Revelation.
What do you think of when you hear that word?
Me, I think of the last book in the Bible and sometimes I pray for revelation in life too. For context, I’ve listed Webster’s definition below. What you may notice is that all of them infer to make something known.
1a: an act of revealing or communicating divine truth
b: something that is revealed by God to humans
2a: an act of revealing to view or making known
b: something that is revealed especially: an enlightening or astonishing disclosure
c: a pleasant often enlightening surprise
3 capitalized: an apocalyptic writing addressed to early Christians
Revelation, a book in the Bible shared with us to literally reveal God’s plan for what’s to come, the apostasy that’s foretold the closer we get to the Rapture and Tribulation. Yet very few really talk about this book, not even most pastors or churches. I don’t have facts or statistics to that point only my own experiences attending different churches, watching online, participating in various studies, etc.
My guess is it’s not a widely popular topic because:
1) Life is a rollercoaster and people want to hear a message that is encouraging and helps them navigate their “today’s” circumstances and let’s be honest life can be hard.
2) People may label those that do talk about the hard truths of the Bible as “Bible thumpers” or someone that is “all hell fire and brimstone”, and potential criticism or rejection can make us cautious.
But personally, I find myself getting tired of the softer sermons. I find myself craving the deeper mysteries from God’s word and all it has to teach us and prepare us. Did you know that Jesus preached much more about the coming of God’s Kingdom than he did love? That is what, in part, made me realize Believers in Christ are called to be more and more diligent at sharing the gospel of the coming Kingdom (through belief and faith in Jesus), not to give false hope in worldly gain and reparations.
A great example are the letters John wrote to the seven churches. If you’re not familiar, let me give a little background. John is instructed to write letters to seven churches, all in existence at the time. He was to commend them for their strengths and rebuke them for flaws. These letters not only speak to the church at the time but to the church throughout history. Like then we are cautioned to constantly fight against temptation to become loveless, immoral, lenient, or casual about our faith. The letters are true and rich with a message to the Church, we should pay attention and better yet learn from and discuss.
Here are just a few examples from these letters-
Revelation 1:3
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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.”
Revelation 2:10
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
Revelation 3:15-16
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
I in no way claim to be an expert on Revelations or the Bible. I’m simply a daughter of the King who wants
to know her Heavenly Father more intimately, which means going deeper, even with the stuff that’s uncomfortable or uncommon.
I hope as you’ve read this your own heart skips a beat with the idea of knowing God’s mysteries, of craving to know Him deeper as my own heart has. Let’s prepare together for the trials which may come, because we deeply desire to remain steadfast and because no one knows the moment the trumpet will sound.
Lord, thank for Your word, for all scripture, thank you for being the Alpha and the Omega. Lord, may I continually desire to go deeper, a woman after Your own heart. I pray that I don’t avoid any part of the Bible because it’s uncomfortable or harder to understand. As trials continue to arise in this fallen world, may my focus be on You and the promise of eternity where none of the afflictions or evil of today will exist, and in the waiting may I find ways to be more effective for Your coming Kingdom and at sharing the gospel. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
This week’s playlist:
Vertical Worship – Set My Heart – YouTube
Set My Heart
Vertical Worship
NEEDTOBREATHE – “TESTIFY” [Official Audio] – YouTube
Testify
Need To Breathe
Cochren & Co. – One Day (Official Lyric Video) – YouTube
One Day
Cochren &Co.
