Verse by Verse Series Through the book of Revelation - Sermon One
Revelation 1:1-3
With this message we begin a journey through the final book of the Bible. The book is known as the revelation of Jesus Christ because it culminates with the visible, physical return of the Lord Jesus in great power and glory. Furthermore, it documents the consummation of all things as our great Creator restores the creation by establishing a new heaven and a new earth that will abide forever.
As we shall see, the book begins with John’s encounter with the risen, glorified Christ. John proceeds to record seven important messages to seven literal churches functioning in the apostle’s day. These messages speak generationally to the body of Christ and remain immensely relevant for us containing important insights as to how we should conduct ourselves while awaiting the return of the Bridegroom for his bride.
Chapters four through nineteen give the details of those things which must shortly come to pass. Our journey through this amazing book will bring us face to face with the details of Daniel’s famous 70th week of Bible prophecy. Fasten your seat belts! We will soon prophetically travel through the coming period of world history Jesus declares to be the most earth shaking of any other period of world history, including the global flood of Noah’s day.
Although this book clearly speaks of God’s coming judgment on a rebellious world, it concludes with the return of Christ to rule during a millennium of true global peace and prosperity. As well, as we shall see, God gives John a glimpse of the great white throne judgment that occurs as the Lord prepares a new heaven and a new earth in which he will personally tabernacle with all his redeemed in the ages to come.
Clearly the return of Jesus Christ is the only hope for this fallen world. Left to himself man would sink into such debauchery the race would soon destroy itself. However, even as today’s rebellious globalists plot and plan to reshape the world in their blind efforts to supposedly save mankind and planet earth, the Lord watches from his throne.
As they imagine a vain, foolish thing setting themselves against the Lord and his Christ, the anointed one, the Lord who sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision, that is, he shall scoff at them as he speaks to them in his great displeasure.
My friends, no one needs to fear supposed climate change or even the threat of nuclear war. Read and study this book and you will understand the need to fear the sovereign Lord who will soon bring the earth into such judgment she will stagger as a drunken man. Think about that.
Please look with me at Revelation chapter one, verses one through three:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
The first thing we should notice from verse one is the fact God gave this revelation to his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God gave it to his Son before it was given to John. Remember, Jesus is God’s last word to mankind and the message from God through his only begotten Son, reaches a final climax in this book.
Please note again the word revelation. This book gets its name from this word which translates from the Greek word apokalupsis. This word literally means unveiling. It speaks of unveiling something previously concealed. This same Greek word is used in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 which says, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” then the Lord will recompense tribulation to those who trouble the saints.
May I say, this world is not getting away with the miss treatment of the saints. It only looks that way for now. However, at the revelation of Jesus Christ he is coming to set things right. My advice to you is to get right with God by turning from sin and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming. He is to be unveiled as the clouds roll back and the world sees the sign of the Son of man coming in great power and glory. It is time to get right before he comes!!
Next, take careful note of the purpose of this book. God gave the revelation to Jesus Christ “to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.” So, since the purpose is to make known things which must come to pass, we must conclude that we can understand the message in this book. Unfortunately, many people find this book hard to understand. Actually, it only becomes complicated when one is unwilling to take the text literally. As a number of Bible teachers point out, the best interpretation is no interpretation at all. Let it mean what it says and allow the symbolism to simply expound upon what is clearly being said.
Again, this book is written to the servants of the Lord Jesus to show them things that are coming and in so doing bring both comfort and hope as we travel through a troubled world.
Next, note that Jesus sent the content of this book to John by his messenger. We do not know who this messenger is, however, at the end of the book this messenger says to John, “These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”
Conclusion
May we conclude this message with a reading of verses two and three. The Lord sent this message to John:
“Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
In these words the Lord pronounces a blessing on those who read and hear this prophecy and keep those things written therein. We keep the things written therein by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord! The message of Christ's coming should bring us to our knees in humble faith and repentance.
Now hear this and I am done. I believe as the Scripture says, “the time is at hand.” I do not know if we will see the end of 2023. Our world is racing toward the return of Christ as the players in the final saga of world history take their place on the world stage. Jesus is coming. We must warn as many as we can to get ready. I hope you will be ready when he comes.
If you have never confessed the Lord Jesus as your Savior it is time for that decision. Give him your heart today.
With this message we begin a journey through the final book of the Bible. The book is known as the revelation of Jesus Christ because it culminates with the visible, physical return of the Lord Jesus in great power and glory. Furthermore, it documents the consummation of all things as our great Creator restores the creation by establishing a new heaven and a new earth that will abide forever.
As we shall see, the book begins with John’s encounter with the risen, glorified Christ. John proceeds to record seven important messages to seven literal churches functioning in the apostle’s day. These messages speak generationally to the body of Christ and remain immensely relevant for us containing important insights as to how we should conduct ourselves while awaiting the return of the Bridegroom for his bride.
Chapters four through nineteen give the details of those things which must shortly come to pass. Our journey through this amazing book will bring us face to face with the details of Daniel’s famous 70th week of Bible prophecy. Fasten your seat belts! We will soon prophetically travel through the coming period of world history Jesus declares to be the most earth shaking of any other period of world history, including the global flood of Noah’s day.
Although this book clearly speaks of God’s coming judgment on a rebellious world, it concludes with the return of Christ to rule during a millennium of true global peace and prosperity. As well, as we shall see, God gives John a glimpse of the great white throne judgment that occurs as the Lord prepares a new heaven and a new earth in which he will personally tabernacle with all his redeemed in the ages to come.
Clearly the return of Jesus Christ is the only hope for this fallen world. Left to himself man would sink into such debauchery the race would soon destroy itself. However, even as today’s rebellious globalists plot and plan to reshape the world in their blind efforts to supposedly save mankind and planet earth, the Lord watches from his throne.
As they imagine a vain, foolish thing setting themselves against the Lord and his Christ, the anointed one, the Lord who sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision, that is, he shall scoff at them as he speaks to them in his great displeasure.
My friends, no one needs to fear supposed climate change or even the threat of nuclear war. Read and study this book and you will understand the need to fear the sovereign Lord who will soon bring the earth into such judgment she will stagger as a drunken man. Think about that.
Please look with me at Revelation chapter one, verses one through three:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
The first thing we should notice from verse one is the fact God gave this revelation to his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God gave it to his Son before it was given to John. Remember, Jesus is God’s last word to mankind and the message from God through his only begotten Son, reaches a final climax in this book.
Please note again the word revelation. This book gets its name from this word which translates from the Greek word apokalupsis. This word literally means unveiling. It speaks of unveiling something previously concealed. This same Greek word is used in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 which says, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” then the Lord will recompense tribulation to those who trouble the saints.
May I say, this world is not getting away with the miss treatment of the saints. It only looks that way for now. However, at the revelation of Jesus Christ he is coming to set things right. My advice to you is to get right with God by turning from sin and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming. He is to be unveiled as the clouds roll back and the world sees the sign of the Son of man coming in great power and glory. It is time to get right before he comes!!
Next, take careful note of the purpose of this book. God gave the revelation to Jesus Christ “to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.” So, since the purpose is to make known things which must come to pass, we must conclude that we can understand the message in this book. Unfortunately, many people find this book hard to understand. Actually, it only becomes complicated when one is unwilling to take the text literally. As a number of Bible teachers point out, the best interpretation is no interpretation at all. Let it mean what it says and allow the symbolism to simply expound upon what is clearly being said.
Again, this book is written to the servants of the Lord Jesus to show them things that are coming and in so doing bring both comfort and hope as we travel through a troubled world.
Next, note that Jesus sent the content of this book to John by his messenger. We do not know who this messenger is, however, at the end of the book this messenger says to John, “These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”
Conclusion
May we conclude this message with a reading of verses two and three. The Lord sent this message to John:
“Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
In these words the Lord pronounces a blessing on those who read and hear this prophecy and keep those things written therein. We keep the things written therein by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord! The message of Christ's coming should bring us to our knees in humble faith and repentance.
Now hear this and I am done. I believe as the Scripture says, “the time is at hand.” I do not know if we will see the end of 2023. Our world is racing toward the return of Christ as the players in the final saga of world history take their place on the world stage. Jesus is coming. We must warn as many as we can to get ready. I hope you will be ready when he comes.
If you have never confessed the Lord Jesus as your Savior it is time for that decision. Give him your heart today.
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