Meeting the Exalted Christ
Part II
Revelation 1:12-18
Purpose: To describe Christ’s glory.
Aim: I want the listener to be in awe of Christ’s glory and assured of His love.
INTRODUCTION: Have you seen Jesus Christ? The world is not going to see Jesus in us until we see Jesus ourselves.
When the Wright brothers first began experimenting with flying machines, they accepted as fact the data and conclusions that were available in the theory of aviation. As they experimented, however, their own experience provided different conclusions. They began by doubting nothing, yet grew to disbelieve everything about accepted aviation theory. Finally, disregarding all they had learned, they relearned through personal investigation. This led them to build man-carrying gliders in which they spent hundreds of hours over Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. In their Dayton bike shop they built a custom wind tunnel and tested over two hundred different wing surfaces. With minor refinements, their wind tunnel became the prototype of the one used today, and the control system they devised is still used on fixed-wing aircraft.
So many people accept the word of another for the reality of Christ, or for a teaching that is supposed to be in the Bible. In reality, they base their faith on the faith of another—which might be real and true; but again, it might not. The only way to know that you are seeing Jesus personally, Jesus really, and Jesus alone, is to have a personally investigated faith. Study his word—let God speak for himself. [Hurley, V. (2000, c1995). Speaker’s sourcebook of new illustrations (electronic ed.) (52). Dallas: Word Publishers.] We must see Jesus for ourselves.
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 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”
Vs.4-5a B. The character of God “Him who is…was…is to come”
Vs.5b-6 C. The change Jesus makes “released us from our sins”
Vs.7 D. The coming of King Jesus “He is coming with the clouds”
Vs.8 E. The superiority of King Jesus “the Almighty”
Vs.7-8 F. The certainty of the return of King Jesus “it is to be”
Vs.9-12 G. The setting for this book
Vs.9a 1. The person writing “John”
Vs.9b 2. The place “island called Patmos”
Vs.9c 3. The persecution “tribulation”
Vs.10a 4. The situation “I was in the Spirit”
10b-12 5. John’s responsibility “Write…send it”
LESSON:
➽Vs.12-16 H. A glimpse of the exalted Christ
Hebrews 3:1,3 1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; 3 For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. (NAU)
➽Vs.12-13a 1. Christ’s rule over the church is revealed “in the middle of the lampstands”
Vs.20 tells us that the lampstands refer to churches and the stars refer to the messengers or pastors of the seven churches. Then we learn that Jesus is the One who holds the messengers in His hand: Revelation 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this (NAU)
Colossians 1:17-18 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 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)
➽Vs.13b 2. Christ’s compassion is revealed “like a son of man”
The title “Son of Man” is used 84 times in the four Gospels. This title for the Messiah emphasizes His humanity.
➽Vs.13c 3. Christ’s majesty is revealed “robe…sash”
This robe was NOT the normal Roman tunic that would come to the knees. Only kings wore robes that came to the floor and a sash over the chest.
This seems to be lot like what the High Priest would wear when he was ministering in the Temple. Exodus 39:1-5 1 Moreover, from the blue and purple and scarlet material, they made finely woven garments for ministering in the holy place as well as the holy garments which were for Aaron, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 2 He made the ephod of gold, and of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen. 3 Then they hammered out gold sheets and cut them into threads to be woven in with the blue and the purple and the scarlet material, and the fine linen, the work of a skillful workman. 4 They made attaching shoulder pieces for the ephod; it was attached at its two upper ends. 5 The skillfully woven band which was on it was like its workmanship, of the same material: of gold and of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (NAU)
➽Vs.14a 4. Christ’s purity is revealed “white wool, like snow”
“White” does not refer to a flat white color but a blazing, glowing, white light (cf. Dan. 7:9). Like the glory cloud (or Shekinah), it is a picture of His holiness. eyes … flame of fire. Like two lasers, the eyes of the exalted Lord look with penetrating gaze into the depths of His church (2:18; 19:12; Heb. 4:13). [MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Re 1:14). Nashville: Word Pub.]
Daniels vision of God is almost identical. Daniel 7:9 “I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. (NAU)
Jesus is completely pure. He has no sin. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (NAU)
Christ’s purity is shared with those who follow Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NAU)
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. (NAU)
➽Vs.14b-16a 5. Christ’s authority is revealed “eyes…feet…voice
…hand…mouth”
As we examine this vision of Christ we can’t help but be struck with fear. Hebrews 10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (NAU)
“EYES like a flame of fire” Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (NAU)
The eyes of Christ see everything. Hebrews 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire. (NAU) Hebrews 10:26-27 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. (NAU)
“FEET were like burnished bronze” Revelation 19:15 … He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. (NAU)
“VOICE was like the sound of many waters” Psalm 29:3-4 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The Lord is over many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is majestic. (NAU)
When God speaks, we must be careful that we are listening. Hebrews 12:25-26 25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” (NAU)
“RIGHT HAND He held seven stars” Christ controls as well as protects. Psalm 17:7 Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them. (NAU)
Psalm 20:6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. (NAU)
Psalm 21:8 Your hand will find out all your enemies; Your right hand will find out those who hate you. (NAU)
“MOUTH came a sharp two-edged sword” God is so powerful that all that He has to do is speak in order to defeat His enemies. Revelation 19:15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. (NAU)
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (NAU)
➽Vs.16b 6. Christ’s glory is revealed “face was like the sun shining”
This was not the first time that John had seen Christ in His glory. Matthew 17:2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. (NAU)
Paul had a similar experience. Acts 26:13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. (NAU)
Believers are awed by Christ’s glory, but they are also attracted to it. Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. (NAU)
Unbelievers, on the other had, hate the presence of God. Revelation 6:15-16 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; (NAU)
➽Vs.17-18 I. The results of meeting Christ
This is not the only time that John started to worship in this book. Revelation 22:8-9 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.” (NAU) Here in chapter one Jesus accepted the worship that John offered so Jesus must be God!
➽Vs.17a 1. Worship “I fell at His feet”
This is what happens every time someone gets close to the glory of God.
Isaiah 6:1-5 1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (NAU)
Daniel 10:5-11 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult. 7 Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. 9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. 10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. (NAU)
Daniel 10:15-19 15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 “For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.” 18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. 19 He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” (NAU)
➽Vs.17b 2. Confidence “Do not be afraid”
Matthew 28:2-5 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. (NAU)
Jesus touched John first, then He spoke to him. What a marvel beyond our understanding that this glorious Christ would stoop to tenderly touch one of His servants!
➽Vs.17c-18 J. How can we worship with confidence?
➽Vs.17c 1. Because of Christ’s position “I am the first and the last”
Since Jesus is the beginning and the ending, no one could possibly challenge His authority or His plans.
➽Vs.18a 2. Because of Christ’s power “the living One”
This is the resurrected Lord! He has proven His power over death, and sin, and the Devil. Christ’s victory is absolutely complete. There is nothing left that can challenge His authority.
➽Vs.18b 3. Because of Christ’s control “I have the keys of death”
Jesus controls DEATH the path to eternity and HADES the place where the dead are. We need never fear death or eternity as long as we belong to Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION: “In the darkness of the catacombs, in the filth of underground sewers, in the shadows of a thousand Roman nights, these phrases were searched by tired faces. These pages were held in trembling hands. These words sent the light of hope into the hearts of God’s people. It was a message straight from their Bibles. It was a message from their beloved Pastor. It was a message from God. The Jesus Christ to Whom you have given your all, the Jesus Christ in whom you have trusted, the Jesus Christ for Whom you may be called upon to die is the King of heaven – the God of Glory. God’s message of hope is intended to give us songs in the darkest night.” [“From Suffering to Singing” by Bob Marcaurelle p.6 ]
If those Christians, 2,000 years ago, could be faithful to their Lord in the midst of torture and the threat of death, then what excuse do we have for not giving ourselves totally to Christ?
The believers who first read the book of Revelation were persecuted because they were spreading the Gospel and living differently from the rest of the world. Things are different today in America. Christians aren’t being persecuted very much and they don’t spread the Gospel very much or live much differently from the world.
God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to. -Elisabeth Elliot
