Introduction:
The last book of the Bible, called the Revelation of Jesus Christ, is a beautiful and dangerous book. It always has been. It still is.
The original author was Jesus’ closest earthly friend and perhaps one of his cousins. His name was John and the visions recorded in this book are truly awesome. The first audience for this Revelation were tired, discouraged, persecuted Christians. The Roman Empire was attempting to destroy all of Jesus’ followers. The purpose of John’s book was to unveil the power and authority of Jesus Christ – to inspire and encourage perseverance in those Christians. The Roman Empire collapsed and the church continued to grow.
This book of Revelation is a beautiful and dangerous book. It still uncovers the reality of Jesus and his work in, through and for his followers. It is dangerous to preach from this book. Nothing can divide churches than fights over prophecies. It is beautiful because merely reading, hearing and taking it to heart will open our lives to God’s blessing.
The opening verses proclaim the promise. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. And Jesus echoes that promise in the closing chapter. “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the prophecy written in this book.” Prepare to receive a blessing!
Text:
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw -- that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father -- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Key Question:
What could we learn about Jesus from this book that we didn’t learn as children?
Author Philip Yancey made this observation our tendency to make Jesus safe and friendly.
When [a Catholic] missionary … went to China in the sixteenth century, he brought along samples of religious art to illustrate the Christian story for people who had never heard it. The Chinese readily adopted portraits of the Virgin Mary holding her child, but when he produced paintings of the crucifixion and tried to explain that the God-child had grown up only to be executed, the audience reacted with revulsion and horror. They much preferred the Virgin and insisted on worshiping her rather than the crucified God.
As I thumb…through my stack of Christmas cards, I realize that we … do much the same thing. We observe a mellow, domesticated holiday purged of any hint of scandal. Above all, we purge from it any reminder of how the story that began in Bethlehem turned out at Calvary.
CITATION: Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew (Zondervan, 2002), p. 25
We have a childish understanding of Jesus. We tend to picture him as a man who couldn’t hurt a fly. He pats children on the head and even plays tag with them. Those were fine images for us when we faced child-sized problems. Now we are adults. We face economic meltdowns, rising unemployment, crumbling housing markets and disintegrating families. We need a bigger, meaner Jesus to see us through these things.
Thesis:
Jesus is the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords. He can handle every problem we face. He can empower us to make every change we need to make.
Transition:
Focus your heart, mind and spirit on the images of John’s vision of Jesus.
1. Jesus is portrayed as the Preeminent Deity. (v. 4-8)
a. He is God’s Son. Jesus “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word”. All of creation trembles when he speaks. He remained silent when we crucified him but now his voice is thunderous and demands attention. We dare not ignore him.
b. He is the First and the Last. He existed before the cosmos and will still exist when it passes away. He is the King of all and the Servant who suffered for all of us. He is now here with us. He was here before we existed and he will be with us forever.
c. Jesus is one with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. They are united in everything that makes God divine. Together they are the center of heaven’s worship. You and I need to join the angels’ song.
d. Jesus is portrayed as the Preeminent Deity. There is no one greater. No other being comes close. He has no competition.
2. Jesus is pictured in Precise Priority. (v. 4-5)
a. He is the firstborn from the dead. Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a slave, … he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” “But God raised him from the dead … because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” God turned Jesus’ tomb into a womb and he intends to do the same for you and me.
b. He is the faithful witness. Jesus never lies. His truth is absolute – even when we claim there are no absolutes. He is loyal and true. We can trust him.
c. He is the ruler of all kings. Jesus is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. There is no political power that can overthrow Jesus’ kingdom. We can submit or we can rebel – but he will not allow us to claim neutrality. You must choose a side. Are you for him or against him?
d. Jesus is pictured in Precise Priority. He “is supreme over all creation. Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead, so he is first in everything.”
3. Jesus is sketched out in Precious Activity (v. 5-6)
a. He is the Forever Lover. His love is from the everlasting past to the everlasting future. “What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Jesus … is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We are safe and sound in his love.
b. He is the Firm Deliverer. Jesus “loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” His promise is true. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” You and I must not pass on this gracious offer.
c. Jesus is sketched out in Precious Activity. He loves us and delivers us from the judgment our sins deserve.
4. Jesus is portrayed as Perfect Humanity (v. 12-20)
a. He is the Son of Man. The ancient prophet Daniel envisioned the “son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached [God] and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” We can count on him no matter what may come.
b. He is like us. He has hands and feet. He has a head and face. We can relate to him.
c. However, Jesus is far above us in every way. He is the Great High Priest who lived, died and lives again for us. He is the Conquering King who reigns over all things for us. His gold sash proclaims his endless authority and wealth. His white hair declares his boundless wisdom and dignity. His blazing eyes can see right through all out masks. He can pierce the darkness our confusion with divine insight. His bronze feet have walked to hell and back for us. Nothing can stop him when he comes to our aid. He walks around in our midst. He knows our circumstances. He word “is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates … it judges the thoughts and attitudes of [our hearts]. He can create everything out of nothing with just a word.
Conclusion
I am reminded of a scene from C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where Mr. Beaver describes the might and majesty of Aslan, the lion. When he finishes, Lucy asks, “Is – is he safe?” Mr. Beaver replies, “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.”
CITATION: Don Ratzlaff in The Christian Leader (April 23,1991).
Christianity Today, Vol. 35, no. 10
This is the Jesus we need as adults – hardly safe but thoroughly good. We cling to the King in fear, much too afraid to let go.
In the second book of The Chronicles of Narnia, Lucy enters the magic land Narnia again, and she hasn’t seen Aslan, this lion figure who represents Christ. She has not seen him in a long, long time, and so they have a wonderful reunion. Lucy says to Aslan, “Aslan, you’re bigger now.”
Aslan says, “Lucy, that’s because you are older. You see, Lucy, every year that you grow, you will find me bigger.”
CITATION: “Rejoicing in Our Suffering,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 74
This is the view of Jesus we need – he keeps growing and growing. He is always bigger than the problems we confront.
REPENTANCE POINT: How should we change?
I believe now is the time for us to grasp the reality of who Jesus better than we ever have.
NEXT STEPS: What are the first steps in this REPENTANCE POINT {paradigm shift or change in our thinking}?
Now is the time to trade in our childish view of Jesus, meek and mild, for the adult vision of Jesus the conquering King.
Now is the time to stop taking Jesus for granted and to start taking stock of his glory.
Now is the time to stop taking liberties with his love and to start recognizing his sovereignty in our lives.
Now is the time to declare that he is our King.
RESPONDING TO GOD: What can we do right now?
Now is the time to fall at His feet and to celebrate Communion.
