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Message
Revelation 1:1-20
The Saviour of This Broken World.
How many of us enjoy reading a good novel?
Now, if you are like me, that novel needs to get your attention within the first 2-3 chapters. If it doesn’t, then I usually don’t keep reading. But of it does, I will just keep reading and reading and reading – sometimes ignoring everything else that is going on. Great stories begin with exceptional opening chapters.
The book of Revelation is a great story.
Not a story in the sense that it is made up fiction.
But a story in the sense that it has a very powerful narrative.
And it has an exceptional opening chapter.
Let me read it for you.
Read Revelation 1:1-20
Did you notice something while we were reading through that chapter?
When Christians think about the book of Revelation they usually think about amazing heavenly battles, and the mark of the Beast and strange visions and seals being opened, and the final judgement, and the new heaven and earth.
Is any of that mentioned in the first chapter?
It isn’t, is it?
The whole chapter pretty much focuses on … well it focuses on Jesus. Right from the opening words that is the case. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place.
What does that mean?
It means that the primary purpose of the book of Revelation is for us to know how Jesus Christ is helping his servants in this broken world.
Some people say that Revelation was a book primarily for the early church – the early church understood the significance of all the visions and symbols because it was being spoken to their culture.
We say things like, “Slap a snag on the barbie”.
We know what it means.
100 years from now the meaning might not be understood.
It is a culture and time issue. Some people see Revelation that way. It is a culture and time issue. The understanding has been lost, and really we have no hope of working it out. This perspective very much takes into account the people who John first wrote to – the original recipients – but it pretty much makes the book of Revelation meaningless to us.
Some people say that much of Revelation is still to take place – everything from chapter 4:1 onwards. What is being outlined here is a seven year period called the great tribulation. These events that we read about are still going to take place and they will take place in a very literal way – so literal that we will be able to tick them off one by one.
This perspective recognises that Revelation is prophesy and it is speaking about things to come. But if most of it is still in the future it is pretty meaningless for us now until we get to that seven year period.
The approach we are going to take is different to bath of these – and it is based on a combination of verse 3 and verse 19
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.
Revelation 1:3
Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
Revelation 1:19
The vision which John sees is a vision which connects to the past, and also to the present, and also to the future.
You have seen.
What is now.
What will take place.
When we read … and hear … and take to heart this message we will find that the letter – all of the letter – has application for us today.
Do you hear what I am saying?
Revelation is written because God wants us to be part of the story. God wants us to be involved in the process. God wants us to have active involvement in the way that history unfolds.
And Jesus has done all that was necessary for us to be involved in that unfolding history.
Look at some of the descriptions John uses to describe Jesus.
the faithful witness
A witness is someone who gives testimony to the truth. In this case Jesus has come to tell us God’s big plan.
It involves forgiveness, even though we messed up big time.
It involves sacrifice, even though we created the debt.
It involves punishment of the innocent even though we are the guilty ones.
The witness of Jesus is that we can be part of God’s family even though we totally lived as those who wanted to stand in Satan’s corner.
the firstborn of the dead
The fact that Jesus conquered death demonstrates that He has power and authority. The fact that he is the firstborn – well that shows there are going to be many more to come.
Before the American Continent was settled not many people knew what the land was like, nor how to get there. But there were a group of men called “trail-blazers”. They would set off and find a way and make a path to the new lands. When they found the good land they would send a message back and others would follow the path.
In that sense Jesus is a trail blazer; He clears the path so that other people can come along behind Him and make it to the destination.
the one who has freed us from our sins
The description here has in mind the idea of people who are trapped.
Sin shuts us and weighs us down.
Sin creates a burden and builds a barrier.
Sin puts up a wall and causes isolation.
Sin generates guilt and causes shame.
No matter which way you look at it there is a trap. Jesus sees it all and He sets us loose.
Loose to do what? We are made into a kingdom and priests.
The kingdom is the area of God’s influence; the priests are the ones who impact others – we are both.
The kingdom is the impact of God’s rule; the priests are the ones who show people how to live – we are both.
The kingdom is God’s family gathered out of this world; the priests are the ones who invite the members – we are both.
The kingdom is the location where we worship God; the priests are the ones who have direct access to God – we are both.
The kingdom is out of bounds to Satan; the priests defend the boarders – we are both.
Do you see how special you become? More importantly, do you see how your connection with Jesus also connects you with the unfolding of history? This book is a revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. What takes place is that Jesus gives us amazing power, and authority, and assurance, and ability, and capacity.
Why does Jesus do that?
Because we all live in a broken world.
John directs us to this brokenness in chapter 1 where he describes himself as your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance.
Our world is broken because of sin.
Why are there so many wars? Sin has broken peace.
Why do we feel anxious? Sin has broken our security.
Why do parents bury their children? Sin has broken life.
Why are we lacking hope? Sin has broken our will.
Why is there poverty? Sin has broken justice.
Why do relationships break down? Sin has broken commitment.
Why do evil people succeed? Sin has broken integrity.
Why do we want to give up? Sin has broken our will.
Whatever angle you want to look at it the conclusion is same this world is broken. The result is suffering, pain, grief, death and detachment.
Our world also seeks to break believers.
John says I was on the island of Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
You can see from the map where the island of Patmos was. The island is only 34 square kilometres in size – even today it only has a population of 3000 people. It was designed to be a place to send people who were not behaving in some way – but it technically wasn’t a prison. John has freedom to walk around and really do what he wants. He just can’t leave the island. The fact that he is on the island makes us realise that John is a trouble maker.
Even though John was well into his 80’s by this stage he was still going around preaching about Jesus. For John Jesus is the only way. In fact it was John who recorded these very words of Jesus.
I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
That’s the message which John preaches – the same message we also need to preach. But in a world that does not like being told what to do, or who to believe, or that there is only one way … well that message isn’t always going to be well received. Is it.
Over the centuries those who have preached this message have endured exile, imprisonment, social ostracism, slander, poverty, economic exploitation, violence and the threat of judicial action.
This world is broken – but when it comes to hearing about a way to be fixed – well they are just not interested are they? In fact they often turn against the messengers.
That is the world we live in. Jesus and His followers on one side … the world and their master on the other side. You know what that means don’t you.
It means this broken world is actually a battle ground.
In our digital age we have gotten used to seeing battle grounds. We relate to the loss. We celebrate the victory. Now they have cameras on the helmets of soldiers. We can get so close to the action that it almost feels like we are there.
In the battle ground between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The kingdom of darkness is seeking to try and take over. The master of this kingdom thinks he is in control. The citizens of this kingdom believe they will have victory. All the while they are trying to cause as much havoc as possible as they wait for the real King to return.
We will be in the middle of it all – in the middle of the battle. It will be just as real as anything you have seen on tv … and even more. Because this is a battle with the kingdom of darkness. Our place, right now, in the unfolding of history.
Which could be a little bit daunting – couldn’t it.
Later in Revelation we will read about some of these battles in more detail. We might even find ourselves asking, “Why in the world would I want to be involved in that?” It is then that we need to remind ourselves of what we said earlier.
The primary purpose of the book of Revelation is for us to know how Jesus Christ is helping his servants in this broken world.
While he is on his walk at Patmos, John hears a voice – a trumpet-loud voice.
The voice tells John to write down all that he is going to see.
The visions and symbols.
The battles and warriors.
The hell-dwellers and the heavenly residents.
The punishments and the rewards.
The close of history and the beginning of eternity.
John will see all this and so much more and he will have to write it down. Who invites John to witness and write out the drama?
8 descriptions are needed explain who John sees.
The long robe with golden chest staff represent dignity and power.
The white head and hair display eternal wisdom and respect.
The blazing eyes have insight which pierces and judges.
The bronze feet demonstrate purity, strength and stability here.
The powerful voice calls for obedience.
The sword from His mouth is the word of judgement.
The radiant face is the face of one who stands invited into the presence of God.
We know this is Jesus – but what a way to describe Him. No one is His equal, whether they live on earth, dwell in hell, or reside in heaven. This is Immanuel – God with us.
He is the One who wants us to see the unfolding drama.
He is the One who determines that we need to know about involvement in this broken world.
Now you may have notice I missed one of the descriptions.
In His right hand He held seven stars (vs.16).
I also want you to notice where Jesus is standing.
I saw seven golden lampstands and among them was this person (12).
Now go to verse 20.
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 1:20
We might be hesitant about being involved in the unfolding drama of history – in the battle that takes place in this broken world. But let me show you what you really need to see.
One angel has the power to battle with Satan and lock him into the Abyss. One angel has the power to hold back the four winds of the earth. Another angel pours out a bowl of wrath and dries up a river.
We will read about these angels later, but my point for now is this. These angels have amazing power and authority. How much more powerful, and how much greater authority, does Jesus have if He can hold seven of them in one hand?
Where does he use His power? Among the lampstands – among the churches – among. I will be with you to the very end of the age promised Jesus just before He ascended – this is a reminder of that promise.
So where does all this leave us?
We have seen that Jesus is the Saviour of the broken world.
And that we are invited to be part of the unfolding of history as we follow Jesus.
The rest of the book of revelation is going to challenge us to do our part.
To be involved in a battle that includes hell-dwellers and heavenly residents.
To step out in ways we could not imagine possible.
To be a part of the drama.
The question then is a simple one.
Are you going to be a spectator? Or are you going to participate?
Prayer
