Revelation and You

ON READING the delightful description of New Jerusalem, you may be moved to ask: 'Can something so wonderful really come to be?"  John answers that question by reporting the angel's next words:  "And he said to me: 'These words are faithful and true; yes, Jehovah the God of the inspired expressions of the prophets sent his angel forth to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place.  And, look! I am coming quickly.  Happy is anyone observing the words of the prophecy of this scroll.' " (Revelation 22:6, 7)  All the wonderful promises of Revelation will really be fulfilled!  Speaking in the name of Jesus, the angel declares that Jesus is coming soon, "quickly."  This must be Jesus' coming "as a thief" to destroy Jehovah's  enemies and usher in the grand and happy climax of Revelation.   (Revelation 16:15, 16)   We should, therefore, conform  our lives to the words of "this scroll," Revelation, is to be pronounced happy at that time.

After such a richness of revelation, it is understandable that John felt overwhelmed:  "Well, I John was the one hearing and seeing these things. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that had been showing me these things.  But he tells me:  'Be careful! Do not do that! All I am is a fellow slave of you and of  your brothers who are prophets and of those who are observing the words of this scroll.  Worship God.' " (Revelation 22:8, 9;  Compare  Revelation 19:10) This twice-stated warning not to worship angels was timely in John's day, when some evidently pursued such worship or claimed special revelation from angels.  ( 1 Corinthians  13:1; Galatians 1:8; Colossians 2:18)  Today, it highlights the fact that we must worship God alone.  (Matthew 4:10)  We should not corrupt pure worship with the worship of anyone or anything else. - Isaiah 42:5, 8.

John continues: "He also tells me:  'Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the appointed time is near.  He that is doing unrighteousness, let him do unrighteousness still; and let the filthy one be made filthy  still, but let the righteous one do righteousness still, and let the holy ones be made holy still.' " -Revelation 22:10, 11.

Next time: Revelation and You -Continued

From the Book of Revelation