Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil Introduction (Day 1)

REVELATION

           

         

We are in the last days prior to Jesus’ return. On any given day, you can turn on the news and see proof of how close we are due to the various things shown that will make your stomach turn. There are all kinds of violence, sex, murder, theft, drugs and other ungodly acts being displayed on the screen. A significant amount of music promoted by record labels and their artists contain lyrics endorsing sexual promiscuity, disrespect to authority, and violence, to say the lease, which help in keeping the prisons, abortion clinics and morgues full.

 

 

         There are threats of war, demonic terrorist organizations and government being led by the devil himself. The lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community is spreading their abominations onto children, TV, churches and even your local restroom in an act of defiance against God’s law. Right is being called wrong and wrong is being called right. All the while, many within the body of Christ are sleep, in a demonically induced coma and drunk off the wind of many greedy, cowardly, and spiritually compromised pastors. However, God sent a warning about these last days. This warning is great! What does God have to say to us in today’s times and why must it be Revealed? Revelation 1:1-3 ⁽¹⁾The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ⁽²⁾who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. ⁽³⁾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. (NIV)

In the Koine Greek, Revelation is described as the apolocalypse, (ἀποκάλυψις, apokalupsis) which means unveiling and end time destruction. When you unveil or reveal something, it means to uncover or discover its purpose. I also means to expose and make something known. Therefore, the book of Revelation is meant for us to understand and make known to others. By unveiling its contents, we will be prepared for the end time. No longer is this book just about times to come, but it is giving insight into what is taking place right now in real time. God wanted His children to be prepared for what they would have to face and the blessed hope they could look forward to. Therefore, He gave this Revelation to Jesus, who gave it to the angel to give to John for him to write down and give it to the body of Christ.

 

 

 

 

Who was John?

       John was an apostle of Christ, the youngest of the 12 disciples chosen to follow Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. Matthew 4:21-22 ⁽²¹⁾Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ⁽²²⁾and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (NIV) John is often called, “The Beloved,” for he seemed especially dear to Jesus’ heart. Jesus gave John the responsibility of looking after his mother, while on the cross. John 19:26-27 ⁽²⁶⁾When Jesus saw his mother there, and the ^disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” ⁽²⁷⁾and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (NIV) Jesus showed that he trusted him deeply by leaving the care of his mother to John.

 

 

Why was a blessing pronounced over this particular book of the Bible?

            There were going to be many things that would take place during the last days. God did not wish for wish for man to be blind, but to have full knowledge and understanding of his word. He also knew that this book would be the most controversial of all others written. Therefore, spiritual guidance and discernment would be needed and given to all who desired to have access to its knowledge. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. (NIV) This prophetic book was given to: teach, rebuke, prepare, warn, and encourage those in regards to the devil and his attempt to destroy the body of Christ, while deceiving the world. Amos 3:7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (NIV) Therefore, this revelation was given to John and a blessing was pronounced over it for all how understand and know that there will be hard trials to endure, but they who remain strong will be blessed in the end.

 

Over the next few weeks, we will be doing a Bible study over the entire book of Revelation based off my series, "Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil Bible Lessons 1-11," which are available on Amazon.com. May you be blessed as we study this prophetic book in-depth and understand the times we are currently in and the times quickly approaching us.