It really saddens me when I think of the way much of the church is handling the Book of Revelation.  Though in verse 3 of the first chapter of the Revelation we are promised a blessing if we read and keep (to watch over, to guard) those things within it, there seems to be a reluctance to preach it even though we are right now experiencing it!

The denial of what is going on in our nation and our world as Revelation Day Events is unprecedented, and this denial will cause people to be unprepared.  We should be shouting from the rooftops and pleading with and warning people that this current age is coming to a close.  But before it does, there will be hard times in this natural world – followed by the supernatural return of Jesus Christ to earth!

The return of Jesus to earth is a blessed event that everyone who is born again looks forward to with joy and great anticipation.  But, while we love the idea of seeing Jesus come, we want none of the discomfort or pain that precedes His return.  In the Bible, it says the days preceding His coming are like birth pains that increase in frequency and intensity.  These pains are going to come and they’re going to hurt, whether we deny them or not.

Anyone who has a measure of God in them, must be grieved by what they see in the behaviors of the societies of  our world.  Man has managed to either corrupt or destroy altogether, the plan of God for His creation.  We are certainly not a God-honoring society at large, and the Church doesn’t get a pass either.  Revelation 3:1 comes to mind:  “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…”

But none of this takes God by surprise.  He knew what would happen and He provided a Way out and that Way is Jesus.  Jesus came to earth the first time to suffer for the sins of mankind and to redeem them.  When He comes again, it will be with great Glory and Power to establish the kingdom of God on earth as we read in Revelation 1:15: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”  When that happens, there will be no more sorrow or grieving for the sins of the world, but there will be great rejoicing that Jesus reigns!

God gave us the Revelation to tell us about the time just before Jesus comes a second time.  He told us so that we could get ready.  He told us so that all these things would not take us by surprise.

It reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins.  They ALL knew He was coming, but only 5 were wise and ready when He came.  They were the ones who were prepared.  They were ready.  They were not in love with the world – they were in love with the Savior of the world.

Revelation Chapter  8 tells us what will happen to those who are not ready when He comes:

Revelation 8:13 NKJV

“And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Even so, come Lord Jesus!