Embracing Hope Through the Book of Revelation: A Journey from Fear to Triumph in Christ - Part One

Embark on an enlightening odyssey through the Book of Revelation, where the shadow of fear is replaced by the radiance of hope as we anticipate the triumphant return of Jesus.   This series is an invitation to witness the profound connection between Jesus' parting words to His apostles and the vivid prophecies that offer solace and guidance. We'll unpack the powerful symbols that echo through time—the seven stars and candlesticks, the keys to life and death held by Jesus Himself—and how these images inspire a steadfast journey of faith.  As we see the ascension of Jesus and His promise of the Holy Spirit, feel the comforting embrace of the scripture, promising victory in Christ for every believer.

Journey with me as we seek out the blessings promised to those who read, hear, cherish this text. Let's embrace the scripture's transformative power, drawing us ever closer to the divine, and let our session be a catalyst for reflection, prayer, and a life led with love and purpose. There are no guests in this episode—just an impactful conversation, ready to uplift and guide your path as you navigate the complexities of life with a heart aligned toward God's eternal wisdom.

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Transcript

Kirk: 0:24

Hello and welcome again to the Christ Quarter, where we spend 15 minutes or sometimes less, talking about the Trinity, jesus sometimes a father or the Holy Spirit and how we can follow Christ daily, how we can become more and more like Him and how we can do our part in the Kingdom, or, as I call it, in the family business. Thanks for being here with me today. The Christ Quarter is available on Amazon Music. Just ask your smart speaker or app to play the Christ Quarter podcast. I'm also available on Spotify, apple Podcast, youtube Podcast and wherever you get your podcasts.

Kirk: 1:08

Today we're going to begin reading Revelation Now. Many people find Revelation to be scary, but we really shouldn't. I specifically say we because for we Christians it's good news. It's a good news forecast of future events. In Acts Jesus left and in Revelation he returns. So let's read Acts, chapter one, verses one through 11, and then the first chapter of Revelation and this is the King James Version. The former treaties have, I made out theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up.

Kirk: 1:53

After that, he, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them for the days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God and being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father which saith he you have heard of me For John, truly baptized with water, where ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him saying Lord, wilt thou, at this time, restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in his own power, but you shall receive power After that. The Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, in the Samaria, unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he has spoken these things, while they beheld he was taken up and the cloud receipts him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said ye, men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like manner as ye have seen, and go into heaven the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants, things which must shortly come to pass. And he sent and signified it by his angel unto a servant, john, who bear record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all the things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein.

Kirk: 3:57

For the time is at hand, john, to the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace be unto you in peace, from him which is and which was and which is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, and to him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, amen, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending. Saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come. The Almighty.

Kirk: 4:59

I John, who am also your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Potmos, for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, saying I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, and what thou see is right in the book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia, unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna and unto Pergamos and unto Thyatira and unto Sardis and unto Philadelphia and unto Laudicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks and in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot and girded about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire and his feet like a defined brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters, and he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth was a sharp two-edged sword, and his countess was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me Fear not, I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys of hell. End of death. Write the things which thou had seen and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter, the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. The NIV says it this way.

Kirk: 7:14

In my former book, theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven. After giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen After his suffering, he presumed himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command do not leave Jerusalem. Wait for the gifts my father promised, which you have heard me speak about, for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Then they gathered around him and asked him Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them it is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid them from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. Men have got a lead. They said why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will come back in the same way. You see them go into heaven.

Kirk: 8:53

And now the first chapter of Revelation, the Revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant, john, who justifies everything he saw. That is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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, john, to the seven churches in the province of Asia, grace and peace to you, from him who is and who was and was to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and has made us to be a kingdom and priest to serve his God and Father. To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Look, he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega says to the Lord, god who is and who was or who is to come, the Almighty. I John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's day.

Kirk: 10:33

I was in the spirit and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet, which said right on a scroll what you see is send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, laotira, sardis, philadelphia and Laoticea. I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me and when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe, reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze, glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. And his right hand held seven stars and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun, shining in all his brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said do not be afraid, I am the first and the last. I'm the living one. I was dead. Now look, I'm alive forever and ever and I hold the keys of death and Hades Right there for what you have seen, what is now and will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven cold lampstands is this the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Kirk: 12:01

Let us pray, lord. We thank you for today. We thank you for freedom and the ability to discuss your word and to hear your word and to enjoy your presence. Help us to understand your word and your will for our daily lives more fully. We ask that you bless this discussion and this reading of your word, that it will speak to someone who needs to hear from you. We ask that you use these words to bring someone closer to you and that you will touch their hearts To love others through action in your name. That each one of us will do something today to show love to the neighbor, in action as well as in word. That each of us will do our best to represent you to the world, and Jesus name we pray. I'm in. That concludes our scripture and discussion for today.

Kirk: 12:53

Thank you for spending this time with me talking about, learning about and enjoying Christ. It is my hope that God has used my words to touch you today and has brought you closer to him. Please contact me if you wish to have further information about Christ. You may contact me at the Christ quarter at gmailcom. The Christ Court is available on Amazon music just ask your smart speaker or app play the Christ quarter podcast. I'm also available on Spotify, apple podcast, google podcast and wherever you get your podcasts. If you find value in the message you've heard here today, please support me via my cash app dollar sign the Christ quarter. It has been a privilege to talk with you today and I look forward to talking with you again soon. This is Kirk. Meet me again here as soon as you can on the Christ quarter.