One of the complexities of God is knowing that Christ Jesus is God, just as God is God. Everyone understands that Christ Jesus was born as a tiny baby and grew to be the physical form of God that taught us to love others, taught us that the presence of God existed in those who kept his commandments and prayed, and taught us that true love sacrifices for others, sometimes even to the point of death, as seen in the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. We praise the Lord God and Christ Jesus that Christ Jesus loved us enough to die on the cross for us and we praise the Lord God and Christ Jesus that Christ Jesus is risen from the grave and ascended into heaven. We also praise Lord God and Christ Jesus that Christ Jesus still loved even after the cruel death that he suffered and chose to still love us and forgive us of our sins.
We also praise the Lord God and Christ Jesus that Christ Jesus chose to warn us prior to his return to rapture his church so that we the church would have time to repent before his return. This is the purpose of the book of Revelation in the Holy Bible, which was written by John one of the Apostles of Christ Jesus. John was taken to heaven to witness the events to come so he could present this warning to the churches.
Revelation 1:4-6 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who, loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The book of Revelation contains many warnings of events to come and Christ Jesus wanted us to understand and prepare ourselves. The good news for believers in Christ Jesus is that Christ Jesus will return. Prior to the crucifixion of Christ Jesus, Christ Jesus told us that heaven existed and that he would return for his believers.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself ; that where I am, there you may be also.
Revelation 1:7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
It is awesome that Christ Jesus took time to show John that heaven is a real place and that there is a place for believers there. It was also important that Christ Jesus showed John that believers in Christ Jesus needed to prepare themselves.
There is no sin allowed in heaven and therefore, all of us must have already repented prior to entering heaven. The bad news is that there is an extreme urgency for believers in Christ Jesus to repent of all sin and be transformed from the sinful beings we were into servants of Christ Jesus who are faithful to him, who believe in him, who go to him for truth and strength and who lead unbelievers to Christ Jesus.
Revelation 1:12-16, the scripture describes the appearance of Christ Jesus after His ascension into heaven. He no longer had the appearance of a man, but now has the appearance of God. His head and hair are white and His eyes are like a flame. His feet glow like burnished bronze and his voice was like many waters. His tongue was a sharp two-edged sword and His face was a bright as the shining sun.
Revelation 1:12-16 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
In Ezekiel 43:2, the scripture describes the appearance of God as causing the earth to shine because of the light of His glory and also tells us that His voice was like the sound of many waters.
Ezekiel 43:2 and behold the glory of God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And HIs voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone from His glory.
Remember at this time, the disciples had felt that they had lost their best friend, their teacher, and their spiritual leader. They were told that they would see Christ Jesus again but that required a great amount of faith. The crucifixion was difficult for them to witness. Crucifixion was a punishment used against criminals. How is it possible that people would treat someone so pure, someone without sin, even someone who loved even the worst of sinners? When John turned to see Him, John fell down at His feet. Not only was Christ Jesus standing before him, but He was alive.
Revelation 1:17-20 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Not only was this confirmation for John, but this is also confirmation for the churches they had started. Even though Christ Jesus was in heaven, the lampstands were with him. The seven lampstands represented the seven churches they had started and the seven stars representing the seven angels watching over the churches were being held in the right hand of Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus had not abandoned them, but was caring for them in a different way.
Christ Jesus gives John letters to give to the churches. Within the letters, Christ Jesus helps them understand that they still need to keep vigilant and never become lukewarm. Christ Jesus tells them that they should not be tolerant of evil, but teach the people the importance of righteousness. Christ Jesus even tells them that they need to repent.
As Christ Jesus addresses each of the churches, He reminds them who He is. In Revelation 2:1, Christ Jesus addresses the angel of the church in Ephesus saying He is the one who hold the seven stars in His right hand and the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, reminding them He is still holding the angels in His right hand and is with the churchs in the spirit.
In Revelation 2:8, Christ Jesus identifies himself to the angel of the church in Smyrna as the first and the last and the one who was dead and has come to life. The first and the last is declaring that Christ Jesus is also God. In Isaiah 44:6, Lord God identified himself as the first and the last, saying there is no God besides himself. I point this out so you can see the connection and also remember this was prior to the birth of Christ Jesus. When Christ Jesus identifies himself as the one who was dead and has come to life, He is reminding the church that He was once crucified and is now risen and has ascended to heaven.
Isaiah 44:6 For the LORD, the KIng of Israel and his Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of hosts says this, “I am the First and I am the Last, And there is no God besides Me.
In Revelation 2:12, Christ Jesus identified himself to the angel of the church in Pergamum as the one with the sharp two-edged sword. In Hebrews 4:12, it states that the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. Christ Jesus is identifying himself as the Word of God .The fact that the Word of God is stated to be sharper than a two-edged sword and the fact that Christ Jesus has identified himself as the Word of God tells us that both Christ Jesus and the Word of God are our weapons in all spiritual warfare.
Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living an active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able o judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
In Revelation 2:16, Christ Jesus warns the church of Pergamum to repent or he will wage war against them.
Revelation2:16 'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
In Revelation 2:18, Christ Jesus identified himself to the angel of the church in Thyatira as the Son of God who has eyes like a flame and feet like burnished bronze. Most people believe that Christ Jesus is describing himself as omniscience and being able to see into the heart a person’s true intentions. The feet of burnished brass represent his stedfastness. In Ezekiel 1:7, the spirit of the Lord with four faces that spoke to Ezekiel is described as having feet like burnished brass.
Ezekiel 1:7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
In Revelation 3:1, Christ Jesus identified himself to the angel of the church in Sardis as He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. The seven stars again represent the seven angels that overlook the seven churches founded by the Apostles. The seven spirits of God are identified in Revelation 4:5 as being from the seven lamps that are from the throne of God.
Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
In Revelation 3:7, Christ Jesus identifies himself to the angel that overlooks the church in Philadelphia as He who is holy and true and who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut and who shuts and no one opens. Christ Jesus is holy and true. In Revelation 6:20 , that saints call on the Lord, referring to the Lord as being holy and true. The key of David is found in Isaiah 22:22 where the key of David was laid upon the shoulder of David. I believe this is referring to the mantle granted to David by God, which means Lord God was a direct help to King David.
Isaiah 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
As Christ Jesus addressed the angels of each of the churches, Christ Jesus described himself to each of the churches as a reminder that He really is all knowing and all powerful and He really is our refuge and our strength. An important part of the salvation that we obtain from Christ Jesus by believing in Him is trusting Him as our help, as our resource, to be the one that we call on in our time of need. Salvation in Christ Jesus is more than just believing that Christ Jesus is the son of God and more than just believing that he died for our sins as the ultimate sacrifice. We are told that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow.
Philippians 2:1-11 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. 9 For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In Revelation 3:20, Christ Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
John 10-9-11 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Christ Jesus did give his life for his sheep when he was crucified. We praise the Lord God that Christ Jesus was risen and ascended into heaven to reign with Lord God. The book of Revelation is a testament that Christ Jesus is indeed in heaven and reigning with Lord God. We as his believers await his return so that we may enter into the Kingdom of Heaven to be with him. Most of us believe that the return of Christ Jesus will be very soon. Just as Revelation 1:7 states, Christ Jesus will return on the clouds and those that Christ Jesus has counted as his will ascend up into the clouds to be with him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
I do want to make it clear that when Christ Jesus returns, it will be very quick. Christ Jesus will not stay and reside on the earth. If someone ever claims to be Christ Jesus and plans to reside on the earth, he is not the real Christ Jesus. The time for a new heaven and new earth is not now and when that time does come, there will not be any unbelievers there. There will only be believers.
Right now it is important for everyone to believe in Christ Jesus and make Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. When someone is your Lord , they have charge over you. This is your protection. If Christ Jesus is not your Lord, then the satan will claim that he is your god. Satan will claim that because you choose to sin and rebel against Christ Jesus, that you belong to him. Satan will look for every sin, regardless of how small. If you have chosen to believe in Christ Jesus, making Christ Jesus Lord of your life protects you and repenting of your sin to Christ Jesus, erases that sin so that it cannot be counted against you.
This is very important. I previously used the word choose. I have prayed to Christ Jesus many times about certain people and certain situations and his response to me was that they chose that. So I am trying to be very clear to you so that you can be very clear about your intentions. You must choose to believe in Christ Jesus and you must choose to give up your sin and you must choose to repent and you must pray to Christ Jesus and let him know that you have chosen to be his. No one accidentally gets into heaven. You must choose to believe in Christ Jesus and you must choose to repent. Remember that sin is not allowed in heaven, so you have to have already repented before the time comes that you either die or are raptured. The time is soon.
In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray to Christ Jesus and Yahweh Lord God, requesting forgiveness of my sin. I repent of my sin and pray that Christ Jesus and Lord God change me and change my heart to help choose not to sin and I pray that Christ Jesus and Lord God even protect me from temptation. I choose to believe in Christ Jesus and I pray and request that Christ Jesus of Nazareth be my Lord and Savior. Please lead me and guide me and help me hear from the Holy Spirit and also hear your true voice. Please give me discernment so that I make better decisions. Help me to love others as you love them and help me become the person you want me to be.
I also pray that Lord God lead everyone to believe in Christ Jesus. Change their hearts and make people be less mean and more loving. Lord God please heal our land. I pray this request in the name of Christ Jesus and Yahweh Lord God. Amen.
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