Apples of Gold
Radio Script for June 6, 2008
“Jesus in Revelation”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Jesus is easy to picture as a little baby in a manger.
It’s easy to see Him teaching thousands on a hillside.
It’s not even hard to imagine Him hanging on a cross.
Rising from the dead is a bit of a stretch, but still, He didn’t look all that different, except when He showed up out of thin air in a locked room, or when He finally just lifted off the ground and disappeared in the clouds.
But there He is, dark hair, clothes made out of real cloth, leather sandals – just a regular guy.
And then He appears to John in the book of Revelation. John didn’t say, “Wow, Jesus, is that you? You look just like a regular guy.” No, instead he dropped to the ground like a dead man.
Have you ever had someone sneak up behind you and blast you with a trumpet? A trumpet can be loud and piercing, and that’s how Revelation starts. John suddenly hears a loud voice like a trumpet behind him.
He turns around and sees what looks like a man standing among seven golden lampstands. But this was no normal man. His eyes were like blazing fire and his face was bright like the sun. His head and hair were as white as snow. He wore a long robe, all the way down to His feet, with a golden sash around His chest. And His feet were glowing like hot metal.
Jesus spoke, and His voice was not meek and mild. It was loud and powerful, like the sound of whitewater rapids. And to top it off, out of His mouth came a sword! And in His right hand He was holding seven stars.
This is not Jesus meek and lowly. Listen to some of the ways Jesus is described in the book of Revelation.
He is known as “The Amen,” “the ruler of God’s creation.”
He is the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.”
He is the “Root and the Offspring of David.”
He is the “Bright Morning Star.”
His name is “The Word of God.”
In Revelation 19 John sees Him as the rider on a white horse, and He is called “Faithful and True.” On His head are many crowns, and He is wearing a robe dipped in blood. On this robe is written a name, the same name that is written on His thigh. It says, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
But the King of Kings is not the only side of Jesus we see in Revelation. At one point John saw Him looking like a Lamb that had been killed.
Revelation 6:16 uses a strange phrase, “the wrath of the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:17 uses another strange phrase. It says the Lamb will be their shepherd.
So yes, Jesus is the Lamb that was slain, but He’s no dead lamb. This Lamb is a shepherd, and this Lamb lashes out in wrath at those who make war against Him.
And He won’t be alone. Revelation 19 says the armies of heaven ride with Him. They are all dressed in white and riding white horses.
Revelation also tells us about “the wedding of the Lamb” and the “wedding supper of the Lamb.”
Revelation 21 talks about “the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” Then it describes the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
It says the Lamb is the lamp of the city, and the throne of the Lamb is in the city.
And Revelation 21:27 tells us who will be able to enter the city, “…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
This is a very important item that belongs to the Lamb. Revelation 20:15 says, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
That sounds dreadful, doesn’t it?
So let’s balance that with Revelation 22:17 which says, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’” “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
He concludes by saying, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.”
John calls Him, “Lord Jesus.” Jesus Himself says, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 22:20 says, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’”
And John responds with this simple prayer, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
So you see, Jesus is not just the baby in the manger or the teacher on the hillside. Jesus is also the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the warrior on the white horse. His name is the Word of God, and He wins battles with the double-edged sword from His mouth. In His possession is the Lamb’s book of life, and from His throne flows the water of life.
And this Great One invites all to come to Him for the free gift of the water of life. And this Great One says He is coming back, and He is coming soon!
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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