The Mystery Of The Word.
Revelation 1:1-20NKJV
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
The first thing every reader should take note of is, this is a revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants.
Remember, Jesus had been crucified, but now, once again, proof of His resurrection. John on this island called Patmos. The other 11 disciples were all murdered because of their faith. John, John is the only disciple left.
Notice—this revelation wasn’t just for John, but it’s for all of God’s servants—Past, present and future.
Vs1c…things which must shortly take place.
Say, “shortly take place.” Think about this, “God’s shortly could be a lot different than our shortly.” Humans tend to:
Be Impatience.
Exaggerate time, either shorter or longer.
Humans tend to forget, but God hasn’t forgotten.
So, the resurrected Christ appears to the Apostle John and tells him to write down what you see, and send it to the seven churches.
2 Peter 3:8-9NIV 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. 9 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.
Notice the source of this message—Revelation 1:1, From the Father to the Son, From the Son to an angel, From the angel to John the apostle. From John to the churches.
“I can’t express to you enough, that the source of every good message is Jesus!” Think about it. P.H
Revelation 1:2NKJV who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
Everything that comes out from your relationship with Jesus, becomes you—bearing witness to the word and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John bore witness, how about you? Do you bare witness to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ? Why not?
John obtained spiritual eyes. Listen to the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:18NKJV the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Time and time again, God declares—We are so rich is Jesus Christ!
Revelation 1:3NKJV Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
A Thought—If a person just took the word of God and lived by its teachings that person would live an outstanding life. However, As a person follows Jesus and His finished works that person is called—Blessed.
Notice, the words in verse 3—the time is near.
1 Thessalonians 5:2NIV for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Revelation 1:4-6NKJV John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Notice that right before John gives each church revelation and insight of their trust and fruitful, or unfruitful works for God.
Verse 4, John pronounces grace, and peace from Jesus to you. To me this is more than an introduction.
Revelation 1:4…the seven spirits who are before His throne.
The seven Spirits who are before His throne speaks to the perfection and completion of the Holy Spirit. John used an Old Testament description of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 11:2NKJV The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Notice Revelation 1:5-6, This message comes from Jesus the first born raised from the dead.
From the last book of the Bible, God’s word proclaims that—Jesus Christ ruler of all Kings of the earth. He has washed us, from our sins with His own blood and has made us Kings and priest.
What a proclamation!
Revelation 1:7NKJV Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Pastor Chuck Smith writes—This is a prophecy of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
1. It is separate and distinct from the rapture of the church.
2. The rapture is the time when Jesus will be coming for His church.
3. At His second coming, He will be coming with His church.
Zechariah 14:5c…and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
Jude 1:14KJV And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
“You need to understand that His church, His bride, will one day leave this earth.” P.H
Revelation 1:8NKJV “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
This word Almighty translates the ancient Greek word pantokrater, which literally means “the one who has his hand on everything.” It speaks of the great sovereign control of Jesus over everything–past, present, and future.
Listen, “God’s not caught off guard or surprised by the world affairs.” P.H
Revelation 1:9NKJV I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Again, I ask the question—Do you know why your here? For every believer.
For the Word of God’s sake.
For the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:10-11NKJV I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Notice, Jesus expresses to John, what you see, not just what you hear, but what you see. What you see write.
What do you see? Write. A lot of great revelations would come our way if we begin to see and write. P.H
Revelation 1:12NKJV Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
These seven lamp stands are the seven churches in Asia. Think about this, God cares so much for His churches, that He warned them.
Revelation 1:13-15NKJV and in the midst of the seven lamp stands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
The appearance of the Lord is nothing less than outstanding!
Revelation 1:16NKJV He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
This two edged sword is the word of God! Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is sharp, quick and powerful… Sharper than a two-edge sword…
The seven stars represent God’s Messenger, or pastor.
Revelation 1:17NKJV And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
As John looked upon our Lord he fell in fear and awe.
Jesus replies to—do not be afraid, I am the First and the last!
Revelation 1:18NKJV I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Jesus says, I AM He who was dead but resurrected.
Revelation 1:19NKJV Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
The Lord expresses to John to write everything he sees and what will take place.
Revelation 1:20NKJV The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
The mystery of the pastors and the mystery of the churches.
Benediction.
