Today, we begin the last book of the bible, Revelation. This was written by the Apostle John while placed in exile on the small island of Patmos. John was given a vision of how things would be at the end of times culminating with Christ emerging as the Lord of History. While everything around us will change, Jesus will not and He remains the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End...who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Because of what John saw in his vision, he acted on certain things, and one is described in Revelation 1:17-18, "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.'"
John fell as dead at the feet of Jesus...If there's ever a place to be dead, it's there at His feet. But then, Jesus showed compassion to John through His touch. No doubt that was a familiar thing to John having spent three years of his life in close contact with Jesus. Jesus went on to remind John that He has authority over death, and that He has achieved a permanent victory.
Jesus' words are for us today as well, that we can receive His compassion and love, and His reassurance that He has indeed won the victory over death. Soon we will too.
John began to write specific thoughts to the seven churches in Asia Minor, and repeats to each church the words in Revelation 2:17, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
The Lord is clear in this passage and the others like it; He will receive and reward those who listen, and punish and destroy those who don't. This is why time with the Lord through bible reading and prayer is so important; to be able to hear God and receive His instructions, His praises, His scoldings, and warnings.
Blessings to all
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