The Unspeakable Blessings of Our Living Lord
Revelation 1:1-18
Introduction:
1. Revelation of Jesus - 1:1a
a. From Jesus
b. About Jesus
2. Given By God - 1:1b
a. To show those sold out to Him ( bond-servants )
b. To show soon to come things.
c. By messenger from heaven ( His angel )
3. To A Specific Person - 1:1c,2
a. His Bond-servant John - 1c
b. An eye witness - 2
- Who stood fast on the Word of God - 2a
- Who gave testimony of Jesus Christ - 2b
4. Purpose: Bring unbounded blessings -1:3
a. To those who publically read these words - 3a
b. To those who llisten to this prophecy - 3b
c. To those who pay attention to this prophecy - 3c
5. To Immediate Recipients - 1:4ab,11
a. John passes it on. 4a
b. To the seven churches in Asia. 1:4a,11
c. Greetings of grace and peace. 4b
- Ordinary greeting from a superordinary source.
- Source of all favor and mercy.
- Source of peace between peoples.
I. The Source of All Blessings - Our Eternal God - 4c-5a
A. I Am - He Who is, Who was, and Who is to Come - 4c
B. The Holy Spirit - 4d
1. Seven (number of perfection) Spirits Before the throne
2. Seven manifold revelation of the Holy Spirit - Isaiah 11:2
C. Jesus the Christ - 5
1. The Faithful Witness - Prophet from God
2. The First-born of the Dead - High Priest leading us to life.
3. The ruler of the Kings of the Earth - King of Kings, Lord of
Lords.
II. The Blessing of Blessings - Our Salvation - 5b,6
A. Loved By God - Incarnation -5b
B. Set free from our sins - Propitiation - 5c
1. Supreme Sacrifice - John 3:16
2. Power of the Resurrection - Romans 1:4
C. Gave us a destiny - Imitation -6
1. Made us a Kingdom within kingdoms. -6a
a. In the world but not of the world - John 17:14
b. Citizenship in heaven - Philippians 3:20
2. Made us priests of representation - 6b
a. Be imitators of God - Ephesians 5:1
b. Called for this purpose - Romans 8:29
3. Made us revealers of glory and dominion - 6c
a. Point to His glory - Colossinas 1:27
" Christ in you, the hope of glory. "
b. Submit to His Lordship - Acts 2:37
" if you love me, you will keep my commandments "
III. The Final Blessing - 1:7
A. He is returning - 1:7
1. Bane for unbelievers - 7
2. Boon for believers - 8
B. He is returning with judgement - 1:12-17
1. High Priest in the midst of the churches - 12,13
2. The Ancient of Days - Omniscient - 14,15
a. Wisdom of the ages - white head & hair of purity and glory.
b. Knower of our thoughts and intentions - eyes as a flame of
fire
" told me all the things which I have done. " - Samaritan
woman
c. Tested in the crucible of life - burnished bronze feet
" obedient unto death, even death on a cross. "
d. Teacher from God - Voice of many waters
" never a man spoke as this man speaks " Temple guards
sent to arrest Him
" did our hearts not burn withing us as He spoke to us."
Disciples on way to Emmaeus
3. The Author and Finisher of Our Faith - 16
a. Stands in the midst of the churches - 12, 20
b. Holds His messengers accountable - 16
- Standard is His Word - out of His mouth/sharp two
edged sword.
- Standard is His Perfection - Face shining like the
sun in its strength
" Be ye Holy as I am holy. "
Conclusion:
1. " Whoh! " or " Woe! " or " Wow! ", you say, " That's not a blessing.
That's terrifying!"
2. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. That was John's immediate reaction
also. - 17a
" When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. "
3. Jesus reassured John and He reassures those who are His people.- 17b
A. He has given us His presence - the Holy Spirit of Promise - Acts
2:38; Ephesians 1:13
B. He has covered our righteousness with His own righteousness.
Philippians 3:8-14
" I count all things to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him,
not having a righteousness of my own, derived from the law, but that which
is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the
basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and
the fellowship of His sufferings; being conformed to His death; in order
that I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have already
attained it, or have become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay
hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I
do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do;
forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press
on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
"
4. Are you ready for the final blessing? 1:17b
Do not be afraid! I Am the First and The Last and the Living One, and I was
dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys to death and of
Hades.
5. Have you believed Jesus, The Faithful Witness, who came in the flesh to
reveal God to us. He is The Word.
" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and Word is God.
" John 1:1
6. Have you submitted yourself to the Lordship of Jesus, the First Begotten
from the dead?
" Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. " John 3:3
7. Is He who is King of kings the King of your life?
8. If so, spread the message of the kingdom in word and deed and all that
your are?
He has brought you into the kingdom for a purpose.
He would have you be a priest of God bringing people to a knowledge of
Him.
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect
doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased. " Hebrews
13:15,16