Things That Must Shortly Take Place -Channel of Communication

 Revelation 1:1b, 2 continue:  "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 to the witness Jesus Christ gave, even to all the the things he saw."  Thus, John received the inspired record through an angelic messenger.  He wrote it in a scroll, transmitting it to the congregations of his time.  Happily for us, God has preserved it for the encouragement of the almost 100,000 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 the 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 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 known the 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 many decades in the fulfillment of these visions, are happy that God's spirit has unlocked the meaning so that they can explain it to others. 

These visions in Revelation are not presented chronological order.  Each  has its own time period of fulfillment.  Many of the visions echo words of earlier prophecies that provide clues as to their interpretation.  For example, Daniel's prophecy described four  fearsome beasts, explaining that these portrayed ruling powers on earth.  Hence, we are helped to understand that the beasts of Revelation represent political entities, including those now existing. - DANIEL 7:1-8, 17; REVELATION 13:2, 11-13; 17:3.

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

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