Have no fear

Reflections on Revelation 1:9-20

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—i am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation 1:17&18

I enjoy leading people through Bible studies. Many times someone will approach me and suggest a book to study that they haven’t looked at before. Sometimes they have studied a certain book before but want to have another look at it. I am always eager to help them see deeper into the text, so they will learn more. However, there is one book of the Bible when suggested people shy away from some actually fear thinking of looking at the book, that book is Revelation.

Why would anyone refuse to consider studying this book? Some say it is too fearful to see what will happen to the world at the end when it disappears. Maybe, but God creates a new heaven and a new earth. Others say, why study how the Evil One will ravish the people of the world. Perhaps, but the evilness of the world is cleansed by God and everything is restored as if Adam and Eve had not disobeyed God in the first place. Then the fear of people really is expressed: With all the martyring of people and the Evil One hunting down all who don’t truly believe in Jesus, I am afraid I am one who the Devil will catch. Now that is true resistance of not wanting to study this book.

Why do people who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ have to fear the end times? At the beginning of this book, the Apostle John is taken up into heaven to see all that God will do to battle evil. Jesus tells him that he is the first and the last, the one who has conquered death and lives forever. He is the one who went down to the place of the dead, the Evil Ones home turf, and released all the people who died during the flood (read portions of 1 Peter) and defeated the Devil. Jesus has the keys that locked up death and the grave, if one believes in Jesus; there is nothing to fear.

The message God is telling everyone in the world is to believe in him, everything is in his control. When does this message start? The Book of Genesis and goes through every book in the Bible, straight through Revelation. Even so, but the fear in some people remains because they have committed sins in their lives they feel God would never forgive. However consider this, if God would not withhold his own son to die for the sins of the whole world then why would anyone feel that He would hold their sins against them? Remember Jesus has defeated death and the grave, when you ask for forgiveness, he has the keys; you are forgiven. You have no fear.

Dear Lord, there are situations in life that I do not understand. Putting my faith in you clears all misunderstandings. Keep walking with me each day, until you walk me into the Heavenly Kingdom to live with you forever. Amen.