The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Good morning. I am so glad that we can be here together this morning.

This morning we are embarking on a new series on the book of Revelation. Now this is a challenging prospect because there are a lot of different views on revelation and it is riddled with challenges.

In fact, a story for you about this is a Professor of New Testament once shared that he got asked to write an essay about Revelation. He didn’t really want to because it intimidated him. He then found out that the reason he was being asked is because everyone else already said no.

Revelation though is a book that is important for us to study and to dig into because there are great truths in it for us.

To help set the stage we need to be reminded that revelation is a book unlike any other in the Bible. It combines elements of being a letter, Apocalypse, and prophetic writing. It is this unique combination of writing styles and perspectives that creates the unique nature that makes up the book.

Example of the challenges. When we hear the word Apocalypse we often go immediately to cataclysmic disasters.

People running around waving their hands in the air. “It’s the end of the world”

Apocalypse

Apocalypse literally means Revelation.

Or disclosure of information.

When we say this is a book of Apocalypse while it may contain elements of the end times it is about more than that it is about disclosing information. It is a deceleration.

When we talk about the idea of Prophesy we encounter a similar problem.

Prophecy

When we hear the word prophecy many of us will think, Predictions.

Prophecy is an oral, divine message mediated through an individual that is directed at a person or people group and intended to elicit a specific response.

The Prophets of the OT didn’t come making predicitions to show off what God was doing through them. They were speaking to their people about their time and through their words they were also speaking to future hopes and events. Prophecy is to be kept in the present as well as the future.

This is important for us to remember as we engage in this book because it will help us to promote a proper reading of the scripture.

With that we must also be reminded that this is a letter.

Epistle

This is important because it reminds us that this style impacts how we read this. the letters that the Apostles wrote were intended to be read aloud and in many ways were dramatic or imparted emotion and inflection that we can’t really recreate because we aren’t them.

Imagine though for a moment being in attendance at one of the churches when someone stood up and started to read this.

Revelation 1:1–20 NIV

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. 4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! 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 companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” 12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The question now is how do you respond to such powerful and interesting symbolism and imagery?

What is the Book of Revelation pointing us to?

The reality that we need to begin with is that Revelation is about the story of Christ. From beginning to end it is about Christ and God’s redemptive work through him.

It isn’t about how it all ends. It isn’t about just some prophecy or end times. It is about who Jesus is yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

That is where we have to wrestle though with the idea of who Christ is and what he came to do.

Let’s begin by realizing that he affects both the past, future and the present

At the heart of the God’s mission in Revelation lies the story of Jesus.

A narrative that gives meaning to all history.

Jesus—The past

It would be easy for us to look back at the story of Jesus and just go to the Gospels for our view of this but John starts somewhere else.

Revelation 1:17 NIV

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

This brief and reference from Jesus to the unique bond he shares with God and as a part of the trinity he was present from the very beginning and he will be present at the very end. He is to be recognized as the first and the Last.

Jesus—The past

This is one of the first images that John gives us about Jesus and we realize that the connection we have with Christ extends further than the gospels.

Yet, John doesn’t stop there. He uses other imagery to describe Christ and the influence he has had in other places in Revelation

Revelation 5:1–5 NIV

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

The Lion of Judah

Jesus, the Lion of Juda he is able to open the scroll. He will save us.

I mean come on that is an awesome image.

The Lion of Judah.

Kinda reminds me of a Mascot for a team.

Team Mascots

The NFL kicks back off this weekend and it is a good reminder of the fact that many teams have different mascots.

Some Mascots are inspired by local or regional influences. My team Mascot is a steel worker because the Steeler’s are named for the industry that built the town. Yet, other teams choose mascots because they are fierce or powerful.

We are Luck as Christians right. We can say we have the Lion of Judah.

That sounds pretty fierce. I mean who wants to go up against a lion. Thats what the elder is pointing us to right?

Revelation 5:5–6 NIV

5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Slain Lamb

Now wait a minute. You said a Lion why am I looking at a Lamb?

Wait it isn’t even a normal lamb who might bite you its a slain lamb.

This isn’t very scary.

It is this imagery both John’s audience and us are reminded that Jesus is the slain lamb and the Lion of Judah. He is both the fierce lion and he is the slain lamb.

Revelation 1:18 NIV

18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

He holds the keys of death and hades he has authority because he is the slain lamb so he can hold power.

Why though is this important?

God’s Redeeming work

It is here that we have to be reminded that when we read revelation it is the suffering lamb that begins us on the path to the redemptive work of God.

What about the Future than? Doesn’t Revelation talk alot about the future? We want to hear more about that.

Jesus

Revelation not only points to the past but more than any other book points us to what Christ will do.

John after all introduces Jesus in dramatic fashion. Verses 12 through 16 give us amazing imagery of who Christ is.

This hope and power and authority of the Lion of Judah is important.

The Warrior Lamb

Not only is Jesus among us but we can see him as the warrior to fight for us. There is a dark truth that we have to face if Jesus is to win victory over the world around us.

For Christ to Reign Evil must fall.

I know that doesn’t seem like its that dark of an image.

We can get behind that idea right. Evil goes down we stand in victory. WE forget though how he obtained victory sometimes when we think of Jesus as this Warrior lamb.

WE like images like Revelation 1:14

Revelation 1:14–16 NIV

14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

WE forget the parts like the ones in this final verse.

Out of his mouth was a sharp double edge sword.

We face the truth that his message cuts deep. Christ is not just coming to make us all feel good. He is the Lion of Judah after all.

It reminded me of a quote from the Chronicles of Narnia about Aslan.

Lucy asks about Aslan.

“Then he isn’t safe?”

Mr. Beaver responds.

“Who said anything about safe? ‘Ocourse he isn’t safe. But he is good. He’s the King, I tell You.”

Evil stands no chance against him and this is the promise of God. We know that he is faithful and he will fulfill his promises after all.

Not only will he destroy evil we have the promise that he will return. Jesus himself reminds us of this at the close of the book.

Revelation 22:7 (NIV)

7 “Look, I am coming soon!”

It is through his return that we can trust that the God of Israel will keep all his promises.

The promise that he seeks salvation for all people and creation.

All can come to him who choose to, and He will restore his creation to what it should have been. This is the hope of the future.

It is this place of looking forward to our promises that we see the Present.

The Present Lamb

It is in the tension of waiting for the fulfillment of the promise that we now sit.

How long do we have to wait.

Jesus said it was going to be soon, so how much longer?

We sit in that tension not having to look to the sky but to realize that He is with us right now.

The Story of the blood stained lamb is inseparable from the story of his followers.

Jesus calls us to a life that is in pursuit of him. We are to stand with him and he with us.

We are gong to face hardship and suffering as Christians and this is inescapable.

Some of it is in our lives right now.

Some of it is yet to come.

John and the 7 churches knew about this. They lived in a time that the church was persecuted.

We don’t live in that time but we face different challenges here in our western culture.

We face the spiritual battles of different things pulling on our time, resources, hearts, and Minds.

Present suffering

We don’t think we have suffering but we live in a time where people are hurting in ways that they can’t even begin to see.

These things have become a normal part of our lives after all.

Don’t believe me lets look at this.

Do we face the temptation of not putting Christ first in our lives each and every day?

Do we let things take our attention?

Do we put our own wants and desires above what God wants for us?

Do we put our sexual satisfaction above what God wants for us? Porn is rampant in our culture. Sexual confusion. So many other ways that this is playing out.

Do we put our desire to feel good through things like food, drugs, alcohol and other vices?

Do we put our personal time above what God desires for us?

Are we more worried about spending time with our families doing something fun than teaching them about who God is?

I could keep going on and on hitting different topics but the truth is that our hardships is that we forget the promise of what Jesus did for us.

His present nature among us and saving us and being with us is because he is the Slain lamb.

He is the one who was willing to give it all for each of us and all of creation.

The Revelation of Christ

When we talk about Revelation we are declaring the redemptive nature of the story of Christ. We are prophesying about who he is and what he has, is, and going to do.

He died on the cross for our sins,

He will one day return to restore all creation.

He is with us right now and through him we don’t have to let evil win in our lives but we can claim victory over the evils of this world.

This is all possible because of who he is.

Let’s Pray.