The Church as a faithful witness to the Gospel
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Reading of God’s Word
Reading of God’s Word
English Standard Version (Chapter 1)
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, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony (witness) of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 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, 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.” 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony (witness) of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Prayer-Enlighten us to your word. Bless us as we read, hear, obey what you are enlightening us with today. Amen
How do approach Revelation. many ignore, some obsess about the hidden meaning. Eisegesis- See something in the news, but where is Jesus taking us.
Is the book literal of figurative? R.C. Sproul- You don’t interpret the Bible literally do you? Well of course. Seeking the Literal sense. We interpret according to its literature. The way it was written. Literary forms are Poetry, Historical narrative, didactic, wisdom, parable, and apocalyptic. There are metaphors, hyperbole, Can be distorted by liberals and conservatives.
Revelation is a book written in apocalyptic style of literature. It is not written as a historical narrative. It is literal as it literature. Thus the book is different that the rest of the NT that is unfamiliar to us. We do see this style of writing in Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel and several sections of other OT books. Almost 400 references from Revelation come from the OT.
Why does God have a church (like Christ Covenant) As a community of believers to bring glory to God and to be a witness for Christ. A witness is a .;;
Matthew 24:13–14 (ESV)
But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony (witness) to all nations, and then the end will come.
Two types of people in the world believers and non believers.
Most in the world are not interested in the gospel. One way to communicate to people who do not want to hear it.
Apocalyptic style is a moving picture book of visions and images. Apocalyptic language- Dreams. Symbolic images. Visions are clothed in symbolism. Some part are clearly literal, but most are symbolic. In Revelation there are scenes of ..
Several pictures of the same reality.
Parallel stories- 4 Visions, but 7 different perspectives of the same event. First Vision is Chapter 1-3.
Tribulation, Creatures resembling a lion, ox, and eagle, slain lamb, Scrolls with seals, trumpets and bowls, earthquakes, stars falling from the sky, a beast from the sea, a beast from the land, and a dragon with seven heads who tries to devour the child a a woman clothed the sun. There are lots of numbers, the most common is the number 7 that is written 55 times.
Made know (by a sign)Where are we going to today. Two parts. Why study revelation and that believers and the church are in union with Christ.
I. Why study Revelation? 2 points. Rev 1:1-3
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, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 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.
1. Revelation- To Revealing, not conceal. Not a secret code, but a heavenly perspective of the historical redemptive period from Paradise Lost in Genesis to Paradise regained in Revelation 21-22. Message is not from God, but a chain of custody from God the Father to the Son to an angel and to the Son. Labs… No loss in translation along the way.
4 approaches- Three- happened all at the end of the 1st century, with happen in the last generation of time, or relevant to all generations. Yes, there is a historical context- 7 churches represent all the churches of that age, but also the ages to come.
Number 7- completeness, fullness and perfection.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
As we age…
We have conquered, because he has conquered.
Gospel to others- See in us he Love of God.
Last words to us about Jesus.
Red letter Bible- Last Words of Christ to his church in a post apostolic age. John penned the book around 95AD during the reign of Domitian currently persecuting the church. John is the last Disciple- All the other’s lived through tremendous tribulation, being witnesses for the Lord throughout Europe, Asia and Africa and tradition notes that all 11 had been killed by stoning, crucifixion, burning living through tribulation. John is no the last disciple near death and and exiled to the penal island colony on Patmos.
Salvation of man. Reclamation of the heavens and the earth. Paradise lost in Genesis and paradise regained in Revelation.
Where is God? Is Christ coming back? Will evil triump over good?Who is in control if we are suffering.
we have fears- Government, health, work, family,
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
History through climax- Good stories- Different lenses- Football game- 7 cameras focused from 7 angels. Last focusing on Gods’ final victory over Satan/ Evil and death.
2. We are Blessed- There are ? blessing in Revelation. This is the first. Seven is divine completion that began with creation of the world conclude with God resting on the 7th day.
II. Believers (the Church) are to be Witnesses to the world if they are in Union with Christ.
Revelation 1:4-8 “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, 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 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 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. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.””
Practical book to strengthen in the faithand endure suffering .
Trinity. Father,Holy Spirit and the Son.
Grace and Peace- Must have God’s grace of reconciliation with him before we can have peace. Throughout this book evil appears to be succeeding, but at the end those who are In Christ will prevail because of the finished work of Christ.
Father- him who is, and who was and who is to come. Did create the world leave and then rejoining at the end. He is with us in the present. Did create the world with a providential plan and will bring about a consummation at the end. He is outside of time, but is active in our present time of difficulties.
The Spirit- (Seven Spirits- Heavenly perfect Holy spirit.
Jesus Christ- Faithful witness (μαρτυς- Martyr), Firstborn of the dead, King and priest
Jesus conquered death. Control of Satan’s realm
God uses faithful witnesses to open hearts by the spirit. Best done in times of trouble.
Saves us so that we can identify with him.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 20:6
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 1:6–8.Fear not tomorrow. Tomorrow is won.
Portrays the paradoxical present rule of Christ as King and his ultimate triumph and the salvation of his people through tribulation.
Christ is King (Dominion)
the church is not the first to suffer. Christ is the faithful witness. they too will be faithful witnesses.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Daniel 7:14 (ESV)
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
Christ is the ruler of Kings over the earth, if we are in him, he hs made us a kingdome.
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
Christ is priest- Mediator- To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood- priest and the sacrifice Because of he is a priest, if we are in Him, we are priests, made us kingdom, priests to his God and Father to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Son of Man
Voice of the Risen savor.
In the spirit on the Lord’s Day on the island of Patmos.
Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches.
1:11,1;19
John falls down at Christ’s feet as though dead.
Destruction of the serpent, a woman who brings forth a male child who is to rule the earth, and a final restoration of the tree of life.
Mostly symbolism taken from the OT, Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah and other OT prophets.
redemptive history. Bookends of the Bible.
Not about just the past (preterist view), just the future (futurist view) but very much about the present.
Written to be read and heard in the present age and designed to provide comfort for God’s people.
Life between the two comings of Christ from a heavenly perspective
Transcends
Interested in the Lordship of Christ.
Delivered to distressed churches. May seem the church is despised and defeated. Jesus christ reigns and his purposes are patiently being worked out.
Gospel- Genesis Creation Fall, Redemption and consummation
Purpose is not a puzzle on how the world will end, but how do we live today in light of God closing out human history.
Faithfulness in the midst of suffering.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
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. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
We are in Jesus
As we persevere, through trials, righ in kingdom- obeying and faithful witness.
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.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”