The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Opener

SLIDE [GOOGLE EARTH]

We are going to be starting a new series today Called “Seven”. It is on the 7 churches from Revelation. But just as important as the 7 churches are to our study this revelation begins on the island 40 miles off the coast of Ephesus called Patmos in the year 95 AD.

SLIDE [Patmos Picture]

Patmos, as you can see, wasn’t a tiny desert island. It was about 24 square miles. It is home to 3,000 people today. And it was inhabited in John’s day. John was exiled there. “Trouble makers” were pushed off the mainland as punishment. And it was certainly punishment, especially in your old age. What was the reason? Well he tells us in verse 9, “on account of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

As you look at this island surrounded by water you can almost imagine John having the visions and the beasts that come out of the sea.

While revelation is going to into the spiritual, the super natural, and the heavenly quite quickly it is important to remember. These are real places.

SLIDE [Map of the seven churches]

The Seven Churches

Revelation 1:1–8 NASB95

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. 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, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Loop

We are focusing on just the first 3 chapters. The letters from Christ to the Churches mentioned in verse 11. Now look at this map as I read this list. What do you notice?

Revelation 1:11 NASB95

saying, “Write in a book what you see, 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.”

If you look at a map these 7 churches are mentioned in the exact order if you were making a loop. Each one about 40-50 miles away from the next. And John about 40-50 miles away from Ephesus on the Island of Patmos.

Why Seven Churches?

There are seven spirits, seven churches, seven stars. If you keep on reading in the book there are seven seals, seven bowls and seven trumpets. The lamb has seven horns and seven eyes. The dragon seven heads which parallel seven mountains.

This number seven is important! What does it signify? It signifies fullness. The seven spirits represent the Holy Spirit. It is the fullness of God. In Isaiah 11 there are the 7 spirits that are all different qualities of the one Holy Spirit. The seven eyes which are the seven spirits which are on the lamb represent His perfect omniscience. And while these 7 churches are real places that contain real messages for real things that were going on. They also represent the universal church just as the seven seals represent universal judgment and the ages coming to an end.

That is why in chapters two and three each exhortation to a particular church ends with the phrase:

Revelation 2:29 NASB95

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Furthermore there were not just 7 churches in the area. Colossi was a stone’s throw away.

This is profound. This means as we go on this journey we are not going to just examine the historical context and cross the bridge into modern times seeing what principles we can apply. But we are going to understand that in addressing these 7 churches Jesus is addressing His church for all time until He returns and that was true to the original audience as well! So we will take to heart what is being said. We will listen closely. We will let what the Spirit says to the churches sink into our ears.

Now we know the Old Testament, Paul (and really the Holy Spirit), was written for our instruction. But often times Christians make the mistake of not spending enough time understanding the historical context before crossing the bridge into modern times. What is so neat about this is the intentional writing for the churches. Now unfortunately it, at its own admission, is very difficult to interpret in places. So I am not saying its easier, but I am saying it is intentional. So as we have this encounter with the Lord we should treat it with reverence and awe.

Amen?

The Old Apostle

[SLIDE] Older Brother

Revelation 1:9–11 NASB95

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write in a book what you see, 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.”

John calls himself their “brother” and “fellow partake in the tribulation”. This had to have been encouraging. To have someone who has walked their whole life with the Lord, and was one of the authoritative witnesses of the death and resurrection of Jesus, suffering along side you.

Having a senior saint in the faith relate and encourage you is so important. It is true of almost every generation to be tempted to look at the generations that went before them as out of touch. The truth is their is nothing new under the sun and they have walked this road before. There was some advice Bryan and Michelle gave me and Janna in premarital that was quite literally a God send. It really helped us get off on the right place.

Those who have walked a life with Jesus on this earth have so much to offer. The younger generation just needs to ask.

Now one way the older generation can help is by doing what John does here. He calls these people he is writing to “brothers”. Not “punks”. Not “ding dongs”, but “brothers”. When both sides make an effort in humility it goes a long way.

John was probably in his 80s or 90s when he wrote this. Most of John’s writings were when he was older. Let me just say to our older generations. You are useful to the Lord. And dare I say to those who have walked a life with him, more useful then ever. The party might just be getting started. God has a work for you to do still. Not by might nor by power, but by The Spirit! And what does it say of John?

Revelation 1:10 NASB95

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,

The Last Apostle

John was the last apostle to survive and fittingly brings us our last book of the Bible. A book that calls the people of God to endure as overcomers through trial and tribulation as we wait on the hope to revealed at the revelation, the second coming, of Jesus Christ.

No more scripture can be added to the Bible because there are no more apostles. There are apostles in the general sense, but the twelve are no longer around. “The Twelve Apostles” is a designation given by the Lord Himself. The amazing thing is because we have the Scriptures we still have their authoritative witness. And this book completes our New Testament. If you have read it you understand that. Though it is full of mystery and intrigue, sign and symbol. The main idea which is “come Lord Jesus come!” Is clear. No matter how bad things get. If you hold fast to Him it works out in the end. In other words The Revelation of Christ is the perfect book end to the The Gospel of Christ. It is the perfect last message until the skies are rolled back and we see Him coming on the clouds.

Revelation of Jesus Christ

[Slide]

Revelation 1:1 NASB95

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,

You cannot be a believer, a Christian, unless you have a revelation. Jesus says to Peter when he makes the great confession of who Jesus is:

Matthew 16:17 NASB95

And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Peter had a revelation. This same truth is said of all Christians in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10. Every Christian can say, “I once was blind, but now I see.” We needed a revelation.

Jesus is the ultimate revelation

Yet none of us write Scripture. None of us our qualified to do so. Because we are not authoritative witnesses, appointed by Jesus. Why does that matter because Jesus is the most important revelation to ever happen.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

You will see, even in this first Chapter, but throughout the book, The LAMB has already won! Furthermore, this is not the revelation of John. This is the revelation of Jesus. See the first 5 words of chapter 1.

We need a deeper revelation of Jesus and from Jesus

This book reveals things about the Son and it reveals things about us. We as Christians need that. We need to go deeper in our revelation of who Christ is, what He has done for us, and the implications of that on our life. We also need Jesus to look into our soul and speak words of encouragement like he does to Smyrna when he says: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer!” And we need him to speak to us words of rebuke like he does to Ephesus,

Revelation 2:4 NASB95

‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Do you think that was an awakening for them? Do you think that was an eye opener! Oh it was a revelation. Remember John himself had come from Ephesus to Patmos. They knew him best. And also Paul’s letter to them where he prays for them “to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.” Yet they had forgot their first love. They needed this life giving encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. For some of you this may be hard to hear. But rebukes from the Lord are life giving. Remember what the Samaritan woman said full of joy, “come see a man who has told me everything I have ever done wrong!”.

I remember when I first started following the Lord as an adult. It came out of a rebuke the Lord spoke to me in my inner man through prayer. I was praying God what do you want me to do, “and I am thinking school, job etc… and finally I go, Lord whatever you want me to do I will do it.” And he rebuked me in that moment and said, “You are not doing the things I have already told you to do in my word.” It was the best thing that ever happened to me. God spoke to me. I was excited. I was like the Samaritan woman.

Jesus is at the center of it all. Notice the New Testament starts with the 4 Gospels. Not written by Him but entirely about Him. The New Testament ends after most of the apostles had gone on to be with the Lord with a final revelation given to John the apostle, that centers on the person and work of Chris accomplished in the Gospels, but also surrounding the second coming of the Lord.

The Glorious Son

[SLIDE]

Revelation 1:12–20 NASB95

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. “As for the mystery of the seven stars which 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.

Old Testament Parallel

Each one of these descriptions get tied to a church as he speaks to them. Something you have to know about the book of revelation is it has more Old Testament illusions then any book in the Bible. The way Jesus appears here is a composite of revelations found in the Old Testament.

Jesus descriptions here is combination of Old Testament imagery of the coming messiah, of heavenly messengers, kingly and priestly roles, AND perhaps most importantly descriptions of God Himself.

Daniels chapter 3, 7 and 10 all have imagery that is used here. In chapter 10 their is an angel

Daniel 10:5–10 NASB95

I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult. Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

But that is not all. There is also Daniel 7.

Daniel 7:9–14 NASB95

“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. “A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened. “Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. “As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

Notice this verse was actually quoted in revelation 1:7 and the term “like a son of man” from the same verse in Daniel are used here in Rev 1:13.

And then of course in chapter 3 of Daniel there is one like a son of God standing in the furnace and of course Jesus feet are like burnished bronze.

He has a two edge sword that comes out of His mouth as Isaiah says to strike the earth (Isaiah 11:4).

The Hair and Voice of the Almighty

But what I think is more interesting is all of that is His voice and His hair.

Jesus has a voice is like many waters… what Ezekiel says the voice of the almighty sounds like!

Ezekiel 43:2 NASB95

and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.

His hair is white as wool. It is pulled from the same imagery of Daniel 7, except in Daniel 7 it is the ancient of days whose hair is white as wool.

Add to this there are three things that the Lord God Almighty, the Father, says about Himself in revelation:

the Alpha and Omega (Rev 1:8)

the beginning and the end (Rev 21:6)

the first and the last. (Isaiah 44:6)

Isaiah 44:6 NASB95

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.

All three things the Son says about Himself in this book and He actually puts hem all together in Rev 22:13

Revelation 22:13 NASB95

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

and of course he mentions “the first and the last here” in verse 17.

What do these things mean?

His hair is white like wool representing his eternal and wise

His eyes are like fire. He can see through the natural and perfectly judge a matter.

His feat are like burnished bronze and will crush those who oppose Him

His voice like many waters represent his absolute and final authority

The sharp two edge sword shows he is the ultimate and perfect judge

and his face shines like the sun. He is holy and righteous and glorious.

When John sees Him He falls at His feet like a dead man. And rightfully so. This is the same John, the disciple who Jesus loved, who use to lay his head on the chest of Jesus and recline with him at the table.

Look Jesus is your friend. But He isn’t just your friend. Jesus is your Savior but He isn’t just your Savior. He is also your Lord, your God, and your Judge. I believe we all, myself included, need a deeper revelation of this in our day. Lord, open our eyes to see you in all of your glory.

What is Jesus doing?

Those things really tell us about Who He is more than anything. They will all have direct application as He speaks to the churches. But there is something else that Jesus is doing in this passage. He is in the midst of the lampstands. Now there are 7 of them. In the Old Testament temple there was a 7 pronged lampstand that the priests tended to. G.K Beale says this:

The Book of Revelation John Is Commissioned to Write to the Churches Because the Initial Vision He Receives Demonstrates that the Saints’ Confidence is Grounded in Christ’s Installation as Cosmic Judge, Priest, and Ruler of the Church (1:12–20)

Part of Christ’s priestly role is to tend the lampstands. The OT priest would trim the lamps, remove the wick and old oil, refill the lamps with fresh oil, and relight those that had gone out. Likewise, Christ tends the ecclesial lampstands by commending, correcting, exhorting, and warning (see chs. 2–3) in order to secure the churches’ fitness for service as lightbearers in a dark world.

Why is Jesus speaking to the Churches? They are His churches. He purchased them with His own blood. The Holy Spirit is the very flame that keeps them burning. Jesus is being a faithful high priest. The Church isn’t just something that Jesus says okay here are some instructions… See ya when I am back! He tends to us. He could not be more invested in us.

When John falls at his feat like a dead man what is it that Jesus says

[SLIDE]

Revelation 1:17–18 NASB95

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Do not be afraid. He has conquered sin and death on our behalf. He is absolutely sovereign over the problems we face. No matter the trial, the tribulation, or the enemy.

At the same time. Examine yourself. Make sure you are walking in a manner worthy of the Gospel to which you were called. Do away with the evil things that have nothing to do with them. If need be repent and return. and for all of us hold fast to Him

But here is the thing The Churches are His.

89 Jeep Comanche

I remember the first vehicle I ever owned was an 89 Jeep Comanche Truck. It was also the first vehicle I got in an accident in. I messed up my whole front end. So I actually ordered all the parts and rebuilt the front end myself. After I did that the truck was even more mine. I was invested into it.

The Church is the Lord’s. It was birthed at the cross of Christ.

He cares about us and He cares how we live.

Concerned about my kids character

With my kids I am concerned with their health, well being, education, and I am also fiercely concerned with their character! My older kids do not pick on my younger kids. I am more concerned with how they responded to the person who wouldn’t share with them then the fact they got left out. I am more concerned with how they got the grade then that they got the grade. Now I am concerned about all those other things as well. I am just saying who are children are becoming should greatly concern us.

And the Lord is greatly concerned with His children! That is what we will see over the next 7 weeks as we go through the letters to the churches!