Christ is the champion of His people – there is NO DOUBT… but Christ is also the Author and FINISHER of our faith. We are being conformed to His image … and that means gaining victories and conquering LIKE he conquered. Jesus told His disciples that they would do greater works than HE did! – Isn’t that AMAZING! – and I do not believe he was limiting that to his 12 Apostles…
After John heard the number of all the saints he looks and sees what is full of glorious heavenly blessings that contextualizes our faith and motivates our specific obedience. The point is that future glory drives our present kingdom life.
Every power that God employs is for the salvation of His church – the Bride who the Bridegroom loves. You are the apple of God’s eye and the gates of Hades will not prevail against you because God has given you “the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.” – Jesus has not just secured your salvation but made YOU a Beautiful PART of His work. “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it,”
Last words can be great words! Scripture records many last words of Saints… not the least of which are the last words of our Savior and LORD – Why? because we are not running from death – but conquerors of death! – because life only has meaning in proper understanding of our DEATH and the last words of a Saint are likely to bring the sharpest focus on the FACT that the he already died long ago in Christ – and now his every breath is only to Proclaim HIM as LORD and to SERVE others.
If we see that – God is holding back the consummation of all things and the coming of His ultimate GLORY with the VINDICATION of all His loved ones, so that TODAY could be the DAY of salvation! There is GREAT Hope! Do you see how the Doctrine of God’s Final Judgment is vital for our life in Christ? We have WORK to do… in spreading the Testimony of Jesus and the word of God – it will undoubtedly make us Martyrs … but also persuasive Evangelists! And as long as it is Today we KNOW… now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. What a dignity Christ has called us too! TO be part of His undoing the curse of Adam in the Garden by – turn your friends from their idolatry! – refuse idolatry!
Our death is only a reflection of Christ’s death for us. That is the strength of our conviction and the resource of our Spiritual courage. If it were left to us at all, then we would never die to self – never want Justice, only revenge – and we would not be able to wait with patience for His timing. But Christ really has given us His life and His death. We do LIVE and DIE for and IN Him, because He lived and died for US!!
God moves in a mysterious way, but His purpose is not mysterious or hidden. The Bible tells us that his purpose is to show compassion and to have mercy! At times it can be very difficult to SEE the purposes of God but if we look at the Providences of God with the conviction of His Purposes then we will conquer!
When you know what God says about you in Christ, that you are innocent and acceptable, then you can TRULY know what God is saying to you through Creation and His Commands. This knowledge is a wonderful light which enables you to TRULY know yourself and to know THE GLORY of GOD shining in your heart in the face of Jesus Christ!
John through Symbolism is able to zoom in on multiple focal points … He is going to present Christ as multi-dimensional so that we can see His worthiness – and that is what we NEED if we are going to worship Him and join the cosmic Market Day for our souls. Symbolism helps but to see the worthiness of Christ you need the Spirit to show you His diverse perfections!
Our worship is the single most important determining feature of the whole of our lives. The end of
shows us that true worship feeds the soul and strengthens the church no matter the situation!
