In His Hands

On Wednesday night as we concluded out Bible Study on Daniel, our attention was drawn to Revelation 1: 1-20. In reading through it we discover that John was shown a "revelation" of the future. This was not only John's future, but ours. Similar to the visions of Daniel, for instance in Daniel 12:1-4, Daniel was shown by an angel what would be not only in his future, but also in ours. The book of Revelation is absolutely fascinating. Not as a script to satisfy our selfish curiosity, but as a declaration of a victorious king! There is absolutely nothing like the grand language of Revelation 22:6-21 which illustrates the ultimate and triumphant victory of King Jesus! As we read through chapter one, we noticed that "the One" John saw had a face that John recognized. (Revelation 1:13), it was the Christ that He had known while on the earth, but now, in all His Glory! What is so striking to me about this One among the lampstands was not just His statement in Revelation 1:17-20, but specifically His revelation of the mystery in Revelation 1:20. In the hands of Christ are His Churches! That is His body! With all of heaven opened to the apostle, there stood Jesus with His Church! With His Church in His right hand and in His left, Jesus stands triumphant. Here is the fulfillment of what He said to Peter, "You are Peter, but upon this ROCK I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). If you are having a struggle today or the problems you've been handed refuse to go away month after month and year after year, you can be encouraged through this great declaration, Jesus is building His Church and He has it ALL in His hands.