THE REVELATION OF JESUS
We are at the beginning of the twenty first century and it appears that we are emerging from under the ominous threat of nuclear holocaust that marked the cold war.
Yet even as some preach that safety and peace is at hand, others warn of new possibilities for global catastrophe through the widespread destruction of our ecology. Many still prognosticate the end of the world.
How will history end? How will our world end? Will it end?
That is the theme of the last book of the New Testament. Originally known as the Apocalypse, which means “unveiling” or “disclosure”, of things known only to God. This book pulls the curtain back to reveal the end of the world.
What we find is a dramatic story told in a language that is quite hard to understand. Nevertheless, the ultimate point is grasped, Jesus is the Lord over all!
Everything around us changes, but He remains the same. He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the End....who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. 1:8
Around 96 A.D. something exciting happened on a rocky, desolate, six by ten mile island in the Aegean Sea. The Apostle John was banished to this island because of his faith in Jesus.
Ordered by the Lord himself to write down all that he saw and heard.
What we have in our hands, the book of Revelation, has been one of the most, if not the most debated book in the Bible.
Throughout history people have offered various interpretations to try to explain its meaning. It is important to understand that the book is written in a genre known as apocalyptic. Apocalyptic literature seeks to reveal divine mysteries that would otherwise remain hidden.
The problem is that sometimes what they try to reveal remains hidden. i.e. Daniel, Ezequiel, Zechariah.
If these writings are to supposed to reveal hidden realities, why are they so hard to understand?
One reason is that apocalyptic writings tend to appear during times of great danger. Thus the writer may find it safer to hide his meaning in images that his readers will understand but his opponents will not. We would call it encoding.
John wrote during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96). He was the first Roman emperor to demand that the entire empire honor him as “Lord and God.”
John, exiled by Domitian, may have been warning the believers not to give in to the emperor’s wishes.
In addition to the danger of the times, another reason apocalyptic material is hard to understand, John is trying to convey heavenly realities in earthly terms.
i.e. a 747
He runs out of words in his efforts to describe the indescribable. Therefore he resorts to metaphors and symbols to express what he has seen, heard and experienced.
So then, how should we interpret this book?
Look at handout
Let’s go to the text!
Why should we study Revelation?
1st A special blessing is promised to those who read, hear and take to heart the words of the book.
2nd It reveals God’s plan for the future.
3rd Revelation gives clearer detail concerning Bible prophecy than any other book in the Bible.
4th Revelation completes the circle of Bible Truths begun in Genesis.
Genesis: shows man’s beginning in a beautiful paradise
Revelation: shows the wonderful paradise to come
G: shows how man lost his chance to eat of the tree of life.
R: shows man will yet eat of that tree.
G: tells of man’s first rebellion against God
R: promises an end to man’s rebellion against God.
G: records the first murderer, drunk and rebel
R: promises a city where nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 21:27
G: reveals the tragic sorrow that resulted from sin.
R: promises that He will wipe every tear from their
eyes... 21:4
G: records the first death
R: promises that there will be no more death 21:4
G: shows the beginning of the curse
R: shows the curse lifted
G: introduces the devil for the first time as the tempter
of men.
R: shows the final doom of Satan
G: promises that Satan’s head would be bruised.
R: shows him bruised and defeated.
What a story!
Chapter 1
vs. 1- 3 Introduction
The revelation of Jesus Christ begins with a clear statement of origin and purpose. It is given to Jesus by God the Father to show His servants things which must soon take place, it is designed to bless those who read, hear and take to heart the words of the prophesy.
This once again is about Jesus. He is the center stage of prophecy. He is the celebrity of all creation. The purpose of creation is to glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ.
Therefore God is in the business of unveiling Jesus. That is our business as well!
Therefore, Revelation demands our attention for it is the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus and a testimony of things to come.
The Devil will do anything he can to rob you of the blessing of studying this book. He wants you to believe that you can’t understand it.
This is the only book that comes with a blessing for reading it. We are not only to read it, but also to hear it. Not only to hear but also to take it to heart, to guard it.
Why? Because the time is near. Jesus is coming back soon.
His coming is near therefore we must be prepared. When He comes, we won’t have time to prepare to meet. So, we must be prepared now.
Look at vs. 1-3
vs. 4-8 Greetings and praise to Jesus
John now addresses the seven churches in Asia (western Turkey), offering grace and peace from each member of the Godhead with descriptive terms which become more significant later in the epistle.
His greeting is followed with a declaration concerning the Lord’s coming, and a word about who Jesus is.
Grace and Peace to you had become the standard Christian greeting by time John wrote his letter. Grace, God’s unconditional and undeserved kindness, is the great privilege of the Christian age. Peace, wholeness and well being, was the great privilege of the Old Testament age (Shalom). Christians now share in all the blessings God has to offer.
Seven spirits This puzzling phrase is found in the New Testament only in Revelation. 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6.
This is John’s special way of referring to the Holy Spirit. Many translators have suggested “Sevenfold Spirit” as a better translation, emphasizing the completeness of the Spirit of God.
Isaiah describes the Spirit in Chapter 11:2 as follows: 1st, the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him; 2nd, the Spirit of Wisdom; 3rd and of understanding; 4th the Spirit of counsel; 5th and of power; 6th the Spirit of Knowledge; 7th and of the fear of the Lord.
What has God done presently? He loves us, has freed us, and made us to be a kingdom and priests.
What does that mean? When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt he made them a kingdom and priests. That is now transferred us.
Jesus is King over the kingdom and High priest who intercedes for his people. He has a multitude of priests on earth to serve the Father. Not a specialized clergy, it is all of us.
Jesus is coming (vs 7). All of history is moving to a focal point. One day Jesus will break through the clouds and all creation will change. His coming will impact everything in the world. He will restore the world to its original intent.
Before describing his first vision John records the sovereign words of the Lord God who will bring it all to pass.
One of the themes in Revelation is the conflict between good and evil, John reminds us of who really has the power.
First, He is the Alpha and Omega, the A to Z, the one in control from before the beginning of time until after the end.
His eternity is noted in the phrase, who is, and who was, and who is to come.
Finally, His power is seen in the title the Almighty, the one whom none can resist. 9 of the 10 times this term appears in the New Testament are in Revelation.
This term may well go back to the Old Testament Shaddai which is translated “Lord of Hosts,” and “Lord Almighty.” Revelation’s language thus reflects the Old Testament triple designation, Lord God Almighty or Lord God of Hosts.
Once again, the primary purpose of the book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus and to describe the triumph of God’s kingdom when Jesus returns to establish his kingdom on earth.
Blessed is the one who reads.... we need to read the book not only to understand God’s future program for the world and his people, but also to learn and apply great spiritual principles.
Above all, it should draw us nearer to Jesus Christ in faith, hope and love.
