Notes on "the revelation of Jesus Christ", written by John - known as the biblical book 'Revelation' 1:3 - "the time is near" This message is a prophecy - things yet to come. It would be no less accurate if the events proceeded over thousands of years from that time. THE END has not yet happened, so we are somewhere IN the sequence of events now. Rev 1:19 - "what is and what is to take place hereafter" says the Lord. 1:4 - which are "the seven spirits who are before his [God's] throne"? They are mentioned in Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6, and in Romans 12:6–8 and Isaiah 11:2–3 They are visually "seven torches of fire". They are also "seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth". 1. the Spirit of the Lord 2. the Spirit of wisdom 3. the Spirit of understanding 4. the Spirit of counsel 5. the Spirit of might 6. the Spirit of knowledge 7. the Spirit of fear of the LORD 1:6 - Jesus "made us a kingdom" [also Rev 5:10] 1:7 - Jesus "is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him" Psalm 68:4 - "lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds; his name is the Lord" 3:3,5 - "Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you." "He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life". This message absolutely refutes any idea of "Once saved, always saved". It's essential to be "awake" - have a living, active relationship with God, bearing the fruit of it! 6:1 - as the Lamb [Jesus] opens each of the seven seals of a scroll, here are the beings of Heaven that engage John to see what's happening on earth: 1. 1st of 4 living creatures on 4 sides of God's throne: conquering 2. 2nd of 4 living creatures: loss of peace, killing, a big sword 3. 3rd of 4 living creatures: wheat very expensive, barley somewhat less expensive, but oil and wine not impacted. Fact 1: 1qt of wheat is already more than a day's wage in many countries Fact 2: Famines over time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines 4. 4th of 4 living creatures: Death and Hades given power over 25% of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, pestilence and by wild beasts. Fact: In the mid-1300s, the Black Death claimed the lives of roughly 200 million people - more than 50% of the global population. 5. martyrs of God told to rest "a little longer" until their number is complete... Followers of God still being persecuted and killed now. 6. great earthquake, sun black as sackcloth, moon like blood, stars of sky fall to earth, sky vanishes like a scroll rolled up, mountains and islands moved. Everyone hiding in caves and among mountain rocks, in fear of God. According to the description, we haven't seen this yet. Continued in Part 2...
On one side, the fear of the Lord does indeed mean a terror of God (threat-fear). We are unclean people, and we appear before the Almighty God who is morally pure. We are rightly ashamed before Him, and punishment would be completely just… But at the other end…is a fear reserved exclusively for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. This fear of the Lord means reverent submission that leads to obedience, and it is interchangeable with “worship,” “rely on ,” “trust,” and “hope in.” Like terror, it includes a knowledge of our sinfulness and God’s moral purity, and it includes a clear-eyed knowledge of God’s justice and his anger against sin. But this worship-fear also knows God’s great forgiveness, mercy, and love. It knows that because God’s eternal plan, Jesus humbled himself by dying on a cross to redeem his enemies from slavery and death. It knows that, in our relationship with God, he always says “I love you” first. This knowledge draws us closer to God rather than causing us to flee. It causes us to submit gladly to His lordship and delight in obedience. This kind of robust fear is the pinnacle of our response to God.
Edward Welch