Revelation 1:17

DailyBibleStudy.Org

17 And [kai] when [hote] I saw [eido] him, [autos] I fell [pipto] at [pros] his [autos] feet [pous] as [hos] dead. [nekros] And [kai] he laid [epitithemi] his [autos] right [dexios] hand [cheir] upon [epi] me, [eme] saying [lego] unto me, [moi] Fear [phobeo] not; [me] I [ego] am [eimi] the first [protos] and [kai] the last: [eschatos]    KJV-Interlinear

17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,    NASB

Throughout history, and even in our current day, there have been many who have claimed to have seen God, but their stories lack truth because their stories lack the reality of fact.

In past times, all who have come into a face to face meeting with God have been filled with fear and intense fright.

Here John falls down on his face as though he were dead.He fainted in other words.

Others have had similar encounters and reactions.Over sixty years earlier John had the same exact experience along with Peter and James on the Mt. of Transfiguration, Matt 17:6.

Likwise Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, the father of Samson, Job, Paul, people in general when the sixth seal is opened, have or will have similar experiences of extreme and intense fear.A type of fear that neither you nor I, have ever had in our entire lives.

Daniel, Dan 10:8-9; cf. 8:17, Ezekiel, Ezek 1:28; 3:23; 9:8; 43:3; 44:4, Isaiah, Isa 6:5, Manoah, Judg 13:22, Job, Job 42:5-6, Paul, Acts 26:13, sixth seal, Rev 6:16-17.

However, you will hear folks boasting of their personal wants or desires of a personal relationship with God, or of folks who want to suffer for God. Go to any internet chat or posting venue, and you will see the frivolous, false, boastful, shallow, and often times silly or pretense displays of attitudes, which are words only or quotes, and no substance or commitment or obedience to Gods mandate for a daily study.  They just want the emotional or ego high that they get from the safety of their computer.

But the reality?  That is somewhat different from the imagination or the pretense.

John was a seasoned Apostle.  Isaiah was a seasoned prophet.  Daniel had sat with lions and lived.

John had lived with Jesus for three and a half years, had seen the crucifixion, the resurrection, the ascension, the transfiguration.Most certainly John had read all of Pauls letters, had taught from within his own ministry, had seen all of the history of the first century.John had written four of his own New Testament letters, revealed to him by God.

If anyone was prepared to face Christ, it was John.And yet here John falls flat on his face, unconscious.

You and I probably think that we can handle a face to face meeting. After all we have HD and we have seen the best of the cinema special affects, sooo we must be prepared!

I don’t think so.

John was better prepared than any of us, and he fell face down, out cold.And this, at just the ‘appearance’ of Christ. 

What does that tell you about those people who will be forced into experiencing actual divine events, which are about to be revealed in the subsequent chapters of this book?

Most folks lack the respect and awe of Christ, by the mere fact that they disobey His mandate to pursue their daily studies.  The first priority set before all believers once they have been saved.   To grow up is your mandate, and that requires a daily commitment of study in an instructional setting.

Most say they are interested, but most don’t study.

And here is John who is spiritually prepared for such a meeting, and he is overcome.What of those who are not prepared?

And the response of Christ?‘Do not be afraid.’He touches John on the shoulder with affection and reassurance.

The scriptures are full of Gods reassurance, Gen 15:1; 26:24; Judg 6:23; Matt 14:27; 17:7; 28:10.

Christ responds with ‘I Am.’  I [ego] am [eimi].  This means the ‘self existent one,’ which means the infinite one, or the one who possesses eternal support and resources.  These are the same words spoken to Moses from the burning bush, ‘I Am.’

The first and the last, refers to Jesus Christ’s infinite sovereign control over all that is, even over all that could be, the actual and the possible.

If God be for us, since God has control over everything, then who can stand against us, Rom 8:31.  Anyone else will not exist (gods), or if they do, were created by and therefore lesser than, God Himself.

Jesus Christ is our only point of contact with God.Not angels, not Mary, not the prophets, not so called saints, not inanimate objects, not invented gods, nothing, and no one.

Jesus Christ is God, Ex. 3:14, Matt. 24:27, John 8:58, 59, and those who opposed Him, understood His words and claim to deity.

When all false gods, and ideas and philosophies have come and gone, Christ remains, Rev. 2:8, 22:13, Isa 44:6; 48:12; cf. 41:4.

Jesus Christ is not a dead god, not a fantasy god, not a fad god, not an invented god, but the living real God, John 1:4; 14:6, Josh 3:10; 1 Sam 17:26; Ps 84:2; Hos 1:10; Matt 16:16; 26:63; Acts 14:15; Rom 9:26; 2 Cor 3:3; 6:16; 1 Thess 1:9; 1 Tim 3:15; 4:10; Heb 3:12; 9:14; 10:31; Rev 7:2

God is infinite, uncaused (no cause and affect), self existent, with no beginning and no end.

And this same God, who created everything around us, who created and controls everything around us, who is both omnipotent and sovereign, reached down and touched John, ever so lightly.

And this same God, who created all that is, has prepared a plan, a unique plan just as He Himself is unique, for each one of us.All you have to do is commit yourself to a daily study and your life will blossom to beyond your wildest dreams.

It is said that there are those who don’t have dreams, they have no outlook on life.

Then there are those who have dreams, but do nothing with regard to them.All talk and no substance.

And then there are the few, who have dreams, pursue their spiritual life through their daily study, and God leads them through their dreams to a life beyond their wildest even enhanced dreams.

Which are you?

Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.

Previous Page

Table of Contents

Donation

Next Page

Now is the time to post a prayer.