For fear of Revelation, we do not know.  For fear of accepting the mantle of dutiful performance we choose not to know.  For fear of teachers demonstrating their shallow understanding they will not teach so we do not question.  For fear of letting go of those trappings associated with success by worldly means we do not wish to know.  For fear of understanding God and finally gaining wisdom and discernment we avoid knowing.  For fear of having to logically and loyally respond we hope that someone else knows and tells us in adequate timing.  But knowledge is personal.  I cannot depend, for my salvation, upon the knowledge of someone else to carry me through the stepping stones of salvation, faith, temptation, sanctification, purity and growth.  I may only depend upon that knowledge that I have been given by the Lord as provision of wisdom for courage and success.  Why then seeing all these fears, yet knowing the price of my own uneducated, unpreparedness, would I choose to remain ignorant of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ?  Must I remain naive of our eventual meeting with Christ and in so doing fail to guarantee that introduction?  Does any of us really wish to be here on this Earth when the Lord opens the seals and turns loose His wrath upon the wickedness of humanity?  The answer to these questions although obvious are perplexing, in at least that this circumstance of ignorance persists, even in the depths of the faithful or regular attendees of most churches.

Let us look briefly at revelation to see the mysteries, signs and direction revealed quickly on in the opening Epistles by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Remember John may have written the words, but as the opening paragraphs clearly state, John is only conveying what he was told to share with other believers.

Revelation 1:1 NIV

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.  Even in the first line of this book we are immediately faced with the revelation that this book will deliver breakthrough understanding for those who read, ingest and understand.  What is this the revelation of?  It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to believers, the revealing of who he truly is and what it means for believers and humanity alike.  Who gave Jesus this revelation?  God gave him this revelation to show believers what will come to pass in the last days at the arrival of the “great day of the Lord” and the “Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ” to Earth.  That one line should reduce the fear quotient considerably in that it is meant to show us what we need to know about Jesus and what He says will happen.  Do you now have the urge to go further, now that the deceiver’s veil has been drawn away.  This books arms believers for the trials to come.

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw–that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.  So God uses believers to convey those messages sent by angels and man must continually testify to things that have been given them by God.  God did not shout this entire book to all of humanity, he chose one man through whom he made his word and testimony known for all.  Again we are faced, as believers with the fear of being used singularly by God to convey his most resounding revelation, that of the Testimony of Jesus Christ the King.  John’s faithful execution of this duty allows us as believers to share in the courage it takes to go out on the limb for Christ.  If I don’t tell anyone then no one will know.  If I tell everyone then they will know I am a believer and expect different behavior of me.  Or worse if I tell everyone they won’t want to know me anymore or maybe even take away my reputation, treasure or notoriety.  These are real fears but we all know what must be done to lose ourselves for Jesus’ sake.

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.  Twin blessings, that is amazing.  One for the reader of this book.  One for each person who takes faith in its truth and stands by what is revealed.  Then a small warning of consequence for inaction, because the time is near.  So there is also an implied benefit from receiving and understanding this knowledge that is entirely related to begin prepared for what must soon come to pass.  There again is the fear of knowing what is coming and taking the necessary steps to be prepared.  I believe that this is the enemies greatest attempt at hurting God in these last days, by creating such fear and misunderstanding among believers that they fail to learn, understand and prepare for the victory to come and in so doing miss out on the blessing set aside for them before the first click of time.

I pray to Almighty God that in just three sentences God’s Word has swallowed up your fear and set your heart on the right and honest path of duty to God through education and growth in Christ.  If you wish to be amazed and edified against the storms on Earth’s horizon continue to read Revelation 1, which reveals the deity and glory of Christ and familiarizes every believer with His Sovereign Identity.  If reading Revelation 1 doesn’t dispel your fear and place in you an unquenchable hunger for God’s Wisdom then perhaps you should chat with a pastor about what may be holding you back.