Tag: Revelation 1:1-3

Muniments

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Daily Post:  Paper

muniments

The document shown here is a photographic image of the Charter of Richard I, confirming to Alexander de Baretin (butler to Henry II) all his property fairly purchased or confirmed to him by Henry II. (London, Westminster Abbey Muniments no. 657).  It is a lengthy document, written in elegant calligraphy, with an image of the great seal of Richard I.  What the image displays is the idea that the muniment itself was not just a legally binding document, but a reputable and distinguished treasure with social significance in its own right.  Muniments in the ancient world were matters of record dealing with deeds, statutory grants, or judgments which passed title to real property.  The possession of the muniment allowed the person to defend their rights and privileges as legal heir or claimant.

The Book of Revelation, written sometime in the late 90’s A.D., by John the Apostle of Jesus, could be seen as the Muniment document of Creation.  In this way the book is about the consummation of God’s great love for humanity, and the extravagant lengths to which He will go to save all who will believe in Jesus Christ.  The authorship, origination, blessing, and purpose are all found in the beginning 3 verses of this muniment:

Revelation 1:1-3
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

John claims this information was revealed to him by an angel sent from God.  The document includes the “word” of God and the “testimony” of Jesus Christ.  Anyone who “reads, hears, and heeds” the things written in this work are blessed.  And finally, “the time is near.”

We all know that “time is near” must be a relative term, since almost 2,000 years have passed since it was written on papyrus.  Time as humans understand the concept however, does not negate what must be near in God’s chronology.  Within the chapters of the Book of Revelation as a whole we find a scroll introduced containing seven seals across the document.  As the opening of this scroll is announced, and each consecutive seal is broken, what is revealed is the grace of God for those who believe, and the judgment of God for those who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge His Lordship or trust in Jesus for salvation.

Viewed as a complete document, the scroll is not unlike a “chinese box,” which when opened, only reveals yet another box.  Some scholars teach that one seal was on the outside, then after each seal is read, there was another seal deeper in the document to break before reading on.  The first six seals bring stand alone judgments, while the seventh seal reveals seven more judgments associated with seven trumpets.  The first sixth trumpets announce the next six judgments. The seventh trumpet announces the end of all judgments being poured out like “bowls,” and there are seven bowls to be poured.  See, chinese boxes, sort of, the bowls, trumpets and seals are all part of the scroll as a whole.

The scroll itself then could be called the Muniments of the Creator.  Each revelation from the scroll is to reveal the power of Jesus Christ as Creator, and are designed as a title deed which will be read, then acted upon by God.  Each revelation will establish that Jesus Christ is the rightful owner/heir to all of creation.  The scroll is the reading of God’s Will (muniment) underlying the simple fact that Jesus Christ is King of kings, and Lord of lords, and rightful heir of all things.

If this indeed is an accurate portrayal of the Book of Revelation, and it does actually reveal future events to be unveiled in God’s timing, the testimony of the book is the highest document on earth.  At the end of it all, after the salvation for millions, and the coming judgment for millions more, the words that stands out to me in these muniments are the promises of Jesus Himself.

Revelation 22:10
Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

Revelation 22:12-13
Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

We live even now under the muniments of God’s will.  Reading, hearing, and heeding the whole Bible, but especially Revelation, should lead us to live each day for our intended purpose:

To experience God’s grace daily, and extend His glory to the ends of the Earth.

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Divulging, Disseminating, and Declaring

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Daily Post:  Revelation

rumor

Those of you reading today who know me well, may think I will shamelessly use this article to promote my recently published commentary/bible study on the Book of Revelation.  Perhaps I will, but that will come later in the article, if at all.  Subtle huh?

Revelation as a concept is about information (true or false) coming to light in various forms, which was not previously known.  It is in fact what the whole James Comey testimony is all about… everyone wants to hear about the secret conversations and dialogue between the former FBI director and President Trump.  Regardless of your particular stance on the substantive issues, there has been no “smoking gun” revelation. In fact, on the face of it, at least as I evaluate what’s been said, Comey has all but come out and said “the President did nothing illegal.”  Yet it still appears to me that the entire process was, and continues to be, driven by the agenda to discredit Donald Trump as our President.  Rumor mills and rumor mongering are bad enough, but when journalists become nothing more than mouth pieces for the political elite on both sides of the aisle, spewing and spuriously spreading fake news, or worse treasonous ideas, somethings gotta give!

Divulging information which is not intended to be revealed, such as classified data of any kind, is at the very least suspicious, because one has to ask “why was this shared?”  James Comey has admitted to leaking his memos to his friend, and doing so with the full knowledge that he, Comey, could then not prevent them from being revealed publicly.  Is this act alone not a crime?  Politics are the bane of my existence and why I choose to listen as little as possible to self-proclaimed pundits and their ego-based opinions about what is or is not true in Washington these days.  Who will save us from this odious quagmire?  Clearly we can’t save ourselves.

But isn’t that what the Bible reveals to mankind in the first place?  If Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and those first generations of humanity had been capable of saving themselves from self-destruction, I’m quite sure they would have.  But the first couple was banished from the Garden, and one of the first brothers killed the other, all out of an ego-centric mindset that they were above God’s rules.  Things haven’t gotten any better since.  In fact, one might say we are far, far removed from what God intended for mankind to be.  God has revealed in Scripture just how far He is willing to go to help mankind live as He designed us to live.  First God chose a man, Noah, to preserve the various species of creation when God judged the evil men in the world through a flood.  Then God chose a man, Abraham, to establish a nation of people who would be God’s people declaring God’s glory and blessing to the world.  When that failed, because the people failed, God sent His own Son, Jesus, to reveal the full plan of God’s great love for mankind.

God has divulged, disseminated, and declared His love for all mankind, yet men and women alike continue to deny His existence.  Our world is so filled with hate, contempt, and evil, it could be said that God doesn’t recognize the place anymore.  Those who continue in their faithful following of God’s revelation, and who do so with great resolve, are finding it increasingly difficult to exist on this hostile planet.  Who will save us from this morass of self-deluded evil?

God’s revelation is clear.

Genesis 6:3
Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 

Matthew 24:37
For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Revelation 1:1-3
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

From the very beginning until the very end, God’s marvelous grace has been divulged, disseminated, and declared to mankind.  The only thing which will save us from the horrible mess we’ve created, is the coming of Jesus Christ the King.  Until then, we will witness continued repetition of the colossal errors committed to, and fed by, the human hunger for power, prestige, and position.  One day, ALL will bow before the King of the universe, this I declare to you from the authority of Scripture.

Romans 14:11
For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” 

Philippians 2:9-11
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

For more information about my commentary click:  Revelation

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