December 26 - Jude1:1-25, Revelation 1:1-2:29

Good morning everyone,

The book of Jude is super short but packs a super powerful message. It was written by Jude who calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother to James and he wrote to Christians everywhere to encourage them to them be on guard and get busy. He wanted them to recognize the dangers of false teachings, to protect themselves and other believers and to win back those who had already been fooled by the enemy. Many people simply do not want to believe that God sentences people to “eternal fire” for rejecting Him but it is clearly taught in Scripture. Jude warns all who rebel against, ignore or reject God. So the next time you speak with someone you know is not saved, speak up to them, share God’s Good News, give them a chance to save their lives.

The book of Revelation, finally friends, we made it. Great job!  Revelation is a crazy, some say complex, book to follow. It has baffled interpreters for centuries, as a matter of fact, some of the greatest biblical scholars will not even attempt do a commentary on the book. Personally, I find it fascinating. It was written by John, the same John who was the beloved of Jesus, who would lay his head on the chest of Jesus and the same John who was there waiting at the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was praying. Now, an old man of about ninety, John writes this astounding book. An amazing revelation God gave to Jesus, to give to John while he was in exile on the Greek island of Patmos where Roman emperor Domitian sent him to work the mines after John survived Domitian’s attempt to boil him to death in hot oil. I turned my mind’s eye off for that one.

The book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing to those who read it. 1:3 says, “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.” It is a threefold blessing, if you merely hear God’s Word and take it to heart you are missing out on a third of the blessing. The early church read the entire book of revelation every time they met. Imagine, if you will, how even more incredible it must have sounded to them, not being privy to our modern world of emails, test messages and Face Timing.

John, in speaking to his vision of Christ, says, “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.” Time to turn on your mind’s eye, folks. Now I am not one who appreciates being startled but I have got to tell you, as startling as that would have been, I would have loved it. What an honor!

When John turned around he reports seeing, “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.” Does that not excite you? It does me!!! And then, we’re told, John fell at his feet as though dead. Ummm, oh yes! I would have too :-) You?

Then Jesus said to John, “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.” The first words of Jesus to John personally identify him with the "I AM' of Scripture, for He calls Himself the "Alpha and Omega." These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The title signifies the completeness with which God revealed Himself to mankind through Christ. Make sense? This is nothing less than an official affirmation by Jesus of His personal deity.

The Lord God is the beginning and the end, God the Father is the eternal Lord and Ruler of the past, present and future. Without Him we have nothing that is eternal, nothing that could change our life, nothing that could save us from sin. It begs the question; Is the Lord your reason for living? The Alpha and Omega of your life? He has got to be or the only other choice you are left with is the “eternal fire” Jude warns us against. I would suggest that we all, choose Christ. Honor the one who is the beginning and the end of all existence, wisdom and power. Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..