Revelation 1 Verses 17 to 18 Meeting the King November 19, 2023

Revelation 1 Verses 17 to 18 Meeting the King November 19, 2023

Lesson 6 Class Presentation Notes AAAA

Background Scriptures:

· 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB) 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Main Idea:

· There are specific Heavenly scenes described in the Bible where Judge Jesus will hand our rewards to believers and judge the nations and the lost.

Study Aim:

· To understand Jesus’ prominent role in Heaven, according to Scripture.

Create Interest:

· Heaven is mentioned over 500 times in the Bible. John mentions it around 50 times in Revelation. There are three heavens:

o The atmospheric heaven around the earth. (Gen. 1:20)

o The stellar heavens. (Psalm 8:3)

o Heaven, the home of God. (Psalm 14:2)

§ Heaven is real. Enoch, Elijah, and Jesus have all gone there in glorified bodies.[1]

· At some time in life people begin to think about what happens after death and begin to think about Heaven, but there are many false and immature opinions about Heaven.

o A common misconception is that all people will go to Heaven.

o Closely related is the view that people will become angels with wings and be given harps to play.

o Perhaps the most common mistake is the idea that people can earn their way into heaven.

§ God’s Word is the source for the truth about Heaven. Thus, our lesson today focuses on Jesus’ prominent role in Heaven.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· John had three purposes for writing Revelation.

o The Immediate purpose: to allow Jesus Christ to proclaim, “Behold, I come quickly.” (Re. 2:16; 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). The seven churches of Asia and their world needed a word of encouragement, of counsel, and of warning.

o The Historical purpose: to allow Jesus Christ to proclaim to His followers and to the world of every generation, “Behold, I come quickly” (Re. 2:16; 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). God knows that every generation needs a word of encouragement, of counsel, and of warning.

o The Godly purpose: to give to the church and to the world “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Re. 1:1). This revelation is both the unveiling of the person of Jesus Christ as the central figure of history and the unveiling of the message of His heart. He is both the content and the unveiler of the revelation.

· What is the revelation of Jesus Christ? The revelation concerns “things which must shortly come to pass” (Re. 1:1). It concerns the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who alone is worthy to open and oversee …

§ the book of destiny

§ the book of the future of the world

§ the book of God’s redemptive purpose.[2]

· The opening verse of the Book of Revelation begins by specifying directly the content of the book: “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” What does this phrase communicate? Revelation (apokalypsis), in its literal meaning, is the uncovering of what is hidden.

o With this concept, early Christianity expressed the fundamental idea that God:

§ in His activity in Jesus Christ has come forward out of hiddenness:

§ has disclosed to His own the secrets of His saving activity and graciously proclaimed His will to them.

o Indeed, the breadth of significance in the New Testament of the Book of Revelation is considerable; it spans from the proclamation mediated by prophets of the church about the divine plan of salvation and purpose (1 Cor. 14:6*, 30*) across the overjoyed vision of heavenly things (2 Cor. 12:1*, 7*)to the end-time appearances of Jesus Christ himself (1 Cor. 1:7*; 2 Thess. 1:7*).

o For our purposes, only the first of these points comes into play. The revelation, however, is one that proceeds from Jesus Christ, the cause of which is God, and that is mediated to the “servants” of God, that is, the members of the churches, through John by virtue of his prophetic calling.

o The important point is not the manner in which the revelation is received but the fact that this binding word of Jesus Christ is for the churches.

§ The reference to the content of the revelation as “what must soon take place” adds the tone of apocalyptic, however, by reflecting almost verbatim a formulation in Dan. 2:28*

§ Events in the world are shaped neitherby blind chance nor by human initiative but rather unfold according to a plan decided by God before all eternity;

📷 indeed, the realization of this plan has entered the final, decisive phase, which means that the goal that God has set for history is immanent.[3]

· The second coming of Christ and the years immediately preceding it are revealed in Revelation more graphically than in any other book of the Bible.

o The Book of Daniel describes in detail the period from Daniel’s time to Christ’s first coming and speaks briefly of the Tribulation and Christ’s rule on earth.

o The Book of Revelation amplifies the great end-time events with many additional details, culminating in the new Heaven and the new earth.

o Authorship. As the opening verses in Revelation plainly state, the book was written by the apostle John[4] on the island of Patmos approximately A.D. 95-96.

· In everyday usage we use the word Heaven to describe the place where believers go when they die. This is legitimate as long as we realize that the ultimate expression of Heaven is the new Heaven and new earth that will come at the end of time. We are told more in Scripture about this ultimate heaven than we are about the state of the dead in Christ before the end. Biblical hope focuses more on the heaven that comes with the final coming of Christ, the final judgment, and the final resurrection. This new heaven and new earth is described in Revelation 21–22.[5]

· One of the most wonderful promises in the whole Bible is that persons who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will spend all of eternity with God in a place called heaven.

o Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Hebrews 12:22 affirms, “Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem).”

o This is our future home and our future hope, and that ought to make a difference in our lives today.

· Note: We have often heard statements to this effect: “He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.” There is only one thing wrong with that statement: It is not true! The fact is those who are the most heavenly minded are the most earthly good. That is why Colossians 3:1–2 teaches us, “So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.”

o C. S. Lewis beautifully echoes the truth of Scripture when he writes,

§ “A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do.

§ It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is.” If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. Discuss

§ It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in:” aim at earth and you will get neither.” (Mere Christianity, 134)

Bible Study:

Revelation 1:17-18 (NASB) 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

· Vs. 17: John’s response to the vision was to fall at the feet of Christ as though dead. Similar responses are found in Josh 5:14; Ezek 1:28; Dan 8:17; 10:15; Matt 17:6; Acts 26:14; and 1 Enoch 14:14. But to call the response “stereotyped behavior in such apocalyptic trances” would incorrectly imply that John was playing out a role rather than experiencing a supernatural phenomenon of such magnitude that to stand as an equal would be tantamount to blasphemy.

· Note: Paul was struck to the ground in a similar way when he saw Christ in His glory (Acts 9:4). Previously John had put his head on Jesus’ breast (cf. John 13:25, kjv). But now John could not be this familiar with the Christ of glory.[6]

o It could even lead to death (cf. the OT belief that for sinful man to see God was to die; Exod 19:21; 33:20; Judg 6:22–23).

· He was overwhelmed with the suddenness of the vision; he saw that this was a divine being; but he did not as yet know that it was the Savior.

o It is not probable that in this vision he would immediately recognize any of the familiar features of the Lord Jesus as he had been accustomed to see him some sixty years before; and if he did, the effect would have been quite as overpowering as is here described. But the subsequent revelations of this divine personage would rather seem to imply that John did not at once recognize him as the Lord Jesus.[7]

· Christ now lays his right hand on John and speaks a word of strong assurance (cf. Dan 10:10). That Christ is described in the previous verse as holding seven stars in the same right hand should cause no problem. The entire account is visionary and symbolic, and as such should not be expected to conform to literalistic requirements.

o The laying on of the right hand communicated power and blessing.

o It is a commissioning hand that restores John’s confidence and prepares him to hear the words of consolation and command.

· The celestial visitor speaks, and his very words remind the prostrate John of earlier days when as Jesus of Nazareth this one had shared his earthly ministry with the twelve.

o More than once John had heard the familiar “Do not be afraid,” for example, when Jesus approached the disciples walking on the water (Matt 14:27) and when they had fallen on their faces having heard the voice of God from heaven (Matt 17:7).

o There is no cause for fear because he who speaks is “the First and the Last.” This title is essentially the same as the divine self-designation in 1:8, “the Alpha and the Omega.”

o In 22:13 both titles are joined by a third, “the Beginning and the End.” In Isa. 44:6 God declares, “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God” (cf. Isa 48:12).

§ The title emphasizes the absolute sovereignty of God. Thus, in Revelation, the words “Do not be afraid” come from a sovereign being. Even death holds no terror because he is the Living One who has conquered death and holds it in his power (v. 18).[8]

Thought to Soak On

· In stark contrast to the silly, frivolous, false, and boastful claims of many in our own day who claim to have seen or heard from God, the reaction of those in Scripture who genuinely saw God was inevitably one of fear.

o Those brought face-to-face with the blazing, holy glory of the Lord Jesus Christ are terrified, realizing their sinful unworthiness to be in His holy presence.

· Spurgeon’s Note for today from 1872: “But you say, can we still hear Jesus speak to us? Ay, by his Spirit. His Spirit still hath fellowship with the hearts of men, and he can bring the word of Scripture right home into the soul, until it becometh no more the letter but the living, quickening word of Christ.”[9]

· Summarizing the proper response to God’s holiness and majesty, the writer of Hebrews exhorts believers to “offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28–29).[10]

o Hebrews 12:28-29 (NASB) 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

N.T. Wright helps us grip this reverential awe scene

· When we are looking at Jesus, he is saying, we are looking straight through Him at the father himself.

· Hold the picture in your mind, detail by detail. Let those eyes of flame search you in and out. Imagine standing beside a huge waterfall, its noise like sustained thunder, and imagine that noise as a human voice, echoing round the hills and round your head. And then imagine His hand reaching out to touch you …

· Yes, fear is the natural reaction. But here, as so often, Jesus says, ‘Don’t be afraid.’ It’s all right. Yes, you are suffering, and your people are suffering (verse 9).

o Yes, the times are strange and hard, with harsh and severe rulers running the world and imposing their will on city after city. But the seven churches—seven is the number of perfection, and the churches listed in verse 11 thus stand for all churches in the world, all places and all times—need to know that Jesus himself is standing in their midst, and that the ‘angels’ who represent and look after each of them are held in his right hand.

· And the Jesus in question has, as his credentials, the fact that He ‘was dead’, and is ‘alive for ever’ (verse 18). Like someone whispering to us that they know the secret way out of the dungeon where we have been imprisoned, He says, ‘I’ve got the keys! The keys of death and Hades—I have them right here! There’s nothing more you need worry about.’

o To grasp all this requires faith. To live by it will take courage. But it is that faith, and that courage, which this book is written to evoke.[11]

Revelation 1:17-18 (NASB) 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

An assuring voice (vv. 17b–18):

· The Lord Jesus Christ graciously laid his hand on John and spoke words of comfort and assurance. Jesus identified himself as the One who ‘lives, … was dead, and … [is] alive forevermore’. He, the One who lives with underived ( being as first made or thought of) life…a life that is not sustained by anyone or anything, died. How could the Living One die? Only by taking that which is capable of dying—humanity! Having taken our humanity and having died in it, the Lord Jesus is alive for evermore, never to die again. What marvels we have here! The Living One dies, and the dead one lives!

· In light of these things, it should be obvious to us that Jesus has authority over Hades, the realm of departed spirits, and Death, governing both how his people die and when they die (v. 18).

· Having heard these words, John must have felt the comfort of the Lord flowing over him. Perhaps he exclaimed, ‘What a day! What an interruption! What a Christ!’

What happens after a person dies? What do we mean by the term “resurrection?”

· When death takes place, the soul and spirit depart immediately into the presence of the Lord if you are a Christian. There is no such thing as soul sleep or reincarnation. Men are appointed to die once.

o Hebrews 9:27-28 (NASB) 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

· In the presence of the Lord, the soul and spirit await the resurrection of their glorified body. When the body is resurrected, the soul and spirit will be joined to that glorified body which will no longer age, get sick, suffer and groan with age. This will take place at the Rapture.

· When an unbeliever dies, his soul and spirit goes to Hades or Hell where it is kept in conscious torment in the flames of Hell. Those who are in Hell are awaiting the resurrection of their body which will occur immediately before the last judgment of God known as the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20.

· The Christian has eternal life because Christ conquered death (1 Corinthians 15:55–57). This truth is what is challenged by this wicked world. Theories have been offered to explain away the resurrection of Christ. They are full of holes. Plenty of evidence is offered to prove the resurrection of Christ.[12]

· There were two areas in Hades.

o One area was a place of torment and fire. This is where the wicked and unbelievers went after death. The rich man died and went to this area according to Luke 16.

o The other area was called Abraham’s bosom or Paradise and was separated by a great divide or gulf. This is where the righteous dead were comforted. This is where Jesus went, not to the area of fire. Notice these verses.

· Hades: the area of Torment.… Luke 16:23–26—And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off,and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

· Hades: the area of Paradise.… Luke 23:43—And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

o All of the righteous dead from the time of creation were in this place awaiting the day of their redemption. When Jesus came to Paradise after His crucifixion, He proclaimed His victory that the price for sin had been paid. When Christ arose, He delivered these souls from Paradise and took them to Heaven with Him.

o For this reason, for the Christian, to be absent from the body now, is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

* Hebrews 2:14, 15—Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

* Ephesians 4:8–10—Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. [9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

· When a person has keys, it indicates that person is either owner of the property or has authority on that property. Christ is the owner of the universe and has authority in all things, even over Hell.[13]

As the Resurrection is eternally important to us let’s look at what is has done for us😊.

· The resurrection guarantees our justification.

o Romans 4:25—Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification.

o Justification deals with our standing before God. It means “JUST-AS-IF-I” never sinned. Christ paid for the sins of the world with His death on the cross. With the sin debt paid, it freed God to forgive those who sought it by faith and trust in the provision of Jesus Christ.

o The resurrection shows God the Father’s acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice. Because Christ lives, God can credit the provided righteousness of Christ to the account of every person who responds by faith to that offer.

o Justification is by faith in Christ, not our works.

§ Romans 4:20–22.… He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; [21] And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. [22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Abraham was justified by faith.

· The resurrection guarantees our power to live a godly life.

o Philippians 3:10—That I may know him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;

o Ephesians 1:19, 20—And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,

o Ephesians 2:1—And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

· The resurrection guarantees our resurrection and victory over death.

o 2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you.

o 1 Corinthians 15:55, 57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

· The resurrection guarantees coming judgment.

o Acts 17:31 Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead. He arose as He said, and He will judge as He said.

· The resurrection seals Satan’s doom forever!

o Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

FOR FURTHER STUDY

· List the similarities between this verse and John’s vision of Christ.

o Daniel 7:13 (NASB) 13 "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.

Consider the following exercise to firm up what you just read

· In the following four verses, what were the responses of these men to the divine presence, and how do their responses compare with John’s response?

o Isaiah 6:5 (NASB) 5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

o Ezekiel 1:28 (NASB) 28 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it,I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

o Daniel 8:17 (NASB) 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end."

o Daniel 10:8-9 (NASB) 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. 9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS

· Which part of John’s reaction in verses 17 and 18 speaks most powerfully to you? Explain your answer.

· Imagine that you saw the Lord Jesus as John saw him. How would you feel, and what would you do?

· Do you think that Christians today show too much familiarity with the Lord? Give reasons for your answer and use Scripture to discuss what the right attitude towards the Lord should be.

· How can we develop this right attitude?[14]

Praise God, we serve a RISEN Savior!

[1]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Revelation, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2003), 405. [2]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Revelation, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 1. [3]Jürgen Roloff, A Continental Commentary: The Revelation of John (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993), 19. [4]John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 925. [5]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Summer 2008, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 79–80. [6]John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 931. [7]Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Revelation, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 54–55. [8]Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 60–61. [9]C. H. Spurgeon, “The Glorious Master and the Swooning Disciple,”in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 18 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1872), 7–8. [10]John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 1–11, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 50. [11]Tom Wright, Revelation for Everyone, For Everyone Bible Study Guides (London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Knox, 2011), 8–9. [12]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Revelation, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2003), 28. [13]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Revelation, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2003), 18–19. [14]Roger Ellsworth, Opening Up Revelation, Opening up Commentary (Leominster: Day One, 2013), 25–26.