Unveiling Final Jesus

AuthorHouse

Contents

Author's Preface..........................................................ixIntroduction..............................................................xi1. The Final Christ.......................................................12. The Central Christ.....................................................93. The Central Christ (continued).........................................174. The Paradoxical Christ.................................................295. The Shepherding Christ.................................................416. The Promised Christ....................................................517. The Reaping Christ.....................................................618. The Warrior Christ.....................................................699. The Illuminating Christ................................................7710. The Coming Christ.....................................................85Epilogue..................................................................95APPENDIX 1: N.T. Greek words used for Christ's Return.....................97APPENDIX 2: Worship in The Revelation.....................................101

Chapter One

'The last word.' What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? Normally, the person in charge or the person who is considered to be the expert gets to have 'the last word' on whatever matter is under consideration. You may or may not agree with that individual, but when 'the last word' has been spoken there is no further discussion. Those are the words left ringing in your ears. Those are the words that you are left to ponder, weigh and consider.

In terms of the written canon of Scripture, the Book of Revelation is God's 'last word.' Common logic would seem to dictate that a God who is intelligent, reasonable and articulate would speak 'last words' that would be easily understood by the vast majority of His audience. Unfortunately, in the case of the Book of Revelation (hereafter referred to simply as The Revelation), the reality is quite different. For most of the last two millennia of Church history, the people of God have fussed and fought (metaphorically, if not physically) over the intent, intelligibility and interpretation of The Revelation. What was given as a source of encouragement, unity and hope has become a cause of discouragement, division and fear.

Is it possible that God intended to leave His Church on earth in a state of perpetual agitation with regard to this book? Is it reasonable to suppose that the God who went to such lengths to produce and preserve the written revelation of Himself (the Bible) would conclude that sacred volume with gibberish? How could a God who so eloquently expressed Himself in the previous 65 books get things so muddled in the final one? If you were going on trial in a court of law, would you choose a lawyer who could argue circles around everyone else but then became tongue-tied when it came time for the closing argument? Of course not!

While I don't presume to have all the answers on every particular detail communicated in The Revelation, I am convinced that there is profound insight to be gleaned from a more careful study of the opening verses which will, in turn, shed significant light on the remainder of the book.

To begin, one must decide between two simple options. Either The Revelation is a dark mystery, unintelligible to all except highly trained Biblical scholars, disconnected from the rest of Scripture and relevant primarily for generations yet to be born, OR The Revelation is an integral part of the Bible, harmonious with the other 65 books, relevant to (and understandable by) all God's people. Is it the logical conclusion to a coherent, unified divine revelation OR is it merely an awkward appendage to the Bible, more of an embarrassment than a blessing? There really is no third option.

I'm sure that you have guessed by now which of those two options I have chosen and what will be the underlying theme of these pages. It is my deep conviction that God's final statement, His closing argument, His summation, if you will, is a unique portrayal of the One whose presence permeates the pages of holy writ. The central character of the Bible is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testament books foreshadow Him, the Gospels and the Acts describe Him, the Epistles explain Him and The Revelation "reveals" Him in a manner that is authentic, artistic and apocalyptic.

In the book of Hebrews, the author's 'first words' focus on Jesus being God's 'last word' (Heb.1:1-4). He contrasts the "speaking" of God in ages past with the "speaking" of God in "these last days." This passage could well be paraphrased as follows: "God used to speak the language of Prophet, but now He speaks the language of Son." In fact, if anyone were to inquire as to 'what God is saying today,' the answer would be quite simple (though eternally profound) - "Jesus!"

While the Bible does not come to us with an author's Preface or Introduction, as is common in other writings, the individual 'books' within it often do have an opening statement of some kind to set the stage for what is to follow. In The Revelation, thankfully, we are blessed with three verses that marvelously set the stage for the strange and compelling visions that are to follow. In light of the mystery that permeates the pages of this 'last word,' why would any follower of the Lord Jesus Christ launch out into such uncharted territory without taking sufficient time to acclimate and acquaint himself with what is freely given to him in these three brief verses?

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and he sent and communicated it by His angel to His bondservant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near."

Those first five words, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," are the English translation of three Greek words, 'apokalupsis Iesou Christou.' These three words are, I believe, the most significant words in the whole book. This opening phrase is, in fact, the declaration of the primary theme of this book; it is a "revelation" of Jesus. All the other visions that follow are secondary and supportive of the Person and Work of Christ.

The word 'apokalupsis,' from which we get the English word 'apocalypse,' means "an unveiling, an uncovering, a disclosure of something that was previously hidden." Isn't it interesting that the very first word of God's "last word" tells us that something is about to be disclosed and uncovered. Think of the excitement that fills the air when a painter or sculptor stretches out his hand to unveil his artistic achievement. Think of the curiosity that captivates people when a formerly top-secret document is about to be declassified. That is but a small picture of the excitement that should fill the hearts and minds of God's people as they approach this book, realizing that within its pages, the God of heaven has stretched out His strong arm and pulled back the veil to show forth, to uncover, and to reveal His glorious Son!

The name 'Jesus Christ' is written in the 'genitive' case...