Posted by Gary on February 11, 2010
Revelation 2:8-11 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”
It is important to note that each of the letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation ends with, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” While it is true that Jesus was writing to an actual church in Smyrna, His words are for the “churches” and the message contains truths, warnings and encouragements for His people and churches in all ages.
Tonight I read this letter and the following stood out to me:
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Gary on January 15, 2010
This past Sunday our sermon Scripture was Revelation chapter 1 which includes a description of Jesus that I believe is so far from our conception of Him. This of course is the glorified Christ, as He is now after the resurrection in heaven and what do we know about such a Jesus?
Revelation 1:13-18 “and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Hair white as wool? Eyes like a flame of fire? Feet like burnished bronze? A voice like the sound of many waters? A sharp sword coming from His mouth? A face like the sun shining in its strength? A presence that causes even apostles to fall to the ground?
Our idea of Jesus is basically a gentle hippy. Long brown hair, deep blue eyes ( no flames in the eyes of our Jesus). Our Jesus has a gentle face with cheeks it would seemed brushed with rouge, the real Jesus’ face cannot be looked upon for the light from it is blinding. We could throw our arms around our Jesus, John sees Him and falls at His feet as if he were dead.
Our Jesus is only love and love to us means that He wants us to do whatever we think will make us happy even though what makes us happy is unholy and unlike Him. Is our Jesus the same Jesus who rules with a rod of iron and treads the winepress of the wrath of God Almighty?
Revelation 19:15 “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.”
Please be certain that your Jesus is the Jesus of the Bible and almost certainly you will have to make some vast adjustments to your perception and thoughts. With all this said, the awesome, fearful, holy Jesus is full of mercy toward those who fear Him and have placed their faith in Him. For those like John who fall down before Him His response is always and mercifully, “Do not be afraid…”
