Summary: Beginning our study of the book of Revelation we examine John, a servant who is sold-out for Jesus Christ and willing to do whatever it takes to reveal Christ to all who will read this book.

Who do we serve?

Revelation, Part 1, Revelation 1:1-11

Open your bibles to Revelation, Chapter 1

2 Tim 4:2 says “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Ω Introduction

- I believe there is no more important time than right now to be involved in God’s ministry I want to say up front that this series scares me …

- I’m not afraid of what will happen, but ensuring this is presented correctly

- 65 books of the Bible are historical facts; the events are totally verifiable

-- Moses was a real man who left an indelible mark on Israel

-- Daniel was a prophet and work for King Nebuchadnezzar (real person)

-- Paul was a real man (Pharisee who governed and tortured followers)

-- Jesus real man (born: 1st census of Caesar Augustus during Quirinius rule as shown in Luke 2)

--- All testify to seeing/experiencing/knowing Jesus existed as a man

- Revelation shows the events to come; which we should know and teach

-- I am not a prophet and I do not claim to be one (others do falsely)

-- I have read the works of great prophets whose words, given divinely from God, have come true long before I was born

- Starting today, we are looking ahead to the last great prophecy to come:

-- The prophecy is of Jesus Christ’s return, and how important that is to us

-- Not just us, to all of humanity who may die without Jesus Christ

-- Jesus is either Savior and Lord … or … the world’s best liar and con-man

- God’s plan in Genesis was always to REDEEM His creation (Gen 3:15; 5)

-- This is why this book is so critical; we must understand how God works

-- His plan to redeem is critical because it meant the death of His Son

- That death, while horrific, reveals the very glory of God’s mercy

-- Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.”

-- Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

TRANS: It is because of Jesus we’re redeemed and why we study today

Read Revelation 1:1-11

Ω Point 1 – Who do we serve? (v1-8)

- The book of Revelation is a revealing (of something to happen later)

-- Unveiling, pulling back the curtain, showing backstage access for all

-- But notice that John uses very specific word of “soon” in v1

- Greek word used is “eutheós”; which means “at once” or “directly”

-- Some foolishly think that this is an instant time, but we don’t control clock

-- 2 Peter 3:8-9, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (now a familiar verse) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

-- Many have tried to predict and failed miserably, often dying well before

- So, when we read “soon” we’ve got to ACCEPT God’s timeline

-- This is the one thing that gets people into trouble more than anything

-- Mark 13:32, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

- Many ignore this book because of its end-times implications out of fear

-- Life will end, accounting is required, and judgment is passed by Holy God

-- However, look at v3 … we are BLESSED by reading this book!

- IMP: However, we have been freed by blood (v5b-6)

-- The sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary gives us the ability to serve

-- It is because of the shed blood that we can proclaim our own freedom

-- Hebrews 9:22, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Ω - B/C Jesus paid with His blood we are called to do one thing for Him:

-- In v6 we are “priests to serve His Father”; we PREACH in SERVICE!

- John is in the midst of revealing Who he serves with his whole life

-- Our benefit in this as we get a preview of what will happen one day:

1) Jesus Christ will descend (ref Acts 1:11, “same Jesus will descend”) and

2) We shall see him (1 John 3:2, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”)!

- Now, look at the specific wording of Revelation 1:8: Who is Jesus??

-- Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the End … note: PRESENT tense!!

-- Given authority over everything (discuss this more in coming weeks)

- TRANS: So, now we know who John is revealing … why John?

Ω Point 2 – Who is John (and why is he important)? (v9)

- He was just a fisherman; one of the lowest paid workers in this time

-- Only position really identified as lower than fisherman was a shepherd

-- Remember, an Angel appeared to them (lowly) announcing Jesus’ birth

- John had one thing in common with true believers: he loved Jesus

-- The same John who was one of the original disciples first called

-- The same who accompanied Jesus; considered part of His “inner circle”

--- John was even present during the transfiguration of Christ

-- This is the same John who sat with Jesus at the Last Supper (reclined w/)

-- The same John at Calvary; took Mary into his home (“behold … mother”)

-- The same John who was called “the disciple that Jesus loved” (John 21:7)

- John was an ordinary man … BUT he was a sold-out, servant of God

-- You are an ordinary man – Are you sold out for Jesus?

-- You are an ordinary woman – Are you sold out for Jesus?

-- APP: We are ordinary people with NO different potential than John

- IMP: Look at what God does with ordinary men and women in Bible!

-- Noah was a drunk; Abraham was too old; Isaac was a daydreamer; Jacob was a liar; Leah was ugly; Joseph was abused; Moses had a stuttering problem; Gideon was afraid; Samson had long hair and was a womanizer; Rahab was a prostitute; Jeremiah and Timothy were too young; David was an adulterer and a murderer; Elijah was suicidal; Isaiah preached naked; Jonah ran from God; Naomi was a widow; Job went bankrupt; John the Baptist ate bugs; Peter denied Christ; The disciples fell asleep while praying; Martha worried about everything; The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once); Zacchaeus was too small; Paul was too religious; Timothy had an ulcer; and finally … Lazarus was dead!

- Being sold out means that no matter what it takes, God’s will comes first

-- God first – Family Second – Everything else is third … premise to live by

-- Challenge: Are you sold out? Are you willing to do whatever it takes?

- John was banished for loving God, with everything that was in him

-- Because John loved Jesus & preached, he was banished from society

-- Fact: 11 of the 12 disciples were killed for their faith … totally sold out!

-- John was spared to continue living on; b/c God had a purpose for him

- If this is what John’s mission is, then what is ours?

-- To read what John wrote, and apply it to our lives so we’d live for God

- IMP: God will use anyone who is willing to serve to fulfill His plan!

Ω Point 3 – Why is this message important? (v10-11)

- John told to write what he sees – word for word – as the Lord revealed it

-- He plays a very important role in prophecy; he’s shown the truth

But, the big question here is: Why is this revelation so important?

-- Answer: Because it was given by the Spirit of God! (ref. Gen 1:2)

-- 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction, and training in righteousness.”

-- We must understand that the message of the Word is God breathed

-- It’s God inspired – and because of that our only purpose is to act NOW!

- The scripture in Revelation is given the same way:

-- The Holy Spirit has given it to John so that we may understand; and apply

-- VERY IMP: The Holy Spirit is ALWAYS direct, straight-forward, & uncompromising! Lukewarm direction is the first indicator God is not involved!

- When God speaks to us to do something, we can either obey or disobey

-- There is no delaying it, waiting around, or getting a committee assembled

-- The Great Commission did not tell us to pause and pray, it tells us to go about making disciples – just as Jesus did for us.

--- How? He obeyed, even in the face of death on a cross

Ω Big Ideas

1) Who is John?

-- A servant of Jesus Christ; an ordinary man sold out for Christ

2) What was John’s mission?

-- To write what he saw, revealed by the Spirit (see v10)

-- He had this vision on the Lord's Day which is also known as the Sabbath

-- APP: Spending time with God even as an outcast (on Patmos) of society

3) Why is his mission so vital?

-- This prophecy lays out the future of ALL that is in existence

-- Sneak peak: Revelation 21:1, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

- It is the end of the world created by God who always planned redemption

-- God always planned to provide a way for us; through the Gospel He did

-- The Gospel is translated as “good news”: which means there is bad news

-- The bad news is that if you die without Christ, you are eternally separated

- John is given instructions to write which will teach us to live

- The most important question for us in this is: Who are you today?

-- Are you serving and revealing the One we will explore … or not?

- Pray

Before we can fully understand the revelation:

1. Must ensure we have common frame of reference

2. Ensure we are following proper instruction (God's Word)