Revelation is communication by divine knowledge.

Revelation once experienced, can never be taken from you, it is your’s forever.

To forsake your revelation leaves you reprobate.

Revelation changed Peter from a reed to a rock.

Revelation gives you keys (Peter), keys that unlock your past, your present and your future.

Revelation brings blessings.

Revelation on Oneness, New Birth, Finances, Holiness, Relationships, personal devotion; we need all these.

It was now 70 years since Jesus ascended. In Ephesus lives an old old man. He is the last living Apostle. Things have changed. Every other Apostle is dead. Peter, Andrew, James, Matthew, Barthalomew, Thaddeus, Thomas, Judas the son of Alphaeus, Judas Iscariot, Philip, and Simon the Caanitite, all gone. He is left alone, the sole survivor, and eyewitness.

Jerusalem is gone. Ground under the iron heel of Titus now some 30 years ago. His home, his family, all destroyed and scattered during the Roman conquest in 70 AD.

It has been an incredible journey.

The day of pentecost, the church, the early glory and turmoil, thousands converted, all behind him now.

The miracle at gate beautiful, the jailing, the Sanhedrin, Annanias and Sapphira, the journeys of Paul and the gentile conversions, all in the past.

Then Patmos, and the writing of Revelation.

Now he is at Ephesus. He is old and weak and feeble.

They carry him to the church each Sunday, he raises his frail hand and quotes “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another”.

Though the other 10 missed that when Jesus said it that night 70 years ago, he got it and became the Apostle of love. He mentions love more than all the other Apostles combined.

To him it was a revelation, and 70 years had not dimmed the glow of that night in the upper room with Jesus at the last supper.

Now the young disciples come to him. He asks, how are the saints? Good, John. How is the condition of the church? You are my eyes and my ears. They look at one another, unsure of how much to say. They stare at the ground and stammer, not wanting to upset him. How do they tell him what is being battled out in pulpits across Asia and Macedonia?

The winds of false doctrine have become howling hurricanes that threaten the church.

He senses their evasion. He pointedly says, what is it?

His most loyal and longtime protege answers. Elder, some are saying Jesus never lived. They are saying he was just a Phantom. They are preaching that God is holy and good and our flesh is weak and tainted, so He would never live in a human body. I am sorry John to upset you.

What? John is outraged! What do they call this, this, nonsense.

The young man answers, they are calling it gnosticism.

With quivering lip and tears in his eyes he says bring me a quill and parchment.

He picks up his quill and with no preamble, no introduction, begins to write…..

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

This old man and cousin of Jesus is ready to fight.

The young man waits until John has calmed some and then says there is more Elder, much more.

They are saying that Jesus and the father were not the same person. They say that the father and son are separate.

With steel in his eyes John looks at them and remembers the afternoon over 70 years ago when Jesus said Peter, James and John, come with me. You others wait here.

John remembers the climb to the top of Hermon. The trail, it was like yesterday in his mind.

He remembers the transfiguration, the moment, the voice speaking, and he lifts the quill, dips it in ink, and writes.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

On that day 70 years ago, John had received a revelation, and revelations last a lifetime!

What has been preached must become a revelation, not a sermon, not a temporary encouragement, but a life enduring revelation.

You must climb the mountain of Revelation.

In an attempt to make sure you never forget you must have a revelation that lasts a lifetime.

We need a revelation today more than ever before.

Thanks for reading today…

Advertisement