The Magnificent Lamb of Revelation
The Trinity of the Bible is the most magnificent picture in Holy Scripture.
How and why the doctrine of “Jesus Only” or “Oneness” was ever conceived had to be from the enemy of Christianity. The Son of God must be understood as the “Only Begotten” or the picture of our Father’s gift is destroyed. Jesus came down from above and out of eternity to redeem the fallen world.
I listened one day to a minister of the past preach about the “Jesus Only” doctrine. His name was William Brandon and he denied the eternal existence of Christ. His words were “how can He be eternal if He was begotten.” Denying the fact of His eternal nature can only be called heresy. This was aired on a radio program by a minister in South Carolina.
The first chapter of Revelation leaves no doubt of the central fact of Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and the close proximity of the Father and the Holy Spirit. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. (Revelation 1: 1-5) Please note the fact that the Father gave this Book to Jesus and commanded Him to show it to His servants through John the writer.
Over and over, John saw the Father on His throne, Jesus Christ the Lamb as slain, and the omnipresent spirit overarching the total revelation. It was absolutely the greatest series of visions that God has ever given to any man. To even compare this rapturous revelation of our magnificent God to the crude imitation gods of Satan is too vile to imagine. No wonder the angels throughout the Bible are forever crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” in the pattern of the three persons of the Divine. Our God always excels in heavenly splendor.
As the great drama begins to unfold in the otherwise dark cave on the isle of Patmos, John immediately begins to record what He saw. “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” (Rev. 1:4-5) There is no way to doubt that John saw “God in three persons.” He said, “from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ.” The language is unquestionable. John was not just speaking; he was describing the transcendent scene that appeared before him. He had been told to record “all things that he saw.” (Rev. 1:2)
It was the Father that gave this revelation to John. When the Son of God had paid the awesome vicarious penalty for sin, He was welcomed home with Celestial bliss. Not one word or action during His thirty-three years was less than perfect submission to the Father’s will. The heavens had thundered with the Father’s voice. When He was baptized by John, the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17b) Again on the Mount of Transfiguration the Father affirmed His Son.“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matt. 17:5)
When Jesus Christ had ascended back to Heaven, the honors bestowed upon Him were unlimited. The Father gave Him a name above all names, in Heaven or Earth, and made Him the Lord of His Church and the spiritual kingdom dispensation. Apostle Paul recorded the heavenly triumph at Christ’s return to the Fathers’ presence. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11)
Every book of the Bible before the “Book of Revelation” was the action of the Word, Jesus Christ, and transmitted by the Holy Spirit. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (II Peter 1:21) This masterpiece of God’s total revelation is transmitted to John by an angel and coming directly from the Father. The Book begins, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” (Revelation 1:1)
It was time in God’s great plans for Him to exalt His Son and reveal His plans for the final completion of all things. This last great book is just that, the Father’s plan for the redemption of the created universe and the final judgment of sinful man and the master of deceit, Lucifer. The Father showed John the numerous events that reflect His Divine finish.
Thirty-one times John saw the Father’s throne, twenty-five times he saw the Lamb that had been slain and sixteen times he saw the Holy Spirit. Everything the Father said and did, the Son and the Spirit were a part of it. Everything the Son did or said, the Spirit and the Father were a part of it. Everything the Spirit did or said, the Father and the Son were a part of it. There are three that bear record in heaven in every circumstance or event. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (I John 5:7) Heaven is a place of perfect unity in all things.
It is only Biblical that the Father would be the Heavenly author of this final book of the Bible. His Son had paid the ultimate sacrifice to redeem the world that His Father had created. In truth the Father had offered His Son and even laid His hands on the hands that nailed Him to the cross. Isaiah said by the Holy Ghost, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:10-11)
Throughout this masterpiece, the Father wanted His saints to see His exaltation of His Son. It is His Son’s New Jerusalem and His Son’s Bride that will fill the city. Every victory of the Book of Revelation was won on the cross and by His blood. The Father will exalt Him and, in the end, the Son will exalt the Father. John the Revelator saw it completed and cried, “Even so come Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20b)
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SuperCounters
Sean
I do believe that Joseph wd be tongue-tied for a year if he ever decided to preach on any other text of the New Testament other than Revelation.
Joseph joins prophets of doom such as Tim LeHaye, Hal Lindsey and other fearmongers in an attempt to scare Christians with future disasters. Jesus, of course, warned us NOT to do that. Jesus told us that we have enough troubles for today and not to borrow tomorrow’s troubles. But why should Joseph want to obey the clear command of Jesus when he can gain power over childishly frightened adult babies?
Every single sign of “the tribulation” occurs in every generation: earthquakes, floods, and other national and local disasters, along with “wars and rumors of wars.”
The only “Last Day” a Christian need worry about is his own, hoping that, before he dies, he has fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked and visited the sick and those in prison as Jesus REALLY commanded in Matthew 25. This continues the good works of Jesus Christians are commanded to walk in, as St Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10.
Jospeh never tells his followers to do these works of mercy. This is why his huffing and puffing is empty nonsense.
You cannot preach Jesus in part, just the parts one likes in the Gospels.
Any reply, Joseph?
Roger Ball
Sean, I am glad that you are back and reading the POST OF PASTOR CHAMBERS.
You forgot to say that we all must REPENT of out sins.