty over both past and future for all eternity. The book of Revelation provides a near complete summary of Christian belief, our response to what we profess to believe, and the implications of that response across the course of our lives individually and collectively as the people of God.
In the opening chapter of Revelation, Jesus Christ reveals Himself to John for two purposes; to encourage and challenge seven churches in Asia Minor and to reveal a series of visions of events to come. As mysterious as Revelation may seem, there are a number of clear truths we can draw even from the onset of this book. Let’s take a look at five, together.
- The Importance of God’s Word: God’s Word is a blessing—His favor and protection—to those who read and then follow and obey (v 3). Scripture is one of the primary ways God communicates with us. We should treasure and study the Bible as a source of divine wisdom and guidance.
- The Hope Christians Have in His Return: We can trust that He will return (v 7): Jesus will come again and bring an end to suffering, evil, and injustice. Our trust in this promise helps to sustain our faith! We carry this hope with us into our everyday lives and live with great anticipation of His return. At the very same time, this belief motivates us to live with a sense of urgency to share this hope with others who do not yet know, love, and follow Him.
- The Ultimate Authority of Christ: Jesus is The Alpha and Omega (v8). To hear these words spoken by Jesus, the One who is and was and is to come —wow. We can rest assured that Jesus never changes, that He is always with us, always good, and always powerful. There is nothing, NOTHING, between the bookends of our lives that He is not sovereign over. Whatever He allows in this life He can be trusted with—and we can know we are never left alone to face it.
- The Majesty and Divinity of Christ: To see the grandness of Christ as John did in the vision given him (v 12-18) must have been overwhelming. Those of us who have grown up in church may easily bring to mind the familiar and comforting attributes of the person of Jesus, but we certainly have no frame of reference for the overwhelming and indescribable nature of His divinity. This brings about in me a deep sense of reverence and awe and some measure of fear. "His voice like cascading waters, hands that hold stars, a double-edged sword protruding from His mouth, and a face shining like the sun at full strength." I read those words and I'm suddenly flooded with thoughts of the most recent sin, selfish ambition, petty complaints, and past doubt. I feel afraid! But as I keep reading I am reminded:
- We do not have to Fear (v 17-18): In all His glory, the Resurrected Jesus TOUCHES John and reassures him with these words, "Fear not." I can’t help but think back to 1 John Chapter 3, and more specifically verses 19-21, as I read this encounter in Revelation. There, John wrote, “…this is how we set our hearts at REST in His presence. If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything…” The First and the Last, the Living One, who is alive forever and ever and who holds the keys to death and Hades — He knows us through and through and still He loves us and has chosen to set us free (Rev 1:5) from sin —and from fear!
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- How might these truths encourage you today —in your everyday life? Which one speaks most to you in this season of life and why?
- Ask God to prepare your heart for the book of Revelation; ask Him to reveal new truths about Himself to you as you read.
- Prayer: Jesus we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for every part of Your Word — even the things we find difficult to understand (and difficult to obey). Give us wisdom and discernment as we read Your Word. You tell us it never goes out void and so we can trust that even in mystery You are revealing things to our hearts about Yourself that help us to walk in both truth and love in our everyday lives.
Family Devo: Revelation 1
By: Jana Whittington
Today, we're diving into a special part of the Bible called Revelation, specifically Revelation 1. It's like a treasure chest filled with amazing secrets about Jesus. In this chapter, John, one of Jesus' friends, had a dream where he saw Jesus in all His glory. Imagine meeting your hero and seeing them in their most incredible form! That's what happened to John. In verse 14, John saw Jesus with hair as white as snow, eyes like blazing fire, and a voice like roaring water. It might sound a bit scary, but it's not! These descriptions show us that Jesus is powerful and wise. He's our protector and guide through life's adventures. Jesus is always there for us, ready to help when we need Him.
Now, let's talk about the stars. In this chapter, Jesus holds seven stars in His hand. These stars represent seven special messengers. Just like how you have teachers and grown-ups who guide you, these messengers help share God's messages with us. It's a reminder that God uses people to share His love and wisdom with the world. John was so amazed and a little scared when he saw Jesus. But guess what? Jesus said in verse 17, "Do not be afraid." That's because Jesus loves us and wants us to feel safe and loved. So, when you're feeling scared or unsure, remember that Jesus is with you, just like He was with John.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Yourself to us in such a powerful way. Help us not to be afraid but to trust in Your love and protection. May we share Your love and wisdom with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.