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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 488 May 12, 2002 Revelation I get a lot of email regarding my thoughts on the book of Revelation. Are we in the end times? Will believers get taken home before the rapture? When is Jesus coming back? Is Jesus coming back? Revelation is a wonderful book of the Bible, but I believe that as Christians we often miss the point of the whole Revelation. We seem to think that it is a calendar of sorts so that we can pinpoint the exact moment of Christ’s return. End time ministries make predictions. Fictional novels dealing with the second coming abound. Experts and theories come and go in popularity. Churches divide over the issue of whether Jesus will come before or after the rapture. Now don’t get me wrong here, these things are fascinating to speculate about and debate. It’s just that in the long run they aren’t all that important. God’s not going to tell us in advance and He will do what He plans regardless of our theories about the subject. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:36 NIV John’s Revelation (or perhaps more accurately Jesus’ revelation to John) is not a calendar or a checklist. It is a picture of heaven. It is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and patience. It tells us that He will remain faithful until the very last hour, offering freedom and salvation to all who will accept it. The imagery is confusing and the meaning in many places is subject to interpretation. Reading the book is supposed to be a blessing not a burden Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3 NIV The blessing comes not from counting down the days, but from seeing the faithfulness of God and the beauty of His kingdom. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34 NIV Until next time, may you see the blessings He promises and leave the worrying to Him. Hallelu Yah. Kevin Did you know that God has a plan for the whole world and has had it since before time began? That plan includes you! Email me and I’ll share some Bible verses that explain why a personal relationship with Jesus is so important and a prayer that will make it possible. Or simply begin the relationship by saying a prayer along the lines of: Dear God: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer let me know and I will direct you to some free non-denominational resources that will help you grow in that newfound relationship. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your prayer concerns and praise reports email us at corbin_writer@shaw.ca If you enjoy this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list/lists/ or email me at corbin_writer@shaw.ca Archived issues of Gleanings From The Word can be found on our web site http://gleanings.jesusanswers.com To share your thoughts on this issue of Gleanings, or to share prayer concerns email us at corbin_writer@shaw.ca or write us at Gleanings From The Word 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2002 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Ministries International All Rights Reserved
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