Christ, the Revelation of Revelation pt 1

Revelation 1:1-8

 

Rev. 1:1-8 (ESV) 

    The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,  [2] who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.  [3] Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

    [4] John to the seven churches that are in Asia :

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,  [5] and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 

    [6] and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  [7] Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

    [8] "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

 

I- The Purpose of Revelation (1:1-2)

A- Future events- God is showing His persecuted church that He will win. 

B- Glory of Christ- The second thing that is revealed is the glory of Christ.

All of Scripture is pointing to Christ.  The OT longs for Christ, The NT shows us Christ and the Book of Revelation further reveals Christ.

(2 Thess. 1:5-7; 1 Peter 1:6-7)

The reason the Book of Revelation covers future events is because the revelation of Jesus Christ is not finished yet. 

 

II- The Promise of Revelation (1:3-5)

A- A Future Blessing (1:3)

Jesus Christ declares that those who read His Word and those who obey its teaching will be unbelievably blessed.   

Here John has in mind ultimate blessing.  He has in mind our inheritance as God’s children. 

1 Peter 1:3-5

 

B- A Present Blessing (1:4-5)

1- The Content of This Present Blessing (1:4a)

The present promise of blessing issued to the church is grace to you and peace.

Grace- is the operation of the Spirit whereby the elect of God become the partakers of all the benefits of salvation through the work of Christ.

Peace- The fruit of grace then becomes peace.  Those who make up the true church are no longer enemies of Christ but are now His friends.  The peace referred to is peace with God. (Isaiah 57:21; Romans 5:1)

2- The Confidence of This Present Blessing (1:4b-5)

Our confidence comes from God who is the Presenter of this blessing.  Grace and peace come from God.  We have a three-fold divine guarantee

-From him who is and who was and who is to come.

- >From the seven spirits who are before his throne.

(Romans 8:11)

- >From Jesus Christ the faithful witness.

John reminds us that these promises are not ours based on our performance or our works but through grace, they are ours because of Jesus Christ the faithful witness!!!

 

III- The Glory of Christ (1:5-8)

A- The Glory of Christ’s Love (1:5-6)

1- Christ Set His Love on Us

If you are a true believer, God is not against you but God is for you. 

2- Christ Set Us Free from Sin

Romans 5:6-8

3- Christ Set Us Up as Kingdom Priests

We are to offer living sacrifices to God.  We are to consecrate ourselves to service of our God and King, Jesus Christ.

B- The Glory of Christ’s Coming (1:7-8)

As we partake together the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper may our Lord bless us with abundant grace to spark within us a deeper commitment because… Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him