No Fear of an Apocalypse 无惧末日

[Dexu Xia]

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Revelation 1:1

Today's Scripture Revelation 1:1-2; 12-18

Today's Insights  John’s vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-18 reveals Christ’s divine authority, holiness, and power. The imagery of white hair, blazing eyes, and a voice like “rushing waters” (v. 15) emphasizes His purity, wisdom, and majesty. Scholars agree that the seven golden lamp stands (see chs. 2-3) symbolize His presence among the churches, affirming both His nearness and His role as their protector and judge. The “sharp, double-edged sword” from His mouth (1:16) represents the power of His word to convict and save. Christ identifies Himself as “the Living One” (v. 18) who triumphed over death. Believers in Jesus don’t need to fear the future because the risen Christ holds the ultimate authority over life and eternity.

Today's Devotion  In 1859, the largest solar storm in recorded history took place. Known as the Carrington Event, it produced a massive geomagnetic disturbance blamed for disrupting the telegraph system. The website Space.com says, “It’s been conjectured that a storm on the scale of the Carrington event, if it happened today, could cause an internet apocalypse.”  The ominous word apocalypse intrigues us. It’s the Greek title of the book of Revelation (apokalypsis). But the word doesn’t only mean a catastrophe or the end of the world. As the title Revelation implies, it also refers to an unveiling, a revealing.

The book opens, “The revelation from Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1). Revelation reveals Jesus as the Lamb of God, a term John uses in the book more than twenty-five times to describe Him. Revelation also reveals Christ as one whose “eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters” (vv. 14-15). When John first saw the Lamb of God, he “fell at his feet as though dead” (v. 17). But this Lamb touched him and said, “Do not be afraid. . . . I am alive for ever and ever!” (v.v 17-18).

Rather than fearing any apocalypse, we can embrace Revelation for showing us the glorified, resurrected Christ. He’s the one we worship.

Reflect & Pray

What are your fears about the future? How does Jesus help you transcend those fears?

 Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Your Son Jesus Christ to me.

By Bill Crowder

 “耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他，叫他将必要快成的事指示给他的众仆人。”（启示录1:1 ）

今日经文：启示录1章1-2；12-18 节

今日洞见：约翰在启示录1章12-18节中所见的耶稣异象，彰显了基督的神圣权柄、圣洁与能力。那满头白发、目光如火、声音如“众水的声音”（15节）的意象，突显了祂的纯全、智慧与威严。学者们一致认为，那七个金灯台（参2-3章）象征着祂临在于众教会之中，既确证了祂与教会的亲近，也确立了祂作为教会的保护者与审判者的角色。那从祂口中吐出的“两刃利剑”（1:16），象征着祂话语所蕴含的定罪与救赎的大能。基督自称为“那存活的”（18节），即那位已战胜死亡的得胜者。凡信靠耶稣的人，无需对未来心存惧怕，因为复活的基督掌管着生命与永恒的至高权柄。

 今日灵修：1859年，有史以来规模最大的太阳风暴爆发了。这场被称为“卡林顿事件”的风暴引发了剧烈的地磁扰动，并导致当时的电报系统陷入瘫痪。据Space.com网站报道：“有推测指出，若像‘卡林顿事件’这般规模的太阳风暴在今日重演，恐将引发一场‘互联网末日’。” 

  “末日”这一充满不祥意味的词汇总是令人着迷。它正是启示录一书的希腊文原名（apokalypsis）。然而，这个词的含义绝非仅限于指代某种大灾难或世界的终结。正如启示录这一书名所蕴含的深意，它更指涉着一种“揭开帷幕”或“显明真相”的启示过程。卷首经文开宗明义地写道：“耶稣基督的启示”（启示录1:1）。启示录向我们启示了耶稣即是“神的羔羊”，约翰在这卷书中反复使用这一称谓达二十五次之多，以此来描绘基督的形象。启示录同时也向我们启示了基督的另一重形象：祂“两眼如同火焰；脚好像在炉中熬炼过的明亮铜；声音如同众水的声音”（14-15节）。当约翰初次见到“神的羔羊”时，他便“仆倒在祂脚前，像死了一样”（17节）。但这羔羊伸手按在他身上，对他说：“不要惧怕……我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远！”（17-18节）。 与其对末日审判心存恐惧，我们倒不如欣然接受启示录，因为它向我们展示了那位得着荣耀、已经复活的基督，祂，正是我们所敬拜的对象。

反思与祷告 对于未来，你心中有哪些惧怕？耶稣又是如何帮助你超越这些惧怕的？ 天父，感谢祢向我启示祢的爱子，耶稣基督。

作者：  比尔·克劳德