Jesus, Heaven, Second Coming/Rapture/End of Times; are you ready? Revelation 19:11-13, Revelation 19:15-16, Revelation 19:11-16, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:1-12; Jesus, Heaven, Second Coming/Rapture/End Times
I grew up with all those pictures of Sunday-school-Jesus.
You know the ones, starting with Christmas-Jesus as a round-faced baby serenely snoozing while shepherds and wise men came and went. There's also the Bible-story-Jesus, all grown up and talking to people or healing them or sitting with children on His knee. He would be standing in a boat with His arms raised to calm the storm or chasing the merchants from the temple. Then there's Good-Friday-Jesus, hanging on His cross, with His sad face and bloodied body. I always liked getting to Easter-Jesus, glowing bright and standing beside an empty tomb with Mary.
But I don't really remember many pictures of Revelation-Jesus.
Receive
The Book of Revelation gives us pictures of Jesus often left out of Sunday school material, maybe because they're so hard to imagine. Look at Revelation 19:11-13: "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God" (ESV).Jesus is the one sitting on the white horse, in a position of power and commanding the attention of the whole universe. He is called Faithful and True. That's not just a description of what He can do (be faithful, be truthful) but of what or who He is. His very essence is faithfulness and truth. He is righteous--perfectly equipped to judge fairly and justly, to wage war for all the right reasons. His eyes burn like flames of fire--a purifying, refining fire that cleanses and judges sin.
On Jesus' head are many diadems or crowns, another symbol of power and authority. Historically, a conquering king is given the crown of the king he's conquered to show that authority has now transferred to him. Jesus has conquered and overruled all other kings, so He bears many crowns. His robe is already dipped in blood because, even though the battle hasn't started, He shed His blood for our salvation. It's the mark of a battle already won. And His name: The Word of God. He is the embodied, sum total of the communication of God--He is the Word.
The description continues in Revelation 19:15-16, with Jesus, armed and ready for battle. An authoritative Jesus who is ready to judge and already and forever will be the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Reflect
Read Revelation 19:11-16 again with these questions in mind.- What does it mean to know that Jesus is Faithful and
True?
- What does His righteousness and judgment tell you about
His view of sin? What might need to happen in your life because of this?
- How does it influence your faith in Him to see Him with
many crowns or with a robe dipped in blood?
- What's so important about Him being the Word of God?
- How do you respond to Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords?
Respond
How do you tend to picture Jesus? It's easy to leave it at a few favorite Bible stories, but we need to see the whole picture. Browse through other sections of Revelation to see how Jesus is portrayed. Or revisit passages like: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-12.How would you teach your children about the Jesus you see in Revelation? What would you say to describe Him to a friend? If you're artistic, create your own visual of the Jesus you find in Revelation 19.
My Comment: A young man told me the other day that he did
not believe Jesus will judge people and will let them into heaven just for
being good. Christ told us we are not good. He came to save us from our sin
because no matter how much we try to be good we can not erase our sin only He
can and has and we have to accept His sacrifice to be saved. Then he asked what
about the man or tribe that has never heard? God says He has written His word
on our hearts (and theirs). I think this young man and others are confused thinking people are good so they are just saved. He feels those who have never heard about Jesus and do not
accept His sacrifice will be saved because of their behavior. Maybe their
behavior shows how much they understand about the one and true God without
knowing His name.
We had been talking about the need I feel to tell everyone
the Good News or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As time goes on I feel the need
growing in me and know that is what we
are supposed to be doing so there will not be any who have not had the chance
to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.
I feel we have a merciful God who will find a way (He is strong
and smart and really doesn’t need me to tell any one, after all He sent the
Angels to proclaim His Son’s birth and Jesus said even the rocks would cry out
if we did not speak up and share that He is Lord and Savior) for everyone to hear the Good News of
the Gospel. But He has told me and all who follow after Him that they should
carry the Gospel to the whole world and I will in my puny way endeavor to do as
He has told me to do. I pray this young man and others who profess to follow
Jesus will like wise find ways to carry the Gospel to the whole world and share
Jesus’ gift of Salvation least He come and we have not fulfilled our purpose.
You see friends He will come and I pray it is soon. Though
he says it will not be until the Last Gentile hears the Good News and if we
want Him to come soon we need to get the Good News out there to the world any
way we can.
It will not be long before we see Him coming arrayed in
battle armament and ready to judge the world and all who are in it including
you and me. True if we are His followers we are saved from hell yet that does
not mean He will not show us the areas we could have done better. I pray I
hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Abba Father who art in heaven, help us to do all You want us
to do to spread the Good News and tell the world about Your Son and the saving
grace You give us through His sacrifice on the Cross. Protect us Father as we
go forth and live our lives for You. We praise You and glorify Your Holy Name
and seek to show the face of Jesus to all. We pray Your Kingdom will come soon
and the last Gentile who will believe will come quickly to You and we pray Your
will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven and in us as it is done in Your
Son. May we live our lives only for You and Your will. We pray for Your
protection from the evil one and that all our needs be met in and through You. Forgive us when we sin and
help us to realize when we sin so with Your guidance and knowledge we can
change to be more pleasing to You. Keep temptation far from us and grow us in
Your strength and wisdom so we will not fall into the temptations of the world.
Though we are in the world we are not of the world and we pray You will keep us
all the days of our lives as Yours through Your Son Jesus the Christ. Amen
Rebishka
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