Twenty days ago when we began our journey through the Book of Revelation we read, “God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.” (1:3) Yes and amen!! May God’s blessing be on you for your faithfulness in reading this important book.
Included with this blessing is an important phrase which I believe is the actual key to properly interpreting John’s visions: “for the time is near.” In chapter 22 John uses the words soon or near five times. John is absolutely persuaded that his visions of the judgment of God against evil were going to be fulfilled soon. If John’s visions were about Jesus coming again in final victory; if John’s visions were a blueprint for the end of human history, then John was clearly wrong.
However, if John’s visions were about God’s judgment coming soon against the evil of the Roman Empire; John was absolutely correct. John’s visions were written about A.D. 94-65. The emperor Domitian died in A.D. 96 and the persecution ended.
In advance of the ending of the persecution John reminds the church of their duty to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to the world because the Good News is like “a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.”
What is there left to say?
Hallelujah:
for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world
has become the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ;
and He shall reign
for ever and ever.
King of Kings,
and Lord of Lords.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
What does today’s reading
reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do
or remember about this passage.
Does God want you to change
anything in your life?
20-Oct-11 Mark 1:1-15
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