Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Scripture

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:4-6 - Greetings

Revelation 1:7 - The Coming of Christ

Revelation 1:8 - The Eternal Father

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

John, pulling from multiple Old Testament sources, gives an epistolary introduction revealing the theme of Revelation

Revelation 1:4-6 - Greetings

***This is the only time in the NT a greeting includes a grace wish from all members of the Trinity***

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

First century context:

Ephesus

Smyrna

Pergamum

Thyatira

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

Symbolically:

Intended for all churches regardless of time

Grace to you (all) and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come,

Grace to you and peace

What does the church need in the midst of tribulation which could lead them to compromise their faith?

Grace and peace from the Trinity!

Peace from Him

God the Father

Who is and who was and who is to come

Isaiah draws from Exodus 3:14 to emphasis that Yahweh is still the Creator, Lord, and Savior despite the Israelites exile in Babylon

John also draws from this reality to reassure the church that God is eternal, sovereign over all, He reigns over the entire world, and is one day coming to establish his kingdom in all its fullness

And from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

Seven spirits

Seven symbolically represents the perfection/fullness of the Holy Spirit

Revealing God’s spirit at work in the world - GRACE

The Holy Spirit empowers the Messiah to rule over all in the end-time

And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

***Allusion to Psalm 89 as it was understood to be messianic by nature as the Messiah will rule on His throne over His enemies forever***

***Psalm 89 develops this idea from 2 Samuel 7:13-16 and Psalm 2:7-8***

The threefold title of Jesus here is meant to encourage Christians who are about to experience persecution because Jesus likewise suffered and overcame, just as these Christians will be empowered to do as they suffer persecution

The faithful witness

Comparison of the moon being an unending witness like the reign of David’s seed - the messiah

The firstborn of the dead

The firstborn of the dead via Jesus resurrection work

Ruler of the kings on earth

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

To him who loves us

An eternal love that caused Him to free His people from sin

Freed us from our sins by his blood

Freed from the power of sin

Jesus’ high priestly work

And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father,

Kingdom, priests

John’s use of Exodus 19 reveals that the church does not compare to Israel, but is not functioning as the true Israel

Our role as priests is to worship the Father with our whole lives

To him be glory and dominion forever and ever.

Amen.

Doxology revealing that Christ is truly deserving of glory and dominion forever

Revelation 1:7 - The Coming of Christ

***Revelation 1:7-8 reveal the thematic message of Revelation in two prophetic oracles***

***Revelation 1:7 - Final judgment and salvation***

***Highly influenced by Daniel 7:13 (All nations will submit to the Son of Man), Zechariah 12:10 (All of Jerusalem’s enemies will be defeated, but she will be be brought under her Davidic king), & Matthew 24:30 (The Son of Man is coming to bring judgment on His enemies, rewards for those who are His, and initiate the new creation)***

Behold,

Imperative emphatically validates what comes next

He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him,

Coming with the clouds

Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him

And all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.

Wail on account of him

Those who have lamented over their rebellion

The Abrahamic covenant is now complete

Even so.

Amen.

Affirms what has just been written

Yes and amen for the full coming of God’s kingdom

Revelation 1:8 - The Eternal Father

***Revelation 1:8 - The eternal and almighty God will see His purposes fulfilled***

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”

God is in control of all history from beginning to end especially as it relates to eschatological salvation and judgment

says the Lord God,

This phrase is used repeatedly in Haggai, Zechariah, and Malchi to refer to God’s sovereignty over his people

“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

God’s true sovereignty is reaffirmed to the readers as he closes the introduction

Application

Revelation was written TO the seven churches in Asia, but is also INTENDED for every church

Christ is the true ruler over the earth, thus there is no reason to fear governing authorities

Christ, through His atoning highly priestly work, has made us a kingdom and priests to the Father

When Christ comes on the clouds the Abrahamic Covenant will be fulfilled

Main Point

John, pulling from multiple Old Testament sources, gives an epistolary introduction revealing the theme of Revelation