The Revelation of Jesus Christ- A Message of Blessing to the Local Church- Part 2

The Very Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1-3)

Revelation 1:1–3 ESV

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

The Revelation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (1:4-8)

Revelation 1:4 ESV

4 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,

Who is this letter from?

Who is this letter to?

cf. 1:11

Aside:

To seven churches in Asia—to what do the 7 churches refer?

(1) They were historic churches in Asia Minor-no relevance today

(2) They were historic churches and have to do with present day church—there are characteristics found throughout the church age

(3) Each church represents a period in church history (see Schofield Reference Bible)

(4) These churches represent a Jewish church and describe a different dispensation than today (Bullinger-hyperdispensationalsim)

Contra periods of church history (the most common dispensational view at one time)

1. These are the “things that are” from Rev. 1:19

2. There is no future emphasis given to any other epistle

3. All of the conditions were present in the first century church; why wouldn’t they be today? Why limit today to the church of Laodicea?

4. The Philadelphian church is not the only one promised a rapture; how can two different eras of the church be promised a rapture? (2:25—Thyatira)

5. The later church would be presented as more pure and faithful than the apostolic church—throws out history (“nothing against” = pure)

6. The concluding promise to each church is applied to all churches (each ends with the phrase “unto all the churches”); the truth to each church has some relevance to all churches

7. The modernist/apostate church cannot be considered “luke warm” as described by the church at Laodicea; God only gives revelation to and disciplines believers, nowhere else does “church” mean unbelievers

8. We reject the historical view for the rest of the book, why not be consistent in chapters 2-3?

9. There is not agreement regarding the dates to which the churches refer (see the variety of suggestions in various charts)

10. The churches listed are only in Asia—not around the world (1:4)

What is the this letter for?

Grace to you and peace!

So, at the heart of this letter is its intent to encourage local church believers. This vision was intended to encourage believers- to minister unto them grace and peace. Again, if you don’t tie this into every part of this letter, if you forget that this revelation of Jesus Christ is intensely practical and personal for church age saints, then you miss the intended purpose. This letter is for you believer, it is for you to find grace and peace tomorrow at work, at home, with your family, with your spouse, in your ministry, in your evangelism, in your suffering, in your persecution for Christ’s sake, in your boldness for the gospel. This vision is meant to encourage you!

What is the source or the basis of this grace and peace?

The Father- “from him who is and who was and who is to come”

The Spirit- “from the seven spirits who are before his throne,”

2 possibilities- Holy Spirit or to seven angels (Seven angels of later judgments, seven angels of the churches, or seven archangels)

Many different arguments, but I hold the first option, that this is the Holy Spirit.

1). John is referencing the entire Godhead- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

2). John is praying for grace and peace to these church saints and where does this grace and peace come from? It comes from, and can only come from God or the Godhead. Nowhere in Scripture do we ever see grace and peace coming from anyone other than God Himself. Why does John refer to the Holy Spirit this way? “seven Spirits which are before his throne”? It may be a parallel to some OT passages like Zech. 4:1-6 or Isa. 11:2 (you can look those up on your own), but I can’t wait to meet the Apostle John one day and ask him exactly why he refereed to the Holy Spirit this way.

There is a third source of this grace and peace- and John majors on the last one.

Revelation 1:5 ESV

5 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

Who is the third source of grace and peace?

In this book, the very Revelation of Jesus Christ, it is Jesus Himself that is the primary source of the believer’s grace and peace. And if we will just stop and think about the way that John describes Jesus in these few verse, we will find an incredible reason to be encouraged!

First, John has to set the stage- and if you are a follower of Jesus Christ then you already know this. But John HAS to remind you of this for the encouragement to take its full effect.

So what does John remind every believer of? This grace and peace finds its source pre-eminently in Jesus Christ!

What are the three ways that Jesus is described in this verse?

• The faithful witness- What does Jesus faithfully witness about? How does that effect the believer’s view of the revelation of Jesus that John is about to tell them?

• The firstborn of the dead- How is Jesus the firstborn of the dead?

Colossians 1:18 ESV

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Firstborn- not talking about beginning in terms of time, but talking about his position, Jesus has first place / talking about preeminence!

Why does it matter to us? How does Jesus being first born affect us?

Romans 8:29–30 ESV

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The ruler of kings on earth- How would this be an encouragement to believers?

But John is not done yet, not only is Jesus the faithful witness- so everything he has said, and is about to say is unquestioningly truthful.

Not only is Jesus the firstborn of the dead, so every believer has the promised hope of being themselves resurrected from the dead.

Not only is Jesus the ruler of the kings of the earth, so every authority on earth surely must bow before Him!

Revelation 1:5 ESV

5 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

What has Jesus done for us that is an abundant source of grace and peace?

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

AND washed (alternate reading, loosed us or released us)

Revelation 1:6 ESV

6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

and made us a kingdom/kings

and he has made us to be priests unto his God and Father

Knowing all of this about Jesus, what is the proper response to this truth?

“TO HIM BE GLORY AND DOMINION FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN!”

Now, why did John take the time to remind us of all of these things about Jesus Christ- the pre-eminent source of grace and peace for believers?

To give v. 7 its proper weight!

Revelation 1:7 ESV

7 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.

Why does the text say, “He is coming with the clouds” and not “He will come with the clouds”?

“Behold, he comes with the clouds” The idea is he is coming, he is on his way right now- present, act, indicative- NOT He is coming (Future), but he is coming right now- it is imminent!

How does this thought bring encouragement to the church?

What are some challenges/trials that we are facing as believers right now?

How does this verse gives us comfort?

Well, what if the next president is a democratic socialist? “Behold, He is coming with the clouds”

Well, what if the supreme court rules against freedom of speech and religion and Christians are persecuted for their faith? “Behold, He is coming with the clouds”

Well, what if I go into my Jerusalem and invite people to read the Bible with me and they laugh at me? “Behold, He is coming with the clouds”

Well, what if my pastor asks me to do some kind of ministry in the church that I am not comfortable with? “Behold, He is coming with the clouds”

Well, what if my body gets old, or sick, or diseased ridden? “Behold, He is coming with the clouds”

Who is coming?

The faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth, the one who loves you and freed you from your sins by his blood, the one who made you a kingdom and priests to God the Father- Jesus Christ is coming, He is on His way. Does John have your attention yet? Jesus Christ is the Coming One!

When Jesus comes who will see Him?

And every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him,

How is this a source of comfort?

How will the “tribes of the earth” respond when Jesus comes back?

and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

How is this a source of comfort?

Revelation 1:8 ESV

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Why does John end his introduction with this statement in v. 8?

Debate if this is God the Father or God the Son speaking- but the meaning is the same

The Lord is Alpha- He is beginning- all things were made by Him and for Him

The Lord is also Omega- He is the ending- all things will end exactly as He says they will.

The Lord is the one who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty!

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds”

Grace and peace to you church! Blessing to you church! Hear these words and obey! Tomorrow as you go to work! Allow these thoughts to motivate your joyful obedience and faithfulness! That is why the book of Revelation exists!