For the Time is Near

Revelation 22:1-5 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

 

The January issue of Thru the Bible magazine featured an article by the late Dr. J. Vernon McGee in the book of Revelation that seemed to be written for today. He writes that we look around at the dark world today and wonder how it’s going to end. Dr. McGee states that look we need to do is turn to the last book of the Bible, "The Revelation". What we read there tells us it’s going to work out all right. 

 

It doesn’t look that way. In fact, it looks like the devil is having a high holiday in the world. But, God is going to work it out. God Himself will gain control. In fact, God has never lost control and He is moving to the time when He is going to place His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, upon the throne of His universe down here. 

 

Anyone who takes an optimistic view of the world situation isn’t thinking clearly. The world is in a desperate condition. However, Dr. McGee was no pessimist, because we have the book of Revelation, and he could say to every person who has trusted in Christ, “Don’t you worry. It’s going to work out alright.” God is coming out on top and you want to be with Him. You’re on the side that looks to the losing now, but we’re not on the last page yet. 

 

Revelation 21:21-27 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything [f]that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

 

It doesn’t take much to see a great crisis is coming. People talk about it all the time. As a result of this foreboding, there has been a growing interest in the book of Revelation.  

 

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”