WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING?
PART 1 of 3
One of the most intriguing books in the Bible is entitled ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ’. While it definitely lays out a framework and key details as to where this world is headed, and why it is in the condition it is in, the key message in the 22 chapters of the book focuses on who Jesus is, what He has done by going to the cross, what He is doing now, and what He is going to do. We have no hope of benefitting from or understanding the present and/or future correctly unless we are or become beneficiaries of the four emboldened points above. The purpose of this first article is to focus on Who Jesus Is.
The one who penned the book of The Revelation had spent 3 ½ years as a privileged follower (disciple) of Jesus and knew Him on a closer level than any other of the 11 disciples.
In the 2nd chapter of Revelation however, he comes into the presence of this One who he had followed, the One who had gone to the Cross and the Grave, but now was risen and at God’s right hand in heaven. Upon seeing him John’ falls at His feet as dead’, only to have ‘Jesus lay His right hand on Him, saying, don’t be afraid; I am the First and the Last, the One who lives, and was dead, and is now alive evermore, and have the keys of Hades and of Death’. Previously John had noted that even now He is ‘the Ruler over the Kings of the earth’ which should give those of us who know Him, confidence that every circumstance in in our world is allowed by Him, and He ultimately is in control
In the 1st chapter of John’s gospel, we learn that ’all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made’, and in the 4th chapter of Revelation that He is ‘Worthy, to receive glory and honor and power, because He created all things, and by His will they exist and were created’.
In the 19th chapter of John’s gospel, John records the horrific crucifixion of Jesus Christ when He would pay for our sins and shed His blood that we might be forgiven, and in the 5th chapter of Revelation John would see ‘in the middle of the throne of God a standing Lamb as though it had been slain’, and then a great company around the throne ‘saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain’.
In the 5th chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus states that ‘the Father has committed all judgment to the Son’, and in the 22nd second chapter of Revelation we see a Great White Throne and ‘Him who sits on it from whom the earth and the heavens flee away’. The Lord Jesus will be the final Judge and have the final say in regards to those who have lived, yet refused to bow their knee to Him during this life.
So, Who Is Jesus?
· He is Eternal. Revelation 1:17, 18; 22:12, 13
· He is the Ruler over the Kings of the earth and will Rule during His Kingdom age. Revelation 1:5; 9:16
· He is the Creator. John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 10:5
· He added humanity to His deity to be the Redeemer. Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 10:5
· He is the Final Judge and will have the Final say. John 5:22, 23; Revelation 20:11-15
What should we do now that we know this?
‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me. To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcome and sat down with My Father on His throne’. Revelation 3:20, 21
Author: Sid Osborn