The King is Coming

Revelation 1:1-20; Revelation 20:1-6

Lakeview Baptist Church

December 31, 2017

Introduction

For the last few weeks, we have been looking for the arrival of Jesus. Well, today, we will conclude that series, “Looking for Jesus.” Today we will look at his return, as prophesied by the Apostle John. He wrote the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” while imprisoned by the Romans and banished to the isle of Patmos.

While he was imprisoned on the island, God gave him the revelation concerning Jesus. That is what we will look at today.

Revelation

The Book of Revelation contains its own title: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1).

“Revelation” is the English word for the Greek, apokalypsis, which means, “an uncovering,” “an unveiling,” or “a disclosure.” Therefore, the Revelation is apocalyptical in nature and does not read like the Gospels or the Epistles. “Revelation” refers to something or someone once hidden, becoming visible in God’s timing.

Apocalyptic writings center on what will happen in the end of history, whereas prophecy communicates what will happen in the course of history. The Apostle informs us in verse one that this book is apocalyptic. Yet in verse 1:3 John says: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy.” Therefore, the book is an apocalyptic prophecy.

On another note, this book distributed to the seven churches is written in the form of a letter and is to be read. The seven churches are mentioned in a particular order that a circular mail carrier would have walked. Therefore, this book is an apocalyptic prophecy in the form of a circular letter.

Today, I want us to see Jesus’ return as John saw it. All the majesty, glory and power of God is represented in the Son, and John is given the authority to write it.

Read it with me this morning.

Introduction

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

The Faithful Witness – 1:4-5

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

The King Is Coming – 1:6-8

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail2 on account of him. Even so. 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.”

Visitation By An Angel – 1:9-11

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

Revelation of the Son of Man – 1:12-16

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 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. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Triumph Over Death – 1:17-18

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Seven Stars. Seven Lampstands – 1:17-20

19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Eternity

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.