The name of this book in Greek is apokalypsis. It derived its name from the first sentence in the book. And it has been severely battered and butchered to fit the case of many end-time prophets.
Mystical. Supernatural. Inexplicable. Other-worldly.
Fear-inducing and trepidating.
Except - it is not!
Three headings
Reading in the last part of the very last book in my Bible, in Revelation 22, I find three headings that were not part of the original scripture.
So, we are dealing with three parts.
The first heading I find says Jesus testifies to the churches. This heading was inserted just before verse 12. The second one precedes verse 18 as A warning and the last precedes the last two verses in my Bible as I am coming quickly.
Yes, the compilers of my Bible came up with those headings, placing them strategically to explain those couple of verses that would follow. And they are not entirely wrong, except for the middle one that should be more of an encouragement rather than one of those fear-inducing disclaimer warning labels that tells us all that will go wrong should we decide to use the product.
We’ll get to that in a minute.
When we categorise and compartmentalise matters, we run the risk of losing context
Revelation is an enigma (which it is also not) with many modern-day preachers using (misusing) it as a tool for condemnation and to sell their stories.
Many do so to explain such man made concepts such as premillennialism, postmillennialism, religious concoctions like pre- and post tribulation, partial and full rapture, apocalyptical endings and a host of other mixed and cooked-up theories.
But, Revelation is the conclusion of the amorous prognostication of all ages.
Instead, apokalypsis actually means to lay bare, to disclose and make visible to all, to reveal fully.
It is Jesus writing to his beloved with the hand of John (YHVH the Saviour writing by the hand of Yah-is-a-graceful-giver) to lay bear His heart, His grace. Such are each of the letters to each of the churches (ekklesia - see this post and this post) we find in the book. (also see this post on the churches of Revelation)
Revelation is meant for encouragement (it is Gospel).
It is the whisper of the Gospel of Grace declaring the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, the victory of the Lamb, of the Bridegroom.
Yes.
Reading this last part of the book of Revelation, I find that it all talks about the Tree-of-Life. It is about Grace Himself. It is the golden thread of the love-Gospel, the beginning and the end. And the theme has a name, Yah’shua.
It is an unsealed and unconcealed revelation
The message is clear and there is no secret hidden any more.
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. [Rev 22:10 KJV]
It is the finished prophecy of a finished and complete, perfect work!
It is the worship song of elders and angels alike onto the King of kings, singing blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. [Rev 7:12]
And
And I heard every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, saying, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever! [Rev 5:13]
We are getting back to trees
Just before our first heading mentioned above, I discovered the central point of this last part. It is the part that started off with creation and man as a whole - free choice!
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. [Rev 22:11 KJV]
The condemnation preacher will immediately focus our attention on those who live unjustly, filthy and sinful and point towards the so-called warning heading.
But the scale has two ends
Verse 12 with Yah’shua saying And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be, bring into perspective where the balance of occupation should be.
The operative word here is “work”.
“Work” here in the Greek is ergon. It is what we occupy ourselves with, our undertaking and accomplishment. It is what we keep ourselves busy with.
Own work, or the finished work of Yah’shua?
Switching from first person to third person writing, let us now read with discernment the last part of Revelation without headings and without verse numbers.
And see, I am coming speedily, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according to his work. “I am the ’Aleph’ and the ‘Taw’, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city. “But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood. “I, יהושע, have sent My messenger to witness to you these matters in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of Dawiḏ, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And he who hears, let him say, “Come!” And he who thirsts, come! And he who desires it, take the water of life without paying! For I witness to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, Elohim shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim shall take away his part from the Book of Life, and out of the set-apart city, which are written in this Book. He that bears witness of these matters says, “Yes, I am coming speedily.” Amĕn. Yes, come, Master יהושע! The favour of our Master יהושע Messiah be with the set-apart ones. Amĕn. [Rev 22:12-21 TS2009 12]
Wow!
There is still so much here that is revealed.
In my next post I will delve into more and answer questions such as: What exactly is it to do His commandments? and What reward can be expected?
No comments:
Post a Comment