The unveiling of Jesus Christ received by the apostle John at island Patmos is very encouraging, even though some of the visions are not easy to understand. But a joyous blessing rest upon the one who reads the message of the Book of Revelation and upon those who hear and embrace the words of this prophecy, for the appointed time is in our hands (see Rev 1:1-3).

Most of my Bibles are saying that the appointed time is at hand, but from the Passion Translation I have come to know that this phrase may be translated differently. The Greek word "eggus"  is taken from a primary verb "agcho", which means "to squeeze" (in your hand) or "to hold the reigns" or "throttle" in your hands. Therefore this translation says that the appointed time is in your hands.

This open up a very interesting way of understanding the book of Revelation. There is a sense in which the full understanding of the unveiling of Christ in this book is ready to be revealed when the reader is ready to receive it. The time for this unveiling of Christ is now, not the past nor the distant future.

This is in accordance to the revelation the apostle Peter brings (1 Peter 1:5). He is saying that the mighty power of God will constantly guard us to bring us into our full salvation or deliverance. Through the new birth we have become partakers of this salvation which constantly comes through the unveiling of Christ. It is ready to be revealed and waits for our discovery. From the coming of the Spirit on the day of pentecost we have been living in the last days which are days of continual revelation and unveiling of Jesus Christ our Saviour. By faith we "grab" the promises of God, we eat the prophetic word of God, and come to understand that in Christ everything spoken of by the prophets are available for us now. The appointed time is in our hands. The kingdom of God is bursting forth, and passionate people are laying hold of its power.

Bad things happen  to good and godly people. That is part of life in this fallen world. All of us have a inbuilt desire to feel good, be free from pain and have a comfortable life. Sooner og later we realise that life can be very difficult, and often not comfortable at all. We face pain and hardships. Sometimes we have to go through sufferings and tough struggles. Often life is not easy, but very challenging.

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I am fascinated with the Psalms. Especially the Psalm of David. They cover all of life. We find all kinds of emotions in all kinds of situations. I can relate the content of the Psalms to my own life and emotions. The Psalms teach me that I can bring everything before God because he cares about every detail of my life.

Lord, who dares to dwell with you? Who presumes the privilege of being close to you, living next to you in the shining place of glory?

They are passionate and wholehearted, always sincere and always speaking the truth – for their hearts are trustworthy.

They refuse to slander or insult others; they'll never listen to gossip or rumours, nor would they ever harm another with words.

They will speak out passionately against evil and evil workers while commending the faithful ones who follow after truth. They make firm commitments and follow through, even at great cost.

They never crush others with exploitation or abuse and they would never be brought with a bribe against the innocent. They will never be shaken; they will stand firm forever. 

This text is taken from Psalm 15 in The Passion Translation. This translation is one of my favourite translations at the moment. Perhaps this psalm was sung by the choir David appointed to sing prophetically and minister to the Lord day and night in his tabernacle. This song describe who will live in God's holy presence and who dwell with him in his shining place of glory. Actually it is a prophetic description of the perfect man, Jesus Christ, and all those who are transformed into his image by the Holy Spirit.

In this psalm we find parallells to the Lord's sermon on the Mount. If we will live in the holy place of God, there must first be a holy place in our hearts where the Spirit of holiness dwells. We must submit to the holiness of God. Only those with a pure heart can see God and dwell in the shining place of his glory.

But who is capable of this? Who is able to meet these holy requirements? Who is competent of this life?

In our own strength we are not capable at all. Our true competence flows from God's empowering grace. When we are overcome by our many sins, his sacrifice covers over them all! Farther than we can describe with words he removes our guilt from us. Only because of his tender mercy we may live in the shining place of his glory.  

The Bible says that there is a season for everything and a time for every matter. There is an appointed time for everything and a right time to every purpose. The great challenge in life is to understand the timings and seasons of God. To me this is often a big mystery. I believe I am doing or saying the right thing, only to discover that it was the wrong time and wrong place. Therefore my actions did not produce good fruit.

I have had many prophetic words and promises from God spoken to me. Many of them have been fulfilled. Some have partly come true and others are still to be fulfilled. Understanding the timings of God has been a big challenge. In my younger years I despised those who talked on waiting on God, for I believed that God waited for us, that he waited for our response and actions. I still belive in obeying the word of God. I do believe in acting on prophetic words. I believe we need to be quick to act when God speaks. Finding the balance between waiting for God's timing and acting out the word immediately is not easy.

When Moses was forty years old, he acted and expected his own kin to understand that God was using him to rescue them, but they didn't! He acted according to his divine calling, but not at the right time and probably not the right way.  Only forty years later he became the leader and deliverer sent them by God. At that time both Moses and the people were prepared by God for the fulfilment of the promise. Now the timing was right.

"The time drew near for God to fulfil the prophetic promise he had made to Abraham" (Acts 7:17). When it was time for God to keep the promise, things were set in motion for the people be be set free from slavery. In the prophetic word to Abraham God had told him about the time: after 430 years. The promise was clearly concerning the future. When the time drew near God acted to fulfil his word. 

When Daniel was studying the prophetic word of Jeremiah, he specially pondered on the numbers of years it would take to complete Jerusalem's desolation according word of the Lord. It was seventy years. He realised that the time was near. Then he turned his face to God, asking for an answer with prayer and pleading. While he was still praying the angel Gabriel appeared to him to give him insight and understanding. The quick answer came because his prayer was given at the right time.

There is a time for waiting and there is a time for acting. There is a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted. There is a time for tearing down and a time for building up. There is a time for searching and a time for losing. There is a time for speaking and a time for keeping silent.

 Lord, help us to wait on you and walk with you and always do your will!

Solveig and myself have been practicing praying the Psalms together every day since the summer. Often we do it several times a day. It has been av very good exercise in prayer. The Psalms have come alive to us in a new way. God has been speaking to us and our hearts have been deeply touched by praying the ancients prayer of the Psalms. Our spirits have been taken to new heights as we have praised the Lord and worshipped the God of Israel together.

Today we were praying Psalm 143: Let the dawning day bring me revelation of your tender, unfailing love. Give me light for my path and teach me, for I trust in you. Save me from all my enemies, for I hide myself in you. I just want to obey all you ask of me. So teach me, Lord, for you are my God. Your gracious Spirit is all I need, so lead me on good paths that are pleasing to you, my one and only God. (7-10)

What a wonderful prayer! Let the dawning day bring me revelation of your tender, unfailing love! Yes, Lord, let this happen to me every morning. Let there be fresh revelation of your tender, unfailing love. Let your love be my light that teach me to walk in your path of life. As I hide myself in you, my God, my enemies can't touch me. Your Spirit is all I need to live a life of obedience, a life pleasing to you, my one and only God!

Solveig and myself have been practicing praying the Psalms together every day since the summer. Often we do it several times a day. It has been av very good exercise in prayer. The Psalms have come alive to us in a new way. God has been speaking to us and our hearts have been deeply touched by praying the ancients prayer of the Psalms. Our spirits have been taken to new heights as we have praised the Lord and worshipped the God of Israel together.

Today we were praying Psalm 143: Let the dawning day bring me revelation of your tender, unfailing love. Give me light for my path and teach me, for I trust in you. Save me from all my enemies, for I hide myself in you. I just want to obey all you ask of me. So teach me, Lord, for you are my God. Your gracious Spirit is all I need, so lead me on good paths that are pleasing to you, my one and only God. (7-10)

What a wonderful prayer! Let the dawning day bring me revelation of your tender, unfailing love! Yes, Lord, let this happen to me every morning. Let there be fresh revelation of your tender, unfailing love. Let your love be my light that teach me to walk in your path of life. As I hide myself in you, my God, my enemies can't touch me. Your Spirit is all I need to live a life of obedience, a life pleasing to you, my one and only God!

I find great joy in knowing God. His character is my strong fortress where I am safe. God is love. God is light. It is impossible for him to lie. I know that his promise will never change. When God wanted to end all doubt and confirm his promise even more forcefully to us, he made a covenant. All the promises of God find their fulfilment in the new covenant in Christ. When we are in Christ, we will inherit God’s promises.

We have run into the heart of God to hide ourselves in his faithfulness (Hebrew 6,18 Passion Translation). Here we find his strength and comfort. Here God empowers us to seize what has already been established, even ahead of time – an unshakeable hope! We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself.

The merciful and faithful heart of God is our secure hiding place. When I hide in his faithfulness, I am empowered to act in faith to see promises come into reality. Hiding in the faithfulness of God is the best place to acquire everything we long for.