The book of 'revelation' starts with this introduction:
"This is the revelation which God gave to Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, so that he could show his servants what must happen very soon. He communicated it by sending his angel to his servant Yochanan (John), [2]who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah, as much as he saw. [3] Blessed are the reader and hearers of the words of this prophecy, provided they obey the things written in it! For the time is near!" CJB
The writer of the book was very specific in the terms he used. The origin of the visions was clear " the revelation from Jesus Christ" and the purpose of the book was very clear: "to show his servants what must soon take place"(NIV). This is consistent with the character of the Lord Jesus written in the epistles: Jesus never left his followers in the dark about their future, his Father (YHWH) and his plans. Never.
"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."1 John 5:20-21
It is not surprising that the book of Revelations is shared by the Lord Jesus through John the apostle. John saw the man Jesus for who he was: the divine word of God clothed in flesh. But beyond that, he knew intimately that Jesus did not come to 'show off' God or show man-kind how bad he was relative to his creator; Rather, John had 'seen' and 'understood' the very heart of the Father that Jesus unveiled: that God the Father wanted mankind restored to intimate oneness, not just in fellowship, but in shared divine life and responsibility with his creator! Jesus came so that you and I can be partakers of his divine leadership and order. So, just as he confided in Abraham our ancestor (of faith) he confides in us today through his scriptures and his spirit. [2 Peter 1:4, Genesis 18:17. Genesis 2:19]
Never assume God to be like men. He says what he means. If his goal is stated as "to show his servants what must soon take place", then THAT is just what his goal is. Revelation was written so that its readers may know and understand what is to come. It was not written to theologians (as very useful as they are), but to the churches: the body of Jesus believers. Therefore ANYONE of us can understand. How do we do this? By careful study, help from others (yes theologians!), but most importantly, the teaching of the spirit of Jesus - the Holyspirit.
I am stressing this because the Lord is stressing this. He wants us to know that we are meant to know and understand anything that has been given to us. What YHWH (by his spirit or Son) does not want us to know, YHWH does not tell us. If he told us, his goal was that we understand and participate with him in it.
Divine insight does not come primarily from academic knowledge (though useful), insight comes from the very real, present, and available spirit of God (YHWH)!
The Jesus-life is first spiritual before it is anything else. Please let us never get into the disrespectful habit of assumption. How can it be, that we listen to humans and often take their words (and letters) seriously because we esteem them as capable and intelligent but act like God is incapable of expressing himself accurately and coherently? It is rude and faithless, to say the least, and it does not please him at all.
The whole of YHWH's interaction through the scriptures is to get man-kind to 'know and understand' alongside with Himself. And the whole point of a new heaven and earth is to continue this intimate oneness and partnership for all eternity in a perfectly conducive habitat.
But Jesus said we do not have to wait till all things are perfect. The Spirit of Jesus is here now even in this imperfect world. He calls me and you to intimacy and divine insight. YHWH wants us to know him and to understand all he has revealed in his word and in creation.
The Holy Spirit of Jesus is not some pentecostal phenomenon or even just a new testament personality. He is not a shaking or hollering or any such thing. He is God. He is how we participate in a comforting oneness with Jesus and YHWH that goes beyond rituals. And he is available to all who ask the Father in the name of Jesus:
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13 - Jesus
Please ASK. This is the river of life. Participate and don't discourage others from participating in this divine privilege. Insight is our Father's desire and provision to his children.
We Know. Because we CAN know.
We See. Because we CAN see.
We Understand. Because we CAN understand.
[See John 16:13, 17:3]
"I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” - Jesus [John 17:26]
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ...15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16:12, 13, 15
Now the natural man does not receive the things from the Spirit of God — to him they are nonsense! Moreover, he is unable to grasp them, because they are evaluated through the Spirit. [1 Corinthians 2:14 CJB]
"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth." 1 John 2:20
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