Encouragement
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE As A Member OR Visitor
Message Writer
Hire Writer
Report Article
St. John the Apostle was the only disciple who witnessed the physical passion and suffering of Jesus and who was spared martyrdom. He wrote his epistles on the Island of Patmos where he was exiled for years on account of Emperor Domitian's persecution against the Christians.
Various revelations were given to John on this island to encourage and strengthen the early Christians who were being tortured for their faith in Christ. He also converted the inhabitants of this island to believe in Christ. John saw many visions where he was literally transported in space and time and given a view on the world to come and prophecies which would be fulfilled as per the Lord's timing.
We look at some of the revelations given to John as follows :
1. The Vision and Letters to the Seven Churches - John was taken control of the spirit and he heard a voice talking to him instructing him to write down what he saw and send the book to the seven churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
When he looked around to see who was speaking to him, he saw seven gold lampstands and among them was what looked like a human being wearing a long robe and a gold belt around his waist. His hair was white as wool and his eyes blazed like fire. His feet shone like brass and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall. He held seven stars in his right hand and a sharp two edged sword came out of his mouth. His face was bright as the midday sun. He told John that he was the first and the last. He was the living one, he was dead but now he was alive forever and ever. The seven stars in his right hand were the angels of the seven churches and the seven gold lamp stands were the seven churches.
The messages to be given to the seven churches were that though the Lord appreciated the hard work by the churches and understood their troubles, he still warned them to turn away from their sins and wicked ways. They did not love him enough, some still practised idoltory and most were lukewarm in their faith.
He promised that those who were victorious would eat of the fruit of the tree of life and would not be harmed by the second death. They would be given some of the hidden manna, he would give them authority over the nations and the morning star. They would be clothed in white and their names would remain in the book of the living. Their names would be written on the name of the city of God and they would be given the right to sit besides the Lord's throne just as Christ is seated beside his Father's throne in heaven.
2. The Scroll with Seven Seals - John saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne which had writings on both sides and sealed with seven seals. A might angel announced as to who was worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. There was no one found in heaven and on earth who was worthy to do this. John suddenly saw a Lamb standing in the centre of the throne, surrounded by four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb seemed to have been killed and had seven horns and seven eyes which were the seven spirits of God that were sent throughout the earth. The Lamb took the scroll for he alone was worthy to open it and by his sacrificial death had received power, wisdom, honour glory and praise. As the Lamb broke each seal from the first to the fourth, John saw horses of different colours. White to be a conqueror, Red to bring war on earth, Black to balance the scales, Pale coloured representing death and hades. When the fifth seal was broken, John saw the souls of the martyrs in Christ underneath an altar wearing white robes. When the sixth seal was broken, there was a violent earthquake, the sun turned black, the moon became red, the stars fell down, the sky disappeared, mountains and islands moved. People ran for cover against the anger of God.
When the seventh seal was broken, there was total silence in heaven. Seven angels were given seven trumpets. An angel with an incense burner was given a lot of incense and this was filled with fire from the altar and thrown down to the earth where rumblings and peals of thunder, flashes of lightning and an earthquake followed.
3. The Seven Trumpets - When the seventh angel blew the seventh trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven declaring that the Lord and Messiah would rule forever. The twenty four elders bowed before the throne and worshipped God, the time had come to reward the people according to their deeds. The temple in heaven was opened and the Covenant box could be seen.
4. The Woman and the Dragon - A sign appeared in heaven. A huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns stood in front of a woman in labour to eat her child as soon as it was born. She gave birth to a son who would rule the nations with an iron rod. The child was snatched away and taken into heaven by God and the woman escaped into the desert to a place that God had prepared for her.
Later war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. The dragon was defeated and thrown down to earth with his angels.
5. The Two Beasts- John saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, on each of its horn there was a crown and on each head there was a name insulting to God. It was allowed to fight against God's people but those whose names were written before the creation of the world in the book of the living would persevere against this beast because of their faith and endurance.
The second beast came up out of the earth. It had two horns and spoke like a dragon. It forced people on earth to worship the first beast, performing deceiving miracles and all people had to have a mark on their foreheads which was the beast's name. The people who were intelligent and could tell out this beast would not fall prey to his tactics.
6. The Lamb and his people - John saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion and along with him 144,000 people who had his name and his father's name written on their foreheads. They are the ones who have been redeemed from mankind and the first ones to be offered to God and to the Lamb being faultless.
7. The Angels with the last Plagues -Seven angels with seven plaques were seen which were the last plagues as it was the final expression of God's anger.
John saw a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who had won the victory over the beast were holding harps given by God and were singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, praising and glorifying God who alone was holy.
8. The Seven Bowls of God's anger - Here, the seven bowls of God's anger was poured on the earth. When the first angel poured his bowl on the earth, painful scores appeared on those who had the mark of the beast. When the second angel poured his bowl, over the sea, the water became like blood and every living creature in it died. The third bowl was poured on the rivers and springs and this too turned into blood. The fourth bowl was poured on the sun allowing it to burn the people with its fiery heat. The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast and there was darkness and pain in his kingdom. The sixth angel's bowl was poured on the Euphrates and the rivers dried up. When the seventh angel poured his bowl of anger in the air, the cities of all countries were destroyed. Huge hailstones fell from the sky on those who had cursed God on account of the plague of hail.
9. The Wedding Feast of the Lamb - John heard a voice saying that the time had come for the wedding of the lamb and his bride had prepared herself for it, she had been given shining clean linen to wear which was the good deeds of the people. The angel instructed John to write that Happy were those who were invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
10. The Rider on the White Horse - There was a white horse with the rider called Faithful and True. he would judge with justice and fight his battles. When the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to fight against the rider and his ramies, the beast was taken prisoner with his false prophet who had performed deceiving miracles. They were thrown alive in the lake of fire that burned with sulphur. Their armies were killed by a sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse. Then an angel seized the Devil or Satan and chained him for a thousand years after which he would be set free again and would go about deceiving the nations with his armies, they would spread over the earth and surround the camp of God's people and the city that God loves. But fire would come down from heaven and destroy them, the devil would also be thrown in the burning lake of sulphur where the beast and prophet were thrown and they all would be tormented day and night.
11. The New Heaven, the New Earth and the New Jerusalem - Finally John saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and earth disappeared. He saw the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. Now God would live with his people forever more. He would wipe away their tears. There would be no more pain or death or mourning. The old had disappeared. The one who sits on the throne had made all things new.
The angel then showed John the Bride of the Lamb which was the new Jerusalem. The city shone with precious stones and was clear as crystal. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were the temple in this city. The gates of this city would always be open and never closed. The greatness and wealth of the nations would be brought into this city. Nothing impure would enter it. The names of those written in the Lamb's book would live in this city to see God face to face.
John concludes with the words that he heard Jesus say himself, "Listen, I am coming soon. Happy are those who obey the prophetic words in this book. I will bring my rewards with me to give to each one according to what he has done. Happy are those who have washed their robes clean and have the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life."
May these revelations given by John be taken solemnly for the things that are to come have been recorded explicitly in this book of Apocalypse. May it help us to be found trustworthy to stand before the throne of the Lamb and cry out in our own voice; "Holy, holy, holy."
Maria Franco
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR
This article has been read 66 times < Previous | Next >
Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.
Keep writing like this on as many bible topics as you can and many will benefit and be prompted to learn more. Thank you!