ALPHA AND OMEGA (part 2) Revelation 1:9-11. February 23, Dr. Danny Forshee

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1 1 ALPHA AND OMEGA (part 2) Revelation 1:9-11 February 23, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee - Charles Tindley was a African American pastor and song writer who served as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. One writer describes him this way Charles Albert Tindley not only was a good composer; he was unique. He knew his Bible and could translate its... language into the soft, picturesque, and sonorous language of his people, and ultimately of all people.... The progenitor of black-american gospel music was singer and composer in one. Rev. Charles A. Tindley, b. July 7, 1851, Berlin, Md., d. July 26, 1933, Philadelphia, Pa.; American Methodist minister and gospel music composer. Born in 1851 to a free mother and a slave father, Tindley spent his childhood among slaves. In his teens he taught himself to read and acquired a fair amount of liberal-arts and theological education, largely through correspondence courses. After having been ordained a Methodist minister, he returned as pastor to a church he had previously served as janitor. Eventually he built the church he headed, in Philadelphia, from some 200 parishioners to a membership of over 12,000 in the 1920s. He wrote some 45 hymns, generally to accompany his own sermons, in almost all cases composing the tunes as well as the words. Tindley died in His church was renamed Tindley Temple in the late 1920s in honor of his work there, a name it carries to this day. Tindley s hymn, When the Morning Comes, speaks to a very true reality in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ. Listen to the first stanza, Trials dark on every hand and we cannot understand all the ways that God would lead us to that blessed promised land; but He ll guide us with His eye and we ll follow till we die; we will understand it better by and by. By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home, we will tell the story how we overcome; we will understand it better by and by. - The Apostle Peter tells us, Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you (1 Peter 4:12. ) And Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 3:3 that we are appointed to afflictions. Trials are par for the Christian course, but thank the Lord that we have a future hope and glory in Jesus return! Trials shape us for future glory. - Our text today is Revelation 1:9-11, and the context and theme are one of trials and persecution for the Apostle John and the early church. Both Pastor John

2 2 and his people stood in great need of a word from the Lord Jesus, a word of assurance and comfort. - The early church suffered horribly under the evil reigns of some of the emperors of Rome during the first three centuries AD. They were misunderstood, falsely accused, hated, and subjugated to horrific torture and many died as martyrs for their faith in Jesus Christ. Tertullian, one of the leaders of the church in the 3 rd century AD, said sarcastically, If the Tiber [river] reaches the walls, if the Nile does not rise to the fields, if the sky doesn t move or the earth does, if there is famine or if there is plague, the cry is at once, Christians to the lion! What, all of them to one lion? (MacArthur, p. 39) - When the trials of life seem to overtake us remember that Jesus is still Lord of heaven and earth, and not even the gates of hell will prevail against His church. (Matthew 28:20 and 16:18) In the end God and His people win! - READ THE TEXT Revelation 1: I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and, What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. I. IDENTIFICATION (VS. 9) - John identifies himself as I, John. This is the third time that John has identified himself by name. By using this language there is the connotation of a claim to authority by the writer and rightfully so. (Thomas, p. 84) John was the recognized human leader of the early church at this time. He was the only remaining living Apostle; he served for 30 years as a pastor and leader in Asia; he was entrusted by Jesus to care for His mother, Mary; he had written the Gospel that bore his name and three Epistles; and he was one of the first to arrive at Jesus empty tomb. - But notice how John refers to himself your brother. I love the simplicity and the humility. Not I John the wise Apostle and leader of the church, etc,. He has nothing to prove. Life is not about him, but all about Jesus. So he is Brother John. - A few years ago I read the biography of Dr. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the renowned pastor of the Westminster Chapel in London, England in the 20 th century. Lloyd-Jones was married to a medical doctor and he was very prominent physician in London attending to some of the royal family before he

3 3 accepted the call to serve God in the ministry. He was an outstanding preacher and he traveled all over the world preaching in prestigious places. He was respected then and now for his faithfulness to believing and preaching the Bible. Those who met him said the thing that impressed them the most about the great pastor and preacher was his humility and approachability. - This is what I think of when I think of John and how he describes himself as brother and companion. II. PARTICIPATION (VS. 9) - John says that he was their bother and companion. The root word is koinoneo (koinonia) fellowship. The word means co-participant, one who shares in the same circumstances as others. John gives the three areas in which he participates with his hearers. The Greek reads this way in the tribulation and in the kingdom and perseverance. - A. TRIBULATION - The Apostle John says that he participates first in their affliction or tribulation. Satan hates us and especially the Jesus who lives within us, and we are his enemies. The good news is however that we have the Lord and His people with us, supporting us and participating with us. - Dr. Robert Thomas, p. 85, states, But fellowship in suffering is one of the most frequent, if not the most frequent, among the stock of primitive Christian ideas. This is an indispensable element of Christian discipleship and following the example of Jesus. - John did not bail out on his people during their time of hardship and suffering. He participated with them because that is what good pastors do they share in the suffering of others. Adoniram Judson was a man well acquainted with suffering and hardship. Known as the Father of American Missions served as firt missionary from North America. Courtney Anderson s book that details his life is a must read I think for every minister of the Gospel; the title is To the Golden Shore. He served in Burma for 40 years and buried three wives. During the war with Great Britain in , he was falsely accused of being a British spy and spent 20 months in horrible conditions as a prisoner. His wife Ann also called Nancy died as a result of all the turmoil associated with him being in prison. It took them 9 years to baptize 18 people, but after prison and war, he decided to stay with his call and 5 years after the war in 1831 they saw 373 baptized with 217 in one year (p. 403) - B. KINGDOM - What does it mean when John says he is their brother and companion in the kingdom? John MacArthur has a good definition of kingdom. He writes, p. 40,

4 4 that it is the sphere of salvation; the redeemed community over which Jesus reigns as Lord and King. When Jesus came to earth He inaugurated the Kingdom of God, and all believers are participants in this reign and rule of Jesus Christ. There is a future millennial kingdom and an eternal kingdom of heaven, but I believe here we should interpret this kingdom in verse 9 as the kingdom of God on earth now. The kingdom includes all followers of King Jesus, and we love all the participants in this kingdom, whoever gives allegiance to King Jesus. - C. PERSEVERANCE - The word is also translated as patience or endurance. Note that the tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance are connected to Jesus Christ. John participates with believers then and now in identifying with and prompting the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anyone who enlists in God s army and seeks to serve Him will soon recognize that there is a high price to pay in advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ and the indispensable characteristic to surviving and thriving is perseverance. Great word of encouragement to continue on, to persevere. We look unto Jesus Himself and receive motivation and encouragement to keep going no matter how hard and difficult the path becomes. Hebrews 12:1-2 states, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Christianity moves on the knees of praying saints who are dogged in their loyalty to Jesus; they possess a determination that refuses to quit or compromise with the enemy. III. EXPLANATION (VS. 9) - John tells us his precise location and why he was there. Patmos was known as a place of punishment for criminals. John tells his readers that the reason he is at Patmos is because the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. - Patmos was a difficult place to live. It was a penal colony where the Romans sent criminals to engage in hard labor. It was a 10-mile long and 5-mile wide island, a rock, a barren and miserable place for John to call home. John MacArthur, p 41, writes. The conditions under which he lived would have been harsh. Exhausting labor under the watchful eye (and ready whip) of a Roman overseer, insufficient food and clothing, and having to sleep on the bare ground would have taken their toll on a ninety-year old man. It was on that bleak, barren

5 5 island, under those brutal conditions, that John received the most extensive revelation of the future ever given. - In July 2004 I had the privilege of being on the island of Patmos and got to look into a cave where it is believed that John stayed when Jesus gave him the contents to the book of Revelation. It is a dark, small cave on the island of Patmos. - Vs. 9 a good translation is because. John was exiled to this awful place because He faithfully preached the word of God and gave testimony (martyria) of Jesus Christ and for that he suffered greatly. Please note that God allowed John to go to Patmos. John had served faithfully; he was not being punished for his sins. You can be serving God and doing what you are supposed to be doing and instead of God steering you away from the storm He takes you right in the teeth of the storm. - Read 2 Timothy 3: Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. - When was the last time you and I suffered for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ? We suffer very little in our country. We promptly remove ourselves from situations that even hint at pain or discomfort. We would rather sin against God and live ungodly lives than be frowned upon, laughed at, or excluded. We are never more like Jesus and the early church than when we are suffering for His name. IV. INSPIRATION (VS. 10) - John tells of how he received the book of Revelation. He was inspired. He was in the Spirit. He was lifted out of his normal bodily existence into a spiritual state, yet he had his cognitive abilities. A similar experience happened to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 2:2 and 11:24. - John says this happened to him on the Lord s Day. Some believe this refers to the future day of judgment, but I believe it refers to Sunday, the first day of the week when the early church worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ in honor of the day He arose from the dead. V. PROCLAMATION (VS ) - John heard behind him a megalen phonen, a loud voice. (These words are similar to words you are familiar with like mega and phonetics.) In vs. 12 John turns around and sees the One who speaks. Wow. He sees the risen, ruling Christ.

6 - John heard a loud voice as of a trumpet. It was clear, loud, and distinct. Later on in vs. 15 John says His voice is as the sound of many waters. Listen to the words of the Psalmist as he writes about the voice of the Lord. Psalm 29: 3-9. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, And strips the forest bare; And in His temple everyone says, Glory! - In this proclamation, Jesus identifies Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and then He tells John two things 1. To write and 2. To send. He was to write in a book the things he would see and then send this book to the following seven churches. These seven churches were not all the churches in Asia Minor but they were key churches and they represented other churches. Also interesting to note that these seven churches were located in the key cities of the postal districts in Asia. A messenger traveling from Miletus northward would travel the circular route in the order that John lists the churches. (MacArthur, p. 42) SHOW THE MAP WITH THE CITIES. (From The Believer s Study Bible, p ) - What a tremendous privilege and responsibility for the aged Apostle. When was the last time God spoke to you and gave you a large assignment for Him? Do you participate with other believer s tribulation, and in the kingdom of Jesus, and do you persevere in that kingdom living? - God reserves His greatest adventures and assignments for those who are humble and who refuse to quit. - On June 18, 1944 Dr. Lloyd-Jones and his congregation at Westminster Chapel in London were worshipping God as they would any wartime service. The pastor was leading the church in prayer when they heard the terrifying sound of a V1 German plane. The V1 planes were a devastating invention of the Germans. They would launch these pilotless planes from France carrying 2,000 pounds of explosives. They were responsible for 10,000 casualties in London the first week they were launched. On June 15, fifty of the V1s exploded in London. Dr. Lloyd- Jones kept praying until he could not dear himself speak. There was a thunderous explosion and the Westminster Chapel cracked under the blast and pieces of ceiling fell from the roof. After just a brief pause the pastor kept on praying as if nothing had happened. The bomb had landed on the Guards Chapel while they were having their worship service and 60 people mostly military officers were killed and another 300 injured. Jones was a dedicated 6

7 pastor who stayed with his people and continued to minister to them through the difficult days of WWII. (From Murray vol. 2, p ) - Affliction, Kingdom, and Perseverance they go together. If you find yourself serving God and doing everything that you know to do and you are suffering then pastor John would say, I know how you feel; hang in there, be strong, and do not quit. - Some are here today and you have a better understanding of the Christian life. You realize that knowing Jesus does not exempt you from troubles; in fact, it introduces you to a new set of troubles and difficulties! Let me assure you it is the only way to live. For those who desire to follow Christ I invite you to pray and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Turn from your sins and by faith believe on Him for salvation. - Others believe the Lord is calling you to join us here at GHBC. You become a part of what God is doing here among us. 7