Friday, January 30, 2004 (84)
ENLIGHTENMENT, WHILE INTERNED FOR JESUS SAKE. John set a beautiful example for those who may be called upon in these last days to know persecution, internment and perhaps even death. His secret was to be found in his spirituality. He was in the Spirit. A high state of Spirituality is the supreme priority for those who would know and understand the Lord. Rev. 1:10 John heard, he had ears to hear what was about to be said to him. He did not hear a trumpet sounding but rather a voice with the volume of a trumpet. What he was about to receive from the Lord was not just for himself, but he was commissioned to write and send the message to the churches of that day. However, the message of the Revelation was not just for them but reaches down to the end of the age. We are living in the day of the fulfillment of the prophecies of the book.
JOHN SAW JESUS IN ALL OF HIS GLORY AND SPLENDOR. All qualms about this being the voice of the Lord Jesus vanish when He introduced Himself to John as being the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. Rev. 1:11 NIV The one who is all and in all. Everlasting and eternal, God. John saw Him standing as the son of man, in the midst of His church, the seven branched lampstand. The body of believed who are responsible for carrying the light of the Gospel to the whole world. Jesus appeared to him as the great high priest with His royal priestly garment reaching to His feet. He is Lord and ministers in a dual office as Priest and King. He is therefore clothed appropriately. In all dignity and honor. His sash of gold portraying His eternal Deity and Kingship. Rev. 1: 12-13 The attention of John is attracted to His head which is as white as wool, as white as snow. The Lord Jesus crowned with the fullness of the glory and purity which is the eternal nature of the Lord. Righteousness and holiness manifest as His nature and being. His eyes as blazing fire, piercing, seeing within that which is hidden from human eyes. Bringing condemnation to the sinner but joy and love to the saved. He will try the hearts of all men with just a glance. His feet as burnished brass yet glowing with the heat of the melting pot. Judgment is in His hands. He will tread the winepress of the wrath of the Almighty. Rev. 19:15 But again, to the redeemed He will make the place of His feet to be glorious. Isa. 60:13 His voice, how soothing and marvelous to those who love Him. Like the song of a babbling brook, most pleasant and relaxing. But to the sinner, a fearsome and awesome sound of impending doom. The seven stars, the leaders of the seven churches held safely and securely in the hollow of his right hand. The living sword, the declaration of the Word of God. The Word spoken with faith and power. effective and cutting like a two edged sword. Rev. 1:14-16 His face, glowing with the full strength and power of a noonday sun. He is the receptacle of the fullness of the Godhead and therefore that radiance of light and glory shine froth from within Him. As Deity it is His right and privilege to be filled with all the fullness of the ever living Lord. He will shine as the most brilliant of all lights among a people, His saints who are also recipients of His light.