Revelation: Insight!

So many people categorize Revelation as book that can’t really do much for their spiritual walk, but rather that it is just a warning of what is to come. All of the elaborate metaphors and descriptions of the end times can be a little overwhelming, but I have discovered a brilliant and everlasting truth. Revelation 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” For me, this represents God’s constancy in my life, no matter where I am, mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. He is the beginning and the end. My life starts and finishes within His presence. Christ is my first love, and will always be my forever love.

Revelation: Intro.

Authorship: John the Apostle.

Date: 90-95 A.D.

Audience: All believers.

Genre: A revelation! A cross between prophecy and an epistle.

*aha!: Although several mysterious things are present in the book, it is indicative to the fact that God is mysterious and that we can never really understand who he is and how we works until we are joined with him in heaven.

Jude: Insight.

Jude focuses heavily on the importance of the end times and our need to persevere until then. As expected a reliance on Old Testament events was expected. Jude 1:5-7 recounts, “Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” Reading this passage gave me a rare reminder of God’s intense, great power. Honestly, for me, this truth can sometimes get lost in all the lofty messages of hope and love that are present in the New Testament.

Jude: Intro.

Authorship: Jude, brother of James, half-brother of Jesus.

Date: 60-80 A.D.

Audience: Any and all Christians.

Genre: Epistle.

*aha!: The content of the book of Jude heavily relates to and is based on the book of 2nd Peter, concerning the end times and high reliance to the importance of Old Testament prophets, etc.

1,2,3 John: Insight.

Something I noticed right away about these three epistles was the prevalence of the walking theme again, which is something that really speaks to my soul. 1 John 1:7 says to, “walk in the light” and 2 John 1:6 says, “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” It is so important that we literally and figuratively walk in the light and love we gain in Christ. Another theme common in the three is LOVE. 1 John 4:7 proclaims, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” This idea of loving one another is reiterated in 3 John 1:5-6 which calls us to support fellow believers saying, “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.” It’s important to not only love Christ, but to love your brothers and sisters in Christ, with a fierce and sacrificial love.

1,2,3 John: Intro.

Authorship: The Apostle John.

Date: 85-95 A.D.

Audience: The early church.

Genre: Epistles.

*aha!: The Apostle John knew Christ very well and his writing reflect that. He encourages us to have a close and intimate relationship with our Savior.

1&2 Peter: Insight.

Reading through first and second Peter, I found a few similar themes and wordings. Especially concentrating on the term, ‘living’. In 1st Peter we are presented with the ideas of being born again with a living hope, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (verse 3), and as being a living stone, a vision of a living church, “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him” (Chapter 2:4). Also, in 2nd Peter, we are presented with the challenge to keep a living knowledge and intelligence, something I truly appreciate. 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It also presents faith as something that must grow, and develop, like any ‘living’ thing should.