The promise of God has been given personally to you to raise you up out of every death producing circumstance you will ever encounter in life.
The most significant event in the history of the world began, in the words of one who intimately experienced the event, when “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). John, who penned those words, became one of the earliest followers of the man, Jesus of Nazareth. He believed this man was the Expression of God in human form. He, along with Peter and James, the Lord’s brother, witnessed the transfiguration of the human Jesus. John saw, “his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them” (Mark 9:3). He, also, along with Peter and James, heard, as “a bright cloud overshadowed them,” a voice coming out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Mark 9:7).
Of the many things Jesus said to be heard by his early followers, there was nothing more challenging than when he spoke of the apocalypse to come. As in all apocalyptic moments (the ending of the night to bring forth the day, the ending of the winter to bring forth the spring, and the ending of the planted seed to bring forth the harvest), Jesus would speak of the ending of the old corrupted religious order to bring forth the new spiritual kingdom of God on earth. This ending of the old and the beginning of the new in the life and times of Jesus would be the greatest apocalyptic event in the history of the world.
The Promise of God Would Be the Greatest Event in the History of the Early Church.
Little did most of that generation realize that the greatest event in history, the apocalypse of Jesus Christ, was unfolding before their eyes. The early followers of Jesus saw the High Priest, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin Council, deny that Jesus was the Messiah. They would hear the Jewish leaders demand of Pilate, the governor, to crucify Jesus. Peter would say on the day of Pentecost, Jesus was crucified and slain by their “wicked hands.” He, however, was quick to point out that “God [had] raised him from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” He would later proclaim, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Out of his death came the glory of the resurrection. It is the promise.
After Jesus was raised from the dead, he appeared three different times to his followers. Paul, the greatest spokesperson for this historical moment other than Jesus himself, wrote, “that [Jesus] rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once . . . [and] he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me.” Paul would go on to say, “now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits . . . For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Since Christ became the firstfruits, out of every dying situation that you will face, you too can experience the resurrection. Again, it is the promise.
The Promise of God Cannot Be Seen with the Natural Eye, But the Results Can.
The gospels and the history of the early followers of Jesus as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles would tell the story of the many physical events in the apocalypse of Jesus Christ. However, it would take the many visions of John, perhaps the most intimate disciple of Jesus, to reveal what was happening behind the physical event of the greatest and most significant moment in the history of the world. The visions of John would be revealed in fabulous word-pictures of rich, powerfully laden allegories and metaphors. The spiritual things of which they proclaimed just could not be seen with the natural eye. The natural eye of man will always struggle to see the promise that God has been given to man.
With the spiritual significance of the greatest event in the history of man being recorded by John in his Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, the generation, between 30 AD and 70 AD, would experience what John revealed in his many visions of Revelation. In essence, the risen Christ coming within all believers through the baptism of the Holy Ghost would fulfill the great promise given to man. The great red dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, as revealed in Revelation, would go down in defeat. The adversary of the fleshly mind (the dragon), the control of political government (the beast), and the influence of faulty religion (the false prophet) could now be conquered. The greatest event in history of the world had occurred, the apocalypse of Jesus Christ.
The Promise of God Can Overcome the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet as Portrayed in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Is it any wonder then why “the gates of hell shall not prevail against [you in the fellowship of believers]?” You can go forward knowing that you are being sent by God. He will also speak through you, “as the Spirit gives the utterance.” You have experienced the most significant moment of your life, the greatest event in your history. The risen Christ has come into your life through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Look up, take courage, as Paul proclaimed, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” You can conquer every troubling circumstance that you will ever encounter. Like Abraham, who “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God . . . being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform,” you too can live in the victory of the promise given to you.
No matter the troubling times you may face, Jesus, the eternal one, lives within you. You have the “promise that he hath promised [you], even eternal life.” Because Jesus was raised from the dead, you too can be raised out of every death producing event in your life. You can experience the life that never dies because the heavenly Father has given you the promise of another comforter. The risen Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit will be there for you in every circumstance you encounter in living life. On the day of Pentecost with the cloven tongues of fire setting on each of the 120 participants, it indicates that the promise from God can be given personally to you!
