Chapter Five/John Beholds the Glorified JEsus

THE first vision in the book of Revelation begins with chapter 1, verse 10.  This vision like the others in Revelation, is introduced by a declaration that John hears or sees something extraordinary.   (Revelation 1:10, 12; 4:1; 6:1)  This first vision is presented   in a first-century framework in which messages are addressed to seven congregations contemporary with John.  But John indicates the time of its real application when he says:  "By inspiration I came to be in the Lord's day."  (Revelation 1:10a) When is this "day"?   Do the dramatic events of this tempestuous 20th century have any connection with it?  If so, we should pay close attention to the prophecy, as affecting our very lives-even our survival. -1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21. 

In the Lord's Day

In what time frame does this place the fulfillment of Revelation?  Well, what is the Lord's Day?  The apostle Paul refers to it as a time of judgment and of fulfillment of divine promises.   (1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1:6, 10; 2:16) With the arrival of that "day,"  Jehovah's grand purposes moves progressively  and triumphantly  toward their climax.  That "day" begins the crowning of Jesus as heavenly King. Even after Jesus executes judgment on Satan's world, the Lord's day continues, with the restoration of Paradise and the perfecting of mankind, until Jesus finally "hands over the kingdom to his God and Father."  -1 Corinthians 15:24-26; Revelation 6:1, 2. 

The fulfillment of other Bible prophecies helps us to see when the Lord's Day begins.  For example, Daniel described a chopping down of rulership in the line of King David;  after "seven times" it would be known "that the Most High is Ruler of the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it."  (Daniel 4:23, 24,31, 32)  The major fulfillment of that prophecy started with the desolating of the kingdom of Judah, which is indicated by Bible evidence to have been completed by October 607 B.C.E. Revelation 12:6, 14 shows that 3 1/2 times amounts to 1, 260 days; hence seven times (twice that number) Must be 2, 520 days. Reckoning "a day for a year," we  arrive at 2,520 years as the duration of the "seven times"  (Ezekiel 4"6) Therefore, Christ Jesus began his heavenly  rule in the latter part of 1914.   The erupting of the first world war in that  year marked  "a beginning of pangs of distress" that have continued  to plague mankind.  Since 1914, how remarkable events in this bloodstained earth have confirmed that year to be the start of the  "day" of Jesus' presence! -Matthew 24:3-14. 

Next time: Chapter Five/John Beholds the Glorified Jesus - Continue with In the Lord's Day

From the book of Revelation