The Unveiling The Hero, with His Program
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro: smoke and mirrors of conspirators - Divinci Code, National Treasure, underneath surface of great leaders, sister mysterious - unveiling itch to know - trump, so much of modern fascination of book Of Revelation - detecting conspiracy of the two beasts, Babylon, decoding - but beginning and end of book - tells us what kind of wriiting, prophesy, Apocalypse, witness & testimony of whom? Jesus - last a letter, circular letter - 7 churches in circle - Rev 1:4 Map.
key ones - all but one cult to Emperor - press that compromise - But startling no mention of Rome, Babylon, AntiChrist - but it is a conspiracy we are living in, tribulation suffering, persecution, 30 miles across Aegean sea. Antipas put to death. world is a mess and not way it should be, you and I too.. But what is this book going to be about - get a little bit of the lot the scheme and game in this age and the last day - but the big deal of this book is not a what but who. Like Vincent Van Gogh - give a decade of life, sit a month - Or my prof. wrote a recent commentary, never more fascinated by various theories of millennia, than I am of the Lion and Lamb at center of the book. And big surprise here is that Jesus is not just the Jesus achieving salvation in humble service and suffering, but It’s that Jesus - raised up, glorified, entrusted with all power - that Jesus confronting this world and the the One who is reigning, even beyond, all the evil and suffering of this world - - and its him confronting and uncovering and then ministering to us - as He exposes and then equips us to completely overturn Satan’s conspiracy, so that we like Him can overcome and share in the victory of the kingdom of God!
Now think of John on Lord’s Day, can’t meet, think of church just entering persecution, remember churches of Asia Minor - seem weak - so many compromising, some fallen way - how can they , how can we defeat this conspiracy. Think of everything you know of this book battle with Dragon, think of Roman ideas and culture, antichrist - economic - how little rag tag church, how leader in exile, - Ridiculous - expect for this Jesus the Living One God Man - like secret weapon in spiritual battle of this world, the key that unlocks the most wonderful story of what this world and you life and mine should be.
And you aren’t going to get this secret weapon, nor this key -if just jump into charts of the end times, identify the beast and Antichrist, not going to get it by map or theory of world history of philosophy, only like John , path of duty and humble service. on Lord’s Day - and quite surprise - last revelation of Jesus . True in you life too - in humble service, there for testimony of Jesus - not in the glory not in your best achievement - there we find JESUS, the Living One.
Key Truth: Get the Revelation vision of Jesus to understand His overcoming victory and copy it!
Key Truth: Get the Revelation vision of Jesus to understand His overcoming victory and copy it!
So come with me, no, come with this angel , come with Jesus with this Revelation from God of what is just happening write now with you and Jesus and this world, what soon will happen, and what will happen on the last Day. Let’s discover who this Jesus after gospel and epistles, done, this Jesus ascended and ruling, interceding for his church in this lasts days - who is He?
John introduces us to Him in two ways: first in the greeting of this apocalypse which belongs to Jesus about Jesus and is from jesus to you, but also in the very first and paradigm seeing vision of the book - a vision of Jesus.
A. The Greeting: the One WHO IS (before He was), Making You His Kingdom & His Priest
A. The Greeting: the One WHO IS (before He was), Making You His Kingdom & His Priest
Have you ever wondered why Jesus describes both himself and his Father, as the one who is, was and is to come? Rev 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
What would you expect the order should be? was, is, to come. Past, then present, then future. But that’s not the point of this book. Not simple narative retelling of story of God or Jesus. No these are revelations, of who Jesus is and what He is doing right now. DO you know where this title comes from, God reveals his character as the great covenant God, of absolute loyalty and faithfulness, Name Himself - I am who I am, or I will be who I will Be. He is the Eternal one who shows up in Exodus 3. Moses asks whom shall I say is visiting Israel in slavery, who is confronting Pharoah - I Am Who I am, Jehovah Yahweh is - the one who as it were steps out of eternity into the present time of my people’s suffering and struggle, my world’s spiritual disease… that's who tell them Is Showing Up among them. That’s Jesus message to us, I am God and I am the Alpha and the Omega, A to Z, and I am all powerful and sovereign over everything between the beginning and end, including your trial, tribulation , your struggle and suffering.
Who needs this surprising message that John received in the middle of his regular duty humble living, who in crisis needs this. Keep your ears tuned to this greeting!
Grace and peace to you now from the Jesus who is here. And who is it from first of all - God the Father - is was, and what how is God the Father “to come”. Well, what we say of the Person of Trinity said of the others So God the Father sees us in need of salvation, and none of our priests prophet or kings can do it - I myself will come and do it. Jesus comes in the flesh but Father there working His salvation in Christ.
But then what would you expect like all over the rest of the NT. God the Father, then God the __________. But here is the only and a big exception. Rev 1:4b
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,
Now we know this is not seven angels or seven other spirits, because this is divine greeting extending grace and peace form the living God. Impossible that grace and peace come from an angel. Further Never would we have the Father and Son and angels sandwiched in between.
So clear that like seven churches, representative of fulness of the church (v4). So too the fulness of the Spirit is being referred to here - this is the seven-fold Spirit. Reference to Isaiah 7 where the Spirit of wisdom and .. rests on the Son. ( But even more do you remember - oil in candelabra - Spirit). Not just the temple, prophesy of how a pries Jeshua and Son of David - would rebuild the temple, Christ did it in three days, Peter and James - says church with Gentiles now in it - rebuilt tabernacle.
Zechariah 4
descries the rebuilding of the temple - says - and two big things candle stands, and the lamps themselves. The 7 lamps fed by oil is the Holy Spirit shining light to dark world. But guess what the lamp stands, filled with the Spirit are - they are God’s people they the seven churches - you and m in the darkness and trial shining God’s light!
If you and I are going to survive and thrive, really overcome in victory in this conspiracy of a world - need the Spirit delivering this new grace and new peace.
But then we get what this greeting is really driving towards - the longest description of Triune Source is given to the Person of the Son, but no described here as merely incarnate or crucified or even back from death. No look at the focus: Rev 1:5a
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
Actually four not three titles to the portrait of Jesus, we need after receiving salvation, but now needing to serve and endure and testify to Jesus in these last days. He is Christ - that’s the anointed greater Son of David, King. He is the witness the faith one - book is full of witnesses - what all believers called to in this book, Two Witnesses Elijah and Moses - great symbols have to interpret - but this Jesus is the one who has the testimony you and I need, he is the model of how we to overcome by the word of our testimony Rev 12/3
But look at the next title: The firstborn of the dead. Now it’s certainly true that Jesus- first not just resuscitated but raised never to die. Also true that He’s the first with a harvest in you r and me to follow. But the good news here is that He is the one who came back from death and Hades - seemed to lose - but back in victory - I am the One laughing out of the tomb, - reversing death, exhausting wrath and condemnation of God, I am the New Creation -
And then the last title, if this is all true, and Jesus is with us now for us - guess what all the earthly rulers - you feel so ridiculed in the Roman culture, you are paying the cost - you fear - Yes, I have plan for the struggle and trial and your witness - but know that I rule the rulers even the evil ones who seem to have you under their thumb!
The order of these titles so important too: Christ witnessed and suffered for it, He was raised up after that witness, and then what he was exalted and He reigned. And now Jesus gives this vision of Himself, and is calling you and I His church indwell with the Spirit, upon us, to follow the same career beginning with the witness ad suffering for it
Well, when like VanGogh you are before a portrait like that - takes your breath away . John introduces one the main responses that this book demands of us - not fear and confusion at the details of the last, days, but you get this vision of who Jesus is now - And look he gets stuck in the middle of bringing worship to this Jesus:
Rev 1:5b-6
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation is so much about worship - worship in heaven and how that’s to be duplicated even on the Lord’s Day in divine worship. But Also this broader question of the worship of your life - is on going to be to the beast, the world system - liturgies of consummation , of fame, of sensual pleasure - or is it about giving the dominion in the reign of Jesus grace in your life!
But John’s praise is interpreted by that middle piece, why do we worship in both senses? Not only because He loved us back 2000 years ago by coming at Christmas, nor only because loved us by dying and rising for us Good Friday or Easter. It doesn’t say he loved us, though of course true.
But because He loves us now, today in our weakness and suffering and struggle. ie. Jason Gray - Job friend give you explanation, here lesson, got learn, no gave biggest man hug 5 minutes. This living one - his presence with us now - showing up 80% of helping.
And look what all he did in perfect salvation worked 200 years ago, He freed us why? Rev 1:5b-6
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Wow now we not only get the type of writing this book is, nor who its about, but now we get the plot, what’s supposed to happen. Now we get the purpose the Living One has for this time before he comes back!
The OT prophesy said, the one who would rise from the dead - not just atonement not just door to heaven, but that one, that Son of David and Son of Man given a kingdom. John says, you and I don’t have to wait for a time in future for that kingdom to come. It come and its coming more fully and you have a posting in this kingdom that to the world seem s almost invisible just a mustard seed. And look at that posting, not only are we to start reigning in this world -by living in the ways and grace and mercy of Jesus, but we are already now to be living as priests of God. What the OT prophesy said would happen, in Exodus 19 big if, if follow my commandments then be to me a holy nation, Now Christ fulfilled what Israel and we couldn't do, and he says - now kingdom is here, and you are priest with me. priestly work of prayer, testify .
And that is what Rev 1:7 explains, as the king who died for his people and not ascending up to heaven now, but from His throne coming - in both judgment and deliverance to the world!
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Daniel 7:13
Son of Man - coming to Ancient of Days, then a picture of Christ ascending to Fathers throne ascension given the kingdom.
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
John ID’s same Son of Man, but having ascended he is now coming to this world in different way!
And this is referring to what Zechariah prophesied, when Messiah comes temple rebuilt - not just Jews see and not just wail but word means mourn, and turn repent , but now all tribes of the earth Zechariah 12:10. Look at the context -
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
people seeing Christ’s saving work - and repenting - In Zechariah just repentant of the Jews. At the Cross this is the Roman Centurion, In Revelation, in John’ day and to the end of the world, this will happen among every tribe, tongue and nation.
And we are to share in Christ’s priestly work - go to those nations, our testimony to the pierced one Because John saying He’s coming again and with the clouds of glory -
Well this Jesus is going to minster the grace and peace you need for these last days you are living in . But before the book takes off, and so you don’t get lost in what Jesus and His people and this world will be about, the first vision John and we his fellow co-regent and priests for God is given is of Jesus and His program. This coming Jesus at work -describes himself as the Alpha and Omega, Aleph - Tau - meant t include everything in between - and then He says as Jesus will be with my Church visit this world with both salvation and judgment . Who am I to you? As eternal God with His people not usual word, but ALL-POWER - The Lord of Hosts - the King with heavenly army present with his people, ready for the battles of these last ages!
And its even clearer. The big deal of the Apocalypse, even bigger than what happens with all the evil and suffering i in these days, is the victory of Jesus in the midst of this mess!
B. The Vision: The King-Priest who Walks Among us His Rebuilt Temple on Earth
B. The Vision: The King-Priest who Walks Among us His Rebuilt Temple on Earth
Imagine how this happens for John because in so many ways its the only way Jesus comes to you, until the very last day. John was in the Spirit. That part not how the Spirit dwells in you but like OT prophet. How God is revealing. But though that is inspiration, We only meet Jesus as those words illuminated by the same Spirit. In the Lord’s Day - carve out space like John did for worship, to hear from Lord, Reflect on his church his program, his salvation his resurrection. Rev 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
God’s word like a trumpet, … how else is this voice described in Rev 1:15
his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
You and I need experience this. John and so expectant was he of God’s word that he turns to see the voice. How vivid is God’s Word to you, do you turn aside - I’ve got to check this out, Understand I want more details… I want to see Jesus!!!!
John turns and a surprise meets him, doesn't see the voice first but what? Rev 1:12
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
Have you ever seen one of these? Menorah - where is that in the OT, tabernacle's inner court… what lit up the darkness. Israel not royal kingdom, and kingdom of priests - snuffed out and temple gone. God sends Zechariah 4 says, my temple is going to rebuilt - candles of seven - but only as fed by golden pipe, - Holy Spirit … and you better get this design, these blueprints straight in your head, because its describing how we as the NT church are to work. Israel was supposed to be a light of revelation to the Gentiles. The Messiah fulfilled that as Is 49:6b prophesied,
he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
but then as much as Jesus says I am the lIghtof the world, he turn to you and me - and says - now you are the light of the world!!
Fed by Spirit, But Zechariah’s vision says a King and Priest - Zerubabble and Joshua have to show up and rebuild this temple - and the wonder of it is that Jesus fulfills and and is being both in our midst right now.
Revelation 1:13
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
We’ll see who the Son of Man is in a moment as king. But the long robe and golden sash is the High Priest.
And why is that Jesus big job? Because the church is to be a candle stick set on stand in the midst of all the darkness of the Roman empire - hard place, dark place, disgusting place - Digoensis letter - these Christians way they live love, respect - nothing like it ,and we kill but they bless us - Wow whose job, which occupation does that for their job - priests. The seven lampstands are the seven churches! Are we engaged in that?
Well only as this one who is both priest and King, and then lets us share in his work, and builds us into a holy temple made not of stone but living people , only as He does His work. And just look at He who this book is about!
Rev 1:14
The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
Here we should learn that John isn’t able to describe fulness of all he is saying, and that word like and all these pictures from the OT teaches us how we need to read the book. John is using these pictures and symbols from the OT, and he’s going to use some from that other Apocalyptic literature of his day, but he adapts it for his message. So for instance in Daniel 7 the one like a Son of Man, approaches the Ancient of Days who is pictured with hair as white a snow. But here John says, the Son of Man John had literally seen that before on the mount of Transfiguration - Christ in full glory - shining . like what like sun at full strength. Glory … Jesus is himself is like the Ancient of Days, he full God like God the Father.
And he is not coming to ascend to heaven, He is coming down now among his church He is coming down for judgment on those who refuse Him.
And look now into His eyes with John, again not literal description that human eyes have flames in them, like Merlin in magic TV show. But these eyes like flames of fire - penetrate to see everything - sees through all the smoke and mirrors we put up and this world puts up - sees as people and things really are - coming to judge and terror .
But let your eyes take in the fulness of the one who really reigns this world and universe, this Jesus , Rev 1:15
his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
Why would feet have bronze in them in the ancient world. Soldier feet in the middle of a battle, and this Son of Man - saying I am going to show up for you beleaguered world and people, and came once to save in mercy, but comiog again in history for judgment - Feet have led in them, so slow to come that patient waiting for repentance - but when the foot of the son of man falls in judgment there is no escape Awesome purity
But what else will jesus about in these last days: Rev 1:16
In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Not only does he walk among his church, but listen where is Jesus physically right now. At God’s right-hand. And what is in God’s right hand here, the angels of his churches, and by extension you and I, protected by angels in the battle, safest place in the universe. - though stumble, though even fall - and tragedy of suffering wrap its fingers around us, safe in the arms of Jesus and up held.
What is Jesus doing - prophetic picture of Isaiah - sharp sword from Messiah's mouth - Hebrews tells us how Jesus is ministering - penetrate thoughts and - most powerful reality in the universe, and how he will ljudge
And that brings us to the conclusion of this first vision: what is your reaction to who Jesus is now and to the last day?
C. The Interpretation of the 1st Vision: The Mystery of Christ among the Candles
C. The Interpretation of the 1st Vision: The Mystery of Christ among the Candles
If the identity of the beast, or the antiChrist or the date of Christ’s return is all you want to know . May as well, close up this book. What you really need to attend to is the Christ -
How would you answer this question? When I saw Jesus as He is with salvation completed, now in his glory now reigning and ministering form heaven - I what - yawned, I picked up another book, I smiled nicely and said, Oh there is that nice…
Rev 1:17a
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
That’s the response of servants of the Lord really meet their God.
Oh can you imagine it? To really have seen into heaven, to behold Jesus as He is truly God, True King - in control of even these end times, And there is the moment Rev 1:17b
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
You have so much to fear in this world. The mess yourself, God as your judge, your future, You have much to fear if you look at what is happening in the newspaper, and even more if you read this book of Revelation with your eye only on the evil. Will despair, Will retreat from this world, saying its going to hell in a hand basket - so just fear and wait and grumble.
But then this Jesus lays His hand on your trembling confused shoulder - like Mary in Garden of Getshaen weeping - Mary it is I - Rabonni This one who reigns over all, John He is the one who said your are my friend, you are my beloved.
And Jesus doesn’t just say, Fear Not, As if you’re afriad of x,y,z now I am not going to fear that one thing in my life. Jesus looks at John in Patmos who has vision of the whole mess of life and this world, and evils can’t stomach - sys it Again - FI am first and last, I am A to Z of this and all this stuff in your life in between. I’ve got this. What’s more: Rev 1:18
and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Do you remember first time parent, said here are the keys. Imagine not for a car, but locked in death, locked in Hades, underworld without God - and your parents say lived whole life down here, but now I have found teh key, I’ve won them, I went to hell and back again, I got these keys for you - and nw I the living One - I share these keys with you.
But John, there a tonne of other people struggling through these last times, like you lonely in pandemic not just of covid, but of persecution, there are tonne of people ready to throw in the towel. So this mystery of Who I Am - that you now know from these vision, It’s not just for you my best friend John , now go and tell all your friends, and even your enemies. Write this down - not the mystery of Babylon and end times most of all that must talk to this world about. But Christ among the church Christ. Rev 1:20
As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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.
This is Jesus’ own interpretation of the first vision: the mystery of the seven star and lampstands - me walking among them, seven stars representing those seven church -going to have seven letters - each repeating one phrase from this description and and encouragement. That’s the first letter: Rev 2:1
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
Ned to get mystery of Christ with His church - like John partner in the tribulation of our times, the Kingdom now already in part reign of grace , and in the patient endurance - power to hang on that Jess works by Spirit and Word. Amen