Glory Revealed Series

GLORY REVEALED

Revelation 1:1-8

The Book of Revelation was received during a very difficult time for Christ’s Church. The local assemblies endured persecution from people outside of the church, and they encountered spiritual attacks, heretical teaching, and spiritual apathy within the church. Christ’s church needed to be comforted, encouraged, rebuked, taught, and strengthened. The Book of Revelation provided them with all of these things and so much more.

Two thousand years later, Christ’s Church is still facing these same issues; as a result, we need comfort, encouragement, strength, correction and instruction. Thankfully, God has given us a book that is filled with hope and encouragement; it is also a book of caution, exhortation, and instruction. Revelation gives us the assurance that Christ will return and at the same time it tells us how to live and operate as His Church until He does.

The bulk of Revelation describes the coming judgment of God on this world. It also has much to say about the persecution that Christ’s followers will experience in the last days. Not only does it reveal the reality of persecution, it also encourages us to endure and to remain faithful in the midst of dark days.

Revelation is a word that means “Unveiling”. This is a book that came directly from Christ, and it is all about Christ. From Revelation 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the glory of Jesus Christ is the subject. As we study this passage I would like to preach on the subject “Glory Revealed”. Throughout our selected text we will see:

I. THE PROMISE CONCERNING THE REVELATION

II. THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE REVELATION

iii. THE PURPOSE OF THE REVELATION

- Let’s begin with:

THE PROMISE CONCERNING THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

v3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Many people are intimidated by the Book of Revelation and as a result they avoid it. But the fact is that God gave us this book for a reason, it is clear that He intended it to be read in His churches and by His people. Not only does God expect us to read this book, He expects us to obey the truth that is contained within; furthermore, He promises to bless those who read and obey this book. The word “blessed” means to be spiritually “happy”. There are blessings to be received by reading any of the 66 books of the Bible, but Revelation is the only one that comes with a promise to those who read it and obey what is written therein.

It is also important to note that the message that is contained within this book is a time sensitive message, for Jesus declares that “the time is near”. This means that the coming of Christ is imminent; it is the next event on God’s redemptive timeline. We do not know when Jesus will return, but it is vital that we believe that He will return to earth someday.

- There is a promise concerning the book of Revelation, now I would like to consider who this promise is for. Look back to verses 1-2 as we examine:

THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

This book was not written to the pagans, and its promises are not given to unbelievers; this book is a message from Christ to His people. The Revelation was given from Jesus to John, John was to write this information down and send it to the Angels (or messengers) of seven specific churches that were located in Asia Minor. These messengers were to deliver this information to the members of those churches. Finally, this information has been received by Christians throughout the ages, including you and me.

- The first to receive this message was:

A. THE APOSTLE JOHN

v1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Jesus chose to send this message to the church, through His servant John. John is a familiar character whose influence is seen throughout church history. In A.D 27, Jesus called John and his brother James to be His Disciples. These two men whom He referred to as the “Sons of Thunder” became part of His inner circle. John faithfully followed Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, unto His death, after His resurrection, to His ascension and beyond.

Shortly after Pentecost, John was arrested and beaten for preaching Christ in Jerusalem. John remained faithful in spite of great persecution and became a leader in the early church. Around A.D 67, the Apostles Peter & Paul were executed, and John began to serve in Ephesus. In A.D 70, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans and the church was scattered as a result. It is believed that somewhere around A.D 90 John wrote his Gospel account and his three epistles. In A.D 93 John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos and in A.D 95 he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. John was eventually released from exile by Emperor Nerva and afterwards he returned to his leadership role in Ephesus.