A Letter That Reveals...
Revelation 1
Though I write very few personal letters, I do enjoy receiving them. Not much else delights my heart like that of receiving a letter from a family member, or from a close personal friend, in which they reveal bits of news that pertains to future events and the part that I can play in them.
This book of the Revelation is just such a letter. Penned by the hand of the apostle John, it was written to believers, who like himself, had suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. The name of the book bears it’s purpose...it is the revelation.
1. It is the revelation of the glorified Christ, who identifies himself as the Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the End.
2. It is the revelation of Christ as the Eternal One, who was, who is, and who is to come.
3. It is the revelation of Christ as the Living Lord; the One who was dead, but is now very much alive.
4. It is the revelation of future events in which every one, who is a believer in Christ, shall take part.
5. It is the revelation of future events in which every unbeliever shall suffer the wrath of God.
In twenty-one years of pastoring churches, I have found that there are two extremes when it comes to the book of Revelation. First of all, there are those who are so mystified by it’s teaching, and by all of it’s symbolism, that they are interested in very little else. The rapture of the church, the tribulation of the lost, and the day of God’s wrath is all that interests them spiritually. Then, secondly, there are those who have very little interest in the Revelation because they do not understand it’s mystery and symbolism, and because they are almost afraid to even think about future events. Well, somewhere, there has to be a happy medium; for, in verse 3 of chapter 1, John said: Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Beloved, let me assure you that even though we do need to know about future events as revealed in this prophecy; there is nothing that we can do about them except to be ready for them when they happen. Our hearts and minds must be prepared for there will be that day in which great and small shall stand before the God of heaven. And, while we should also not be consumed by the mystery of the revelation, neither should we neglect to study it, for there is still much that God has to say to us as the church so that we may be ready to meet Him in the day of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I am going to attempt to preach from this book, but let me preface it by saying that I make no promise that we will cover it verse by verse, or chapter by chapter; or that we will even cover it’s contents from beginning to end, but will conclude the study when the Lord tells me it is time.
Now, as we look at this first chapter, we find that the letter, though penned by John, is not from John! The letter is from Christ Jesus, the Lord; from He who is the Head of the church, the Saviour of the body. John is just the scribe! The message that He proclaims; the mystery that he reveals is not that which was conceived within his own mind as an over-active imagination, but that which he heard from the mouth of the Lord, himself.
The letter is to the church, at large. Though the recipients are identified as the seven churches of Asia, each one represents the church of Jesus Christ at some particular time in history. There is, at least one of the seven churches of Asia, whose personality, character and works represents the First Baptist Church of Garden Lakes.
Now, as we read in verse 9, John was on the Isle of Patmos. He had been exiled there for one reason: Because of his stand in the Word of God and for the testimony which resulted from that stand. Obviously John was a man of conviction. Having been with the Lord Jesus Christ; having seen His crucifixion and having witnessed His resurrection, John was convinced that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God....and such a conviction could not help but make him share what he had seen and heard. As we read the book of Acts, we find that it was John who stood with the apostle Peter in the face of the council though their very lives were threatened. When told that they were never to teach or preach in the name of Jesus again, Peter, filled with a holy boldness that can come only from God’s Spirit, said: "Tell us whether it is right to listen to you, or to God. But we cannot help but speak of those things which we have seen and heard."
Beloved, when one has had an experience with the Lord that is a life changing experience...and the heart and soul of that one is energized by the Holy Spirit within....there will be a testimony that cannot be silenced. We are simply going to want to share with others what our experince with Christ is all about. We are going to want to tell others of His love and forgiveness....about His acceptance...about His provision and protection. We will want men to know so that they too can experience for themselves the love of God in Christ.
One of my favorite New Testament stories is that of Bartimeus, the blind beggar who sat beside the Jericho road. The other is concerning the lame beggar who sat beside the Beautiful Gate of the temple. Both of those men clutched their rags of poverty about them. They probably wondered on numerous occasions about the meaning and the worth of their very life. But, then they received a touch from God. Bartimeus’s eyes were opened to see a world of color, of life and laughter. The lame man stood on new feet that allowed him to walk upon the earth that he was meant to subdue.....and when both of these men received their touch from God, they began to leap and shout and praise and glorify God. They had had a life changing experience. You could not have silenced either of them had you tried!
Beloved, it is appearant to me that what we need today, both individually and collectively, is a brand new touch. You can call it ’personal revival’ or by any other name, but what we need is a fresh, new experience with the Living Lord so that men might know of Him through our witness. Now, we could argue, saying, "If I had received such a healing, sure I would tell of it." But, beloved, while we wait for some miracle to happen we lose sight of the fact that we have already received a touch from God that was life changing; for Jesus, changed us from a hell-bound sinner into a child of God. Therefore, our testimony; our witness should be the same.
In Psalm 51, David falls upon his face before God. The conviction he has experienced within his heart because of his sin against God and against man, has brought him to deep repentance. In verses 9--15 he cried: Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
Beloved, that is a testimony! That is telling of the things we have seen and heard. That is telling of the things we have experienced within our heart....Jesus receives and cleanses sinful men.
The cost of John’s stand was great...it cost him everything thing. But, even though the cost was great, so were the rewards of it....for on the Lord’s day....and caught up in the powerful manifestation of God’s Spirit, John saw Jesus Christ in all of His Kingly glory. Unlike the man, Jesus, whom he had walked and talked with throughout the region of Galilee, John saw Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords....and, so overwhelmed was he by what he saw that he fell at Jesus’ feet as though he were dead.
Now, beloved, I can only imagine that John must have fainted for fear; for the One who stood behind Him, whose voice was like the sound of a trumpet, like the sound of many waters, was also One whose hair was white as snow....whose eyes were like flames of fire....whose feet were like polished brass...and in whose mouth there was a sharp two-edged sword. And, though I cannot say for certain that John did faint for fear, I can guarantee you this: There have been many who have fainted for fear at the sight of less awesome things!
But now, notice verse 17: And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive, forevermore, Amen: and have the keys of hell and of death.
Beloved, John’s fear may have equalled, or even exceeded that of the disciples the night in which Jesus came to them, walking on the water. But, just as it was that night, Jesus dispelled the fear that enveloped the human heart when He identified himself to those who were His own. There was no need to fear, because even though Jesus was Lord and Master, He was also Saviour and friend. John had no need to fear any more than do we because as John said in verse 5 of chapter 1: Jesus loved us and washed us from our sin in His own blood.
I think it is interesting to note that Jesus laid his right hand upon John. Beloved, He reached out with the same love and tender compassion that He did on many other occasions when He brought a healing, a comforting or a reassuring touch to the life of one in great need. It was the touch of Jesus’ hand that assured John of his acceptance with the Lord of Hosts.
Beloved, it was because of his assurance of acceptance, and because of his assurance that God accepts every believer in Christ, that John could write what he did in verses 4-5. He said: "Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth."
Notice that John speaks of grace and peace. It was an apostolic blessing that John pronounced upon them. Yet, it was not just uttered as a casual phrase by which he wanted to open his letter, but it was his prayer for them. John wanted the reality of God’s grace to be manifest in every heart; he desired that God’s enabling grace wouldl sustain them through their long days of persecution. But, notice also, if you will, that as in every other letter in which we find this apostolic blessing, grace always preceeds peace. You see, John knew that is is grace that brings peace; that is, peace with God. And it is because we have peace with God that we can experience within our hearts the peace of God that passes all human understanding.
As I think of what John has said to all believers in this letter, I am assured of my own acceptance with Christ. Now, there is no doubt but that He has a message for me; many messages, no doubt. He may through His Word and the conviction of His Spirit reprove me and show me every area of my life where I am lacking, and where I am not living up to His predetermined purpose for me. God, may even by His word chasten my spirit and bring sorrow to my heart as He corrects me....but still He loves me. Now, how do I know that? Very simply because I am His; saved by grace through faith, and I have been washed clean in His blood!
I cannot begin to tell you the number of times that Satan has whispered in my ear his lies that brought doubt and confusion. Nor can I tell you how many times I have walked about in discouragement and guilt and shame; worried about my standing with God....but, beloved, when the light came on....when I came to the point of truly understanding the marvelous grace of God and walk in it; then I came to understand the completeness of forgiveness, and the completeness of sin’s covering in my life. It was then that I also came to also understand that there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ. The fear is gone of God’s wrath is gone!
In verse 7 John tells us that one day Jesus is coming in the clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also that pierced His side; and all of the earth shall wail because of Him. I cannot even begin to imagine the sorrow of that day, but, beloved, we can rest assured that those on the earth at His Second Coming will not be those who have already received Christ into their hearts by faith....but those who have rejected Him and were forced to live through a period of tribulation like the world has never known. There is no doubt but that they will fear...they will wail in agony of judgment of separation...but we will rejoice for we will be with Him when He comes.. There will be no fear for us because we have our names written in the Lamb’ book of life and we are washed in His blood.
In I Thessalonians 5, the apostle Paul encouraged and comforted the believers who had many questions concerning the day of God’s wrath. In verses 4-10 Paul said: But ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Beloved, pay particular attention to verses 9-10. Paul said through the Spirit, "God has not appointed us to wrath...but to obtain salvation. The word ’appointed’ means conceived. In other words, we were not born again of God’s Spirit so that we may suffer through tribulation and the judgment of God, but that we through faith in Christ might be saved. And it does not matter whether we be dead or alive at His coming, we shall live together with Him in eternity.
Notice again, verse 18....Jesus said: I have the keys of hell and of death. Is there anything that can cause greater fear to most men than death? The very thought of physical death and the darkness of the grave throws some men into an absolute panic. But for those of us who are in Christ, there is no need for fear; no need for panic because the very One to whom we have entrusted our souls is the One who holds the keys of hell and death.
The word ’keys’ is indicative of the fact that Jesus has power to unlock that which binds. The keys were given to Him because He literally triumphed over death and the grave when He rose from the dead by the power of Almighty God. Oh, they rolled a huge stone before the door of the tomb....they sealed the door to be certain that no one would enter or exit....but beloved, men did not have the power to hold Him. The grave did not have the power to hold Him. Death did not have the power to hold Him! And because they could not hold Him neither can they hold us whom He has received unto Himself by grace through faith in His name.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the believers at Rome, chapter 6, speaks of the new life that we have in Christ, and he also speaks of the assurance of our resurrection. Beginning in verse 4 he said: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in a newness of life. For if we have ben planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Beloved, Jesus Christ died once for all sin. He was raised for our justification and to make it possible for us to walk in a new life, not only here on the earth as we wait for His coming; but in heaven, on streets of pure gold, in His glorious presence throughout all eternity. You see, that was something else John’s letter was to reveal....heaven...the fortaste of glory divine. Chapter 21 tells us all about it...and we’ll save that to another time...but now, I must ask you if you have experienced this life in Christ. Have you had a vision of His glory and do you know in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead. If you do, then listen to these words of Paul from Romans 10:9-10 "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
