Who Do We Serve?

Who do we serve?

Revelation, Part 1, Revelation 1:1-11

Open your bibles to Revelation, Chapter 1

2 Tim 4:2 says “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Ω Introduction

- I believe there is no more important time than right now to be involved in God’s ministry I want to say up front that this series scares me …

- I’m not afraid of what will happen, but ensuring this is presented correctly

- 65 books of the Bible are historical facts; the events are totally verifiable

-- Moses was a real man who left an indelible mark on Israel

-- Daniel was a prophet and work for King Nebuchadnezzar (real person)

-- Paul was a real man (Pharisee who governed and tortured followers)

-- Jesus real man (born: 1st census of Caesar Augustus during Quirinius rule as shown in Luke 2)

--- All testify to seeing/experiencing/knowing Jesus existed as a man

- Revelation shows the events to come; which we should know and teach

-- I am not a prophet and I do not claim to be one (others do falsely)

-- I have read the works of great prophets whose words, given divinely from God, have come true long before I was born

- Starting today, we are looking ahead to the last great prophecy to come:

-- The prophecy is of Jesus Christ’s return, and how important that is to us

-- Not just us, to all of humanity who may die without Jesus Christ

-- Jesus is either Savior and Lord … or … the world’s best liar and con-man

- God’s plan in Genesis was always to REDEEM His creation (Gen 3:15; 5)

-- This is why this book is so critical; we must understand how God works

-- His plan to redeem is critical because it meant the death of His Son

- That death, while horrific, reveals the very glory of God’s mercy

-- Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.”

-- Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

TRANS: It is because of Jesus we’re redeemed and why we study today

Read Revelation 1:1-11

Ω Point 1 – Who do we serve? (v1-8)

- The book of Revelation is a revealing (of something to happen later)

-- Unveiling, pulling back the curtain, showing backstage access for all

-- But notice that John uses very specific word of “soon” in v1

- Greek word used is “eutheós”; which means “at once” or “directly”

-- Some foolishly think that this is an instant time, but we don’t control clock

-- 2 Peter 3:8-9, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (now a familiar verse) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

-- Many have tried to predict and failed miserably, often dying well before

- So, when we read “soon” we’ve got to ACCEPT God’s timeline

-- This is the one thing that gets people into trouble more than anything

-- Mark 13:32, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

- Many ignore this book because of its end-times implications out of fear

-- Life will end, accounting is required, and judgment is passed by Holy God

-- However, look at v3 … we are BLESSED by reading this book!

- IMP: However, we have been freed by blood (v5b-6)

-- The sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary gives us the ability to serve

-- It is because of the shed blood that we can proclaim our own freedom

-- Hebrews 9:22, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Ω - B/C Jesus paid with His blood we are called to do one thing for Him:

-- In v6 we are “priests to serve His Father”; we PREACH in SERVICE!

- John is in the midst of revealing Who he serves with his whole life

-- Our benefit in this as we get a preview of what will happen one day:

1) Jesus Christ will descend (ref Acts 1:11, “same Jesus will descend”) and

2) We shall see him (1 John 3:2, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”)!