Since we are focusing on the Book of Revelation in our “Evening Meditation” videos, I thought this quick little “word study” might prove interesting.

The Greek noun “apocalypse” literally means “revelation,” but in this lovely precise sense …

Its prefix, also a preposition is simply spelled “apo.” It means “from” or “away from.” And the word’s main root is a verb, spelled “krupto,” meaning “to hide” something. Better yet, it means “to veil” a person or thing. Therefore, when these two words are placed together we see that “apocalypse” is essentially an uncovering, an UNVEILING!

So then, Revelation 1:1 is quite helpful. Read it with me … “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” …

The Book is not a revelation of John the writer, the Disciple! It is an unveiling of Jesus our Saviour! Jesus Who then unveils “things which must shortly come to pass!”

Immediately thereupon (after Revelation 1:1) is revealed: the glorified Lord, the seven Churches, the Rapture of Believers in Christ Jesus, Heaven itself, the Tribulation, and so much more!

But that’s not all!

There is another “unveiling” in Jewish culture and life. It centers around a wedding, where a beautiful and pure Bride-to-be, wearing her wedding veil (picturing modesty) LIFTS that thing to reveal her countenance (eyes, lips, smile, etc.) to her very-soon-to-be husband. Yes, a wedding in that sense is an “unveiling.”

But is that ceremony mentioned in Revelation?

Yes!

Near Book’s end, really.

“And there came unto me (John) one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the BRIDE, the Lamb’s WIFE.” Revelation 21:9

Add this verse … “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the MARRIAGE of the Lamb is come, and his WIFE hath made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7, where her being ready includes her veil being in place!

Thus, the Book of Revelation starts with an unveiling of Jesus. And ends with an unveiling of His Bride, the Church of the living God!

Oh, how fitting, how very appropriate!

Because Jesus is not only the Theme of the Book, He is also also the very Bridegroom!

Jesus, unveiled!

The Church, unveiled!

A Wedding to occur!

The Two being made One!

And really … “living happily ever after!”

Who would have thought it?

The Book of Revelation ending with a Wedding! An unveiling!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Are YOU saved?

(If not, let me know. I’d love to discuss the matter with you. John 3:16 is still true!)

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Yes, particularly as in “Holy Spirit!”

In the Old Testament, in the Hebrew language, “spirit” is “ruach.” And in the New Testament, in Greek, it is “pneuma.”

But the interesting thing here is that in both languages the word means the same thing! That being, “wind.” As in a “breeze.” From a gentle moving of the treetops as in 2 Samuel 5:24 … to a loud, rushing, mighty wind as in Acts 2:2!

Now think of this word picture, one I plan to use the rest of my life. I am walking up the road and the wind is blowing hard against me. The trek is hard, tiring, maybe even exhausting!

Then I turn around and walk the other direction. Walking “with the wind” now! Imagine how easy conditions have become. Every step easier, almost enjoyable!

And that is the blessing of walking in the Spirit, the Spirit of God! If I am going the direction He (the Holy Spirit) is pointing me, leading me, I will enjoy the trip. He is doing all the work, the motivating!

Wow!

Every windy day can now present me an object lesson! On being led by the Spirit, on walking in the Spirit! On never opposing the Holy Spirit!

Get this verse of Scripture too. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they WERE MOVED by the Holy Ghost.” Quoting 2 Peter 1:21 … where the verb “moved” literally means “carried along!” Blown by the Holy Spirit! I suspect that writing was effortless, pleasant even!

Blow, Spirit, blow!

And Matthew produced a Gospel!

As did Mark and Luke and John!

Blow, Spirit, blow!

And let me be in “sync” with your Flow!

Are you living today, “with” or “against” the Holy Spirit’s Breath?

Seriously, make things easier on yourself!

Let the Holy Spirit of God propel your life!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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While studying for my Sermon Text this week, I had to learn more about the ancient (false) religion called “Gnosticism.”

One of its basic tenants is that Jesus Christ is NOT the Son of God! That He is NOT God come in the flesh!

John the Disciple, writing near the end of his life, kept saying that Jesus DID come in the flesh, as the literal Son of God!

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:203

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2nd John Verse 7

His Gospel asserts this deity of Christ as well! For example …

“And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Today’s “new religion” denies this Fact!

But truly, the Sonship of Jesus is existentially crucial, fundamental to salvation.

Do YOU know Jesus this way?

If not, here’s how …

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Jesus Himself in John 5:24!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Here are two outstanding Old Testament examples of the noun “dragon” …

Psalm 91:13 … Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Isaiah 27:1 … In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

These are both symbols, types, of the Devil!

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The noun “serpent” (in Greek “ophis”) is found 14 times in the New Testament. Revelation has 5 of those occurrences. (More than any other Book!) Here are some of those mentionings …

1^st use … Matthew 7:10 … Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Matthew 10:16 … Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise (phron’imos = wise 14x only //) as serpents, and harmless (not mixed) as doves.

Matthew 23:33 … Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

1 Corinthians 10:9 … Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

John 3:14 … And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

2 Corinthians 11:3 … But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

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Class … I am, this time through Revelation, more amazed than ever at the number of souls saved, despite their circumstances!

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands …

Revelation 7:13-14 … And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Amen!

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Watch the video lesson …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our six-verse Text today is another parenthesis! Revelation is so full of them that the exact timeline is hard to discern! This one extends to Revelation 14:20, the last verse of the Chapter!

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If you missed this in class …

Some Reference (Study) Bibles see seven persons beginning here …

The Woman, Israel!

The dragon, Satan!

The Child, Christ Jesus!

The Archangel, Michael!

The Jewish Remnant!

The Beast out of the Sea!

The Beast out of the Earth!

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I recently learned that there are seven (7) “signs” (often called miracles) in the Book of Revelation!

Revelation 12:1 and 12:3! Revelation 13:13 and 13:14! Revelation 15:1 and 16:14 and finally 19:20!

Think of the “signs” in John’s Gospel as well!

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The Man Child (Jesus) was “caught up” to Heaven in verse 5, using the verb “harpazo.” This describes Jesus’ Ascvemnsion.

Watch this verb elsewhere in the New Testament …

Harpazo … often meaning “to take by force!”

Acts 8:39 … And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (harpazo) Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

2 Corinthians 12:2 … I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; such an one caught up (harpazo) to the third heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 … Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Jude 23 … And others save with fear, pulling (harpazo) them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Wow!

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Watch the class, if you can …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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