Revelation 1:1-20Jesus’ Revelation

July 19, 2015

First Baptist Church

Jackson, Mississippi

USA

What’s the number one thing?

The Glory of God!

http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/03/70/58197003/photos/Living-Water/glorycloud-1.JPG

1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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July Memory Verse:

1 John 1:7 NIV

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The Study of Revelation

1. Jesus’ Revelation: Rev. 1

2. The Letters to the 7 Churches: Rev. 2-3

3. The Throne Room of Heaven: Rev. 4

4. Worthy is the Lamb: Rev. 5

5. Redeeming Judgment: Rev 9

6. Jesus Defeats Satan: Rev. 12

7. All Things Made New: Rev. 21-22

Goals of Limited Study of Revelation

1. To peak your interest for an independent or small group Bible study of Revelation

2. To show why Jesus is the exclusive object of our worship.

- Only Jesus is worthy of our worship!

References

• Revelation: A Complete Commentary by William R. Newell, Word Bible Publishers, 1935.

• Revelation Chapter 1 by Dr. Chuck Missler, a YouTube Video

• The MacArthur Study Bible NKJV, Nelson Bibles, 1997

Revelation Intro

• It is singular not plural: “Revelation”

• Revelation means “to uncover” or “to reveal”

• “Apocalypse” is the English translation

• The correct title is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”, not “The Revelation of St. John the Divine”

Author and Date

• John the Apostle

• Written around 94-96 AD

• John was a prisoner on Patmos living in a cave.

• Domition was the Roman Emperor and was persecuting the Christians and leaders.

• John returned to Ephesus after Domition’s death in 96 AD.

Monastery on Patmos

John’s Cave

John’s Corner in the Cave

Outline of Revelation 1

• Rev. 1: 1-3 Introduction and Benediction

• Rev. 1: 4-8 Greeting the Seven Churches

• Rev. 1: 9-20 The 1st Vision of Jesus

– The risen, glorified Son of God judging the spiritual state of 7 churches

– 2nd Vision: Jesus as the Lamb in Heaven in Rev. 5

– 3rd Vision: Jesus as King of Kings in Rev. 19

Revelation 1:1-3 NKJV

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:1 Notes

• God gave Jesus Christ this “revelation”.

• Jesus would show it to His servants.

• Jesus communicated it “by His angel”.

• It was communicated to “His servant John”.

• John bore witness of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

What was revealed to Jesus?

Matthew 24:36 NKJV36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."

Acts 1:7 NKJV7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority."

Hebrews 10:12-13 NKJV12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.

What was revealed to Jesus?

• Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God waiting to establish His kingdom and banish Satan.

• The revelation are events at the end, but not the time.

• The time of the events are still in the Father’s authority.

• This revelation was given to Jesus after His ascension to Heaven.

What does “take place shortly or quickly” mean?

• It means “imminent” (impending, forthcoming).

• It also means “rapidity of execution when action once begins” (speedily).

The Beatitude of Revelation 1:3

• Revelation contains 7 Beatitudes

Revelation 1:3 NKJV3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

– The Revelation was to be read aloud in public to the Churches

Significance of the Number 7

• Used in the Bible more than 700 times

• Used more than 50 times in Revelation

• Indicates completeness, wholeness, perfection

– One theory: Relates to the 7 days of creation

– Another theory: Relationship of 4 + 3

• 4 is the number for the earth – The 4 corners, or 4 elements – earth, air, fire and water

• 4 + the Trinity (Fullness of the Godhead) = 7

• (Incompleteness = 6 / 666 for Satan)

Revelation 1:4-5a NKJV

4 John, to the seven churches which 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, 5a and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

The Trinity in Revelation 1:4-5

• God the Father – (The Eternal One)

• God described in time as we know it

– Who was (past)

– Who is (present)

– Who is to come (future)

The Trinity in Revelation 1:4-5

• The seven (7) Spirits who are before His throne– Refers to the 7-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit

– Isaiah 11: 2 The Spirit of the Lord (Deity) shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

– Could refer to the lampstand (menorah) in Zechariah 4:1-10 of Zerubbabel’s vision

The Trinity in Revelation 1:4-5

• Jesus Christ (Titles used in Revelation)– The faithful witness (past)

• Bore witness to truth while on earth

• His testimony is utterly faithful

– The firstborn from the dead (present)• The first to have eternal victory over death

– The ruler over the kings of the earth (future)• King of Kings

• Everyone will be under the authority of Jesus in His Kingdom

The 3 Tenses of SalvationPast, Present, Future

• Past – We have been saved from the PENALTY OF SIN– Justification: Ephesians 2:8-9

• Present – We are being saved from the POWER OF SIN– Sanctification: Romans 6

• Future – We are being saved from the PRESENCE OF SIN– The “redemption of our body” Romans 8:23

– Glorification

Revelation is Dedicated to Jesus Revelation 1:5b-6 NKJV

5b To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

– Melchizedek: Priest & King of Salem in Gen. 14

• Israel: Kings from Tribe of Judah; Priests from Tribe of Levi

– Jesus: King & Priest in Hebrews 7:1-22

– Believers: Rev. 1:6

The Theme of Revelation Revelation 1:7 NKJV

7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

– All events lead up to this event in Revelation 19.Daniel 7:13a13a "I was watching in the night visions,

And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven!

– This is not the rapture; Pre-tribulation view.– Raptured saints will return with Jesus here.

Revelation 1:8 NKJV

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

– God is speaking here as GOD

– Jesus takes all of these titles in Rev. 22:13

– “the Almighty” is written 8 times in Revelation to underscore God’s power is supreme over all the cataclysmic events it records

Revelation 1:9 NKJV

9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

– Rev. 1:9-20 will describe the 1st vision of Jesus by John

– Is this how Jesus looks at this present time?

Revelation 1:10 NKJV

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,

– “in the Spirit” – Transcends time and space

– Note the description of the voice – as a trumpet

Revelation 1:11 NKJV

11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."

Revelation 1:12-13 NKJV

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

Imagery in Revelation 1:12-13

• Seven Lampstands: The churches who are to bear the light of Jesus to the world– Judging the church’s use of its light

– Is the church sharing the light of Jesus?

• Garment: Robe of the priest and judge

• Golden band around chest: The sash of a priestly judge– Sash at waist indicates servant; chest sash was for

priestly judge

Son of Man

• Son of Man is the title Jesus used the most for Himself during His earthly ministry (81X).

• Taken from the heavenly vision in Daniel 7:13.

• Jesus takes this name only when He claims what is due Him on earth.

Revelation 1:14-15 NKJV

14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

– Use of simile (figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared)

– “like” or “as”

– Phrase “words cannot describe”

Images in Revelation 1:14-15

• Head and hair: White is color of purity and holiness

• Eyes: Penetrating lasers that can see into your soul

• Feet: Altar for burnt offering was covered with bronze (copper + tin) 1500 BC– Brass (copper + zinc) first used 500 BC

– Brass is brighter in color than bronze as a metal

– Molten brass or bronze in the furnace is glowing

– Glowing hot brass feet refers to divine judgment

Imagery in Revelation 1:14-15

• Voice like the sound of rushing (many) waters

– No longer like a crystal clear trumpet as in v. 10

– Sounded like crashing surf

– Voice of authority

Revelation 1:16a NKJV

16a He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two- edged sword,

Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Revelation 1:16b NKJV

16b and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

Matthew 17:1-21 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Vision of Jesus

Revelation 1:17a

17a And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.

– A common response to seeing the glory of Christ

– Examples: Moses, Isaiah, Aaron, Joshua

– Song: “I Can Only Imagine”

• Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still, Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall, Will I sing Hallelujah, or will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine.

Revelation 1:17b-18

17b But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, " Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

“Do not be afraid” because…

1. “I am the First and the Last”

- He is eternal; He is God

2. “I am He who lives, and was dead and behold I live forevermore”

- He is the risen Lord

3. “I have the keys of Hades and of Death”

- Death holds the bodies (physical)

- Hades holds the spirits (Heaven or hell)

Revelation 1:19

19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

– This verse provides the outline for Revelation

• The things which you have just seen – Vision of the Risen Jesus

• The things which are – the condition of the 7 churches

• The things which will take place – revelation of future history in chapters 4-22

Revelation 1:20

20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

– Stars are the angels (messengers or church leaders)

– Lampstands are the 7 churches

Closing Thoughts

• Why this vision of the risen Jesus?

– It shows us that Jesus is present among his people because He is seen walking among the 7 lampstands (churches).

– It shows Him as the judge and priest (interceding for us before God).

– Nobody can bypass Jesus to get to God.

Closing Thoughts

• What will be your response when you see Jesus in all of His glory?

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

John 3:16 NKJV16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 14:6 NKJV6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

Romans 3:23 NKJV23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23a NKJV23a For the wages of sin is death,

• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death,

died in this life to pay the penalty for our sins. • The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second

death explained in Revelation 21:8.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

Revelation 21:8 NKJV8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Romans 5:8 NKJV8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

Romans 6:23b NKJV23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Revelation 21:7 NKJV7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to accept Jesus as our Savior.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 NKJV13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

If you have questions or would like to know more, Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/