Chapter Three/Things That Must Shortly Take Place

Channel of Communication

Revelation 1:1b, 2 continues: : And he [Jesus] sent forth his angel and presented it [Revelation]  in signs through him to his slave John, who bore witness to the word God gave and to the witness Jesus Christ gave, even to all the things he saw."  Thus, John received the inspired record through an angelic messenger. He wrote it in a scroll, transmitting it tot he congregations of his time. Happily for us, God has preserved it for the encouragement of the more than 50,000 congregations of his united servants on earth today. 

God had a channel for communicating Revelation in John's day, and John was the earthly part of that channel. Likewise, God has a channel for giving spiritual nourishment to his 'slaves' today. In his great prophecy concerning the conclusion of this  system of things, Jesus identified the earthly part of this channel as "the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics to give them their food at the proper time? " (Matthew 24:3, 45-47) He uses this John class in unlocking the meaning of the prophecy.

The apostle John writes that Jesus presented Revelation "in signs," or symbols. These are vivid and thrilling to examine.  They depict dynamic activity and should, in turn stir us to zealous efforts in making know to others the prophecy and its meaning. Revelation presents for us a number of electrifying visions, in each of which John participated either actively or as an observer. Those of the John class, some of whom have shared for upwards of 70 years in the fulfillment of these visions, are happy that God's spirit has unlocked the meaning so that they can explain it to others. 

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

From the book of Revelation