Today I begin a long-awaited Bible study of Revelation using Nancy Guthrie’s book, Blessed. There are three groups using this book and video series at Covenant, and I’m excited to see her “revelation” on Revelation. While I have studied John’s book several times, I like the approach this author is taking.
I use two desk calendars with Bible verses on them, and again, today, they converge with the same message. Ephesians 3:19 says: May you experience the love of Christ through it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. That is an expectation as I begin this study. I did not know that the Greek word from which Revelation comes is Apocrypha. Did you know that?
The second is another word from Ephesians 1:18. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. i want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people.”
Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus. John writes God’s word, revealed to him by God, in a praise and indictment in Revelation 2:2-7. It could, and should be written to us on January 31, 2023. It is a timeless message: 2 ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
The church, and we as individual Christians, are to remain vigilant, especially when doctrinal things are concerned. The purity of the body requires the elders and overseers to hate sin which is as insidious as a cancer that can tarnish the message of God’s redemptive covenant. Reliance on scripture only, the redemptive power of Christ, and application of these to our daily walk is essential. And we are not to lose the first love, the joy of our redemption by getting comfortable. We are to meet regularly for corporate worship, study God’s word, and live lives which conform to Christ’s message with intentional vigor and constant renewal of energy. Complacency has shut many church doors.
John, to whom this Revelation was revealed, wrote this in John 15:1-2. May it keep up “fresh, renewed, and vigorous: Jesus said: I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.
Let us study, pray, meet with the saints, and determine to live this day with Christ, vigorously spreading His message to a world that so needs it.
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