It's Revelation

 

 

 

I thought it was Hebrews

But not so anymore,

Those who think it is Hebrews

That’s traditional folklore.

 

What is it he talking about?

I thought you’d never ask,

Let me share the facts with you;

That’s not a difficult task.

 

I always used to contend

Hebrews was the Old Testament

Just like Isaiah, in my view,

Reads like the New Testament.

 

Regarding OT references

I thought Hebrews was the book

But three books score higher

When I took a closer look.

 

 

For Hebrews it was 42

While Matthew’s 45 was 3 more,

Romans’ 58 was a surprise to me

Being the highest score.

 

That was according to a study

That included ten books,

It appeared to me there and then

Revelation was overlooked.

 

So, I probed a little deeper

And discovered a little more,

Revelation topped the list

With a whopping 184.

 

A third study revealed

There were actually 278

And that this was out of 404 verses

Signified something great.

 

Of the 184 OT references

Isaiah accounts for 49,

Daniel accounts for 34

And 31 puts Ezekiel next in line.

 

 

Revelation was a letter

About what was soon to take place,

It was written to seven churches

And this can be easily traced.

 

These churches were located

On a circuitous route

And from Ephesus to Laodicea

Numbered seven in the group.

 

The churches were to prepare:

The wrong they must put right

For to neglect the instruction given

Would add to their plight.

 

That Revelation is mostly past

I am now particularly sure

And given its many OT references

I am convinced even more.

 

Stewart Russell © August 9, 2021

 

Reading Someone Else’s Mail

 

 

Would you read someone else’s mail?

Straight-up, I know you’d say no

But Christians do it everyday

Let me tell you how this is so.

 

I am not maligning Christians,

Why would I do such when I am one?

And I am not trying to be funny

Just hear me out before you are gone.

 

Take Revelation for example:

It was not addressed to us,

It was addressed to seven churches

Yet we’ve created quite a fuss.

 

Some say they are churches today

Just like the ones back then

And the letters are written to these

Highlighting similar problems.

 

These are churches across the ages

Ever since the church began

And we are in the Laodicean church

That carries the world’s brand.

 

The lukewarm church, they say

That is neither hot nor cold

But is infested with worldly people

That are both shameless and bold.

 

Sorry, but I must beg to differ

Since this is not our mail,

These letters went to seven existing churches

And their situations were detailed.

 

Revelation 1:4

 

These churches that were in Asia

Were located on a circuitous route

Beginning at the Church at Ephesus

With Laodicea ending the group.

  

These were 1^st century churches

To which these letters were written

And not churches in this 21^st century;

To us they were never given.

Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamos

Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia

With the last on the route being

The church at Laodicea.

 

John said he was their brother

And their companion in tribulation,

No doubt to get them to pay attention

To this very vital information.

 

No doubt too they could identify

With the appraisal of their condition

For John’s source was no other than Jesus,

The faithful and the first begotten.

 

 

These letters were preserved for us

But they are somebody else’s mail

And the information that was given

Fitted them to every detail.

 

It probably fits our churches too

And we would do well to take note

Assured in the time of our tribulation

That in Jesus we also have hope.

 

Romans 5:5

 

Hope that maketh not ashamed;

Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts

By the Holy Ghost

Which is given unto us.

 

Stewart Russell © March 6, 2021