Bible Society of South Africa
Izicwangciso zokufunda
Seven days of inspiration from Revelation
Seven days of inspiration from Revelation - Day 3
Gerhard Lindeque

Seven days of inspiration from Revelation - Day 3

It is I! Don’t be afraid

Itekisi yeBhayibhile

ISITYHILELO 1

UYohane ubona uKrestu

9NdinguYohane umwenu onenxaxheba ebunzimeni, kunyamezelo, nasekulawulweni – zinto ezo zisibandakanyayo thina bamanyiweyo noYesu. Ke kaloku ndazibona sendisesiqithini sePatimo ngenxa yokushumayela ilizwi likaThixo nokungqina ngoYesu. 10Kwathi ngomhla weCawe ndaba semandleni kaMoya, ndaza ndeva ilizwi lihlokoma ngathi lixilongo emva kwam. 11Lenjenje ukuthetha: “Ezi zinto uzibonayo zibhale encwadini, uzithumele kula mabandla osixhenxe: e-Efese, eSmirna, ePergamo, eTiyatire, eSardes, eFiladelfiya, naseLawodike.”

12Ndakhangela ngasemva, ndifuna ukuqonda ukuba ngaba lalilelikabani na eli lizwi ndandiliva lithetha nam. Ndithe ndakubheka, ndabona kumi izibane ezisixhenxe zegolide. 13Phakathi kwazo kwakukho into engathi ngumntu, itsho ngezivatho ezaziye kuthi xhaxhe ezinyaweni, ithe thande ibhanti yegolide esifubeni. 14Iinwele zayo zazimhlophe okwekhephu, itsho ngamehlo abukhali, alenya okwamadangatye omlilo. 15Yayineenyawo ezibengezela okobhedu olugudisiweyo, ilizwi layo livakala ngathi sisandi samanzi engxangxasi. 16Yayiphethe iinkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe ngesandla sokunene, emlonyeni kuphuma ikrele elibukhali, libazwe macala, ubuso bayo buqaqamba njengelanga mhla ligqats' ubhobhoyi.

17Ndithe ke ndakumbona, ndajuba ezinyaweni zakhe, ndanjengofileyo. Ke yena wasibeka phezu kwam isandla sakhe sokunene, wathi: “Musa ukoyika. Mna ndingowokuqala, ndikwangowokugqibela. 18Ndingohleliyo. Ndandifile. Kodwa khangela ndim lo ndikho, kuya kude kube nini-nini. Ukufa ndiyakulawula; kwanelabafileyo ndiyalilawula. 19Ngoko ke zibhale ezo zinto uzibone zisenzeka, kwanezo zenzekayo, neziya kuhla. 20Nantsi ke ingcaciso yento ethethwa ziinkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe ezisesandleni sam sokunene, kwanezibane ezisixhenxe zegolide: Iinkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe ngabameli bamabandla asixhenxe. Izibane ezisixhenxe zona ngamabandla lawo.”

ISITYHILELO 1:9-20XHO96Vula kumfundi weBhayibhile

John finds himself on the island of Patmos. His seclusion on the island depicts the suffering that believers of all times must endure. Just as Jesus Christ was rejected, so will his followers be. The world will always try to silence the voice of the church. John is, nevertheless, carried away in the Spirit. With this, we are assured that we can experience the presence of God’s Spirit everywhere.

We experience God’s presence, among other things, on the Lord’s day – on a Sunday – when believers gather to celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection. On this day, God still speaks to his church through his word, in a special way. The church is called the seven congregations and is represented as seven lampstands. After all, the church must be the light for the world.

In this passage, as in the Gospels, Jesus Christ is referred to as someone who looks like the Son of Man. The description of his appearance does not have to be explained in detail. It only emphasises Jesus Christ’s glory and authority after his resurrection from the dead. The consolation for the church is that Jesus Christ is the Living One and that he is with his church. The images used have a double consolation for the church. The image of the sword from the mouth assures us that Jesus Christ is speaking to his church from heaven. He rules his church like a king with his sceptre in his right hand and, at the same time, he protects his church, the seven stars.

Jesus Christ’s divinity is evident from these words: “It is I! Don’t be afraid”. With these words, God reassures his church. Jesus Christ has conquered death. He is with us through his word and Spirit.

Think about:

  1. 1.How is the voice of the church silenced today?
  2. 2.Where do you experience God’s presence?

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
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