The book of Revelation has prompted considerable debate among Christians on a number of prophetic issues: The timing and details of the Rapture, the matter of the Millennium, the Great Tribulation, the identity of the 144,000 in Ch.14:1-5. Despite the fact that Bible believing Christians have differed on these details for centuries, certain Christians/preachers today are willing to go to the mat for trivial points of prophetic interpretation. Perhaps you have known people who are willing to argue from sunup to sundown about one or more of these matters. Perhaps you might have started the argument.
My question: Where are the gospel and the Person of Jesus Christ in all of this arguing?
Contemplate the wonder of Christ's Person. Henry Mahan said, "The Ancient of Days became an infant of days. The Son of the Most-High God became a man of sorrows. He made the World, but as a man, he had no place to lay His head. He who made the rivers asked a woman to give Him a drink of water. He who cast out devils was tempted of the devil, and the author of life died and lay in a tomb."
We believers are to delight in and always cherish the wonderful God-man, Jesus Christ.
The book of Revelation primarily reveals Jesus Christ and His gospel. Revelation gets underway with the words: "The revelation of Jesus Christ." V.2 speaks of "the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ." V.5 refers to Jesus as "the faithful witness" and the One Who "loves us and has rescued us from our sins by His blood." According to v.18, Jesus is "the living One" Who is "alive forever and ever". The entire 5th chapter of Revelation is taken up with the worthiness of Christ and the redemption of Christ's servants by His blood.
Rev.14:6 presents John's testimony- "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--- to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people."
And in Rev.19:10, an angel told John point blank: "Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
If you're going to become energized about a topic, why not get energized about the gospel and Person of Christ? According to the gospel, Christians are saved by Jesus Christ---and this is entirely by the grace of God. If you must become obsessive, why not obsess about Who Jesus is and what He has achieved? Why not devote yourself to teaching new disciples to obey what Jesus specifically commanded? That seems to be a big part of the Great Commission (Matt.28:19-20).
If I am mistaken about one or more points of prophetic interpretation, guess what? I'm still saved! My salvation has been achieved by the Savior, not by an ability to win arguments about long-term prophetic details. Christian salvation isn't about vanquishing and silencing opponents in eschatological debates; it's all about Jesus' power and triumph for people of faith in Him.
When we are glorified in heaven, there will be no further need to discuss the Rapture, the Great Tribulation or anything to do with events on this earth. But, we'll be personally engaged in adoring our Savior and thanking God for Him. Even in heaven itself---we will exult in the everlasting gospel alluded to in the final verse of Revelation: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."
My question: Where are the gospel and the Person of Jesus Christ in all of this arguing?
Contemplate the wonder of Christ's Person. Henry Mahan said, "The Ancient of Days became an infant of days. The Son of the Most-High God became a man of sorrows. He made the World, but as a man, he had no place to lay His head. He who made the rivers asked a woman to give Him a drink of water. He who cast out devils was tempted of the devil, and the author of life died and lay in a tomb."
We believers are to delight in and always cherish the wonderful God-man, Jesus Christ.
The book of Revelation primarily reveals Jesus Christ and His gospel. Revelation gets underway with the words: "The revelation of Jesus Christ." V.2 speaks of "the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ." V.5 refers to Jesus as "the faithful witness" and the One Who "loves us and has rescued us from our sins by His blood." According to v.18, Jesus is "the living One" Who is "alive forever and ever". The entire 5th chapter of Revelation is taken up with the worthiness of Christ and the redemption of Christ's servants by His blood.
Rev.14:6 presents John's testimony- "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--- to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people."
And in Rev.19:10, an angel told John point blank: "Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
If you're going to become energized about a topic, why not get energized about the gospel and Person of Christ? According to the gospel, Christians are saved by Jesus Christ---and this is entirely by the grace of God. If you must become obsessive, why not obsess about Who Jesus is and what He has achieved? Why not devote yourself to teaching new disciples to obey what Jesus specifically commanded? That seems to be a big part of the Great Commission (Matt.28:19-20).
If I am mistaken about one or more points of prophetic interpretation, guess what? I'm still saved! My salvation has been achieved by the Savior, not by an ability to win arguments about long-term prophetic details. Christian salvation isn't about vanquishing and silencing opponents in eschatological debates; it's all about Jesus' power and triumph for people of faith in Him.
When we are glorified in heaven, there will be no further need to discuss the Rapture, the Great Tribulation or anything to do with events on this earth. But, we'll be personally engaged in adoring our Savior and thanking God for Him. Even in heaven itself---we will exult in the everlasting gospel alluded to in the final verse of Revelation: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."