Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Trip to convention in Orlando.
In the main reception hall, a huge area draped off, nearly two stories high.
Couldn’t help myself.
I needed to see what was behind the curtain.
(Pics)
Human nature to want to know what’s really going on.
In this case, just a mess of construction materials, dust and debris.
John’s Revelation is not so different.
Nearly everyone has at least a little familiarity with the last book of the NT.
We’re intrigued by the fantastic beasts and images of angels, demons, dragons, plagues, horsemen.
And ever since its writing, people have tried to make the message fit themselves and their circumstances.
This isn’t necessarily wrong, but oftentimes backward.
Revelation is, in fact, a look behind the curtain.
But it’s the opposite of what we use curtains for.
We hide things behind drapes, curtains.
Revelation unveils.
It’s what the word we translate as Revelation means.
Apocalypse means “to expose, unveil, reveal.”
What couldn’t be known before must now be seen and understood.
This sermon series is simply titled “Seven.”
We’ll explore the first three chapters of Revelation together.
It’s a great follow up to Easter Sunday.
Jesus has risen from the dead in glory, transfigured and mighty.
Soon, he’ll rise from creation to return to Father to rule over his kingdom.
The mission of expanding the kingdom has been given to His disciples.
But He is no longer tangibly evident in the church.
What happens when the churches begin to face trials, even tribulation?
Will they hang on?
Will they stay faithful?
God gives John the Apostle a peek behind the curtain in a series of visions to strengthen and encourage them.
They need to see that everything happening in the world around them falls into place and makes sense.
The unstoppable, victorious King will defeat all of His enemies and restore Creation to its glory.
So stay strong!
Stay faithful!
Remain loyal to your King!
It follows that being loyal means we need to shore up our weaknesses.
That’s why the book starts with letters to seven churches.
(For today, we’ll just leave it at that.
As we dig into the series, we’ll share more details on the seven churches.)
We begin to today with the first half of chapter one.
In order to put the letters to the churches in proper perspective, you need to know who wrote to you and why.
The Blessing
Revelation = apocalypse.
NOT war, Blackhawk helicopters, etc.
The unveiling of God’s plan and activity that began with the resurrection and will continue until Jesus comes again.
Prophecy = Two parts, for-telling (prediction) and forth-telling (preaching about God and His actions).
Not just a look into predetermined future events.
We learn more about God’s character and promises.
We can then trust Him more and become more loyal to Him because we know Him more completely.
This is the heart of the blessing for knowing Revelation.
We have God’s favor because we have seen and heard what has and will happen and trust that He is working on our behalf and will triumph.
Grace and Peace
Seven churches (map)
Not the only churches in Asia Minor.
Probably on a circular route commonly traveled by messengers.
Intended to be illustrative for all churches, but addressing specific issues in the named churches.
Typical greeting of “grace and peace.”
From the Trinity.
The Father: Echoes of Exo.
3.14 Him who IS, ALWAYS WAS, STILL TO COME.
Sevenfold Spirit - 7 = perfection, completeness.
Jesus gets three descriptors:
Faithful witness
First to rise
Rule and King
Doxology to Christ for what He has done for us:
Loved us
Freed us
Made us a kingdom of priests.
When we “peek behind the curtain” we see that our everyday existence is full of meaning and value.
Behold!
Jesus left with only a few witnesses.
He will return in full view of all creation.
This time, it’s completely ok to peek behind the curtain.
The Lord invites us and blesses us as we explore the unveiling of His plan.
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