October 19, 2006                        Christ Unveiled             Kathleen Maples

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

In the original Greek, the word "revelation" is apokalypsis. It means a disclosure, an appearing, or manifestation, to be revealed, or coming, as in coming to an understanding. (Source: Strong's G602) Thayer's Greek Definitions adds this: to lay bare, make naked, a disclosure of truth, instruction, concerning things unknown before, made visible what was invisible. There are three Greek words used for revelation in the New Testament. I want to look at them, where they are found, and see what the Lord would teach me about this because I know my greatest need is for a better and deeper understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ and who He is. The three words are apokalypsis, parousia, and epiphaneia. Looking at them, I have a vague understanding of the first, because this is where we get our word "apocalypse" from. I believe the last is where we get the word "epiphany".

When we receive a fuller understanding and vision of Christ in His holiness, (which we must diligently seek in order to receive) and of His perfection and power and begin to really understand His absolute sovereignty over all life, that will be an apocalyptic event to us personally. It will change us forever. There are a few glimpses of this in action in the Scripture. Consider how Job reacted, in Job 42 after being confronted with the reality of God. He humbled himself-he said I've heard of you but now my eyes see you and I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes (Job_42:5-6) Then you consider Isaiah. He was a prophet in Israel about 60 years. He saw four different kings rise and fall. But when He got a revelation of the Lord, after King Uzziah died, he saw Him high and lifted up, and it transformed Isaiah. He reacted with shame, and despair at his own wretchedness and uncleanness when he got a vision of the pure holiness of the Lord. (Isa_6:5) He was willing to do anything for Him, after receiving this revelation of the Lord. And there are others, Daniel, Ezekiel, and John, and Moses.

Scripture warns He is a consuming fire. In Rev. 1, when John encountered Him in His glory, he fell at His feet like a dead man. Isaiah felt undone, and completely wicked by comparison when he got the revelation of the Lord high and lifted up. We have got to come to the understanding of this precious Book, and realize it's meant for each and every person who will take the time to open it and cry out for understanding. Whosoever will, let him come, the Scripture beckons. Paul exhorts the church in 1 Corinthians, revealing his prayer for them is that they will be enriched by the Lord in their words, their knowledge of Him, because they are Christ's, and Paul doesn't want them lacking any spiritual gifts the Lord has made available, as they wait for the coming of the Lord-that word "coming" is translated from the same Greek word "apokalypsis". I understand this also means when He comes back to this earth to judge the wicked, and Armageddon, and all that. When people think of the Book of Revelation, that is what they think of. It's a revelation to John about the end. It's more than that, though-it's a personal revelation of the Awesome Lord Jesus Christ, High and Lifted UP, and Sovereign over ALL, to His disciple, so he could share this understanding with the churches of God. It's not some obscure and hard to understand text, not when you think about it and pray about it, and get hungry for your own revelation of who He is.

Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1Co 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

If you notice, he goes on to exhort and encourage them that the Lord shall also "confirm you unto the end" and that word "confirm" means to establish, make sure or firm, to make stable. He shall make His people stable, so that they are not tossed to and fro by every wind and wave of false doctrine, or trials and testings of their faith so that they are blameless. Nothing will stabilize you like the knowledge and understanding of the power and love of the Most High God for YOU coupled with a reverent fear in the heart that will keep you from evil. I love the definition of that word blameless: unnaccused, irreproachable. No wonder the enemy of our souls tries so hard to constantly accuse God's children. I know he can't be everywhere at once, like the Holy Ghost can, but I also know everything God does, he tries to imitate. I believe when God dispatches one of His warrior angels to be assigned to a believer, the enemy dispatches one of his own unclean spirits to constantly try and sidetrack, tempt and vex that person. How else could God's children all be enduring constant accusation in their minds over every little failure until they grow up enough in grace to realize they can do as the Word instructs to condemn every voice that rises in judgment or accusation against them, knowing as Isaiah told us, our righteousness is of the Lord, it's not our own--thank GOD! God, grant your people boldness to exercise and stand on Your Word.

Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Then he mentions that they were called by a faithful God to the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider that slowly; savor it, child of God. We have been given an invitation paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ, to come. We have been invited, by name, to receive His invitation. We've been called to carry His Name, that Holy Name, forth among a lost and dying world that has no hope outside of Him. That word "fellowship" it means "partnership, communion, joint participation, intercourse, intimacy, with the Son of the Living God! That blows my mind. My feeble little mind can't comprehend the ramifications of that Scripture alone, but oh, how it makes me hungry. It makes me want to go and find out what it means. And I'm going to! I can't afford not to. I can't miss out on HIM. I am His inheritance, and He is my Reward.

2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

It was translated from Greek into English, and used in various applications, but here again, that same word "apokalypsis" (G602). When we look around and see things in society, in our country, in our world, our homes, that vex us, we can commit what is within our reach to the Lord, and what is not, we can pray, we can cast our cares on HIM and trust Him to take care of things in justice. We can rest in the knowledge that He knows all, is in control, and our number one priority is to share this intimacy, this fellowship with HIM, and get to know HIM for ourselves, and that which is beyond our understanding, or ability to change, leave in His capable and mighty hands. We can pray for His will to be done. We can pray for righteousness to overcome evil. If we don't know how to pray about the awful things going on around us, we can ask the Holy Ghost to teach us, pray through us. And we can seek HIM, draw from HIM what we need. We know He is greater than the powers of this world and darkness. We know He has unlimited power and resources....don't we? If we truly believe this, how can we fret? How can we waiver, and be intimidated? I know we are in the flesh and so prone to do these things. But I ask you this to consider: if you and I are truly dead to this world, and to self, and totally sold out to Christ-how can what is dead be provoked, or fret or worry? If our understanding of Christ is opened, and we have a knowledge of who He is and what He is capable of -how can we fret? If you go walking in a rough neighborhood, and you have an armed bodyguard on either side of you, and you are wearing a bullet proof vest, you are not going to fret much for your safety, are you? We have an angel of the Lord, and the armor of God, saints--an angel of the Lord encamped around us that fear Him and this angel delivers us in our time of need. We have the Sword of the Lord, the Word, and the power of the Holy Ghost available 24/7, and we still fret. I'm guilty. I've had to repent of this, too!

We have to have HIS divine strength, through the power of the Holy Spirit to withstand the barrage of lies-those fiery darts the wicked one is always trying to fire into your mind...those darts like fear, insecurity, unbelief, whatever he thinks will cause you to stumble and fall.

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Did you catch that? The Scripture says your faith in God is more precious than gold and it is going to be tried with fire (the fiery darts of the wicked one that Paul warns us about in Eph 6 is just one example...) and when you hold your faith up like a shield against the circumstances your eyes see, your ears hear, in favor of what GOD'S WORD says, He gets glory and honor. On the spiritual scoreboard, the devil gets defeated because you refuse to let go of your faith in God no matter what you see or hear. It's what God says that matters, not what we see or hear or feel. I told you there were three different words used in Scripture for revelation. Well, we've looked at the first word, now let's move on to the second.

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Here, in this Scripture, the word "coming" is translated from the Greek word "parousia" (G3952) and it means presence, arrival, advent, the future, visible return of Christ from heaven to raise the dead and hold judgment. It is the literal coming of the Lord back to this earth. We know our Redeemer is coming, and knowing that He is an Ever present Help in trouble, and a refuge for His people, gives us a hiding place when things and cares of this life threaten to overwhelm us. But we must believe that He is when we come to Him. He is our strong tower, our Rock, our Defender. Nothing can defeat Him or take us out of His hand. The word "appearing" used in the next verse was translated from the same word, "parousia".

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The last word is "ephiphaneia" (G2016). This is where we get our word, epiphany. It means (1) a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure; a revealing scene or moment.

Have you ever been reading the Word of God and suddenly it's like a light goes on inside you and you have a new understanding of what you are reading that you didn't have prior to this moment? Oh, I love it when that happens!

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

This is to young Timothy, who is being encouraged not to be afraid of the testings and trials, and persecution and scoffing of others which will be directed at him because of the suffering of Paul. Attacks are being made on the credibility of Paul's message because of his suffering. Many times, when people are suffering, carnal minds tend to find fault and place blame, and accuse of sin, or the wrath of God falling on an individual. Job's wife did this when he was suffering. His friends, too, that came to 'encourage' him were so overwhelmed by his misery and suffering, the only way their minds could conceive of this was to accuse him of sin, of angering God. We need to be careful and not judge others who are suffering. We are to pray for them and encourage them, not try to figure everything out and assign blame. Paul tells Timothy, don't be ashamed of the afflictions of the Gospel I endure, I'm His prisoner, He's saved us because of His own reasons, and He's sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to destroy death, and bring life and immortality out into the open where we can see and understand as we hear the Gospel.

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

God sends His grace or undeserved favor into our lives to teach us, to save us from ourselves and from the devices of the enemy who would destroy us. We are encouraged that we must deny ungodliness, and lust of the world, and live alert and clear headed, in a wicked world. All the time we live and work here we are to continually look for that blessed hope-the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ! He will come to deliver His own from a sin-sick world, from a society where babies are butchered and are no longer safe even in their mothers' wombs. He'll deliver His people from a corrupt world system where money and self matter more than hungry children, who are without the basic necessities. He'll save us from the lie of the devil through the mouth of false prophets that the gospel is all about success and wealth and materialism. He'll save us and deliver us from a world where righteousness is hated and ridiculed and children are taught lies and it's called education. Whatever there is about this world-if we truly have a heart for God, and we are growing in grace and knowledge of God, and have His light in us, this world vexes our souls. The tragedies and heartaches we see with the school shootings, the slaughtered babies, the innocent ones molested, the young ladies raped and murdered, babies aborted because murdering the child in the womb is preferable to birth control and responsibility, these things vex our righteous souls, just like Lot was vexed in Sodom. Only then, Lot had a choice-he didn't have to dwell among the heathen. We do. Our life and hope and strength is all in Christ. I'm learning as I feel overwhelmed and weak to go running to HIM and just ask for what He's already promised-strength to keep going, guidance for my feet, protection for my mind, and power to live and walk right and wisdom to know the difference between right and wrong.

Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Christ revealed Himself to John, who was in great tribulation, had suffered quite a lot, and was banished to this hard, barren, rocky island of Patmos. He'd been sent there as punishment for his refusal to stop preaching the name and gospel of Jesus Christ. They tried to boil him in oil, but couldn't kill him. I've heard it preached they put out his eyes before sending him to Patmos, but I can find no evidence in my research to verify this. He was persecuted for the life of Christ in him, sent to a place reserved for criminals, and dwelt in a cave. There, in his tribulation, and solitude, he received one of the greatest gifts ever given to mankind-a revelation of the King of Glory. He was shown and told what was to come. He was told to share what he received with the seven churches of Asia.

Rev 1:4 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;

Rev 1:5 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,

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

What a revelation here! It confirms what Peter said, how we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, called forth out of sin and weakness and despair, and transformed by the power of Almighty God, so that the world in darkness around us can see that there is a God, and He is worthy of praise because He is good to men and works miracles in their lives, and does what He does for their good! He does it because He loves them and wants a relationship with them. And He's coming back to take His own home! That thought is like a security blanket to me. When things are rough, and stress is piling up, we have a Refuge. I remind myself if the Lord were to come now, none of this would matter! And that thought lifts the pressure sometimes. Sometimes it makes it more bearable. We all face things, and the Lord allows things, to strengthen, teach us, and show others around us who He is. He is the Beginning and the End of everything. He was the One who created us and gave us life. He is the One we will answer to for how we lived that life and used the gifts and talents and abilities He put in us-saint or sinner.

REMEMBER THIS:

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Now, I've got to tell you what the Lord has been dealing with me about, and what I see going on around me, and I have felt a grief in my heart that I know did not come from me. Think about this very carefully...and remember your soul, your family's souls, everyone around you that God wants to reach out to through you, is at stake here. Do you believe down deep in your heart what that Scripture says? Do you understand the ramifications of those verses? The Lord Jesus Christ IS COMING BACK for a people who are IN CHRIST and ready to LEAVE HERE. Those who are left will suffer unimaginable anguish and misery and destruction. This is written in the Word of God, and it's going to happen. Do we really believe this? Yeah, you say, I believe it. Well, let me ask you a hard question then, believer. When a sinner walks in the House of God what greets his eyes? Are the saints on the altar in prayer and weeping for the souls of the lost and for the glory of God to fall in their midst? PSALMS 89:7 says God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him. Do the church goers demonstrate their reverence by holding their peace and meditating prayerfully to the Lord in His Sanctuary? Do we fast and pray for our pastors and ministers and our lost? Do we come to the House of God with hungry, prepared hearts? Have we prayed before we got there and asked God to help us be a blessing to someone? Or do the folks who come in just get with their own little groups and chit chat, and catch up on the week's events? WHERE is the reverence? HOW can the newborns in Christ learn the fear of God if they don't see it in us? Yes, the Lord will teach them, through His Spirit, but are we a stumbling block or a confirmation of the Word? How can the sinner fear God if they don't see a fear of God and awe of Him in us????!!!??? It is written in His Word several times to reverence Him in the Sanctuary. If we believe He's coming back why are we not teaching our children not to run and be out of order in His House? He said His House was to be a House of Prayer. It's written in the Word. Have we even read our Bibles enough to know what He expects in His House? This is as much a commandment as "Thou shalt not kill." He's worthy!

How can we have the convicting power of the Spirit of God, that precious Holy Ghost, among us, working, progressing the kingdom of God in our lives, if we don't seek Him, if we don't obey the Word? Do we really want our lost saved? Do they see us laughing and talking, and inviting them to church- or do they see us with tears of concern and compassion, fresh from the throne room, reminding them they need JESUS? Oh, my Lord, my God, I know He is coming back and I don't want to be empty handed. I don't want to be so comfortable on the church pew that when He takes His Bride I'm left wondering what happened? I'm supposed to be about His business-and He came to seek and save the lost. So what are we doing? Are we redeeming the time like He said to? Are we seeking a greater revelation of Him? Are we storing His word prayerfully in our hearts so when the storm of judgment begins to fall even harder, we won't be blown away like chaff? God's going to let things get hard, folks. I believe we'll see some suffering before He comes for us. I don't believe we will go through the tribulation of 7 years, but I believe things are going to get much worse. You ask yourself-is there a cry in your heart to be with Jesus? Are you longing to see Him? Are you sick of this world and longing for HOME? Are you crying out in your prayer closet for the lost and drawing oil from Him so you can be a prepared servant ready for whatever the Lord lets cross your path or sends your way? Are you seeking Him so He can send the hurting and disillusioned into your path to minister to? Are you asking Him to teach you to serve Him? Teach you to pray? Teach you how to go out and come in among His people? Among the world? Revival won't happen in the church until it happens in the heart of individual believers. I believe God's saints are hungry for more of Him. Those He's coming after don't want to stay here, they are not comfortable here, they don't like it here. And they don't plan on leaving their loved ones behind. Does it grieve your heart when you hear the tragic news of families being murdered by a son or daughter? Babies being abused and killed? Children shot in schools? Does this cause you to cry out to God for mercy? Or do you just sigh and comment how bad things are getting and go on about your business? If you were in trouble would you want someone like you praying for you? I love God's people, but I see too much complacency among us and not enough prayer. We need to pray the anointing down, saints. We need to pray the presence of God down. THERE HAS GOT TO BE MORE! I am not seeing what I read in His Word in His House and I'm HUNGRY! Do we stand in His House, feel a warm, mushy feeling and convince ourselves that's the presence of God? The genuine presence of God will instill fear and awe in your heart. It will convict you, it will cause anguish and hunger in your soul for HIM, to be pleasing to Him or it will make you want to run and hide if there is sin in your heart not dealt with. There is nothing like it in this world. It also produces a joy that you can feel HIM that He would visit you. And when He shows us our flaws-which are evident in His presence by default, the closer you get to the Light, the more easily you can see the stains, and wrinkles, and spots, He shows us these things because He wants us prepared to meet Him. I thought about it like this- a human being cannot walk into a nuclear reactor and go where the core is-where all that radiation is at, unprotected, because exposure would kill them. The God we serve is much more powerful. And nothing unclean or of flesh will survive an encounter with Him. Only that which is covered in the blood of Jesus. I've been asking God to search me, turn on that Light. Cleanse me. Daily. And I've been praying for the people of God, whom He loves so dearly-and paid such a high price for. I do not want to hurt anyone, but oh, we need to awake and shake ourselves and take this seriously. We won't get a second chance at this, folks.

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Oh, think about it, saints. What are we doing with what He's given us and taught us? Are we hearers only? Or are we doers? Where are the signs that are supposed to follow the believers? Where are they?