the Vision, the Voice and the Victor

GOD WINS Series - The Vision, The Voice and the Victor (Sermon One) LPBC 1-10-2021 Revelation 1: 1-20 How many of you have heard or seen the amazing story of the Venetian adventurer, Marco Polo? Did you know that his Italian mother named him after the gospel writer, Mark, in the hopes that he too would proclaim the gospel? Did you also know that 13th century Europeans found it impossible to believe Marco's tales of faraway lands? He claimed that, when he was only seventeen, he took an epic journey lasting a quarter of a century, taking him across the steppes of Russia, the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, the wastelands of Persia, and over the top of the world through the Himalayas. He was the first European to enter China. Through an amazing set of circumstances, he became a favorite of the most powerful ruler on planet earth, the Kublai Khan. Marco saw cities that made European capitals look like roadside villages. The Khan's palace dwarfed the largest castles and cathedrals in Europe. It was so massive that its banquet room alone could seat 6,000 diners at one time, each eating on a plate of pure gold. Marco saw the world's first paper money and marveled at the explosive power of gunpowder. It would be the 18th century before Europe would manufacture as much steel as China was producing in the year 1267. He became the first Italian to taste that Chinese culinary invention, pasta. As an officer of the Khan's court, he travelled to places no European would see for another 500 years. After serving Kublai Khan for 17 years, Marco began his journey home to Venice, loaded down with gold, silk, and spices. When he arrived home, people dismissed his stories of a mythical place called China. His family priest rebuked him for spinning lies. At his deathbed, his family, friends, and priest begged him to recant his tales of China. But setting his jaw and gasping for breath, Marco spoke his final words, "I have not even told you half of what I saw." Though 13th century Europeans rejected Marco's stories as the tales of a liar or lunatic, history has proven the truthfulness behind the book he wrote about he saw - The Travels of Marco Polo. 1 1,300 years before Marco Polo wrote about China, another man, the Apostle John, wrote a book about what he saw that seems too astonishing to believe. And yet history will also prove the truthfulness of what he wrote. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to John is a truly astonishing piece of literature. Over the next few weeks we are about to discover the greatest message this world has ever known. From the start of this final book of the Bible, John announces that the unfolding revelation of "what must soon take place" has been entrusted by God the Father to His Son. To this very day, it is Jesus Himself who speaks from the heart of the Father to us. As we begin the captivating journey before us, we must not miss this; not only has this Revelation been entrusted to Jesus, it is all about Jesus! And in the end - GOD WINS! Say that with me - GOD WINS! Let's stand together in honor of the WORD of GOD as we read John's opening statement and introduction to this mysterious, yet marvelous book. I call this first message in this series - The Vision, the Voice and the Victor READ Rev 1:1-8 PRAY Our Father, we thank you today for the privilege of studying together and we are thrilled and excited to begin this adventure in the Book of the Revelation that will take us from the days of Jesus, through the present age in which we live all the way to the edges of eternity. We pray that in these weeks ahead that you will enlighten us and, Father, that you will encourage us, and Lord, that we will receive the special blessing that you promise for those who study this book. Father, we pray that you'd make us aware of how current events fit into this prophecy, Lord, that we might be ready, that we might be alert to the coming of your dear Son, The Lord Jesus Christ. Now Father, we open our hearts today to the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "When he has come, he will guide you into all truth." It is in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen. 2 The Book of Revelation is the ultimate end-time drama and in it we encounter epic events and mysterious players in this story of the ages. But, please note that all of the great prophecies found here are given in relationship to who Jesus is. These are truths that He wants us to know! Indeed, this entire message is the "testimony [or 'witness'] of Jesus Christ" (v. 2). Everything here speaks of His presence and power, His great love and sacrifice, judgment upon His enemies and His complete and final victory over everything dark in this world. No wonder, then, that an angel of the Lord gave strong command before the conclusion of this Revelation in Chapter 19, verse 10, by reminding us to as one translation puts it - "Worship God. The purpose of all prophecy and of all I have shown you is to tell about Jesus." From the beginning of this amazing book, from John's opening sentence in verse one to the announcement of the soon coming of the one who was pierced on the cross for our sins in verse 8, - all declare that when it comes to our yesterday, our today, and our forever, it's all about Jesus! Look up here and say - "It's all about Jesus!" Notice the first 5 words of 1:1 - "The Revelation of Jesus Christ""-the original word translated into English is "Apocalypse," which means an unveiling or uncovering. But how is this unveiling going to take place? God is going allow John to see things that no other man has ever seen. So my first point is this: I. The Vision - What John Saw - Down through the ages God has used prophecies, dreams and visions to communicate with people and to unveil his plans for the future. Among those who received visions from the LORD were Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, Solomon, Daniel, Peter, and Paul. Here he is speaking to the apostle John through a vision - the longest one recorded in scripture. Verse 2 says "Who (speaking of John) bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." Verse 19 says "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;" The words "Saw, seest, seen" are used 53 times in Rev - a few examples Re 4:4 I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; Re 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice Re 6:1 ¶ And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, Re 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; . Re 9:1 I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: Re 10:1 ¶ And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, Re 13:1 ¶ And I ... saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, Re 15:1 ¶ And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, Re 19:11 ¶ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, Re 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. Re 20:11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; Re 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: Re 21:1 ¶ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Re 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Re 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship .... As we enter this study this morning, and throughout these next few weeks, may we see what John saw and may we feel what John felt and may we respond like John responded, by falling down before the feet of Jesus so that we may worship Him, the one who is the faithful witness, the first begotten from the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth. The one that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. The one who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the Almighty! As the song says, Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You, I want to see You To see You high and lifted up, Shinin' in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love, As we sing holy, holy, holy 4 II. The Voice , vs 9-10 Next, we come to a captivating passage that brings, both, John and us into a powerful encounter with the Risen Jesus. We have already been re-introduced to Him as Savior, the One "who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood" (v. 5). It has also been revealed to us that Jesus shares in the divinity and authority of the Father even as He shares in the Father's eternal names. But now, we come to a timeless vision of the great Voice, the One Who speaks from Heaven "like a trumpet" and with "the sound of rushing waters." For John, this most incredible encounter with Jesus and most breathtaking of revelations could not have happened at a time or place more difficult than where he now found himself. You see, John was on a deserted island called Patmos located about 40 miles off the cost of the mainland. The Roman government used it as a penal colony where prisoners were sent to die. What was his crime, you ask? What did he do to serve this kind of treatment at his advanced age? He was there for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ - that Jesus was the only way to heaven and there was only one true God. So, this was a place of tribulation - of intense trouble but his was the place that Jesus would speak to John in a powerful way! But, a "Patmos" experience-a place of outward struggle, yet inward surrender-may be the very season of your and my most glorious victory-if, alone with the Voice, you and I will listen! 1. Note the Command of the Voice - vs 11 A. It is a command of Authority - I am Alpha and Omega, the first and last. Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. B. It is a command of Action - "What thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the 7 churches which are in Asia. Two parts - Write and send - up to the churches to preach and teach the truths on Revelation 2. Note the Commander of the Voice - vs 12-16 A. First, note the Location of the Commander of the Voice - When John turned to see the person of the Voice he saw the glorified Jesus in the midst of the seven churches. B. Second note the Description of the Commander of the Voice: * His clothing - dressed in high priestly garments - the floor length white robe and the golden sash - Exodus 39 * His Hair - white like wool * Eyes - flame of fire * Feet - polished bronze * Voice - like the sound of rushing waters * Right hand - holds 7 stars * Mouth - a sharp two-edged sword * Face - shining like the sun Author David Hocking writes, "This is no ordinary look at the man we know from the gospels as Jesus Christ. To say that His appearance is unique is an understatement: It is a supernatural, a glorious description that could be given to God alone." The grandeur of this description points to the majesty, purity, and authority of the One described. This is the risen Savior! This is the glorified Christ. This is OUR coming King 3. Note the Reaction to the VOICE - vs 17 That John fell at His feet was an act of fear and awe at the Lord revealing Himself and His plan for the ages to mankind. Through the Touch of The Voice, We Will Never Be the Same Again-1:17-18 "Abraham fell facedown" (Genesis 17:3); Moses "trembled with fear" (Hebrews 12:21); three times Ezekiel exclaimed, "I fell face down" (Ezekiel 3:23; 43:3; 44:4), while Daniel declared, "I had no strength and I was helpless" (Daniel 10:8). Overcome with the Glory, Peter, James and John "fell facedown to the ground, terrified" (Matthew 17:6). They would all tell us still that when the Voice speaks, something has to give!!! A wise lesson in communication tells that in listening we say, "I value you; you matter to me." We must learn that respect invites a listening ear-where there is no respect, no honor, there will be no true listening. We must learn that we do not give value to someone; instead, to listen is to recognize the personal value already there. In the same way, we cannot hear-we will not listen if we fail to see Jesus for Who He really is! No surprise then that seven times Jesus calls, "He who has an ear, let Him hear." Church, we need a fresh vision of the Voice! The Vision - The Voice - lastly, The Victor! III. The Victor The words of verses 18 are the words of a the Victorious One! They mocked him here on earth, but he is adored in heaven They nailed him to a tree and took his life, but he arose victorious from that grace and now he is ascended back to heaven and he is coming back very soon. And he has the keys of hell and death! Right now, more than anything else in all this world, what you and I so desperately need is a fresh vision of the Voice! There is a Voice that speaks like no other voice to the human soul. There is a Voice that speaks from Heaven, timeless and all knowing. Though there are so many voices contending to be heard in this noisy world, there remains one Voice Who calls the listening heart away from the confusion of it all. This is the Voice of the Victor that pierces the darkness like a trumpet and rushes in to silence every argument. This is the Voice of God!