Blessing of Reading Revelation
The Blessing of Reading the Book of Revelation
Reflection by Pastor Scott Arnold, FBC of LA 9/14/2020
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)
I have sometimes wondered if I would live long enough to see the Apocalypse. It’s not that I wanted to or looked forward to the tribulation events spoken of through the Old Testament prophets and the Revelation to John. However, in recent times, with the escalation of environmental concerns, political strife, racial hatred, social chaos, spiritual deception, technological manipulations, abuse of artificial intelligence, loss of privacy, totalitarian leanings, lawless leaders, diseases, pandemics, pollution, fires, hurricanes, wars, homelessness, joblessness, a deficit of love, a deficiency of compassion, the potential for annihilation of humanity and so much more; it is all a bit too apocalyptic.
I rarely jump into a study on Revelation, although I did remember a time after “911” when I taught an adult Sunday School a study on this. Fast forward 19 years, and here we are again wondering “How long until the rapture?” “When will Jesus come and what will it be like?” “What are the signs of the times and are we seeing some or many of them now?” Beginning last Sunday night, I recorded the first of a series of Bible Studies on “The Book of Revelation”. These will be on our Facebook and YouTube channels/pages. Please pray that God gives me the wisdom to listen to the Text, and be faithful to what it meant to John’s hearers in the Early Church as well as to faithfully interpret it’s meaning within history, our times and the future. My goal is to let the Scripture text speak for itself, and to come alongside in openness, awe, reflection, and respect. May God’s Holy Spirit lead in understanding and application within scholarship and contemporary application.
This study will not preclude the continued sermon series on Hebrews 11-12, which continues to examine the “Xtreme Faith” of God’s people. Furthermore, I will continue to lead the study of the Psalms on Wednesday mornings at 11:00am. The Zoom call at 2:00pm will focus on the Psalm Study. The Zoom call at 7:00pm on Wednesdays will allow for discussion on either the sermon series or the Revelation study. In these days it is essential that we feed on the Word of God for spiritual strength.
Please feel welcome to contact me if you just want to talk. 810-348-1382. At this difficult time of history, it is essential that we encourage one another. Worship has begun at 9:00am on Sundays outdoors in our church interior courtyard (1st floor above lower level).
Getting back to prophecy related to Jesus return, consider the message to Daniel that spoke of one who would come “like a son of man”:
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13)
This compares to John’s message in Revelation 1:7-8: 7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:7-8)
Reflection by Pastor Scott Arnold, FBC of LA 9/14/2020
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)
I have sometimes wondered if I would live long enough to see the Apocalypse. It’s not that I wanted to or looked forward to the tribulation events spoken of through the Old Testament prophets and the Revelation to John. However, in recent times, with the escalation of environmental concerns, political strife, racial hatred, social chaos, spiritual deception, technological manipulations, abuse of artificial intelligence, loss of privacy, totalitarian leanings, lawless leaders, diseases, pandemics, pollution, fires, hurricanes, wars, homelessness, joblessness, a deficit of love, a deficiency of compassion, the potential for annihilation of humanity and so much more; it is all a bit too apocalyptic.
I rarely jump into a study on Revelation, although I did remember a time after “911” when I taught an adult Sunday School a study on this. Fast forward 19 years, and here we are again wondering “How long until the rapture?” “When will Jesus come and what will it be like?” “What are the signs of the times and are we seeing some or many of them now?” Beginning last Sunday night, I recorded the first of a series of Bible Studies on “The Book of Revelation”. These will be on our Facebook and YouTube channels/pages. Please pray that God gives me the wisdom to listen to the Text, and be faithful to what it meant to John’s hearers in the Early Church as well as to faithfully interpret it’s meaning within history, our times and the future. My goal is to let the Scripture text speak for itself, and to come alongside in openness, awe, reflection, and respect. May God’s Holy Spirit lead in understanding and application within scholarship and contemporary application.
This study will not preclude the continued sermon series on Hebrews 11-12, which continues to examine the “Xtreme Faith” of God’s people. Furthermore, I will continue to lead the study of the Psalms on Wednesday mornings at 11:00am. The Zoom call at 2:00pm will focus on the Psalm Study. The Zoom call at 7:00pm on Wednesdays will allow for discussion on either the sermon series or the Revelation study. In these days it is essential that we feed on the Word of God for spiritual strength.
Please feel welcome to contact me if you just want to talk. 810-348-1382. At this difficult time of history, it is essential that we encourage one another. Worship has begun at 9:00am on Sundays outdoors in our church interior courtyard (1st floor above lower level).
Getting back to prophecy related to Jesus return, consider the message to Daniel that spoke of one who would come “like a son of man”:
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13)
This compares to John’s message in Revelation 1:7-8: 7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:7-8)
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