REVELATION!!!
Suggested Reading: Revelation 1
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Greek Island of Patmos is located in the Aegean Sea. Its u-shaped geography creates a perfect harbour. This where the Apostle John was exiled by the Roman government and where he received The Revelation. "I, John, both your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Revelation 1:8, 17-19
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
…And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”
The full title given to this book comes from the first five words in today’s reading. This is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is written in the Greek language, and Jesus is described by the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; He is “The ALPHA and the OMEGA!” Jesus is called by the Apostle John in the fourth book in the New Testament, “The WORD!” “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD” (John 1:1)! Read John 1:1-18 along with Revelation chapter one for a full understanding of John’s sure knowledge as to the Person of Jesus. John wrote his Gospel to set the record straight, because false cults were seeking to diminish Jesus to the status of angels or a secondary god. Approximately 70 years before the writing of “Revelation”, John, along with his brother James, had been recruited by Jesus (Matthew 4:21-22 and Mark 1:19-20). Jesus had nicknamed these brothers, “Sons of Thunder”! (Mark 3:17). Just imagine their personalities and the boldness of John. No wonder that, as an old man of at least 90, he was considered a threat to the political and religious authorities, hence his exile to the Island of Patmos.
John had spent over three years in the company of Jesus. He knew Him very well as “The Son of Man.” He was a witness to the teaching, preaching, and healing-the-sick ministry of Jesus. He helped distribute the bread and fish to feed 5,000. He watched from the boat as Jesus walked on the water. He was the first of the Apostles at the empty tomb. He saw Jesus in His glorified, resurrected Body, again and again, over a 40-day period. He saw Jesus ascend into Heaven, and now John sees a glimpse of Jesus as the Eternal Son of God, One with the Father and the Holy Spirit. It was necessary for Jesus to say to John, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE. AMEN!!!” (1:17).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
O, Lord Jesus, like John, I feel as if I should fall at Your feet as dead. I pray that while I read through the Book of Revelation, You will reveal Yourself to me over this next month as I bow in Your presence, meditating on Your Person, preparing to share this blog with as many of Your loved ones who will read it. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
John and his brother James had earned their nickname, “Sons of Thunder,” I’m sure. No doubt there was serious rivalry in the fish catching and selling business between them and the other two brothers who became apostles, Peter and Andrew. I can almost hear these competing brothers bragging about their catches. True to form, John and James believed they were the best to occupy the places next to Jesus soon, when, as they believed, He would establish His earthly kingdom. What a disappointment for them when Jesus announced immediately after this request to Jesus, that He was going to the Cross. These “thunder” brothers did not want to hear that! Perhaps when the women announced the empty tomb and that Jesus was resurrected, John thought there was still hope for those positions. John bragged that he had arrived first at the mouth of the tomb. He was still in competition with Peter and possibly he still hoped for an earthly kingdom then and there! It seems important to me to establish that these people, to whom Jesus gave leadership of the Church, were so very human. But then the power of the Holy Spirit came on them at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21)! From then on it was, as my daughter-in-love Ann has often said on the Full Circle telecast, “Keep your eyes on Jesus; it’s all about Him!!!” I’m so glad that Jesus calls very ordinary people, like me, into His service!
Yours because it’s all about Jesus!!!
David
P.S. There are two other brothers I know very well. One is my oldest son David Reynold, who has visited the cities where all seven of the churches of Revelation were located, and whose photographs will, God willing, be featured over the seven days when we visit the Words of Jesus to each of those churches. My other son, Ronald Wesley, has led Crossroads tour groups to the Island of Patmos where John was incarcerated. Today I’m featuring two of Ron’s photos. The first one seen above is a view of the harbour at Patmos, and the one below was taken by the cave where it is believed John saw the visions recorded in Revelation and where he wrote it all down. It’s amazing what God can do with brothers, James & John, Peter & Andrew in the first century, and Reynold & Ron in the 21st century. Zebedee, father of James and John, and David, father of Reynold and Ron are 2,000 years apart, but both of us (I think I can speak for Zebedee) are proud of our sons!!!
On the Island of Patmos, this mosaic is above the entrance to the "Monastery of Saint John the Theologian" (which is written in Greek letters). This monastery is built over the cave believed to be where John received his Revelation.
Eternity is difficult, if not impossible to fully comprehend. Yet, by faith and the Holy Word we know Jesus to be the Alpha and Omega, before and after us and Christ, in God our Father, existed for all time. The Words of Our Father live in us as we openly receive them as Divine. Thank You Father that by your Holy Spirit, your light exists, as we honour and glorify your presence in all creation. Our Lords blessings and His strength to all this day.
Amen!
Amen!
God’s name be praised forever!! Amen…may we all have a blessed day
Good morning Patricia. I was looking back at your posting on April 30th, the day before your 25th birthday… with regards to God’s perfect will for you from now forward.
I found this short 9 minute video from a young minister that may be helpful. His name is Jefferson Bethke. May our Lord Jesus bless the word in this attached video…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4DLIeUYGMc
Bless you Patricia… Amen!
Happy Belated Birthday, Patricia!! What a wonderful year for you, my dear!! God’s continued blessings in your life from this moment, forward!!
I am rather lost for words, this morning. Filled with exuberance to have started the study of Revelation and awestruck by what has been revealed through today’s reading and your message, David Mainse. Thank You, Lord, for giving the book of Revelation to the Apostle John, that it would be shared with us so that we would have such wisdom and insight. Amen!! Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly, You are amazing God!!!
I want to share an awesome song with all saints by Amanda Cook and Bethel Music, You Make Me Brave. Powerful, powerful, powerful!!! When I can include the lyrics, I will.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hi-VMxT6fc&hd=1
Typo: humbly proclaim, You are amazing God! And I can’t help but think how John must have felt, so overwhelmed by the presence of the resurrected Lord Jesus, in his midst. Of course he would fall dead to his knees. Amen!
Thank you for that musical post sister Beverlee. WOW! Praise God! Amen!
Thank you for the link to the music video, God works powerfully through music.
Thank you for making John seem humanlike. Brothers can be so competitive and combative sometimes, I know. I had nine of them. Your explanations give the bible a very human quality, making it more understandable, believeable and relateable.
I wouldn’t mind being exciled to Patmos:-) What a beautiful pic of that area.
Thank you DM et al for your dedication to sharing the knowledge hidden in our bibles. Without many of your easy-to-understand explanations much of the bible would be Greek to me.
Have a blessed, God-fearing weekend dear fellow saints.
I would love to have the Lord speak to me like that. I sure would not feel abandoned there. What an extreme responsability to record all this. I do wonder what John used to write with and on what material did he write on. Was he allowed to take writing materials with him when he was exciled or did God provide them in a supernatural way? Were glasses invented in those days – he was pretty old! Thank you Lord. Sorry. Too many questions. God provided. Thank you Lord. Please help us with this study of your
Word.
Amen
I don’t blame you David for being proud of your sons…and I’m sure they are proud and blessed that you are their father:)
Just to think we are blessed just to read the words of this “Revelation” how special is that, and how awesome!!
Thank you David for this blog!
Great introduction to the Book of Revelation, David and am so looking forward to reading and studying it. Was thinking of this verse in Hebrews 1:1-3. “God, who at sudry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” We are going to be blessed as we read this boo as we keep our eyes on Him; Jesus!!! Bless you everyone.
Ahhh, Ger–that is so beautiful. Thank you for typing that verse out!! Bless you!!!
Typo-book
You have reason to be proud of your sons, David. They are a blessing to us!
a big Amen sister Ger
Oh how amazing to know as John fell at Jesus’ feet he was touched by the Master’s hand, telling John not to be afraid!
Looking forward to studying The Book of Revelation and sharing with all our bloggers.
Ron good job on the photos today… You got a good eye. Thanks dad for your encouragement.
Thank you, Reynold and Ron, for all your work helping your dad put this blog out–the photographs set up and editing. It is a divine gift to all the saints!!!
Dear Rev David M.
You are truly allowed to be very proud of your 2 sons!
They are two chips off the old block 😉
I may steal the ”daugher-in-love” expression from you.
Looking forward to the next weeks, going deeper into Revelation.
Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for Your begotten Son, our Saviour, our Messiah, Who not only died taking our sins but came back, ressucitated from the dead, giving the Holy Spirit to the disciples and letting John be the final bearer of the New Testament and the coming of Christ. So Lord, Thank You and let us be as bold and courageous as John, as all the others were. Amen
Be blessed, dear blog buddies!
xxxCarole