Revelation Unlocked #2

Revelation Unlocked #2 The beginning and the end.

Some housekeeping before I share #2. Because of the number of participants and the time it takes to send  the three groups, I have to start sending the series before 6 to fit in with my school program. If you are in the earliest group and you don’t want your phone going off before 6, I can shift you to the latter group that will come after 7. ALSO if you send me a reply via SMS please add your name as I do not have 300 phone numbers and names in my head. Thanks. Finally, I will be starting another group in a couple of weeks if you know anyone who would like to join up. send them to: revelationunlocked.org. Thanks to Jesse for all his work and the frustration of dealing with this old bloke. Regards Ross

How did our tiny globe become a planet in rebellion? If God is so good, why is the world so bad. How can a God of love allow so much evil to exist? Why do bad things happen to good people? All these questions and much more besides, will be played out as we explore the tension between the now and the not yet of our orbiting cemetery, as explained in the Book of Revelation. God pronounces a blessing on all who consider its pages: “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.” Rev. 1:3

You might be wondering about the word “near?” You will discover in the next few months that Revelation spans the history of the world from John’s day to ours. You will find that Revelation is relevant to every age, but especially concentrates on “the time of the end” – our day. There are a multitude of ways of proving we are living in this period called “the time of the end” in scripture. Notice it is “time of the end” not the end of time – it is a period of time not a point -full stop!

God is a God of incredible love. His very nature is love (1John 4:7,8) All His actions are loving (Jer. 31:3). Love can never be forced, coerced, or legislated. Only by love is love awakened. To deny the power of choice is to destroy the ability to love, and to destroy the ability to love is to eradicate the possibility of being truly happy. God wins our allegiance by His love. He is dealing with the great controversy between good and evil in such a way that sin will never arise in the universe again. God’s purpose is to demonstrate before the entire universe that He has always acted in the best interests of His creatures.

The centre piece of Revelation explains to us about a war in heaven (Revelation 12:7-9). A cosmic conflict between good and evil. Satan and his angels warred against Christ and, eventually, were cast out of heaven. It seems extremely strange that war would break out in such a perfect place as heaven. Was there a fatal flaw in this created being, that led him to rebel? In drawing aside the curtain in this conflict the Bible clearly explains the origin of evil. (Ezekiel 28:12-15 and Isa 14:12-14 add further insight.)

There is no logical explanation as to why this perfect angel should allow pride and jealousy to take root in his heart and grow into rebellion against his Creator. Lucifer, a created being, desired the worship that belonged only to the creator. He attempted to usurp God’s throne by questioning God’s authority. His rebellion led to open warfare in heaven. Jesus said,” the devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44). The father of lies!

The devil wars against everything God stands for; His character, His truth, His church, His word, even His people, and lo and behold we find that the war is even going on inside us!

The book of Revelation is a chronical of this war that has gone on now for two millennia since Jesus was here. Every one of us is affected by this war. However, the good news is the door of suffering and death that Adam and Eve opened, will one day close forever.

The journey that we are about to embark on will change your life, as it did mine over 50 years ago. It is my privilege to be your guide in a book I have studied extensively for over half a century. Together we will put the pieces of the jigsaw together that will reveal to us the grand panoramic picture of the history of the world, and the spiritual war that has raged, and will rage until its consumation.

Be encouraged by the fact that this great controversy is not perpetual. If evil and the devil had a beginning, they will certainly have an end. God has solved the sin problem by taking the consequences of sin upon Himself, in Christ. This victory is yours – as a gift from a loving God.