Revelation 22:6-11 (NKJV)
Luke 1:26 (NKJV)
Daniel 10:13 (NKJV)
Revelation 19:10, Hebrews 1:6, Matthew 8:2, Matthew 14:33, and John 9:38
Matthew 24:44 (NKJV)
The Beginning, Part 4
Throughout the course of my life I have found that when I remember to calm my mind and take the time to center myself in prayer, wait, and listen, things simply fall into place. That is true in life and very true when I write. Still, there are times when I anxiously jump in and write without taking significant time to pray and listen.
I pay for it in the end.
I am still able to write, but I struggle and wrestle with the process.
The truth that God speaks to us and is faithful and true is as true now as it was to John when he received the revelation. I am not equating what we do today with the message God sent to John, but I am saying in both instances, God’s words are faithful.
God still speaks today, but in order to hear God we need to still the noise and take time to listen.
In Revelation 22:6-7 we learn that God sent His angel to show John what was about to take place. The message was clear, “Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
The message from the Angel said, “I Am coming quickly.” The Greek word for quickly is ‘tachu’ and it can also be translated suddenly or speedily. We need to wonder why quickly was used in many translations. Maybe it’s because the translator knows God’s intent and purpose is that we will remain expectant and ready whenever He comes.
In studying this portion of scripture I also realized (thanks to God) that it contains another “I AM” statement. God was showing John, “I AM” ready to come.
In Revelation 22:8, we read, “Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.”
When John saw the mighty Angel, he was overcome with the power and beauty that stood before him and he fell down to worship the Angel. Personally, I think that would be a natural instinct. There are other times in scripture when Angels appeared (in Luke 1:26, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and in Daniel 10:13 the Angel Michael appeared to the prophet Daniel) and both times they were told ‘fear not’. In the revelation to John, when the Angel appeared he fell down to worship.
In verse 9 the Angel said, “Do not do that.” I am a servant like you. Specifically, John was told, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
In Rev 19:10 John had been told the same thing. In contrast to that, in Hebrews 1:6 Angels bowed down to worship Jesus; and men worshiped Jesus in Matthew 8:2, 14:33, and John 9:38. Scripture is clear that we are to worship God alone.
In Revelation 22:10-11, we are told, “And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
John was told do not seal these words. In contrast, the words of the prophets in the Old Testament are sealed. The words given to John in the revelation have not yet occurred. We are living in the last days and have been since he received these words. God is reminding us the time is at hand.
In contrast to NOT sealing the revelation, John is told:
LET the unjust be unjust
LET the filthy be filthy
LET the righteous be righteous
LET the holy be holy
In Matthew 24:44 we are told, “therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
WE do not know when the new beginning will occur. Only God knows when.
WE are told despite the injustice and the filth, to stand ready. In this time we are to let the righteous, BE righteous and the holy BE Holy.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Faithfulness
Consider what being faithful means. While we wait, let us be faithful and true to God.
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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