Back in February, I sensed that the blog series on the Book of Revelation would be completed by Passover. This final book, the Fifth Gospel as I have called it, has many other facets contained therein that I could have focused in a more in-depth study. But I believe I was to focus on removing the fear, uncertainty, and doubt that has been attached to this final book of the Bible. Jesus said in chapter 1:
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
and…
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,”
and in Revelation 22:
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
Our Lord and elder brother Jesus Christ has provided us a call to maturity. His Beloved Disciple John was chosen to write what he saw. John was given this vision containing many mysteries which were to be unlocked by the initiated at the end of the Age John was currently in- the Age of Pentecost. Jesus began the book with the fact that He is the Alpha and Omega. As well He ended the book restating the same Truth.
The very first issue He spoke of was that the people had lost their first Love. The last issue of the seventh church was that they were lukewarm. I am convinced that you cannot be lukewarm if you walk in Love. Love must be first and last in your walk, it must be as “Alpha” and “Omega” in your life.
I am also convinced that the “silence” that has been occurring on a corporate basis for the last 18 years has been necessary so that men will not attempt to connect the past anointings with the new anointing coming forth. No one will be able to call what is coming a “revival” of past anointings. There will be no one taking credit for bringing forth this new anointing about to be imparted to those who walk in the Revelation of Love.
The marriage feast of the Bride is soon to come. The call will go forth for those who are prepared to attend. The parable of the ten virgins contains several truths we must consider. All ten virgins were believers but they fell into two subgroups: those who kept their lamps trimmed and full, and those who didn’t. Jesus had been asked about the end of the age and He spoke several parables to provide the disciples and us with understanding of the environment we would be living in when that time came. He covered the fig tree who many believe to be Israel in its current form. He spoke of the faithful and evil servants who were given responsibility over His possessions. He spoke of the parable of the talents where men were given responsibility to be fruitful and were judged accordingly. But the parable of the ten virgins focus on acceptance or rejection to the wedding feast.
In Revelation 6:6 we have our attention directed to the oil:
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat (Pentecost) for a denarius, and three quarts of barley (Passover) for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
The harvests associated with the first two feasts were barley and wheat and both of them have been measured out. That last feast of Tabernacles has the harvest of oil and wine which are without measure and are not to be harmed during the time of judgment. They are associated with the final ingathering, the reconciliation of all mankind.
I believe this oil represents Agape Love without measure. Hebrews 1:8-9 speaks of this oil:
8 But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
This passage is a quote from Psalm 45 which is focused on the Messiah and His Bride. This “oil of gladness” is the Eternal Love and the resulting joy. This is the oil that must fill the lamps of the virgins. Those who have kept their focus on the revelation of Love as their foundation for their everyday lives have their lamps fully trimmed. Those who looked at Love as being of lesser importance than other pursuits, lost their first Love and are lacking when that fateful day arrives. It is critically important that you understand the brevity of this parable:
Matthew 25:6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
Midnight represents the end of one age and the beginning of the next age. The call or trumpet sound has come forth and it was heard by all. All ten virgins heard the cry and responded:
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
All ten virgins were summoned by the call. What was the deciding factor between these two group? The oil! Jesus called those without the revelation of Love “foolish”:
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
This is not my assessment, it is Jesus Who has differentiated the two groups of Christians. Just as He judged the first church in chapter 2 in the book of Revelation for losing their first Love, He provides us with the consequences of not having sufficient revelation of Love when the marriage feast is at hand. Notice that the five wise virgins know that they cannot impart their oil to the five foolish virgins:
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
This revelation of Love can only come from your relationship with FATHER and cannot be transferred from or to another. You have either sought and pursued this revelation of Love and have focused on it, or you have focused on just about everything else in lieu of it. I marvel how Love tends to be omitted from so many sermons, studies, blogs, etc. The ramification of its omission is beyond measure. Love is not just another commodity you can go out to buy though the five foolish virgins without the revelation thought they could:
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
Those virgins whose foundation of Love was established were able to accompany Our Lord Jesus Christ to the wedding. Once they were gathered, the door was shut and entry by the others was not allowed. The following two verses provide the critical understanding that I am compelled to emphasize:
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
This oil that they were missing is Love. Without it, Jesus did not know them! Given that to be the case, let us once again read 1 John chapter 4:
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
The Book of Revelation is all about Love. Men have attempted to provide alternate interpretations to fit their own agendas. When you consider the most fundamental and core characteristic of FATHER is Love, then you know HIS Divine Intent of Love provides the foundation for every Word and Act HE manifests. With that understanding, let us all pursue our first Love and let it also be our last, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. Amen!