KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Chapters: Revelation 1-3
Message: A Faithful Witness
Hello My Friend,
It is that time of the year again, the reading of the Book of Revelation, I use to be afraid to read this book because it is so gruesome, and quite frankly, I did not understand it one bit, rather I did not want to understand it because I knew it talked about death and the end of the world. So, the book was written by the Apostle John, about 94 AD, it is addressed to the seven churches in Asia and to all believers. The purpose of the book was to give assurance of Christ’s return and warn of His judgment. What we are to learn is that judgment is coming, but blessed are those who read this book and hear what Jesus has to say to us, and yes, it is Jesus speaking.
“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. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” – Revelation 1:1-3-7.
“and the first begotten of the dead,” Three glorious names are given to Jesus within these verses, and in their proper order. First, He is the faithful witness of the will of God before and in His death. Second, He arose from the dead as “the first fruits of them that slept;”, and third, He is the Prince, more notably, the king who has power and glory both in heaven and earth and to Him all are accountable. Sin is the death of our soul, there is only one way to remove that sin, and Jesus did it by shedding His own blood. Jesus Christ purchased our pardon on the cross, He will return to judge the entire earth, and when He does all will know Him, to the terror of all who wounded and crucified Him in their apostasy. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” – II Peter 3:9-10.
The seven churches are what formed the universal Church of Christ, all Christian churches have been formed by one of these seven, and Jesus has something to say to all of them, He first starts with the church of Ephesus. Ephesus was the influential capital city of Asia Minor (now Turkey) on the Aegean Sea, the Apostle Paul spent a lot of time there, as well as Peter and Timothy. The Ephesians were doing well at serving God, they studied the Bible and taught the right doctrine so well that they could call out a false prophet anywhere, but somehow they lost the zeal they had for Christ and stopped doing anything for the Lord. Jesus warns them to get back to work.
“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:2-7.
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life,” Thousands of people gather in churches baring the name of Christ, but not a mention of the Gospel is spoken. The most important thing we can do to serve God is telling the lost about Christ, He is that tree of life to our souls. Now, to the church in Smyrna.
“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” – Revelation 2:8-11.
“He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” This second death is eternal death in the lake of fire. Unless Jesus arrives soon we must all face a physical death, the souls of those who are saved await His return in heaven, the unsaved in hell. When Jesus does return the saved who died will resurrect and join their souls in their new bodies, while the unsaved will also resurrect only to be judged and cast into the lake of fire. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” – Hebrews 9:27-28.
Now, Jesus has something quite different to say to the church in Philadelphia. It was seated between the borders of Mysia and Lydia, a very small church, it would probably seem weak and worthless as far as the world was concerned, but Jesus commended them for their strength, gave them an assurance that their labor was not in vain, but also gave them a warning.
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” – Revelation 3:7,10-12.
“I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,” You see, as the days draw closer of Christ returning the devil is working overtime to get as many Christians diverted away from the truth and caught up in the world. It is only by the power of Christ in us and walking with Him daily that we can overcome his temptations. We fall into temptation in the first placed when we take our eyes off Him. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” – James 2:12-15.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” – Revelation 1:18.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You have given us the key to open the door to a life that is satisfying to the body, soul, and spirit. While we know we are saved just by believing in and accepting You as our Saviour, no joy on earth comes more than being a witness for You. As the circumstances in our lives drain us of that joy and keep us from our first love, they also drain us from the joy of life itself, even when serving You. Lord, touch every heart, comfort every grieving and battered soul, ease every worried mind, and give them the peace that only You can give. Give us the power to get back to being the light You need to bring others to You as the day is quickly approaching for Your return. In You name, Jesus I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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