Series: The Book of Revelation
Sun am 24 January 2010 – Kobus Swart
Eph. 3:1-6; (Eph. 4:7); Rev. 1:1-3
While Genesis is a book of beginnings, Revelation is a book of consummation. God’s original plan is still His ultimate intention. The book of Revelation is not a book of predictions. John was “in the Spirit” and given a global picture of things which must take place. These events in the different chapters were not laid out in chronological sequence. Most important, however, is the fact that the book of Revelation communicates (signifies) an unfolding revelation of the Son in the sons; the Lord and His Christ. It is the most comprehensive book in the Bible. There are at least 130 quotations from the book of Ezekiel.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants … (Rev. 1:1). Many people will have problems in understanding this book. A bond-servant in the Old Testament is one who gave his ear so that an awl could be driven through his ear into the door post of the house of his master. The slave who was released at the expiry of his work contract, said, “I do not want to go; I now want to become a love slave. Please pin my ear to the door post.” That is a bond-servant. The people who will hear this revelation are the ones whose ears are pinned to the “doorpost”. Those who are simply trying to do a shallow reading of the book will miss the central impact it carries.
Grace was given to the apostle Paul to show that the Gentiles were also fellow partakers of the promise in Christ. They were not to be excluded from the unfathomable riches of Christ. (Ephes 3:1-8). This apostolic season carries a specific grace that will further decode the mystery of the many-membered Christ. The world needs it. The bond-servants who heard this message, will communicate this message to the world by becoming the message – the Word becoming flesh. Evangelism is not going to carry on the way it has for the last 40 years.
A sent one is a grace carrier. John on the Isle of Patmos becomes such a grace carrier. In this apostolic season we are going to see an upgrade of the five-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11.
Why does it say … the things which must shortly take place … (Rev. 1:1)? Many of the things did take place shortly afterwards. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple took place in 70 AD. The book of Revelation, however, has more than one level of fulfillment. We are going to see the greatest unveiling of the fundamental truth in this book. There are things left for this generation to decode and to walk in. There’s a responsibility on this generation. God is waiting; all creation is waiting for the revelation of the sons of God, who will break out of the restrictions and limitations of time and space. This is the travail that must grip God’s people. Open your heart for the travail of the ages to come to a climax in this generation. Then we will see and participate in the final unfolding.
The book of Revelation not only conveys (through many signs, numbers and symbols) the revelation of Jesus Christ, but also the judgment on anything and everyone who obscures that revelation. The spirit of the anti-Christ is a subtle thing in midst of the Church, always coming as an angel of light; a religious spirit.
This young generation has an amazing opportunity. You hate hypocrisy and stereotyped meetings. There are better things to do than to go through religious exercises and rituals. Go and walk with God, but do not neglect the assembling of yourselves together, especially as the day draws near.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev. 1:3). The time is always near. The time is always at hand. Every generation who followed this first church, had the opportunity to wind things up. And don’t forget that this is also a book of worship! A book of virgin worship; those who have not defiled themselves with the harlot system.
New eyes, new insights, new understanding! Why? Because this is the hour for us to become the message.