"Epiphany" in the Book of Revelation

Our Scripture text this morning is taken from Revelation 1:1-3:

Revelation 1:1–3 ESV

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, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 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.

Perhaps you noticed our bulletin cover art today. It features three crowns with the words “Epiphany” and “Revelation” on either side. This is because an “Epiphany” is a “Revelation” and a “Revelation” is an “Epiphany.”

“Epiphany” is one of those words we do not use that often in normal, everyday conversation. Let me tell you a story that illustrates what an epiphany is:

When I was a young boy my father enjoyed smoking a pipe. I still remember how good the pipe tobacco smelled! One day when I was three, going on four, I crawled up into my father’s lap and said, “When I grow up I am going to smoke a pipe just like you!” It was at that moment my father had an epiphany—right then and there he put the pipe down and never smoked again!

The church celebrates the day of Epiphany because we want to remember how important it is for God to open our eyes to who Jesus really is. On Epiphany we remember the visit of the Magi and the baptism of Jesus. Both the Magi and John the Baptist had “epiphanies.” They saw Jesus for who He really was. The Magi saw that Jesus was the “King of kings and Lord of lords” and John saw Jesus was “The Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.” Everyone who is a true believer has had an “epiphany.” At some point in our life we suddenly saw Jesus for who he really is.

This morning, our adult Sunday School class has begun a new series on the book of Revelation. The word “revelation” in Greek is “apocalypse.” Apocalypse means an “uncovering.” In other words, the book of Revelation “uncovers” what is hidden. The true title of the book of Revelation is verse one of chapter one.

Revelation 1:1 ESV

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,

This book we call Revelation is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is a revelation that come “from” Jesus and is “about” Jesus. It is a book that is ment to give God’s people an “epiphany,” so that they are able to see reality for what it truly is and by giving use this knowledge it gives us a blessing. Notice what verse three says:

Revelation 1:3 ESV

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.

As I thought of the many blessing that come to us from the book of Revelation, three stand above the rest in the blessing they give. Interestingly enough these three correspond to the three gifts the Magi brought the infant Jesus: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Gold is the gift fit for a King and it corresponds to Christ’s sovereign reign over all of world history.

Gold: The Sovereign Reign of Christ Over All World History

Revelation is a very Jewish book: It follows the Jewish prophetic tradition by its rich use of poetry and symbolic language. Moreover, the symbols and language it uses are drawn heavily from the Old Testament. For example, the Seal, Bowl and Trumpet judgements all borrow heavy from the Seven Plagues of the Exodus. The imagery of the Beast is drawn for Daniel, the Heavenly Temple from Ezekiel and the New Heaven and New Earth from Isaiah. The examples are too numerous from me to list all of them in this short sermon, but I think you get the idea.

All of this is very intentional and very significant. Jesus is “uncovering” for us the knowledge that what He has done in the past, He is still doing and will continue to do. History has been rightly called HIS Story! Moreover, He is in total control of history.

From our perceptive it often appears as though the Devil and the forces aligned with him are winning or if not winning they are frustrating God’s plan. Many point to the existence of evil in the world as proof God does not exist. People who say this are blind to reality—they are not seeing things as they really are.

By using Old Testament prophetic imagery the Book of Revelation “uncovers” Christ’s sovereign reign over all of world history. It is calling us to reflect on God’s sovereign reign in the past that we might better understand the present and the future. When we do this what we see is that God has everything under control. Rather than being an uncontrollable dragon, the devil and evil rulers of this world are being led around by Christ like a pigs with a rings in their noses!

In chapter 11, we read these words:

Revelation 11:15 ESV

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

This is reality! As we read the headlines, what a blessing it is to know that Jesus is in control. Evil may appear to have the upper hand, but it is only an illusion—the forces of evil are destined for the Lake of Fire!

There is not just the Gold of a King that Christ blesses us with in the Book of Revelation, there is also the sweet smelling Frankincense of Priests.

Frankincense: The Priestly Ministry of Christ and His Church

In Revelation 5:8 we read these words:

Revelation 5:8 ESV

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

The book of Revelation is filled with priestly images of worship, prayer and sacrifice, but these images are used in a surprising way. These are the means by with Christ and His people conquer the forces of evil, not by the sword.

This is surprising because of the prominence of the Divine Warrior and Holy War in the Old Testament. Genesis 49:9 taught that the Messiah would be the Lion of Judah. The Jews fully expected that when the Messiah came, He would come as a sword wielding Warrior King! But in the vision Jesus gives John we see John having an epiphany:

Revelation 5:5–6 ESV

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Speaking of an epiphany! The Lion of the tribe of Judah conquers by becoming a sacrificial Lamb!

But it is not just the priestly ministry of Christ that conquers the forces of evil, but the priestly ministry of His people. We have already seen that it is the prayers of God’s people that are before the throne of God, not the opinions of the movers and shakers of this world. It is not the editorials of reporters, the dissertations of PhD’s or the reports of Congressional committees that move the hand of God, but the prayers of the saints!

The numbering of the 144,000 in Revelation 7 is meant to remind us of the military census found in the Old Testament. God’s people are his Holy Army, fighting His Holy War! However, just like Christ, they conquer by becoming sacrifices.

Revelation 7:13–14 ESV

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

It is in persecution and sacrifice that we find the greatest epiphany and greatest blessing in the book of Revelation—The Gift of Myrrh.

Myrrh: The Guarantee of Victory Over the Devil and Death

Myrrh is a burial spice, it was used to cover over the smell of death, but when it was give to Jesus it became so much more! It became a sign pointing to the Resurrection! The book of Revelation is given to us to remind us that the sting of death, and thus the power of the Devil has been defeated, not merely covered over! The Lamb that was slain was standing! Those who have gone through the Great Tribulation are standing! The book of Revelation is first and foremost a book of victory!

One of the more frequent words found in the book of Revelation is the word “overcome.” Each of the letters to the seven churches ends with a promise of overcoming! Even the churches that have problems are given the promise of “overcoming”!

It is sad that the book of Revelation has become a dark and scary book, when it is meant to be a book of victory and hope.

The great army of God’s people that sacrifices itself just as Christ did and just like Christ, they share in His victory! The vision of Revelation 7 we read earlier continues:

Revelation 7:15–17 ESV

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Conclusion: Revelation is a Book Worth Studying

Do you need the assurance that God is in control of this evil world? Do you need assurance that God can use your prayers and sacrifice? Do you need hope in the face of the death and darkness? Then you need to read and hear the book of Revelation.

Because of its uses of Old Testament symbolism the book of Revelation is often a closed book for many Christians. I have just touched on the depth of this book. I want to encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to study this often neglected and misunderstood book. If you have not been coming to our adult Sunday School class, now is a great time to begin.

Let us pray.

Lord, thank you for the book of Revelation. You don’t want your people to be ignorant of reality and of your plan for this world. Bless this new adult Sunday School class and use it to give us an “epiphany.” Amen.