The Revelation of Christ – Part 2:
The Theme, The Vision
HOFC - Pastor Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON
INTRODUCTION
The
Book of Revelation, or the Revelation of Christ, is the most difficult book in
the bible.
Because
of this fact, many avoid it, or ignore it all together. Some fear lack of
understanding, others afraid to misinterpret, which I guess it is better to
avoid than dive in and get it completely wrong.
Many
times, when a new believer comes to me for direction, they want to jump right
into Revelation and find out what’s to come.
This
is equivalent to deciding one day to learn Mandarin and sitting down to author
a novel in Chinese that very same day.
Or,
a kindergartener learning how to count, and then trying to calculate quantum
mechanics calculations.
The
words in Revelation have caused much debate on rapture, judgement, even some
who claim John was writing about the events in his day in code rather than
Jesus Christ revealing to him about the coming events and Judgment.
A
special blessing is promised to those who read Revelation.
Although
it may be a difficult book, we could all use a special blessing, reading this
is good for us all, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will take the
Revelation of Christ in small portions and gain understanding, little by
little.
SERMON SERIES
THE THINGS THOU HAS SEEN –
Things that were
Part 1 – Introduction
Part 2 – The Theme, the Vision
THE THINGS WHICH
ARE – The Church Age (Age of Grace)
Part 3 – Ephesus The Backsliding Church
Part 4 – Smyrna The Steadfast Church
Part 5 – Pergamos The Immoral Church
Part 6 – Thyatira The Careless Pagan Church
Part 7 – Sardis The Dead Church
Part 8 – Philadelphia The Favored Church
Part 9 – Laodicea The Church God Hates
THE THINGS WHICH
SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment
More sermons in the series listed in Part 1
TODAY’S SERMON
The Theme, The Vision
Revelation
1:3
“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.”
SCRIPTURE READING
Revelation
1:9-20
“I,
John, your brother and companion in the suffering and
kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the
island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of
Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I
heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write
on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and
Laodicea.”
12 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.
17 When I saw him, I fell
at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and
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.
19 “Write, therefore, what
you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven
stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden
lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches, and the
seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
I.
WHERE JOHN IS WHEN HE WRITES REVELATION
a.
John, brother and companion in tribulation
i. This mention by John of tribulation he is facing is
not a nod to The Tribulation.
ii. Tribulation in this sense was referring to the fact
that John had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel as many brothers had and
were at this very time also facing prison and persecution for Christ.
b.
In the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ
i. John is encouraging those in tribulation for Christ’s
sake that Jesus will ultimately establish His kingdom on Earth.
ii. But we must be patient and endure until then.
c.
Imprisoned on Patmos for preaching the Word of God and
the testimony of Jesus Christ
i. In the end of verse 9 we see John was not imprisoned
for crimes he had committed, rather, for preaching Christ, for taking a stand
for our Lord.
ii. There was a time many years ago I thought the barbaric
days of imprisoning someone for mere thoughts and words were long gone.
iii. Yet, in recent time, there have been those who have
been attacked, fined and even imprisoned for the Lord’s sake, and not only in
backward countries like China, Africa, Muslim ran countries, were believer’s
are murdered for their beliefs, but here in America where you can be fined and
even jailed for the Word.
iv. Whether it’s for not performing an abortion as a
doctor, or baking a cake for homosexual marriage, or simply preaching the Word
which this world labels “hate speech.”
Revelation
1:10 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day (Sunday), and
heard behind me a great Voice, as of a trumpet, saying I am the Alpha and
Omega, the first and the last; and what you see, write in a book.”
II.
THE VISION – IN SPIRIT
a.
John was in the Spirit
i. He saw a vision, and was in the Spirit. The Lord
called John and moved him back and forth through time.
1.
The Lord said in verse 10
“I am the Alpha and Omega” beginning and end, first and last, existing outside
of our time constraints.
2.
When people of the Lord are
given a vision, a prophecy, it’s always correct because it is a glimpse of the
actual future.
3.
When the people of God are
given a warning, such as the case of Jonah to tell Nineva, that is not a
prophecy, but a warning if conditions are not met.
ii. The Lord commands John to write all he sees in a book
(Revelation)
1.
So what John sees and
records is not a “warning”, rather a vision of the actual events!
2.
A TRUE prophecy of what is
to come!
3.
Nothing will change that.
iii. The Lord tells John to send what he writes to seven
specific churches Jesus has picked
iv. There were more churches in the areas than these,
however, these were chosen by Christ for symbolic reasons. Why?
1.
Ephesus – the backsliding
church
2.
Smyrna – the steadfast
church
3.
Pergamos – the immoral
church
4.
Thyatira – the lax church
with pagan rituals
5.
Sardis – the dead church
6.
Philadelphia – the favored
church
7.
Laodicea – the lukewarm
church
v. These seven churches represent the condition of
churches, along with Jesus’ criticisms, and counsel to change!
vi. We ALL need this!
III. THE CHURCHES
a.
John sees the seven golden candle sticks
i. Symbolic of the churches holding the light
ii. Candlesticks are NOT the light, they hold it, present
it, display it for all to see
b.
In the midst of the candlesticks (churches)
i. One, like unto the Son of Man
1.
This presents Jesus as the
head of the churches!
2.
The one who places the
candlesticks, or removes them
3.
The one who lights the
candles or blows them out!
4.
He is the center of all
activity within the church
c.
The Description of Jesus Christ (Starting in verse 13)
i. Standing in the midst of
the candlesticks
ii. dressed
in a robe reaching down to his feet
1.
Indicating His position as
a King-Priest.
iii. and
with a golden sash around his chest
1.
Kingly apparel
iv. The hair
on his head was white like wool, as white as snow,
1.
Representing
Majesty and Authority
v. his
eyes were like blazing fire
1.
portrays penetrating
scrutiny and fierce judgment
vi. His
feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace
1.
Bronze signifying His humanity, glowing in a
furnace representing His super-human abilities
vii. his
voice was like the sound of rushing waters
1.
the
voice of power
2.
I
stood next to Niagara Falls once, the sound of the water rushing over the side
of the falls was deafening
viii. In His
right hand He held seven stars
1.
"Hand"
most frequently represents the ownership, power, or control that its possessor
(either an individual or a people)
2.
The
hand of God, and especially the right hand, is also understood as a place of
salvation, refuge, and protection. It is the favored position for the firstborn
of Joseph to receive Jacob's blessing (Gen
48:13-18), for the bride of the king (Psalm 45:9), and for the
chosen one who sits at God's right hand while judgment is rendered upon the
earth (110:1 ; Jer 22:24). This is applied to Jesus (Mark
14:62 ; 16:19). He sits at God's right hand, where he
intercedes as a priest for believers (Rom 8:34 ; Heb 8:1) and
exercises authority over all powers (1 Peter 3:22). The apostles extend
the right hand of fellowship to Paul.
3.
Who
are the “stars”? The pastors of the
churches.
a.
Jesus
owns them, and holds them in a place of salvation, refuge, protection, a
favored position.
b.
A
place for the chosen.
c.
Jesus
exercises authority over the stars and any powers they have, represent or
perform in His name.
ix. and
coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword
1.
The
sword is the Word of God
x. His
face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance
1.
Represents
His Glory
d.
John
Thought he would die
i. Jesus
laid His right hand upon him and said, “fear not; I am the first and the last;
I am He Who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive evermore; and have the
keys of death and Hades
1.
Death
(thanatou) physical and spiritual
2.
Hades
(hadou) place of departed spirits (shoel)
IV. A COMMAND FROM JESUS CHRIST
TO JOHN
a.
Write therefore (because
of who Christ is) what you have
seen, the things that are and
the things that shall be
b.
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my
right hand and of the golden lampstands is this
i. The stars are angels (messengers, by implication a
pastor) of the seven churches
ii. The seven lampstands are the seven churches
c.
This is a picture of the Church Age (Age of God’s
grace)
i. Jesus chose these churches to represent the full
spectrum of where the churches can be during the age of grace
ii. The fact that He gives criticisms shows He is judging
them while they are active (not afterwards)
iii. The fact Jesus gives counsel tells us, there is still
time for these churches to change!
CONCLUSION
Every
church right now should read these letters, criticize themselves, and read
Jesus’ counsel so that they too may be pleasing to the Lord, and rightly
lighting the world operating as the lampstands they are to be!
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