The Apostle John had been banished to the Isle of Patmos- a tiny, barren island off the coast of modern Turkey.
A penal colony for political prisoners, Domitian had sentenced him to hard labor in the mines for his testimony that Jesus was Lord.
At the same time, the most vicious persecution to date was falling on the Church. It was a time of dark turmoil and tribulation.

On the Lord’s Day, as John was worshipping his Savior, the Lord suddenly appeared to him. Not since the transformation on the Mount of transfiguration had John seen Jesus in such glory.
John, who at the last supper had leaned back upon Jesus to ask him which disciple would betray Him, is overcome and falls before Him as a dead man.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last,
18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. ~ Revelation 1:17-18

“Don’t be afraid” is Jesus bold proclamation. This is a message of hope to a persecuted, perplexed people. Uncertain of their fate, facing an ignominious end in a Roman Coliseum; this is a game changer! “Don’t be afraid”- I am with you to the end of the age!!

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, man has been gripped by fear before a holy God.
When angels announced His birth to shepherds outside of Bethlehem, they too proclaimed: “Don’t be afraid.” And so to us today He says: “Don’t be afraid!”

Why? Because he is the Living One who has defeated death, banished Satan and is ushering in the Kingdom. He holds the key’s to eternal life- a door that now stands open; and death- a door that He controls.
He holds the key to the lock that binds Satan and will one day confine him to the bottomless pit. Moreover, He holds the key that unlocks the mysteries of life and the answer to your deepest questions.

So death now holds no fear for us. We are overcomers’ because of Him who lives forevermore!
Trust Him- Are you all in?

Because of grace,
Tim

Listen to the related message below.

The post Fear Not appeared first on EBCSV.

At Christmas we focus on the amazing reality of God becoming man- born of a virgin, lain in a manger, snugly wrapped in swaddling clothes. We seldom think of the supernatural realities unfolding under the thin veneer of the seen world. A cosmic struggle between God and Satan was coming to an apex- God putting His foot on the neck of the snake!

In Revelation 12 the prophet records a vision that encapsulates the reality of what was going on at the birth of the Messiah:

Revelation 12:1-5

1. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head.
2. She was pregnant and cried out in labor and agony ⌊as she was about⌋ to give birth.
3. Then another sign appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.
4. His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth he might devour her child.
5. But she gave birth to a Son—a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron scepter—and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Even though the serpent attempted to devour the Child, His attempt proved to be in vain. Satan’s underling, Herod, was checkmated. God was victorious and in Him we too are the victors. “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (I Cor. 15:57).

So this Christmas as we rejoice that the King has come, let us rejoice that Satan has been vanquished and is a defeated foe.

Because of grace,
Tim

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