making the scriptures plain

The full mystery of God has been kept a secret from the foundation of the world. But the Holy Spirit will reveal aspects of this mystery to all who wish to know the truth in faithful study and obedience of the scriptures.

Revelation is unique in that it is the only book of the Bible that relates to the time after Jesus left the earth to the time He returns to put an end to sin and reward His faithful people with eternal life. May we receive insight as we study this book - His special message for those living through this final period of earth's history.

Studying the word ‘revelation’ and its derivatives as they appear in the Bible, the Scriptures tell us that God gives revelations to warn His people what will happen before Jesus comes. He also gives revelations about iniquity and its consequences. Paul advised the church that a revelation from God will be helpful, constructive and edifying. We need to treat with respect both the revelation and the one through whom it comes, allowing them to share it and paying special attention to their message.

But how does God convey His revelations? Communication from God to man is always from the Father to Jesus the Son, from Jesus to His angel, from His angel to His prophet.

GOD -> JESUS -> HIS ANGEL -> A PROPHET

For example, God communicated the Revelation vision to His people by giving it to Jesus, who sent His angel to show it to John.

The role of the prophets is crucial. We learn from the Book of Amos that the Lord never does anything without first revealing his plans to His servants the prophets. We are told about every significant coming event before it happens, whether it is good or bad.

If it pleases God He will use even the very young. God revealed His plans to Samuel when he was a child, making it clear that it is faithfulness and obedience, not age, that are the qualifications for a prophet.

God spoke to King David through Nathan the prophet, revealing that He would set up the 'House of David' as an everlasting dynasty of kings. In fact this House was to be especially blessed as Jesus, the Messiah and King of Kings, was to be part of the lineage.

Concerning those that turn from the Lord and His ways, there will come a time when the heavens will expose the guilt of the wicked. The Lord revealed to Isaiah that He could not forgive the sin of pride manifested by the merchants of Tyre and the people of Jerusalem at the time when Elam and Kir attacked them. But He is also merciful, later promising Jeremiah that He will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and show it prosperity and true peace.

Isaiah brings messages of hope concerning the coming Messiah. He promises that the glory of the Lord would be revealed by the one who was coming before Him to prepare the way, and that the Lord’s righteousness was soon to be revealed.

In the Book of Daniel we are given amazing panoramic views of earthly kingdoms to come and warnings of war and great hardship, as Daniel interpreted the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, and received visions in the time of Cyrus, king of Persia.

We know through the Gospels that Jesus, during His ministry here on earth,  spoke at length about justice and mercy. He reassured those who were suffering under harsh regimes that in the end everything that is covered, including all the seemingly unnoticed unpunished injustices, would be exposed to everyone. The deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

Despite these warnings, right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed, people will be going about their business as though the world will continue as it is for ever. He warned that those who refuse to turn from their sins are storing up terrible punishment for themselves. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgement will be revealed.

In his letters, Paul writes about his calling to discipleship. He was given visions and revelations from the Lord. And it is because of this that Paul is able to give us such deep insight into the Gospel and its power to save.

Though kept secret from the beginning of time, this Gospel was now revealed, showing how God makes both Jew and Gentile right in His sight through faith. But God will show his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. So Paul encouraged his co-workers to build up the church expertly, on the foundation of Jesus Christ that he had laid. For on the judgement day, fire would reveal what kind of work each builder has done.

Unlike the twelve disciples, Paul was not with Jesus during His earthly ministry. He received the Gospel message by direct revelation from Jesus, for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Paul did not believe in the once-saved-always-saved idea, recognising that he was not yet made perfect. He wanted the spiritually mature to agree on these issues. He believed God would reveal this truth to those who were of a different opinion.
 
Paul saw the law as protecting people until they could be made right with God through faith. And he recognised the importance of spiritual discernment, constantly asking God to give spiritual wisdom and insight so that Christians might grow in their knowledge of God. Like Jesus, he comforted all who are suffering and under persecution with the reassurance that God will provide rest for them when the Lord Jesus is revealed in glory from heaven.

But this day of the Lord would not come until after the great rebellion against God and the revealing of the destroyer. Although this lawless destroyer was already at work secretly, it would remain secret until the right time, when the One who is holding it back steps out of the way. But the Lord Jesus will kill this man of lawlessness with the breath of His mouth. He will destroy him by the splendour of His coming!

Peter’s first letter is a message of encouragement and hope for us as we go through this life of ups and downs waiting for Jesus to appear in glory. Through your faith, he says, God is protecting you by his power until you receive your salvation, to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

Incredibly the prophets of old did not fully understand the messages of salvation they were given, though they faithfully passed them on to God’s people. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and His great glory afterward. It was revealed to them that their messages were not for themselves, but for us!

We should look forward with joy to the gracious salvation that will come to us when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. Any trials we may go through because we are Christians are a blessing because they enable us to be partners with Christ in his suffering. We will have the wonderful joy of seeing and sharing in His glory when it is revealed to the entire world.

We come lastly to the first verse of the Book of Revelation. This book, we are told, is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. The Book of Revelation is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

In this study, we have looked at passages of Scripture that contain reference to ‘revelation’ and ‘revealing’. In light of these passages, we can see that God unfolds the truth to us in His own good time, when it is best for us, when we are ready to receive it.

We see that the mystery of God is none other than the Lord’s part in the great controversy – the battle between good and evil – and the glorious way He conquers sin, death and evil for eternity.

This mystery of God was disclosed in part to the prophets of old when the Holy Spirit spoke to them about the coming Messiah and His sacrifice for mankind. They wondered what it could all mean, but faithfully reported it anyway.

In the next period of revelation, Jesus initially prepared His apostles to establish His church before making His supreme Sacrifice on the cross. The Holy Spirit then quickened those same apostles at Pentecost, and proceeded to unfold more truth to them, for the benefit of His people for all time. Paul and Peter in particular highlight the work of the Spirit in revealing the true meaning and relevance of the Gospel. They also touch on the future appearing of Jesus, the day of the Lord, and how we should be while we wait for His coming.

The beginning of the Book of Revelation heralds the start of the last scriptural period of revelation - the time when Jesus appeared in vision to John on the island of Patmos. This vision covers the era stretching from the formation of the Christian church to the very end of the world. It is given in great and glorious detail. It is a creative work of art that often uses symbolic language and imagery, and we need spiritual discernment to understand it. But the reason for this revelation is not obscure. It is clearly to equip and prepare God’s people, especially those who will be alive just prior to His glorious appearing in the clouds.

This is the back drop to the Prophetic Verses compilation that follows. Based on the book of Revelation, it is a deep exploration of the Bible using the Bible itself as the map. Just as much as it gives us insight into this Revelation, may it help to equip us and prepare us to meet our Lord when He comes. This is the prayer of the compilers.
  

God reveals secrets to His servants

God's revelation to Samuel

The LORD had called the child

I will build thee an house

Revelations of the Unrighteous

A talebearer

God's wrath reveals iniquity

The glory of the LORD

I will cure them

God's secrets revealed to Daniel

What shall befall thy people in the latter days

The righteousness of God revealed in us

There is nothing covered

Simeon and Mary

A partaker of the glory

The spirit of wisdom and revelation is given to us

Those to whom revelations are made, not to be exalted

Jesus revealed to Paul

God's truth revealed in Man

God shall reveal even this unto you

When Jesus shall be revealed

To be revealed in the last time

The Revelation of Jesus Christ