The Little Book Of Encouragment
Revelation was probably written about 96 A.D. by the apostle John as he was living on the island of Patmos. This was an era of intense persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor, Domitian--plainly stated, Christians were being
forced to either recant their faith or be executed. Though news traveled slower in those days, such a horror was surely spread round the empire, inflaming the terror of the saints.
Revelation was written to
comfort the suffering Christians of that era; the events described in the book were to "shortly come to pass (1:1, 22:20)." The message from Patmos was a consolation to them because Jesus told John "the time was at hand (1:3)" for their protection. The
events of Revelation deal with the punishment of the Roman government by God for its persecution of His people and the assurance that Christians would eventually prevail in the day of judgment.
But Revelation has meaning for us as well. While we cannot look for the symbols in the book to be fulfilled (they already have been--we can not anticipate the opening of the seven seals, for instance), we can take comfort in the encouragement
provided by God to Christians who were suffering the trials of this life. We, too, face persecution and trial and the ultimate promise to Christians in the first and second centuries applies to us as well. Were it unimportant to us at all, it would not
have been preserved.
Revelation is apocalyptic--or symbolic--in its literary form. The events that are related are not literal, but figures of things which were soon to come as John recorded them. Much of the
imagery and symbolism is based in Old Testament prophecies and events. Numbers are symbolic of different concepts, ranging from good to evil and imperfection to completion.
In the tenth chapter is one of these
symbols and it is intended to provide comfort to suffering disciples. We read in verses 8-11 of the little book:
John was instructed to assimilate the little book to himself--in other words, to make it a part
of him. It is said that "you are what you eat." John was to take the content of the little book and allow it to affect him deeply in his spirit and intellect.
This was a great part of the message God had for
his people and it was John's responsibility to deliver it in its purity and completeness. But John's eating the book is also a symbol of a Christian partaking of all that faith in God offers--both those things that are pleasant and those that are
distasteful.
A similar figure is used in Ezekiel 2:8-3:3, 14. The warning the prophet gave was composed of the sweet promises of God of protection and victory but also the bitter woes to the disobedient and
the backslider. And so John offers a message of sweet relief to Christians but of bitter punishment to aliens from the cross (Eph. 2:12). Revelation 11:1-2 marks the distinction between those inside the body of Christ and those
without.
John's message to the Christians of that era was that the pain and persecution they were experiencing were necessary parts of their service to God. It would not cease immediately, but it will
eventually end and reward will overwhelm these painful memories. The sweet promises of God that led you to put trust in Him are always in effect, John gently reminds his reader, but you were warned that there would be some hard times, too (I Thess.
3:1-4). It
is only by enduring all that you will find a home in heaven (Heb. 12:1-2).
There yet remains a message for suffering Christians of any subsequent age. First, assimilate the word to
your spirit and mind. Make God's word a part of you (Josh. 1:8) by daily study and prayer and meditation upon what you have read. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer
(Psalm 19:14)." The Lord Jesus has life-giving words, so heed them (John 6:68, I Tim. 4:13-15). "For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man (Rom. 7:22)."
Secondly, always remember that his
promises are as sweet as honey to his children (Psalm 19:7-11). We sing, "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." To the guilty penitent, God promises forgiveness, a clear conscience
and a clean slate to begin the walk toward the last day of reckoning (Rom. 10:9-13). To the righteous, his promises are exceedingly great and precious (II Peter 1:4, 10-11). They are reliable, for he has never failed and they lead to
an
eternal home in glory.
Third, we must remember that the life of a Christian is not a bed of roses and was never intended to be. "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution (II Tim. 3:12)," Paul wrote. John said, "Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you (I John 3:13)." Perseverance is the key, for "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (Mark 13:13)" and "If we suffer, we shall
also reign with him. (II Timothy 2:12)." A Christian must understand that there will be both pleasant and unpleasant times in his life on earth in service to God, but he must also keep in mind that only joy awaits him on the other side of
life.
I pray that you will examine the sweet promises of Jesus this day and take them into your heart. Make Jesus your Lord and Savior by putting him on in confession and immersion. Or if the trials of life
have led you away from Him, put them in their proper perspective now and come back to God.
Jeff S. Smith
April, 1998 Volume 4 Issue 2 Index
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