The concept of God’s Revelation being accessible yet not fully comprehensible to everyone is indeed intriguing. It suggests that the mysteries of God’s Kingdom are selectively unveiled to those who are open and willing to listen. This paradox of revealing what remains hidden adds depth to the spiritual journey. Although John, the author of the Book, was unaware of its future readers, the message has transcended time, reaching those who seek understanding from his era to the present day.
However, if one struggles to understand Jesus’ teachings in the four gospel books, attempting to comprehend the Book of Revelation may seem unnecessary. Its contents are hidden from ordinary people but revealed to God’s servants. Anyone can become a servant of God by being humble in spirit and willing to learn. Every human being has the potential to be God’s servant.
In the introduction of the Book, the author, John, clearly states who the Book is intended for. To be God’s servant means allowing God to exercise His free will in one’s life, which is not possible for those unwilling to let go of rigid beliefs. While anyone is free to read the Book, understanding it depends on whether one is a servant of God or not.
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:1-3 NIV).
The Bible makes it clear that understanding God’s word is a gift given to His servants. According to John 3:16-19, God’s intention to save humanity hinges on belief in Jesus. The failure to grasp God’s truth stems from humanity’s love for darkness due to their evil deeds. Recognizing this, God employs gradual processes to work with people, requiring patience and a willingness to understand His ways.
Initially, Jesus had twelve disciples, but His teachings were not confined to them alone. What He taught was relevant to His disciples then and remains relevant to His disciples today. While Jesus spoke to His disciples of that time, He was also addressing His future disciples, knowing each one by name. His communication transcended time, making it applicable to all His followers, regardless of the era.
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:8-10 NIV).
The Day of Judgment precedes the disappearance of the heavens, as indicated in Revelation 21:1. The processes are designed to accommodate all of humanity, many of whom are slow to understand. Accepting God’s word without question is not typical for most people. It is important to recognize that God’s word cannot be appreciated in the same way as a simple novel, as Biblical contents are a form of spiritual communication. God’s revelation deals with matters of eternity, requiring a gradual approach. Patience is a virtue for those who genuinely seek to understand God’s mysteries.
“This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Timothy 2:3-6 NIV).
Jesus’ testimony, given at the right time, was meant for all humanity. Some of His teachings may have been confusing to His disciples and might seem irrelevant to us today, just as many things we read now will be more relevant to future generations. While Jesus’ teachings were primarily for the first century, they are not limited to that time. It wasn’t necessary for His followers to fully understand future events.
Being zealous for God is commendable, but pretending to understand when we don’t is problematic. True understanding of God’s word requires humility above all else. Attending Bible colleges can be a pastime, but it’s not essential. Jesus is the ultimate authority for those seeking God’s Kingdom. To be His servant, one must be patient and willing to learn from Him. Peter acknowledged this, defending Paul, whose teachings were sometimes considered difficult to grasp.
“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15-16).
John wrote the Book of Revelation while incarcerated on the island of Patmos. Like the rest of the apostles, they may have desired to witness the fulfilment of God’s promises during their lifetimes. However, patience required them to understand that God’s plans unfold according to His timing. It can be frustrating when friends fail to grasp what seems clear to oneself. God’s grace is all-encompassing, desiring that no one is lost.
Everyone, no matter where they are, will have the chance to evaluate the truth at the right time. Accepting or rejecting God’s grace is a personal choice that God respects. His mercy ensures that each person has the opportunity to understand the truth when the time is right. The greatest danger lies in encountering the truth prematurely. The entire Christian dispensation is covered in the Book of Revelation.
Jesus is revealed as would eventually come as the Son of Man, to sit on the throne of David. His millennial reign is revealed as would replace human misgovernance in the previous six thousand years. The story of humanity is documented in a six-thousand-year period, starting with Adam, and leading to Jesus’ crucifixion, straight into our time. The Messianic condition of Jesus will be fulfilled during His millennial rule (Revelation 20). His millennial reign fits in as the Seventh Day Sabbath when factoring in, Peter’s rendition: “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8).
The archetype of Jesus’ messianic role is depicted in the power of the cross, considered the most humiliating experience endured by humans. Jesus, portrayed as selfless, offered to share the blessings of His suffering with those willing to follow His path. The words He spoke to His first disciples apply to every true Christian, who emulates Him rather than merely worships Him.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:12-15 NIV).
Jesus’ brothers should not be regarded as different from Jesus. The deception, enveloping Christianity, ever since, includes the teaching that Christians are different from Jesus. The Book of Revelation is often seen as a warning, urging Christians to be vigilant and avoid the calamities that may befall humanity. This perspective can instil fear rather than strengthen Christians to withstand opposition. Jesus suggested that His followers were like His friends, as long as they applied what He taught.
“This is my command: Love each other. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me” (John 15:17-21 NIV).
The Book of Revelation revealed the conditions that would prevail at the appropriate times. Just as in the above passage, Jesus was foretelling His disciples of the expected rough treatment from those of this world. This fulfils the adage: “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” The true disciples of Jesus are not necessarily preoccupied with the mark of the beast, for instance.
They are those who are aware of the world’s conditions but can remain focused rather than lose hope. Those focusing on the significance of the mark of the beast are completely oblivious to what happened to Christians in John’s time. Certainly, if God was as concerned with protecting His own, He would not have allowed the decimation of believers during that time. God’s protection is spiritual rather than physical.
Spiritual protection strengthens the resolve to face death under the harshest conditions. The Book of Revelation is intended for God’s servants, not ordinary humans. The sealing of the 144,000 in Revelation 7 is spiritual, not physical, and does not guarantee protection from physical harm, such as decapitation. Those who fear death are not among those forewarned to be ready for the toughest conditions ahead.
“Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me” (John 15:20-21 NIV).
To avoid Christian deception, it’s essential to focus on Jesus’ teachings rather than those of deceptive individuals. Learning step-by-step ensures a contextual understanding. The Sermon on the Mount is a great starting point. Jesus concluded this sermon by saying that those who apply His teachings are like builders on solid rock, while those who don’t are like builders on sand, whose structures are destined to collapse.
The key Scriptures that make a difference in understanding Jesus’ teachings are: 1) (Matthew 13:10-12. Mark 4:10-12) Jesus taught in Parables, to ensure that outsiders would not meddle with Christianity. 2) (Luke 14:25-33) Preaching the Gospel does not include persuading people to accept conversion. 3) (Matthew 10:39) The purpose of Jesus, as our Messiah, was never intended to save the physical person. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”. And (Matthew 7:21-23) Not all who say “Lord, Lord” will inherit the Kingdom of God”.
There is much to learn from Jesus, especially leading up to His crucifixion. His experiences remain relevant to those considered His followers. Separating Jesus from His followers, from the early disciples to the present, is a mistake. Jesus is embodied in the lives of those in whom He dwells. The fact that those whom Jesus uses are often rejected reflects how Jesus Himself was never fully accepted during His ministry. It is wrong to find comfort in what is commonly approved while ignoring His teachings.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:1-17 NIV)
Another condition peculiar to God’s servants is not being excited about good things in their physical lives. The blessings considered in the Old Testament are portrayed as the opposite of what describes a Christian. Christians are supposed to love, rather than hate, their enemies, according to the New Testament. Jesus never instructed His disciples to pray for their friends, but He specifically instructed them to pray for their enemies. Their rejoicing would be when experiencing persecution, rather than when treated kindly.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV).
Finding joy in persecution can indeed seem unbelievable to nonbelievers, but for those who identify as Jesus’ brothers, it is a testament to their faith. The Book of Revelation, often seen as complex and mysterious, is intended to strengthen believers, preparing them for challenging times without seeking to change their course. It emphasizes the importance of steadfast faith and the prayer that God’s will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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