Winter Retreat: The Return of Christ

This weekend our focus has been on Jesus. He is the Word of God who was in the beginning with God and who is God. He is creator of all things and all things exist for Him. He is the eternal God of the ages who has been working throughout human history to bring about the Gospel. He is God in human flesh who was born of a virgin and who lived a sinless life. He was fully man and fully God. He died on the cross for us paying the penalty of our sin, He rose again on the third day in victory over death, and He ascended to His throne in heaven with the name that is above every other name. But now we ask the question: what is to come?

We hold on to this hope. One day Jesus will return and He will make all things new.

The book of Revelation is written most likely during the reign of Domitian around 90 AD. The Roman empire had been ruled by a few crazy Caesars by that point and Domitian would also contribute to that trend. Christianity had grown significantly during that period. All of the missionary journeys of Paul likely took place before 70 AD which means there was a Gospel presence and church presence pretty much throughout the entire Roman empire. During that time the Church experienced a series of persecutions first at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders and escelating with the expansion of the church. We see severe persecution under the reign of Nero through 68 AD and then now with Domitian. Despite an attempt to extinguish the church it not only survived but thrived continuing to grow and multiply on a daily basis. The people John is writing to throughout Revelation are people who have been battered and lost much for their faith. Here in America there is opposition to Christianity but for the most part we are still free to gather publically, we can share the Gospel without fear of bodily harm, and really have no obstruction to our faith. For Christians in the first century and for Christians throughout the world today to call yourself Christian could very well cost you your life.

So put yourself in that context. Imagine we are gathering in secret as we read these words. Imagine what it might cost you to follow Jesus and to be here tonight.

Jesus knows us intimately

John begins Revelation with a series of letters written from Jesus to seven churches. Throughout each one Jesus encourages them or warns them, but in each one Jesus communicates an intimate knowledge of what His people are going through. As Jesus finishes the letters the scene shifts and John is brought before the throne of God. You can imagine the church’s response. Jesus, who most of these believers never saw personally because it was sixty years after the death and resurrection and because they lived in another country, speaks directly to them.

Although we have never seen Jesus that does not mean we can’t have a relationship with Him. Jesus not only knows about us but He knows us personally. He knows what we enjoy and what our hopes and passions are. He knows what frustrates us and what causes us to stumble. He is not far off but is near to us in our time of need. These people John is writing to likely felt discouraged at times. It would be easy under such stress and danger to question if Jesus was worth it and to believe that Jesus is real. Even though they had heard stories and seen God work in their lives it is encouraging for all of us to remember how much Jesus cares for us and is faithful to us.

So the scene shifts to the throne room. John describes what he sees the best he can. All throughout this book John is trying explain to us a supernatural vision using human language and so we need to pay close attention to the context.

Revelation 4:1–11 NASB95

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Right away the scene John is discribing is very strange. We are brought to a beautiful throne room filled with angelic beings and creatures gathered around the throne. Here in the throne room the creatures fly around day and night worshipping and praising God.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was, and who is and who is to come.

And as the four living creatures worship the 24 elders also join in saying

Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to recieve glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.

These majestic creatures exist to worship their creator. God is described in their worship as holy and set apart, as almighty, as eternal, as worthy of all glory, honor and power, and as creator.

Does the way we worship elevate God in the way the creatures worship does?

I think a lot of time our prayers and our worship tends to be focused on our needs (which isn’t always a bad thing, God cares for our needs and wants us to come to Him) but in heaven all things revolve around and are focused on God’s glory. I can’t help but wonder how different our lives would look if this was the attitude we had in our daily lives. In everything we do praising God and honoring Him with our lives.

The problem we run into is sin. Sin is what broke God’s creation, it is what Jesus died to forgive us of, and even after we have been forgiven and after we have been transformed sin continues to be a pest in our lives. It has no hold over us since Jesus set us free from it but there is a desire we all have to be rid of sin once and for all. I am forgiven, I know that, but every day I look forward to a time when I won’t have to ask for forgiveness, a time when I am face to face with Jesus and I can worship Him like these creatures do.

John is overwhelmed by a desire for restoration.

Revelation 5:1–4 NASB95

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;

To make the world new there must be someone who is worthy and who has the right to break the seven seals. We see later in Revelation that these seven seals contain God’s judgement over sin and reclamation of creation. John desires for the enemy to be destroyed, for pain to cease, for all things to be made new again but as they look around the throne there is nothing in creation worthy to carry out this task. This causes John to weep. What hope is there if sin is free to continue harming creation? But John does not weep for long.

Revelation 5:5 NASB95

and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

Weep no more. Jesus the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the rood of David, has overcome. Jesus reigns in victory over sin and death and He is worthy to open the seals.

Revelation 5:5–6 NASB95

and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

Look at this discription of Jesus. He isn’t a quiet baby born in a manger or a humble carpenter from Nazareth. He is described as a lion proud and majestic descending from a royal line. Yet, when He comes around the corner He is this frail lamb with all the marks of the slaughter. He has seven eyes symbolizing perfect wisdom and seven horns symbolizing perfect victory. He sees all things and conquers all things. This lamb is frail in form and bears the marks of broknenness but those marks testify to the overwhelming power and victory of Jesus. Yes He bears the marks of man’s sins. He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquity. But this Lamb is not crumpled in a heap on the floor. He is standing. He is risen. It isn’t a dead lamb who is worthy of openning the seals but a risen lamb, mighty and powerful like a roaring lion and conquering king.

Revelation 5:7–14 NASB95

And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who asat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and apriests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was bslain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Jesus takes the scroll and begins the end of the world and we see a little bit of a shift. The angelic beings continue to worship but this time the prayers and worship of the saints join in the chorus. This time the song is new.

Revelation 5:9–10 NASB95

And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and apriests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

This song doesn’t just celebrate Jesus for His nature but it celebrates Him for His work as well. He was slain to purchase by blood people from every tribe, tongue and nation. The work of Christ makes sinful man into redeemed priests in His Kingdom. It celebrates the Gospel and hails Christ as the worthy Lamb.

Again the song changes and this time all of creation joins in to worship.

Revelation 5:12–14 NASB95

saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was bslain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

This song points to the things to come and to Christ’s kingship. In His first coming Jesus came as a suffering servent but in His second coming Jesus will be a conquering king with all authority in heaven and on earth. To Him is the dominion forever and ever.

Put yourselves back into the mindset of the early church gethered together in secret reading this book. They were sharing in the same suffering Christ had endured. The persecution they faced was a continuation of what Jesus faced and here is Jesus standing offering forgiveness for sins and victory in resurrection. Jesus was a living hope to them and here they see the promise of His return and reclamation of His people from the enemy. The suffering they endured and the opposition they faced would be insignificant compared to the hope they had in Jesus. The day is coming, and it is coming soon, when Jesus will carry out His justice on the Earth.

We’re going to skip ahead to a later chapter, but what proceeds from this moment is Jesus reclaiming His creation. We see God’s justice being dealt out against sin and Satan’s last attempt to overthrow God. Chapter 19 picks up with Christ finally returning and destroying Satan once and for all.

Revelation 19:11–21 NASB95

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Christ comes riding in on a white horse with a sword coming out of His mouth. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Word of God come to destroy what is evil take back what is His. In chapter 20 we see Satan bound and destroyed and then finally, in chapter 21 we see our hope. A new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem where we worship God for eternity.

Revelation 21:1–8 NASB95

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

In eternity death is dead. There is no crying and no pain. Instead God dwells with His people like He did all the way back in the Garden of Eden. There will be no veil seperating us from God’s glory. We will be face to face with our creator and redeemer. Jesus is making all things new. That is a garuntee. He tells John that this is faithful and true, that He is the beginning and the end, He has offered forgiveness freely, and He will do away with evil.

Jesus ends Revelation with the promise of coming back soon. Everyday we live is a day closer to His return.

How do we live in anticipation of the Lord’s coming?

We must take the Gospel to the nations.

Our world is dying and is in desperate need of Jesus. He has called us to take the hope of the Gospel to all nations. Every day Jesus doesn’t return is a another day in which He has patiently waited for lost souls to find refuge in Him. As we look to the day of His return there is an urgency for us to win souls for the Kingdom.

We must live a life of anticipation.

Jesus’ return will be like a thief in the night. Live in such a way that if Jesus came back you would be ready for it. Live for Jesus. Be pursuing holiness. Live in such a way that we never taking our eyes off the finish line.

Do not be deceived live in Christ’s rest

As the end draws near there will be a lot of persecution and false teachings that Christians will be confronted with. As such we must be people of truth. Their is no substitute for Scripture in our lives. The Bible is God’s words and as such they bear the authority of God in our lives. Read and understand what Scripture teaches so that when people try to sway you or decieve you there will be an anchor in your life that you depend on. When people persecute you because of your faith and when people try to take your life you can remember that in all these things Jesus overwhelmingly conquers. Whatever we may face we must be ready to stand firm on what the Bible says is true.