Seeing Jesus Revealed (Revelation 1)

Evening Scripture

Revelation, Chapter 1
The revelation from 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 testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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.

John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Evening Reflection

Although some may avoid reading the book of Revelation, with its ominous figures, plagues upon the earth, and apocalyptic themes, it’s still a book well worth reading, revealing eternal mysteries and painting a vivid picture of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As a child, I had vibrant, recurring dreams of Christ’s return to earth, waking up in bed, wrapped up in my sheets and blankets, trembling at the majesty of seeing Him coming down in the sky, all of which is very real to me. Not that I understand everything in Revelation when reading it, as I’m far from it, but with the memory of my childhood dreams and with the promise of blessing to all who read and take its words to heart, my heart is stirred and encouraged to keep reading it. Within its mysterious words, Jesus is revealed in all His glory. As I read the verses and chapters about the Savior of the world, the returning Prince of Peace, the memories of my dreams seem to highlight the words written on the pages.

Such rich and eternal truth is embedded within this book, drawing us in and making the timeless, eternal truths revealed too irresistible to resist, of Jesus as our faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, and ruler of the kings on earth. Jesus, revealed as the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is, who was, and who is to come. Jesus, revealed as our Savior and Redeemer, who loved us, died to free us from the wrath of God, and washed our sins away with His own blood. He, who is returning in the clouds, just as I dreamed about growing up over and over again.

Evening Prayer

God,
Thank You for revealing who Jesus is to me: Your dearly beloved Son, as described in Your priceless, precious book of Revelation. Open my heart, mind, and eyes to be drawn to reading Your truth within its words and page. Free me from turning away from it out of fear and lack of understanding. Quicken my heart and mind to grasp the truths revealed to me through Your word.
Amen

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