Book 1 "Path of the church"
Chapter 1: The Revelation
Chapter 1: The Revelation
"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
~Revelation 1:3
96 A.D., Patmos, small island off the coast of Greece.
"I am coming quickly." His savior's words echoed in his head as he rushed to compose what would become the last book in what future generations would call the Holy Bible. The final words spoken by his Lord would culminate a work that was divinely burned into his memory. The apostle known as John sat with his writing tools, his task not an easy one. As the last living apostle who actually walked with Jesus, he was in his eighties and declining fast. This would become his final work before departing this earth for eternity to be with his Lord and Savior, whom he found himself now representing as an earthly transcriber.
What was the message being transcribed? Both praise and admonishment for all Christian churches that had been, some sixty years earlier, the seeds planted by the apostles soon after the ascension of Jesus. Now John's task was clear: warn these people of Jesus' second coming. "But, when will it be?" John thought. What does "quickly" mean? It came to him. "Tacheos" John repeated. The Greek word meant that when Jesus came, he would do it quickly. It did not mean imminent. "It could be later today, it could be in thousands of years" John thought.
After His first advent, the apostles had heeded the Lord's commission, to preach his gospel to the ends of the earth. That message, it would seem, was in danger of being changed, watered down or simply forgotten by the churches they had worked so hard to establish. As he composed his message to his beloved Christian breathren, he also realized that he was not only writing to seven literal churches in seven literal cities, but he was also writing to the seven types of "Christians" that would emerge in future generations from these planted seeds. Throughout history, his words would be read by believers right up to the Lord's second coming, which was at a future date known only by God himself. As John wrote, the scope of his project became clear: be the Lord's instrument for the redemption of all mankind.
It also became clear that, although all seven churches would receive praise for their works and deeds, only five would receive criticism and admonishment for their evil deeds. These five were to receive the harsh warnings of what was to come for them if they did not repent of their evil ways, bad deeds, and overall sinful behavior. After all, the gospel was clear: the only way to heaven was through the redemption of sins through the sacrifice of the Lord's death on the cross. Just simply believing was not enough; living a good life was not enough; good works and deeds were not enough. Putting on The Lord Jesus, and letting him rule your life was the only solution. Picking up your cross and following him daily, all while denying yourself and your sinful desires was the price. Salvation is, was, and always would be a free gift of God, not based on good deeds, so nobody is able to brag or boast. This message had been forgotten by five of the seven churches, both now and evidently for all generations to come. As these people formed their own doctrines, based on their own man made traditions and not the word of God, it was now John's task to let them know the error of their ways, before it was too late. He did not know how long they would have to think about it; all he could do was pray they would all, through history, repent and realize the scope of what was at stake. Eternity, after all, was a long time. There is no doubt that they all would live forever. The question was, where would they spend eternity? The choice would be theirs.
The first of seven letters was addressed to the church at Ephesus. A literal church, in a literal city, built by the apostles as the first fruits of christianity, to spread the gospel throughout the world. As instructed, he praised them first for their good works. But then it came, how they fell short of the Lord's standard, as would all their descendants , unless true repentance came from them. What was their sin?, forgetting the Lords gospel, which should have been the center of their universe. Becoming a cold, mechanical people relying more on their intellect than on The Lord. They would have to repent or face the Lords judgement. " The choice", John thought again, "is theirs, and will be until the end of the age."
~Revelation 1:3
96 A.D., Patmos, small island off the coast of Greece.
"I am coming quickly." His savior's words echoed in his head as he rushed to compose what would become the last book in what future generations would call the Holy Bible. The final words spoken by his Lord would culminate a work that was divinely burned into his memory. The apostle known as John sat with his writing tools, his task not an easy one. As the last living apostle who actually walked with Jesus, he was in his eighties and declining fast. This would become his final work before departing this earth for eternity to be with his Lord and Savior, whom he found himself now representing as an earthly transcriber.
What was the message being transcribed? Both praise and admonishment for all Christian churches that had been, some sixty years earlier, the seeds planted by the apostles soon after the ascension of Jesus. Now John's task was clear: warn these people of Jesus' second coming. "But, when will it be?" John thought. What does "quickly" mean? It came to him. "Tacheos" John repeated. The Greek word meant that when Jesus came, he would do it quickly. It did not mean imminent. "It could be later today, it could be in thousands of years" John thought.
After His first advent, the apostles had heeded the Lord's commission, to preach his gospel to the ends of the earth. That message, it would seem, was in danger of being changed, watered down or simply forgotten by the churches they had worked so hard to establish. As he composed his message to his beloved Christian breathren, he also realized that he was not only writing to seven literal churches in seven literal cities, but he was also writing to the seven types of "Christians" that would emerge in future generations from these planted seeds. Throughout history, his words would be read by believers right up to the Lord's second coming, which was at a future date known only by God himself. As John wrote, the scope of his project became clear: be the Lord's instrument for the redemption of all mankind.
It also became clear that, although all seven churches would receive praise for their works and deeds, only five would receive criticism and admonishment for their evil deeds. These five were to receive the harsh warnings of what was to come for them if they did not repent of their evil ways, bad deeds, and overall sinful behavior. After all, the gospel was clear: the only way to heaven was through the redemption of sins through the sacrifice of the Lord's death on the cross. Just simply believing was not enough; living a good life was not enough; good works and deeds were not enough. Putting on The Lord Jesus, and letting him rule your life was the only solution. Picking up your cross and following him daily, all while denying yourself and your sinful desires was the price. Salvation is, was, and always would be a free gift of God, not based on good deeds, so nobody is able to brag or boast. This message had been forgotten by five of the seven churches, both now and evidently for all generations to come. As these people formed their own doctrines, based on their own man made traditions and not the word of God, it was now John's task to let them know the error of their ways, before it was too late. He did not know how long they would have to think about it; all he could do was pray they would all, through history, repent and realize the scope of what was at stake. Eternity, after all, was a long time. There is no doubt that they all would live forever. The question was, where would they spend eternity? The choice would be theirs.
The first of seven letters was addressed to the church at Ephesus. A literal church, in a literal city, built by the apostles as the first fruits of christianity, to spread the gospel throughout the world. As instructed, he praised them first for their good works. But then it came, how they fell short of the Lord's standard, as would all their descendants , unless true repentance came from them. What was their sin?, forgetting the Lords gospel, which should have been the center of their universe. Becoming a cold, mechanical people relying more on their intellect than on The Lord. They would have to repent or face the Lords judgement. " The choice", John thought again, "is theirs, and will be until the end of the age."