What was the last message of Jesus to His disciples?
After His death on the cross of Calvary and His resurrection several days later, Jesus met with His followers for 40 days (Acts 1:3). Luke tells us in Acts that He spoke to them “of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Let’s read what He tells them to share the last message.
Acts 1:4 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, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
He was speaking to them about the promise of the former rain (Hosea 6:3). The Bible uses rain as a symbol of the special times when the Holy Spirit would fill men with an extra measure of the character of God. Did the disciples understand what He was telling them?
Acts 1:6 …They asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Their thoughts were focused on the future of their country, but Jesus redirects them. He tells them why they were to receive this extra blessing of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Your mission is not the future of Israel. After you receive the former rain, the Holy Ghost, you are to be witnesses of Me to all the world. This story of the followers of Christ and how they spread the gospel during the former rain is one of the keys that will open the prophesies of Daniel 11. The past helps us to understand the future. Daniel 11 will show us what God wants us to do as witnesses of Christ at the time of the end. Let’s introduce this work by reading Revelation 10 & 11.
How does Jesus introduce His Last Message?
Revelation 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: 2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
This mighty Messenger looks like the same one that John saw in chapter 1 of Revelation. We believe that this is a description of Jesus. This time He has a little book open in His right hand. We believe that this book is the same one He took from the Father in chapter 5 (See blog “Is Your Name Written There,” p2.).
Revelation 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
This Messenger with the little book in His right hand makes a declaration that relates to the time of rebellion on earth. Its time is over. Rebellion should be no longer.
Is the Judgment of God fiction?
Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, there will be heard, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever (Rev 11:15).” Christ is crowned. He will rule over the earth. Then we are told what His first actions will be. The time for “thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth (Rev 11:18).”
Why was John given a Lession?
But before this glorious time begins John was given a lesson.
Revelation 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book.
We learned in Revelation 5 that the Lamb of God took the little book from the right hand of God that He might redeem those written in the Book of Life (Blog). In the verse we just read, we see John is given an invitation that is very similar. Take the Book of Life that you might share it with your family and friends. John obeys and asks for the book from our Savior and High Priest.
Rev 10:9 And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
This book of Life that you have in your hand should be eaten and assimilated in your body and mind. It should become part of your life and work. It is sweet to the tongue because it tells you the story of Christ and how He drew you to Him by His love and sacrifice. He became sin that your sins might be covered by His spilt blood. This spilt blood also gives you His character, His Holy Spirit that you might live by faith and prove that you are now a member of His family. That is the sweetness of the gospel of God.
Is this an easy lesson to learn?
When you try to share his amazing story of redemption with those around you, some will listen and that will fill your heart with joy and happiness. The majority of those with whom you share the gospel message, however will turn from the way of life and choose the way of death. You desire to show them light and life, but they choose darkness and death. Like the sower that spread the word of God, only one out of four produced fruit. This is the bitterness of sharing the gospel message of God. You will see your loved ones, your friends, turn from the light of God and choose darkness. It will break your heart.
Jesus continues His dialog with John. You will know the sweet and bitter experience of giving the gospel, but “you must lift up your voice like a trumpet and shew My people their transgresson and the house of Jacob their sins (Isa 58:1).” Then Jesus tells John that he has a work to do as His witness. “Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings (Rev 10:11).” In these words Jesus is describing the work of His followers during the next outpouring of the Spirit, the latter rain.
In our next blog we will see this work in Revelation 11.
