The Book of Revelation, Chap 1:1-8 February 5, 2012 Special Announcements: Intro: 1. Last week we began a new study in the book of Revelation. a. Most of last week s message was introductory material to help set the stage for our study of this book. b. I didn t get any emails or phone calls this past week with questions so I m hoping you understood everything I shared. 1) All my messages can be found in itunes and my notes and messages can also be found on our website if you ever want to go back and review something. c. As we continue to move forward we will restart at chapter 1 and look at verse 1-8 this morning. Read Revelation 1:1-8 (NKJV) 1 and Pray Revelation 1:1a 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants things which must shortly take place. 1. This book was meant to show us, the reader, Jesus Christ. 2. The word shortly comes from the Greek word τάχος (tachos) which literally means speed, or quickness. a. One aspect of this word is associated with time, a short period of time to be exact. 1) The implication is that Christ s return & these prophetic events would be imminent. 2) Therefore this is a call for us to be ready and watchful. a) Maybe you re saying, Wait, but that doesn t make sense because almost 2,000 years have passed since this was written. That s not shortly. b) From an earthly perspective you are right, a long time has passed. c) But from a heavenly/eternal perspective, the time between Christ s first and second coming is but a short moment in time. 1 Unless otherwise marked, all scripture references taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1
2 3) And with confidence I can stand before you today and say, Shortly these things will take place. b. But this word τάχος (tachos) also tell us something about the way in which it will all transpire, very quickly or suddenly. 1) It indicates that once these things begin to unfold, they will come in a rapid-fire sequence of events. Revelation 1:1b-2 And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 1. The bible does not contain the word of God, the Scriptures are the very word of God. 2. The Apostle John, the author of this book is relaying to us what he actually witnessed with his own eyes. a. It is John who is bearing witness to the word of God. b. John is giving us an eyewitness account of all that he saw. c. This is a truly remarkable thing for the Apostle John for he is one who witnessed both Christ s first and second comings. d. While we haven t seen these things yet, the angel of the Lord brought John to a place where he was able to see and hear all these things take place. 3. What did he see and hear? He saw things which must shortly take place. a. In other words, future events. b. Just as Genesis provides for us a record of time and the creation of this world, Revelation provides a record of the end of times and the end of this world as we know it. Revelation 1:3 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. 1. This is the first of seven blessing offered in this book. a. This particular blessing comes in three parts. 2
3 b. Blessed is he who 1) Reads this prophecy. 2) Hear the words of this prophecy. 3) Keep those things which are written in it. c. All three of these participles are in the present active tense, implying that we should keep reading, keep hearing, and keep obeying. 1) This emphasis reminds us that the purpose of reading or hearing the Word of God is that we might obey it (Hindson). 2. John tells us very generically that the time is near. a. The word time does not come from the Greek work χρόνος (chronos), which refers to time on a clock or calendar. 1) No, the word time in our passage comes from the Greek word καιρός (kairos) which refers to seasons, epochs, or eras. a) The next great era of God s redemptive history is near. b. Can we pinpoint it? Is it possible to determine the exact day this will all begin or end? 1) Harold Camping with all his failed predictions has shown us that we cannot and we should not waste our time trying. 3. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 4 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, Peace and safety! then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1) We have been instructed and warned and with this information we are to live with the expectation that it could occur at anytime. Revelation 1:4a 4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia 1. The seven churches mentioned here become the subject of chapters 2-3 as we ll see in the coming weeks ahead, Lord willing. a. These are actual churches in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. (MAP) 3
4 2. Why seven church? The number 7 is a very significant number in the bible. a. The number seven speaks of completion or perfection. 1) Beginning in Genesis chapter one and carrying on throughout the scriptures, it has carried this meaning. b. We ll see that the number 7 is repeatedly used throughout this book; for example 1) There are seven blessings (1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7 &14). 2) Seven lampstands (1:12-2:1) Seven churches (2:1-3:22) 3) Seven seals (5:1-8:1) Seven trumpets (8:2-11:19) 4) Seven symbolic figures (12:1-14:20) Seven bowls (15:1-16:21) 5) and many other sets of seven. 3. So there are literally 7 churches at the end of the first century that will be specifically address in Chapters 2-3. a. What s more, these 7 churches become representative of every age with each church representing an age as we ll see when we get into these chapters. b. And we ll find instruction and application for our present day churches as well. Continuing in Revelation 1:4 was and who is to come...grace to you and peace from Him who is and who 1. Grace and peace were the standard apostolic greetings. Paul s letters bear the same type of opening greeting. 2. In this opening greeting we see Jesus eternal attributes declared, He who is and who was and who is to come. Revelation 1:4b...and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 1. John MacArthur explains here, the seven Spirits who are before His throne refers to the Holy Spirit. a. Obviously, there is only one Holy Spirit; the number seven depicts Him in His fullness. b. Again, seven being the symbolic number representing perfection and completion. 4
5 Revelation 1:5a 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. 1. In verse 4 John described Jesus as Him who is and who was and who is to come, and verse 5 follows that this same order a. Him who is the faithful witness. There is none more faithful than Jesus Christ who is a witness of God s love and grace. 1) Look at the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels; He lived His life serving others. 2) He is a living witness of God s love and grace! b. Him who is and who was the firstborn from the dead. 1) This doesn t mean He was literally the first to be resurrected for we know that there were resurrections before His. 2) This isn t firstborn in time sequence, but rather first in preeminence (MacArthur). 3) Of all who have ever been or ever will be resurrected, Jesus is the chief one. 4) Psalm 89:27 echoes this, which says, Also I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth. c. Him who is to come the ruler over the kings of the earth. 1) Actually Jesus already is the ruler over all, but as this book reveals, He will also be coming to the earth to rule over the kings of the earth. Revelation 1:5b His own blood, To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in 1. Here is the heart of the gospel. a. Sin is what separates us from God, either temporarily or eternally. b. When a sinful man recognizes his need for a savior and by faith confesses his sin, the blood of Christ cleanses that one and restores his relationship with God. c. The beauty of the gospel is that sinful man can be forgiven by God. This sets him free from the penalty, condemnation and judgment that comes from sin. d. God loved us so much that God made Jesus our substitute, killing Him for our sins; the penalty has been fully paid for us. 5
6 Revelation 1:6 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1. Not only have we been spared from the penalty of sin, but we actually will become joint heirs and rulers with Christ. a. As priest, we have been granted direct access to the Father because of the work on the Cross. b. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. c. The Father desires that you would come to Him. 1) Psalm 34:8 says, Taste and see that the Lord is good. Revelation 1:7 7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 1. Here in lays the theme of this book: Behold, He is coming! a. Remember, the central character in this book is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. b. The central theme of the book is that He is coming. 1) This is a message that is found and repeated throughout the scriptures 2) This is a reality that we must understand. 3) It s also a truth we are to declare the world around us. 2. How will He come? a. John tells us with clouds. 1) Acts 1:9 11 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. 2) In other words, He will come down from the heavens when He comes. 6
7 b. and every eye will see Him 1) I don t believe this will occur at the time of the Rapture. a) There is no indication scripturally that the whole world will see Christ at the time of the Rapture. b) But the whole world will see when He makes His return for His second coming. 2) How will every eye see? Some suggest that finally CNN will be useful for something. a) Seriously, I believe in the miraculous because my God is in the business of doing the miracles time and time again. b) I believe every eye will see the manner in which He victoriously returns in the clouds. c) It will be stunning, fantastic, and glorious! You know what? Scriptures tell us that you and I will be with Him when it occurs. c. John makes our first Israel / church distinction here by saying, every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. 1) Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 2) Israel s mourning will be that of genuine repentance as they finally acknowledge and accept Jesus as their Messiah. d. all the tribes of the earth is a reference to the unbelieving Gentile nations on earth with the Jews at the end of the tribulation period. Revelation 1:8 8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. 1. Three attributes in this 8 th verse. 7
8 a. the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End This represents Christ s omniscience being all knowing. 1) We see that in the Gospel s as Jesus understood the intent of the people s heart without any words being spoken. 2) Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last. 3) All knowledge is conveyed through letters of the alphabet. 4) So this title speaks of Christ being all knowing. b. who is and who was and who is to come this speaks of Christ s eternal presence. 1) He has always existed, even before His virgin birth. 2) He was there in the beginning and He s there in the end. 3) He s eternally unchanging. 4) Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. c. the Almighty This affirms His omnipotence, His being all powerful. 1) This word comes from the Greek word παντοκράτωρ (pantokratōr), meaning the all-powerful One. 2) This Greek word is used 10 times in the New Testament, 9 of them in Revelation. 3) Jesus Christ is coming back full of power and glory and nothing can hinder Him. Conclusion: 1. This book is likely going to challenge your view of who Jesus really is. a. In our study, some of you will be meeting a Jesus that is radically different from what you grew up believing. b. Remember that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. 2. Are you willing and open to see Jesus for who He is, even if that s different from what you thought before this study began? a. Let us draw our ideas and understanding of who Jesus is from His written word. 8
9 b. The Apostle John wrote in the Gospel of John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. c. Let us behold His glory as well, not as the world portrays it, not as our friends believe it, but according to His revealed truth that we might behold His glory 1) The only One who is full of grace and truth! Communion 9