It's no secret that the following verse outlines the book of Revelation in broad strokes:
(Revelation 1:19)
"The things you've seen, the things which are, and the things which are coming after these things"
The lesser known fact is that "The things which are coming..." is the main focus of the book.
Revelation is a roadmap to eternity. It records how God opens the door into eternity, and brings mankind into His kingdom.
For example, every admonition to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3 ends with, "To him who overcomes..." and everyone who overcomes is promised some special thing in the future. "The now" is difficult. It's full of trouble, suffering, anguish. These are the products of the devil's work, of his rule over mankind, and of man's cooperation with him. Eternity is the gift of the Father, brought to us by the Son, and directed by the Holy Spirit.
All of Christianity is essentially about "Later." It's true that Jesus said, "I came that they might have life, and that they might have it abundantly," and that He meant life today as well as everlasting life, but the reality is that eternal life is the most important, if for no other reason than that it's the longest.
My Dad died at 92. He had a "long life." Really!!?? 92 years out of eternity? It's nothing. However, now he is IN eternity. He will never die again. He will live without pain. He will live in beauty and happiness that can't even be imagined.
THIS is what the book of Revelation is about--how we get there--Revelation is the pathway into forever.
The road is not easy, that's for sure. There are seals, horsemen, angels, monsters, demons, dictators, the ancient Serpent who bears our race so much hatred, wars, fire, destruction and more on the path. But at the end, eternity is going to happen. All the stuff in between? Temporary. Eternity? Forever. And ever.
There is a place for you there...
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me shall live, even if he dies; and he who lives and believes in Me shall never die..."
At the end of the book of Revelation (21:3-6), we read:
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Wouldn't you like to go there? Forever?
Life. Free. Eternal. Unending. No sorrow. No tears. No pain. All the evil, gone.
It's a path you can take, and you will never regret it.
(Revelation 1:19)
"The things you've seen, the things which are, and the things which are coming after these things"
The lesser known fact is that "The things which are coming..." is the main focus of the book.
Revelation is a roadmap to eternity. It records how God opens the door into eternity, and brings mankind into His kingdom.
For example, every admonition to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3 ends with, "To him who overcomes..." and everyone who overcomes is promised some special thing in the future. "The now" is difficult. It's full of trouble, suffering, anguish. These are the products of the devil's work, of his rule over mankind, and of man's cooperation with him. Eternity is the gift of the Father, brought to us by the Son, and directed by the Holy Spirit.
All of Christianity is essentially about "Later." It's true that Jesus said, "I came that they might have life, and that they might have it abundantly," and that He meant life today as well as everlasting life, but the reality is that eternal life is the most important, if for no other reason than that it's the longest.
My Dad died at 92. He had a "long life." Really!!?? 92 years out of eternity? It's nothing. However, now he is IN eternity. He will never die again. He will live without pain. He will live in beauty and happiness that can't even be imagined.
THIS is what the book of Revelation is about--how we get there--Revelation is the pathway into forever.
The road is not easy, that's for sure. There are seals, horsemen, angels, monsters, demons, dictators, the ancient Serpent who bears our race so much hatred, wars, fire, destruction and more on the path. But at the end, eternity is going to happen. All the stuff in between? Temporary. Eternity? Forever. And ever.
There is a place for you there...
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me shall live, even if he dies; and he who lives and believes in Me shall never die..."
At the end of the book of Revelation (21:3-6), we read:
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Wouldn't you like to go there? Forever?
Life. Free. Eternal. Unending. No sorrow. No tears. No pain. All the evil, gone.
It's a path you can take, and you will never regret it.
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