Saturday, August 18, 2018

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Likely, by the time the John was given his revelation by Jesus, all the other apostles were dead.  Most if not not all of them were probably martyred.  Since the time of Nero around 67 AD, Christians were frequently persecuted and likely being killed in the ways described in the book of Hebrews:
11:37: They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.

It was very difficult for Christians as they waited for the return of the Lord.

The revelation given to John was NOT to scare people into being good or living holy lives.  The believers needed hope.

Read Revelation 1:1-3
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

 What do you think of when you think about the book of Revelation?

Jesus gave it to believers as a blessing.
  • Blessed is the one who reads it aloud!
  • Blessed is the one who takes it to heart
Don't be afraid when you hear the words of Revelation.  Be excited.  We don't live in dread of Jesus.  We eagerly look for Him to return.

WHO IS THIS JESUS?  Read Revelation 1:4-8 for clues.
  1. a faithful witness of what is to come
  2. the firstborn from the dead
  3. the king of kings
  4. the one who loves us
  5. the one who freed us from sin by his blood
  6. who made us priest to serve God
  7. the one that will come in the clouds
  8. the one everyone will see
  9. the one who was pierced
  10. the Alpha and Omega, who who is, who was, and who is to come
 In Revelation 1:9-11, John describes being deep in prayer listening to the Holy Spirit in his life.  Jesus came to him in a vision.  The vision was a message for churches that existed in John's day.  But, it was also for the churches and people today.  The churches in the 21st century have the same strengths and weaknesses as the churches in the first century.

Read Revelation 1:12-16 for a small glimpse of the awesomeness of Jesus:

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

If you saw Jesus in his glory, how would you respond?

 John said, "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead."  
When the prophet Isaiah had a similar experience in Isaiah 6, he ALSO thought that he was going to die.  When we are in the presence of God, we realize how sinful we are.

What is one thing that you can do this week to show more reverence for Jesus.  Do we reflect his glory to others?

Jesus did not come to condemn us as believers, instead Jesus said,

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

What does it mean that Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades?
 
The seven golden lampstands are the seven churches that Jesus is speaking to in the first few chapters of Revelation.  As we read the book of Revelation this month, remember that it was written to you to give you hope.

If you are not a believer, if your friends are not believers, the book of Revelation should be scary.  We can't sugar coat the Gospel and hope everything turns out ok in the end.

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