Revelation Part 4
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity Inspiration For Sunday 19th October 1997
Revelation Part 4 - The Trinity Greets You...
(Revelation 1:4-5a NKJV) John, to the seven churches which 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, {5}
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the
dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
Grace to you and peace from...is followed by three sections (clauses)
(a) The Father - Him who was, and is and is to come...
(b) The Holy Spirit - the seven Spirits that are before His throne
(c) Jesus Christ - the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead
and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
The expression "who and who is and who is to come.." is peculiar to
Revelation where it or a close variant is used five times.
(Revelation 1:4 NKJV) John, to the seven churches which 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,
(Revelation 1:8 NKJV) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning
and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come,
the Almighty."
(Revelation 4:8 NKJV) The four living creatures, each having six
wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day
or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is
and is to come!"
(Revelation 11:17 NKJV) saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God
Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You
have taken Your great power and reigned.
(Revelation 16:5 NKJV) And I heard the angel of the waters saying:
"You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to
be, Because You have judged these things.
The last four of these references definitely refer to the Father and
Rev 1:4 points in that direction as well if we accept verses 4 and 5
as John referring to the Trinity. This means that the Father is "to
come". We are familiar with the idea of Jesus returning but the
Father also being One who "is to come" is not an easy concept. There
are at least three possibilities here:
(a) He is coming to dwell with man. He is coming to dwell in our
midst to heal our sickness and anguish. We will be with Him and
He will be our light so that we do not need the sun or the moon. (Rev
21:3,4 etc)
(b) He is coming in a full revelation of Himself. At the moment we
"see in a mirror dimly" but then we shall see face to face. This is
the hope of all believers. (1 John 3:1-3, 1 Cor 13:12)
(c) He is coming in Judgement at the Great White Throne judgement of
Revelation 20:11-15 (Revelation 20:11-12 NKJV) Then I saw a great
white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the
heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. {12} And I
saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were
opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And
the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which
were written in the books.
When God comes into the life of believers He comes with His presence
and glory and healing power and He comes with a wonderful but as yet
partial revelation of Himself. But for unbelievers He comes in
terrifying absolute judgement. This last is not a possibility for
Christians. (John 5:24 NKJV) {24} "Most assuredly, I say to you, he
who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting
life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death
into life. (Romans 8:1-2 NKJV) There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk
according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. {2} For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law
of sin and death.
As I have written this I have felt compelled toward evangelism. I
desperately want the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to come, I want the
Presence of God very badly, but I also want to see my family and
friends rejoicing. I want them to enjoy the Father's Presence and
to know His healing and love not His wrath.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, you are coming to dwell with us and be among us and
that fills me with joy! Praise Your Name! Yet I tremble for those who
do not yet know You for whom You must be justice and judgement not
healing and love. Lord may they believe and may I be bold to share
the gospel with them clearly. In Jesus Name. Amen.
to be continued....
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