Revelation I and II

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21.

Not everyone has God’s commandments. Most people are so occupied with the things of this world that they do not know God’s commandments. It is also a revelation to receive the commandments, but Jesus says that He will manifest Himself to the one who has His commandments and keeps them. Many people have had this first revelation of receiving Jesus’ commandments, but they remain standing in front of the commandment. They do not come to the second revelation which they would have received if they had kept His commandments. That is why most people do not have any joy in their life. They remain standing in front of the commandment and feel condemned. Jesus said He would manifest Himself to the one who kept His commandments. Then we become His friends. John 15:14-16. We become His chosen ones, and the result is happiness and joy.

God revealed Himself to Abraham and said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” With that revelation Abraham received the commandment. We can imagine that it did not make him so happy. The way became narrow for him, but he loved God above all and kept the commandment. Then God revealed Himself to him again and said, “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Gen. 22:15-18.

This revelation made Abraham happy. He received the promise after he had kept the commandment.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” 1 Cor. 2:9-10.

“Us” are those who love Him, who have kept His commandments. They learn to know everything that God has prepared. They don’t just know it as knowledge, but Jesus reveals Himself to them and promises it to them. This causes their happiness to increase as they keep His commandments.

Jesus says, “He who loses his life for My sake shall find it.” Abraham had to lose his life by sacrificing Isaac. He had to have faith for that, because he did not know what he would receive in return. He discovered that only after he had kept the commandment. Then he received it again many times over.

Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Rom. 8:18.

Paul had pressed through to the promise. The way was narrow, but it was nothing compared to the glory which he had attained. Paul is a witness, and many others who have gone this way can also testify to it. It is worthwhile for those who stand in the first revelation, thinking that the way is narrow and the sufferings are hard, to consider these witnesses. Many people do not love Jesus so fervently that they manage to overcome the hard and difficult things in order to come to the second revelation—to the happiness that comes with being Jesus’ chosen friend. That is also why they do not become a witness.