The Unveiling
The Key to Revelation
Revelation 1:17-20
Keys are big things in our culture. With keys we open doors, start cars, open pad locks, drop boxes, control security & more. Most of us have email for which we have to have a ‘key’ called an ID and password. Candidly, you cannot check your mail without your password or ‘key.’
Revelation is a book, for which, a key seems to be needed. In years past, some have suggested that there USED to be a key and that this key has now been lost. For those folks, they conclude that Revelation is now an enigma to us as it is impossible to understand. Yet, the serious Bible student may find just the opposite. Our text today may help us better understand the Revelation & then see the personal implications it holds for our lives.
1. Outline – An outline helps a person see the big picture. One of the reasons why I, so diligently, use technology is so that the outline can be seen and maybe better grasped so that it can be remembered & thus applied. In the Revelation, you’ll find many suggested outlines. Few weeks ago, I gave you the outline of the ‘seven sevens.’ (Chapters 1-3 -7 churches, chapter 4-7 – 7 seals, chapters 8-11 – 7 trumpets, chapters 12-14 – 7 personages, 15-16 – 7 vials, 17-20 – 7 judgments, and 21-22 – 7 new things). Others suggest an outline of 4 divisions based on visions which are unequal in scope, content, and length, but each true. These are taken from the position of John as the “seer”. Chapters 1-3 would be the “Seer in Patmos”, 4-16 –the seer in heaven, 17-20-the seer in the wilderness, and 21-22 – the seer on a Great & High Mountain). Another outline suggests only 2 divisions in this book consisting of the first 11 and the second 11 chapters. In this case, Chapters 1-11 shows the Kingdom of this world which becomes the Kingdome of our Lord. Each of these is true & can be traced. But each of these have one thing in common, they are born of men. If we are to hear from God, perhaps we can discover HIS outline. I’ll suggest we find this in verse 19. He simply says, write the things which ‘have seen’, which ‘are’, & ‘will be.
a. Past –The Lord said, “Write the things which you have seen.” Can you imagine all the things which John could have written about? Yet, Chapter 1 is all about the glorified Christ. He painted a picture of Jesus, he wrote down everything had said, and even tells us about what Jesus held in His hand. He holds the stars, the messengers, or the pastors of the church in His right hand AND He holds the Keys to death & hell. Can you make the connection?
b. Present – Then John writes about the things which ‘are.’ To read the 2nd & 3rd chapters of Revelation is to write about the things which ARE. This describes and depicts the condition of the churches during the church age. When John penned these words, the church was coming out of her infancy, had faced severe persecution, and was morphing into the 2nd generation. In the words found in the letters to the churches, we can know, rest assured that Christ is in the business of walking among the churches. HE knows about our condition, He knows about our failure, & He desires to right the wrongs within the church.
c. Prophetic – This is those things which are yet to come, which will be or which are coming! The loosely translated Greek word is meta tauta (those things which ‘shall be’). Prophecy is literally history written in advance. When God says it, whether we have seen it, believe it, or respond to it, is of little consequence because IT IS DONE. At the end of Chapter 3, the church age ends, the time of the present is past, & those things which shall be begin to happen. For instance, after chapter 3 you never see the church on earth again. In fact, the next time the church appears is in Chapter 19 at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. God has spoken and it is done. Did you catch the outline? It should remind you that God was, is, and will be in control. For the true child of God, it should life our spirits, have us longing for the future, and cause us to love Him more. To apply this outline to our personal life is to bring into focus God’s hand on us. He knows your past, the problems that you have faced and the joys you have experienced. He sees your present knowing the decisions you must make, particularly the spiritual decisions. And you future has not escaped his sight. He sees and He knows.
2. Orientation – This is important for many areas of life. First, I think of college. “Freshman Orientation” was never a big hit at our school, yet it was necessary. Incoming students needed to know where buildings were, how to do things, what NOT to do, and how the college handled situations. When you go on a cruise they begin with emergency orientation. This is important. When a couple has a baby, they are encouraged to attend child birth classes so they know what to expect. By definition, orientation means to set right by adjusting to facts & principles so you can get the best out of your environment. Verse 20 serves as the orientation for this book as it mentions & reveals a ‘secret’ or ‘mystery’. This word means something not previously revealed and it speaks of 3 things.
a. His Church –The lampstands are the main players. This church is not a denomination but rather all the true born-again, redeemed saints.
* It is around the church that all of God’s workings take place. In fact, the church is center stage. In recent days, people seem to discount the church as an OPTION. Yet, there is no place in scripture where a person gets saved or is encouraged become a believer & avoid the local church. True believers ‘join’ a church to identify with the body of Christ who are God’s redeemed. Can you image standing before the Judgment Seat & saying “Lord, I didn’t think you wanted me to alight with a local church?” If you wait to join a perfect church, you will always miss out. Seven are mentioned in chapters 1-3 of Revelation & none are perfect.
Ephesus Formal Careless Stayed
Smyrna Fearful Confronted Scared
Pergamum Faltering Compromising Shallow
Thyatira False Corrupted Sinful
Sardis Failing Comfortable Societal
Philadelphia Feeble Consistent Spiritual
Laodicea Fashionable Complacent Shameless
* Let us never forget that the church is the center of God’s redemptive plan. Christ started, died for, is building, and is one day returning for HIS CHURCH, HIS BUILDING, HIS BODY, and HIS BRIDE! The church age is about the church!
b. His Called – While we know that everyone born of God is called by God (or else they cannot be saved), the text is, once again, orienting us to those 7 ‘stars, angels, or messengers’ which are mentioned. The letters are written to the pastors of the churches. The call to the pastors is to deliver the divine message to the body. We are reminded that those pastors are in “His right hand.” This signifies ‘importance’, ‘authority’, ‘responsibility,’ and protection. These are God’s spokespersons that stand ‘in’ for God, speak His message, and lead out. The symbolism of His right hand speaks of His protection. One of the reasons churches die today is that God sends a man, the church knows better, & get rid of the pastor. When this happens, you might write ‘Ichabod’ across the door & then shut the door. “Ichabod” means ‘The glory has departed.’
c. His Care – Never forget that as He holds the star (pastor) in His right hand, He is walking in the midst of the churches. Seven is the number of perfection & completion so it is safe to say that this means EVERY church. Chapter 2 & 3 picture almost any church you can imagine and to almost every church, he gives commendation, condemnation, consequences, & correction. Please remember that God is NOT politically correct, He is ETERNALLY correct. He gives all these words because He desperately loves His children. He wants His children to hear & understand.
3. Operation – Just exactly how will this study of Revelation operate, how will it impact me today? Let me close by reminding you of three things;
a. God knows the past – He has been there, He has seen it, and He knows what’s behind. Nothing is hidden from those eyes of fire. Whatever you think is hidden away? God saw it, He sees it, and He knows it already. The only thing God forget is your sin that has been cleansed by confession & repentance through the blood of Jesus. If your too proud to confess or too stubborn to repent, then your sin is like King David’s “ever before” God. He knows everything you have done.
b. God has a planned future – Jeremiah records God’s words to us when He says, “I know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future & a hope.” Most of the time we stop reading there, but the next 2 verses are the qualifiers. They say, “You will call to me & come & pray to me & I will listen to you. You will seek me & find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” God has a divine plan for us in the future, but some of us will never find His perfect plan. According to God’s word, half-heartedness will never find God nor God’s will. Make no mistake; just as sure as God has Good plans for His redeemed, He has other plans for those who reject Him. Revelation 20:15 says, “Anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” I would like to be extremely clear about a couple of things. First, the preacher does not have to shout & scream about hell for it to be true. Next, hell was never prepared for mankind. Scriptures record it was prepared for the devil and His demons. Peter writes & tells us that God does not desire for anyone to perish. So if you wind up in hell, you do it over God’s reaching out to you. Finally, there is only one way to miss hell.
c. God has a plan for you NOW – The Bible tells us what we already know about ourselves, that is, we are sinners. Romans says, “No one is righteous & all have sinned.” Further, Romans tells us the ‘wages of sin is death (both physical & eternal).’ Next, Romans says, “God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.” Finally we are told that with mouth we confess & with the heart we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Have you ever tried to do something special for your spouse? You plan, scheme, and try your best to give them THE BEST. This is God’s plan for us as He put redemption’s plan into the works before the foundation of the world. What if your spouse doesn’t cooperate & messes up the deal? Experience God’s best today.
* The big mystery of Revelation is about the Bride meeting the Bridegroom.
