Revelation 1
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Good morning church!
It is good to be in the house of the Lord and thank you to everyone who is joining us onlineI am really excited about being with you this morning, this morning I finally feel peace about pursuing a study of the book of Revelation. We will begin this morning in chapter 1. It is my prayer that as we go through this that the Lord will bless you and minister to you as we look at God’s Holy inerrant inspired word.
Revelation 1
Let’s do a little bit of review
This is a book that was inspired by the Holy Spirit through John the Apostle he is mentioned right here in verse 1. the apostle John writes this around 95 A.D. which would make him about 95 years old. HE is the only survivor left of the original apostles Jesus selected. The resthave suffered tremendously under the emporer Domitian.
It is said that James was clubbed to death and thrown off a cliff, Peter was crucified upside down for his faith in Jesus Christ and many others suffered matyrs death for thier relationship to Jesus Christ.
At this point when John is writing he has been exiled by the same Emporer to the Isle of Patmos. We find out a little later in chapter one why he is there but this is a prison camp this is the alcatraz of the Roman Empire it is a place where they would send prisoners its only about 13 miles in the agean sea, and where it was located made it very hard for things to grow there.
So imagine with me if you will a rock in the ocean where the crosswinds make things very difficult to grow, surrounded by the salty Agean sea. This was a death sentence given to the apostle John and yet one of the Miracles was that the Lord spared his life long enough to write down a revelation he had from Jesus Him self.
This is where he is sentenced and we will talk about why he is there shortly. This book of the vision John recieved has been called revelation and rightfully so but a more clear picture of the reality of this book is to call it the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
This is not Johns revelation, this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ the son of God. The Greek word for Revelation is the word Apokalupsis which means the “unveiling”.
It is also where we get our word apocolypse
So what we are reading is all about Jesus and 3 basic ways you can interpret Revelation:
Allegorical
Historical
Literal (futuristic)
Now people who interpret this book from an allegorical interpretation do so and consider everything in the book of Revelation to be allegory or symbolic only.
People who interpret this book Historically look at it from the viewpoint of things past behind, and those who interpret this book from the literal standpoint believe there are things left to be fulfilled and therefore this is prophecy which tells us about things to come.
I believe in translating the Bible literally meaning there are things that have heppend in the past which are mentioned, there are things that are symbolic but overall this is a prophecy to tell us about all three.
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
Listen God says what He means and means what He says it is not a pastors job to flower it up or to change the meaning, or to read into the text whatever he thinks is right.
This verse clearly teaches us that the vision John was to write down was something that he had seen while he was alive in his past, things which are currently happening at the time he was alive and then there were things that were yet to come.
ALot of the symbolism that we see in here is things that John is seeing in the future and he is trying to describe to people in his day.
there is alot of times he says IT LOOKED LIKE, IT SOUNDED LIKE, bc he is trying to find words in his day to describe things that are way down the road.
But the whole purpose of the book is to reveal to us things about Jesus Christ and His plan for the world, which ultimatley is pointing us towards His second coming. JESUS CAME HE LIVED AND HE DIED HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE AND HE IS COMING AGAIN MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT!
After Jesus’ resurrection as Jesus ascended back into Heaven in Acts 1 the disciples were left standing there gazing up into Heaven and two angels appeared and it says
who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
So Jesus is coming again we wanna be careful to never put a date on it we dont wanna be locked down on a date but we are told in scripture that we should know the signs of the times.
Were living in these days right now when we think about the Carona virus and the panic all over the world over the last year
And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
These are birth pains these are things that are pointing to the end times what we see around us in our world is not neccesarily the events of Revelation yet even though there are somethings that are I believe pointing and setting up what is to come.
God wants us to be prepared god wants us to know some of the signs of the times and be eagerly expecting the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Lets pray)
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,
Let’s stop for a minute you might read that and think wait a minute things which will shortly take place but when John wrotes its about 1500 years ago.
So what does he mean by this things have not shortly taken place but in fact the Greek for “shortly”
Are two words
En Tachei- “quickly or suddenly” Not neccesarily soon, but when it does happen it will happen quickly/suddenly
He says He sent it and signified it by His angel to His servant John
INteresting bc this is not the first time and it wont be the last time where the Bible mentions the assitance of angels in delivering some of these messages.
The word angel appears 76 times in the book of Revelation. God uses angels at different times in this Revelation and in this first example to say that many of the visions that John has come by assitance of angels.
Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
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,
who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
John is writing as someone in ancient times and ancient days some 1500 years ago and so some of the things he sees He is trying to use things he understands to describe it to his readers.
(explaining a dream)
He talks about things he saw and he mentions things he saw 36 times in the book of Revelation but he mentions things that he heard 27 times in the book of Revelation and so his mind is being blown by the things he is seeing and he is trying to write it down for us.
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.
Notice He says we are blessed when we read this book and when we hear these words
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
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.”
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
The word blessed in the greek literally means oh how happy
The book of Revelations has bookends of blessings It starts in chapter one with a blessing it ends in chapter 2 with a blessing we will be blessed when we read if we hear it and if we do what it says. So God gives us this blessing and this promise
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.
The time is near and we need to be ready
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,
Notice this letter is what is called an encyclical you see these churches were on a a route in Asia minor. They would have carried this letter to one church first studied it read it and learned it, and then to another church on down the line to these seven churches and they would have taken it to heart.
Jesus dictates this to 7 literal historical churches in this day and time in a place called Asia minor and all of these churches these churches had congregations that were meeting during this time.
Now John was about 95 years old and the last one left who actually walked with the Lord Jesus Christ and he has become almost like the Grandfather of the faith.
So John is told by the Lord to write down these letters to these seven churches
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,
Now pause if you will right there and highlight the seven spirits who are before His throne. There is alot of debate about this when it comes to what John is talking about here
“THE SEVEN SPIRITS”
7= completeness, fullness of the Spirit
7 virtues of the Spirit
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
7 angels (8:2)
7 angels around the throne of God now there are going to be different interpretations of these things I dont pretend I have all of the right answers and that my way is the right way, but I in some instances you will see the Bible interpret the Bible and what the Bible has to say on certain issues and it leaves no room for other interpretations.
but as for this I think it is the 7 angels around the throne of God because if we let the bible teach us what it means then we see
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
So here it tells us there is 7 angels who stand before God around the throne of God so when he is talking about these 7 spirits around his throne I believe it is talking about these 7 angels.
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,
This verse teaches us about the Soverignty of God He is ruler over the Kings of the Earth He is the firstborn of the dead. He is the first one who rose from the dead with a glorified body while he was alive we see people like Lazarus died and were brought back to life but those people all died again.
Not Jesus
He died once and was raised with a glorified body and never perished again.
His example going before us is what we have to look forward to, that we in Christ will have a glorified body when we raise from the dead that will never perish and is imperishable and this is why Jesus is the firstborn from the dead.
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.
God loved us and washed us from our sins by the blood of His own Son and made us KINGS AND PRIESTS!!
When God redeems us with the blood of His son Jesus we now share in his kingdom and we have an eternal inheritance in glory.
Not that we deserved it, or are worthy of it bc we are not but through the righteousness of Christ we are!
I need you to know this this morning if you are a blood bought child of the king you are royalty!
YOu have a ministry!
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
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.
HE is coming on the clouds!!
There is coming a day and its not far away when every eye shall see Him AS HE IS AND EVERY KNEE WILL BUCKLE UNDER THE WIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW HIM ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN BC THEY WILL KNOW THAT IT IS TOO LATE TO GET RIGHT WITH THE LORD THE TIME WILL BE OVER WHEN THAT TRUMPET SOUNDS
Now one thing I want you to notice I am kind of a nerd and I saw this, and it does matter
Notice it says he is coming with the clouds We know is coming on the clouds but here it says he is coming with the clouds?
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
The idea here is that Jesus is returning with the saints and they are those who are found righteous in Him that are currently in Heaven.
(Picture)
(THe great reunion)
We are going to come and Jesus will destroy all sin an end the battle of Armageddon!
So John is giving us a glimpse of what is gonna happen in Revelation 19
Jesus returns and He brings the saints with Him.
Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
(get on up here)
This is found Daniel
“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
John is writing down the same thing Daniel saw
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.
Every eye will see him
“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Its going to be fast
His second coming is not going to be like left behind your not going to wonder what happened with people simply vanishing and their clothes are left on the ground
If someone comes up to you and says we have missed the second coming of Christ EVERYONE WILL SEE HIM!!!
I actually think the advancement of technology is going to accomplish this.
I mean the things people catch live on thier phones even when tragedy is hitting and I think the second coming of JEsus is gonna be viral yall
Everybody has a smart phone info can travel the world in seconds but this will not go unoticed
EVEN THEY WHO PEIRCED HIM
This is a special message for the Jewish people even though we are all guilty of peircing Him but he specifically speaks to the Jewis =h people here
Zecheriah says they will see his nail peirced hands and feet and they will ask where did you get these marks and he will tell them I got them from my friends
When He returns they will weep bitterly
For those who deny Christ they will be so broken when they realize that they had a chance to be in glory at this event they will weep bitterly and cry out but it will be too late.
(show me a sign)
HE has
But if your waiting on Him to part the clouds itll be too late then
(Athiest’)
Then one day you see Him it is going to crush their hearts
ALL THE TIRBES WILL MOURN
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Heaven is going to be a very diverse place there wont be racism in Heaven
Jesus came for all loves all and died for everyone
“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.”
He is strong and almighty and the all powerful one!
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(explain tribulation)
(explain why John was there)
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Are you ready to stand when tribulation comes?
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord?
Do you know the Alpha and Omega?
Will you mourn when you see Him, or rejoice?
God desires for you to know Him and be with Him and your loved ones on that day...
(Let’s pray)