“Unveiled Truth” Part 1

Put on your seatbelts.  My blogs have me fired up with passion for the unveiled truth.  Things are not as they seem.  I’m serving up some hearty “meat and potatoes” to dig into this week! My hope for you is that by the end of these posts, you feel stronger, encouraged, steadfast, and firm in your faith, as we unpack and unveil — truth.

Currently our cities, our states, our nation, and our world has been rocked by this Covid-crisis.  But things are not as they seem.

We are experiencing changes, shutdowns, and restrictions all unprecedented in our life time.  Our moral compass leads us to follow the rules, to keep safe, and allow for the temporary surrender of our rights.  There has been an internal battle for many to reconcile the closure of churches, schools, and many businesses, not to mention the cancellation of significant life events such as graduations, weddings, and funerals. 

We all realize we not in control.

As I turn to the Scriptures for hope, comfort, and wisdom, I have been drawn to reading Revelation.  After going through a study of this book about three years ago, I have wanted to re-study this Bible book-end, once again.  Like a magnetic pull, I have returned to this book and feel the excitement building with each chapter that I study.

Revelation means “the lifting of the cover” or “the pulling back of the curtain.”  The Greek word for Revelation is “apocalypsis” or apocalypse, and it doesn’t mean a sci-fi movie like we are all so used to.  It means “unveiling.”

Early apocalyptic works in the bible include Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah.  They feature people as animals or beasts, historical events are represented in the form of natural phenomena, like earthquakes or floods, and colors and numbers have meaning.

I believe that because this book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, his declaration and prophecy, the enemy wants us to be intimidated by it. 

I’m guessing that if I asked if you’ve read, studied, and understand this book… I’d hear crickets.  I’m guessing Revelation may be one of the least read or studied books of the Bible.

What if I told you that Revelation presents prophetic counter images, challenging our views of how we see our world and maybe how we see Jesus? 

Close your eyes for a moment.  Picture Jesus.  Describe who you see… Is Jesus a brown haired man wearing a beige robe and sandals?  Maybe he is seated on a hillside, teaching a parable with a soothing, gentle voice, arms open and welcoming?

Well at the time that John, “The Apostle Whom Jesus Loved,” received Revelation, he was imprisoned on the rocky, desolate island of Patmos for not “worshiping Caesar as God.”  Peter and Paul had been crucified, and Timothy had been beaten to death.  Christians were being fed to lions as sport during the Roman Empire.  John was living in a time of great fear and trial.  He needed to see Jesus Christ with fresh eyes and be reminded of the end of the story.

In Revelation, we see Jesus as he is right now. Revelation 1:12-16, John says,   “ I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”

Jesus is the great and glorified high priest.  Priest in Latin, is pontifex, which is an engineering term that means “bridge-builder.”  If you picture Father God on one side of a canyon and us on the other – Jesus is the bridge that makes a way for us to get to be in the presence of the Father.  He redeemed us by dying in our place, taking on the punishment for our sins, shedding his blood on the cross, and giving up his life.  He then was buried and after three days, rose again, just as he said he would do.  He resurrected, coming back to life,  beating death.

He is now dressed in a king’s robe, with a golden sash around his chest.  This indicates his work is finished.  His head is white like wool, describing The Ancient of Days, Jesus fully God.  The description of white also means wisdom, that Jesus Christ knows what is really going on in all people, churches, and nations.  Nothing surprises him.  Even now.

It has been said that the eyes are windows to our souls.  Jesus’ eyes are like a flame of fire.  John is declaring Jesus is not only pure; he is purifying.  Fire illuminates, cleanses, and purifies.

His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace.  This is in stark contrast to the statue and vision from Daniel, where the feet represent the ten kingdoms, made of iron and clay, brittle and weak.  Jesus is strong, steadfast, firm, already tested and strengthened by fire.  His kingdom rests on feet that will endure forever.

His voice, like the sound of rushing waters, depicts power and majesty like that of a mighty waterfall, yet it provides a peace and calm like when we sit by moving water.

This is the reigning Jesus Christ.

This powerful book puts a big punctuation mark on the entire other 65 books of the Bible, revealing Jesus as victor, triumphant, majestic, steadfast, powerful, and the One who overcame death. 

Simply put, Jesus wins in the end.  We need to be reminded of this. 

Beyond how reading and studying Revelation will fortify us, lighting a fire of faith, and inform us with wisdom for today, this book will reveal clearly why we need to choose which side we are on.  There is no time for complacency.  No time for walking the line.  Things are not as they seem.

Join me tomorrow, as I share my own “revelation of sorts” and unveil truth.  Let’s continue this journey.

Psalm 61:1-4 from David

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.  I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.“

Study Sources:

*A year study through:  “A life-changing encounter with God’s Word from the book of REVELATION,” Life Change Series

*Discipleship On the Edge An Expository Journey Through The Book Of Revelation  by Darrell W. Johnson

*“The End of the Beginning – a study of Revelation” Pastor Jeff Vines, Christ Church of the Valley, 14 part sermon series

*https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Rev/Rev-1.cfm?a=1168001

*The Story  The Bible As One Continuing Story of God and His People NIV, Foreword By Max Lucado & Randy Frazee

*Daniel For You  by David Helm

*Daniel – Bible Study, Lives of Integrity Words of Prophecy by Beth Moore

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