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 firstbegotten 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.
Revelation 1:4-6
Revelation is a continuation of Daniel and is the final conclusion as to the prophecy that God will end sin, end death, and will come again for His children. The book of Revelation as an inspired word of God is indisputable for within its chapters and verses the salvation of God is revealed as it is in other Scriptures. There is sublimity to the ideas and imagery that only can come from God, therefore it genuineness of Diving origin is evident. Too often, men have twisted those imagery and ideas to fit a theology that they teach as truth when in fact it is only their ideas, not God's. Too avoid this from happening by men and to only teach what is revealed by grammar, Greek understanding of words, and how they understood what was written by their idioms, and by their everyday speaking and writing. So, let us delve in to this book from the first verse and see if we can get some "meat" from what was written by John, inspired by God, for our sanctification.
Revelation, the first word in this book, what is meant by it according to Greek grammar? This word, "Revelation" in Greek is written in the same way for the future tense and the dative tense, therefore we must find which of those tenses is being used in this first word. If it is dative and in this case it would be singular then we must translate and understand it as something (singular) to be revealed and then find that revelation in the text of the book. If it is future in tense and in this word it is 3rd person singular then it would be something that would be revealed to others in time, in the future. In English the word Revelation means a disclosure, the act of revealing a disclosure, as of something not before realized. What then is being disclosed? It is the revelation about God, His plans, and a communication to us so that we are not left in doubt as to the future and about His promises for the future. The Greek word here used is dative for it not only reveals that which God will do and is doing, it is an enlightenment. It can be said to be then telling about the future for John writes: "To show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass" (Revelation 1:1b). Let us look at the word "shortly" and again we must come to the Greek to aid us as how to understand this word in context. This Greek word can mean several things, one, in a short period of time, or two quickly, or speedily, and from the word associated with it then it can mean promptly. This Greek word: "τάχει" is a word used in medicine for fast as in tachycardia, a fast, over 100 beats per minute, heart rate. So we can understand that word that this revelation will take place in a short period of time (not to mean in days, or years it will come, but it will not take a long time when it occurs), quickly, or speedily. What will be revealed then will come to pass in a period of time and it will come speedily, no delay, no waiting for it to happen, it will happen for God is revealing to His children to prepare them for what He will do to bring into His kingdom His Children and what will occur to those who refuse to believe in Him. We need to be prepared and this letter will prepare us but we must avoid those "rabbit trails" that many are attempting to give it a meaning that is not meant, they promote a lie, not truth.
Good news! Read this and you will get a blessing, well that is true but it is not simply reading, for this Greek word means to gather exact knowledge of, therefore one must read, study, pray about what you are reading so that you come to the truth and not come to believe false teaching. Furthermore, a person should hear those words and this is why we have sermons and why we gather together as instructed in Hebrews 10:25. Those sermons must not be anecdotes, or stories, or unproved things: i.e., healings without proof that they did occur, or whether or not they actually had a disease proved by doctors. Sermons must be exegetical and stay on point found in Scripture. It is good to use illustrations, but not to rely on illustrations for proof. Read, hear, these words for what was written will occur and time will happen, in fact the time is near and the word for time is not chronos, it is kaipos, the first is chronlogy, the other that means in proper time, in a season, a time possessing certain characteristics. How is the time near? It is near for Jesus Christ has come, died, rose again and sits at the right hand of God for us and sin is now paid to God for His justice and all that is left is for God to allow man to reach that point where He will do as He did by the Flood, He will destroy those who will not accept Him. It took a period of time and for God who is timeless, time is not counted as we count time. The time is near, the time is now right and for God He will in His time bring all that He has promised to the fore and all that is written in this book will have been accomplished.
We must go slow and take the time to understand for this book will bring to you blessing and your faith will grow and you will change from the inside/out, that is your sanctification will grow and you will live according to God's commands whereby you will be blessed. If you have converted to God, to His Son Jesus Christ who died for you then you are now blessed beyond measure for you have eternity in life forever. Hallelujah!
I know that the LORD secures justice
for the poor and upholds the cause
of the needy. Surely the righteous will
praise your name and the upright will
live before you.
Psalm 140 12-13
Are you ready for a blessing?
Richard L. Crumb
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