Out With the Old, In With the New Part 1

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Out With the Old, In with the New

If you listen to some Christians, you’ll hear the phrase, “Jesus is going to come back soon.” at least once. They’re right, Jesus is coming again soon. When? We don’t know. Jesus said He would return like a thief in the night, and no one knows the day or the hour. However, we do see parts of scripture that point towards Christ return. So what happens then? What does the Bible say in regards to Christ return? What about those that aren’t believers? How will it look when God hits his reset button? Over the next several weeks, we are going to look at the book of Revelations, and see what all it has to say. Open up to Revelations 1:1-9

This chapter is basically the introduction of the book, so to better understand the rest of the book, the first thing we will look at is what is the book of Revelations and why was it written?

It’s a written account of the words and vision that Jesus gave to John about the things to come.

Verse 1 says says “The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves (servants) what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave (servant) John.

Revelation means “a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way. It also means the divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world.

We’re looking at a written account of what the future holds. This entire book is very dramatic, not in the sense of drama like we think of today. But a dramatic effect of what the end times will look like for those left behind after Jesus returns. It paints a very vivid picture of things to come

This book served two purposes and can be broken into three sections. Chapter 1 being the intro. Chapter 2-3 being the first purpose and Chapter 4-22 being the second purpose.

First purpose is to “unveil” or reveal a spiritual diagnosis of seven of the churches in Asia Minor. This is in Chapter 2-3

Jesus wanted the churches to see where they stood. What they were doing right and wrong.

We can take these two chapters and see where we sit as a church. We see how God wants His church to be

Second thing is to reveal to John a series of visions setting the events and factors related to the end times. This is Chapter 4-22.

This shows things that will happen surround the return of Jesus, and the things happening after His return to those who do not believe in Him.

It was written on the Island of Patmos. We know this because in verse 9 John actually says he was on the island.

Patmos is located East of Athens Greece, and just off the west coast of Turkey.

In other words its coming directly from Jesus. We know this

It was conquered by Roman and used as a place of exile for convicts.

So John wasn’t here for a vacation. He was there as a punishment with other criminals

John was sent there by Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Domitanus in 95 AD.

John and other Christians during this time faced lots of persecution from the Romans. In 2:9-10 John says “I know your affliction and poverty, yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

This persecution is still going on today, not by the Romans of course, but by others throughout the world.

So we see that there is a lot going on

Here in this chapter it gives a clear reason why Christians are persecuted, Jesus.

In the time it was written there was a lot of Christian persecution.

Here in this chapter it gives a clear reason why Christians are persecuted, Jesus.

The last thing we will look at tonight is that Revelations is reminding us it’s all about God, the redemptive work of Christ, and there will be no changing the end.

John writes in verse 3 “The one who reads this is blessed, and those and keep what is written in it are blessed, who hear the words of the prophecy and keep what is written in it are blessed, because the time is near!

John writes this is from the One (God) “who is, who was, and who is coming.”

From this verse we can see that those who read and hear are blessed.

This reminds us that God exist in the beginning, now, and forever. There is no end in God.

The public reading within the church

God is in control of our past, and everything in our future

He’s a God that is able to bring what the rest of the book talks about into fulfillment

John reminds us that not only is this from a God who is everlasting, but also a Saviour who has conquered death.

Verse 5-6 says “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father- the glory and dominion are His forever and ever. Amen.”

Christ came as a witness of God to the world. He fulfilled the Old Testament Prophecies of a redeemer for the Jewish people

Christ lived a perfect life as that witness, never sinning, and then died on a cross for each of our sins.

He became the first born from the dead, because He did what no other person has done, being raised from the dead after three days.

Jesus has all authority of all the kings of the earth and everything. Doesn’t say He “will be” but says He is.

We’re reminded that God provided Jesus to set us free from sin because He loves us.

Again Jesus came and lived a life we should have lived

Died a death we should have died

He payed a penalty that we can’t pay

He gives us salvation to which we don’t deserve

In the next verses, John lets us know that when its done, it’s done and everyone will know

Verse 7-8 says “Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him and all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”

We’re told to pay attention by John saying look.

We are to be watchful for Jesus

says But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Jesus continues and says we must always be ready

How do you get ready? By placing your faith and trust in Christ and repenting of your sins.

Everyone will see Jesus when He comes. There are no exceptions

says “It is written: As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.

Jesus will make his presence known.

His presence will bring sorrow

God will pour His judgement out on the world

People will be sorrowful they didn’t listen and repent, some will be sorrowful and repent, and some will be sorrowful because they will seek death but won’t find it during the tribulations.

The return of Christ will be one of Strength and power

The first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet are used, Alpha and Omega. This is God saying, I started it and finishing it. No one is stronger than me, I control everything from beginning to end.

So before we leave tonight, I have a question. Have you given God control over everything in your life or are you fooling yourself thinking your in control? Where will you be when Christ returns? Will you be happy, or sorrowful because again, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord. Make that decision to follow Christ now before it’s too late.

Every head bowed and every eye closed. If you want to make that decision, or you want to talk about it more raise your hand and we’ll talk. If you have made that decision let me know, I want to rejoice with you! If you’ve made that decision before, but you know you’re not living like you should, now is the time to repent, return to God and seek His forgiveness. Let’s pray