What  Apocalypse?

Or you might ask, ‘What revelation?’

We defined these last time in Apocalypse 2 – Good News Unsealed from the original Greek of this Scripture – ἀποκάλυψις.

I began by pointing toward an apocalypse from heaven as bad news for some yet Good News for others.

Then the kings of the earth and the eminent people.. and the wealthy and the strong.. hid themselves…

Revelation 6:15 excerpt NASB

More about revealing the Good News from heaven to earth in a moment, but first let’s once again define our terms by narrowing what most readers already know about the Gospel.

We recognize the four books of Scripture known as the Gospels; however note these contextual uses in the New Testament including Acts, the Epistles and one in Revelation with which we will close.

From Strong’s G2098 – euangelion {with thanks to BlueletterBible.org} The KJV translates Strong’s G2098 in the following manner:

1. gospel (46x)
2. gospel of the Kingdom (3x)
3. miscellaneous (10x)
4. gospel of God (7x)
5. gospel of Christ (11x)

If you are looking for a more complete definition of the Gospel you can view it here from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

Gospel GOOD NEWS: not exclusively about Jesus, but as revealed of eternal life, accessible to sinful man ONLY through Him.

Roger @ talk of Jesus {dot}.com

Gospel – 77x as a noun

But wait, Gospel is also a verb of action.

Here will be where we must understand distinctions between recognizing Good News, its messengers (be they angels of heaven or saints of the earth), recipients of the Good Message and actions of response.

εὐαγγελίζω – euangelizō – verb – (55x)

– from G2095 and G32; to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel:—declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

• used in the OT of any kind of good news
• in NT primarily:

1. preach (23x),
2. preach the Gospel (22x)

And he began to say unto them, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” – Luke 4:18,21 KJV

The Gospel of the End!

Why should we pay attention to Jesus concerning the apocalypse?

• The Gospel is not just the four books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
• It is not only a noun we can describe
• or is it all preaching and door-to-door evangelism.

Don't be misled by christian claimants hitting you over the head with a Jesus sign or hateful christian morality; for they may be members of the synagogue of Satan or white-cloaked followers of false prophets.

The Lord has revealed to John, the Apostles and those with ears to hear Who He IS!

Α ἄλφα & ō Ω

Revealing the Ending First

Before we move on to the opening of the seals which reveal the apocalypse, let’s not miss what Jesus says to John about Himself.

Jesus states (4x) in Revelation:

I am Alpha and Omega..

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

• 

• 

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:8 KJV

The Book of Revelation opens with this apokalypsis of WHO JESUS IS! Twice in the beginning of the apocalypse the LORD says HE IS:

the Α ἄλφα & the ō Ω.

Jesus instructs John to write to the seven churches with pointed exhortation of encouragement for some and warning for others. We see symbolism of the Holy of holies in heaven!

John uncovers the place of the churches in the Most Holy Place in Heaven — IF the saints of the church will abide by the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Members of the 21st century churches would do well to heed Christ’s warnings to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 in these last days. I cannot take time to reinforce these teachings from Revelation which I have preached previously.

Peeking at THE END

NEXT: We will open the seals hiding the omega of time from us. (I cannot unfold the entire apocalypse before its time.) Yet consider briefly and glance ahead to a Scripture near the ending of the Book.

And He who sits on the throne said,

“Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Then He said to me, “It is done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end..

Revelation 21:5-6a NASB

To be continued...