Jesus Revealed (3)

Introduction: Friend who posted about predictions of a war in the middle east that was going to begin last September based on her reading of Revelation. It didn't happen.

What is Revelation?

Read Revelation 1:1a

1. Sometimes the challenge of reading Revelation is found not in the mystery of it, but rather in overcoming our preunderstanding of it. It may in part be based on our association of the book’s Greek title (apokalypsis) with the way we understand the idea of “apocalypse” in modern English parlance. When speaking of the title, Wright says, “This is partly because the original word, ‘Apocalypse’, wasn’t well known at the time of earlier translations into English. Now, of course, ‘apocalypse’, and its cousin ‘apocalyptic’, have become well known in English. Perhaps too well known: they have come to refer, not so much to the sudden unveiling of previously hidden truth, but to ‘apocalyptic’ events, violent and disturbing events such as natural disasters (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis) or major and horrific human actions. In that sense, September 11, 2001 was an ‘apocalyptic’ event” (N. T. Wright, Revelation for People, New Testament for Everyone [Louisville: John Knox Press, 2011], 1, Kindle) We tend to get lost in the interpretive trends of the last century, which often seek to muddy John’s historical vantage points, and jump headlong into the application of the book to current events. (N. T. Wright, Revelation, 3).

Mike Baird

• The Word Apocalypse means to Reveal something that is hidden. The sense is a removing the veil to see beyond our 5 sense world to the unseen world and perspective of God behind it all.

• Apocalyptic books in the Bible -Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation (The Apocalypse of Jesus or the Unveiling of Jesus behind human history).

• Outside the Bible, The Pseudapigrapha. - popular type of literature in Judaism and early Christianity from around 200 b.c - 200 ad.

• Comes out of periods when the prophets were absent, during persecution - A Revelation from God, but the writer is often not called a prophet.

• Israel’s struggles with prophets.

• Pseudapigrapha - Written in a famous persons name to give credibility.

• This is the one difference of Biblical Apocalypse – Written by Daniel, by Zechariah, by John.

• Highly Symbolic - Borrowed their symbols from the Old Testament Prophets and from Temple architecture, elements, furniture etc...

• Written to the persecuted in order to encourage them that God is with them. The Symbolism is often hidden from the persecuted, but would be well understood by the persecuted.

• Presents history as though the end was very near.

• It is Pessimistic towards human history

• But it is Positively Deterministic. That God is in complete Control of History and will bring it to a beautiful conclusion - And So it is full of hope and expectation.

• It depicts the Spiritual Warfare – unseen, a cosmic battle God vs. Satan.

• Highly Visionary usually mediated by a guide - Usually an Angel.

Application Point: We must read Revelation in the way the Author intended it. Strip away our preconceived ideas of Apocalypse, and get into the minds of the original writer/reader.

What is it that is Revealed?

Jesus Reveals God’s Plan.

Read Revelation 1:1-8

God as the first author vs.8 - Who is, and has been, and is to come - is long for God’s reference as “I myself Am.” to Moses. - This Revelation was given by the one who has created all things and governing all of History.

Trinity is involved - Sevenfold Spirit - The Holy 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, and He will delight in the fear of the Lord." Isaiah 11:2–3 (NASB). - Reference to the the “Branch” ie the Messiah, who will come to judge.

Application Point: We must read Revelation as the Word of God. He is the source of this book.

God’s Plan Reveals Jesus.

Read Revelation 1:1a, 5-7

-Talk about How Jesus is described here. including the Son of Man

Faithful witness - Jesus’ life

released us from our sin - Death

Resurrection Victory

Ascension Rule - ruler of the kings

Church - Kingdom of Priests - grafted into Israel.

Son of Man - coming on the clouds imagry.

Out of Daniel - The image of Jesus coming on the clouds ties into the general imagry of God coming on the clouds of heaven in particular in relationship to God coming to deliver his chosen people or person from someone or a nation that wants to destroy them. For David it was Saul, for the Nation of Israel it is in remembrance of God delivering Israel from the idols of Egypt. In Daniel it is the Son of Man who comes from the the Ancient of Days throne to deliver God's people from the beastly nations, specifically the fourth and most terrifying beast. Jesus identified himself as that Son of Man who was coming on the clouds of Heaven. I believe then it harkens back to God leading Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, and that the image of God coming on clouds is a symbol of Justice and God's righteous rule. It is terrifying to those who are against God's righteous rule, but comfort to those who God protects.

One fascinating detail is how John alludes to Zechariah 12 of the tribes of the earth mourning over the one who was pierced. In Zechariah and the ones who mourn are not all of the tribes of the entire earth, but the tribes of Israel. All the tribes of Israel will realize they pierced their Messiah and they will weep and mourn over that.

The key to understanding Revelation—as a book or an extended letter—seems to be bound up in recognizing the significance of Jesus’s death and resurrection as the source of the believer’s victory in life and death (Revelation 1:4–6).

Lady at Church who disagreed that Revelation points us to Jesus.

Application Point: We must look for the Good News of Jesus in Revelation, because it is of Him and from Him.

Jesus Reveals the Imagery of God’s Plan.

Read Revelation 1:1c

Jesus explains the symbolic Nature of God’s Visionary communication.

vs. 1 - "esemanen" the word means signify, indicate, report - to convey or express a meaning. So what Jesus is passing on to John is the meaning of the revelation he received from the Father. Jesus does not just want the visions and God's perspective to be given, but he also wants us to understand it. - To that use the illustration of explaining what a Financial Analyst does to my 3 year old daughter.

So, this means Jesus wants us to understand this book. He doesn’t want it to be a mystery to us. - John’s book, “Revelation Plain and Simple.”

“Can I equip you to be able to read this book and you understand it, without me or any other teacher having to explain it to you?”

Application Point: We read it expecting Jesus to make it understandable.

John relays Jesus’ Revelation.

Read Revelation 1:1-2, 4c

The second author - It is a chain letter.

To specific churches at a particular time.

Read Revelation 4:a

Share the story of taking a class with my pastor on the book of Revelation. I was trying to tie the images of locusts with wings of thunder to military planes, and helicopters. etc....

Sometimes the challenge of reading Revelation is found not in the mystery of it, but rather in overcoming our preunderstanding of it.

Chart explaining what must shortly take place.

Some have suggested that the word for “what must Soon take place actually means what will happen quickly. In other words for the 7 churches it may happen over 2000 years later, but when it does, it will happen quickly. The problem with that is the context that does not support that reading. This letter was written to 7 churches current to John who are and will about to undergo persecution. John is writing to encourage them in what is happening to them now, and what will soon happen to them.

We will see this importance reading this book as contemporaneous to the 7 churches again in 1:19 next week. “Write the things you saw, which are, and the things about to take place after these things.”

vs. 3 because the time is near! - It is always near.

Application Point: We need to first uncover the meaning intended to the original readers, before we apply this book to our lives and times.

To Glorify Jesus

Read Revelation 1:5a-6

I suspect people may be offended in some way in this sermon series.

Some may say: I have never been taught that is what Revelation says. And yes there is a lot of debate around its interpretation.

Some may not like pictures of a God who holds people accountable for sin in Revelation.

This book is to Bless, but not at the expense of Glorifying God. We must hear what God has to say, not what we want Him to say.

Application Point: In our reading we must Glorify God by being open to His message.

Revelation is for our Blessing.

Read Revelation 1:3

For many reading brings fear (reasons) why, but in reality the message is for our blessing, to reduce fear, to increase confidence in Christ and his victory.

How Revelation is like in building Faith.

How Ben was able to do difficult things when what was going to happen was explained.

When Naomi didn't care what happened during the time she was a sleep.

When we got Ben's diagnosis, we felt a release, not that we didn't think it was not going to be hard, but that the prognosis was better than thought, and encouragement that we could get through this.

Application: We will look for the blessing that comes from the victory in persevering through hardship.

Conclusion: