The Prelude of the Revelation
Notes
Transcript
Handout
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The Bibliography of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
The Bibliography of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
The Writer: John.
The Writer: John.
Remember, John received it from the angel that recieved it from the Son, Jesus Christ, that received it from the Father.
The Recipients: “the seven churches which are in Asia”.
The Recipients: “the seven churches which are in Asia”.
7 specific churches of Asia Minor.
Names in Rev 1 11
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
We will discuss these churches in great detail, especially when we get to chapter 2 and 3, but for now, here is what you need to know.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
These churches are REAL churches.
These churches are REAL churches.
literal congregations.
They existed in the time when John penned this letter. As we will see in chapter 2 and 3, Jesus spoke to them about real saints, real sinners, real situations and real solutions.
These churches are REPRESENTATIVE churches.
These churches are REPRESENTATIVE churches.
Every church contains some of the characteristics that mark these early churches and every church will be involved in the fulfillment of this letter.
Even though Kentucky MBC is not addressed in this book, there is a lot it has to say to us.
There are 7 churches.
There are 7 churches.
7 is a prominent number in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
7 suggests “perfect, completion, and fulness.”
When mentioning 7 churches, the Revelation of Jesus Christ is speaking of the church in its fulness.
If you look around our world, you will see the significance in the number 7 as beginning in the days of creation gives us 7 days in one week.
The light spectrum started on day one when God said, “Light be” is seen in 7 colors of that spectrum. (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet)
In Geography, we have 7 Continents (Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antartica, Europe and Australia) and 7 Seas (Arctic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, North Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, and Southern (Antarctic) Ocean
The music that we love to hear and sing consists of 7 notes A-G in a musical scale.
These 7 notes make up 7 diatonic chords (triads or seventh chords) which are the fundamental building blocks for songs in that key
In the Bible, we find the number 7.
7 feasts in the Jewish Calendar.
7 mysteries in Christ’s parables of the kingdom.
7 sayings on the Cross of Calvary.
At Jericho, 7 priests carrying 7 trumpets march around the city for 7 days. On the 7th day they march around the city 7 times.
Just in our book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we find the number 7 used 49 time, which happens to be 7, 7’s.
There is also 7 churches, 7 spirits, in our text this morning.
There is also 7 stars, 7 seals, 7 horns, 7 eyes, 7 trumpets, 7 angels, 7 thunders, 7 heads, 7 crowns, 7 plagues, 7 vials, 7 mountains, and 7 kings and this is just a sample.
The Greeting of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
The Greeting of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
This is the typical greeting and dedication of the New Testament.
GRACE = GOD’S UNMERITED FAVOR.
PEACE = RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
Never has grace and peace been more needed as we see scenes of God’s judgment and condemnation upon this world.
Notice also, this grace and peace is not from or in the world, but rather, from the Godhead and heaven.
The word “trinity” is not found in the Bible, but the word Godhead certainly is.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
From God the Father:
From God the Father:
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Eternal and Unchangeable.
God told Moses when asked about His identity
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
God is infinite, the only living and true God.
If anyone understands our need for grace and peace, it is the God that created us and cares for us.
From God the Holy Spirit:
From God the Holy Spirit:
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Who exactly is the Holy Spirit?
The number 7 again is used of the Holy Spirit. 7 is the number meaning completeness, fullness, and perfection.
This is God is His fulness as the Father and the Son.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Notice in Isaiah 11
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
Count with me:
The Spirit of the Lord: The overarching presence and power of God.
The Spirit of Wisdom: Guidance in making right choices.
The Spirit of Understanding: Insight into spiritual truths.
The Spirit of Counsel: Strategic guidance and advice.
The Spirit of Might/Strength: Divine power and ability.
The Spirit of Knowledge: Deep understanding of God's will.
The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord: Reverence, awe, and devotion to God.
These 7 spirits represent the entirety of the Holy Spirit’s work and nature that will fully rest on the Lord Jesus Christ and we as Christians, empowering us for the Ministry that God has planned for us.
It is prophesied in Joel 2 28-32
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids In those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, Blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, As the Lord hath said, And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
It was reiterated by Jesus Christ.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Peace of God is delivered through the Spirit of God.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
It was fulfilled in the Church on the day of Pentecost.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The Holy Spirit is restraining evil right now in this world, but don’t be deceived, before the Antichrist can do anything toward the fulfillment of the end, the Holy Spirit has to be removed and we will experience the 7 years of tribulation and then Jesus will return and His spirit will once again be poured out over all the earth.
From God the Son:
From God the Son:
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Notice, when John writes of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, he writes in symbolic language. However, all that changes when he gets to Jesus Christ.
John is very straightforward bringing the purpose and the person of this book to center stage.
Again, keep in mind that The Revelation of Jesus Christ is about the unveiling of Jesus Christ.
After reading this, there should be no doubt which Jesus John is writing while giving us a theological three-fold description of the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
First we see,
Jesus’ Revelation: “the faithful witness”
Jesus’ Revelation: “the faithful witness”
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
In the Old Testament, Israel was God’s witness to the world and God made this promise to Moses.
15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
That was the purpose of Jesus’ 1st coming? To reveal the Father.
So, in the Gospels, Jesus was God’s witness to the world.
Jesus remember was the Word of God that became flesh, therefore, he not only acted upon the words of His Father, but also spoke the words of His Father.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
In this age, the Church is God’s witness to the world.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus is the only TRUE Witness. We point people to Jesus because he is the only way to the Father and the only TRUE way to Know the Father.
But John goes on…
Jesus’ Resurrection: “the first begotten of the dead.”
Jesus’ Resurrection: “the first begotten of the dead.”
Jesus was not the first resurrected individual, but was the first that never died again.
The word “first” is a word of rank.
“begotten” comes from the word we get “prototype.” What Jesus accomplished, set the standard that we as believers will be able to experience.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Again, Jesus was not only the perfect sacrifice for sins but He was the perfect offering to be delivered to the Father.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Because Jesus was the first begotten, and He lives, we have faith that in Him we have
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
and we
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Notice the next phrase and
Jesus’ Royalty: “the prince of the kings of the earth.”
Jesus’ Royalty: “the prince of the kings of the earth.”
This phrase establishes that Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. In other words, He is in complete control. Even though the Antichrist will try to establish his kingdom in this world, he will not succeed. Jesus will be the one that throws him into the Lake of Fire.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF kings, AND LORD OF lords.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Jesus is and will be the Ultimate Ruler.
Lastly, we need to praise Jesus Christ.
The Praise of The Revelation of Jesus Christ:
The Praise of The Revelation of Jesus Christ:
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Why?
Jesus Loved Us.
Jesus Loved Us.
“Unto him that loved us”
Notice the past tense in this word.
This word in the Greek is in the aorist active tense which means a simple, single, completed action in the past, viewed as a whole or a snapshot, rather than its duration, contrasting with ongoing or habitual actions. It emphasizes the event itself, often translated as a simple past tense (e.g., "he walked," "they arrived") or sometimes even a completed action with present results (like a "proleptic" aorist for future certainty).
Jesus loved us in spite of what we were.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
That is the completed action. And His love does not stop but continues for eternity.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus Loosed Us.
Jesus Loosed Us.
“and washed us from our sins in His Own blood”
Wash means to “Cleanse” which means to make white or pure.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Let me ask you a question. What did you bring to your salvation?
“our sins” according to the text.
The hymn says “Nothing in my hands I bring, but simply to thy cross I cling.
Your sin and Jesus’ sinless blood = the perfect combination for salvation.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
When Jesus offered His precious sinless blood before the altar of God, He was able to take our sins - the guilt and the judgment of our sins - upon Himself and bear the punishent for them. Therefore actually taking our sins off of us, removing them freeing and loosing us from our sin. Again, just like love it was a one time act in the past that continues acting in the present throught the future.
Just in case Jesus loving you and loosing you from your sins is not enough to praise Him, he gives us another reason.
Jesus Lifted Us.
Jesus Lifted Us.
“hath made us kings and priests”
Jesus doesn’t leave us where He found us. He found us in sin; He loved us; He washed us in His blood and saved us; then He lifted you out of that condition and changed you for His glory.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
What does He changed us into?
Kings and priests.
Kings means ruling, authority, responsibility. Being kings involves overseeship, mangement, supervision, and governing. As beleivers, we will rule and reign with Him. But remember, He is and will always be the King of kings.
Priests means we direct access anytime to the throne of God. You do not need a priest or a mediator. You get to offer your own prayers, praises, worship, thanksgiving, and offerings to God.
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Folks, we don’t need any of these things to praise Jesus Christ, but I am so very thankful that He gave it to us anyway.
Are you thankful for Jesus Christ?
Are you praising Jesus Christ?
