A Glimpse Of The Glorified Christ Series

A GLIMPSE OF THE GLORIFIED CHRIST, PT. 2

REV. 1:4-20

http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GlimpseGlorifiedChristPartTwo.html

Last week we began our glimpse and we saw Christ the Human, the High Priest (making Intercession/Intervention/Inspection), and Christ the Holy One. (pouring in the oil/trimming the wicks)

That was in v. 14 (read), and as we continue this week focus in on that last phrase in v. 14: “his eyes were as a flame of fire.” And as we continue to study John’s description of the Jesus that he saw, think with me of the word “penetrating”.

1. Penetrating

This is symbolism. Today we might say, “And his eyes had x-ray vision” or “his eyes burned a hole right thru me!”

A person pretends to be something that they’re not, and someone comes along and says, “they don’t fool me, I can see right thru them!”

Sobering thought…the penetrating eyes of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we can fool our boss, the preacher, friends, kids, parents, spouse (not often)

News flash: You can’t fool God!

Bin Laden…has he fooled us? Where is he?

O.J. Simpson—did he fool the jury? You can fool an earthly judge, it has happened many times, but the Judge of the universe will not be fooled, and if O.J. is guilty and thinks he got away w/ it, he’s got another thing coming, because he will stand before another judge Whose eyes are like a flame of fire!

Joke—man / not smart / on trial for stealing a watch / prosecution presented their best case / not enough evidence / judge: “Sam, you’ve been acquitted” / Sam: “does that mean I have to give the watch back?”

Hebrews 4:12-13

12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Every impure thought / every gossiping word over the telephone / every bit of jockeying a person may try to do behind the scenes in the church or their workplace…it’s all open to the probing eyes of Almighty God!

You can fool the hapless public, you can be a secret fraud,

You can hide your little sins, but you can’t fool God.

You can advertise your virtue, you can self-achievement laud,

You can load yourself w/ riches, but you can’t fool God

You can magnify your talent, you can hear the world applaud,

You can boast yourself somebody, but you can’t fool God!

Ill—Years ago Cincinnati newspaper: story of a man in Dr.’s office / “you need a chest x-ray, something’s wrong w/ your heart” / “oh no, I can’t afford it…I have no money at all” / he was dressed poorly, so the Dr. believed him / said, “you need it badly, so I’ll do it for free / x-ray showed in a pocket in his shirt 5 $20 gold pieces…back when $100 was a lot of money / “how’s my heart look?” / “dear sir, your heart is very, very bad--your heart is filled w/ dishonesty!”

“His eyes were as a flame of fire!”

Next, think of the word…

2. Pursuing

v. 15

In OT, brass is always a symbol of judgment.

Tabernacle: everything in outer court is made of brass: brazen altar, brazen laver. This was the place where sin was judged!

Jesus is coming w/ feet of brass, because He is coming to pursue relentlessly, vengeance and judgment, and He will be absolutely unstoppable in His pursuit. There will be no stopping the wrath of our God, when his burning, brazen feet touch down upon this earth.

No, in Rev. He is not the meek and mild Savior; He is the righteous and thrice Holy Judge.

v. 16 “sharp two-edged sword”

This is the Sword of God mentioned in Heb. 4:12. It’s the Sword of the Spirit from Eph. 6, part of the whole armor of God…

“the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”

But here in Rev. it’s not to bless, and lift up, and edify, but rather it’s being used to SMITE the nations in judgment!

Jesus is coming back to take vengeance upon His enemies, it will be a relentless pursuit of vengeance and judgment. Will He be chasing you?

A lot of people don’t like to see Jesus portrayed this way, in this light. All they ever see is the Christ of the Gospels…I hope they get over it soon, because if you don’t see the Glorified Christ for who He is here in Ch. 1, you will NEVER understand the book of Rev., and if you never heed the warnings and get saved, you’ll be surprised by the Lamb made Lion of Judah!