“Series Revelation”
Review of the book of Revelation:
This writing unveils to us Jesus Christ – “The Beginning and the End”
This book presents 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 resurrections of a Beast-like Kingdom, 7 trumpets, and 7 reasons why we as Christians should “Be Happy” through false prophets, antichrists, worldly demonic kingdoms, war, famine, persecution and even the partial destruction of the earth by evil.
The ultimate blessing in this life which should make us smile in the trial is Jesus – The One who was! Who is! And Who is coming again!
Sermon 2:
The 7 Be Happy Blessings of Revelation
The reason why we should be happy!
The message of Revelation’s 7 Beatitudes is a message telling the church that they need to “Be Happy” because of their position and relationship with Jesus Christ.
60 years after Jesus famous “Be Attitudes” sermon he gives the suffering church another seven beatitudes in Revelation.
He tells them and us that “Happy are you if” you do the right things because there is an eternal reward coming for your faithfulness in the end.
The reason for our happiness is focused on something greater than ourselves, even greater than our lives, it’s about a eternal values, it’s about making things totally right in the end, it’s about being a part of the history of this world, it’s about being written into the Lamb’s Book of life, it’s about Jesus Christ.
The 7 “Be Happy” blessings of revelation:
1. The blessing of taking to heart God’s revelation of Jesus Christ!--Rev.1:3
2. The blessing of deeds done for Jesus Christ! -- Rev. 14:13
3. The blessing of staying awake for Christ! -- Rev. 16:15
4. The blessing of being invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb! -- Rev. 19:9
5. The blessing of taking part in the first Resurrection! -- Rev.20:6
6. The blessing of keeping the words of this revelation! -- Rev. 22:7
7. The blessing of washing our robes and the right to partake of the Tree of Life! -- Rev. 22:14
Scripture Text: Rev. 14:13 "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
Thesis: When we decide to die for Christ we receive the promise of eternal rest and peace from all the persecution that the world has inflicted on us. We get the blessing of having our righteous deeds follow us to Heaven.
Opening 2 Video Illustrations: On Jim Elliot – from Bluefishtv and Cassie Bernall from Bluefishtv.
Introduction:
How could someone give up their life? How? Because they had a revelation of who Jesus Christ was, is, and will be. When you can see Jesus in spite of the difficulties then you can do all things through Jesus Christ.
Illustration: Perpetua’s story: Perpetua-In A.D. 202, Emperor Septimius Severus disallowed conversions to Christianity. In the wake of that act, severe persecution broke out against Christians, particularly in North Africa. Living in Carthage at the time was a young woman of nobility named Perpetua age 22. She had been arrested for converting to Christianity and going to be water baptized. When she was arrested and placed into prison she was still nursing her infant son. In March of 203 A.D. she was lead into the amphitheater. Upon entrance in the arena she started to sing some of the Psalms. Her and the others were stripped naked and placed in nets. The crowd wanted them clothed so they were given tunics to place over their bodies. The Egyptians unleashed a mad heifer on her that charged her and up ended her. Later a gladiator was sent to kill her. He struck her on the shoulder she screamed in pain then she took the gladiators hand and signaled for him to slice her throat. He did. In the writings about her they tell of a vision she had upon her arrest. …She saw a ladder going toward Heaven. On it before her she saw her pastor ahead of her. (He had been killed by a leopard prior to her killing) She said in the vision he said, ‘Perpetua, I am waiting for you. But take care; do not let the dragon bite you.’ “He will not harm me” She said,” in the name of Jesus.” Slowly, as though he were afraid of me, the dragon stuck his head out from underneath the ladder. Then, using it as my first step, I trod on his head and went up” (Christian History, Issue 27 page12-14)
Rev. 14:13 "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
We need to be able to hear the voice of Heaven in this world filled with distractions and deceptions.
We need to hear that this life is not all there is, this life is not an end in itself but is preparation for our life in eternity.
We need to take to heart that everything we do here will be remembered in Heaven when we cross over to eternity.
We need to understand that God will reward us for all that we do for His Kingdom!
We need to understand that the eternal values of Heaven should be our driving force in this life.
T.S. – If we gain a true understanding of Jesus Christ we too will be able to make the right choices in this life and at our death.
I. Understanding who Jesus is - helps us to make a stand for Him even if it means death!
a. Alpha and Omega
i. Rev. 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, "says the Lord God, "who is , and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
ii. This text in Rev. reveals to us Christ’s absolute deity.
1. It ‘s a reminder of why Christ will win. The reason is because He is Omniscient. He is the one who starts something and finishes the task -"ALPHA AND OMEGA"- The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet tells us that Christ is the sum of all.
2. The alphabet is an ingenious way to store information. Our literature is composed of a variety of arrangements of letters. Jesus is the final source of knowledge, understanding, wisdom and the writing of history. His decree is based on this fact " He knows ALL, EVERYTHING THAT WILL HAPPEN!"
iii. JESUS is in control and he cannot be deceived, disputed, or discredited no matter how hard Satan or others try.
1. FACT: Christianity began as a despised, illicit religious sect, Christianity endured 300 years of hostility to emerge as the dominant force in the Roman Empire." (Frend).
iv. At the time of this revelation it looked like the church was losing but Jesus reminds them and us that he will win.
v. The reason why Jesus will win is because he is Omnipresent, "The beginning and the end" His omnipresence is stated in terms of time, "I am...which is, and which was, and which is coming the Almighty." In Revelation it is revealed that everywhere there is failure in the church, in the nation of Israel, in the nations of the world, and on but it reveals that Christ who is in all points of time as we know it will not FAIL. He travels through time assuring that victory is ours.
b. Jesus deity and character traits assure us that He is in control of this world and we need to see this. We also need to see that Jesus is still around today in 2010 active in the lives of His faithful followers. Seeing Jesus for who He is today should encourage us - Rev. 1:12-16.
i. The Appearance of Jesus Christ.
1. The first dimension that John noticed, of Christ in His glory, is his robe. He noticed that it had a golden sash.
a. This reveals immediately to a reader of John’s apocalypse that Christ is a Priest.
b. The Son of man is a priest. Just as a soldier’s uniform creates a set of expectations in the person who sees him, so this priestly dress shapes the responses that develop throughout the unfolding details of the vision.
c. To them a priest was a bridge. The expectations have to do with getting out of what is insufficient or oppressive and getting into what is whole and free.
d. A priest presents God to us. He also presents us to God. He brings together the divine and the human.
2. His head and hair like wool, as white as snow. (Rev. 1:14)
a. Signifies- Who the lamb is in Rev. 4, 5 (Who He was –what He did at the point of death on the cross)
b. Signifies-Purity, holiness, blemish free
c. Signifies- Wisdom, heavenly wisdom
3. Eyes as flaming fire.
a. Signifies - eyes that see all
b. Signifies - eyes that penetrate to the deepest parts.
c. Signifies - a burning fire that burn’s away all that is unclean.
4. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace.
a. Signifies- strength. Bronze is made by melting steel and copper together. It makes a foundation as strong as steel and unable to rust because copper does not. It is a picture of the strongest foundation possible to anyone in those days.
5. Voice was like a sound of rushing waters.
a. Signifies - authority- Example Niagara Falls
b. Signifies - an overwhelming voice, of power and might.
6. He held the seven stars.
a. Signifies - the entire church known in that day and today.
b. Signifies - The universe. In that day they only believed in seven planets in the universe.
c. He holds both in his hands- He controls them.
7. Out of His mouth came a sharp double edge sword.
a. Signifies His Word as powerful as a double-edged sword. (Most lethal weapon of the day)
b. His word cuts deep and with speed and accuracy. It’s not the sword of steel, but the sword of truth.
8. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (V.s. 16)
a. Signifies- He is compared to the sun at its brightest point. A splendor. So bright you are overwhelmed and unable to look at His face. It is so bright John falls to the ground.
b. The heavenly light where there is no darkness, no veil, no mist, no cloud obscuring its brightness.
c. We need to get a fresh revelation of Jesus today. We need to see Him as He is in glory. A vision of Him today will inspire you and change you. It will encourage you to go where He wants you to go. It is the greatest thing you could ever see.
i. Point of decisions question: So do you want a fresh revelation of Jesus? Then ask Him to reveal himself to you today. He will!
T.S. – Getting a new fresh vision of Jesus helps us make the right choices in this corrupt world and gives us the ability to smile in the trial.
II. Blessing of deeds done for Jesus Christ!
a. Rev. 14:13 "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes, "Says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
b. The Church in Smyrna Rev. 2:8-11:
i. To the Church in Smyrna
8“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
9I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
ii. This blessing spoken of in Rev. 14 would mean a whole lot to this persecuted church. This church was suffering severe persecution and a revelation from God’s word would help them to persevere. To better understand their situation in 90AD let me give you some historical background.
1. Smyrna was a beautiful city located on the coast about 40 miles north of Ephesus. It was one of the most prosperous cities in Asia. With typical Chamber of Commerce humility the city fathers called it "the pride of Asia." There was a hill named the Pagos which was located at the back of the city. On the crest of this hill were a number of pagan temples, forming a circle. The crest with all its temples resembled a crown when looking at it from a distance. The city received the name "the crown of Asia" as a result of its prosperity and it’s Temple’s on the crest of the hill.
2. The city was one of the major centers of emperor worship. The emperor temple had been erected in 26AD during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Since the time of Christ many Christians were put to the test annually in claiming who was Lord. The Romans would charge others to say, "Caesar is Lord!" those who denied and said "Jesus is Lord" would face persecution from the Romans.
a. The persecution they would face would be any one of the following: Fines, loss of Roman Citizenship and it’s rights, loss of property owned, loss of business owned, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, mental abuse, reputations destroyed, lies generated about them, hate crimes committed against them, families split apart, children taken away, abandoned by friends and family, imprisonment, stoning, whippings, beatings, bodily injury, and for some death.
b. The persecution did not just come from the Romans it also came from the Jews. There was a large community of Jews living within the city. These Jews were outright hostile to the Christians in the city. They were involved in lying about Christians and encouraging the Romans to deal with these cannibals, atheists, and immoral Christians.
c. It’s interesting to note that the name Smyrna means "Myrrh." It is a very fitting name for this church because myrrh is a perfume, whose aroma is released by crushing it.
c. Smyrna receives a message of understanding from Jesus "I KNOW", a message of encouragement (YOU ARE RICH!), and a message of hope "BE FAITHFUL ... AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF LIFE."
i. Jesus understands and knows all about persecution.
ii. This church was being crushed with persecution and it had to be a spiritual adrenaline boost to receive a personal message from Jesus Christ someone who understands.
1. The importance of having someone who understands -- this is why support groups are helpful in facilitating healing. People can help each other persevere and make it when others understand.
2. Share about what happened to a senior pastor when he took one of my support groups.
iii. I am absolutely convinced that we in America do not even know what real persecution is. We have no understanding of what these Christians were going through. It’s hard for people to truly understand persecution unless you have been through it.
1. It’s hard for many of us to empathize with the Jews who went through the Holocaust.
a. I watched the movie Shindlers List and was deeply moved and hurt by what I saw. But to live through it is another story.
b. I cannot feel what they felt!
iv. Jesus starts off his message of hope to this church by reminding them that He is the first and last. He will outlive the Roman Empire and all the Jews. He will have the last word. His kingdom will be the only standing in the end.
1. This is a fact not wish!
v. He also states a fact they need to never forget "These are the words of him... who died and came to life again."
1. He is the only one who can make this statement of FACT. He died and rose again. He holds the keys of death and Hades. He is not a dead Jesus but an alive Jesus who vanquished, destroyed, overcame, dismantled death. He beat it and he controls it. Believe in the one who defeated death and you will live.
a. Remember the promise to Abraham about having faith in God. Romans 4:17 "As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
2. He gives life to the dead!
a. Not money, not fame, not power, not Satan, not evil powers, not Buddha, not Mohammed, not Confucius, not governments, not Caesar, not any other force in this universe.
b. God knew in the time of this writing who would win the battle raging in Smyrna just like he told Abraham to trust and believe.
vi. He knows what’s like to be abused and he understands!
1. He was beaten, whipped, mocked, kicked, punched, stabbed, and martyred on the cross of agony. He knew what affliction was he felt on his back, hands, feet and legs.
2. He understands what abuse is He felt and endured it for us.
3. Jesus knew pain and persecution but he also knew the Father’s love and Word which stated, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Jesus knew that he had to face the persecution of this world to accomplish the plan of the Father.
d. Jesus also warned the church that it too would undergo times of persecution.
i. But even in their times of pain and suffering they need to remember He sits on the throne. When they see Him for who He is they should realize that they are not poor or in poverty. They need to not allow their focus to be on the persecution but keep their eyes fixed on His greater purpose.
1. When they do this they will discover that they are truly the richest people on the face the earth.
a. I wonder if the church is ready to handle adversity today. Persecution for Him?
2. How will you do if the church comes under persecution?
a. In our name it and claim it society, in our prosperity culture, in our -we don’t have to suffer philosophy of ministry.
b. In our rights orientated society, in our -don’t have too mind set.
c. In our self centered mind set and bless me club mentality.
d. How will you respond to a clear cut message of Christ that says, “I see your suffering” but, “I am not delivering you right now.” He even becomes more explicit “It will last longer!”
3. Will you cry that’s not fair! Lord!
a. The reality of fairness.
b. It was not fair that God had to send His Son Jesus to be abused, to be beaten, to be lied to, to be stabbed, to be nailed to the cross, to be crucified for our sins and evil deeds. It is not fair that Jesus had to leave Heaven and all its beauty behind so that we could be delivered
c. He did nothing wrong we did!
d. So now with that heart ringing in your heart let me ask, “Is it unfair to have to suffer for the sins of others when you have done nothing wrong?”
e. Point: Is it unfair to suffer a little while then for Him?
• Is it unfair to sacrifice your time, money, reputation, family, Job, property, and life?”
• Is it unfair to give your life for Christ, to lay down so that in reality you find eternal life?
e. Polycarp a martyr’s story:
i. His message is a message of encouragement for the Christian today.
ii. Polycarp’s story: Aged bishop of Smyrna:
1. "He who grants me to endure the fire will enable me also to remain on the pyre unmoved, without the security you desire from nails."
2. Polycarp had been a Christian since he was a child, but the Romans didn’t get around to killing him until he was in his eighties. Whatever the reason for the delay, it is still the first recorded martyrdom in post-New Testament church history. He lived during the most formative era of the church, at the end of the age of the original apostles, when the church was making the critical transition to the second generation of believers. Tradition has it that he was personally discipled by the apostle John and that he was appointed as bishop of Smyrna (in modern Izmir in Turkey) by some of the original apostles.
3.
Timeline
48 Council of Jerusalem
57 Paul’s Letter To The Romans
65 Peter and Paul Executed
69 Polycarp born
156 Polycarp dies
168 Martyrdom of Justin Martyr
iii. In his later years, he tried to settle disputes about the date to celebrate Easter, and he confronted one of the church’s most troublesome heretics, the Gnostic Marcion, calling him "the first born of Satan," when he ran into him in Rome. Polycarp was also responsible for converting many from Gnosticism. His only existing writing, a pastoral letter to the church at Philippi, shows he had little formal education, and was unpretentious, humble, and direct.
iv. Such traits are especially evident in the account of his martyrdom, which was written within a year of his death. It is not clear exactly why he was suddenly, at age 86, subject to arrest, but when he heard Roman officials were intent on arresting him, he decided to wait for them at home. Panic-stricken friends pleaded with him to flee, so to calm them, he finally agreed to withdraw to a small estate outside of town. But while in prayer there, he received some sort of vision. Whatever he saw or heard, we don’t know. He simply reported to his friends that he now understood, "I must be burned alive."
v. Roman soldiers eventually discovered Polycarp’s whereabouts and came to his door. When his friends urged him to run, Polycarp replied, "God’s will be done," and he let the soldiers in.
vi. He was escorted to the local proconsul, Statius Quadratus, who interrogated him in front of a crowd of curious onlookers. Polycarp seemed unfazed by the interrogation; he carried on a witty dialogue with Quadratus until Quadratus lost his temper and threatened Polycarp: he’d be thrown to wild beasts, he’d be burned at the stake, and so on. Polycarp just told Quadratus that while the proconsul’s fire lasts but a little while, the fires of judgment ("reserved for the ungodly," he slyly added) cannot be quenched. Polycarp concluded, "But why do you delay? Come, do what you will.
vii. Soldiers then grabbed him to nail him to a stake, but Polycarp stopped them: "Leave me as I am. For he who grants me to endure the fire will enable me also to remain on the pyre unmoved, without the security you desire from nails." He prayed aloud, the fire was lit, and his flesh was consumed. The chronicler of this martyrdom said it was "not as burning flesh but as bread baking or as gold and silver refined in a furnace."
viii. The account concluded by saying that Polycarp’s death was remembered by "everyone"—"he is even spoken of by the heathen in every place."
f. Jesus’ message of hope is, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of Life.”
i. Polycarp understood this reality and he is currently bathing in it in Heaven.
ii. Do you know it!
T.S. – The promise of revelation is Jesus reward is greater than the life we currently live in a fallen world so be happy because your actions will be rewarded on the other side.
III. God has a plan and each of us can be a part of it if we choose the right way.
a. Our verse is implanted in the middle of Chapter 14 of revelation and about a little over half way in the book of Revelation.
i. Rev. 14:13 "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes, "Says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
ii. One side note about Revelation:
1. We in different chapters go back and forth in time. Sometimes it speaks of the events of the past, sometimes current events and other times future events.
iii. But our verse is placed there by Jesus to bring encouragement to a church being persecuted. The time of its importance was then in 90 AD and also today in 2010. Why because throughout the history of the church these verses in Revelation have brought hope and happiness in the midst of tribulation and trial.
1. They tell those who suffer that their reward in Heaven is what should make them smile in the trial.
b. A few things that I noticed in this placement of a “Be happy” message is:
i. The Beast, and its antichristian forces have been released upon the earth, the mark of the beast is being enforced on the population. The Dragon is moving out his forces to wage war. The 144,000 ones are chosen by the Lamb, they are singing a new song, they are committed to the lamb and directed by the Lamb to bring the message of Jesus to a tortured world filled with evil. Babylon the Great has fallen! The Two Witnesses have been martyred and raised to life again. We here the story of the Woman and the Dragon and the relentlessness of the Dragon to kill the son of the Woman and His followers.
1. Revelation 12:17: “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the offspring-those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
2. How many here understand that we are right in the middle of a spiritual war today?
c. Our verse comes after the remark of Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
i. This ties right into our statement today!
d. Then after this statement I hear of a time of great harvest set in motion by Jesus in verse 14-18 which tells me we are in the time of the Great Harvest on the earth and before the wrath of God is unleashed on this planet we need to be busy bringing in the Harvest for the time is now.
Conclusion:
Rev. 14:13 "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes, "Says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
Jesus -who knew the agony of pain and suffering for the Kingdom- tells us that our time may seem long and painful here on the earth.
He knew we would face disappointments from others, despair from external events, persecution, betrayal, and even the fear of death.
But Jesus encourages us with this truth, “Be Happy”, stay with it, endure to the end of your life because at that point there will be a wonderful reward for you labor. Your deeds will be rewarded!”
So bring in the harvest church and patiently endure the world’s persecution!
So be happy and smile in the trial – die in the Lord because all that you do for the Kingdom of God will be greatly rewarded when you cross from Here to Eternity!
