The End Times

Sermon #4

THE SON OF MAN

Revelation 1:12-18, 20

Intro: The last time we saw our friend John, he was “in the Spirit, on the Lord’s Day”, v. 10. As he worships, John hears a voice behind him that sounds like a great trumpet. This voice arrests his attention and he turns to see the source of this sound.

When John turns around, he sees two things. First, he sees seven golden lamp stands, v. 12. Then, he sees an individual he describes as looking like “the Son of Man”, v. 13. This phrase appears in the Old Testament, and in Dan. 7:13-14 it is used to speak of the coming Messiah.

Daniel 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

This title was also the favorite title of the Lord Jesus when He spoke of Himself in the New Testament. Jesus used this phrase 84 times in the Gospels. When Stephen was being stoned, he looked into the heavens and he saw Jesus, Whom he referred to as “the Son of man”, Acts 7:56.

So, when John turns, he sees Jesus Christ. Now, this is the first time John has seen the Lord in over 60 years. And, He sure doesn’t look anything like He used to! John knew Jesus very well. The Bible seems to indicate in Mark 15:40-41 and John 19:25 that the mother of John and the mother of Jesus were sisters. If that is true, then they were cousins. Therefore, John probably knew Jesus as a boy. He knew Jesus as a teacher, a miracle worker, a servant, and a soul winner. He watched as Jesus ministered and he watched as Jesus died on the cross. John saw the empty tomb and he saw the risen Christ. John was there when Jesus ascended back in to Heaven. And, John even laid his head on the breast of the Lord at the last supper. John knew Jesus very well. His own testimony can be found in 1 John 1:1.

1 John 1:1 KJV 1900

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

In this passage, John sees Jesus as he had never seen him before. In these verses John sees the Son of Man as the Lord of Glory. He sees the glorified Christ, and John attempts to do the impossible; he attempts to describe Jesus in all of His glory to us.

I. THE SON OF MAN IN HIS MAJESTY-VS. 12-16

A. He Is Majestic In His Activity-vs. 12-13

When John turns, he sees seven golden candlesticks. These candlesticks, or lampstands, were where portable oil lamps were placed to light rooms. The Jews call them “menorah”. The menorah has seven branches and was used in the Tabernacle, Ex. 25:31. The lampstands were made of gold, the most precious of metals, and were filled with oil in which was placed a wick that was lit to produce the light. The lampstand represented the Holy Spirit and His ability to bring light into the world. The lampstand was a type of Christ.

Jesus came into this world as a man, but a man Who was filled with the Spirit of God, and Who served as the Light of the world, John 8:12.

John 8:12 KJV 1900

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Here, we see Jesus in the “midst of the seven candlesticks”. The lampstands in this passage are identified for us in verse 20. We are told that they represent the seven churches mentioned in Rev. 1:11.

The lampstands are gold, representing the precious nature of the church. There is no institution on the earth as precious and as beautiful as the church! The church is so precious to God that Jesus was willing to purchase it with His Own blood!

There are seven of the lampstands. Again, seven is the number of completeness or perfection. These lampstands stand for real churches, but they also represent all local churches down through the ages.

The real message of the lampstands, however, is in their purpose. The lampstands picture the church as the “light of the world”, Phil. 2:15; Eph. 5:8; Matt. 5:16.

Philippians 2:15 KJV 1900

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Ephesians 5:18 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

So, that brings me to what I wanted to say about this verse. Jesus is in pictured as being in the midst of His churches. When we gather, He is always here with us, Matt. 18:20.

Matthew 18:20 KJV 1900

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

He is here helping us; speaking to us; protecting us; directing us; blessing us; encouraging us and challenging us. He is in the midst of His people as we live, worship and move toward glory. There are times when we can recognize His presence and there are times when we forget that He is here. Still, He is with us all the same. If we could ever forget about our agenda; our order of service; our concerns; and recognize the presence of the Lord in His church it would transform our worship services.

Thank God He loves us and desires to meet with us! You and I may not show up at the place of worship, but Jesus never misses a service!

B. He Is Majestic In His Appearance-vs. 13-16

Here is where John begins to attempt the impossible. He is going endeavor to describe The Lord Of Glory in terms that we can understand.

1. v. 13b His Garments

– Jesus appears “clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” This is the attire of both a King and a Priest. As a King, Jesus is the Sovereign Lord. He is in absolute control and He rules today, even though the world does not recognize Him, Rev. 17:14.

Revelation 17:14 KJV 1900

14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Jesus is sovereign over His churches and over His world.

As a Priest, Jesus is our “man on the inside”. He is our Intercessor; the One Who prays for us in Heaven day by day, Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1.

Hebrews 7:25 KJV 1900

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:34 KJV 1900

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV 1900

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 John 2:1 KJV 1900

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

When we see Him, we will see our High Priest and our King.

2. v. 14a His Head and His Hair

– This speaks of His purity and of His antiquity. We are reminded that He is sinless, Heb. 7:26; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22.

Hebrews 7:26 KJV 1900

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Peter 2:22 KJV 1900

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

We are also reminded that He is ageless! This vision of Jesus identifies Him with “The Ancient of Days” in Dan. 7:9. He is the One Who has always existed! The baby Jesus Who was place in that manger in Bethlehem is the same One Who stood on nothing and created everything in the beginning! He is timeless and eternal!

John talks about his head. That head was laid on Mary’s breast for comfort as a child. That head had no place to rest itself as an adult. That head was crowned with thorns and His Own blood mixed with the spittle of His enemies. That head was laid in a cold, dark tomb and covered with a napkin. One day, one glorious day, that head will be adorned with many crowns!

3. v. 14b His Eyes

They speak of His omniscience; intelligence and perception, Heb. 4:13; Pro. 15:3.

Hebrews 4:13 KJV 1900

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Proverbs 15:3 KJV 1900

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.

Nothing is hidden from His gaze! Not a Zaccheaus in a tree, not a Peter by a fire, not the heart of a critical Pharisees! No, He sees every motive, sin and secret in our hearts and in our lives. Those eyes were damp with tears for Lazarus, for Jerusalem and for us. Those eyes still see everything in our lives today!

4. v. 15a His Feet

Brass, or bronze, in the Bible speaks of judgment. The “brazen serpent”, Num. 21, was a symbol of the sin of the people being judged by the chastisement of God. Jesus appears here in the midst of His churches as One having the authority to judge. He sees all and when He sees that which displeases Him, He exercise His authority as King and Lord and He moves in judgment to set things right.

Those precious feet of the Lord Jesus touched this earth for the first time when He was but a baby. They carried Him along the dusty pathways of Israel as He ministered and preached to the people. They carried Him to the top of Calvary where those feet felt the searing pain of the nails driven through them. Those feet were last seen as He ascended back to His father’s throne. For the last two thousand years those feet have felt nothing but the golden streets of that city. Soon, those feet will ride the clouds back to this world when Jesus calls His bride to Himself. Than, one day, those feet will again touch this world. He will come in power to judge sin, Satan and sinful man as He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. He comes as a Judge!

5. v. 15b His Voice

– When John first hears the Lord, His voice is described as sounding like a trumpet, v. 10. His voice came demanding John’s attention. Now, John describes the voice of the Lord as “the sound of many waters”.

When we were at Niagara Falls, the sound of the water drowns out every other sound. 12 million cubic feet of water per minute flows over those falls and as that water crashes onto the rocks below it becomes the only sound that is heard, and the only sound that matters.

Thus it is with the voice of Jesus. Today, men turn a deaf ear to His voice; but there is coming a day when He will speak and His voice will be one that will and cannot be ignored. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him as Lord at the sound of that voice. This is the same voice that spoke this world into existence. This is the same voice that declared redemption’s work complete, John 19:30.

John 19:30 KJV 1900

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

This is the same voice that will call the Bride up to glory, 1 Thes. 4:16-17.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 KJV 1900

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

This voice will be most cruel to ever fall upon the ears of a lost man, Matt. 7:23.

Matthew 7:23 KJV 1900

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

But, it will be the most precious ever heard by those who have been saved by grace, Matt. 25:23.

Matthew 25:23 KJV 1900

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

I am glad that I heard that voice call me to come to Him one day. I am glad that I hear that voice day by day as I travel toward glory. I am grateful that I will hear that voice at the end of the way as He says, “Welcome home!”

6. v. 16a His Hand

– In His right hand, the hand that speaks of power, Jesus holds the seven stars. These stars are identified in verse 20. They are the “angels of the seven churches”. Some people believe these stars refer to a guardian angel that is given charge over each church. Others feel that the stars refer to the pastors of these churches. I personally lean toward the latter interpretation.

Jesus is pictured as holding His servants in His hand, protecting them by His power. The people John was writing to were undergoing severe persecution. They needed this reassurance as they struggled. But, so do you and I! It comforts my heart to know that I am safe in His hand, John 10:28-29!

John 10:28–29 KJV 1900

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Those hands that formed man from the dust of the earth; touched the lepers; opened the blinded eyes; fed the multitudes and were eventually nailed to the cross are the same hands that hold you and me today! When you are in His hand, you are in a place of absolute safety and protection!

7. v. 16b His Mouth

– We are told that a “sharp two-edged sword” comes from the mouth of the glorified Christ. This reminds us that He is coming not with words of peace and blessing; but with words of righteousness and judgment. When Jesus came the first time, He came with a message of peace and salvation. The next time He comes, He will judge the world with a word from His mouth. Like the thrust of a sharp sword that can slice to the bone and bring instant death; one day Jesus will speak and His enemies will be utterly destroyed, Rev. 19:15.

Revelation 19:15 KJV 1900

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.

Just as He said, “Let there be light” and light appeared; He will speak and it will be done!

The Word of God, reviled by the atheist, the agnostic, the infidel, and the liberal will one day be the standard by which all men are judged! The Word of God will judge man some day, Rev. 20:12; John 12:48.

Revelation 20:12 KJV 1900

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

John 12:48 KJV 1900

48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

8. v. 16c His Face

– John says that the face of The Lord of Glory was like looking into the full force of the sun. John had seen this face before. When Jesus was transfigured in Matt. 17, John was there. When Jesus came to this earth and was been in Bethlehem, He concealed His glory beneath a robe of human flesh. When He came the first time, He was approachable. Anyone who wished could enter His presence then, and many did. Little children, rich ruler, religious leaders, poor people, sick people, even social outcasts like lepers, could approach Jesus whenever they desired. But, when He comes again, sinful men will not even be able to look upon Him, much less approach Him.

When Jesus came the first time, His face was that of a common man, Isa. 53:2.

Isaiah 53:2 KJV 1900

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

His enemies plucked the bread from His face and they spit upon that face, Isa. 50:6.

Isaiah 50:6 KJV 1900

6 I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

His face was beaten and streaked with His Own blood. But, it was that face that caused Isaiah to cry out and say, “Woe is me!”, Isa. 6:5.

Isaiah 6:5 KJV 1900

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

It was that face that caused Job to say, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes,” Job 42:5-6. One day wicked men will cry for the mountains to fall on them and hide them from His face, Rev. 6:16.

Revelation 6:16 KJV 1900

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

One day we will see that face! When we do, there will be no bruises, no spittle, and no blood. When we see that face, we will see Him in His glory and we will be able to behold His glory, because we will be like Him in that day, 1 John 3:2.

1 John 3:2 KJV 1900

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

I. The Son of Man In His Majesty

II. THE SON OF MAN IN HIS MERCY-VS. 17

A. John’s Reaction

– John does what any sinner would do in the presence of the Lord: he faints dead away! Lost men make their boasts and shake their puny fists in the face of God; but the day is coming when every God-hater and Christ-rejecter will bend his or her knee in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. John simply demonstrates for us what all sinners will do one day. You may not understand this now, but there is coming a day when Hell will be a welcome relief for lost sinners who have to stand before Jesus in judgment some day, Ill. Phil. 2:9-11; Rev. 20:11-15.

Philippians 2:9–11 KJV 1900

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; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 20:11–15 KJV 1900

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

By the way, I am glad that I have already bowed the knee to Him and acknowledged Him to be Lord, God and King! I am grateful that everyday I, without hesitation, bow my knees to Him and confess His as my Lord. What about you?

B. Christ’s Reassurance

– When John faints dead away, Jesus does what He always does: He speaks peace to His child! Think about this! Jesus takes His right hand, the hand in which He protects His servants. He takes that hand and He tenderly touches John. Then He speaks to John. That same voice that thunders with power and authority; that same voice that will one day judge the nations; that same voice ministers peace to the heart of John! This was not the first time John has heard Him say “Peace!” John had heard Him say “Peace be still”, Mark 4:39, and a raging sea lay at His feet like a puppy. That peace dispelled the fear the disciples felt that night. He heard His say, “Peace be unto you”, John 20:19, on the day He rose from the dead. That peace drove away all the doubts and fears His disciples had after His death. Now, John hears Him speak “peace” once again. This time the word peace lets John know that He has nothing to fear from Jesus. Jesus has not come as Judge to John; but as his Redeemer and as his Friend! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Jesus may be the King of Kings; but He is our Friend! He may be the Sovereign Lord of the universe; but he is our elder Brother! He may be the God Who moves in power and glory, accomplishing things our minds cannot even comprehend; but He still has time to be touched by our needs, Heb. 4:15, and He still had time to extend His hand into our lives to encourage us and to speak peace to our hearts.

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

I. The Son of Man In His Majesty

II. The Son of Man In His Mercy

III. THE SON OF MAN IN HIS MINISTRY-VS. 17-18

(Ill. This last section pictures Jesus in His work. These verses tell us Who He is and What He does.)

A. He Is The Reigning One

–I am the first and the last –

John is reminded that Jesus is the “author and Finisher” of all things. He is the One Who has always been and the One Who will always be. Jesus stands as the great Bookend on either end of history. Kings may come and kings may go, but Jesus has, is and will reign forever. He is timeless and He is eternal!

B. He Is The Resurrected One –I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; - Jesus did something no one else has ever done: He entered death in His Own time and in His Own way and He walked out of Death again when He was ready. He died on the cross and then He rose again from the dead, Matt. 28:1-6. Thank God, “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He live! He lives! Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart!”

C. He Is The Redeeming One

– “I am He that liveth, and was dead” –

Jesus died, but His death was like no other death in the history of the world. He died, not for Himself, but He died for others. He went to that cross to pay a price He did not owe; for a people who owed a price they could not pay. He gave His all for those who had nothing to offer. He paid the whole price to redeem His people from their sins, Isa. 53:4-6; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 1:5. He accomplished through one offering what millions of gallons of animal blood had never been able, nor would ever be able, to do. He paid the full redemption price for all those who would call on Him by faith, Heb. 10:10-14; Heb. 9:12; 25-28.

D. He Is The Remaining One

– I am alive for evermore –

When every ruler and every subject has faded from the fabric of the ages; when every rich man and every poor man has been erased from the memory of time; when every kingdom and every deed has been forever diluted by the stream of history; Jesus Christ will still be Lord and He will still be God. He is the remaining One! Don’t worry about something happening to Him! When the dust of time has been swept into the dustbin of eternity, Jesus will still be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! That ought to bring comfort to every child of God and strike terror into the heart of every demon and sinner.

E. He Is The Releasing One

– I…have the keys of hell and of death –

Keys speak of access and authority. I have keys right here. Because I possess them, I have access to those things. Because I have those keys, I can go places others are not allowed to go. The same is true with Jesus!

Jesus Christ decides all the issues of life and death. He determines who lives and who dies. Because Jesus entered death and conquered it, He possesses the keys of death. Because He entered the place where the dead reside and walked out again, He holds the keys of Hell. Jesus is the Key Man! He is a good Man to know! Because I know Him, I cannot go to Hell, He has locked the door! Because I know Him, I can go to Heaven; He has unlocked the gates of that city for His children.

Did you know that He holds the keys to every grave in the world? He is able to raise your loved ones from the dead, 1 Thes. 4:13-18. Did you know that He has unlocked the door between life and death all His people? When I reach the end of life, I will be able to step out of this earthly life into that heavenly life because He has already opened the door, 2 Cor .5:1-8.

Conclusion:

A father was attempting to read his Sunday paper. His little girl, as small children do, was constantly interrupting him and asking him questions. Finally, not wishing to be disturbed by his little girl any longer, he cut up a map of the world, gave it to her, and told her to put it together. He thought this would keep her busy for some time. However, in just a few minutes she returned with the map and every piece was in the right place.

The father was very much surprised and said: “How in the world did you put this puzzle together so quickly? You don't know anything about geography.” The little girl replied, “Well, daddy, there was a picture of Jesus on the other side, and I knew when I had Jesus in the right place, the whole world would be all right.”

What a truth! That is what John is trying to do here at the very start of the book of Revelation. He is trying to get us to see Jesus as He really is! He is not the humble man of Galilee any longer. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lord and He deserves to be worshiped, served and glorified. When He is in the right place, the whole world will be all right. Until then, the world will be out of balance and will continue to wobble under the affects of sin and rebellion, until Jesus comes and sets it right.

Is there anything here for us? There’s this: Is Jesus in the right place in your heart and life? If He is, then that means you are saved and that you are humbly serving Him. If He isn’t, then it means that your life is out of balance and like a bad tire it wobbles out of control headed for destruction.

You and I have the opportunity to come before Him today to praise Him for Who He is. We have the opportunity to bow to Him; to thank Him and to honor Him. Today, we can do it voluntarily, then men will be compelled to bow.