Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: PUZZLE (11/24/16)
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TITLE: The picture on the box | Previous Challenge Entry
By Graham Keet
11/28/16 -
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“Ah, there is actually a bigger picture, but I agree it’s not easy for a guy of fourteen to understand. I’m impressed that you’re tackling it; where did you get stuck?”
“I don’t understand what John meant by all that strange imagery. Why didn’t he just write plainly so everyone could understand? Why is it all so mysterious?”
“The people he was writing to understood it very well, as John was using terminology familiar to them, but not familiar to the Romans or any other ‘hostile’ persons who might intercept his letters.”
“Who was the beast with seven heads?”
“Well, who was the beastly nation oppressing them at the time?”
“Rome, I guess.”
“And was Rome built on a flat piece of land?”
“No, it was built on seven hills—oh, now I get it. But what’s the meaning of the lampstands, and who is the woman that fled into the desert?”
“The seven lampstands are the seven churches to whom John was instructed to write. Remember in the letter to the church at Ephesus God warned the people that if they didn’t repent, the ‘lampstand’ would be removed. This was a warning to the church.”
“The letters to the churches aren’t my main worry, what really concerns me are the terrible plagues that we will suffer. There will also be earthquakes when seals are opened, and trumpets blown—it’s all quite scary.”
“Well, in my understanding the last days of earth as we know it today will be very difficult. But at the end of that time Satan will be locked up in an abyss for a thousand years, and Jesus will come down and set up His government in Jerusalem. I’m looking forward to that time when we won’t be tempted by Satan to sin as we are now.”
“That would be great. I actually jumped to the end of the book and read the last two chapters, mainly because I was getting jolly depressed and wanted to see how it all ended.”
“And what did you find out?”
“Seems like Satan will be let loose for a while, then he will be thrown into a lake of fire.”
“Quite correct—he and all his wicked followers will be destroyed forever.”
“And us; what happens to us if we’re still around at that time?”
“Did you see a wonderful new city called New Jerusalem mentioned?”
“Yeah, is that different to the Jerusalem we visited last year on holiday?”
“It sure is. New Jerusalem is an enormous city. It’s built like a cube, hundreds of miles long, wide and high.”
“Like a big Rubik cube?”
“Well, hopefully not. But it’s going to be a wonderful place to live, and God’s radiance will light the whole city.”
“So will we also live there one day?”
“I do believe we will; and Mommy, and Jenny.”
“And Rufus, I hope.”
“I believe we will meet Rufus, and all our other pets there. Perhaps also some friendly lions, how will that be?”
“Great, I guess. But I’m still worried about those tough times we need to go through.”
“My belief is that we will be taken up to heaven before the real bad times start. I know that not everyone believes this, but from what I’ve read those who love the Lord won’t suffer.”
“My friend Lester says his dad told him that the time of suffering is very soon, so he must prepare himself.”
“It may well be, but Jesus said that only the Father knows the actual time that these things will happen. I want you to continue to read Revelation, and we can discuss it as often as you want. But I don’t want you to get worried or frightened by anything you read. That’s not what Jesus would want either.”
“How do you know that, Dad?”
“The picture on the puzzle box I mentioned earlier tells us two things. Firstly, Jesus loves you more than you can ever know or think. Then secondly, the reason He gave us the book of Revelation is to show us that He has a wonderful plan for us, and that no matter what happens in between, in the end we will be with Him forever.”
“That’s great, Dad, but now I’m very sleepy.”
“Goodnight son—pleasant dreams; no monsters, mind you.”
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