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!
Right now, the Sword of the Word of God cuts to bless, but at the 2nd coming, it will cut to bleed! If the Sword of His Word doesn’t serve to save you in this life, it will condemn you in the afterlife!
This Sword WILL cut you…you choose when.
“I just don’t like that!” Hey, your argument is not w/ me…look at Rev. 2:16…
This prophecy is fulfilled by Chapter 19, on screen:
11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
So much for the image of God being some old mamby-pamby g’pa in a rocking chair up there, “the old man upstairs”, who just allows people to mock him, make fun of him, blaspheme him, like there’s nothing He can do about it.
II Thess. 1 (on screen)
6Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7And to you who are troubled…
To you who are troubled by the blasphemy of this world, / Hollywood dragging His name thru the mud / perversion is rampant everywhere / Washington is corrupt / can’t feel safe from the threats of terrorism / people make fun of you when you witness to them it continues…
…rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
That’s not the Jesus of the Gospels being written of here…add the very next verse:
10When he shall come to be glorified…
that’s a prophetic passage, not talking about the meek and lowly Savior, but the One who is coming back as Judge, Jury, and Executioner!
Ill.--the same sun which melts the ice hardens the clay!
The One who spoke this world into existence will speak His enemies into oblivion!
He’s coming back in Pursuit, and His eyes will be Penetrating!
Next, think of the word…
3. Powerful
v. 15 “voice as the sound of many waters”
So far we’ve been seeing what He looks like, now we begin to listen to what he sounds like…the sound of His voice!
Imagine the thunder of the ocean crashing against the rocks…imagine Niagara Falls and the roar of it.
Ps. 29:3, 4
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
Or Jeremiah 25…
29Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
30Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. 31A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
Imagine the voice of God, that is so powerful that it can be heard around the world! The voice of the glorified Jesus Christ.
When that voice begins to roar out judgment, it will do no good to argue.
Ill—out witnessing / person contradicts Scripture / I show them the verses / they say: “I’ll discuss that w/ God when I die!”
Oh no you won’t, you might as well stand on the beach and argue w/ an incoming hurricane!
This is not the Jesus that John formerly knew…no wonder every knee shall bow…etc.
He is penetrating, He is pursuing, He is powerful…
4. Praiseworthy!
End of v. 16
“countenance as the sun”
We’ve already seen his clothes are golden, his hair is like snow, feet like brass, eyes like fire, voice like crashing waves,
But the most amazing feature is His face…like the sun at noon! You can’t look at the sun, much less the noonday sun!
In Acts 9 Paul got a brief glimpse of that face and was struck blind for 3 days…
Moses had to stand in the cleft of a mountain just to see the back of our Lord’s head (countenance)…
…no wonder Rev. 21 says the city of Heaven has no need for sun or moon to shine, for the glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof! Worthy is the Lamb! Worthy is the Lamb! He is praiseworthy!
Who can describe the glory of Jesus, how can anyone describe it? One writer said,
“the light of the heaven is the face of Jesus
the joy of heaven is the presence of Jesus
the melody of heaven is the name of Jesus
the harmony of heaven is the praise of Jesus
the theme of heaven is the work of Jesus
the employment of heaven is the service of Jesus
the duration of heaven is the eternity of Jesus
the fulness of heaven is Jesus Himself!”
Jesus will be what makes it heaven for me!
THAT Jesus will not be taken lightly / for granted…
THAT Jesus deserves the full attention of your life!
THAT’s a Jesus to tell people about!
THAT Jesus deserves your response!
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GlimpseGlorifiedChristPartTwo.html
