Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Seven wonderful promises - Exploring Revelation
Jun 8th, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

As we come to Revelation 3:12 we have a promise to the Church of Philadelphia. Actually, there are 7 messages our Lord has given to 7 representative churches. Each message closes with a conditional promise, because the letters are intended for all the churches. All of these promises are for every believer.

To discover what God has for His own, we need to look at all of the promises . You will find these promised blessings more wonderful than you can comprehend.

PROMISE #1 Rev. 2:7, "...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life...". Overcoming is equated with salvation. Overcomers are the saved, and the saved are overcomers. Ultimately, every believer will be in heaven with Christ and Satan will be in hell. Every believer will overcome the evil one who sought to defeat him.

"...the Tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God."(vs.7) We read about the Tree of Life in Gen.3:22, "...lest He put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever." Why would God be concerned that Adam would live forever? Because, the life here is physical life, not spiritual life. The danger was that Adam might live forever on earth, in sin, in his natural physical body. As a result the earth could never be redeemed and become a glorious home for man. Neither could Adam be redeemed as he would be in a fixed state.

So the first promise is physical eternal life. I want that. The older I get the more precious that promise is. I don't want to die without that promise.

The conclusion is that all saved persons will be overcomers. They will ultimately overcome sin, Satan and the flesh nature. They may suffer defeats along the way, but ultimately we are all overcomers - isn' t that a wonderful hope, with a glorious physical body to enjoy. Our glorious body will be like our Lord's. (see Luke 24: 40-43)

PROMISE #2 Rev. 2:11 "...He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." This was written to a church that was suffering many martyrdoms. so it had great significance.

The first death is physical death. The resurrection of the believer involves a glorified physical body, it also involves glorification of the soul. The divine nature that we received at salvation then will be unhindered by the old sinful flesh nature. (1 Jn. 3:2) the second promise is the promise of Spiritual Life in a glorious new dimension, to be like JESUS. What a Great Promise!

PROMISE #3 Rev. 2:17 Something beyond eternal life is promised, something amazing and wonderful. This Third Promise actually involves three things.

"...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Hidden Manna...." We know what manna is, it is the bread sent down in the wilderness to strengthen and sustain God's people, Israel, (Jn. 6:31) that was physical bread.

Contrast physical bread with spiritual bread. John.6:48, Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life," (the spiritual bread, the living bread.) Verse.:49 Jesus said "Your fathers did eat manna (physical bread) in the wilderness, and are dead." But, He said, "I am the Spiritual Bread, living bread" John.6:50,51. You eat physical bread with your teeth, you eat spiritual bread by faith.

"Will I give to eat of the hidden manna,"verse:17 The hidden manna was the manna hidden in the Ark of the Covenant. (Ex.16:33) Hidden away from the eyes of men.

Question, "Did you feed on the hidden manna this morning?" By faith, did you hear His voice in the Word this morning? "By faith, did you talk to Him this morning? That's feeding on the hidden manna.

At one time the thought used to come to me,"When I get to Heaven, I am going to lose the most precious thing I have." In heaven, the Father will be upon His throne. Christ will be seated on His throne of glory. Hundreds of millions of God's children will be gathered around those thrones. Read Rev. 5:11,12 and Rev. 7:9-11. I could visualize that scene - all of the multiplied millions of saints of all the ages, and there I am standing in the back row with a pair of binoculars, lost in that tremendous throng. At least on earth, I had an intimate personal relationship with Jesus.

Look again at the first part of this third promise. "To him that overcometh," to those who reach heaven at last, who reach the place of final overcoming. "To him---will I give to eat of the hidden manna." Praise the Lord! When I get to heaven, I will have a wonderful, ongoing, intimate, personal relationship with Jesus. I will feed on Him in a sweet intimate relationship.

How will that be possible? A similtanious, intimate personal relationship with Jesus. I and 100's of millions of others at the same time? How is that possible? Because, He is such a great, infinite person! That's the greatness of the nature of God.

The second part of this third promise, "and will give him a white stone." I want you to see how wonderful this promise is. The white stone also refers to the wilderness experience. In the breastplate of the High Priest there were twelve stones, each enscribed with the name of one of the twelve tribes. None of those were white stones, however, there was a white stone, a beautiful diamond. (see Lev.8:8) The white stone was called the Urim. When the priest or king would ask a question of the Lord, if the answer from the Lord was yes, the Urim would flash brilliantly. If the answer was no, the dark stone, the Thurrum would glow.

When the High Priest would have this vest on, he would have instant communication with God, instant access. Do you see the significance of the white stone in Rev. 2:17. That white stone will give us instant and constant access into the very presence of God. The stone will always flash yes to our entrance into His presence. It will always flash yes to our every request. It will always be yes, because we will be like Christ and only ask for that which pleases the Lord.

ILLUSTRATION:

The story is told of King George, that no-one could go into the palace, nor into his presence without permission. But, little George lived in the palace. He could go into his father's office anytime he wanted, he was always welcome. He would play in that office in the king's presence. He would crawl under the desk and lay at his father's feet. When he wanted he could crawl upon his father's knee, he was the king's son! Access to the king was never restricted.

That's the significance of the "white stone," What a wonderful promise we have. What a wonderful future we have.

WE WILL DEAL WITH THE THIRD PART OF THIS THIRD PROMISE NEXT WEEK.

He Gave Her the Upper Springs, and the Nether Springs - Joshua 15:19
Jun 8th, 2020
Morning MeditationF. B. Meyer
Categories: Meditation;Inspirational;Book Study

Caleb had conquered his giants, and so he was able to give his daughter an inheritance of land and springs of water. It was when Jesus had overcome the sharpness of death that He opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers; it was as He trampled under His victorious feet the principalities and powers of darkness that He gave to His Church the upper and the nether springs.

There are two departments in our life, which are closely related and yet one. We occupy the one in our contact with men and our work in the world; the other, in our holy moments of meditation and prayer. Christ's sheep go out to their manifold activities, and come in to feed on the green pastures beside waters of rest. In each of these we stand in daily need of the springs that are fed from the River which proceeds from the Throne of God, and which is an emblem of the Holy Ghost.

On the Lord's Day, in the House of God, or in private prayer, we climb the hills and stand on the margin of the upper springs that rise there; in the solemn hush we hear the murmur of their waters. On Monday we descend into the valley amid the clang of the battle and the cries of human need; but, thank God! plentiful springs are there also. Upper springs from the Mount of Transfiguration; nether springs for the Valley of Humiliation. Upper springs for the days of health and abounding activity; nether springs for days of depression, and pain, and death. Upper springs in praise, adoration, and rapture; nether springs for taking the yoke, bearing the burden, and drinking of His cup. Let us partake freely of the refreshing water which flows from the River of God.