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.
➔a. Jesus the prophet proclaims salvation “the faithful witness”
John 18:37 … I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth…. (NAU)
➔b. Jesus the priest paid for salvation “the firstborn of the dead”
Jesus was not the first person to be raised from the dead, but He is the first One who raised HIMSELF from the dead, so He is the most exalted One who was ever raised from the dead. Psalm 89:27 “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth. (NAU) Psalm 10:16 The Lord is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land. (NAU)
Paul made it clear that FIRSTBORN (or “begotten” in the KJV) refers to Christ’s resurrection, NOT that He was at some point in time an offspring of God. 1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. (NAU)
Paul taught the same thing in Acts when he said, Acts 13:33 God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’ (NAU)
This is how we know that Jesus is the supreme ruler of all of Creation. Colossians 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. (NAU)
➔c. Jesus the king has power over all “ruler of the kings”
Jesus is, “… the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (1 Timothy 6:15 NAU)
John is helping us take our eyes off of human rulers and governments and look at the One who rules the rulers. Christ’s kingdom will never be overthrown, He will never be voted out of office.
Presidents and dictators imagine that they have great power: Psalm 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed… (NAU)
But God’s power is so much greater that it is laughable to think that man could alter God’s plan in any way: Psalm 2:4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. (NAU)
➔Vs.5b-6 B. The change Jesus makes
➔Vs.5b 1. Jesus cares for His own “Him who loves us”
Jesus has all power, but He also proved His love for us when He died for our sins. Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (NAU)
How can we know for sure Jesus loves us? Notice:
➔Vs.5c 2. Jesus forgives His own “released us from our sins”
Micah 7:18-19 18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity … He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (NAU)
Only the blood of Christ is good enough to pay for our sin. 1 Peter 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (NAU)
➔Vs.6a 3. Jesus empowers His own “made us to be a kingdom, priests”
“Consider the way we are described: servants, in 1:1; blessed, in 1:3; beloved, 1:4–5; set free, 1:5; and, 1:6, now commissioned to represent the kingship of God in the world as His priests and as citizens of His kingly reign.” [Palmer, E. F., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 35: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 35 : 1, 2 & 3 John / Revelation. Formerly The Communicator’s Commentary. The Preacher’s Commentary series (113). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.]
Believers are on earth to do battle with Satan. ➔ We are here to bring glory to Jesus Christ; Satan’s goal is to keep us from glorifying Christ. Ephesians 6:11-13 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (NAU)
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (NAU)
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (NAU)
We proclaim the excellencies of Christ to the same degree that we avoid sin. Deuteronomy 23:9 “When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall keep yourself from every evil thing. (NAU) We must battle sin if we are going to glorify Christ. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (NAU)
The main function of a priest is to be a mediator, or someone who goes between man and God. We have been given the job of representing God to a fallen world.
Paul declared his job description, and ours, when he said he was, Romans 15:16 a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (NAU)
➔Vs.6b 4. Jesus uses us to glorify God “to Him be the glory”
What is your purpose in life? It is depressing and drudgery to go day after day without having a clear purpose that has real and eternal value.
CONCLUSION: In 1994 the leaders of this church submitted this vision statement:
“Ten years from now we envision Bethel as a growing church where at least 80% of the congregation is involved in some type of specific ministry. We will be a church of spiritually minded lay people who are discipling new believers and witnessing to non-believers. We will know how to reach out to new church attenders and demonstrate to them that we care about their spiritual and physical well being. We will be effectively penetrating our community with the gospel message.”
God has been fulfilling that vision before our very eyes. Are you an active part of it? Are you living so that “all heaven could break loose” in your life? Are you praying that “all heaven will break loose” on those who live around us?
“Within the Old Testament, amen means faithful when it refers to God, and it means having faith when it refers to human beings. This means that faith in the Old Testament understanding of amen contains the sense of trusting in the faithfulness of God. ‘Even so God is faithful.’ That is the intent of John’s statement in the text.” [ Palmer, E. F., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 35: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 35 : 1, 2 & 3 John / Revelation. Formerly The Communicator’s Commentary. The Preacher’s Commentary series (114). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.]
➔ Revival cannot be organized, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again. - G. Campbell Morgan
[10,000 sermon illustrations. 2000 (electronic ed.). Dallas: Biblical Studies Press.]
Is your everyday life pointed toward Christ?
