The Blessing of Revelation
Thesis: 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!
Texts:
Revelation 1:1, 2 "The 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, who testifies to everything he saw-that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Revelation 1:3 "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."
Revelation 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.”
Introduction:
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:
* for instance it gives a sweet taste to the mouth when you follow directions.
* it’s friendly
* it likes music
* it’s cool
* it is in the form of a oval
* it is famous
* it has a letter tattooed on its chest
- We can guess what it is but until I unveil it completely you cannot understand everything about it.
- TAKE OFF THE VEIL it’s my MM figure playing the sax.
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 for those who are going through trials and tribulations.
Revelation is also full of visions, illusions, symbolism and the like and it’s important to make sure you interpret the text according to sound hermenutical principle’s.
This book is full of surprises and hard to understand terminology. You find sections that are full of all sorts of things that aren’t what they seem. Sometimes you will read a passage and see multiple meanings and images for example it’s like these illusions:
a. Is this and oval or a circle?
b. Is the word sunshine written here? How about the bird is it drawn in?
c. What do you see when you look at this picture?
· Two men looking at each other – yes but also a vase as well.
d. How about the next picture what do you see?
· A beautiful women – yes but also and old women.
e. In this next picture are the lines absolutely straight and vertical.
· The picture says no by looking at it but the truth s they are.
f. Our last picture will boggle your mind stare at it for a while then look at a white wall what do you see?
T.S.-This little perception lesson is important to remember when you study the book of Revelation because you can see one at a certain angle and another at another angle. So before we dive into this book lets look at the historical setting of the book to help us interpret it correctly for us today.
I. Historical Background of Revelation:
A. The Roman emperors Nero and Domitian are persecuting 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.
* The Roman historian Tacitus says that Nero not just put Christians to death he also 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!"
· The worst emperor was Domitian who was a paranoid savage killer.
o 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."
· Many believe that John’s hideous beast as described in Revelation is pointing to Domitian’s blood thirsty reign and blasphemy.
o Domitian definitely had the spirit of the evil beast in him.
B. The historical setting for Christians is not one filled with hope because of the Roman emperor’s demand to be worshiped as God.
1. A great multitude is being persecuted for refusal to worship the antichristian emperor.
a. These Christians were eager for Christ’s return- it had been 40 - 60 years since Christ’s death and he had still not come.
b. There was only one of Jesus’ apostles left alive and he was imprisoned on an island. All the others had been martyred.
c. The authorities were always prowling around like lions to pounce on anyone who defied Rome. They especially targeted Christians.
T.S.- With this brief historical setting brought forth you can see why Revelation was given to the church. It was a message from the Lord to encourage a persecuted church.
II. Revelation becomes an energizing letter to the Christians. Here is why?
A. Revelation 6:10 tells the persecuted church that God has heard their cries and he is listening. “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?”
a. 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.
i. This passage tells the Christians that God quiets all of Heaven to listen to their prayers. He is listening to their cries of pain and anguish. He is listening to them cry out for deliverance.
b. Revelation 4, 5 presents a victorious Christ who won already.
i. John 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.
ii. The book of revelation was written to give the church of Jesus Christ HOPE.The Church was in desperate need of a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ. This book offered them a glimpse into the past - reminding them what Christ has done on the cross. It offered them a glimpse about the present situation and who will win in the end, a glimpse into the spiritual realm as to what is going on presently and a glimpse into the future as to what Jesus will do. The future is made very clear on one point Jesus is coming again. Not only will he return he wins the war over evil.
Illustration: Legend of the Cross Maker
A touching legend tells us that when Jesus was a boy at Nazareth he met a Roman lad by the name of Fidus, who confided this desire: "I’m looking for Joseph , the carpenter. From him I want to learn the arts of this craft."
I can lead you to him," answered Jesus, "for I am called the Son of Joseph." As Fidus watched and learned from Joseph, Jesus told him of a great King who would one day be raised upon a throne so high that all the world would see.
Fidus exclaimed: "Would that I might build the exalted throne of the great King!" "Fidus," said Jesus, "you will be the one to build the throne of the great king, the throne from which He shall rule the nations. I promise you."
Years passed, Fidus went home to Jaffa and practiced his trade with honor. He happened to return to Jerusalem on a day when the Jewish capitol was in an uproar. He could hear cries of Crucify Him! He makes Himself a King."
As he passed the gate of Pilate’s palace, a Roman soldier who knew the skill of Fidus greeted him. "You are especially welcomed, Fidus. Three are to be crucified today, and only two crosses are prepared. "Fidus was assigned the task. He put all his skill into its making, and viewed his finished product with pride. Later he followed the crowd outside the town and up a hill. He heard a voice, a voice he could never forget. Looking closely he saw a figure, a figure he could never forget. Yes, it was the boy of Nazareth, now a man, but writhing in agony on the throne Fidus had made. His eyes were opened."
c. Our eyes need to be opened to see that Christ has already won and one day he will come back as promised and hold this earth and all its inhabitants accountable for their actions.
i. This is the lesson from the past and the cross! Don’t lose sight if this vision and reality.
T.S.- This is why we are told in Revelation 1:3 that you are blessed if you read it, hear it and take it to heart.
III. Revelation 1:3 is the first of the seven blessings spoken of about the book of Revelation.
A. This one promises a blessing from heaven for everyone who reads, hears, and lives according to the book’s message.
a. 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"
i. Revelation 1:3 "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."
ii. Why we need to take to heart the message is because the time is near, or imminent, or almost here. In other words it could happen at any moment!
Conclusion:
Closing 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”!
Are you ready for Jesus to come back today?
