Yesterday we finished reading of God’s people living under kings and God’s law, today we start reading a Book of how God evaluates His people; how they lived under His grace up to the end of His testing time. Failure under God’s favor. Such is the heart of man. The lake of fire for the unsaved — glory with Christ forever, for the redeemed. God revealed this and gave it to Jesus to show to His servants. The book shows us what Jesus has been doing since He went to heaven, and what He is going to do very soon. The book was written by the Apostle John who had been banished by the Roman Emperor, to a little Island in the Mediterranean. There are sections to the book. The first is in the first three chapters and is about our present time. It was written 2,000 years ago, before anything in the present “Day of grace” took place — between “B” and “C” on your chart.
V.3 and chapter 22:6-7. These promises are for you and me. We will enjoy them if we are willing to obey. In this Book, God shows us His “blueprint” of the future. Yet people say that they wish they knew what is going to happen in the world! As you read this Book, keep your eye on Christ. (Look at the first five words!) If our eye is on Him, our mind shall understand, and our heart shall be warmed.
V.5 The Lord Jesus Christ is all-powerful and yet all love. A beautiful verse. Memorize it.
V.7 “E” on your chart. This is His coming in glory (with us, not for us).
V.8-11 The Apostle John was made a prisoner because he preached about Jesus. He wrote seven letters to seven assemblies of believers in these seven cities. Although Satan may have thought he was getting rid of the Apostle John, God meets him on that island called Patmos. It’s still there. Through him, God gives us the guide book through the rest of time into eternity!