Anticipation of Victory 4-15-07PM
The Anticipation of Victory
Re 1:9-20(NIV) --(9) I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. --(10) On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, --(11) which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” --(12) I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, --(13) and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. --(14) His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. --(15) His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. --(16) In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. --(17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. --(18) I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. --(19) “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. --(20) The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Re 1:3(NIV)--(3) Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Let's begin reading in verse 9, as we think this morning about
Now as we Anticipate the Victory, I want us to consider several things. To begin with, I want us to consider first
I) JOHN'S SITUATION BECAUSE OF JESUS.
Now John tells us a couple of things about his situation because of His relationship with Jesus Christ. To begin with, there is a
A) His Suffering
Domitian, the emperor of Rome had turned up the heat on the early church. He didn't miss a chance to persecute the church. And may I tell you that the church of Jesus Christ is still under Satanic attack and will remain under Satanic attack until we are raptured out of here! In fact, Jesus said in John 16.33, "In the world you will have tribulation." John 15.20, "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you." 2 Timothy 3.12, "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
1) The early church didn't have it easy as they stood for righteousness and holiness; the prophets didn't have it easy when they stood for morality and purity!
a) What makes us think we will have it easy if we live for Jesus Christ?
2) It has been estimated that more Christians have been killed for their faith in this generation than in all of Christendom.
3) Today, persecution has driven the church of Jesus Christ underground in China and the Sudan and other places around the world.
4) In the last few years in this God blessed America, prayer along with the Ten Commandments have been removed from schools.
5) No longer are the Gideons allowed in many school campuses to distribute New Testaments.
6) Evolution is in and Creationism is out.
7) You can talk about Mohammed and world religions, but you cannot mention the name of Jesus!
8) I don’t mean to scare anybody, but I can read the writing on the wall. Unless America makes a radical turn back to God, we could very well see the day that Bible believing Christians are faced with the same kind of tribulation that our fellow Christians are enduring throughout this world. We could experience what the early church experienced where we read in Acts 8.1,
Ac 8:1(NIV)--(1) And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
9) Paul talks about "a falling away" that is on its way.
10) He is talking about people in the church that disown the church, walk away from the church in order to avoid tribulation.
11) When the heat of tribulation is turned up, there will be thousands deserting the church of Jesus Christ like rats on a sinking ship.
12) Let me remind you that you see more about God while in the dark than you do in the light.
13) That's when you learn more about God! In the valleys of trouble and testing and tribulation!
· Moses learned about God's Power while standing at the Red Sea.
· Daniel learned about God's Presence and Protection while in the lion's den.
· John learned about God's Plans while exiled on the island of Patmos.
They all understood Romans 8.28, "For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and called according to His purpose." That was John's situation: persecution. But not only do we find here a word about his persecution,
B) A word about his isolation.
Re 1:9(NIV) --(9) I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
1) Those that Domitian wasn't executing, he was exiling!
2) God used that isolation as the platform to give John this glorious apocalypse of Jesus Christ.
3) And I am so glad that John was listening!
4) Sometimes God has to get us isolated in order to get our attention!
II) JOHN'S INSTRUCTION FROM JESUS.
Re 1:10-11(NIV)--(10) On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, --(11) which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Now we read here that John's instruction from Jesus was two-fold: first, write what you see and second, send what you write.
A) -write what you see.
1) John was not instructed to preach what he saw nor to teach what he saw, but to write what he saw!
2) In fact, twelve times throughout the Apocalypse, John is instructed to write down what he saw. And aren't you glad he did?
3) Do you understand that every book in the Bible is from God?
4) In this book we have:
a) God's thoughts,
b) God's feelings,
c) God's mind,
d) God's heart.
e) No wonder it is infallible! No wonder it is inerrant!
f) It reveals the mind and thoughts of God!
Ps 18:30(NIV)--(30) As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
Ps 19:7(NIV)--(7) The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Ps 33:4(NIV)--(4) For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
B) -send what you wrote.
Verse 11, "… and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia .."
Re 1:11(NIV)--(11) which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Now we are going to discover that these were seven literal churches. And Jesus had something to say to each of these churches and we will read what He had to say in chapters 2-3. But let me just say that what Jesus had to say to those churches, He says to all churches, including ACMC!
Now as The Vision of Victory continues, we read not only about …
I) JOHN'S SITUATION BECAUSE OF JESUS.
II) JOHN'S INSTRUCTION FROM JESUS.
III) JOHN'S DESCRIPTION OF JESUS.
Re 1:12(NIV)--(12) I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
Now let me say a couple of things about understanding the symbols of the Revelation:
1) These symbols are presenting reality and truth.
2) And, in order to understand these symbols, much of the time all that you have to do is to keep reading.
Re 1:20(NIV)--(20) The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
A) Why a lampstand?
1) Because a lampstand cannot originate light, it only conveys light.
2) If you have a lampstand, you have to get light from somewhere else.
B) Do you see it? The church itself is not the light, it is the light holder.
1) The church exists for one purpose: to convey light!
2) And Jesus, the light of the world, is that light!
3) Every time we gather together for worship and scatter for witness, we are to hold the light, to convey the light.
C) Who is at the center of the Churches?
Re 1:13(NIV)--(13) and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
1) That would be Jesus!
a) Churches that God blesses, churches at God uses, are churches centered around the person of Jesus Christ!
b) Not centered around a personality!
c) Not centered around a program!
d) But centered around a person and His name is Jesus!
e) That designation "Son of Man" is used 70 times in the Bible to describe the Lord Jesus Christ.
Don't think that Jesus set aside His deity to become a man only to later discard His humanity. He came to earth as fully God and fully man. He lived on earth as fully God and fully man. And He left this earth, ascended to Heaven, fully God and fully man. And when we get to Heaven, we're going to see "the Son of Man", with the nail prints in His hands! In fact, the only man-made thing in Heaven are those nail prints in His hands!
And look how John describes Him beginning in verse 13, ".. clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band." These are the garments of the Old Testament high priest for Jesus is the Priestly One, for He represents us before Holy God.
But not only is Jesus the Priestly One, He is the Pure One: Verse 14, "His head and His hair were white (holiness, purity) like wool, as white as snow …" We read next that He is the Penetrating One: Verse 14b, ".. and His eyes like a flame of fire."
Don't think that Jesus doesn't see what is going on in His church! You may be able to deceive your wife or husband or pastor, but you cannot deceive Jesus! There are no secrets before God! He sees it all! And one of the these you will either face Him as Savior or face Him as Judge!
And whenever a church is not what it ought to be, it arouses the indignation of Jesus! Oh, be careful taking pot shots at the church of Jesus Christ! Think twice about attacking the church because to attack the church is to attack Jesus Christ Himself!
Jesus said to Saul who had reeked havoc on the church in Acts 9.4, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" But John described Jesus as not only The Priestly One, The Pure One and the Penetrating One, but as The Powerful One: Verses 15, "He feet were like fine brass (judgment: Psm 9.16, "The Lord is known by the judgment He executes." Jesus is not only the lamp of God, He is also a lion. He has a lamp like character as well as a lion like character.), as if refined in a furnace, and His voice (authority/power) as the sound of many waters;
He is also The Protecting One: Verse 16s, "He had in His right hand seven stars.." Now what or who are these seven stars? Well, Jesus interprets these for us in verse 20, "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 do see the word "angels?" The word means "messengers." Those seven stars are the seven angels, the seven pastors of those churches! Do you know what that makes me? The little angel of RSBC!
And did you notice that His messengers, His pastors are in His hand of protection! He not only controlled those pastors, He protected those pastors! God help the church whose Pastor is not controlled by Jesus!
And then finally John describes Jesus as The Piercing One: Verse 16b, "out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength." And of course that "two-edged sword" represents the Word of God! Hebrews 4.12, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit .."
Rev 19.15, "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations .." His Word will either save us or slay us!
Now quickly, let me show you one last thing about this Vision of Victory.
I) JOHN'S SITUATION BECAUSE OF JESUS.
II) JOHN'S INSTRUCTION FROM JESUS.
III) JOHN'S DESCRIPTION OF JESUS.
IV) JOHN'S REACTION TO JESUS.
Re 1:17(NIV)--(17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
A) He Fell Down
B) Notice Jesus picked Him Up
1) If we fear God we will never fear man or anything else for that matter.
2) We no longer have to fear life!
3) We no longer have to fear death!
4) We no longer have to fear life after death!
5) The touch of Jesus brings peace!
The touch of Jesus brings a new perspective!
We should stand as a testimony that our lives had been touched by Jesus! Has yours?
· Those He touches, He changes!
· Those He touches, He captivates!
· Those He touches, He calms!
· Those He touches, He caresses!
· Those He touches, He cleans!
· Those He touches, He clothes with robes of righteousness!
· Those He touch, He commissions as witnesses!
· To those He touches, He completes!
· Those He touches, He conforms into the image of His Son!
· Those He touch, He does not condemn!
Ro 8:1(NIV) --(1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,