Heaven Breaking Loose Series

Heaven Breaking Loose

Revelation 1:4-6

Purpose: To describe the character of God.

Aim: I want the listener to serve God passionately because of who He is.

INTRODUCTION: There is an old fable about how Satan once called his top demonic aides to plan a strategy against the church of Jesus Christ. Satan stood at on a platform lecturing and illustrating the latest strategies in demonic warfare (he probably used Power Point). At the end of the session Satan said, “Now, get out there and work to keep believers from putting into practice what they believe.” As the demonic leaders were leaving the room, Satan hollered out, “By the way, be careful, if Christians ever begin to really practice what they have been taught in the Bible, then hell help us, all heaven’s going to break loose.”

The book of Revelation reveals Jesus Christ in all of His power and glory as the King of the universe. Let’s look at our text today and learn more about our God and what He has called us to do and pray that “all heaven will break loose.”

REVIEW:

1:1-20 I. John’s Vision of the Past “the things which you have seen”

Vs.1-3 A. The importance of this book

Vs.1a 1. The purpose is to reveal Christ’s glory

a. Jesus is the subject “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”

b. Jehovah is the source “which God gave Him”

c. Judgment is sure “must soon take place”

Vs.1b-2 2. The person who received the revelation “His bond-servant John”

Vs.3 3. The promise that comes with this revelation “Blessed is he”

a. The promise is for those who proclaim this book “he who reads”

b. The promise is for those who hear this book “those who hear”

c. The promise is for those who heed this book “heed”

LESSON:

➔ Vs.4-5a B. The character of God

John tells us that this book was written to seven different churches.

“Asia Minor, equivalent to modern Turkey, was composed of 7 postal districts. At the center of those districts were 7 key cities which served as central points for the dissemination of information. It is to the churches in those cities that John writes.” [ MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (1 Ti 2:1). Nashville: Word Pub.]

In a real way, this book is written to churches like Bethel that are in the middle of the important cities of our day.

John prays that these churches would experience God’s grace which always results in peace. God’s grace always results in God’s peace.

These verses give us a summary of what the rest of this book teaches by highlighting the glory of God as a trinity.

➔Vs.4-5a 1. The Father is eternal “Him who is…was…is to come”

It’s interesting that the Bible never tries to prove the existence of God. It just starts off, Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created … (NAU)

“HIM WHO IS” is the exact phrase that God called Himself in Exodus 3:14 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”… (NAU)

God always has been, God always will be, and that God is coming again.

➔Vs.4b 2. The Spirit is all-knowing “the seven Spirits”

What are “the seven Spirits”? Before I answer that question, notice that this same phrase is used later. Revelation 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. (NAU) and also in: Revelation 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. (NAU)

Since the seven Spirits are in heaven they can’t refer to Christians or even pastors here on earth. I think this is referring to the seven-fold nature of the Holy Spirit that Isaiah talked about in Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit [#1] of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of [#2] wisdom and [#3] understanding, The spirit of [#4] counsel and [#5] strength, The spirit of [#6] knowledge and [#7] the fear of the Lord. (NAU)

Notice where the Holy Spirit is: “before His throne.” Throne is mentioned 47 times in this book. Three of those times it refers to the throne of Satan or the Beast. The basic question in Rev. is who shall rule the earth: Christ, the rightful King; the Dragon, the usurper; or man, who reaches for dominion instead of service. [Custer, S. (2004). From Patmos to paradise: A commentary on Revelation (9). Greenville, S.C.: BJU Press.]

➔Vs.5a 3. The Son is exalted

If this was the only verse in the Bible that talked about Jesus being God then this verse should settle the question.