“THE BLESSING OF READING AND HEEDING”
REVELATION 1:1-3
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ReadHeed.html
True Title: What does it say in your Bible? “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”
Year: 96 AD
John is up in years, perhaps in his 80’s. About 65 years previous, Jesus called John to leave his fishing boats and become a fisher of men.
John was present at many significant occasions:
Mt. of Transfiguration—he saw Jesus glorified
Garden of Gethsemane—as Jesus submitted to go to the cross
Foot of the Cross—as Jesus died
Wrote 5 books of the Bible: His Gospel, I, II, III John, and Revelation
Book of John—“Believe!”
Epistles—“Be Sure!”
Revelation—“Be Ready!”
Book of John--salvation
Epistles--sanctification
Revelation—sovereignty
Book of John—portrays Jesus as the prophet.
Epistles--priest
Revelation--king
The Lord took John away from his busy life as Pastor of the church at Ephesus that he might write down heavenly visions revealed unto him.
God used the evil emperor Domitian to exile John on a miserable little rocky desert island called Patmos off the coast of what is today Italy. Like Alcatraz, it was where the Roman government sent their roughest criminals. Rather than killing John for preaching the gospel, Domitian had John boiled in oil, then left on Patmos to die a long, painful death.
It was during John’s devotions one day that Jesus Christ appeared to him and gave him what is recorded in chapter 1.
1. The Focus of the book of Revelation. (1ST 5 WORDS)
It’s not John, it’s not the beast, it’s not the anti-christ, it’s Jesus Christ!
Revelation means “unveiling” (like a new statue…pull the canvas off)
While on earth, Jesus’ glory was veiled in human flesh. For only a brief moment it was revealed on the Mt. of Transfiguration. John was there along w/ his brother James and Peter. The glory on Jesus’ inside was seen on the outside and the disciples described it as the shining of the sun.
Human eyes could hardly stand the intensity…God had to veil it again in an instant. But in Revelation, the Lord gives John some special glasses, if you will, and allowed Him to see unveiled before him, in all of his splendor, majesty, and glory, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!”
Together, we will see Jesus Christ for who He is. We will see His power like never before.
We can see Jesus in the gospels, His first coming to earth…
…but in Revelation we see His second coming, not veiled in human flesh, but robed in royalty, glory, majesty, power, splendor…the GOD OF ALL GODS, THE LORD OF ALL LORDS, THE KING OF ALL KINGS!
Gospels: Revelation:
Crucifixion Coronation
Came for a tree comes for a throne
Stood before Pilate (judged) Pilate will stand before Him
Suffers shame Shows splendor
Came to redeem Comes to rule and to reign
Justifier Judge
Lamb Lion
We need to see both sides of this Jesus who came down for us for one purpose…and yet is coming back for a different purpose altogether.
Caution: Some people love to study prophecy but aren't looking for Jesus in it as much as gloom and doom, death and destruction, and current events. We will have to see all these things as we study...it's all around us, but let's make a point to make our point of Jesus!
As we launch out into this powerful study, we need to be looking not for the sensational, but for the Sovereign…not just for current events, but for the coming King!
Ill.—Picture a train station. There's a Station Master. He has a schedule. He knows when every train will come and go. He has his charts and schedules. He has them memorized…he knows every detail of how that station is supposed to operate.
Also in the station is a young lady. She doesn’t know the schedule of every train. What she does know is that her fiancé’, whom she is deeply in love with is, on one of those trains that is due…ANYTIME! She can hardly wait. Her heart beats wildly with anticipation.
Don’t study Rev. like the station master, trying to get down all the facts. Make it about your true love you are waiting to arrive anytime now!
Focus on Jesus!
That is how we should study this book together.
(focus on Jesus)
2. The Function of the book of Revelation
What purpose does this book serve?
v.1 To show the future! “shortly come to pass”
Many go around prophesying about what will happen in the future:
“88 Reasons He’s coming back in 1988”—big seller in the mid ‘80’s, not now!
“Russia’s going to nuke us!” “Saddam’s going to use biological weapons”
“Bin Laden is the false prophet!” Please!!!
All there is to know about the future has already been predicted.
It has been fulfilled with 100% accuracy so far, and will continue in like fashion.
It’s right here in our laps! God has said all He’s going to say…and as we’ll see, it’s plenty!
Dionne “Warwitch” doesn’t know the future, and neither does “Ms. Cleo!”
The "Psychotic Friends network" doesn’t know the future.
Our generation flocks to little shacks and storefronts with signs out front that say, “Ask Madame Zonga: she sees all, knows all, tells all…honk so we know you’re here!”
Only God knows the future…and thanks to the book of Revelation, so can we.
When I say “we”, who am I talking about…look at v. 1
“His servants”
I’m happy to be His servant…how about you?
Some Christians don’t like that term. I’ve heard of some who’ve taken it out of their vocabulary because of the USA's history of slavery.
May I say today there’s no regrets for a servant, as long as they have a wonderful Master!
If you’re not saved, you’re a servant, too. Did you know that? The Bible says you’re a slave to sin, whether you know it or not.
If you’re not saved, you won’t understand Revelation. It’s for His servants!
The FUNCTION of this book is to reveal the future to Christians. But how is that done? What is God’s method for communicating these great truths to us?
The key word is “Signified”. (Carries the idea of heavy symbolism)
“like” and “as” will be seen commonly.
God tells us up front to expect to encounter a lot of symbolism. Why is that?
3 Reasons I believe God used much symbolism:
1. Those symbols become a spiritual code
This book can only be understood by those for whom it is intended.
You need an understanding of the rest of the Bible in order to get the full effect.
There are over 300 references in Rev. to the OT. Many of the symbols in Revelation can only be interpreted in light of the OT.
The best commentary on the Bible IS the Bible itself!
We have to anchor our interpretations of Revelation to what God has already revealed in Scripture, rather than letting our imaginations run wild as we read these verses.
2. It conveys the message of the end times w/ deeper emotion
John could have written, “A dictator will rule the world.”
Instead, he calls him “The Beast.” (conveys the power and cruelty of this man w/ deeper emotion).
John could have said, “There will be a one-world government.”
Instead, he refers to it as “Babylon the Great.” (OT ref.)
3. Because John is describing (most likely) 21st Century events in 1st Century language and 1st Century knowledge.
Think about it. As God revealed these things to John, he carried him forward at least 1900 years.
If you lived 1900 years ago, and you saw a sky full of assault helicopters, and every time they fired a missile all the vegetation in sight was destroyed, how might you refer to that.
“A sky full of giant locusts!”
If God showed you the devastation of a nuclear bomb, and you saw an entire city wiped out just like that, how might you describe that?
“Fire and brimstone!”
John is describing 21st C. events w/ 1st C. knowledge and language!
The $24,000 question:
How are we to interpret this highly symbolic book? Are we to interpret it literally or symbolically?
The answer is… “Yes!”
Both! Literally, and Symbolically.
In other words, you find out what the symbol stands for, and then you
BELIEVE IT LITERALLY!
For example: Rev. 12—Satan is referred to as a dragon having a tail so long that he can knock 1/3rd of the stars from heaven.
Obviously, that is symbolism. Satan is referred to as a dragon because he is so ferocious, and other scriptures tell us that 1/3rd of the stars are demon spirits (fallen angels) who followed Satan in his first rebellion at the beginning of time.
Don’t do like the liberals and say, “that’s symbolism…there really is no devil.”
No, that’s symbolism that stands for a literal devil.
Find out what the symbol stands for and then literally believe it!
So, the focus of the book is Jesus Christ.
The function of the book is to show the future to God’s servants.
3. What is the fruit of this book?
v. 3—a promise that if we will just read and heed these things, we are in for a tremendous blessing!
In coming months, we will see together that this world is on a toboggan slide toward economic disaster, natural disaster, nuclear war, and famines and pestilence.
Thru it all, however, we will see that God Almighty is in full control!
It’s not enough to just read it. We must heed it.
In other words, prophetic doctrine must hold hands w/ practical duty!
The real sign of whether we really believe this prophecy is not how high we jump when we hear these things, it’s how straight we walk when our feet hit the floor!
As you come each service, don’t leave w/ your head high in the clouds of prophecy…rather leave w/ your feet firmly planted on the sidewalk of soulwinning…as we warn our community of the wrath to come!
This book, the Bible, will change our community, if we will read it, heed it, and then take it to them.
No other book can do this! No science book can explain these things!
We claim to be on a university level scientifically…but as long as we remain in Kindergarten morally, we will remain unchanged as a society.
Sociology may make this world a neighborhood, but it will not make this world a brotherhood!
Washington is constantly trying to make things better, but they’re simply painting the deck of a sinking ship.
Revelation gives us a winning perspective: [read the back of the Book!]
World events may grieve us, and sadden us, but they don’t have to shake us.
Scripture says, “when you see these things coming to pass…look up! For your redemption draweth nigh!”
End of v. 3—“the time is at hand”
Invitation:
Are you His servant?
The time is at hand!
Today—Savior Wait—Sovereign
Today—Redeemer Wait—Ruler
Today—Justifier Wait—Judge
Today—God’s servant Wait—Serve Satan for all eternity!
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ReadHeed.html
