The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Revelation 1:1-8
Introduction: Our primary purpose in studying this book of Revelation is not
so much to find contemporary events or trends that support the belief that the
book is about to be fulfilled, although we will engage in that to some extent.
Our main purpose is to see Jesus Christ in all of His glory and majesty as He
brings forth His judgment upon this world and ultimately establishes His
eternal kingdom.
I do not intend that this study be a technical analysis of all the various
methods of interpretation and differing opinions as to the meaning of the
book and its symbols, so I will mention here only that we will take a
futuristic view believing that this book is primarily a prophecy yet to be
fulfilled. All other methods of interpretation leave the book completely
incoherent and largely irrelevant.
As far as a final and complete understanding of the book goes, I do not
believe that for anyone this side of the actual events that are prophesied that
is possible. Therefore, we will have to be content to leave certain things, like
the identity of the Anti-Christ and the Great Harlot to the generation that will
actually see them. I think one of the problems with many modern day
Prophecy teachers is their tendency to speculate and then dogmatize about
things that we cannot know with absolute certainty. This has led to many
wrong interpretations and false predictions that have then, to some degree,
discredited, in the minds of certain people, the whole idea of the Bible as a
book of predictive prophecy.
Perhaps you remember a few years ago when many sensationalist prophecy
teachers were warning of the catastrophic events that would surround Y2K.
That is the type of thing I’m talking about and the kind of thing that we want
to avoid.
Before we move on from this introduction let me give a word on the nature
of this book. It is a book of prophecy and therefore more like an Old
Testament book than a New Testament book. It is like you are reading the
prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel or Zechariah, the only difference being the
veil is removed and Jesus Christ is clearly the central figure of the book.
1. Revelation- Apokalypsis in Grk. A shining forth, an appearing, a manifestation,
an unveiling.
2. The Revelation of Jesus ChristA shining forth of Jesus Christ in His glory. While here on earth, the glory of Jesus
was veiled in His humanity. To this very day many think of Jesus as a mere man. A
good man; a deeply spiritual man; a wise man; an extraordinary man, but only a man!
This revelation was given so that all may know the power, the glory, the deity and the
absolute sovereignty of Jesus Christ!
a. Things which must shortly or soon take place. Better
understood as speedily or swiftly take place. In modern times the word
was used to describe the instrument that measures velocity – tachometer.
The idea here being that when these things happen they will happen in
rapid succession.
b. Blessings pronounced upon readers and hearers.
c. Time at hand or near- Those who hold the view that Revelation was
an account of the struggles of the early church against Judaism and
Paganism use this statement here to support their belief that the book was
largely fulfilled in the reign of Caesar Nero. They say, near means near
not two thousand years later!
What do we say to that?
d. What is near from God’s standpoint is not necessarily near from the
human standpoint. The Lord through the prophet Isaiah said, “My
salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed.” 700
years later Jesus was born!
e. There was and still is an immediate application in the instruction given to
the seven churches and in the ultimate promise of victory for Christ and
His people.
3. The Salutation or Greeting- John to Seven Churches of Asia.
a. God the Father- Who was and is and is to come. OT picture given here, I
AM.
b. The Holy Spirit- Seven referring to the Spirit in all His fullness and
perfection.
c. Jesus Christ- The faithful witness (of God and for God), the firstborn from
the dead (the preeminent one), the ruler over the kings of the earth.
4. A Declaration of Praisea. To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins in His own blood.
b. Made us a kingdom of priest to His God and Father
c. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
d. Behold, He’s coming with clouds…
5. Jesus Christ himself speaksa. Alpha and Omega
b. Beginning and End
c. Who was and is and is to come- the Almighty!
Close: Behold He is coming- Here is the great fact unequivocally stated. Christ has not
gone to heaven to stay there… He will return again. Few believe this, and still fewer lay
it to heart. Many sneer at the very idea, and would fain laugh down the people who are so
simple as to entertain it. But it is nevertheless the immutable truth of God, predicted by
all his prophets, promised by Christ himself, confirmed by the testimony of angels,
proclaimed by all the apostles, believed by all the early Christians, acknowledged in all
the church creeds, sung of in all the church hymn-books, prayed about in all the church
liturgies, and entering so essentially into the very life and substance of Christianity, that
without it there is no Christianity, except a few maimed and mutilated relics too
powerless to be worth the trouble or expense of preservation. That religion which does
not look for a returning Savior, or locate its highest hopes and triumphs in the judgment
scenes for which the son of man must reappear, is not the religion of this book, and is
without authority to promise salvation to its devotees… Murmur at it, dispute it, despise
it, mock it, put it aside, hate it, and hide from it, as men may, it is a great fundamental
article of the Gospel, that that same blessed Lord, who ascended from Mount Olivet, and
is now at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, shall come from thence to judge the
living and the dead, and to stand again on that very summit from which he went up. This
is true, as Christ himself is true”!