Blessing to those who Hear & Keep "the Revelation" of Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Intro: THE title page!
Purpose of using Apocalyptic - letter 1 -9, and 22… four visions - first of christ and 7 churches… then 3 ...but only begins Rev 6 with mythic symbols… but a letter about reality facing - John in a concentration camp - Papias of Smyrna already martyred … shortly come to pass then - all through history , but final climax…
WORD seen, then witnessed to for all ages = vison, appearing of Jesus, revelation given From God to Jesus to give to His church in final age = unlike other apocalpictic - not annoymous, not hopeless with all hope of hiostory making a difference, only final intervention of God… no church in this age, Christ as Victorius and Sovereign no matter evil allowed, conquer through suffering… got a plan…
Kind of like Lord of Rings: The marvelous land of Middle Earth, threatened by the power of a vile overlord, can only be saved by the daring deeds of a few noble hobbits. If you do not know what hobbits are, you are missing out on the most delightful fictional creatures in all literature. Unknown to the hobbits, they are helped on their quest by the true king of Middle Earth working undercover. The hobbits think of him as Strider, the humble Ranger, who roves the land homeless and seemingly friendless.
In the great climactic battle at the end of the age, good is engulfed by evil until the last hair-raising moment. Frodo the hobbit performs a heroic deed. Darkness turns to light. Finally, Aragon the King is revealed in all his splendor. This excerpt suggests that Tolkien knew the true King of kings. He knew that human history is all about a real battle between good and evil. He knew that the true King has not yet been revealed in his splendor, but will one day. Kendell H. Easley, Revelation, vol. 12, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 11. John presents in reality. Only when we understand the message of the Book of Revelation do the earlier parts of the New Testament—which emphasize the King incognito—fit into proper perspective.
So keep in mind - story to churches, 7 rep in history of universal church, real meaning to them, but also other clue to this book, not just a esoteric, desperate human attempt to keep hope; no unlike Daniel, and the apocalyptic if o - those all sealed up - this unsealed = revelation of jesus final if not tin time, certainly in order =
= unusual any book ancient or modern - blessing to all who read and keep!
WHY BEAUTY OF GOD is so necessary to know in corrupted broken world: story you still need to hear, the sun that’s going to rise after dark night of this world! Look me in the eye and say we will survive! = intro to 1:4-8
‘The beauty of the Lord our God’ is spoken of by Moses (in Psalm 90:17). The book of Revelation is pervaded by the sheer beauty of God. From the rocky shores of an island concentration camp, through distressed churches; from scenes of famine, war, and blood-shed; from fiery destruction of armies and navies; from painful plagues, and the slaughter of holy witnesses; from demonic attempts to destroy God’s people, and on through pestilence, sores, and the downfall of the world’s greatest economy and city; from united (and then, divided) political and religious harlotry, through the final destruction of the last desperate outburst of universal evil, the beauty of the Triune God, who sits on the rainbow-circled Throne of universal power and righteousness, casts its serene light over it all. That serene beauty and infinite power, joined to unbounded love and grace, overcomes all the horrendous corruption caused by sin in all aspects of the universe; putting the reprobate eternally away, where they need to be, and transforming everything else in the beauteous light that comes from the face of Jesus Christ: ‘making all things new’.
Revelation is an overarching survey of the final victory of purity and beauty of the Triune God over the impurity and ugliness of sin, death, and hell. This remaking of a twisted creation into the beautiful rightness of a renewed one, was, is now being, and finally shall be, fully accomplished through the blood of the Lamb ‘slain from the foundation of the world’ (Rev. 13:8). The Lamb was the original agent of the creation of the heavens and the earth, and he is the only one who can redeem it (Rev. 14:7). The Lamb, who shed his blood and rose from the dead to save his people, and redeem the entire cosmos to its original pure loveliness (Rev. 5:9), along with his Father, and the Holy Spirit, who unites them in ineffable bonds of life and love: this one Triune God alone is worthy to receive: ‘power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing’ (Rev. 5:12). Revelation 1
...The goodness and beauty of this Lamb of God overcomes the last evil and ugliness of a fallen cosmos. So certain are the final fruits of victory of the Lamb, that the angels and translated elders are already singing: ‘Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen’ (Rev. 7:12). Revelation 1
take place RAPIDLY< SOON = Frodo focus = all bondservants of Christ, whether written two days ago from heaven’s persepctive or written for early Christians = focus not on very last day as much as church in struggle! = 1:1 DONT MISS LINE OF COMMUICATION< STOP AT JOHN, or just jump to very Last Xns = meant for them, you and me =
Revelation A. Introduction (1:1–3)
to his servant John (for example, see Rev. 19:9), who describes himself, too, as a “slave” or “bondservant.” The line of communication may be simply illustrated:
God → Jesus → angel → John → servants
THE REVELATION
BELONGING TO JESUS CHRIST
the Word of God and
the Testimony from Jesus Christ
written by his Slave John
written for Jesus’ Slaves
= all are Words of Prophesy…
Kendell H. Easley, Revelation, vol. 12, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 13.
The time is near, is short, the battle, the persecution, suffering, the unfolding judgment and the unfolding victory - all the backdrop, really the setting - for the supreme subject - revelation of Jesus Christ. That means from him, it belong s to him,. Jesus gave it from heaven to the angel, who gave it to John, who was to give it to us the church - but its Jesus revealing and speaking, it belongss to him. But even more importantly this is the final reealing about Jesus, His final self-discolures before he comes with the clouds - in full glory;
Revelation of who Jesus is - the angel is going to show with visions and pictures and symbols look at the end of Rev 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
this revealing of who the Risen, Asecned Christ is now - in the middle of our life and our struggle and suffering here below - its supposed to give us “the things that must soon take place.”
What could this mean after 2000 years of John showing this to how many generations of “servants of the LORD? Some say, all fufllled in 70AD with focus on destructino f Jersuael and the old temple - but is is remarkable that focus of this revelation is not Jersualem or the land of Israel if you actually read it!
Not just idealistic pictures of what heaven is like, nor of the way our lives should be on earth, but interactino of this Risen aAscend King , with where the world is at now, in the mess and struggle to where the King of the Universe is going to take it.
What does SOON mean? Others have said John got it wrong. Because Jesus hasn’t come and these things are not happening. But soon a relative term - Peter says a thousand years, as a day to Lord. Only two days have passed since Christ accomplished savlation, and ascended to Messianic Throne! So much of OT prophesy says : New Exodus, new slavation workerd, and Gods’s day of mercy and atonement of grace willcome, and that the new creation will begin ith the Day of the LORD, final vicotry and judgment would come - picture it as one movmement, but actually two mountain peaks - in one moutnain range. Telescoping … Slavation and the kindom inaugerated and begun, but not consummated in fulness yet. Like Daniel’s revealtion, salvation and judgment coming, but take 70 7s before fulfilled. So too Jesus salvation begins the last days, even though last day hasn’t yet come!
v.2 explains this intersection - where the Ascend Christ and the current and near-future world situation smash into each other. Rev 1:2
who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
All that John sees in this vision - both pictures of what Jesus did on earth, and what he’s dong in times of John’s and church’s persectuion in 90AD and what he’s doing now, and will do at the very end with Final Judgment and Final Vicotry! All iof that serves a more important purpose than -trying to predict the future. This Revelation of the Christ for the last days we struggle through of what is soon to take place - it is the angels witness to two supreme revelations.
The angel is bearing witness to the Word of God - if try to just figure out from current polkitical isutation, today’s newspapaer - going to miss the point - witness to the Word of God. IN the bible the Word of God is the authorized message publically given to His people! Need to understand the OT revelation - fulfilled in Christ, and applied in our lives today - OT proimses, and Gospels fulfillment - and Epistles how to live in that - this final summing up revealtion is grand conclusiohn to God’s competel book for your life and mine = Christ Sovereignly in control as world’s king - reason to perseevere and overcome ; all the vision f this book part not only of the OT teaching and revealtion but of the Testimony of Jesus!
Yes, OT is testinmony to HIm as Jesus taguht - John all speak of me, yet refuse… , Luke 24 but even more - in OT Exodus 3:14 I am sent me - ALpha Omega - God is eternall, past present future - that is Christ who hods it all for His people, Centre of the book is vision of the Lamb, who is one with God on thre throne, who with God is the temple - celebrating the restoration already worked, and being apllied more and mroe - Why I am so excited to preach this book, soemtimes made so complicated and confusing - but keep the cetner in the centre:
saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
ANd John says, this Word of God delivered by the angel to me to you, this testimohy of Jesus - it is soemthing that has to be seen - there are prphetic images and symbols - interpreted - over 50x in this book - this kind of seeing - images of jessu must receive and belive!
Blessing you must get is to hold this testimony - it is the only way to survive these lasts days, not an optional book for pltically and endtimes minded people, but book for whole church - only OVERCOMERS in CHrist - in lambs book oflife, get to eat of the tree of life - experience the ultiamte healing and vicotry! This Revelation from Jesus given to us at the bottom of it not a closed sealed up puzzle that ordinary beliver can’t open; it too is a proclaimation of salvation through Jesus Christ that we all need!
Remarkable that there are seven statement of blessing in revelation. John uses symobl of number 7 55 times in this book - picture of completness and fulness of blessing proimses. Saying every beliver needs to overcome in the manner described here, the overcoming is tied to the receiving of the ftuure reward promised to every beliveer who will overcome. = seven beatitiudes promised to all who hear & obey this book!
But not just 7 blessings, 6 promises: Six Promises to the Saints
God sees their tears (7:17; 21:4). Their prayers are heard and used to rule the world (8:3–4). Their death or suffering leads to glory (14:13; 20:4). Their final victory is assured (15:2). Their blood will be avenged (6:9; 8:3). Their Christ lives and reigns forever and is victorious in time and eternity (5:7–8; 21:22).
These seven benedictions and six sweet promises come to us in and through our union with the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us’ (2 Cor. 1:20). Revelation is primarily about him and what he is doing for his people.
And in the W we can’t really feel that those who HEAR this book prosied blessing - Whle book read aloud as God’s Word, worship and instruction - and we just get sound bytes. Blessing comes from you receiving and then obeying …
You’ve got to feel this the book isn’t about information alone, many fascinated by chronolgoical timeline, fail to see this stunning book is not aprphesy chart - it is a call from God to every generation in the last days, calling every believer to act, to heed, to focus on what it means to persevere tto the ened.
This book isn’t written as a bit of a travelouge to the end s days that are distant - and it can be a coffee table book just pick up as map to distant land. The time is near, and so all of this pesrssvering, all of this don’t grow lacksidascal to the King and His kingdom, Don’t compromies with the world, don’t entangle yourself with all the pleasures and luxuries and riches and past timeso of Bbablynn - as if got all the time in the world. No, the time is short, just around the corner, there is an Imminanent Reutnr, that no one know s the day or hour, can be date setters, but must resond immediately to this revelation of Jesus and instruction
This is the big concern of the REvelation of Jesus Christ, incarnate , perfected, crucified, risen, Ascended, that the book begins and ends with: Rev 1:5
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
This is where the Christ from heaven and the mess of this world below smash together - His revelation is that he has come and freed us for a purpose: Rev 1:6
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We are liberated so that through these times, not waiting for heaven, not just hanig on by the skin of our teeth. But look liberated to tbe priests and kings in God’s kingdom even now. And how by he freed us from our sins by his blood. You have got to have your attnetion not just on what will soon take bplace, but how what is going on in the world in the last days, fits into Jesus meeting our greatest hyuman need, but then cleansing and restoring you and me to fulfill our greatest calling and fucttion.
Listen how the Revealtion ends. Rev 22:10-11
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
In Daniel, which we v epreacherd through prophesies the coming of thhe Messiah his kingdom, but also the very lasts day and the last day, but the angel says, seal up the prophesy - can’t understand it yet. But now as the age of Christ coming to earth, and teh age of those apostles - special tasked with writing the new testament - new covenant of our salvation, as that age comes to an end - Now God says dohn’t seal up this book, because from day of John till now whole world can understand Chrsit and the end times - and its not that there is no desire for God to see evil doers repent, but that the REevelation of Christ ahs come - and it transforms and those who reect and live for only the stuff of the kingdoms of this world, they will experinece now transformation, won’t be part of - day of reckning only jugment. But The rightoues, who have washed their robes - made white by the blood - they will keep on doing right in the middle of the struggle - they who struggle and suffer and fall and are so tempted -they will overcome and be holy still!
The rule first promised to Adam and Eve will become a reality in all its fullness. Even now believers represent the place where God rules, but the day is coming when they will reign over the entire world for his sake.
The redeeming work of Christ and the centrality of Christ in God’s purposes do not diminish the glory of God the Father. Quite the contrary. These realities maximize God’s glory. God is magnified, God is glorified, in his Son, Jesus Christ, especially in his saving work by which he redeems his people. Nor do the rule and priesthood of human beings, of the redeemed, somehow eclipse God. No, his glory shines even brighter through those he has reclaimed. His kingly power and sovereignty are displayed for all to see through the church, and thus God is to be praised forever; his kingdom will not fail. John adds the word “Amen,” meaning “May it be so”—the desire of everyone who is a member of the kingdom.
They will endure. And that is the theme of this book how to endure and overcome in the lasts with Jesus!
A Letter to Seven Historic Yet Representive Churches
1:4 So much symbolic and some also for the very last day. But look Rev 1:4
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
These churches in Asia we know - but all sorts of signs that now facing more than division, and false teachers, growing cold, giving up - now also Asia Minor comon Emperor Worship and concreet persecution of Bbaylon Rome against the church. But why exactly seven, also symbolic import that this as last book of the cannon - beiing written at very stem time for churches of all ages, must receive this as a letter written to us - apply in our paritcular stage of the final battle, and looking to the Last Day and Jessu actino in it!
Like other letters a grace wish - how we begin our assemblies - and this one not just like the other epsitlse sthe Father and Son. But here the Spirit is mentioned so explicitly. Grace andmercy is the means by which we come and peace , the shalom, is promsed result moving towards!
a. I am formula from Exodus, reign and is faithful to his covenant promises -eternal and soveriegn, don’t fear Pharoah Ex 6:3-8 , But Isaiah 41, 42, 43 formula Isreal fears it will never be liberated from exile, instead be swallowed up by Babylon forever - God the Father assuring - was and is and is to come - yes Pharoah, Babylon and Rome and the empirse os f this world - rival reign of LRODSHIP of true God - but wait of rGod is the God of hisotyr and of the future… Father coinhereing with His SOn, not physical cam ein Christ but spiritually with Him and judgment Father brings, on Christ brings at very smae time.
b. But second greeting not from Christ, but eh Seven-fold Spirit, not angels or other spirits. Grace and peace only from living God, symoblic number 7 fullnes sof the Spirit. This is an alusion to Isaiah 11:2
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Seven times spirit described in full effects full perfections. Spirit is fully divine with grace na dpeace coming from the Spirit who has all these divine perfections!
c. But this grace wish also come the Son- but incarnate, how the book ends with last verse too with a prayer for this to be upon us all in ongoing way. Most written about this focus on Jesus as God bringing us grace and peace. And here you need to here the title of the Son of God who suprererly brings this grace and peace in to our lives the way John intended that title as Jewish bleiver writitng to the world:
Jesus Christ isn’t his last name. LIsten carelylly This is Jesus the son of David, the fulillment of the Davidici conveannt promising an everlasting Davidici dynasty 2 Sam 7, 1 Chron 17, Psalm 89, 132)
He is the faithful witness - nt only in his death, but in his enterire life - speaking and standing for the LORD, what we are called to be in Christ too..
“First born of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth” - that term firstborn not first of all about only son, or chronolgoically first, but the one in the prime position, the one who is heir and founder - although true in time first resurrected , and all who trust in him, follow in rising never to die.
He is the ruler os fht ekings of the earth and over death - and so no circvumstance are they to live by fear
And we’ve already looked at the purpose - but look at the motivation of his saving, his freeing, his sharing of this vicotry over dath and the kings of the earth:
TO him who loved us and has freed us. - find out in this book how this Jesus revealed to be comiong to us bringing the coming kingdom - receive this proinmse in this book! Even more this book points to his Iminanent oming Again - universal eveident to everyone Return of Christ - taht eferyo person will see, and we must be ready for! Matt. 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Thess. 4:17). For all the tribes of the earth, not just Israel…
Prolgoues three themes: Sov of God, centrality of Jesus Christ, AND GRACE AND PEACE INTENDED FOR BELIEVERS! in suffering we are in the Lord’s Loving hands, never abandons his people, but will accomplish his purposes despite horrendous evil of present situation.; His kingdom will come and his will will be done, so evil of present age won’t last, nor the wicked endure! = confidence and trust
= rest in the goodness and strnegth of one who reign history - trusting the one who wins even through suffering.
Centrallity of Jesus Christ - His coming good news to belivers, purified by his blood, set apart for his purposes, We are kings and priests through Jesus Christ, and thus God’s kingdom, even if invisible to the world, is present now in the church of Jesus Christ.
By virure of sov of God, work of Christ and Spirit; we may now enjoy grace and peace! know the love he has for us in Jesus Christ. Since he has freed us from our sins, he won’t withhold any gift from us. He is in control of our lives and all of history. He knows what we can handle and gives us strength to face all that comes our way. As a result we enjoy his peace, knowing that all things will end well and that God is always for us in Jesus Christ. We need this Revelation of Jesus when dark doubts and heavy suffering…
Arresting sentences: My zeal has never been so much for any millennial theory, as it is for HIM, and going through this Apocalypse has only increased that zeal. ‘his Name is as ointment poured forth’ (Song 1:3), and ‘All his garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad’ (Ps. 45:8). May the sweet fragrance of that Name, which God the Father loves the most: ‘having exalted it above every name’ (Phil. 2:9), waft out to many a person through the pages of this volume. This is the humble prayer of the author. Revelation 1