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 moment’s notice. So, let’s get Rev’d up and be 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.”
Illustration of a testimony from the past: Perpetua's story: Perpetua-In A.D. 202, Emperor Septimius Severus disallowed conversions to Christianity. In the wake of that act, severe persecution broke out against Christians, particularly in North Africa. Living in Carthage at the time was a young woman of nobility named Perpetua age 22. She had been arrested for converting to Christianity and going to be water baptized. When she was arrested and placed into prison she was still nursing her infant son. In March of 203 A.D. she was lead into the amphitheater. Upon entrance in the arena she started to sing some of the Psalms. Her and the others were stripped naked and placed in nets. The crowd wanted them clothed so they were given tunics to place over their bodies. The Egyptians unleashed a mad heifer on her that charged her and up ended her. Later a gladiator was sent to kill her. He struck her on the shoulder she screamed in pain then she took the gladiators hand and signaled for him to slice her throat. He did. In the writings about her they tell of a vision she had upon her arrest. …She saw a ladder going toward Heaven. On it before her she saw her pastor ahead of her. (He had been killed by a leopard prior to her killing) She said in the vision that he said, ‘Perpetua, I am waiting for you. But take care; do not let the dragon bite you.’ “He will not harm me” She said,” in the name of Jesus.” Slowly, as though he were afraid of me, the dragon stuck his head out from underneath the ladder. Then, using it as my first step, I trod on his head and went up” (Christian History, Issue 27 page12-14).
Our main text for this series is Revelation 12:11 is about our testimony and being willing to die for it – This text is placed in this revelation of Jesus to remind us of all the people who have sacrificed their lives to keep the message of Jesus moving forward through time. They were and are heroes of the faith – their sacrifice is honored in Heaven – just like the heroes of our past and current wars are today – they were men and women of great faith who sacrificed their lives in the war of good and evil so as to see others saved. They died for Jesus and for you and I to have what we have today in this church service.
Their names are famous in Heaven – they left a legacy at their death – they did it for Jesus and for The Gospel of Hope and Freedom.
Question: What will the world and Heaven record of your life and death in the annuals of History? Will you be famous in Heaven – before the throne of God?
Introduction to Series:
The book of Revelation—Means to be able to see something clearly which once was hidden from sight.
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 apocalyptic book and prophecy because it will give us inner strength, joy, perseverance even in the midst of persecution.
This revelation wants us to see Jesus – if we see Him – as He is, was and will be in the future - it will change us, encourage us, revive us and it will Rev us Up to stand up for truth! Seeing Jesus will also enable us to smile through the trial as we face the persecution for standing up for truth in a world filled with lies and demonism!
To understand the message of this book and it's time frame in writing by the Apostle John let me remind you of church history for a moment.
1. Historical Background of the time frame and writing of book of Revelation:
a. The Roman emperors referenced as 666 were possessed by the evil spirit of the antichrist in Revelation and are said to be either Nero or Domitian and they relentlessly persecuted many Christians.
i. Nero - blamed the Christians for the great fire of Rome in 64. Which many say he started. He was responsible for martyring Peter and Paul. He is noted for illuminating his gardens at night with Christians burning on poles.
I. 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!
II. The worst emperor was Domitian who was a paranoid savage homosexual 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. People were forced to hail him as God or die!
c. Many Christian Historians believe that John's hideous beast as described in Revelation is pointing to Domitian's blood thirsty reign and blasphemy.
d. But I want to remind you something I learned from Dr. Nichols in my apocalyptic literature class He said, "Prophetic writings can have dual meanings and be very figurative of the past, present and the future."
2. 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.
a. A great multitude is being persecuted for refusal to worship the antichristian emperor.
b. 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.
c. There was only one of Jesus' apostles left alive and he was imprisoned on an island. All the others had been martyred.
3. Revelation became as an encouraging letter to the persecuted Christians. --- Listen - 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!”
b. There is another section in Revelation which reminds the suffering saints that God is listening to their prayers IN Revelation 8:3-5: 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.
i. It tells the Christians that God quiets all of Heaven to listen to their prayers AND HE ANSWERS.
ii. John received this letter on the island of Patmos were he was sentenced to by Domitian after he tried to kill him by bowling him in oil which miraculously did not harm him and scare the emperor who then had him sentenced to this island.
iii. He spent 18 months on this island being sentenced to life at 95 but released after Domitian death. He had this vision on the island which was another miracle he survived it, and even started a church on the island after his release he returned to Ephesus to Leland the church because Timothy was killed by a mob in the city.
4. Summary of Introduction:
a. The book of Revelation was written to give to the church of Jesus Christ HOPE in midst of trials, tribulation, persecution and severe 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!
b. 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 2: Rev’d Up – Chapter 2
Thesis: We read in the annuals of church history and the Bible of people who gave up their lives for the cause of Christ – to uphold his name even in the face of death. Jesus appears to John and sends 7 messages to His church telling them he sees their current situations, he sees the good and the bad and leaves instruction to each one. Some would die for the cause of Christ but they need to know Jesus sees all!
Introduction:
How could someone give up there life? How? Because they had a revelation of who Jesus Christ was, is, and will be.
This revelation was not religion. It was not a tradition, it was not a mere knowing about Jesus. It was an intimate relationship with Christ that had changed people’s life – like the story of Perpetua and Pastor Tiffany’ and even my own life. It’s the Stories of lives that have been transformed.
The reason people gave up their lives is because they had a Revelation of Jesus. It’s seeing Christ as a God who is there 24-7. When you can see Jesus in spite of the difficulties then you can do all things through Jesus Christ even do the ultimate sacrifice of giving up your life for him.
Once again it’s important to know that Revelation is an unveiling of Jesus Christ to all who are servants in His suffering kingdom. The book is delivered to John in a supernatural way while he is on the Island of Patmos. Here is an important point Revelation is Jesus Christ’s personal vision of Himself to us and to all the servants of Jesus in past, today and in the future.
The message of this vision: Once we see and experience who Jesus was, is, and will be. We will then have the strength to stand up for Him in the face of persecution even if it means giving our lives.
Question: Why would they do it or people even today do it? Because Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. He is the beginning and the end. This reality should impact our lives today and give us the boldness to be able to stand up for Jesus in an age where it is not popular.
We learned from 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 Revelation chapter 1 revealed to us Christ's absolute deity. It‘s a reminder of why Christ will win and an encouragement to the persecuted church why they need to not quit. Why you need to not quit or give up on Jesus and His church.
He is the one who starts something and finishes the task – He is the "ALPHA AND OMEGA"- The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet tells us that Christ is the sum of all. He is Omnipresent – He was there in the beginning and He will be there in the end. 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 He is writing history. His decree is based on this fact " He knows ALL, and He will see to it that the Christian church wins!" JESUS is in control and he cannot be deceived, disputed, or discredited no matter how hard Satan or others try even by the media or Hellywood..
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). Jesus said His church would prevail and it did!
At the time of this Revelation it looked like the church was losing but Jesus reminds them and us that He will win in the end. He has a plan and this was the historical plan for the change of heart in the Roman Empire. At the writing of Revelation it looked bleak but Jesus is the one that writes history.
Constantine became the Roman Emperor and became influenced by the Lord Jesus and it is said from others in his family, but at the Battle of the Milavian Bridge the Lord gave him a revelation of the blood red cross. He was meet there by his rivals and he was outnumbered. But he cried out to the divine for help. He then had a vision of a red cross in the sky and he was told to embrace this symbol and he would win. He had the symbol of the cross placed on his shields and his army won a great victory. He later on signed the Edict of Milan where Christianity became the accepted religion of the Roman Empire. No longer were Christians outlaws but the ones who were a BLESSING TO THE EMPIRE. The persecution of Christianity stopped as a result of this miracle and then spread far and wide throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.
Jesus was right he had everything in control. He was the beginning and the end. I am sure no one in the Roman Empire could have believed that the emperor would be converted but Constantine was and it stopped the persecution of the church.
Jesus deity and character traits assure us that He is in control and we need to see this today – in our time frame – the present. We also need to see that Jesus is around today in 2018 and He is still walking amongst His church.
We need to get a fresh revelation of Jesus today if we want to be able to stand in the face of the coming persecution. We need to see Him as He is in His glory. A vision of Him today will inspire you and change you. It will encourage you to go where He wants you to go and do what He wants you to do. It is the greatest thing you could ever see.
The big question: So do you want a fresh revelation of Jesus? Then ask Him to reveal Himself to you – today – this morning. He will! I promise you if you see Him it will transform your life!
T.S. - We need to understand that for us to be able to make a stand for Jesus Christ requires us to have fresh revelation of Him in our lives so that when the day comes to stand for him we will. We need to know that He is right here with us – He knows – He see’s!
1) The church in Ephesus Rev. 2:1-7:
a) Lets look at the church in Ephesus in Rev. 2:1-7 and discover how this church had fallen asleep but Jesus came to wake them up and encourage them to return to their first love.
i) 2:1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
(1) Ephesus – was a church who lost their focus on Jesus in the midst of their busy schedule of ministry.
b) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
i) Berkely tell us, " Ephesus was located on the Cayster River on a gulf of the Aegean Sea. The silt carried down by the Cayster eventually filled in the bay and brought an end to Ephesus as a port city, but in New Testament times it was large - more than a quarter of a million people lived there. The cult of emperor worship was evident, but the main attraction was the temple of the goddess Artemis"(164).
(1) Artemis or Diana's temple was the 7th wonder of the world.
(2) Carr notes this about the city, " Ephesus, ‘the Vanity Fair of Asia', ‘The Supreme Metropolis of Asia.' Famous 3 ways:
(3) Religion: The temple of Diana; 7th wonder of the world. .
(4) Commercially: Port city; military city; industrial city.
(5) Politically: A free city, self rule.
(6) They were also known for their banking, artists and art gallery's and sin.
(7) Ephesus was a city filled with sin and luzary extravagant Richie s flowed through this city.
(a) Describe what Paul, Aquillis and Priscilla saw entering the light of Asia.
(b) Describe bath houses, bathrooms, prostitution, Temple prostitution, nakedness everywhere, cults, demonic practices, a theater filled with vulgarity, personal attacks and porn on stage, a stadium that by the end of the day was covered in blood, by all the people killed for entertainment, statues lined walkways of marble which were painted to show their nudeness, and this is where God sent them in 56 ad to bring the light of the Gospel to the dark city.
ii) Biblical background - The church was founded by Paul (Acts 18). He spent three years planting the church and raising up leaders to take over. Apollos also preached their. Acquila and Priscilla ministered in this church. Timothy was one of their pastor's and helped disciple the church. Even the Apostle John lived on the Hill behind the temple of Artemis, as the apostle for all of Asia Minor, he attended the church with Mary and later on was one of their pastor's. Mary the mother of Jesus attended this church can you imagine. This church had some of God's all-stars as their leaders and mentors (Carr, page 1).
(1) The message to Ephesus from Jesus Christ “I Am” the one who is in complete control in this world and in His churches. He is the One that knows what is going on in His churches every church.
c) The message to this church:
(1) Jesus makes it clear in verse one who is in control and reveals His divine ability to see and hear what is transpiring in the church.
(2) He saw their hard work - the idea here is that they feared God and did works of service for Him. He was impressed with their energy to do ministry tasks.
(3) They ran a church that offered programs for every age.
(a) They were modeling and teaching evangelism.
(b) They had solid Biblical schools and teachers.
(c) They where defenders of the faith and knew their Word.
(4) He saw their perseverance in their labors - He was impressed how they slavishly toiled for Him.
(a) They were so dedicated to ministry and works that they strived, pushed to doing good works to the point of exhaustion.
(b) It was ministry at all costs.
(5) He saw their lack of toleration for wicked men claiming to be Christ followers.
(a) They confronted sin and false teachers ceaselessly.
(b) They exposed the false teachers and their false teachings.
(c) They tested them by using God's Word as the grading scale.
(d) They did their best to present themselves to God as workers who were not ashamed of their deeds and they correctly handled the Word of Truth (II Timothy 2:15).
(6) He saw their perseverance (vs. 3) through hardships for Christ's name. They were patient and determined to win the race.
(a) This thought reflects an endurance that never backs down compromise.
(b) They were a church that crossed every T and doted every i.
(c) Thomas states, " They had persevered, ‘because of My name' Says Christ. ... They persevered for the sake of the purity of the message they preached" (page 139).
ii) But Right in the midst of their commendation Jesus changes his tone and says "YET" or “But” or we have a problem Houston – Ephesus!
(1) There was a problem that he saw in this church. "You have forsaken your first love." (Verse 4)
(a) In other words you have become so busy doing stuff that you have neglected to have a relationship with me.
(i) They did ministry but did no pray or spend time with Jesus.
(ii) Jesus saw that they were forming into Christian Pharisee's.
(iii) In reality they were so busy debating others and doing ministry
(iv) That works superseded a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
1. No pray just works of ministry, no intimate relationship with Jesus.
(v) They were so busy crossing their T's and dotting their i’s that they were walking away from Christ in their hearts.
1. The church in it's zeal for Christianity had become a loveless church.
2. They had forgotten about LOVING GOD.
a. And when Christ is forsaken love is forsaken.
b. A church without love is not a church but a legalistic prison that leads people away the truth.
3. This church had become out of balance.
a. By the way the Church was only about 40 years old.
b. Carr states, " The fatal weakness of the church -- The vitality of their passion was gone - They were a saved and a serving people, but their motives for service were wrong. (ILL. Prestige, position, reputation, duty, fear) Love is the only worthwhile motive!"
c. They had lost their first love (II Cor. 11:2) and Christ would not tolerate it. Like Martha they were so busy that time with Christ was shelved to do the busy things.
d. When love is gone in a church these things appear:
i. Lack of enthusiasm to spend time with Christ.
ii. Lack of attendance to worship and honor Christ.
iii. Lack of Joy in serving Christ.
iv. Lack of being a witnesses for Christ.
v. Lack of praise to Christ.
vi. Lack of study of God's Word to learn more of Christ
vii. Lack of prayer to and with Christ.
e. The Problem was not outward sin but it was the condition of their empathetic hearts.
i. Wilkerson makes this observation: It quickly becomes evident in this passage that the Ephesians. Are not just a bunch of novices or lukewarm saints. No, Jesus is examining the hearts of a people who are well-grounded in the truth of the gospel - and who work to prove it in their lives, by sacrificing, laboring and standing up for truth (3).
ii. Simply put, the Lord is telling us, ‘It's not enough for you to be caring, giving, diligent servant who grieves over sin and preaches truth. It's not enough for you to uphold moral standards, endure suffering for my sake, or even be burned at the stake for your faith. This is all part of taking up my cross. You can do all these things in my name. But if in the process of doing them your affection for me does not increase - if I am not becoming more and more the one great delight of your heart - then you have left your first love! If your affection for me is no longer a matter of great concern to you, then I have something against you!" (3).
(b) Jesus now exhorts them to change back to where they had come from.
(i) ‘Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from it's place" (verse 5).
(ii) They need to do three simple things to be forgiven:
1. Remember where they have been - The day of salvation and excitement.
2. Repent
a. Get right with God - I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will purify us from all unrighteousness.'
3. Return to the beginning
a. Fall back in love with Jesus Christ - re-experience his love and tenderness. Become love driven and love motivated again. Be revived!
(c) Warning -- DANGER! DANGER! If you do not Jesus says “I will remove your lamp stand” - this is a promise!
(d) Jesus now commends them again for their hatred of the practices of the Nicolatians (verse 6).
(i) A cult that taught that you could eat meat sacrificed to idols and participate in sexual immorality openly. They believed that your physical sin did not affect your spiritual condition.
(ii) They were also gnostics who believed that their "Gnosis" superseded Biblical teaching.
(iii) After being rebuked it's nice to hear another word of praise from Jesus Christ.
(2) The call to respond and receive another blessing from Jesus Christ (verse 7)
(a) The promise is the right to eat from the Tree off Life.
Conclusion:
Point to learn today – what do we learn about Jesus in our day and time from the message to this church – What do we need to know from Jesus to us the church of 2018?
Jesus knows what is going on in this church and in your lives.
We need to stay awake and guard ourselves from anything (including ministry) that allows us to forsake our 1st love for Christ. It screams at us that we need to keep our focus on Jesus Christ and His love, so that we will not leave love behind and follow the lies of the world.
Hear this message CHC - Is your love for Jesus exclusive? Do you regularly take quality time to be with Him? Or have other things crept into your heart, taking up your thoughts and affection?
Question: Have you lost your first love?
Jesus is asking you right now to repent and start over again if your answer is “yes” to the question. He wants you to stop and realize He is here!
He could be saying to you today: ‘Wait a minute - I see how this lack of love has crept into your life. It's robbing me of time with you!” says Jesus!' “Today is the day to go back to me as your first love because I am “First and the Last.” “I was dead but behold I am alive forever more!”
Come on church --- Jesus is walking up and down these rows today – He knows your deeds – He knows who you are and were your heart is!
Ask Him to renew your passion for Him!
Ask Him to enable you to keep Him number one in your heart.
Ask Him to once again reveal Himself to you – right now!
