Review: The Revelation of Jesus describes Christ as He is now! not Christ emptied of His heavenly attributes and humbled in His humanity. 6 Though Christ was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal s death on a cross. Philippians 2
Review: The Revelation of Jesus describes Christ as He is now! not Christ emptied of His heavenly attributes and humbled in His humanity. Rather: Jesus fully clothed in His heavenly glory as He was, as He is, and as He will always be! 12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. Revelation 1
Revelation s Structure: A Prologue & Five Visions Prologue 1:1 1:8. John s Introduction to his letter. Visions: 1. 1:9 3:22 Jesus, the Risen Lord, speaks to the Seven Churches of Asia. 2. 4:1 11:18 Jesus, the Lamb, unseals the Scrolls. 3. 11:19 5:4 The Cosmic Conflict. 4. 15:5 19:10 The Bowls of Wrath, and the fall of Babylon. 5. 19:11 22:5 Jesus, the Returning King, and the City of God.
Prologue 1:1 1:8. John s Introduction to his letter. 1 This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, 2 who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.
Prologue 1:1 1:8. John s Introduction to his letter. 1. What it is. (verses 1-2) a revelation of Jesus Christ apocalypsis (Gk) - unveiling, disclosure. literally The Unveiling from Jesus Christ. the curtain has been pulled back, and we are looking into the spiritual world of conflict, judgement, salvation and hope. from GOD - (Author) which God gave him through JESUS - (Mediator) this is a revelation (apocalypsis) from Jesus Christ to the ANGEL - (heavenly Messenger) He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John. to JOHN - (earthly Messenger) who faithfully reported everything he saw.
Prologue 1:1 1:8. John s Introduction to his letter. 1. What it is. (verses 1-2) 2. Why it s given. (verse 1) to show his servants the events that must soon take place. Within the storms of life things are not as they seem and God wants to encourage His dear children. The King is on the move!
Prologue 1:1 1:8. John s Introduction to his letter. 1. What it is. (verses 1-2) 2. Why it s given. (verse 1) 3. What to do with it. (verse 3) PAY ATTENTION! read it; listen to it; take it to heart and obey what it says; 3 God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says. because the King is returning soon! for the time is near
Prologue 1:1 1:8. John s Introduction to his letter. 1. What it is. (verses 1-2) 2. Why it s given. (verse 1) 3. What to do with it. (verse 3) 4. Who is it for. (verse 4) This letter is from John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia. 11 Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
Prologue 1:1 1:8. John s Introduction to his letter. 1. What it is. (verses 1-2) 2. Why it s given. (verse 1) 3. What to do with it. (verse 3) 4. Who it is for. (verse 4) 5. Who it is from. (verses 4-5) The Trinitarian God: Father, Son, Spirit! Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.
All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6 He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! 8 I am the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end, says the Lord God. I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come the Almighty One.
The First Vision: 1:9 3:22. Jesus, the Risen Lord, speaks to the Seven Churches of Asia. 9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. The consequences of John s faithfulness to Jesus: exiled to the penal colony of Patmos. left to rot in a place where this atheist can do no harm to Caesar. subjected to the power of the Empire and its lord & king. separated and worrying over his dear spiritual children is there any hope for them?
The King s Response: nothing human rather exactly what His dear friend needs! pulling back the curtain, to show John what s really going on. that things are not really as they seem. 1. Jesus Gets John s Attention 10 It was the Lord s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. 11 It said, Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
2. Jesus, in His Heavenly Glory, stands before His best friend, John. (v.v. 12-16) 12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. His clothes a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow, His eyes and his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, His voice and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. In His hand 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, His mouth and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. His face And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month of the year, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people. Daniel 10
3. John s reaction to seeing his closest friend, in all His glory. (v. 17) 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead! Daniel: My strength left me, I grew pale I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. Ezekiel: When I saw the LORD of glory, I fell face down on the ground Isaiah: I said, It s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful person, and I have filthy lips, live among a people with filthy lips, and I have seen the King, the LORD!
4. Christ s Response. (v.v. 17-18) 17 But he laid his right hand on me and said, Don t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
So.. What s the point? 1. Things are not as they seem so pay attention! when you do, it will change how you live your life. Truth: Jesus wants your complete attention! because there is only one way to overcome this life: by having a clear vision of Jesus, and a purged imagination of what might be to see the present in light of the future? Yes! But, more importantly, to see the present in light of the unseen realities of the present! Darrell Johnson
So.. What s the point? 1. Things are not as they seem so pay attention! 2. Jesus holds the keys of death & Hades so stop being afraid! Jesus has walked into the gaping jaws of the greatest enemy there is. On the cross he let all the powers that threaten to undo us have their unrestrained way with him. He let death take him captive. And then he burst out of prison and carried away the prison keys! Johnson
So.. What s the point? 1. Things are not as they seem so pay attention! 2. Jesus holds the keys of death & hades so stop being afraid. 3. Jesus is the King of Kings so worship Him! He is as John describes Him: a King so powerful that the very sight of Him will drive you on your face. a Savior, so wonderful, that He reaches out to you saying, Do not be afraid.