BE HAPPY READERS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Christ-Directed Congregations

In the opening chapters of Revelation, Christian congregations are likened to lampstands. Their overseers are likened to angels (messenger) and to stars. (Revelation 1:20) "Speaking of himself, Christ told John to write: "These are the things that he says who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands." (Revelation 2:1) The seven messages sent to the seven Asian congregations show that in the first century C.E. The congregations and their elders had their strong points and their weak points. The same is true today. We will, therefore, be much happier if we never lose sight of the fact that Christ, our Head, is in the midst of the congregations. He knows exactly what is going on. The overseers are symbolically "in his right hand," that is, under his control and direction and answerable to him for the way they shepherd the congregations. - Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17.

We would, however, be deceiving ourselves if we thought that only the overseers are answerable to Christ for their deeds. In one of his messages, Christ said: " All the congregations will know that I am he who searches the kidneys and hearts, and i will give to you individually according to your deeds." (Revelation 2:23) This is at once a warning and an encouragement-a warning that Christ knows our deep-seated motives, an encouragement because it assures us that Christ is aware of our efforts and will bless us if we do what we can. -Mark 14:6-9; Luke 21:3, 4.

Christ's message to the congregation in the Lydian city of Philadelphia contains no reproof, but it does make a promise that should be of the greatest interest to us. "Because you kept the word about my endurance. I will also keep you from the hour of test, which is to come upon the whole inhabited earth, To put a test upon those dwelling the earth." (Revelation 3:10) The Greek for "kept the word about my endurance" can also mean "kept what I said about endurance." Verse 8 suggests that the Christians in Philadelphia not only had obeyed Christ's commands but had followed his counsel to endure faithfully themselves.-Matthew 10:22; Luke 21:19.

Jesus added that he would keep them from "the hour of test." Just what the means for those Christians back there, we do not know. Although there was a brief respite in the persecution after the death of Domitian in 96 C.E., a new wave of persecution began under Trojan (98 -117 C.E.) , doubtless bringing further trials. But the major "hour of test" occurs in "the Lord's day" during "the time of the end," where we now are. (Revelation 1:10; Daniel 12:4) Spirit-anointed Christians went through a particular time of testing during and immediately following World War I. Yet, "the hour is test" is still on. It affects "the whole inhabited earth," including the millions making up the great crowd, who hope to survive the great tribulation. (Revelation 3:10; 7:9, 14) Happy we will be if we 'keep what Jesus said about endurance,' namely: "He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved." -Matthew 24:13.


Next time: Happy Submission to Jehovah's Sovereignty

Watchtower, 1999