Hurting and Hope

Revelation 1

Introduction:

As many of you know I have been looking forward to getting back into doing book studies on Sunday mornings.

Many have mentioned that they would like to get into the book of Revelation. We have been through it before, but it has been a number of years.

I know as a teen I loved to study Revelation, and could not seem to get enough of it. Then as a Pastor I found myself scared of it because there was much in it that I did not understand.

*Having preached through it now a couple of times there is still much that I do not understand

*Yet at the same time there is much that is encouraging as well

Some important points as we start this study:

· It is Revelation not Revelations: it is the record of only one revelation

· It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ: not the revelation of John

· There is a blessing on those that read, hear, and keep words of book

An outline of the book 1:19

1) Things that you have seen: chapter 1

2) Things that are: letters to the Churches

3) Things that will be: events following the Church age

Focus of the book in on the Lord Jesus Christ. From chapter 1 to chapter 22 you will find Jesus described in many different terms. Putting all of those things together gives us a great understanding of who Jesus is and what He is like.

Chapters 1-3 Jesus is seen as the exalted Priest-King

Chapters 4-5 Jesus is seen as the glorified Lamb of God reigning on the throne of heaven

Chapters 6-18 Jesus is seen as the judge of all the earth

Chapter 19 Jesus returns to earth as the conquering King of kings

Chapters 20-21 Jesus is seen as the Bridegroom of the Church ushering His bride into the heavenly city

Today as we begin our study of Revelation I want to look at two things:

1. Hardships will come even in the life of a child of God

2. Hardships in the life of the child of God will be followed by victory in Jesus Christ

I. Hardships will come in the in the life of a child of God 1:9

1. The experience of John

A. Who John was

1) The writer of the Gospel and 3 epistles

2) The Pastor of the Church of Ephesus

3) An Apostle of Jesus Christ

4) One referred to as the One Jesus Loved

5) At very least he was a man of God

B. What happened to John 1:9

He was exiled to the Isle of Patmos

Small island about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide

Located in the Aegean Sea

A place where prisoners were sent and kept

Referred to as the Alcatraz of Asia Minor

Sent there by ruler Domitian

Referred to himself as the lord god

Would sign his letters that way

Quote from web site:

Was a harsh ruler, hated by his own govt. leaders

He trusted no one and was very superstitious. He even had mirrors in every room so that he would know who was behind him at all times. In 18 September 96 AD he was a victim of the kind of conspiracy that he had always feared. A freedman was hired by the senate to kill him. The senate declared him "damnatio memoriae" damned in memory. The senate had everything of Domitian banished, from his bed to all records of him ever existing, including all the names he had placed on buildings.

History says that Domitian had him dipped is a vat of hot oil, but that it had no effect on him

Forced to labor in the mines

Even though he was well up in age forced to labor for long days

C. Important point I want to make is why this happened to John

1:9 For the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ

He was punished for preaching the Word

Just because we do the right thing does not exempt us from suffering!!

See this throughout Scripture:

Job: suffered because he was godly

Paul: suffered because he preached Christ

Jeremiah: preached, all people sought to destroy him

Yet so often we feel that we suffer, therefore we must have done wrong.

2. The suffering of John

1) Physical suffering:

Aged man

Forced to hard labor

Lived without the comforts of home

2) Emotional suffering

No question it would take an emotional toll

3) Spiritual suffering;

Begin to question faith, and fairness of God

The application:

Who here this morning has not suffered?

Health issues

Family issues

Spiritual issues: wondered Where is God?

Persecution issues

Part of the message of Revelation is one of encouragement

Jesus Christ enabled John to look beyond his suffering and see the eternal victory that there is in Jesus Christ!

II. Hardships in the life of the child of God will be followed by victory in Jesus Christ

Two things we need to know in the midst of our suffering:

1. He loves us v. 5

Because He loves us He shed His blood to wash away our sins

Now we belong to Him

Nothing, NOTHING can take that away

2. He will be victorious

v. 4 He who is, was, and is to come

A faithful witness

Firstborn of the dead

v. 7 He is coming in the cloud; every eye will see Him: EVEN THEY WHO PIERCED HIM

v. 8 Alpha/Omega, beginning/end; is/was/is to come

v. 16 out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword

Note vv. 17b-18

Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

One of the great things that Revelation does is cause us to look ahead, see past our struggles and difficulties, and focus on the one who is indeed the King of kings and Lord of lords!!