Alpha and Omega, Part 25, Revelation Part 2
The Announcement and Image of Jesus
Revelation 1:4-20
Introduction
- Last week began with our intro to the book of Revelation
-- Underscore: God will not allow mankind to continue to rebel forever
-- Jesus Christ completes the vision by showing us how this all ends (EXP)
• Life has always been about God’s word
• The revelation of His appearing as the righteous judge
• Revelation is a sign to the church of why evangelism matters
- Lot to cover today, so let’s just dive in … Read Revelation 1:4-20 / Pray
- TR: In the beginning we learn the identity of the revelator (Jesus)
-- Good news: God does not keep us waiting; He jumps right in for us to learn
Point 1 – John receives four announcements about Jesus
Announcement 1: We have (we currently possess) grace and peace (v4)
-- Church must realize this is what we have – it is not something coming later
-- If grace and peace are already ours, it means: We need to act like it!
-- Philippians 4:7, “Then (When? When you go to Him) you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
- Revelation is a firm declaration to the church: these things come from Heaven
-- They are gifts of God, not something that man can give or even manufacture
- Grace comes from the seven-fold spirit – this is the Holy Spirit
-- Seven represents number of completeness in Heaven - rep. the fullness of God
-- This indicates that the full power of the Spirit is with us bringing grace & peace
- BIG: We (the church) receive grace and peace from Jesus Christ
-- Jesus is the one who brought us total peace, through His life and Death
-- John 14:27, “I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Announcement 2: Jesus Christ is the great savior – and He is … (v5)
• He is the faithful witness: the one we can depend on
• He is the first to arise from the dead and will never again have to die
• He is the Prince of all kings: He is now exalted to God’s throne
-- Not a man-made throne that will be setup, but the one that always existed
• He has redeemed us: His shed blood is how we receive forgiveness
- Dying for our sins, He has shown us what love truly is
-- Greek: agapao; to love; to wish well; to long for; esteem
-- Word love, present tense, refers to Him always loving us
-- Galatians 1:4,” Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.”
• He has exalted us: He has the authority to make us kings and priests
-- Greek: po-i-eo; manufacture or construct something
-- Greek: basil-eia; kingdom; sovereignty; royal power
-- Greek: hier-e-us; a priest; one who offers sacrifices to God
- WHAT?? This means we shall have responsibility and authority!!
-- Supervision & governance are our jobs: we shall rule with Christ in eternity
-- Romans 8:16-17, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” (This means life will not be easy until we are with Him)
Announcement 3: “Behold, Christ comes!” (v7)
-- When Jesus returns, something marvelous will happen:
• Every eye shall see Him
-- Consider: No one will miss it – had He come already, we’d have seen it!
• Every person who rejected Him will also mourn
-- Meaning: They will see (living proof) that He is exactly who He said He is!
Announcement 4: Jesus Christ is the Almighty God! (v8)
-- He is the Alpha and Omega
-- Alpha is first letter of the Greek alphabet … Omega is the last letter
-- He is all that there is, the beginning and the end, the initiator and finisher of faith
-- APP: All things are under the control & authority of Jesus Christ
- APP: We can put our trust in Him, and be comforted by Who He is
-- If He is our rescuer, then we must stop trying to be in control of life
-- Greek: panto-kra-tor: Almighty; ruler of the universe
- No matter what you are facing, if you are His, you will overcome
-- All things shall be worked out for good because you are forever His
-- Hebrews 10:1-2, “The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.”
- But therein lies the rub doesn’t it? Do you (truly) belong to Him? Are you His?
-- Will you rejoice at His coming? Or are you still trying to make sacrifices?
-- This is why this book is either viewed as awesome OR ignored
- We will see Him in one of two ways … BUT …
-- Faced with our own mortality, we’d rather ignore it (humanity denies Him)
-- We’d rather look inward: remember, we make lousy gods … only God is God!
-- And in Him, we find grace and peace through His Son, our Redeemer, Jesus
- TR: So, with these 4 announcements, we get to see Jesus as John saw Him
Point 2 – John’s revelation of Jesus is unblemished and glorious
- John receives a vision of Jesus Christ, in His glorified body (immortal)
-- He is told this vision is specifically for the 7 churches of Asia (REF MAP)
-- These are the original churches that birthed what we know today
- We know John is on the isle of Patmos, located East of Smyrna
-- He calls himself a couple of very specific things which are most interesting
-- Says, “he is a brother and partner to the churches in God’s kingdom”
- He has been with the churches through the good and the bad
-- Don’t miss - he has been a companion, an encourager, walked with them
-- APP for now: He has not deserted the church when times were tough
-- We’ll see the churches have some serious issues – John is still there (ref above)
- John tells us was in the spirit on the Lord’s day (love this)
-- He was with God, celebrating the Sabbath, when the Spirit came to him
- There is something to be said for private, intimate worship with God
-- APP: It is in those times, also, that God can meet with you and lift you up
-- Here, we see John having church – even in exile – because of his obedience
- John knows what fellowship with God can bring
-- He also knows what Jesus promised him when He departed
-- Matthew 28:20, “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Suddenly, there is a loud trumpet sound – an announcement of an arrival
-- A great voice comes from behind him (think of royalty being heralded)
-- Turning, John sees Jesus Christ standing amongst seven golden lampstands
-- The churches are represented by the lampstands and Jesus stands among them
- RE: Jesus is the light of the world - without Him there is no light
-- He stands among the churches because He is their authority & power
-- Unless He is in the middle, the church is dark and without guidance
-- APP: Want to see a sign of a dying church? Look for nothing happening!
- John’ vision is so vivid here – but even in it I’m sure it’s not all there is
-- John tries to capture what he sees in words we will understand, try to grasp …
1. He was clothed with a robe down to His feet (v13). (Greek: enduo; clothed)
-- He wore the robe of the prophets: Zechariah 3:4, “So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”
-- He wore robe of priests: Exodus 28:4, “These are the garments they are to make: a chest piece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother, Aaron, and his sons to wear when they serve me as priests.”
-- APP: The robe signifies the prophetic, priestly, and kingly ministry of Jesus
-- He proclaims the word and gives us access into the presence of God
-- He represents a king - Jesus shows He rules and reigns over all the universe
2. His chest had a gold sash across it (v13)
-- Greek: mastos; the breast Greek: chrusous; golden
-- It would be something like a breastplate with the names of people engraved
-- It would signify who He was over, who He is charged with protecting
-- Exodus 39:29, “The sashes were made of finely woven linen and embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”
-- The sash covered the breastplate, meaning complete protection of those under it
3. The head and hair were as white as snow (v14)
-- This pictures Christ as the Ancient of Days; the eternal Lord of the Universe
-- Daniel 7:9, “I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire”
-- This is also a picture of a sinlessness, or His purity before God the Father
4. He had eyes of flames and fire (v14). (Greek: pur; fire)
-- Jesus possesses a piercing and penetrating power – He sees all
-- Even in the darkness, there is no escape for His power and His vision
-- Hebrews 4:13, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
5. He had feet like fine brass or bronze (v15). (Greek: chalkolibanon; fine copper)
-- This is a symbol of strength or perseverance – feet that traveled to preach gospel
-- The same feet that will overpower and crush the enemies (re: Gen 3:15)
-- He can bring defeat anything by being able to trample unhurt
6. He had a voice of rushing waters (v15)
-- It is His authority that is spoken of – ever try to talk near a waterfall?
-- It is overpowering, but somehow, has a peacefulness about it; relaxing
-- APP: Jesus’ very words shall overcome even the conversation of others
7. He held seven stars in His right hand (v16)
-- These represent the messengers, or the leaders, of the seven churches
-- APP: In His hands are those who are responsible for preaching / teaching
-- It is a sign to remember what we are called to do, re who is ultimately in charge
-- John 15:16, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
8. He had a sharp, two-edged sword coming from His mouth (v16)
-- Greek: rhomphaia; a sword or scimitar (curved sword, think “Aladdin”)
-- This is the symbol of the word of God, the strength and power of it
-- The sword cuts either way, hence double-sided – there’s no escape from it
-- 2 Tim 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
9. He possessed a countenance that was like the sun shining (v16)
-- Greek: helios; the sun Greek: phaino; to shine or shed light
-- His brilliance, His glory, and His beauty shining are, for John, hard to grasp
-- RE: This was his friend, who he knew, who promised to come back again
-- Here He is, in full glory …. And John’s response? FALL DOWN DEAD! (v17)
- TR: But – don’t miss this – don’t miss what Jesus does (even in glory)!
-- Re-read Ch. 1, verses 17-18
BIG IDEA
-- He brings assurance to the one that He knows – brings comfort, guidance, peace
-- Says, “Fear Not” – every messenger we encounter leads with this also
- Declares who He is so there can be no mistake …
-- Says, I am the first and the last – the beginning and the end
-- He lives - yes, He was dead, but now He lives forever more (re: John saw it)
-- He has the keys to death and the grave – All authority belongs to Him
- The mission is clear: write down what you will see (both now and to come)
-- God is very clear here … capture this so there is no misunderstanding (v19)
- EX: It says what it says, so write it down and know the words
- Jesus is so invested that He even answers the unasked (v20)
-- He completes the vision and explains the stars / lampstand that John saw
-- Why? Because John’s mission is to write what he will see
-- He wants his focus ahead – it’s the same for you and me – wants us to know
- BIG: We are called to know so we can share Him with others
-- Truly, what a wonderful God we serve today – one of clarity and peace
-- If only we would take what is written, and share it with those who need it
- Pray
