Chapter Three/Things That Must Shortly Take Place

YOU should be deeply concerned about world events today. Why so? Because this world cannot escape God's execution of judgment.  But you can escape. You can do this by making yourself  'not part of the world" that is doomed to destruction.  This does not mean adopting an austere, monastic way of life. It means that while enjoying a wholesome meaningful  life, you separate yourself from political corruption, from greedy commercialism, and from God-dishonoring religion, as well as from violent and immoral behavior. At the same time, you must follow God's high standards of conduct and seek to do his will. (John 17:14-16; Zephaniah 2:2, 3; Revelation 21:8)  The Bible book of Revelation shows how important it is for you to apply yourself in these respects, making changes as necessary in your way of life.

The apostle John introduces this grand prophecy with the words: "A revelation by Jesus Christ, which gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place."  (Revelation 1:1 a) so it was the resurrected Jesus Christ who received this weighty message from Good. Far from being a part of a mystic Trinity, Jesus is here  shown to be subject to his Father. In the same way, the "slaves" making up the Christian congregation are subject to Jesus Christ, so that they  keep following him wherever he goes.' (Revelation 14:3; Ephesians 5:24)  But who today are truly "slaves" of God, and how does Revelation benefit them?

The apostle John, who wrote down Revelation, describes himself a such a slave. He was the last surviving apostle and one of the select spirit-anointed group of "slaves" that inherit immortal life in the heavens. Today, there are just a few thousand of these remaining on earth. God has other servants too, a great crowd of them, men, women, and children, numbering now  into the millions. Under angelic direction, these are sharing with the anointed "slaves" in declaring the everlasting good news to all mankind. Oh, how all these "slaves" are expending themselves in order to help the meek ones of the earth to find salvation!   (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 7:9, 14; 14:6)  Revelation indicates what you must do to benefit from the happy good news.

How could John say, though, that these "slaves" would be shown "things that must shortly take place"? Were not those words spoken almost 1,900 years ago?  From the viewpoint of Jehovah, in whose eyes a thousand years are but "as yesterday,: 1,900 years is a short time when compared with the aeons of time that he spent in creating and preparing the earth for human habitation.  *Psalm 90:4) The apostle Paul wrote of his own "eager expectation and hope,"  for no doubt the reality of his reward seemed close at hand to him.  (Philippians 1:20) Today, however, the evidence abounds that all the things 
foretold will take place on schedule.  Never before in history has the very survival of mankind been at stake. Only God has the solution! -Isaiah 45:21. 

Next time: Chapter Three/Things That Must Shortly Take Place - Channel of Communication

From the book of Revelation