A message for all time Revelation 1:1-6
Beginning: We don’t know how old the earth is. Geologists measure its age by layers of sediment. Archaeologists date the planet by associated layers of sediment and carbon dating. Classic physicists measure the age of the universe by the speed at which light travels. Quantum physicists measure the universe in almost infinitely small pieces. The Bible is not interested in dating the creation event or the age of the earth. The Bible is interested in telling the story of redemption.
We now stand on the threshold of the third year of the third millennium. I find myself asking, “Will this be the last year or last millennium? Will we blow ourselves up or invent and release some bio-toxin that will end human life? Or will this be the year Jesus comes back?”
Many of are hooked on the Left behind series which deal with a period of time when the world is in chaos preceding his second coming. This series of books has opened the door for many to come to know Jesus.
Burden: I pray this message encourages you to follow Jesus more nearly, see him more clearly and love him more dearly.
Background: This vision is given to John in typical apocalyptic imagery.
Revelation is a book that asks the reader to generally interpret its message figuratively.
One would literally interpret a Gospel or a pastoral letter from Paul, but apocalyptic literature uses bold strokes of the painters brush. It is more of a guide book than a book of specifics and minute details. The visions within the book are abstract paintings that communicate emotions like doom mixed with warnings and of course the final thrill of ultimate victory of good over evil.
Revelation is short on Christian ethics. Aside from the fiery injunction to remain faithful and even be willing to die for Jesus the book is thin on day to day living help.
When you get passed the letters to the seven churches the message of Revelation is troubling. The apocalypse says, God is mad at sinners. Deal with it.
The weight of the Biblical message gives a counter weight to this wrath. But if one only had the book of Revelation (apocalypse) it would be difficult, not impossible, to find grace and good news.
As the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world steps forward we get the clearest view of the plan of redemption. It is a book worth reading and preaching.
Basic Truth: With the right background of understanding and interpretative skill the book of Revelation has something to say to every millennium.
Big Question: What is the book of Revelation saying to my generation?
Jesus is the future
Rev 1:1 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,
John exiled on a Mediterranean island received a heavenly visitor. The angel came to show John the future so he could deliver it to the saints who would populate the planet in the millennia to follow.
The vision is about Jesus the Christ. It is about Jesus moving across history. It is about Him ending history. It is about him leading His children into eternity. Its scope is infinite and immeasurable.
I enjoy looking at pictures of my ancestors. I also enjoy taking family pictures because pictures connect us with both the past and the future.
Jesus wants you to have a family picture. His revelation is a picture of the future family as well as the past. We don’t know the future, but we know who the future is.
Life Application:
#1.Don’t miss the whole plan of God by thinking the future is other than Jesus.
#2.If you are investing in anything else-rethink it-repent and be converted.
TS: The future is not about Jesus, it is Jesus. The next message the apocalypse gives is just as profound.
Jesus is the only thing true
Rev 1:2 Who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John stands before the combined human population, raises his hand and swears that what he is telling us is true.
God can not lie because he is the truth, and John swears to be truthful in passing this vision on. This testimony comes from 2 witnesses
There have been, and will be, many false messiahs. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus is the good shepherd!
Virtual reality is changing the way companies develop new products. With VR we can experience existences never possible for earth bound people. Jesus is no VR.
He can’t be experienced any way but the real way. He is the real thing.
In a recent movie titled The Matrix the entire population of earth, except a few people, was being used by aliens as batteries. All their lives were nothing more than computer generated realities. Since they didn’t know any difference they were content with their perceived truth.
Surgeons can electrically stimulate parts of your brain and induce sensations that seem real to you. You can smell a flower, or taste a Snickers Candy bar or hear great music, all unreal.
What is real?
Life Applications:
#1.How do you decide which truth is the real truth? Each of us has a source of supposed truth. There is no truth outside of the Word of God.
#2. When you are taught or hear a conflicting truth presented to you as truth learn the theory, but remember the scientific pursuit of knowledge is more often wrong than right. Don’t be discouraged if someone decides they have a higher truth.
TS: The future is his. All truth is found in him. Both of these statements plead with us to do make the next point essential.
Jesus should be taken seriously 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart . . because the time is near.
The Bible finds two things vital concerning the Word of God: (#1) Hearing it, and (#2) Doing it.
When this book offers ethical information it expects it to be worked it into our life styles. Failing to take this seriously is dangerous beyond description or thought. One of the saddest woes found in the bible is reserved for those who hear but don’t heed-listen but don’t learn-understand but don’t change.
When the bible tells of eternity it poses two options. One is fulfillment and the other is the lack of it. One is life the other is death. One is hope the other is hopelessness. One is light the other is darkness. One is heaven the other is hell. One is where Jesus is and the other is where he is not.
We know in our hearts there is an eternity waiting that is commensurate with the way we have lived. And guess what? We have all lived badly. We have all lived poorly, inadequately, sinfully, irreverently, selfishly, meagerly.
We need to change what we do not have the power to change. Jesus is the only one who can change us. He is for real. His promise is genuine and authentic.
On Lake Taneycomo I have many times been fly fishing for trout with water dangerously nearing the top of my waders. On those occasions I listen carefully for the horn at the dam to sound because its warning tells me to move immediately to shallow water. The gates on the dam are opening and what was lapping at the top of my waders in a few minutes will be in my waders. The warning horn is not a practical joke.
Life Application:
#1. The time is near. It really is in one way or another it is near. You may live another 50-70 years, but in relationship to the age of the planet or the universe it is nothing more than a blink of the eternal eye. What are you waiting for? This is the appointed time for you to live your life and prepare for the next.
TS: He is the future, he is real and he should be taken seriously. These three arguments are powerful for allowing Jesus to move into your life immediately. If they don’t move you to compliance the next one may.
Jesus wants to bless you with grace and peace
Rev 1:4a John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you
Who is the church that for which Jesus has this blessing of grace and peace? It is you—if your part of it. It is you if you have been born again. It is you if you have stopped saying no to Jesus and opened your life to his presence.
Jesus has a message for every member of his church. His message of peace and grace was for actual and future churches. It was given to conservative and moderate churches, for denominational and independent, and for liturgical and evangelical churches. The message is sent to churches who sing traditional hymns and for those who are accompanied with guitars and drums.
Grace and peace is the blessing Jesus sends us.
When the big, bad wolf knocked on Red Riding Hood’s door it was not to bless her. When the little extortionists knocked on your door last Halloween and said, “trick or treat” it was not to bless, but to be blessed. When Jesus knocks on your door he only wants to give.
The blessing of God comes when we enter a covenant agreement with Him where He (the strong party) offers eternal blessings to us (the weak party).
The grace part comes to bear because we don’t deserve the blessing.
Take this very seriously.
Life Application:
#1. The choice is now yours. Do you want to be blessed or not? Do you want to be in the eternal family picture or be forever separate?
What does Jesus want us to know? The Father never told us anything he didn’t say through Jesus
What does Jesus want us to do? If you belong to Him already move into the place where he can bless you with grace and peace. If you don’t belong to him already you are on a dead end road that is leading to no where.
