Continue to Read & Study Revelations (Rev. 22:10-11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

12/08/2005

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Continue to read and study Revelations

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelation 22:10-11

            Message of the verse:  “10  And he *said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.  11  ‘Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.’”

            John is told not to seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, unlike Daniel who was told to seal them up until a later time.  He then is told that the time is near, and I have written on this subject in an earlier verse when the word soon was used.  For one thing I do not believe that the verse speaking of a thousand years is like a day to the Lord as some have used to try to explain this.  Here is a possible way of understanding this verse.  The Bible speaks of the “day of the Lord” in different places, and this can mean that from the time of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to earth until He comes again at the end of the tribulation period is the day of the Lord.  A person who believes in dispensations, as I do, believes that there are different ways in which God dealt with man since the creation of man.  The first dispensation was the age of innocence, and then there was conscience, and human government, and the Law and so on until we come to the age of grace, or the Church age, and this can also be described as the Day of the Lord.  With all of this said one can look at this word near and say that because the age we are living in is the Church age, and at the end of the Church age all of these things written in this book will come true then indeed it is near.  John is saying not to close up the words of the prophecy of this book, and I believe that He is saying that this is profitable for all of the Church age to read this, for indeed God has promised a blessing to all those who read this wonderful book. 

            John goes on to write about write about the difference between those who will believe what has been written in this book, and therefore turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness, and he also write about those who will not believe the prophecies of this book and thus continue on in their sinful life.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The last part of verse eleven talks about continuing to live a holy righteous life, and this is a process which is a life long process of becoming more and more conformed to the image of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to which I am committed to do with the help, love, grace and mercy of the One who lives within me.

The Word of God was a challenge to my heart as I read and studied it this morning, it was also refreshing to me.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Trust the Lord for the outcome of how many people, and who they will be that come for the registration of Upward this evening, tomorrow evening and also Saturday morning.