Series: Rev’d Up
Thesis for Series: We need to get Rev’d Up for Jesus’ Second Coming as we look at what is happening to our society and world. Many are saying the time is near and revelation tells us to be ready at a moments notice. So, let’s get Rev’d up and ready to meet Jesus!
Scripture Text: 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.”
Introduction to Series:
The book of Revelation—Means to be able to see something clearly which once was hidden from sight.
ILLUSTRATION: SOMETHING IS HIDDEN UNDER THIS VEIL AND WE CANNOT CLEARLY SEE IT!
- I can tell you about it:
* It's always moving!
* It speaks to people daily!
* Some people take it for granted!
* Some people worship it!
* It’s a precious commodity more valuable than silver or gold.
* It can come in many different shapes and sizes.
* It's vitally important to most people.
* It can be a slave master.
* It never stands still.
* It comes and goes daily.
* It should never be wasted!
- We can guess what it is but until I unveil it completely to you-you cannot understand everything about it.
- TAKE OFF THE VEIL it’s a bunch of clocks – representing time.
This is what the book of Revelation does for us. It takes off the veil and reveals more than any other book in the Bible -- JESUS CHRIST. It reveals to a suffering persecuted church a victorious Jesus Christ. It's the climax to the entire Bible fueling HOPE AND FAITH! It challenges the church to be ready because He is coming back very soon! Time is spoken of in this book – it references the past – deals with the present and looks into the future.
We need to take to heart the message of this book because it will give us joy even in the midst of persecution.
When we see Jesus – it will change us, encourage, revive us and it should Rev us Up! Seeing Jesus will also enable us to smile through the trial!
Historical Background of the time and book of Revelation:
A. The Roman emperors referenced as 666 in Revelation are either Nero or Domitian and they persecuted many Christians.
1. Nero - blamed the Christians for the great fire of Rome in 64. He was responsible for martyring Peter and Paul. He is noted for illuminating his gardens at night with Christians burning on poles.
a. The Roman historian Tacitus says that Nero not just put Christians to death he used Christians as amusement in the circus. The Christians were clad in hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs, lions, and other beasts. Many were crucified and burned alive. He openly enjoyed his cruelty to Christians. He eventually committed suicide from political turmoil and his last words were, "What a showman the world is losing in me!
2. The worst emperor was Domitian who was a paranoid savage killer.
a. He was the first emperor to have himself officially entitled "God the Lord!" He insisted that other people hail his greatness with acclamations like "Lord of the earth," "Invincible," "Glory," "Holy," and "Thou alone."
b. Many believe that John's hideous beast as described in Revelation is pointing to Domitian's blood thirsty reign and blasphemy.
c. Domitian definitely had the spirit of the evil beast in him.
B. The historical setting for the Christian church at this time was not one filled with hope – but fear and persecution. Why? Because of the Roman Emperor’s demand to be worshiped as God and the severe persecution of Christians.
1. A great multitude is being persecuted for refusal to worship the antichristian emperor.
2. These Christians were eager for Christ's return because it had been 40 - 60 years since Christ's death and he had still not come.
3. There was only one of Jesus' apostles left alive and he was imprisoned on an island. All the others had been martyred.
4. The authorities were always prowling around like lions to pounce on anyone who defied Rome. They especially targeted Christians.
C. Revelation became as an encouraging letter to the persecuted Christians. Here is why?
a. Revelation 6:10 tells the Christians that God has heard their cry "They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’"
i. The cry from the people “How long?”
ii. God’s answers, “The time is near!”
iii. There is another section in Revelation which reminds the suffering saints that God is listening to their prayers and He will respond with power from on high see Revelation 8:1-5: 1When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
1. It tells the Christians that God quiets all of Heaven to listen to their prayers.
iv. John also reveals that the Blood of the Lamb will overcome evil. He promises through the words of God’s revelation that evil will be over thrown. But He directs that there will be a succession of crisis’ before the forces of darkness will be conquered for all eternity.
1. Scripture Text 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.”
Summary of Introduction:
The book of Revelation was written to give to the church of Jesus Christ HOPE in midst of a crisis situation. The Church was in desperate need of a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ for encouragement. This book offered them a glimpse into the past - reminding them what Christ has done on the cross for them. It offered them a glimpse about their present situation and who will win in the end, a glimpse into the spiritual realm going on all around them presently and a glimpse into the future as to what Jesus will do. The future is made very clear on 1 point - Jesus is coming again. Not only will He return He wins the war over evil. There is no doubt about the future winner – God said it will be so!
Revelation focus’ our attention on Jesus Christ and what he has done, how he is currently at work in the world and what He will do in the near future! It covers 3 time frames of history Past -Present-Future.
Sermon: Rev’d Up Chapter 1
Thesis: We need to get Rev’d up about Jesus and His 2nd Coming this year! We also need to know that if we read His Word of Revelation, listen to His Word of revelation and take it to heart we are blessed! We also need afresh revelation that shows us what He has done for us in the past, what He is currently doing for us and what He is going to do in the future. Seeing these time frames will encourage our spirit and souls because the time is near. We also need to know that Jesus holds the keys to life and death!
Scripture Text:
Revelation 1
Prologue
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed 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.
Greetings and doxology
4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. 8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
One like a Son of Man
9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” 12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery of the seven stars that of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
I want to highlight 3 key verses from our three sections in Revelation chapter 1 and the main revelatory points for each and how they apply to us today:
• Revelation 1:1-3: The testimony of Jesus!
o Key verse is 3: “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.”
o This is the first of the seven blessings of Revelation. This one promises a blessing from heaven for everyone who reads, hears, and lives according to the book's message. The key point in this verse is that "WE must take to heart" to heed, to watch over, to observe attentively, to implant within the message of this BOOK. Which is the "REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST"
? Why we need to take to heart the message is because the time is near, or imminent, or almost here. In other word’s it could happen at any moment!
? Illustration: Hank Williams Jr. sang "Come on get ready were going to rock tonight." "With some football." Then there is more to the song. The he asks the big question "ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?" then the helmets crash.” The Book of Revelation is singing, "Come on get ready Jesus is getting ready to rock against Satan.” “So, are you ready for a showdown soon between Jesus and his all=stars and Satan and his losers.” Revelation reveals the clash of the two heads and then the great “Super Bowl victory party of Jesus and the all stars” !
? Point of Decision Question: Are you ready for Jesus to come back today?
o Blessed are those who do the following! The opening word - “Blessed”
? The word “Blessed” in Revelation communicates to us the following –those who know Jesus will receive the following blessings and these will last forever.
? Holman Bible Dictionary notes the following about our word “Blessed” or BLESSING - 516 times it used in the Bible - bless (132), blessed (285), blesses (10), blessing (70), and blessings (19).
• These words carry a significant Biblical emphasis to those who believe.
• In the New Testament, the word “bless” often translates makarios, meaning “blessed, fortunate, happy.”
• The special characteristic of New Testament uses of “bless” and related words is a close relationship to the religious joy people experience from being certain of salvation and thus of membership in the kingdom of God
o The point of this verse in context of the Book of Revelation is this:
? We are blessed, because we have been given the truth through Jesus – this revelatory truth will bring us eternal happiness – But only if we read the prophecy of this book – the message of Jesus who was, is and will be – and then believe in the one who is revealed in this prophetic writing.
? So, to be blessed we need to read this message – hear this message from The Spirit – then take to heart what is written in it
• Means internalize it in our heart.
• It’s a heart issue not a head issue.
o Too many people want to try to understand the Bible with their head knowledge but they never allow it to internalize into their hearts, their inner spiritual being.
o The time is near! Warning – Alert!
? From: The Bible Knowledge Commentary - John concluded his prologue with the time is near. The word “time” (kairos) refers to a period of time, that is, the time of the end (Dan. 8:17; 11:35, 40; 12:4, 9). The end time, as a time period, is mentioned in Revelation 11:18 and 12:12. In 12:14 the word “time” means a year (cf. Dan. 7:25); and the phrase “time, times, and half a time” means one year (“time”) plus two years (“times”) plus six months (“half a time”), totaling three and one-half years—the length of the time of “the end.”
? The prologue presents concisely the basic facts underlying the entire book: its subjects, purpose, and angelic and human channels. It is most important to observe that the book was primarily intended to give a practical lesson to those who read and heed its contents.
• Revelation 1:4-8: Every eye will one day see Him all those from the past -the present and the future!
o Key verse is 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
o Jesus is the beginning and the end of all things in life – as this book reveals– this vision of Him shows He is the One – this prophetic vision – unveiling of Jesus will open your eyes to see what He did in the Past for you – what He is currently doing for you today and what He is going to do in the future.
o Understanding who Jesus is, helps us stand.
? Alpha and Omega
• 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."
? This text in Rev. reveals to us Christ's absolute deity. Its 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.
? 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!"
o JESUS is in control and he cannot be deceived, disputed, or discredited no matter how hard Satan or others try.
? 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).
? At the time of this revelation it looked like the church was losing but Jesus reminds them and us that he will win.
o The 2nd 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.
o Jesus deity and character traits assure us that He is in control and we need to see this. We also need to see that Jesus was - is and is coming.
o The 3 times frames of Revelation – some say it is an outline of the Book of Revelation!
? Who was - from the past – Historical context of His life and death and what that means for each one of us today – revelation unveils scenes of the past with Jesus which will illuminate truth and encouragement to us today.
? Who is – he is alive today – he walks among the churches and people’s lives today – He sees and hears everything today – he is not dead but alive. Revelation reveals that Jesus is with us today – we just need to see Him with spiritual eyes and hear him with our spiritual ears. We also need to know we can feel His presence! Especially as we gather as the Body of Christ!
? Who is coming again – future – The plan of Jesus to fulfill from god is not completed yet – there is more to come – Revelation reveals what is to come!
• The book of Revelation will move through the different time frames of Jesus unveiling spiritual lessons and visions that we need to take to our hearts.
• Revelation 1:9-20: John sees Jesus – John hears Jesus Words – John is given a job to do – record the revelation of Jesus and send it to the church.
o The Appearance of Jesus Christ.
? The first dimension that John noticed, of Christ in His glory, is his robe. He noticed that it had a golden sash.
• This reveals immediately to a reader of John's apocalypse that Christ is a Priest.
• 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.
• 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.
• A priest presents God to us. He also presents us to God. He brings together the divine and the human.
? His head and hair like wool, as white as snow. (Rev. 1:14)
• Signifies- Who the lamb is in Rev. 4,5
• Signifies-Purity, holiness, blemish free
• Signifies- Wisdom, heavenly wisdom
? Eyes as flaming fire.
• Signifies - eyes that see all
• Signifies - eyes that penetrate to the deepest parts.
• Signifies - a burning fire that burns away all that is unclean.
? His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace.
• 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.
? Voice was like a sound of rushing waters.
• Signifies - authority- Example Niagara Falls
• Signifies - an overwhelming voice, of power and might.
? He held the seven stars.
• Signifies - the entire church known in that day and today.
• Signifies - The universe. In that day they only believed in seven planets in the universe.
o He holds both in his hands- He controls them.
? Out of His mouth came a sharp double edge sword.
• Signifies His Word as powerful as a double-edged sword. (Most lethal weapon of the day)
• His word cuts deep and with speed and accuracy. It’s not the sword of steel, but the sword of truth.
? His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (V.s. 16)
• 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.
• The heavenly light where there is no darkness, no veil, no mist, no cloud obscuring its brightness.
o Key verse is 18: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
? This verse refers to his ability and power in the past – in the present and in the future!
o This is powerful quote from Jesus to all those listening or reading this prophetic Book about Him!
? Point one from the past: “I was dead, but I am alive forever!”
? Point two: “I hold the keys of death and Hell!”
? Point three from verse: When John saw Jesus standing there in His glory – He fell at his feet as though dead – He saw Him in His glorious, Shekinah state - Beaming with the light and brilliance of God.
• John had to fall he could not stand in His presence!
• Have you seen Jesus like this?
Conclusion:
1. What do we need to know from this message?
a. Answer: Jesus is not Dead – He is alive and walking among this world – He is going to come back soon and judge this world and in it.
2. Why do we need to know this truth – this revelation?
a. Answer: Because we don’t know exactly when He is coming so we need to ready right now – today – we need to take His revelation to heart – hear it – read it and do it! Believe it!
3. What do they need to do in light of this Revelation of Jesus?
a. Answer: Become His testimony to those around them! Tell His story and how His story impacted their story.
4. Why do they need to do this?
a. Answer: So, they can help others to be ready for Jesus return and so other scan experience Jesus personally and intimately like them.
