“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” As our Almighty Father God would have it, the Word of God spoke, and His Spirit hovered over the darkness—creating all that He spoke. All that mankind can see, smell, touch and experience was created just as He said in the book of Genesis.  “His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one but He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.” (Rev 19:12-13) God’s Word ends with a glorious vision revealed to the Apostle John by Jesus Christ Himself. The Holy Spirit helped John  find the words to describe what he saw and recorded it for our joyful benefit in the book of Revelation.  It was written during a time that the body of Christ, the church was being brutally attacked. Today Christians are also being violently persecuted, so the intent of this letter is to encourage us, not to alarm us.  In the first 3 chapters of Revelation the word church is listed 19 times. Then, as our loving Father would have it, in the blink of an eye our Creator will snatch us up to meet Jesus in the clouds before His justified bowls of wrath are poured out on all mankind who refused to believe in Jesus as Lord. From Genesis to Revelation we can read and testify that the message of Jesus has never changed, been stopped or censored by His command.  God is on the throne, He is with us, and it is our Father’s desire that we feel His affection for us.  The apostle John was obedient when Jesus said “write” and “send” this letter to each church, for I am in them, and they are in Me. “I will never forsake you.”! That is a PROMISE! “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Luke 21:33

Jesus declared these unchanging truths: I AM the bread of life. I AM the light of the world. I AM the resurrection and the life. I AM the way and the truth and the life. Before Abraham was born, I AM. Then in the final breath of the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus shouted. “It is finished.” So as one reads the book of Revelation, know that the intent is to encourage the church, to hold on, to persevere, as we examine our motives to worship God in service. Imagine Jesus walking into your church today, knowing that He knows the entire contents of each heart. He may be saying “come back to Me, your first Love.” Or He may be asking you to tell Him your fears, your hesitation to fully surrender to the One who loves you more than any human can. Our repeated failures to do life on our own, without God’s word are actually what draws us to the Father. As we come to the end of our ways is when we die to our dreams and choose the dream, the vision that God has for us. We come to realize that we indeed need the transforming, creative power of the Holy Spirit.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hear My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

“The revelation from Jesus, shows His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” Revelation 1:1-3 We are blessed when we read God’s Word out loud, as we are blessed to be the candle stick holders of the eternal flame of Jesus.  We are blessed as we lift up Jesus, the Light of the world. This letter was written to fortify our faith in the One who will preserve those who believe in Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Jude 1:20-23 “Dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,  keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.  Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

God’s salvation plan was finished when His Son was crucified, died, was buried, and then was resurrected from the dead. God ordained the final sacrifice for man’s sins, the holy blood of the perfect Lamb was shed on a cross. Appreciating our liberation and our position of authority within the family of God, we glorify our Lord Jesus as we participate with Him by using the gifts He gave us.

Understanding Revelation requires us to ask the Holy Spirit to increase our faith an understanding in what John clearly saw and wrote about. The vision John had is the Revelation of Jesus. God commands our full attention and belief in what was revealed.  After a personal time of worship, bring the glory of His presence down as you read what Jesus revealed. Praise Him for what He personally shows you in this final chapter.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb 19:25)

“Then the angel said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.” (Rev 19:9)

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’. Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Rev 21:5-7)

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Rev 22:12-13)

REMEMBER: Be self-controlled, alert and open your heart when you hear God knocking.

“ And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:9-12

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  1 Peter 5:8

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)  Store up Treasures

Copyright © 2019 by Barbara Alley Hoyle.

“Behind the Curtain” is a 100 page Summary of the New Testament and parts of the Old Testament

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April 20, 2019 “It was Finished” by His grace and for His glory!