Seen, See, Saw

The key

Revelation 1:19 NKJV

Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

Last week we saw the opening scene where John explains the reason for the letter -

Revelation 1:1 NKJV

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

In verse 2 his life’s purpose

Revelation 1:2 NKJV

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

Promise

Revelation 1:3 NKJV

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

He clearly states to whom and from whom the letter is written

Revelation 1:4–5 NKJV

John, to the seven churches which 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, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

Him who is and who was and who is to come - supporting and showing the triune nature of God - Who was - OT

Who is Holy Spirit - represented by the 7 “S”pirits or ministries of the Holy Spirit

Last week - missing notes - wanted to show the connection between the HS’s ministry and the candle sicks of the Holy place - The table of showbread representing the reunification of the nation of Israel - the alter of sacrifice representing the finished work of Christ - and the candle sticks representing the completed church grafted in to the vine illuminating the work ok Christ before the nation of Israel fueled by the oil of the Holy Spirit

Remember that - in the Holy of Holies God’s presence is light we are told

New city

Revelation 21:22–24 NKJV

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Revelation 22:5 NKJV

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

But outside of God’s presence we need the illuminance of the Holy Spirt to see the truth of God

2 Corinthians 3:12–18 NKJV

Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Who is to come - the reigning Christ

Revelation 1:5–7 NKJV

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Here we find the finished work of Christ - we are washed in His blood

It doesn’t say “by His shed blood” but rather covered

It isn’t enough to simply acknowledge that the sacrifice was made!

It needs to be applied to one’s life! - The blood of the sacrifices was poured out on the alter “covering” it - so it is with each of us -

Exodus 12:13 NKJV

Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

In Exodus 24 we see an interesting scene

God direct Moses to come before Him with the 70 Elders, In verse 4 we are told that Moses builds an alter and instructs the people to make the sacrifice to seal the covenant of God’s promise to them and allow them to go before Him

Exodus 24:6–8 NKJV

And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.” And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.”

Now he takes the Elders before the presence of God

Exodus 24:9–11 NKJV

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Look at the description of heaven!

Ezekiel 1:22–28 NKJV

The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.

Ezekiel 10:1 NKJV

And I looked, and there in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim, there appeared something like a sapphire stone, having the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

Revelation 21:19 NKJV

The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

I love the imagery!

Jasper - Blood red representing the foundation of our relation ship

Sapphire - Clear blue representing water which is the washing of the Word

I could go on but back to our study

The point is that the heavenly scene and the way to it hasn’t changed since the beginning!

Again, we see the picture of the future as Moses and the elders are in God’s presence enjoying a meal made possible by the blood of the covenant of God’s promise

Luke 22:20 NKJV

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Revelation 19:9 NKJV

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Mark 14:24–25 NKJV

And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

And now the truth of His return

Revelation 1:7–8 NKJV

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

We will stop here this week with the glorious promise of His coming, confirmed to us who have yet to see him by the indwelling Holy Spirit given to us as the guarantee against the day of our full redemption

Next week `john is given a glimpse of the risen Christ which will fulfill the :things which he saw” and move on to the second division the things which are - the church age in which we are now living!

Let me ask you today, have you been washed by the blood of the lamb? Are you renewing your mind daily with the washing of the Word of God or have just given acknowledgement that the sacrifice has been made?

It isn’t enough to simply acknowledge! You need to accept and surrender to receive the promise of His covenant!