Read John 16:12-15. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
Reflections on the Word.
When we read the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the words and works of Jesus are recorded by the Apostles. Since the last scene of Jesus’ earthly life was His Ascension as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, we may think that those were His last words.
But, is that really true? Base on John 16, Jesus has much more to say to His Apostles. He says this, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
The written words in the Synoptic Gospel are similar to each other due to the Holy Spirit guiding the Apostles in the writing of the words and works of Jesus (II Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:12-21). The coming of the Holy Spirit will also reveal additional eschatological truths that Jesus didn’t share with them while He was with them. The phrase, “…he will tell you what is yet to come.” is futuristic.
Is it possible that the Epistle of Revelation is in part the additional revelation that Jesus declared that the Spirit will tell them? Revelation adds greater insight during the Great Tribulation Period and the Return of the King to establish His Kingdom on earth.
The Olivet Discourse is a summary of the End Times. Revelation provides the detail of the End Times. Perhaps as Christians, our neglect to read or teach the Book of Revelation has caused us to think that life on earth is the only thing that matters. Revelation keeps us and gives us the heavenly perspective so that we do not love the world nor the things of this world.
If you and I were to take to heart the words of Revelation, how might it transform our beliefs and priorities in this world? When was the last time you and I read Revelation? Is it possible that Satan doesn’t want you to read the last book of the Bible to keep our focus earth-bound instead of heaven-bound?
Let’s read one of the Synoptic Gospels and then Revelation. Our perspective of life on earth may well be changed forever.
-Kingston