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We have done 84 studies in these first 14Chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. Let's take a break, and turn to the book of Revelation.

Revelation Chapter 1, and here, right at the beginning of Chapter 1, we see God giving a word to Jesus, and Jesus gives this word to an angel, and the angel shares it with John, and John writes it all down, so that we can read something right from the Throne of the God the Father. We see here the eternal submission of the equal Son to the Father, which we read of in John's Gospel too, and it is sheer mystery. In the Gospel it is not everyone for himself! This is grace. This is what grace can do John is around 90 years of age, when he writes this astounding book, and John is in prison, and John is in prison for his faith in Jesus Christ. But, even in this valley, because he had come through other valleys, he now has an overflowing cup, and we see in this Book that his cup just runs over. I wanted to turn to look at the seven Churches in Revelation, but we have to understand first why these seven letters of Jesus were written and delivered. John is physically in prison, but his heart is in the Church. His heart is in the fellowship. His desire is to be with those dear disciples of Jesus in the various churches he had visited, and now he is prevented from visiting them. He is in the most inhospitable circumstances - banished to an island - when this wonderful word from God comes to him. John did not make this up! This book can be controversial and can cause confusion, and we know who is behind that, and some people maybe put off reading Revelation. It points us to Jesus Christ. The title of the book unveiling or revealing - the apocalypse. It is not intended to disguise or hide or confuse but reveal. It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, or from Jesus Christ, and the primary purpose of the book is not to provide us with a timetable for the future, but to remind us of the glories of our triumphant and conquering Christ. The people of God are set in the midst of a hostile environment, and therefore there is this need to concentrate on the fact that Jesus is Lord. Many believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in very hostile situations and circumstances today. John's mind is in the scriptures. John is soaked in the Word of God, and on the Lord's Day, he is in the Spirit. Now, there is a pattern for us. No matter where our body might be - our heart can be in the Church - and in the fellowship. Our mind can be in the Word of God, and we can be rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Of course, if our body can be in the fellowship, it will be in the fellowship. John had been a pastor and a preacher, but today he is not going to visit any church and proclaim the Word of God. Today, his message has to be written, and it is a message of Grace and Peace. Only the Church of Jesus Christ can say these two words - "Grace and Peace to you". Only the Christian can say, "The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit will bless you" in all of these ways. This Book is a book of blessing - a book of Grace and Peace - not perplexity and puzzlement.

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

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