Beholding the Glory of the Risen Christ

INTRODUCTION

Good morning church. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been excited about this sermon series. The book of Revelation is always talked about in intimidating terms. Maybe you’ve heard it described as a confusing book, a “hard” book to understand. Some describe it as science fiction-like, with dragons, strange beasts, and all kinds of symbolism. This is why we’ve decided to lead our Life Groups through sermon talkbacks to provide a space to debrief, apply, and ask questions to help us walk away from this series with less mystery and more clarity.

Now, I don’t know what you have thought about the church studying the Book of Revelation, more specifically, why we’ve started this sermon series. I want to clarify that the news channels did not influence the start of this study. We are starting this series because this book was written for the Church almost 2,000 years ago, and its contents are meant to comfort and encourage the Church to remain faithful, knowing that God has the final victory. It has done so for 2,000 years and will continue to do so until the Lord returns. It is that message that God’s people need to hear, and that’s why we are in the Book of Revelation.

The contents of this book are meant to give us perspective on God and his redemptive plan, which is already in motion, and this revelation, of what occurs behind the curtain (per se), I believe, has the potential to ignite the Church into revival. To walk away with the return of Christ, with the reality of judgment in the forefront of our mind, can change the way we talk, the way we interact with people, the way we use our time, and the way we share our faith. The contents of this book, and even our passage today, have the potential to ignite the church into a mode of evangelism and hospitality like maybe we’ve never experienced before. May it be that the reality of our risen Lord and His return would cause us to ask strangers, “How can I be praying for you?” or talk about Jesus with a co-worker. That it would cause us to add the extender leaf of our dining room table and bring our neighbors in to show hospitality and the love of Jesus that satisfies our deepest longings before He returns!

This book gives us a glimpse of what God is doing and plans to do. It also gives us a clear picture of the identity and authority of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our text today is the first of many visions. In this first revelation, John finds himself in the presence of the resurrected Jesus. The Apostle John, who ministered with, lived with, and walked miles with Jesus, saw Jesus in a new state here in a vision on the island of Patmos. Jesus looks different from the one John remembers following all those years ago. I pray that we would see Jesus clearly from our text today.

Many Christians believe people in our culture have a problem with Jesus. Some do have a problem with Jesus, but I find that, actually, many of them don’t have a problem with Jesus! NO, it’s worse! They reinterpret Jesus to their liking. For instance, people embrace the peace-loving Jesus of Gandhi. They adore the self-actualizing Jesus of Oprah. Growing up, I remember people making a fashion statement by wearing a “Jesus is my homeboy” T-shirt. People love their version of Jesus. As long as he fits neatly into our comfort zone and helps improve our lives, Jesus is cool. But John brings us face-to-face with the real Jesus, and he is much more than we could have imagined.

As we walk through this passage, my hope is that we will encounter the “real” Jesus, who comforts the church when facing suffering and persecution, compels the Church to live faithfully unto God, and reminds us of the terrifying power and judgment that is to come.

I’ve divided our time into five parts:

The Glorious Risen Christ HEARD (9-11)

The Glorious Risen Christ SEEN (12-16)

The Glorious Risen Christ COMFORTS (17-18)

The Glorious Risen Christ COMMISSIONS (19-20)

The Glorious Risen Christ COMPELS AND REASSURES the Church to remain faithful

As I’ve been studying this book, I’ve become convinced that part of the reason Revelation is hard to understand is that we are unfamiliar with apocalyptic literature and the Old Testament. This book is filled with Old Testament allusions that clarify and help us understand the visions.

Today, as we walk through the outline, I will try to surface some of those Old Testament allusions so that we can fully experience the splendor and glory of our risen Savior and revel in His power and care for His Church.

Let us pray for the Lord’s help before we begin. PRAY

The Glorious Risen Christ HEARD (9-11)

Please keep your Bible open to Revelation chapter 1.

We are starting with verse 9, where we find John introducing himself, not in the way we might expect. John chooses to write, not from a position of authority, as an Apostle, but rather in terms of his relationship with his readers: as our brother and partner in tribulation, partner in the Kingdom, and partner in patient endurance.

John’s introduction models for us what it is like to be a follower of Jesus. Our Faith does not promise prosperity in this life. If it promises anything, is that we will face tribulations. Just a quick survey of the New Testament reveals this.

Matthew 24:9: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.”

Acts 14:22: “… through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

1 Thessalonians 3:2, 3: “We sent Timothy … to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.”

The Glorious Risen Christ HEARD (9-11)

In John’s context, the Jews were still under Roman rule and the Romans promised people peace but instead delivered brutality and fear. In contrast, the kingdom of God promises us tribulation and delivers peace and assurance of eternal life for those who are found in Christ.

This was John’s reality. He was facing exile on the island of Patmos. During this time, some governors had the custom of charging whoever they found guilty with banishment, execution, or slavery. It is believed that John was sentenced to banishment on Patmos.

John also tells us why he was banished: “on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” This means that John was banished for his testimony of Jesus, for preaching Jesus.

On this island, on “the Lord’s day,” which would have been Sunday, as that became the custom of the early Church due to Jesus being resurrected on a Sunday.

That day, John heard a loud voice that he described like a trumpet. That trumpet-like voice should invoke Old Testament flavors. We have heard a trumpet sound before in the Bible. It’s the sound Israel heard when God revealed himself on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19. Now, again, we hear God’s trumpet-like voice announcing the revelation for John to share with His Church in a “mount sinai” way.

The voice speaks and gives John two clear commands: to write the vision he will see and to send it to seven churches. The book of Revelation exists because the risen Jesus told John to write it down. John is not making up some sci-fi scene here. No, John is obeying Jesus' words to write the vision for us.

This book was written for us. In apocalyptic literature, we will find that numbers are important symbols, and the number seven, especially, signifies completeness. This revelation John is about to witness is not only for those seven churches listed there but also for the complete church of Christ through time.

What an unforgettable Lord’s day for John. To hear the savior's voice again, but not how I’m sure he remembered it during Jesus’ Earthly ministry. Jesus’ words, as we find them in the Gospels, would often draw out amazement and awe, and sometimes, they would make people unsettled with His teachings and His miracles.

Yet, the voice John heard on that day from Jesus was not the meek Jesus he remembers; this is the glorious resurrected Jesus he encounters. Oh Church, may we not leave unchanged today as we encounter the risen savior in our text this morning.

The letters to the seven churches will be the subject of the following chapters, so be sure to come back to look at those letters in the coming weeks.

The Glorious Risen Christ SEEN (12-16)

In verse 12, John introduces the scene and describes what he saw when he turned to face the trumpet-like voice he had heard. Read verses 12-13 with me.

Revelation 1:12–13 “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 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.”

John sees two things. First, he sees seven golden lampstands, and in the middle of the lampstands, he sees “one like a son of man.” Again, the Old Testament helps us understand the vision.

Seven Lampstands

The seven lampstands represent the Church, as Jesus interprets for us in verse 20 of our chapter. Yet, to understand the significance of this scene, we need to familiarize ourselves again with the Old Testament.

In Exodus 25 we have the instructions from God given to Moses for making a seven-branched lampstand of pure gold to be placed in the Tabernacle. And so, we find seven of these seven-branched lampstands in our text. Probably also alluding to Solomon’s temple, which held ten of them.

Solomon placed these lampstands in the holy of holies, and their light symbolized God’s presence in the temple. God dwelling with His people.

In the Old Testament, only one person was allowed in the Holy of Holies, and only once a year. That is, the High Priest was the only one allowed in this space. The High Priest served as a representative and mediator between God and His people. It was their responsibility to see that the covenant was enforced and to direct the hearts of the people toward God. It was also their responsibility to tend to the lampstands in the Temple.

The Glorious Risen Christ SEEN (12-16)

I’m going quickly through this, but to recap, we have God’s instructions for a seven-branched lampstand (again, the special number seven) in Exodus 25. Then, when Solomon built the temple, he had 10 lampstands placed in the Holy of Holies within the Temple, where only the High Priest was allowed to enter. The light was evidence of God’s presence dwelling with His people within the Temple.

But there is another key Old Testament connection here that helps us see what this vision represents. It is found in Zechariah 4, where Zachariah sees a vision of seven lampstands by “two olive trees.” The angel that appears to Zachariah explains the two olive trees by the lamps are “two anointed ones.” In the Jewish culture, the anointing was done to kings and high priests in the Old Testament, and it is believed that these two olive trees represent a king and a priest.

The purpose of the vision in Zechariah 4 is God’s promise to His people to accomplish his purpose in rebuilding the temple. Much can be said about the significance of the Temple in the Old Testament, but what is also significant is what Jesus taught about the Temple during His Earthly ministry. Matthew 12:6

Matthew 12:6 ESV

I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

Here, Jesus is speaking about himself and His authority.

The Glorious Risen Christ SEEN (12-16)

Now, stay with me here.

The scenario in Zechariah 4, about God’s promise to accomplish his purpose of rebuilding the temple, is contrasted, and now fulfilled Revelation. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, clarified that the focus is no longer on the Temple but on the Church. Jesus said: Matthew 16:18

Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The Glorious Risen Christ SEEN (12-16)

The Church is not a building but the people of God, the Kingdom of God. Therefore, we know that our Lord is not building a temple, but a church, His people, His treasured possession.

The point is that Jesus is among the Lampstands as fulfilling the role of High Priest and High King! He tends to the Church and has authority over the Church (priest and king). The vision in Zechariah 4 was a guarantee that God would rebuild the Temple because God would do it. Similarly, John’s vision of Jesus among the lampstands guarantees that God will accomplish his purpose in building His Church, the building of His eternal Kingdom. He will do it! He has the authority, and the Book of Revelation reveals that He does it!

What comfort that is for the church. To place our confidence in this glorious resurrected Jesus that we worship. The one who has all authority. This is why we can confidently send people to the nations. Even from among ourselves, going out to reach the unreached, not with empty hopes of building a church, but with the expectation that this Jesus; the glorious resurrected Jesus, who has all authority, is tending and building His church and He has the final victory.

The Son of Man

The second thing John sees is “one like a son of man.” I’ve already alluded to this: this person is the resurrected Jesus. In our Family Bible Hour, we are going through the book of Daniel, and when we arrive at Daniel 7, we will see “one like a son of man” who is given all authority and whose kingdom and dominion are everlasting. Jesus in Mark 2 gives himself the title, He identifies Himself as the “son of man,” here we see Him again, but in a different form.

Notice how John describes him. If you have one of those scripture journals, I would encourage you to circle the parts John describes.

the clothes

the hair

His eyes

His feet

His voice

His right hand

His mouth

His face

We don’t have to go through every description to know that this was a terrifying sight. This was not like the Jesus we know from the Gospels, the meek and lowly Jesus. This is the glorious, all-powerful King and Priest who can bring judgment. This Lord and Savior does not mess around, and it is this Real Jesus who we know will ultimately defeat evil at the end of all things!

The Glorious Risen Christ COMFORTS (17-18)

John’s actions demonstrate to us just how alarming this sight was. Look at the first part of verse 17. Revelation 1:17

Revelation 1:17 (ESV)

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead…

You would have expected John to be overjoyed to see Jesus, His old friend. That’s not what happens. John falls to His face. In the presence of His savior.

A radio commentator once asked a guest, “Do you believe in God?” The man answered: “I don’t know whether there is a God and I don’t really care, but if there is a God and if there is a day of judgment, I’ll have a thing or two to say to Him. When I look at everything that has gone wrong in this world, I’ll stand before God, and ask Him my questions, looking Him in the eye.” Oh, my friend,” said the commentator, “who could stand and look into those burning eyes? Who would dare to so much as lift up his head in the presence of such a righteous Judge?

An accurate view of our Lord is a humbling experience. Like in Isaiah 6, when Isaiah comes before the Holy and mighty God, his response was to fall flat on his face. When we have the right view of God, we humble ourselves before Him. We approach God with humility, acknowledging our need for His grace. That’s the appropriate response to this Savior and Lord.

The comforting hand of Jesus

What we then find is Jesus comforts John. Look at the last part of verse 17 and 18. Revelation 1:17-18

Revelation 1:17–18 (ESV)

… But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Jesus tells John not to be afraid. Not because Jesus here isn’t scary. He goes on to explain why John should be afraid.

Jesus gives him an “I am” statement. John, who wrote the Gospel of John, knows all about Jesus's “I am” statements. He knows that Jesus is the beginning (Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet). John’s opening words to the Gospel of John are: John 1:1

John 1:1 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

But here in Revelation, Jesus also states that he is the last (omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet). This matches the Father’s statement in verse 8, which we looked at last week. Jesus is God, He is one with the Father and He affirms this truth (the Trinity) by attributing the same attributes of being the first and the last to himself.

Jesus being the first and the last is not the only reason John should not be frightened. He goes on to say that He is the “living one” who died and is alive again and has the “keys of Death and Hades.” This is a direct reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection. He has conquered death and holds the keys, which means He knows and has control of who dies and who doesn’t, of who dies and who is liberated.

Jesus’ comment on His death and resurrection and His authority over forgiving sins is the basis on which John does not fear this resurrected Jesus. It is not because He isn’t scary; he is. Only on Jesus’ merit, given to us by faith, can we stand before a Holy and just God and not be afraid.

Jesus’ comforting hand is extended to us with an invitation to repent and believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior. Only by faith in His son, can we stand before a Holy God as forgiven.

I’m sure that the portrayal of this Jesus was of great comfort to the persecuted church of the first century (when this was written). To know that their God has the power to bring justice, and will do so. We can also take great comfort in our risen savior.

The Glorious Risen Christ COMMISSIONS (19-20)

The bottom of our chapter ends with a re-commissioning of John to write. Look at verse 19. Revelation 1:19

Revelation 1:19 ESV

Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

The “therefore” in this verse is significant. It is as if Jesus is saying, “On the basis of my glory, my power over death, and my authority over the Church, write these things.”

Notice also the description of the revelation. He commands John to write the vision he sees. The things that are and the things to take place. I read that to say that this resurrected Jesus that John saw is tending to His church now. Even as I speak to you right now, Jesus the High Priest and High King rules, comforts, keeps, commissions, and builds His Church. This vision of Jesus, is not a future version of Jesus, it is the Jesus now, today. When he tells John to write about what will take place, it is because Jesus knows what is to come, because He is putting it in motion, and His perfect plan will come to fruition. That’s the power of our risen Lord.

Consider that when you pray, it is this Jesus who is interceding for you. When you lift your voice in worship to Jesus, it is this Jesus we sing to. When we evangelize and tell people about Jesus, we are testifying about THIS Jesus—the Glorious Risen Christ who has all authority and everlasting dominion and whose plan of redemption cannot be thwarted by anyone, especially no human King.

In the same way that John was commissioned to right, we have been commissioned by our Lord. In John 20:21, the resurrected Jesus speaks to his disciples and says,

John 20:21 ESV

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

The Glorious Risen Christ COMMISSIONS (19-20)

The Apostles, who were the representatives of the church, have passed down this commission to the church over the years: that we should go to the nations with the news of the resurrected Jesus.

The Glorious Risen Christ COMPELS AND REASSURES the Church to remain faithful

Our King wanted us to have this book of Revelation. The only reason we have this book is because Jesus wanted John to write it and send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor.

The revelation of the REAL Jesus is all that the Church should need to be compelled to go behind enemy lines, assured that the outcome of the war of Evil is certain and our King has won! He is the one who has the keys of Death. He has all authority and has chosen to forgive us by grace through faith. Does it not compel us to get out of our comfort zones, reach out to our neighbors, and invite them into our homes? To reach out to the least of us and give them the Gospel of the risen Jesus!

The glorious risen Christ compels and reassures the church to remain faithful.

I recently celebrated my 32nd birthday. In this crowd, that means I’m 18. Yet, I have discovered that over the years, the clearer I see Jesus, the more I love him. The bigger He gets in my mind, as I grow to understand him, the more grace I experience. When I think of what might compel God’s people to not settle with complacency and comfortable faith I think the remedy is a big God. To look at a Scripture like this and say, what am I but a sinner saved by grace alone! And Oh WHAT GRACE!! To know the wonderful and terrifying reality of our King, who is for us! How does that not compel us to obedience and faith?

That we would look at the resurrection of Jesus, and not allow anything to crowd out our love for Him. That because of the resurrection of Jesus, we could face suffering, imprisonment, testing, and tribulation without fear.

To know that because of the glorious risen Christ, though we suffer we will not be crushed, though we are tested we will not fail, though we face tribulation we will be preserved, though we die we will rise.

To know that because of the glorious risen Christ, we can be awakened from death and made alive. Our King has defeated death itself. If not even death stopped him, then there is nothing that can stop his church from fulfilling the great commission.

May we behold the glorious resurrected Jesus. May our affections be reoriented toward the God who saves, who reigns, and who is coming back to complete his perfect plan of redemption.

Let us stand and sing and consider our God and King who reigns forever.

Livestream Questions:

How can the reality of Christ's return influence our daily interactions with others?

How can recognizing Jesus as our High Priest and King impact our approach to prayer and worship?