Following on from last weeks post on Joshua Ch 1, it is interesting that the final book of the sacred txt starts with the theme of servants. We can conclude that being a servant is implicit to revelation, and of the revelation of God. This is a good foundation for setting revelation into, as being a servant is the opposite to pyramids of hierarchy and natural selection and it’s accompanying intellectual pride.
God revealed himself to servants, for the purpose of service.
Being a servant, is the word of God. Gods word is not founded upon the economics of this world. This world does not do much without ulteria motive, thus, pure service brings to the world the word of God – it turns the world upside down. And did not the Roman empire get touched by the transformative impact of its servants/slaves.
The revelation that John hears and sees is sent to him via an angel. The angel that was sent to John was an angel that had chosen to be loyal to his Lord, one who having received light and love, responded with service to that source of love. This gets to the very heart of the narrative of the gospel, creation and the purpose of life. It is also the heart of all theology and that which became Pauls message, service channeled by divine love, not the compulsion of law but the goodness of Gods first commandment a word of fruitfulness and multiplication.
That the message itself is carried by the purest form of a servant, an angelic unfallen by corruption, is implicit to the very heart of mans redemption. He whom the angels adored did not become sin that they might be reconciled to God!
No arch angel is named at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The angels did not doubt his Lordship prior to Calvary, nor prior to his birth in human form. But after his resurrection, they do wonder at the depths of the servant Sons love, who was obedient unto death, to ensure the original commandment is a miracle covenant of grace, a blessing to every family and nation of the whole wide world. God created www before man ever knew that one is differentiated from zero and that light is loves source.
‘He’s got the whole world in his hands’
This carries the narrative of the nativity, it speaks of the message being carried by love: this angel had chosen love over hate, loyalty over betrayal, the creator over a lie.
This angel is integral to the message & that being conveyed. This angel is a message of service, he comes to help mankind understand.
This focus on the beginning, Johns understanding of the Logos, is why the revelation flows from him to his Church seeking first, love. That is why it is not a word of condemnation, rather it is a word of renewal and revival, love comes first in heaven
John, who had been a disciple of John the Baptist and who became a disciple of Jesus after his baptism and the word of God that passed on the baton: Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! The sin of the world! If any man loves this world he does not have the love of the Father within him. He takes away the separation and darkness of not loving the Father, and heaven opens and affirms: This is my beloved Son, ‘in’ whom I am well pleased (KJV Amen).
The authority of heaven to evoke change is absolute truth.
Sinners can become saints and the angels rejoice. Pride is the only sin that robs man of dignity. I have served you & yet not known your name. Music and dancing are at home where love is playing the cords. The expanse of heaven is the Fathers chest inflated throughout that merry dance; the binary of God and man, the stars at night, light and bright – the morning star of a multitude, the sons of God, singing with one accord.
‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found’.
The first spoken word of God being the distinction: JESUS
The apostle John, who was given the final text of scripture follows in the same principles as Joshua. This is the continuous biblical message and the purpose of all revelation.
John was in kind a servant of John the Baptist, perhaps not in quite the same assigned task as Joshua to Moses, but nevertheless John obeyed the revelation through the word of God that had come to John the Baptist in the wilderness.
John followed Jesus, and started his journey of becoming a servant, by obeying the object of Johns ministry.
John the Baptist had received and bore record to the word of God, he gave testimony to Jesus Christ. John Baptist saw Jesus coming to him, and John Baptist testified: I saw the Spirit descending from heaven – Revelation Ch 21.
They followed him, and Jesus turned and asked them what they sought. Teach us to be as thou art: ‘Come and see’! His lessons have no condemnation, this is the school master of light and liberty – knowledge the great liberator, not leverage for a pay rise. No introspection, in this lesson, no guilt and shame applied: Come and see! Visual learners rejoice: Up there, my home in heaven – Praise God, that’s enough for me. An A Star just for testifying to what you have seen.
Learning and light should be like this!
Which God gave him. Which God? Buddha, Karma, Gandhi, Mohammed or Science? No, which God gave him. The revelation concerns another man, Jesus Christ, and it is given by God, the only living God.
Who bore witness to the word of God.
To a word of Hate? For the time is near, when good shall be called evil.
Of bitterness and revenge?
NO
To a word solid and unchanging.
The center of the universe.
To a word of redemption.
This revelation was from the word of God.
‘I have a word of God for you’. ‘A message that will heal your mind and heal your body, a message that will give your family hope for the future, a message that will set your thinking right’.
‘A half acre worth fighting for’.
God gave him – it is all a gift from God, the Father of lights.
John who heard of the Lamb.
John who followed afar at Calvary.
John, who believed yet returned to his own home on resurrection day.
John who had been in that upper room.
John first named as one to assist Paul and Barnabas in the ministry of the word of God, and the Spirit had sent them on a commission – Churches in Asia Minor the fruit of the Spirits ministry! God never forgets that which he births.
They were sent to a ruler, a king/proconsul, who sought to hear. And a man is rebuked for opposing another’s salvation – and is that not the narrative of the book of Revelation: the ruler of kings on earth who has freed us from our sins by his blood. King of Kings and Lord or Lords. Every servant of Jesus Christ is commissioned to speak to those in authority the words of this life: Live forever O king – Look to Him and live and have your sins forgiven.
The apostle who wrote of all things being made by and through Jesus Christ, the Logos in the beginning. This John who had seen and understood all this from the beginning needed another revelation of Jesus Christ: This book is critical for those things to come and it starts with the center of all things Jesus Christ. Being ‘In’ him.
This revelation is his life in us for those things that must soon take place.
Those things that must soon take place should not fill us with fear, no this has a hope that is certain, that has gone through the curtain – touching his throne.
The revelation of the second Adam which God gave him.
The revelation of Jesus Christ is a light that comprehensively & immutably defeated darkness. Light has entered man and overcome.
The city where light is 24 (2×12)/7 8+8+8 is the Harmony of Gods first spoken word.
God made it known – to John! Is this not in harmony with Pauls knowledge through revelation.
He made it known! Do not doubt the will of God to be your liberty from darkness.
God has given this revelation of a man to a man! This is the message to servants for those things that must soon take place: To testify to Him, the gospel mandate to all mankind commanded by God. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.
The reason John remained was so that those who follow after should be assured that know Word from God has changed. The revelation given to John was part and parcel of the gospel mandate, it was not given to him in Jerusalem, but it had gone out from there.
God, GOD would make known to us individually and corporately many things. It is not are efforts that makes a difference but are surrender, are glad surrender.
The revelation of Jesus Christ is post his appearing in human form. But it is the certainty of his resurrection and return. Evolution is a theory to numb the knowledge of his return.
Seven days in Creation
Seven Churches – in Asia
Stephen the first of Seven, whose face shone like an angel – who served tables.
Seven is a bridge of Gods governance to all people and nations of the world. A binary of the vine: Jew & Gentile.
Touching the hem of his garment – made whole the wine skin, the better covenant had come. From the head to the heart – 12 inches.
Love is the only key.
Love is the only doorway.
The prosperity gospel has no place in Gods kingdom – that should not be a revelation to any servant of God. As you can only have one master.
N.B.
On Thursday, after work I went to M&S food hall and bought some reduced granola bars. Four for £1. A cafe might charge 3-4 pound with a coffee just for one, so I think it good economics. I buy them from time to time mainly so I can give them to folk at work too. Although, I haven’t bought any for a few months.
On Friday before work I went to the gym. I was thinking about a member of staff Adam. I was thinking about the Granola bars in my bag and to possibly give him one, so I was pleased that he was on reception and on shift.
He informed me that he is leaving on the 9th Nov! After 11 years service, an emotional thing for him, his first job and he is part of the fabric of the place. Soon after joining this gym, I parked in a rush in a ‘with’ child only parking space! The time was not during a half term and I was only going in for 30 mins, at that early hour I knew that the other spaces would not fill and I had parked their to get to work on time being near the entrance. Adam, pulled me up on it, while he was replacing the laundry towels! I certainly had an attitude over it, as I knew I had thought through whether they would be needed for purpose, and considered it a ‘jobs worth’ edict! Well I had an immediate loss of peace and resurrection of the first Adam! So I repented and bought him a Chocolate brownie and said to him that ‘I will never park there again’! It was true repentance, not just to get peace back, but embracing the authority he had over me as a member of staff.
Since then we have had a good relationship, him taking a real interest in me teaching a chap to swim – passing on his tips.
So I was thrilled for this to come full circle. When I left, I told him that he would be missed and mentioned a few aspects of his character that were gifts and wouldn’t be simply replaced. And I told him about his heritage, being linked to histories two most important men. He knew about his name being linked to Liverpool Red and the earth etc – but he did not know that Jesus was the second Adam.
God making your life a blessing to others.
On Saturday, after work I went again to the gym for a swim this time. I had to make a choice whether to do this or go to a Church’s men social fellowship gathering. My mum trying to steer me to go! When I came home, I told my dear mum, that I had a great time, unwinding from a difficult day on the phones, with a sauna and swim listening to messages on waterproof mp3. I then watched the ‘Sport’ for 20 or so minutes, Liverpool v Arsenal, while enjoying the nicest fried potato chips ever and ‘beef’ burger. I told my mum how great it was to cycle home with a warm glow from the burger inside.
I was actually surprised at myself, how much I had enjoyed my choice. It wasn’t until later that I realized how perfect Gods choice for me is.
I am swimming more now, having the mp3, but its aim is to loose at least a stone.
And he loved her.
Jesus is the author of marriage & the marriage supper follows the revelation of the lamb, that Fathers house might be full.
N.B. I spoke to a man on the phone today whose Surname is ‘Godbehere’. We had a little conversation about it, I referred to it reminding me of ‘Immanuel’. Joel Ch 2 v17.
N.B.B.
On Sunday morning locally, the preachers title was ‘The certainty of the life, death and resurrection of Christ’.
He touched at that start about the secular accounts in history regarding the death of John the Baptist & James.
He spoke of the spread of Christianity geographically and up and down the social spectrum.
The core of his message had 7 points, all in relation to Joseph of Arimathea.
Had to be a member of the council
Needed to be a secret disciple of Christ
Needed to be Rich
Own a secure tomb
Tomb had to be unused
Tomb had to be in Jerusalem
Needed to be a prominent member of society.
He drew out real spiritual truth in each point, showing the wisdom of God in these points to present the world with the reality of his resurrection. The ones most opposed to his resurrection where the very ones appointed to guard the tomb, and all Jerusalem knew that given Joseph of Arimathea’s prominence.
He stated that history has accounted most of the apostles as martyred for their faith, and allowed it that way, so that the resurrection of Jesus could not be affiliated with personal prosperity – it cost them their lives rather than making them rich – no vested interest.
Of the 12 listed on the screen in Church, only John was accounted for on the island of Patmos.
Philip was listed as having been put to death for converting the wife of a Roman proconsul.
He also mentioned Jesus in John Ch 21, appearing to the 7. The preacher was also called John, speaking on the Sabbath.
The Spirit and the Word.
The good news, the message to be carried to this world, the word of God through the power of the Spirit. Separated for the work of God, that others may be grafted in.
Stephen was filed with the Spirit and preached the Word of God. In death aligned with the heart of him he beheld: Forgive them. The bridge for the good news to fulfill its ordained purpose – God revealing to Paul that his nature was, is and wasn’t going to be withheld from him. That, the word of God never returns void, but as promised to Abraham brings forth lights from every nation under the canopy of heaven.
Walking into Church on Sunday, I was thinking about whether I would be willing to die for my faith. It wasn’t a stressful or anxiety thought, rather a silent carrying as I agreed that such a willingness is implicit to following Him. I know, as Peter did, that I would flee death when confronted with it without Gods empowering. So their wasn’t any bravado to my thought. But as I looked into a few peoples eyes greeting on the door, I knew that this one and that one had chosen to Love Jesus – or rather that Jesus’s love was in them and that they would be true to that love. In that moment it was an affirmative in my own heart, dieing for a foundation/building of love. The context might just be Johns cry concerning His increase. To live for others benefit.
Spirit lead me…
eternalrays 