Heaven Unveiled - Prophetic Gallery SeriesSample

The Epilogue  

Thoughts on the Passage

There is so much here. A closing to the letter emphasizes key things that the author wants people to remember. This letter is no different. Here are some of them.

First, the angel tells John to make sure that people read this letter – this vision. It is for the people that John is writing to. It is not just for people sometime later in history to understand. That is really important. It is why I have been looking at this book from the perspective of the early church and the people reading it back then. God expects them to be able to understand it. We build on that understanding, we do not create the understanding today.

Second, people will read this – and not always change. Wicked people will continue to be wicked. People whose minds turn to evil will continue to do that. Also, godly people will continue to be godly – they will not be discouraged by the challenges they face. It is not saying that people will not change – heaven gets filled so there are many people whose hearts are changed by Jesus. However, do not expect everyone to read this and change because of the promise of judgment for sin. They just do not do that.

Third, God releases another of the seven blessings found in Revelation. Here, God releases a blessing on those who read – and seek forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. It is a powerful blessing. We get the right to live in the new city God will create, we will have access to the tree of Life and we will be free from anyone and anything that walks in evil. God has said this before in this section of the letter, but He again calls it a blessing. It truly is special. We need to ponder this and get insight into the great blessing of heaven.

Prayer

Father, when You describe the key summary points, help me to take time and ponder them closely. 

This letter is meant to be understood.

This letter will not change many people’s hearts.

This letter releases the blessing of God.

Each of these need more time to ponder. I need to take time today to just read them carefully and review how the whole letter leads to these points. Help me today to go back and look at the whole book again and just let it speak to me. Father, I start today by just reviewing the seven blessings You release to Your children when they read this letter. Seven blessings…. A full measure of blessing on us. So often we do not take the time to just ponder these blessings; we look for other blessings that we might like You to give, and we forget to receive these promises. Today, I turn my heart to read and understand these blessings. These are so powerful. They strengthen us to walk with courage, with determination, and with hope for our future. We all need that today. In Jesus Name, Amen.