Back to the Future

The end is near, and it's coming to a theater near you, or right into your own living room. Over 250 end-of-the-world movies have been produced, with more than 100 appearing since 2000.

The pace of apocalyptic drama shows no sign of slowing down. The number of apocalypse-themed movies from 2000 to 2009 doubled over the previous decade, and is on pace to double again by the end of this decade.

In the past few years you could have seen the following end-of the-world films: Tomorrowland, Terminator Genisys, San Andreas, and Mad Max: Fury Road—to name a few.

The first end-of-the-world movie was the appropriately named 1916 Danish film, The End of the World, featuring a near-miss by a comet which triggers worldwide natural disasters and social upheaval.

A variation of the doom-from-space scenario, the "alien invasion apocalypse," got a classic start in 1953 with the film version of H.G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds. Spielberg helped remake that film in 2005.

Then there was the blockbuster Independence Day (1996), which features a horde of alien barbarians, roaming the galaxy to plunder planets for their resources.

The most popular world-ending scenario for the last few years has been the "zombie apocalypse, The Road, The Hunger Games, Brad Pitt's World War Z, and the list goes on and on.

Could it be that deep down we know that our history has its appointed conclusion, that the end of our story has already been written? Could it be that people are looking to the movies for some kind of answers to where we are going in the end.

Movies like these have given us a skewed perspective of the overall purpose of the book of Revelation.

INTRODUCTION

Why I have not preached through Revelation? It is probably one of the most significant books for the Church today and at the same time one of the books that is filled with great pitfalls and misunderstandings. I do not claim to be an expert on the book of Revelation however, I think this book is not going to be what you anticipate.

What do we do with the book?

We can ignore it as unknowable.

We can interpret it according to our understanding and miss the mark.

We can dive deep into the book and rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal truth where truth is clear and admit where there are things we just do not know.

Revelation consists of 3 different genres of literature:

Apocalyptic

Prophecy

Letter

Revelation is best known for its apocalyptic writing.

Apocalyptic contains the revealing of heavenly secrets by an otherworldly being or seer who guide its readers into transcendent reality that take precedence over current situation and encourages readers to persevere in the middle of their trials.

Revelation 1:1 ESV

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Messenger of the Revelation

1st and foremost it is a Revelation of Jesus Christ.

In Revelation Jesus is the Supreme messenger of God.

(four stage process of it’s writing: God gave it to Jesus, Jesus gave it to the angels, and the angels mediated it to John who wrote it down for the Churches)

IT ALL BEGINS AND ENDS WITH JESUS

Note: If you are reading revelation to discover some hidden secret of when Jesus is coming back you will be dissapointed.

Revelation is a Revelation of the Rule and Reign of Jesus Christ.

The book begins with “the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The word for which the book is named is the Greek word apokalupsis, which means “to reveal, unveil, uncover, or disclose Jesus Christ. ”

This is the only time the word appears in the entire book. It tells us God is pulling back the curtain in order to show us something previously hidden and unknown about the true identity of Christ”

Jesus is not the subject of the book but, the author of the book, and the revealer of the book.

God gave John this Revelation to reveal to us the things by Jesus and about Jesus.

Note: John makes the statement that these are things that “must” take place. (non-negotiable statement)

What does it mean to have the expectation of the imminent return of Christ? How does this affect the way we live your life today?

He made it known by sending an angelic messenger. (Angels are mentioned 67 times in Revelation)

THE FUTURE LOOKS GOOD FOR THE TRUE DISCIPLE

Back to the Future

Everyone remembers the movie staring Michael J. Fox Back to the Future. The premise of the story is that Fox’s character gets to back in time to rewrite the future.

However, the reality is that none of us get a “do over in this life.” Eternity is coming and the risen Christ is bringing with him rewards for those who persevere to the end and judgement for those whose hope is not in Christ alone.

The writing of Revelation should be seen to discourage a way in the future view of the book. The Revelation of Daniel was written to show us what was going to happen in the latter days. We know that for the early Church that when the Christian era began we are now living in the end times.

It is true that for the word “soon” (must soon take place) could also be translated as suddenly.

Revelation 1:2 ESV

2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Time for What?

Time for the end of time and all that is associated with it.

Time for a long series of happenings that will usher in the end.

Time for some immediate trouble and persecution ushering in the end.

Look at Daniels vision of the future.

Daniel 2:44 ESV

44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

*Working to establish a Kingdom that will never end.

“Notice that John is designated as the one who bore witness to Jesus Christ, the word witness in scripture is martyr all believers are called to be witnesses or martyrs for Jesus Christ”

(witness, Martyria)

Witness refers to the fearless public proclamation and authentication of Jesus Christ to the world.

Usually in the face of enormous persecution and hardship.

Revelation 1:3–4 ESV

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

HERE YOU HAVE THE 1ST OF SEVEN BEATITUDES IN REVELATION

1. Receive the Blessing for the True Disciple.

Revelation is a Book of Worship

BLESSED

Blessed in the OT Baruk when used in relation to God it has a sense of praise and when used in relation to humanity it denotes a state of happiness.

N.T. equivalent is Markarios has a strong spiritual connotation as in the beatitudes in Matt. 5. The word seems to carry with it a congratulatory element.

People who are blessed may outwardly be pitied by the world but from a spiritual standpoint they are envied, congratulated and should be imitated.

*Blessings for the Reader

“Blessed are the ones who read aloud this prophecy”

The is the first of 7 Beatitudes in the book of Revelation.

Note: in scripture we see God’s word being written to be read out loud for the Church.

Revelation must be characterized not as apocalyptic but as prophetic-apocalyptic.

Its purpose is not merely to outline the future intervention of God or to portray the people of God symbolically in light of that divine reality but to call the saints to accountability on that basis. This is a prophetic book of warning as well as comfort to the church

*Blessings for the Heeder

“The words of Revelation demand a response from those who are listening.”

The Blessings come with our personal response of obedience.

The basic principle of perseverance comes to those who are “keeping God’s instructions.” This becomes one of the major themes throughout the book of Revelation.

THE HEARER IS DEFINED IN TWO CATEGORIES

1). Those who hear

2). Those who hear and do what they hear.

Those who hear the instructions properly will “Take it to Heart!”

Its like your kids when you give them important instructions. There are some things you tell your kids that probably do not have life or death consequences to them.

The problem is that many times kids have trouble differentiating what between what are more important words that are life and death and what are not.

This is why parents will say to their children, repeat back to me what I just told you. Why do parents do this, because they want to make sure you not only hear but that your hearing leads to actions.

Note: Hearing and Obedience are synonymous in scripture. It is a given that if you are hearing the words of God then you are heeding them leading to obedience in your life.

How often in scripture do you see the word “Hear” or “listen”?

Romans 10:17

So, saving faith comes through hearing, and this kind of hearing leads to obedience to the words of Christ.

When a disciple comes to Christ it always comes through hearing, leading to following, then to believing and knowing where true life comes from which will always lead to action for the true disciple of Christ.

“Hearing Denotes Belonging to God”

Look at John 10 the Parable of the Good Shepherd

Notice as the sheep “hear His voice” they “Know His voice” and then “Follow the one whose voice they Hear.”

THE QUESTION IS WHAT VOICE ARE YOU LISTENING TO IN YOUR LIFE?

In Revelation this Theme is Continued

Each of the letters to the seven Church begin with

“Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says.”

This is then connected to the promise of the overcomer.

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

HOW HARDY ARE YOU FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

The Central theme of “keeping” and “obeying” God’s commands are listed ten times in John’s Revelation of Jesus Christ.

“Perseverance and Keeping”

The basic theme of perseverance which is a common thread that runs throughout all of Revelation and the New Testament is defined through “keeping” God’s commandment.

The sovereignty of God and the futility of Satan in this world must compel us towards perseverance and trust in God who has overcome our enemies.

The problem is that we tend towards clinging towards the peace and love that Jesus brings but when the tribulations and difficulties come we just aren’t that hardy.

The nearness of the Lords return is used constantly throughout the New Testament. Even while this language is evident we live our lives as if it is a far of reality. We are called to live responsibly till the end.

Romans 13:12 ESV

12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

James 5:8 ESV

8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

1 Peter 4:7 ESV

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

We are called to live decisively and completely for God.

Revelation 1:4–8 ESV

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

There were 10 established Churches in the Roman province of Asia during the time of John’s writing of Revelation. John identifies 7 specific Churches.

The number 7 in scripture is seen as the number of completeness as represented in the Genesis account.

John’s address to the seven churches addresses them as a whole not individually. He is addressing them as a community of seven member churches.

It is a breathing, living community with problems and possibilities of their own. This particular community of believers, members of John’s church must be kept in view if Revelation is to be understood correctly.

The message speaks to every age, but, it was first written down for John’s age.

“Grace and Peace are the typical greetings in Hebrew culture” (Shalom)

Part of John’s literary writing is to place words and phrases in numerical sequences like the seven churches.

3 is the number of the divine trinity as we now see the God who was, and is, and is to come. You also see this affirmed in the 7 spirits before the throne of God.

You also see the image of the 7 eyes of the Lamb and 7 torches burning.

2. The King of the Universe is the Hero at the end of the Story.

We find our comfort and Peace from Jesus who is the perfect Hero at the End of the Story.

*The Hero is perfect in who His Father is

He is described as “the One who is, who was, and who is coming.”

The focus is on His perfection as He relates to time and eternity.

This title appears only in Revelation (see 4:8; 11:17; 16:15) but reflects the language of Exodus 3:14 and the great I AM declaration.

Additional allusions may be found in Isaiah (41:4; 43:10; 44:6; 48:12).

He is the God of the present, the past, and the future, the God who is

Yaweh is defined in the OT as “I am who I am.”

“Who is” declares His present state as the conquering Hero of our story.

“Who was” declares His past control and present control as the conquering Hero of our story.

“Who is to Come” declares His continual intervention in history as the conquering hero of our story.

God’s eternal power is seen in the past, guaranteed in the future, and still at work in the present reality of our lives.

Note: This would have been so very important to the persecuted Church that the God’s eternal power already seen in the past and secured in the future is still present in their present reality.

*The Hero is perfect in the spirit of His presence.

“The seven spirits that are present before the throne of God.”

Three other texts mention the seven spirits in Revelation. Zechariah describes the spirit of the Lord as seven eyes that are sent out into the earth.

2 Corinthians 3:12-17 Paul Declares that where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. He recounts that not like in the day’s of Moses who would have to place a veil over his face because the Israelites could not gaze at the out come of the Great I am however the veil has now been removed and freedom is available for the unveiled faces of God’s redeemed.

1 Corinthians 6:13 now declares that our bodies are God’s temple which the spirit lives and moves and breathes.

Note: The Spirit is the basis of the message and the key to their understanding and obedience present with the Church.

The spirit is pictured in front of the throne of God. The spirit is the one who energizes and equips the Church for service. So, the one who is in Heaven is also the one who lives inside of all believers.

The Power of Christ's Resurrection Bursts through Obstacles A minister was in Italy, and there he saw the grave of a man who had died centuries before who was an unbeliever and completely against Christianity, but a little afraid of it too. So the man had a huge stone slab put over his grave so he would not have to be raised from the dead in case there is a resurrection from the dead.

He had insignia’s put all over the slab saying, "I do not want to be raised from the dead. I don't believe in it." Evidently, when he was buried, an acorn must have fallen into the grave. So a hundred years later the acorn had grown up through the grave and split that slab. It was now a tall towering oak tree. The minister looked at it and asked, "If an acorn, which has power of biological life in it, can split a slab of that magnitude, what can the acorn of God's resurrection power do in a person's life?" The minute you decide to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit comes into your life. It's the power of the resurrection—the same thing that raised Jesus from the dead …. Think of the things you see as immovable slabs in your life—your bitterness, your insecurity, your fears, your self-doubts. Those things can be split and rolled off. The more you know him, the more you grow into the power of the resurrection.

*The Hero is Perfect in what He has done in His Provision.

The book of Revelation is eschatology but even more than that it is a picture of the warrior Lamb of God, the king of kings, who rules and reigns over all His creation.

He is the Faithful Witness

By His perfect sinless life; his words and works are most fully displayed in His faithful witness.

Jesus describe the many witnesses who prove who He is and He describes His witness “Himself,” as valid because of where it comes from.

He is the Resurrected King

Jesus is the firstborn from among the dead. He did what none other has ever done before. He came back to life.

As firstborn Jesus is the exalted Messiah, this language is described in Col. 1 as Jesus being the firstborn of all creation, describing Him not only as the firstborn among men, but the supreme sovereign Lord of all creation.

He Rules and Reigns

“The ruler of the kings of the earth” is a recurring theme in Revelation (11:15; 17:15; 19:16).

It is not “He will be” but rather “He is!” All authorities, spiritual and earthly, are under His dominion and rule (see Matt 28:16–20). That is true now, and it will be made crystal clear when He comes again (19:11–21)

3 Aspects that are Worthy of Praise

“Christians today as well as then seemed to take for granted the the redemptive word of Christ in our lives.”

(1) He is worthy of praise in His Love.

By Christ’s bloody and brutal death He has purchased our freedom from sin and death.

“To Him who loves us and has freed us by His blood.”

How is it possible that we could reflect on the great love with which Christ loves us with without busting into spontaneous song.

Christ’s past love for you and me led to His sacrificial death.

Christ’s present love us is here and now with you and me

His future love for us will defeat the forces of evil once and for all.

(2) He is worthy of Praise in His Atoning Blood

Blood appears 19 times in the book of Revelation as a symbol of life and death.

Blood in Revelation hinges all of scripture together all the way back to Leviticus and the sacrificial system that was intended to point the nation of Israel towards their blood soaked redeemer.

While the sins of humanity continue to pile up against God’s enemies and His coming judgement the sins of those who have turned to God have already “loosed” by the blood soaked lamb of God.

(3) He is worthy of Praise in His Including us as a Kingdom of Priests.

He has included us in His royal Priesthood and office.

We will rule and reign with Christ at His second coming as a kingdom of priests.

KINGDOM OF PRIESTS: This would be translated more accurately as “a kingdom and priests.”

(There are many who would believe that by becoming a Christian they have joined a special club or holy glee club. We have entered into a relationship that offers us a special status)

You are not a spiritual country club satisfied with being in a special membership.

A Priest is one who stands between God and the rest of the world. As Paul writes in 2 Peter 5 you are His ambassador to the world.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Interesting that both 1 Peter and Revelation focus on the suffering church.

Our purpose is to serve, worship, and bear witness to the resurrected Christ.

The concept of the saints participating in God’s rule occurs frequently (2:26, “authority over the nations”; 3:21, “sit with me on my throne”; 5:10, “reign on the earth”; 20:4, “authority to judge”; 20:6, “reign with him”).

As priests we have access to the royal throne room of God and the privilege of the office of His service. Christ as priest is also the sacrificial lamb of God, therefore, our duty as priests should be seen as living a sacrificial live for Him.

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Note: There is a clear future and defining purpose of His coming.

To bring the visible Christ.

Literally, Historically, and Visibly He will return. There is not left behind movie playing where everyone wakes up and finds that he has come and they somehow missed His return.

To bring sorrow.

In that day Israel will see and understand that they (and we) crucified their Messiah. And “all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen.” Yes, Israel will mourn and the nations will mourn. But by God’s grace some, including Jews and Gentiles, will mourn in repentance and salvation (5:9–10; 7:1–17; see Zech 13:1; Rom 11:25–26).

Others, however, will mourn in remorse as the just and righteous judgment of God is poured out in the great day of wrath (Rev 6:16–17), what is called “the great tribulation” (7:14). Amazingly, they will seek death, not deliverance (6:16). Repentance will not be found in their hearts

Many Scholars believe that mourning for sin is a possible reading of this text. The closest parallel is Rev. 18:9, “And the kings of the earth … will weep and mourn over Babylon when they see the smoke of her burning.

Supposed weeping as they see only the elect of the earth taken by the Lord during the time of the great day of God’s judgement.

Whether repentance follows John does not indicate only that sorrow will be the immediate outcome. These are most obviously unbelievers who have opposed Jesus Christ and His teachings.

To bring bring Strength and Power

This is one of two times that God speaks directly in the Revelation.

He is the “Alpha and Omega” this is the reminder that He is the beginning and end of all things. God controls the beginning and end. We could say that He is the A to Z of everything. He is the beginning and end of our story.

“He is the one who was, who is, and who is to come”

Repeating the title from verse 4.

He is the Almighty

The attribute of omnipotence refers to God’s unconditioned power to do that which he wills in accordance with his nature. Also: All-powerful; Almighty; Power.

Philippians 2:10 ESV

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Some will receive Him as Lord the fulfillment of all of his Lordship and kingly rule in their lives ...

Others will receive Him as Lord and be overwhelmed by it, because it is the first time they see Him for who He is, was, and is to come ...

CONCLUSION

Church this is why Revelation is of the utmost important for you and for me in the past, present, and future of our lives.

Exalting Jesus in Revelation (Conclusion)

Recently I heard an interesting experience a missionary had on the mission field when ministering to an underground and persecuted church in a totalitarian country. Out of curiosity he asked, “What are your favorite books in the Bible?”

To his surprise the answer was Daniel and Revelation.

When he asked why, they said, “Because they teach us in the end our God wins!” Those faithful brothers and sisters in Christ are right. Revelation, in particular, teaches us that Jesus is “the ruler of the kings of the earth” and that “the glory and dominion” are our God’s forever.

He is “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.” This is a God who is victorious. This is a God you can trust. This is a God who will do what He promises. This is what we learn when God speaks from heaven.