In Revelation, Jesus gives important messages specific to seven churches. These messages are significant to last-days events and present a wide range of topics important for end-time Christians. At or near the end of all of these letters, Jesus concludes with this: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. Although Jesus Himself is dictating to John the contents of each letter, He states that it’s the Spirit that’s responsible for each message. This is consistent with Jesus’s teaching to His apostles that in the future, the Holy Spirit that He would send would “tell you of things to come” (John 16:13). It would seem that one of the major functions of the Spirit is to inform Christians of what the Father and His Son are about to do. Remember: “Surely the Lord does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) Also consider that the bible you are reading is entirely from the Holy Spirit. “All scripture is God-breathed (Spirit originated)” (2 Timothy 3:16). It’s the Spirits book. All of the prophecies concerning the signs of Jesus’ return were penned by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So that begs the question, what is the Spirit telling us today? Is he keeping us abreast critical events as they happen at the Father’s direction?
If you’re a born again baptized Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells in you. Jesus said of the Spirit; “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He (the Holy Spirit) will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:15). The Spirit living within us will lead us into all truth and teach us by authority given Him from the Father. He does this not only from the bible, as we read and study, but from other Spirit led teachers as they are taught by revelation from the Spirit. Importantly, we can also be individually taught by the Spirit within us as He speaks to us by that “still small voice”. We will be directed more and more as we grow and learn to discern the voice of the Spirit within us. We need to mature and develop that “ear to hear” that Jesus talked about in Revelation.
I find it interesting that most if not all of the Spirit led brothers and sisters in Christ whom I know are sensing by the Spirit that the last days are quickly coming to a close and that Jesus’s return will be very soon. And this includes just about every evangelical preacher/teacher I’m aware of. I’ve been a Christian for 48 years and I could not say that except of late. This makes absolute sense and is one of the greatest signs (if not the greatest) of Jesus’s soon return. The Holy Spirit will not mislead God’s people. The Spirit’s witness is prominent and has come to the forefront in our day. The ultimate source of truth is telling us to prepare, get ready, and watch as the signs He gave us develop.
If you have an ear to hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Maranatha, Jim