REVELATION - Part 3
August 27, 2003 - Danny L. Williams
Revelation 1:5-6
As we walk through the Book of Revelation together, remember that this special message has been given to reveal God’s truth,
not conceal it, and to clarify God’s eternal purpose, not mystify it.
This work was prepared to alert millions to the fact that Jesus is coming soon-perhaps today!
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CHAPTER 1
Verse I: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: .
It is often used in the epistles as a
1. "manifestation" (Romans 8:19),
2. a "coming" (I Corinthians 1:7),
3. a "revealing" (2 Thessalonians 1:7),
4. and an "appearing’_ (I Peter 1:7).
The Book of Revelation, then, concerns
1. the unveiling or
2. appearing of our precious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 5: 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. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Jesus Christ is seen in His threefold office
1. Prophet (faithful Witness),
2. Priest (First-begotten from the dead),
3. King (Prince of the kings of the earth).
First-begotten does not mean “the first one raised from the dead,” but “the highest of those raised from the dead.”
Let me explain: The Resurrection and How it works
I need to through some information at you ok?
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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Ephesians 4:8, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
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Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Matthew 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
He exercised wonderful power when He died.
Three miracles took place simultaneously:
1. The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;
2. an earthquake opened many graves;
3. some saints arose from the dead.
1. The rending of the veil symbolized the wonderful truth that the way was now open to God
( Heb. 10:14–26 ).
There was no more need of temples, priests, altars, or sacrifices.
Jesus had finished the work of salvation on the cross.
2. The earthquake reminds us of what happened at Mount Sinai when God gave the Law to Moses ( Ex. 19:16ff ).
The earthquake at Calvary signified that the demands of the Law had been met and the curse of the Law forever abolished ( Heb. 12:18–24 ).
The torn veil indicates that He conquered sin;
the earthquake suggests that He conquered the Law and fulfilled it;
and the resurrections prove that He defeated death.
3. We are not told who these saints were; they were simply believers who had died.
The King James Version suggests that they did not come out of the graves until after His resurrection; the New American Standard Bible agrees with this.
It is difficult to believe that they were given life on Friday afternoon and yet remained in their tombs until Sunday.
The New International Version suggests that these saints were resurrected immediately and came out of their tombs, but that they did not visit in Jerusalem until after Jesus had been raised from the dead. It is not likely that many Jews would be in the cemetery on Passover, since they might be defiled by the dead.
The only disciple at the cross when Jesus died was John ( John 19:35 ).
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Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
His humanity enabled Him to disarm Satan and deliver us from death (vv. 14–16 ).
Angels cannot die.
Jesus did not come to save angels (note Heb. 2:16 );
He came to save humans.
This meant that He had to take on Himself flesh and blood and become a Man.
Only then could He die and through His death defeat Satan.
The word “destroy” does not mean “annihilate,” for it is obvious that Satan is still alive and busy.
The word means “render inoperative, make of none effect.” Satan is not destroyed, but he is disarmed.
In what sense did Satan have the power of death?
The final authority of death is in the hands of our God ( Deut. 32:39 ; Matt. 10:28 ; Rev. 1:18 ). Satan can do only that which is permitted by God ( Job 1:12 ; 2:6 ).
But because Satan is the author of sin ( John 8:44 ), and sin brings death ( Rom. 6:23 ), in this sense Satan exercises power in the realm of death.
Jesus called him a murderer ( John 8:44 ).
Satan uses the fear of death as a terrible weapon to gain control over the lives of people.
His kingdom is one of darkness and death ( Col. 1:13 ).
We who trust in Jesus Christ have once and for all been delivered from Satan’s authority and from the terrible fear of death.
The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ have given us victory! ( 1 Cor. 15:55–58 )
Jesus Christ did not take on Himself the nature of angels in order to save the fallen angels ( 2 Peter 2:4 ; Rev. 12:7–9 ).
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Luke 16:19- 31 certain rich man, & beggar named Lazarus,
A contrast in eternity (vv. 23–31 ). The King James Version uses the word hell in Luke 16:23 ,
but the Greek word is not “hell” but “hades.”
It is the temporary realm of the dead as they await the judgment.
The permanent place of punishment for the lost is “hell,” the lake of fire.
One day, death will give up the bodies and hades will give up the souls
( Rev. 20:13 , where “hell” should be “hades”),
and the lost will stand before Christ in judgment ( Rev. 20:10–15 ).
From our Lord’s description, we learn that hades had two sections:
1.a paradise portion called “Abraham’s bosom,”
2.and a punishment portion.
It is believed by many theologians that our Lord emptied the paradise part of hades when He arose from the dead and returned to the Father ( John 20:17 ; Eph. 4:8–10 ).
We know that today “paradise” is in heaven, where Jesus reigns in glory ( Luke 23:43 ; 2 Cor. 12:1–4 ).
There is no indication in Scripture that souls in heaven can communicate with people in hades or with people on earth.
This narrative refutes so-called “soul sleep,” for both the rich man and Lazarus were conscious, one enjoying comfort and the other suffering torment.
It is a solemn thing to ponder one’s eternal destiny and realize the reality of divine punishment.
C.S. Lewis was told about a gravestone inscription that read: “Here lies an atheist—all dressed up and no place to go.” Lewis quietly replied, “I bet he wishes that were so!”
The interesting thing is that, in hades,
the rich man began to pray!
1. First, he prayed for himself, that Abraham would have mercy on him and allow Lazarus to bring him some comfort ( Luke 16:23–26 ).
2. Even a drop of cool water would be welcomed. What a change from his sumptuous feasts when slaves ran to do his bidding!
The word torment is used four times in this account, and it speaks of definite pain.
This is the same word that is used for the doom feared by the evil spirits ( Mark 5:7 ) and the judgments God will send on an unrepentant world ( Rev. 9:5 ; 11:10 ; 20:10 ).
If hell is the permanent prison of the damned, then hades is the temporary jail, and the suffering in both is very real.
People ask, “How can a loving God even permit such a place as hell to exist, let alone send people there?”
But in asking that question, they reveal that they do not understand either the love of God or the wickedness of sin.
God’s love is a holy love (“God is light,” 1 John 1:5 ), not a shallow sentiment, and sin is rebellion against a holy and loving God.
God does not “send people to hell.”
They send themselves there by refusing to heed His call and believe on His Son.
The “unbelieving” are named second on the list of the people who go to hell, even before the murderers and the liars ( Rev. 21:8 ; also see John 3:18–21 , 36 ).
Abraham gave two reasons why Lazarus could not bring the comfort that was requested:
the character of the rich man and the character of the eternal state.
1. The rich man had lived for the “good things” of earth, and had experienced abundant temporal blessings.
2. He had his reward ( Matt. 6:2 , 5 , 16 ).
3. He had determined his own destiny by leaving God out of his life, and now neither his character nor his destiny could be changed.
4. Lazarus could not leave his place of comfort and make even a brief visit to the place of torment.
Then the rich man prayed for his brothers ( Luke 16:27–31 ).
He did not say, “I’m glad my brothers will also come here.
We’ll have a wonderful time together!”
Occasionally you hear a lost person say, “Well, I don’t mind if I go to hell.
I’ll have a lot of company!” But there is no friendship or “company” in hell!
Hell is a place of torment and loneliness.
It is not an eternal New Year’s Eve party at which sinners have a good time doing what they used to do on earth.
Luke 16:28 suggests that Lazarus had testified to the rich man and probably to his brothers, but none of them had taken his witness seriously.
But now, Lazarus’ testimony is very important!
The brothers knew that Lazarus had died, so if the beggar appeared to them, they would be frightened and would listen to his witness.
People in hades have a concern for the lost, but they cannot do anything about it.
Abraham explained that only one thing could prevent the five men from eventually joining their brother:
they needed to hear the Word of God and respond to it by faith.
Moses and the Prophets tell sinners how to repent and be saved, and the Jews heard them read every Sabbath in the synagogue.
Though miracles can attest to the authority of the preacher, they cannot produce either conviction or conversion in the hearts of the lost.
Faith that is based solely on miracles is not saving faith ( John 2:23–25 ).
A man named Lazarus did come back from the dead, and some of the people wanted to kill him!
(see John 11:43–57 ; 12:10 )
Those who claim that there can be no effective evangelism without “signs and wonders” need to ponder this passage and also John 10:41–42 .
In the rich man’s lifetime, God had spoken to him in many ways.
God had permitted him to have riches, yet he did not repent ( Rom. 2:4–5 ).
Lazarus had witnessed to the rich man, and so had the Old Testament Scriptures that were familiar to the Jews, but his heart remained unbelieving.
The fact that Lazarus died first was a strong witness to the rich man, a reminder that one day he would also die, but even a death at his very doorstep did not melt the man’s heart.
In spite of the fact that he was in torment in hades,
the rich man did not change;
he was still self-centered.
He prayed, but it was for his comfort and the safety of his family.
He was not concerned about other lost sinners;
his only concern was his five brothers.
He argued with God instead of submitting to His will.
This indicates that the punishment of lost sinners is not remedial;
it does not improve them.
Hades and hell are not hospitals for the sick;
they are prisons for the condemned.
The rich man trusted in his riches and did not trust in the Lord.
“The safest road to hell,” wrote C.S. Lewis, “is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” ( Mark 8:36 )
Jesus asked that question.
What is your answer?
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Firstborn is a title of honor
(see Rom. 8:29 ;
Col. 1:15 , 18 ).
it is to Jesus Christ alone that this book is dedicated.
The reason?
Because of what He has done for His people.
To begin with, He loves us (present tense in most manuscripts).
This parallels the emphasis in John’s Gospel.
He also washed us from our sins ,
or, as some texts read, freed us from our sins.
This parallels the message of John’s epistles (see 1 John 1:5 ).
As a grand climax, Christ has made us a kingdom of priests, and this is the emphasis of Revelation.
In His love,
God called Israel to be a kingdom of priests ( Ex. 19:1–6 ),
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Vs. 5 again is this
The question is often asked, "Why is Christ the first begotten from the dead when Lazarus and others were raised first?"
The answer is simple.
Others were raised to life, but they died again.
They were raised from physical death to physical life only to eventually die a second time.
Jesus Christ was raised from the dead to immortality-never to die again!
He is the first to have been resurrected with a new, never-dying body.
This is why Christ "should be the first that should rise from the dead" (Acts 26:23) . .
And why He "only hath immortality" (I Timothy 6:16).
Five times Christ is called "the first begotten" or "the first
born from the dead."
Another five times He is called "the only begotten."
The term "only begotten" refers to His incarnation,
whereas "first begotten” firstborn) refers to His resurrection.
For instance,.
"he bringeth in the first begotten into the world" (Hebrews 1:6).
[Christ] is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn [first begotten] of every creature" (Colossians 1:15). ’_
he is the head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning,
the firstborn [first begotten]
from the dead;
that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18)
Romans 8:29 declares, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn [yea, the first begotten] among many brethren."
Think these verses through carefully so that no cultist can trip you up on the terms "first begotten and "firstborn,"
in his attempts to make the eternal Christ have a beginning.
Christ "is from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Yea, He is one with the "everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9:6).
The Lord Jesus Christ is also called "the prince of the kings of the earth."
This, of course, refers to the future, when the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6)
returns to earth as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).
This glorious event will be the fulfillment of
Psalm 2:6, which states: "[I have] set my king upon my holy hill of Zion."
At that time the Lord Jesus "shall have dominion also from sea
to sea, and I from the river unto the ends of the earth" (Psalm 72:8).
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Verse 6: And [He] hath made us kings and priests unto God and
his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Verses 5 and 6 contain three glorious statements concerning Christ’s work on our behalf:
(I)’ He loved us;
(2) He washed us from our sins in His own blood; and
(3) He hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father.
The order is beautiful. Let’s examine it in detail.
1. First, the Lord Jesus had to love Us in order to wash us and
make us kings and priests.
However, it is even more thrilling when one sees that His love is in the present tense, meaning that He continues loving those He has washed.
This is why John 13:1 triumphantly declares, Jesus, "having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
Can you understand such love?
Oh, that you "may be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge"
(Ephesians 3:18-19).
This love is forever.
That is why Paul declared in
Romans 8:31-39: "Nay, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded,
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor pow
. ers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." .
The love which Jesus Christ has bestowed upon each born
again believer should manifest itself in daily living, for He said to
His own,
"A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love
one to another" (John 13:34-.35).
This love for you and me brought Christ from heaven’s glory to the cruel cross of Golgotha’s hill.
Love made Him shed His blood for the remission of our sins.
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Secondly,
He washed us!
Some do not like the teaching about the blood.
They want to earn heaven by their own meritorious works.
However, being whitewashed is not the same as being
washed white.
There is a vast difference!
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration" (Titus 3:5).
When one trusts in the merits of Christ’s shed blood, his sins are gone,
"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12).
Isaiah 38:17 declares, "Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back"
God says, "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions as a cloud, thy sins" (Isaiah 44:22).
Yes, He has cast all our sins "into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19).
Oh, come to Jesus, and He will lift all your load. Here’s proof! "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shill receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).
It matters not how far astray the way-ward son or daughter has gone,
"the blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
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Thirdly,
because of His love and the washing of regeneration,
Christ is able to make us "kings and priests unto God and his Father."
Priest is the title of every believer.
If you have been born again, you are a priest in the eyes of the Almighty.
You can bring your own petitions to God.
All. are members of "a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that [we] should shew forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into marvellous light" ( I Peter 2:9).
John adds, "To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
Verse 7: Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
This verse announces the Lord’s return to earth.
Notice that every eye sees Him.
That is why this great event is described as the revealing" or "revelation" of Christ and occurs when He comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.------
