Chapter 1: Our Hope

Revelation 1:1-2

God spoke to John.  John could have lived out the rest of his days suffering on Patmos without hearing from his friend Jesus.  Instead, Jesus spoke to him and had John write us a letter about things that MUST happen.

That God spoke to John and wrote to us through him, gives me hope.

Revelation 1:3a

Simply reading the book of Revelation, puts a blessing on you, the reader. Doing what it says puts another blessing on you, the doer.  

If you read this thing and do what it says, you get 2 blessings.

That God would put such a free and easy to attain blessing out into the world gives me hope.

There are people who read the book, didn't get it, or didn't believe it, it just wasn't their thing.  They still get 1 blessing.  That's a great deal!

I've said, "read", however, the word is, "hears".  So, you didn't mean to hear the street preacher, wrong place wrong time, you still heard it.  That's still one blessing.

Revelation 1:3b

The time is near when all of this will happen.

There's some rough to bad and ugly news in this book.  However, it has a great ending.  

That ending, it gives me a tested and steadfast hope.

Revelation 1:4

There's eternal Grace and Peace from Jesus, and tge Father.  There's also Grace and Peace from the Seven Spirits of the church.

That there are spirits we don't know much about, who also wish grace and peace on us, gives me hope. Creepy hope, but hope.

Revelation 1:5

Jesus consistently tells us the truth as if under oath in court.  This gives me hope.

He's the number one guy that's been raised from the dead and we get to know about it.  That's awesome.

Love is the ruler of all the kings of the earth.  That means love determines how all nations' leaders will be eternally judged.  That's going to make judgment day very difficult for them, but some will come through.  Some might have even done an ok job.  This gives me hope.

We will be judged by the One that called us sinless when He washed us in His blood and called us family.  It scares the heck out of me for what could be said that day.  Not just my sins but some I may have to hear.  And, it gives me hope.

Revelation 1:6

All citizens of God's Kingdom, now, are priests, whether we get it or not.  We can go to Him personally and directly. We have duty, responsibility, a place we fit, a name, and our inalienable God-given human rights.

We are the image of the invisible.  This gives me hope.

Revelation 1:7

When He comes, all the living and the dead will see it.  There will be no question about it.  It will be an absolute.  💯 

This gives me hope.