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 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 climax of Revelation.  (Revelation 16:15, 16) We should, therefore, conform our lives to the words of  "this scroll"  Revelation, 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 seeen, 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 revelations from angels.  (1 Corinthians 13:1; Galatians 1:8; Colossians 2:18)  Today, it highlights the fact that we must worship Godd 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 one be made holy still.'" - REVELATION 22:10, 11. 

The anointed remnant todayhave obeyed the word of ths angel. They have not sealed up the words of the prophecy. Why, the very first issue of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence (July 1879) set out comments on numerous verses of Revelation. As we noted in our openeing chapter of Jehovah's Witnesses have over the years published other enlightening books on Revelation. Now we again draw the attention of all truth-lovers to the powerful Revelation prophecies and their fulfillment. 

Next time: Revelation and You - Continued

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