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Behold, He Comes!
In the Book of Revelation, we read the unveiling “which God gave unto Him (Jesus Christ), to show His servants things which must shortly come to pass.” Rev. 1:1 Jesus used the same language throughout Revelation, when He said, “Behold, I come quickly,” “comes quickly,” “shortly be done," and "shortly come to pass.” (1:1, 2:5, 16; 3:11, 11:14, 22:6,7,12, 20) The translation of these words spoken by Jesus and John all have the same meaning. From the Greek, the Holy Spirit is saying that the events described in this Book can take place at any time. In other words, there are no unfulfilled biblical prophecies to prevent the occurrence of the events of which Jesus speaks in this Book.
There is a blessing that comes to the reader of Revelation. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Rev. 1:3 This verse implies a reading aloud to a gathering of Christians, who, then, are expected to obey the words of the prophecy. Pastor-messengers, the Body of Christ needs to hear the words of the Book of Revelation, and I’m talking to myself and our church, too! Jesus is holding you in His strong right hand, and He will give you the message for the sheep whom He has placed under your care. Rev. 1:20 In most Christian churches, however, not all, the Book of Revelation and the end times have not been taught widely since the 1960’s. Thank God for those who have been teaching these important words. You are blessed, and Jesus is expecting blessed obedience from His sheep.
The Apostle John prefaces the letters to the seven churches of Revelation, the Apocalypse, as well as the Church down through the centuries, with, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ…” (1:4-5) The Church is greeted by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Triune God, in this passage. We are given a preview of the entire Church Age in the seven churches of Revelation, although they were seven actual churches in Asia which existed at that time. John wrote to them individually, and the churches received his letters to them.
The seven Spirits of God before the throne represent the complete work of the Holy Spirit in all His workings, offices, and power. The number seven is a symbolic number, conveying the idea of completeness, and, when it is related to God, the Holy Spirit, being theThird Person of the Godhead, it relates the idea of perfection. Our God is perfect. “He is the Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4
“Behold, He cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, Who is, Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.’ ” Rev. 1:7-8 In verse 7, the scene looks forward to the Second Coming of Jesus after the destruction of Babylon, that symbolic city which has “become the habitation of devils, from which all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication…and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” Literal Babylon was an ancient city, which is the present day city of Baghdad. Spiritual Babylon represents all falsehoods, all false religions, alll that is not of the Living God, everything that defiles and destroys the “souls of men.” Rev. 18:13
“I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
"Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, 'I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning.' For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.” Rev. 18:4-8 These are only a few verses about Babylon and the judgment that awaits her.
In saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,…the Almighty,” Jesus is proclaiming the absolute authority of God. “Alpha” is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and “Omega” is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. He is saying, “I am everything from the beginning to the end. I am everything from A-Z.” God seals the prophecy in Revelation with the authority of His Name, and declares that He is in control of all history. As the Almighty One, God’s power is absolute. Rev. 11:17
Following the judgment of Babylon, as well as other events, which we will continue to study, Jesus returns in His Second Coming with all His saints, to begin His Millennial Reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem. All of Israel will be saved at His Second Coming, following the tribulation, as noted by the mourning for Jesus in Israel as an only son. Zechariah 12:9-14
If you are led of the Lord to help us spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, you may give by check to Redeemer Church, P.O. Box 952, Ball, LA 71405-0952. May the Lord bless you richly with His Word, and in every area of your life, as we watch and pray.
Betty Seiley
Pastor Carl Seiley
Redeemer Church
5533 Monroe Highway
Ball, LA 71405
www.bettyseiley.multiply.com
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