WHICH GOD GAVE
Revelation 1:1 ¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 ¶ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
What a wonderful thing to read! God the Father’s revelation of God the Son through his appointed means, in order for it to come to us in our day and age! 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
And it was not just some old musty manuscript found in some junky old attic! It is the revelation of the Person of the Incarnate Word set forth in the written word by God Himself! 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
The Word is God! He is the vehicle of expression of the Trinity! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And that Word was looked upon and declared to us! John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And that Person of the Word is a spiritually understood word in order for it to be life. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. And being so we must approach them with a spiritual mind. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: For before the Lamb appears to open to us the seals of his gospel administration we are commanded to come up into a spiritual mindedness. Revelation 4:1 ¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
For this “Come up hither” is not a drawing of the believers up from off the earth. But rather a drawing of the believers from the previous Old Testament carnal experience into the New Covenant spiritual experience after the sending of the Holy Spirit. For we must take note that John states the result of this command to “Come up hither” was, “immediately I was in the spirit!” For those who are raised up into newness of life by regenerating grace are now expected to see things from a heavenly, spiritual view! Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
If you wish to see the believers caught up to be with the Lord you will have to go to Revelation chapter eleven! For it is there that the two witnesses (the church and the Holy Spirit – Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost,…) are raised up to heaven! Revelation 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
And contrary to some in our pulpits, this is NOT a sealed book! It is a book with seals, but it is not a sealed book! Reread Revelation 1:3 and 22:10 listed above in our text. In both verses we read, “for the time is at hand.” And in that latter verse it distinctly states, “Seal not the sayings of this book:” There were commands to three prophets in the Old Testament to seal their writings, but here there is a command NOT to seal these!
Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Daniel 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
But why would the Lord give such a revelation only to have it hidden? He did so in order to prove to his people that he alone is God! Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Therefore now that he commands it to be published, it reveals to us both that Jesus of Nazareth is very God, and that his gospel kingdom has now come on earth! Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
This revelation has seven seals which show that it is a royal decree which can only be opened to our spiritual understanding by the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
That is a description of how it was viewed from heaven. Here is how it was seen on earth: Luke 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
And here in First John is revealed the faithfulness of the Spirit in continuing to grant us understanding upon our new birth: 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
And in the sixth chapter of the Book of the Revelation we read of the beginning of the Lord Jesus Christ, seen as “the Lamb,” opening each of the seals in order to bring forth his administration’s rule of the universe. Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Here he calls forth the first rider as one who goes forth sovereignly conquering all in his kingdom. (The command is actually “Come,” to call forth the rider and not “Come and see,” as if he is inviting anyone to come and view this event.)
This is his administration of gospel rule, effectually bringing all souls either to spiritual life or spiritual death by his gospel call. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The Hebrew writer well informs us that when one is once enlightened by the gospel, but turns it away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance! (See Hebrews 6:4-6) For Satan then blinds their minds. 2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
We have an actual event when the Lord Jesus proclaimed to Peter that this revelation was not by flesh and blood, but that it exclusively came from God the Father. Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And he clearly states that it would be upon the solid foundation of the Father’s revealed faith into the hearts and minds of believers upon which the true church would be established. This is how THE faith was once delivered to the saints of God! Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
And it is that faith which every soul in eternal glory has in common. No matter when or where they lived on earth. No matter whether they ever owned a printed page of a bible! They every one where granted God-given faith! 1John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Read the list of those in the first twenty-two verses of Hebrews chapter eleven who lived by faith without a written page to direct them. We should be most grateful for our completed scriptures!
Pastor Gene Breed
April 22, 2022
