And behold, "I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the word of the prophecy of this book." Revelation 22:7
I am delighted to celebrate Christmas as the present year is ending, and we are about to begin a new one. It gives me hope and courage to begin another year of uncertainty in this world. Christmas means the time of Christ. It is when prophecy was fulfilled that God would send us the Messiah, the Savior of the world. It is when God chose to become man and live among us to reveal the love of God the Father to us. Then history reveals the fulfillment of Jesus dying on a cross sinless before mankind, and being resurrected to take His seat at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. This devotional is concerning the prophecy that hasn’t been fulfilled which is the book of Revelation. I have just completed an in depth study of this book. I only want to focus on the last chapter, and the words Jesus spoke to us.
Three times in the last chapter consisting of 21 verses He proclaims He is coming quickly. He tells us blessed is He who heeds the word of the prophecy in this book. Revelation has become very relevant in every believer’s life as never before in our lifetimes as we are watching it quickly unfold before our eyes! However, if you have no knowledge of this book you cannot heed the words of the prophecy. It is our responsibility to prayerfully read God’s Word, and allow Him to reveal the hidden mysteries to us personally. It is His greatest desire, and it should be ours as we prepare ourselves as the Bride of Christ for His return.
The second time He declares His is coming quickly is in verse 12:
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
What weighty words are spoken here by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as He declares who He is at the end of this revelation He gave John to give us! Let us heed and be comforted by the age old truth of God’s Word. Nothing will ever change it. God is in control; not man, and not satan.
We all have the choice concerning who we are going to serve, ourselves, satan, or God. Every man in the end will give account before God for every deed and word spoken in their lifetime. The first time He came to earth it was in utmost humility taking on the form of man as a vulnerable baby in a manger. He declared as a man He came not to judge, but to save mankind paying the price for all to receive salvation through His sacrifice on the cross He chose.
John 3:17-21 declares:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgement, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
Jesus fulfilled every minor detail that was prophesied for thousands of years about the coming of Christ fulfilling the will of God relinquishing His own will. However, this time when He returns with His Bride, it will be as King of Kings and Lord of Lords; as the Righteous Judge rendering final judgement for all mankind and how we will spend eternity . No longer will there be the choice we have now. Whatever state He finds us in is how we will be judged. It is not His will that any should perish. This is why He sent Jesus for all mankind. This is why He hasn’t returned. It is mercy and grace. He is full of lovingkindness, but He is a holy God. He has made a way for all, and everyone has to make the choice to receive or reject His provision.
In verse 17 we read:
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
My heart pounded as I read this verse and cried out in my spirit, "Come!" I am thirsty for my Lord, my Bridegroom! I do drink of the water of life without cost knowing it cost Him everything including a brutal, horrible death on a cross. It was for you and me. How can we throw that sacrificial love back in the face of God?? No one has ever loved like God the Father loves His children. He knows how undeserving we are, and yet He thought each one of us was worth saving for Him.
In the closing benediction we read the third time He declares He is coming quickly:
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.
I hope you can join me this morning as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, to focus even more on His return for His Bride! If that doesn’t include you it can. It is yours for the asking. All you have to do is ask, and you can receive lovingkindness everlasting, forgiveness and cleansing for all your past sins and failures, and an eternal promise of heaven. No matter what transpires on this earth during this upcoming year I know my eternal destiny, and I have great hope as I cry, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"
In His love.
Merry Christmas from Masterpiece Fitness!
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
Very few homes display the true meaning of Christmas every year, but how I value the few who do! I look forward each year to pass this one on my way home on Pipers Gap road.
