(Rev 1:17-20)
1. Who is He? "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.”
a. Falling Down—
(1) Real worship is to fall at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to do something or relieve some fear that humanly impossible.
(2) Real worship is to fall on our faces before God, to fall at His feet!
(3) A Word About the Current Commotion--"being slain in the Spirit..."
(a) First, it isn't mentioned in the Bible – not even one time.
(b) Second, it is doctrinally out of whack- Falling Backward in the Bible is NEVER positive.
(i) Eli fell backward when the Glory departed from Israel—“…1 Sam 4:18 Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years…”
(ii) Falling backward was part of the judgment of God against the children of Israel who would not listen to God's prophets—Isa 28:13 “ But the word of the LORD was to them, "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little," That they might go and fall backward, and be broken And snared and caught.”
(iii) Jer 7:24 "Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.
(iv) Jer 15:6 You have forsaken Me," says the LORD, "You have gone backward. Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am weary of relenting!
(v) The soldiers who came to arrest Jesus fell backward—John 18:6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.”
(vi) A meeting with God causes people to hide their face, to fall FORWARD!! Gen 17:1 -3 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram ...Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
(vii) When God appeared to Abraham at Mamre—Gen 18:2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
(viii) When God appeared to Moses at the Burning Bush—Exo 3:6 ... And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
(ix) Even Balaam, the false prophet, had sense enough to know what to do when he met God....Num 22:31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
(x) When God appeared to Joshua at Jericho...Josh 5:14 .....Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped,
(xi) When God appeared to the parents of Samson...Judg 13:20 ...they fell on their faces to the ground.
(Mark 5:22) "And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet"
(Mark 7:25) "For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet."
(Mark 3:11) "And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God.""
(Mark 5:33) "But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth."
(Luke 8:28) "When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!""
(Lev 9:24) "and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces."(
(Num 20:6) "So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them."
(Judg 13:20) "it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar; the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground."
(1 Ki 18:39) "Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!""
(1 Chr 21:16) "Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces."
(Mat 17:6) "And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid."
(Rev 7:11) "All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,"
(Rev 11:16) "And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,"
b. Do Not Be Afraid “…But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last…”
(1) A common thing said to many of God’s people in great times of need.
(a) Sometimes we fear the situation
(b) Sometimes we fear our enemies
(c) Sometimes we fear what man can do to us
(d) Sometimes we fear our own weaknesses
(e) Sometimes God puts us out of our comfort zone
(f) Sometimes God gives us challenges that seem impossible
(g) But He always says—do not be afraid
(2) Some of God’s choicest servants needed these words…
(a) Moses—(Gen 15:1) "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.""
(b) The People of Israel—(Exo 14:13) "And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever."
(c) Joshua—(Josh 1:9) ""Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.""
(d) Elijah—(2 Ki 1:15) "And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So he arose and went down with him to the king."
(e) Any believer seeking wisdom—(Prov 3:25) "Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes…"
(f) Joseph—(Mat 1:20) "But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."
(g) The Disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration— (Mat 17:7) "But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid.""
(h) The Women At the Tomb—(Mat 28:5) "But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified."
(i) The Virgin Mary— (Luke 1:30) "Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
(j) Paul the Apostle—
(i) (Acts 18:9) "Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;"
(ii) (Acts 27:24) ""saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.'"
c. Why “do not be afraid? Three Consecutive “I AM” statements
(1) “… I am the First and the Last…”
(a) He Is Eternal God—Rom 9:5, 1 Tim 6:15-16
(b) was there before we were, He will be here when we are dust
(2) When we fear death, he is the Victor over it—18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.”
(3) We will be with Him eternally as well
(4) Why should we fear when we have such wonderful Savior?
(5) But He tells us not to fear, knowing that we will
2. The Keys—“…And I have the keys of Hades and of Death…”
a. What about keys? What are they? How many of them are there? What is the literal meaning of these keys?
(1) Outside Revelation, “keys” are mentioned only a few times
(a) Mat 16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
(b) Isa 22:22 The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.
(2) What are the “keys?” They indicate authority—the key holder rules!— (Luke 11:52) ""Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.""
(a) The Keys to The Kingdom—committed to Peter, but not to him alone
(b) The key to the house of David—most likely synonymous to the Kingdom
(c) The keys to death and Hell— Luke 12:5) ""But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!"
(d) The Key of David—(Rev 3:7) ""And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":"
(e) The key to the bottomless pit—
(i) (Rev 9:1) "Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit."
(ii) (Rev 20:1) "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand."
b. The “Weekend in Hell” theory is a favorite of many, but it is not solidly established in the Bible, and it actually comes from medieval Roman Catholic teachings
c. The second part of the “Weekend in Hell” doctrine is that Satan owned "the keys" to death, hell, and the grave, and that Jesus had to go win them from him.
(1) There are ABSOLUTELY NO scriptures which even remotely suggest that Satan ever had any keys to anything.
(2) Furthermore, God opens and shuts, and no one stops Him in going either direction—
(3) Isa 45:1 "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held; To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:
(4) Rev 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":
(a) Now think, did the Devil EVER have the power of life and death? Did Satan EVER have authority to sentence anyone to Hell? Was Satan ever in charge of God’s salvation plan?
(b) The answer is no! God alone has, and has always had, that power and authority.
(Rev 3:7) ""And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":"
3. The Outline of Revelation—“…19 "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this…”
a. To remind us again, this book is outlined simply and directly
(1) Write—again, John writes what he is commanded, not anything of his own.
(2) What has been seen
(3) The Things that exist
(4) The Things which WILL take place after this.
b. Again, Revelation Reveals Itself! “…20 "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches."
(1) The Angel, or messenger, of each church, perhaps the pastor.
(2) The Lampstands—the churches, the lights that should shine, the city on the hill that should shine—(Mat 5:14) ""You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Vision of the Resurrected Christ—Rev 1:8-20
Brother Charley Buntin, Trace Creek Baptist Church, Mayfield, KY
1. The Person of Christ Re-Stated Again—(Rev 1:8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
a. The I AMs of the Gospel of John
(1) (John 6:35) "And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life…”
(2) (John 7:28-29) "… I am from Him, and He sent Me.""
(3) (John 8:12) "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world…”
(4) (John 8:23) "… I am from above.
(5) John 8:24 “…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.""
(6) (John 8:58) "… before Abraham was, I AM.""
(7) (John 10:7) "… I am the door of the sheep."
(8) (John 10:9) ""I am the door. …."
(9) (John 10:11) ""I am the good shepherd…”
(10) (John 11:25) "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life…”
(11) (John 14:6) "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
(12) (John 15:1) ""I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser."
(13) (John 15:5) ""I am the vine, you are the branches…."
(14) (John 18:5-6) "They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground."
b. The titles of Christ in just the first 7 verses:
(1) The first four titles refer to Who He Is—
(a) “…Jesus Christ…” As the Angel told Joseph in Matthew—I (Mat 1:20-21) "”…you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.""
(b) “…the faithful witness…”
(c) “…the firstborn from the dead…”
(d) “…the ruler over the kings of the earth…”.
(2) What He Has Done for us
(a) “…Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
(b) “…[Who]{6} has made us kings and priests to His God and Father…”
(3) The Worship to which He is entitled
(a) “…Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. …” (Psa 96:8) "Give to the LORD the glory due His name…”
c. The other “I Am” verses of Revelation
(1) (Rev 1:11) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,"
(2) (Rev 1:17-18) I am the First and the Last.
(3) {18} "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
(4) (Rev 21:6) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
(5) (Rev 22:7) "Behold, I am coming quickly!
(6) (Rev 22:12-13) "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me
(7) {13} "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
(8) (Rev 22:16) "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
d. More titles …” come in this passage:
(1) He is the first “Word” and the last “Word”—“…Alpha and the Omega…”
(a) He was the first word—“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was With God, and the Word Was God…”
(b) He will be the last Word—(Rev 22:20-21) "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
(2) He is Eternal God—“…the Beginning and the End…” — (Rom 9:5) "of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen."
(3) (1 Tim 6:15-16) "… He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. …”
(4) He Has the Dominion, He is the King— “…the Lord…”
(5) “…who is and who was and who is to come…”
(a) He Came as the Suffering Servant
(b) He is now the Exalted Intercessor
(c) He is returning as reigning King
(6) “… the Almighty." This is a title addressed to God several times in Revelation, as His might is stressed as the power behind this great unveiling.
(Rev 4:8) "The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!""
(Rev 11:17) "saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned."
(Rev 15:3) "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!"
(Rev 16:7) "And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.""
(Rev 16:14) "For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."
(Rev 19:15) "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
(Rev 21:22) "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."
2. The Setting of the Vision—(Rev 1:9) "I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
a. John, the last apostle, a witness to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, addresses the churches as brother and companion—he is saying, “we are all in this together—“… John, both your brother and companion…”
(1) He was their companion in Tribulation
(2) He was their companion in the Kingdom—All saved people are in the Kingdom of God—Col 1:13
(3) He was their companion in “the patience of Jesus Christ…” This speaks of the perseverance of those who are truly born again.
b. A time of Tribulation—a time of persecution—“…John was…on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
(1) Before we even look at the persecutions, note this—the base cause of persecution is the reaction of the lost when the truth is preached, proclaimed, and lived.
(2) The Enemy has no particular drive to persecute silent Christians, nor to disturb those who compromise with the world—John was under persecution because he would not shut up!
(3) This was the Persecution of Domitian, the first empire-wide persecution
(4) Early on, the Romans saw the Christians as a subset of the Jews, who were a religio licta (legal religion—and only the Jews were exempt from the requirement to worship Caesar—though they did pray and sacrifice FOR the emperor.)
(5) During reign of Nero, Christianity was declared a religio illicta (an illegal religion), but the Neronian persecution was limited to Rome.
(6) The heart and soul of John’s “offense” was his obedience to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ—another name for the Bible
(7) How to deal with the Christians is the subject of a famous exchange of letters between the Emperor Trajan and the Governor of Bythinia, Pliny
Pliny's written With Trajan (reigned 98-117) About The Christians
How the Romans viewed the Christians:
This correspondence between the Emperor Trajan and Pliny, governor of Bithynia shows how Christianity had spread, and how it was treated. in the second century AD.
PLINY'S LETTER TO TRAJAN: "It is my custom, lord emperor, to refer to you all questions whereof I am in doubt. Who can better guide me when I am at a stand, or enlighten me if I am in ignorance? In investigations of Christians I have never taken part, hence I do not know what is the crime usually punished or investigated, or what allowances are made. So I have had no little uncertainty whether there is any distinction of age, or whether the very weakest offenders are treated exactly like the stronger, whether pardon is given to those who repent, or whether a man who has once been a Christian gains nothing by having ceased to be such; whether punishment attaches to the mere name apart from secret crimes, or to the secret crimes connected with the name. Meantime this is the course I have taken with those who were accused before me as Christians. I asked them whether they were Christians, and if they confessed, I asked them a second and third time with threats of punishment. If they kept to it, I ordered them for execution; for I held no question that whatever It was that they admitted, in any case obstinacy and unbending Perversity deserve to be punished. There were others of the like insanity; but as these were Roman citizens, I noted them down to be sent to Rome. Before long, as is often the case, the mere fact that the charge was taken notice of made it commoner and several distinct cases arose. An unsigned paper was presented, which gave the names of many. As for those who said that they neither were nor ever had been Christians, I thought it right to let them go, since they recited a prayer to the gods at my dictation, made supplication with incense and wine to your statue, which I had ordered to be brought into court for the purpose together with images of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ- things which (so it is said) those who are really Christians cannot be made to do. Others who were named by the informer said that they were Christians and then denied it, explaining that they had been, but had ceased to be such, some three years ago, some a good many years, and a few even twenty. All these too worshipped your statue and the images of the gods, and cursed Christ. They maintained, however that the amount of their fault or error had been this, that it was their habit on a fixed day to assemble before daylight and recite by turns a form of words to Christ as a god; and that they bound themselves with an oath, not for any crime, but not to commit theft or robbery or adultery, not to break their word, and not to deny a deposit when demanded."
TRAJAN'S REPLY TO PLINY: "You have adopted the proper course, my dear Secundus, in your examination of the cases of those who were accused to you as Christians, for indeed nothing can be laid down as a general ruling involving something like a set form of procedure. They are not to be sought out; but if they are accused and convicted, they must be punished - yet on this condition, that whose denies himself to be a Christian, and makes the fact plain by his action, that is, by worshipping our gods, shall obtain pardon on his repentance, however suspicious his past conduct may be. Papers, however, which are presented unsigned ought not to be admitted in any charge, for they are a very Bad example and unworthy of our time."
c. Why did the Romans hate the Christians?
(1) They were different—most pagans, no matter what their religious beliefs, had essentially the same pagan worldview and sinful lifestyle.
(a) Drunkenness
(b) Sexual immorality
(c) Pedophilia
(d) Homosexuality
(e) Violence of a cruelty
Augustine’s comment on the gladiatorial contests—
When they had got in and taken their places in such seats as were available, the whole place was boiling with the most savage passions. With his eyelids tightly closed, he forbade his [eyes] to [look at] such wicked things. Would that he had been able to stop his ears, too! For, when one man fell in the fight and an immense roar from the whole audience struck his ears with a violent shock, he was overcome by curiosity. Convinced that, whatever it was like, he could defy and overcome it, he opened his eyes and was wounded more seriously in his soul than the gladiator, whom he lusted to observe, had been wounded in his body. Thus he fell more wretchedly than that man whose fall had caused the uproar which had entered through his ears and laid bare his eyes so that the means was provided by which his daring mind could be wounded and knocked down . . . As he looked upon the blood, he drank in the savagery at the same time.
(ConfessionsVI.8)
(2) The Romans did not trust the Christians politically—the Empire was always worried about attacks from invaders, and they saw Christians as potential turncoats, sort of like the attitude Pharaoh had in Exodus
(3) The Romans did not trust the Christians economically
(a) Acts 19 and the idol business
(Acts 19:24-27) “…For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. {25} He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: "Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. {26} "Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. {27} "So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship."
(b) Also, many slaves were Christians, and there was always a fear that they would help slaves escape
(4) The Romans did not trust the Christians socially, because believers of all classes honored and associated with each other
(5) The Romans feared Christians in the Army, that they might be disloyal, since they would not worship the emperor, and since their moral habits were different from the other soldiers.
(6) If there was a natural disaster, superstitious pagans would often blame the Christians, because the Christians did not worship the pagan gods.
3. The Voice of the Vision—(Rev 1:10-11) "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.""
a. John was worshiping on the Lord’s Day—Heb 10:25—in spite of the fact that he was exiled to this barren rock to die (hopefully, as the Romans thought)
(1) The Loud voice—When Jesus speaks, all must listen
(2) The titles are repeated
(3) A very important phrase: “…"What you see, write in a book and send it…” John’s assignment was not interpretation, nor editing, he was to write ALL that he saw. He received the instructions to write 12 times in this letter.
b. The Address to the seven churches
(1) These were city churches
(2) They were on the same postal route
(3) They were the first ones to hear what the Spirit said to the churches.
4. The Appearance of the Lord Jesus—(Rev 1:12-16)
a. The Voice: "Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me…”
b. The Vision
(1) The Lampstands“…. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands…”
(a) What did the lampstands represent? (Rev 1:20) ""The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches."
(b) And the stars? “…He had in His right hand seven stars…” The “angels” of the churches…
(2) The One in the midst—obviously Jesus— 13… “ …and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man…”
(3) Dressed in an outfit that resembled the Old Testament high priest’s garb—“…clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band….”
(4) Not a normal mere man, and not in appearance like the Christ Who ascended I Acts 1:9-11 “… 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; …”
(5) Everything about Him speaks of power and glory
(a) He stands where He wants, and his footstep is heavy! “ … 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace…”
(b) When He Speaks, all must listen—“… and His voice as the sound of many waters…”
(c) His Word Rules, and His Word can destroy—“…out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword…”—(Psa 138:2) "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: “…Ps 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name…”
(d) His brilliance, now manifested, is too bright to view—“… and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength."
(i) (Mat 17:1-2) "Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light."
(ii) But even then, His Glory cannot be fully contained nor shown—(Hab 3:2-4) "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power."
1. The Person of Christ Re-Stated Again—(Rev 1:8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
a. The I AMs of the Gospel of John
(1) (John 6:35) "And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life…”
(2) (John 7:28-29) "… I am from Him, and He sent Me.""
(3) (John 8:12) "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world…”
(4) (John 8:23) "… I am from above.
(5) John 8:24 “…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.""
(6) (John 8:58) "… before Abraham was, I AM.""
(7) (John 10:7) "… I am the door of the sheep."
(8) (John 10:9) ""I am the door. …."
(9) (John 10:11) ""I am the good shepherd…”
(10) (John 11:25) "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life…”
(11) (John 14:6) "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
(12) (John 15:1) ""I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser."
(13) (John 15:5) ""I am the vine, you are the branches…."
(14) (John 18:5-6) "They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground."
b. The titles of Christ in just the first 7 verses:
(1) The first four titles refer to Who He Is—
(a) “…Jesus Christ…” As the Angel told Joseph in Matthew—I (Mat 1:20-21) "”…you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.""
(b) “…the faithful witness…”
(c) “…the firstborn from the dead…”
(d) “…the ruler over the kings of the earth…”.
(2) What He Has Done for us
(a) “…Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
(b) “…[Who]{6} has made us kings and priests to His God and Father…”
(3) The Worship to which He is entitled
(a) “…Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. …” (Psa 96:8) "Give to the LORD the glory due His name…”
c. The other “I Am” verses of Revelation
(1) (Rev 1:11) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,"
(2) (Rev 1:17-18) I am the First and the Last.
(3) {18} "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
(4) (Rev 21:6) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
(5) (Rev 22:7) "Behold, I am coming quickly!
(6) (Rev 22:12-13) "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me
(7) {13} "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
(8) (Rev 22:16) "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
d. More titles …” come in this passage:
(1) He is the first “Word” and the last “Word”—“…Alpha and the Omega…”
(a) He was the first word—“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was With God, and the Word Was God…”
(b) He will be the last Word—(Rev 22:20-21) "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
(2) He is Eternal God—“…the Beginning and the End…” — (Rom 9:5) "of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen."
(3) (1 Tim 6:15-16) "… He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. …”
(4) He Has the Dominion, He is the King— “…the Lord…”
(5) “…who is and who was and who is to come…”
(a) He Came as the Suffering Servant
(b) He is now the Exalted Intercessor
(c) He is returning as reigning King
(6) “… the Almighty." This is a title addressed to God several times in Revelation, as His might is stressed as the power behind this great unveiling.
(Rev 4:8) "The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!""
(Rev 11:17) "saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned."
(Rev 15:3) "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!"
(Rev 16:7) "And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.""
(Rev 16:14) "For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."
(Rev 19:15) "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
(Rev 21:22) "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."
2. The Setting of the Vision—(Rev 1:9) "I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
a. John, the last apostle, a witness to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, addresses the churches as brother and companion—he is saying, “we are all in this together—“… John, both your brother and companion…”
(1) He was their companion in Tribulation
(2) He was their companion in the Kingdom—All saved people are in the Kingdom of God—Col 1:13
(3) He was their companion in “the patience of Jesus Christ…” This speaks of the perseverance of those who are truly born again.
b. A time of Tribulation—a time of persecution—“…John was…on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
(1) Before we even look at the persecutions, note this—the base cause of persecution is the reaction of the lost when the truth is preached, proclaimed, and lived.
(2) The Enemy has no particular drive to persecute silent Christians, nor to disturb those who compromise with the world—John was under persecution because he would not shut up!
(3) This was the Persecution of Domitian, the first empire-wide persecution
(4) Early on, the Romans saw the Christians as a subset of the Jews, who were a religio licta (legal religion—and only the Jews were exempt from the requirement to worship Caesar—though they did pray and sacrifice FOR the emperor.)
(5) During reign of Nero, Christianity was declared a religio illicta (an illegal religion), but the Neronian persecution was limited to Rome.
(6) The heart and soul of John’s “offense” was his obedience to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ—another name for the Bible
(7) How to deal with the Christians is the subject of a famous exchange of letters between the Emperor Trajan and the Governor of Bythinia, Pliny
Pliny's written With Trajan (reigned 98-117) About The Christians
How the Romans viewed the Christians:
This correspondence between the Emperor Trajan and Pliny, governor of Bithynia shows how Christianity had spread, and how it was treated. in the second century AD.
PLINY'S LETTER TO TRAJAN: "It is my custom, lord emperor, to refer to you all questions whereof I am in doubt. Who can better guide me when I am at a stand, or enlighten me if I am in ignorance? In investigations of Christians I have never taken part, hence I do not know what is the crime usually punished or investigated, or what allowances are made. So I have had no little uncertainty whether there is any distinction of age, or whether the very weakest offenders are treated exactly like the stronger, whether pardon is given to those who repent, or whether a man who has once been a Christian gains nothing by having ceased to be such; whether punishment attaches to the mere name apart from secret crimes, or to the secret crimes connected with the name. Meantime this is the course I have taken with those who were accused before me as Christians. I asked them whether they were Christians, and if they confessed, I asked them a second and third time with threats of punishment. If they kept to it, I ordered them for execution; for I held no question that whatever It was that they admitted, in any case obstinacy and unbending Perversity deserve to be punished. There were others of the like insanity; but as these were Roman citizens, I noted them down to be sent to Rome. Before long, as is often the case, the mere fact that the charge was taken notice of made it commoner and several distinct cases arose. An unsigned paper was presented, which gave the names of many. As for those who said that they neither were nor ever had been Christians, I thought it right to let them go, since they recited a prayer to the gods at my dictation, made supplication with incense and wine to your statue, which I had ordered to be brought into court for the purpose together with images of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ- things which (so it is said) those who are really Christians cannot be made to do. Others who were named by the informer said that they were Christians and then denied it, explaining that they had been, but had ceased to be such, some three years ago, some a good many years, and a few even twenty. All these too worshipped your statue and the images of the gods, and cursed Christ. They maintained, however that the amount of their fault or error had been this, that it was their habit on a fixed day to assemble before daylight and recite by turns a form of words to Christ as a god; and that they bound themselves with an oath, not for any crime, but not to commit theft or robbery or adultery, not to break their word, and not to deny a deposit when demanded."
TRAJAN'S REPLY TO PLINY: "You have adopted the proper course, my dear Secundus, in your examination of the cases of those who were accused to you as Christians, for indeed nothing can be laid down as a general ruling involving something like a set form of procedure. They are not to be sought out; but if they are accused and convicted, they must be punished - yet on this condition, that whose denies himself to be a Christian, and makes the fact plain by his action, that is, by worshipping our gods, shall obtain pardon on his repentance, however suspicious his past conduct may be. Papers, however, which are presented unsigned ought not to be admitted in any charge, for they are a very Bad example and unworthy of our time."
c. Why did the Romans hate the Christians?
(1) They were different—most pagans, no matter what their religious beliefs, had essentially the same pagan worldview and sinful lifestyle.
(a) Drunkenness
(b) Sexual immorality
(c) Pedophilia
(d) Homosexuality
(e) Violence of a cruelty
Augustine’s comment on the gladiatorial contests—
When they had got in and taken their places in such seats as were available, the whole place was boiling with the most savage passions. With his eyelids tightly closed, he forbade his [eyes] to [look at] such wicked things. Would that he had been able to stop his ears, too! For, when one man fell in the fight and an immense roar from the whole audience struck his ears with a violent shock, he was overcome by curiosity. Convinced that, whatever it was like, he could defy and overcome it, he opened his eyes and was wounded more seriously in his soul than the gladiator, whom he lusted to observe, had been wounded in his body. Thus he fell more wretchedly than that man whose fall had caused the uproar which had entered through his ears and laid bare his eyes so that the means was provided by which his daring mind could be wounded and knocked down . . . As he looked upon the blood, he drank in the savagery at the same time.
(ConfessionsVI.8)
(2) The Romans did not trust the Christians politically—the Empire was always worried about attacks from invaders, and they saw Christians as potential turncoats, sort of like the attitude Pharaoh had in Exodus
(3) The Romans did not trust the Christians economically
(a) Acts 19 and the idol business
(Acts 19:24-27) “…For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. {25} He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: "Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. {26} "Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. {27} "So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship."
(b) Also, many slaves were Christians, and there was always a fear that they would help slaves escape
(4) The Romans did not trust the Christians socially, because believers of all classes honored and associated with each other
(5) The Romans feared Christians in the Army, that they might be disloyal, since they would not worship the emperor, and since their moral habits were different from the other soldiers.
(6) If there was a natural disaster, superstitious pagans would often blame the Christians, because the Christians did not worship the pagan gods.
3. The Voice of the Vision—(Rev 1:10-11) "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.""
a. John was worshiping on the Lord’s Day—Heb 10:25—in spite of the fact that he was exiled to this barren rock to die (hopefully, as the Romans thought)
(1) The Loud voice—When Jesus speaks, all must listen
(2) The titles are repeated
(3) A very important phrase: “…"What you see, write in a book and send it…” John’s assignment was not interpretation, nor editing, he was to write ALL that he saw. He received the instructions to write 12 times in this letter.
b. The Address to the seven churches
(1) These were city churches
(2) They were on the same postal route
(3) They were the first ones to hear what the Spirit said to the churches.
4. The Appearance of the Lord Jesus—(Rev 1:12-16)
a. The Voice: "Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me…”
b. The Vision
(1) The Lampstands“…. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands…”
(a) What did the lampstands represent? (Rev 1:20) ""The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches."
(b) And the stars? “…He had in His right hand seven stars…” The “angels” of the churches…
(2) The One in the midst—obviously Jesus— 13… “ …and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man…”
(3) Dressed in an outfit that resembled the Old Testament high priest’s garb—“…clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band….”
(4) Not a normal mere man, and not in appearance like the Christ Who ascended I Acts 1:9-11 “… 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; …”
(5) Everything about Him speaks of power and glory
(a) He stands where He wants, and his footstep is heavy! “ … 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace…”
(b) When He Speaks, all must listen—“… and His voice as the sound of many waters…”
(c) His Word Rules, and His Word can destroy—“…out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword…”—(Psa 138:2) "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: “…Ps 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name…”
(d) His brilliance, now manifested, is too bright to view—“… and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength."
(i) (Mat 17:1-2) "Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light."
(ii) But even then, His Glory cannot be fully contained nor shown—(Hab 3:2-4) "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power."
A Preview of the Glorious Appearing
(Rev 1:7) "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen”
Israel Text of the Week—Dt 30:1-10
1. Preliminary Question: What is Glory? Or, “Glorify,” “Glorified,” etc
a. When the words are talking about the Triune God, Glory is something majestic in God’s eyes, something personal that He holds in great esteem!
(1) (Isa 42:8) "I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images."
(2) (Psa 96:8) "Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts."
b. It is something that is revealed, sometimes visually—
(1) (Mat 4:8) "Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory."
(2) (Mat 6:29) ""and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
(3) (Mat 19:28) "So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
(4) (Mat 24:30) ""Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
(5) (Mat 25:31) ""When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory."
(6) (Luke 2:9) "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid."
c. Glory also contains Moral Light
(1) (Luke 2:32) "A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.""
(2) (John 1:14) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
(3) (John 2:11) "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."
d. Glory can be works of power that reveal God as He is—(John 11:4) "When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.""
e. Glory is the eternal possession of God—
(1) (John 17:5) ""And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."
(2) (John 17:22) ""And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:"
(3) (John 17:24) ""Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
f. We cannot self-generate this glory—(Rom 3:23) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
g. When we witness of Who He Is, we glorify Him—(Rom 4:20) "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,"
h. Glory is something we look forward to as a result of our salvation—(Rom 5:2-3) "through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;"
i. Glory comes to God because of the greatness of His person—(Rom 11:36) "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."
j. Glory is the righteous possession of the Father—
(1) (Rom 16:27) "to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."
(2) (1 Cor 1:29) "that no flesh should glory in His presence."
(3) (1 Cor 1:31) "that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.""
k. And He Is King Eternal— (Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. …”
l. But Always, He Is Worthy of All Glory—(Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. …”
2. The Glorious Appearing—He is Coming Again—(Rev 1:7-8) "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen…”
a. Why must Jesus Come Again? (MacArthur)
(1) The Promises made to Israel by the Father—(Psa 2:6-9) ""Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." 7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'""
(2) The Promises made to Israel by the Son—(John 14:2-3) ""In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
(3) The Holy Spirit inspired all of the Bible, so His reputation is on the line if Jesus does not return.
(4) God’s Program for the church requires the first sequence of the second coming—(1 Th 1:10) "… wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
(5) God’s program for the lost nations requires the second coming
(6) God’s program for Israel requires Christ’s Return—Jer 33:25-26
(7) Christ’s humiliation requires that He return—Ph 2:5-11
(8) The judgment against Satan requires Christ’s return—
(9) The Expectation of believers requires His Return—Titus 2:13
b. John’s Overview of the Glorious Appearing
(1) "…Behold…”
(2) “… He is coming…”
(3) “… with clouds…”
(4) “… and every eye will see Him…”
(5) “… even they who pierced Him...”.
(6) “…And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him…”
(7) “… Even so, Amen…”
c. Basic Facts
(1) Christ Will Have a Glorious Appearing
(2) The Rapture is not the glorious appearing
(3) The Glorious Appearing of Christ is a cornerstone of Biblical doctrine.
(4) Our Lord promised it—Mat 24:30 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man Glorious Appearing in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
(5) The entire book of Revelation celebrates it.
(6) It is not possible to be considered orthodox and evangelical unless you believe Jesus is returning—Christ’s Glorious Appearing will be visible, personal and bodily, and in power.
3. The Overview of the Glorious Appearing
a. "…Behold…” The Holy Spirit, through John, wants us to take great notice!
(1) (Dan 7:13) ""I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him."
(2) Those who witness the Glorious Appearing will find it as a wonder or a horror, depending entirely on their personal circumstance.
b. “… He is coming…” Christ is returning, period. In the New Testament, the Glorious Appearing of Christ is just practically taken for granted—below are just a few examples of the verses that establish this fact.
1 Cor 11:26 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."
1 Tim 6:14-15 "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;"
Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
2 Th 2:1-3 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
c. “… with clouds…”
(1) Clouds are often a part of the revelation of God’s Glory—
(a) Clouds shrouded Mt. Sinai in Exodus
(b) A Cloud led them by day through the wilderness
(c) A cloud filled the Tabernacle so that they could not even enter.
(d) God descended in a cloud to witness about His Son on the Mount of Transfiguration.
(Mat 17:5) "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!""
(2) In the Ascension, a cloud received Him out of their sight—Acts 1:9-11
(3) In the Rapture, we meet Him in the clouds—(1 Th 4:17) "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
(4) In the Glorious Appearing, He appears “with clouds,” almost certainly referring to the supernatural clouds that accompany great manifestations of God’s Glory, such as the clouds filling the temple or the tabernacle at their dedications
(Mat 24:30) ""Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
(Mat 26:64) "Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.""
(Mark 13:26) ""Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory."
(Mark 14:62) "Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.""
(1 Th 4:17) "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
(Exo 13:22) "He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people."
d. “… and every eye will see Him…”—again, this is not the Rapture—see comparison list
(1) As Christ slowly and majestically descends to Earth, every living eye will see him
(2) That is why the tribes are afraid of His wrath.
e. “… even they who pierced Him...”.
(1) Israel pierced Him…(Zec 12:10) "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
(2) The Romans Pierced Him—
(a) (John 19:34) But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
(b) (John 19:37) And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."
(3) Roman and Jew alike cooperated in opposing Christ—(Acts 4:27) ""For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together"
(4) The Wicked pierced Him—(that’s US, all of US) Psa 22:16) For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
f. The Horror of the unbeliever— “…And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him…”
(Mat 24:30) "… all the tribes of the earth will mourn…”
(Rev 6:15-17) And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, {16} and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
g. “… Even so, Amen…” The voice of surrender and the affirmation of Truth. Christ IS returning again.
Israel Text of the Week—Dt 30:1-10
1. Preliminary Question: What is Glory? Or, “Glorify,” “Glorified,” etc
a. When the words are talking about the Triune God, Glory is something majestic in God’s eyes, something personal that He holds in great esteem!
(1) (Isa 42:8) "I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images."
(2) (Psa 96:8) "Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts."
b. It is something that is revealed, sometimes visually—
(1) (Mat 4:8) "Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory."
(2) (Mat 6:29) ""and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
(3) (Mat 19:28) "So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
(4) (Mat 24:30) ""Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
(5) (Mat 25:31) ""When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory."
(6) (Luke 2:9) "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid."
c. Glory also contains Moral Light
(1) (Luke 2:32) "A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.""
(2) (John 1:14) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
(3) (John 2:11) "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."
d. Glory can be works of power that reveal God as He is—(John 11:4) "When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.""
e. Glory is the eternal possession of God—
(1) (John 17:5) ""And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."
(2) (John 17:22) ""And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:"
(3) (John 17:24) ""Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
f. We cannot self-generate this glory—(Rom 3:23) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
g. When we witness of Who He Is, we glorify Him—(Rom 4:20) "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,"
h. Glory is something we look forward to as a result of our salvation—(Rom 5:2-3) "through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;"
i. Glory comes to God because of the greatness of His person—(Rom 11:36) "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."
j. Glory is the righteous possession of the Father—
(1) (Rom 16:27) "to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."
(2) (1 Cor 1:29) "that no flesh should glory in His presence."
(3) (1 Cor 1:31) "that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.""
k. And He Is King Eternal— (Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. …”
l. But Always, He Is Worthy of All Glory—(Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. …”
2. The Glorious Appearing—He is Coming Again—(Rev 1:7-8) "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen…”
a. Why must Jesus Come Again? (MacArthur)
(1) The Promises made to Israel by the Father—(Psa 2:6-9) ""Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." 7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'""
(2) The Promises made to Israel by the Son—(John 14:2-3) ""In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
(3) The Holy Spirit inspired all of the Bible, so His reputation is on the line if Jesus does not return.
(4) God’s Program for the church requires the first sequence of the second coming—(1 Th 1:10) "… wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
(5) God’s program for the lost nations requires the second coming
(6) God’s program for Israel requires Christ’s Return—Jer 33:25-26
(7) Christ’s humiliation requires that He return—Ph 2:5-11
(8) The judgment against Satan requires Christ’s return—
(9) The Expectation of believers requires His Return—Titus 2:13
b. John’s Overview of the Glorious Appearing
(1) "…Behold…”
(2) “… He is coming…”
(3) “… with clouds…”
(4) “… and every eye will see Him…”
(5) “… even they who pierced Him...”.
(6) “…And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him…”
(7) “… Even so, Amen…”
c. Basic Facts
(1) Christ Will Have a Glorious Appearing
(2) The Rapture is not the glorious appearing
(3) The Glorious Appearing of Christ is a cornerstone of Biblical doctrine.
(4) Our Lord promised it—Mat 24:30 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man Glorious Appearing in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
(5) The entire book of Revelation celebrates it.
(6) It is not possible to be considered orthodox and evangelical unless you believe Jesus is returning—Christ’s Glorious Appearing will be visible, personal and bodily, and in power.
3. The Overview of the Glorious Appearing
a. "…Behold…” The Holy Spirit, through John, wants us to take great notice!
(1) (Dan 7:13) ""I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him."
(2) Those who witness the Glorious Appearing will find it as a wonder or a horror, depending entirely on their personal circumstance.
b. “… He is coming…” Christ is returning, period. In the New Testament, the Glorious Appearing of Christ is just practically taken for granted—below are just a few examples of the verses that establish this fact.
1 Cor 11:26 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."
1 Tim 6:14-15 "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;"
Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
2 Th 2:1-3 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
c. “… with clouds…”
(1) Clouds are often a part of the revelation of God’s Glory—
(a) Clouds shrouded Mt. Sinai in Exodus
(b) A Cloud led them by day through the wilderness
(c) A cloud filled the Tabernacle so that they could not even enter.
(d) God descended in a cloud to witness about His Son on the Mount of Transfiguration.
(Mat 17:5) "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!""
(2) In the Ascension, a cloud received Him out of their sight—Acts 1:9-11
(3) In the Rapture, we meet Him in the clouds—(1 Th 4:17) "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
(4) In the Glorious Appearing, He appears “with clouds,” almost certainly referring to the supernatural clouds that accompany great manifestations of God’s Glory, such as the clouds filling the temple or the tabernacle at their dedications
(Mat 24:30) ""Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
(Mat 26:64) "Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.""
(Mark 13:26) ""Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory."
(Mark 14:62) "Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.""
(1 Th 4:17) "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
(Exo 13:22) "He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people."
d. “… and every eye will see Him…”—again, this is not the Rapture—see comparison list
(1) As Christ slowly and majestically descends to Earth, every living eye will see him
(2) That is why the tribes are afraid of His wrath.
e. “… even they who pierced Him...”.
(1) Israel pierced Him…(Zec 12:10) "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
(2) The Romans Pierced Him—
(a) (John 19:34) But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
(b) (John 19:37) And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."
(3) Roman and Jew alike cooperated in opposing Christ—(Acts 4:27) ""For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together"
(4) The Wicked pierced Him—(that’s US, all of US) Psa 22:16) For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
f. The Horror of the unbeliever— “…And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him…”
(Mat 24:30) "… all the tribes of the earth will mourn…”
(Rev 6:15-17) And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, {16} and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
g. “… Even so, Amen…” The voice of surrender and the affirmation of Truth. Christ IS returning again.
Revelation Lesson 5
What Jesus Has Done For Us,
What He is Fixin’ To Do For Us
(Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. …”
*Israel Text of the week (we left out last week’s so we have two)
Genesis 17:1-20, the final seal and sign of the Abrahamic Covenant.
• Circumcision
• Sarah will bear a child, who shall be called Issac
• Issac will be born and will inherit
• Ishmael shall not be the Seed bearer, nor shall he participate in the Covenant
1. He Loved Us First— (Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us…”
a. This is the Lover of my soul—and what a name for Him—“Him Who loved us.”
b. We must always keep this in the front of our minds—It is not about us!
(1) First, it is not for our benefit—we do benefit, and marvelously so, but it is not about us—it is about His Glory, His Name
(2) Is not that we loved Him, it is NEVER about our love for Him, which is fickle, imperfect, incomplete and shot through with our own motives and agendas—it is always and only about His love for Us.
(3) (1 John 4:9-10) "… 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us… and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
(4) He loved us and what? What is this thing called propitiation?
(5) Using our Built in Bible Dictionary—
(a) (Rom 3:24-26) "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
(i) Propitiation deals with God, not men, God set Christ up as a propitiation to justify Himself for forgiving sin
(b) (Heb 2:17) "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."
(i) Again, it is between God and Christ
(ii) It is about the faith of our better high priest
(iii) Again, the action is Gods, as the Son of God mediates and also becomes the propitiation
(c) We find that this propitiation is available for all (1 John 2:2) "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
(d) This thing comes from God’ own love toward us. 1 John 4:10) "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
(e) Finally we have the largest clue yet, as an Old testament concept is given this name of propitiation—hilisterion = propitiation=mercy seat (Heb 9:3-5) "and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail."
(f) The mercy seat is where the Hebrew worshipper’s sins were rolled over every year, and where God’s wrath against sin was covered by the blood that covered that seat of mercy
(g) The only element of this definition then not yet fulfilled is the mention of wrath, which takes place in Rom 1:18, 5:8-9
(h) Propitiation is the sacrifice and satisfaction set forth by God the Father and carried out by the voluntary submission of Christ that covered the sins of all who would believe and receive His salvation—“in His blood through faith.”
(i) How much did He love us? Enough to have His OWN SON carry not only our sins, but also the Father’s Wrath against our sin and our sins—for us.
c. “…loved us…” this is present tense—Christ keeps on loving us, it is a permanent and continually new and renewed act of God
d. Characteristics of His Love
(1) The origin of His love, in the eternity of God— (John 17:20-26) ""I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.""
(2) The indestructible nature of His love—(Rom 8:35-39) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." {37} Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. {38} For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, {39} nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(3) The longevity of His love—(Heb 13:5-6) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?""
(4) The undeservedness of those who receive His love—(Rom 5:8) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(5) The self-initiated nature of His love—(1 John 4:19) "We love Him because He first loved us."
(6) The missional intent of His love—(John 3:16) ""For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
(7) His Love works toward our holiness in life—(Rom 1:7) "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(8) His love brings a consoling confidence— (2 Th 2:16) "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,"
(9) It is a quickening love—(Eph 2:4-5) "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),"’
(10) It is a saving love— (Titus 3:4-5) "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,"
(11) It is a chastening love—(Heb 12:6) "For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.""
(12) It is an adopting love—(1 John 3:1) "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
(13) It is an abiding love—(1 John 4:15-16) "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."
2. He Washed Us From Our sins in His Own Blood—(Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
a. First, note—He loves, He washed, His Blood—Christ is the Author and finisher of our Faith—It is not because of the actions of anyone else but the Triune God
(1) Loved us—present tense, continual
(2) Washed = loosed us = aorist
(3) Light from the Greek—
(a) “…Note the change of tense. Christ loosed us once for all, but loves us always…” ATR
(b) By his blood . As in 5:9. John here as in the Gospel and Epistles states plainly and repeatedly the place of the blood of Christ in the work of redemption.
b. Blood redemption is a doctrine despised by liberal theologians, but it is the Blood of the Lamb that washes our sins away.
(1) It is not the waters of baptism that wash us
(2) It is not our works that cleanse us—but His work
c. The Importance of The Blood of Christ
(1) Blood Sacrifice in general
(a) When an OT sacrifice was made, all of the blood was drained from the body of the sacrifice
(b) This is why Kosher, or Jewish approved meat must be slaughtered in a certain way.
(c) Then as much of the blood as is possible must be drained from the meat before it is sold.
(2) Christ’s Sacrifice
(a) All of His blood was drained—just because the Roman soldier was doing what he was ordered to do—God’s sovereignty is so amazing! (John 19:34) "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out."
(b) Jesus’ announcement of the New Covenant stressed the blood—(Mat 26:28) ""For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
(c) The Blood purchased the church—(Acts 20:28) ""Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
(d) It is His blood sacrifice that makes our justification effective—(Rom 5:9) "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
(e) Through the Cross, peace with God is offered to all—(Col 1:20) "and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross."
(f) His Blood turns wrath aside—(Rom 3:24-25) "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…”
(g) His blood continually cleanses us—(1 John 1:7) "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
(i) It is not our submission to God
(ii) It is not because God sent Christ as a mere example—
(iii) It is because our Lord is the Sacrifice of all sacrifices, the Ram with his horns hung in the thicket—Gen 22!
(h) His blood was a vital part in the eternal plan of God to Redeem us—(1 Pet 1:18-20) "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you"
(3) When applying the Bible’s Own Dictionary, we find that the blood of Christ is more than just His physical blood, though the physical blood of Christ is a necessary part—the blood of Christ is the voluntary substitution of Christ’s blood sacrifice, poured out by Christ in accordance with the Plan and purpose of The Father, with the assistance of the Spirit
(4) Wonder of wonders, glory of glories, Christ Himself poured out His Own Blood for Our salvation.
3. Then He Made Us A Royal Priesthood— (Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father,…”
a. Israel had been offered the job, but turned it down—(Exo 19:6) "'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.""
b. See the parallel—
(1) (1 Pet 2:5) "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
(2) (1 Pet 2:9) "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"
(3) (Rev 5:10) "And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.""
c. Adopted into royalty
(1) Every believer is also a royal heir!
(2) We are joint heirs with Jesus
d. The Priesthood of the believers
(1) What is a priest?
(a) A priest is someone who has the privilege and right, under certain defined circumstances, to directly communicate with God
(b) In the OT, the priesthood was
Hereditary—Aaron and his sons,
Very defined in actions but also limited in effects
(Heb 9:6-7) "Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins…"
(c) In the New Testament, the veil has been torn in two, so the way is open—Heb 10:18-25
(d) Every believer, therefore, is a priest with direct access to God, 24/7—“there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…” 1 Tim 2:5
What He is Fixin’ To Do For Us
(Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. …”
*Israel Text of the week (we left out last week’s so we have two)
Genesis 17:1-20, the final seal and sign of the Abrahamic Covenant.
• Circumcision
• Sarah will bear a child, who shall be called Issac
• Issac will be born and will inherit
• Ishmael shall not be the Seed bearer, nor shall he participate in the Covenant
1. He Loved Us First— (Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us…”
a. This is the Lover of my soul—and what a name for Him—“Him Who loved us.”
b. We must always keep this in the front of our minds—It is not about us!
(1) First, it is not for our benefit—we do benefit, and marvelously so, but it is not about us—it is about His Glory, His Name
(2) Is not that we loved Him, it is NEVER about our love for Him, which is fickle, imperfect, incomplete and shot through with our own motives and agendas—it is always and only about His love for Us.
(3) (1 John 4:9-10) "… 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us… and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
(4) He loved us and what? What is this thing called propitiation?
(5) Using our Built in Bible Dictionary—
(a) (Rom 3:24-26) "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
(i) Propitiation deals with God, not men, God set Christ up as a propitiation to justify Himself for forgiving sin
(b) (Heb 2:17) "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."
(i) Again, it is between God and Christ
(ii) It is about the faith of our better high priest
(iii) Again, the action is Gods, as the Son of God mediates and also becomes the propitiation
(c) We find that this propitiation is available for all (1 John 2:2) "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
(d) This thing comes from God’ own love toward us. 1 John 4:10) "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
(e) Finally we have the largest clue yet, as an Old testament concept is given this name of propitiation—hilisterion = propitiation=mercy seat (Heb 9:3-5) "and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail."
(f) The mercy seat is where the Hebrew worshipper’s sins were rolled over every year, and where God’s wrath against sin was covered by the blood that covered that seat of mercy
(g) The only element of this definition then not yet fulfilled is the mention of wrath, which takes place in Rom 1:18, 5:8-9
(h) Propitiation is the sacrifice and satisfaction set forth by God the Father and carried out by the voluntary submission of Christ that covered the sins of all who would believe and receive His salvation—“in His blood through faith.”
(i) How much did He love us? Enough to have His OWN SON carry not only our sins, but also the Father’s Wrath against our sin and our sins—for us.
c. “…loved us…” this is present tense—Christ keeps on loving us, it is a permanent and continually new and renewed act of God
d. Characteristics of His Love
(1) The origin of His love, in the eternity of God— (John 17:20-26) ""I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.""
(2) The indestructible nature of His love—(Rom 8:35-39) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." {37} Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. {38} For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, {39} nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(3) The longevity of His love—(Heb 13:5-6) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?""
(4) The undeservedness of those who receive His love—(Rom 5:8) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(5) The self-initiated nature of His love—(1 John 4:19) "We love Him because He first loved us."
(6) The missional intent of His love—(John 3:16) ""For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
(7) His Love works toward our holiness in life—(Rom 1:7) "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(8) His love brings a consoling confidence— (2 Th 2:16) "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,"
(9) It is a quickening love—(Eph 2:4-5) "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),"’
(10) It is a saving love— (Titus 3:4-5) "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,"
(11) It is a chastening love—(Heb 12:6) "For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.""
(12) It is an adopting love—(1 John 3:1) "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
(13) It is an abiding love—(1 John 4:15-16) "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."
2. He Washed Us From Our sins in His Own Blood—(Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
a. First, note—He loves, He washed, His Blood—Christ is the Author and finisher of our Faith—It is not because of the actions of anyone else but the Triune God
(1) Loved us—present tense, continual
(2) Washed = loosed us = aorist
(3) Light from the Greek—
(a) “…Note the change of tense. Christ loosed us once for all, but loves us always…” ATR
(b) By his blood . As in 5:9. John here as in the Gospel and Epistles states plainly and repeatedly the place of the blood of Christ in the work of redemption.
b. Blood redemption is a doctrine despised by liberal theologians, but it is the Blood of the Lamb that washes our sins away.
(1) It is not the waters of baptism that wash us
(2) It is not our works that cleanse us—but His work
c. The Importance of The Blood of Christ
(1) Blood Sacrifice in general
(a) When an OT sacrifice was made, all of the blood was drained from the body of the sacrifice
(b) This is why Kosher, or Jewish approved meat must be slaughtered in a certain way.
(c) Then as much of the blood as is possible must be drained from the meat before it is sold.
(2) Christ’s Sacrifice
(a) All of His blood was drained—just because the Roman soldier was doing what he was ordered to do—God’s sovereignty is so amazing! (John 19:34) "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out."
(b) Jesus’ announcement of the New Covenant stressed the blood—(Mat 26:28) ""For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
(c) The Blood purchased the church—(Acts 20:28) ""Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
(d) It is His blood sacrifice that makes our justification effective—(Rom 5:9) "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
(e) Through the Cross, peace with God is offered to all—(Col 1:20) "and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross."
(f) His Blood turns wrath aside—(Rom 3:24-25) "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…”
(g) His blood continually cleanses us—(1 John 1:7) "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
(i) It is not our submission to God
(ii) It is not because God sent Christ as a mere example—
(iii) It is because our Lord is the Sacrifice of all sacrifices, the Ram with his horns hung in the thicket—Gen 22!
(h) His blood was a vital part in the eternal plan of God to Redeem us—(1 Pet 1:18-20) "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you"
(3) When applying the Bible’s Own Dictionary, we find that the blood of Christ is more than just His physical blood, though the physical blood of Christ is a necessary part—the blood of Christ is the voluntary substitution of Christ’s blood sacrifice, poured out by Christ in accordance with the Plan and purpose of The Father, with the assistance of the Spirit
(4) Wonder of wonders, glory of glories, Christ Himself poured out His Own Blood for Our salvation.
3. Then He Made Us A Royal Priesthood— (Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father,…”
a. Israel had been offered the job, but turned it down—(Exo 19:6) "'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.""
b. See the parallel—
(1) (1 Pet 2:5) "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
(2) (1 Pet 2:9) "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"
(3) (Rev 5:10) "And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.""
c. Adopted into royalty
(1) Every believer is also a royal heir!
(2) We are joint heirs with Jesus
d. The Priesthood of the believers
(1) What is a priest?
(a) A priest is someone who has the privilege and right, under certain defined circumstances, to directly communicate with God
(b) In the OT, the priesthood was
Hereditary—Aaron and his sons,
Very defined in actions but also limited in effects
(Heb 9:6-7) "Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins…"
(c) In the New Testament, the veil has been torn in two, so the way is open—Heb 10:18-25
(d) Every believer, therefore, is a priest with direct access to God, 24/7—“there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…” 1 Tim 2:5
Rev 4
The Apostle, The Churches, and the Trinity
Rev 1:4-6
1. The Apostle and the Churches—(Rev 1:4) "John, to the seven churches which are in Asia…”
a. First, and this is vital—this passage, indeed this book, is initially a message to seven actual local churches which were alive and functioning in John’s day
b. The “seven periods of church history” myth.
(1) No Biblical basis
(2) No standardized way of looking at this, assigning dates, etc.
(3) So what were these churches? They were churches, real, local, churches, all located on a common mail route.
c. General comments about the churches
(1) These were city churches: Ephesus itself probably had 250,000-400,000 citizens
(2) Of the seven churches, only 2 (28%) were fully functioning and getting the job done.
(a) Ephesus was loveless
(b) Pergamos and Thyatira were corrupt
(c) Sardis was dead
(d) Laodicea was sickening in its self-satisfied complacency
(e) And we will say much more about them as we get to each church.
2. The Trinitarian Greeting—“…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 from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
a. Apostolic greetings
(1) They are pretty standard
(2) Two large exceptions—Romans and Galatians
(a) Romans was a friendly extension—since Paul knew he was going to write doctrinal and theological paper, not a standard letter, he laid his basis for faith out in seven rich verses
(b) Galatians was a stinging rebuke of heresy in Galatia, and Paul threw down the gauntlet right off the bat.
b. The universal elements—“…Grace to you and Peace…”
(1) Grace—the basis for our salvation, and there is nothing we can do to earn the least little bit of credit for it.
(2) Peace—peace with God (Rom 5:1) and the peace of God, Phil 4:4-7
c. The Trinity is also mentioned in other introductions—
(1) (Rom 1:1-7) "… gospel of God 2 which … 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, … 4 declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead…”
(2) (1 Cor 1:1-3) "…3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(3) (2 Cor 1:2) "…2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(4) (Phil 1:1-2) "…2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(5) (Col 1:1-8) "… Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. … your love in the Spirit."
(6) (1 Th 1:1-3) "…Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. …6 "And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,"
(7) (2 Th 1:1-2) "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
d. The Trinity in Rev 1:4
(1) The Eternal Father—“… from Him who is and who was and who is to come…”
(2) The Spirit—“…from the seven Spirits who are before His throne…”
(3) The Son’s titles in this verse—“…Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth…”
(a) Faithful witness
(b) Firstborn from the dead
(c) Ruler over the Kings of the Earth
3. Jesus Is The Faithful Witness—(Rev 1:5) "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. …”
a. Faithful witness—see also 3:14—(Rev 3:14) ""And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:"
b. A faithful witness is one who universally gives reliable testimony, regardless of any other factor but Truth—
(1) (John 18:37) "Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.""
(2) (1 Tim 6:12-13) "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,"
4. Jesus Is the Firstborn from the dead—
a. He is here called “prototokos”, a term more fully explained in Colossians 1:15
(1) The cults use this to teach that Jesus Christ was a created being and not fully God
(2) Such groups as the Jehovah’s Witnesses use this verse for that purpose, saying that this verse shows that Jesus was the first being created by the Father. Does it mean that? Can it mean that?
b. What does this word “firstborn” mean?
(1) First, using our dictionary method
(Luke 2:7) "And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
(Rom 8:29) "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
(Col 1:15) "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
(Col 1:18) "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
(Heb 1:6) "But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him.""
(Heb 12:23) "to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,"
(Rev 1:5) "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,"
(2) Second, in comparing scripture with scripture, we find it does not mean that Jesus was created—it cannot mean that—
(a) Because of John 1:1-2, which plainly teaches that The Word, the Son of God, is co-eternal with the Father—(John 1:1-2) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God….”
(a) because of John 1:3, Heb 1:1-3, and the verses that follow this one, which plainly show that the Son has made, in the wonderful words of John 1:3, all that has been made—“… All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."
(i) Jesus is the uncreated creator, so “firstborn” cannot mean that he has been created.
(b) From John MacArthur—
(i) Although prototokos can mean firstborn chronologically (Luke 2:7), it refers primarily to position, or rank. In both Greek and Jewish culture, the firstborn was the son who had the right of inheritance. He was not necessarily the first one born. Although Esau was born first chronologically, it was Jacob who was the “firstborn” and received the inheritance. Jesus is the One with the right to the inheritance of all creation (Heb 1:2, Rev 5:1-7, 13).
(ii) Israel was called God’s firstborn in Exodus 4:22 and Jermiah 31:9. Though not the first people born, they held first place in God’s sight among all nations…
(c) Jesus was the firstborn among the brethren, even though His human birth was thousands of years after the father of the faithful, Abraham—Rom 8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
(d) He is the firstborn from the dead—Col 1:18 "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
(e) And, if God had wanted to call Jesus the “first created,” there is a perfectly good Greek word for that.
(3) “…over all creation…” (Col 1:15)
(a) Here is a key—Jesus’ status as the Firstborn is about His dominion over all the universe. Some translations say “of” all creation, but the Greek should be rendered “over” all creation.
(b) In Mat 8, He is Lord over the storm, disease, and demonic oppression
(4) In John 2, He is Lord over natural forces when He turns the water into wine.
(5) In John 6, He is Lord over all natural processes when He creates enough food to feed five thousand.
(6) In John 11, He is Lord over the grave
(7) In His own resurrection, He shows Himself to be the true master over the Grave
(8) In Phil 2:9-11, we see that one day, every knee will bow to Him.
(9) The very confession that must be made to be saved is to recognize Him as Lord of All (Rom 10:9).
(10) Rev 19:16 "And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
5. Jesus is Ruler over the Kings of the Earth
a. Satan is referred to as the King of Tyre, distinct from the Prince of Tyre, who is a mortal ruler—
(Ezek 28:1-2) "The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,' Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god"
(Ezek 28:12-13) ""Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created."
b. There is a political relationship to be dealt with here—Satan is also “the prince of this world,” and according to Mat 4, he has a measure of authority over the kingdoms of this world.
(Mat 4:8-10) "Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'""
(Eph 2:2) "in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,"
(John 12:31) ""Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out."
(John 14:30) ""I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me."
(John 16:11) ""of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."
c. The “authority” Satan had was derived from his rebellion and God’s permission—it was never legal, and since the Cross and the empty tomb, Satan’s authority has been destroyed, pending the final consummation of all things
(Col 2:15) "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."
(Rev 17:14) ""These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.""
“…6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen…”
Rev 1:4-6
1. The Apostle and the Churches—(Rev 1:4) "John, to the seven churches which are in Asia…”
a. First, and this is vital—this passage, indeed this book, is initially a message to seven actual local churches which were alive and functioning in John’s day
b. The “seven periods of church history” myth.
(1) No Biblical basis
(2) No standardized way of looking at this, assigning dates, etc.
(3) So what were these churches? They were churches, real, local, churches, all located on a common mail route.
c. General comments about the churches
(1) These were city churches: Ephesus itself probably had 250,000-400,000 citizens
(2) Of the seven churches, only 2 (28%) were fully functioning and getting the job done.
(a) Ephesus was loveless
(b) Pergamos and Thyatira were corrupt
(c) Sardis was dead
(d) Laodicea was sickening in its self-satisfied complacency
(e) And we will say much more about them as we get to each church.
2. The Trinitarian Greeting—“…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 from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
a. Apostolic greetings
(1) They are pretty standard
(2) Two large exceptions—Romans and Galatians
(a) Romans was a friendly extension—since Paul knew he was going to write doctrinal and theological paper, not a standard letter, he laid his basis for faith out in seven rich verses
(b) Galatians was a stinging rebuke of heresy in Galatia, and Paul threw down the gauntlet right off the bat.
b. The universal elements—“…Grace to you and Peace…”
(1) Grace—the basis for our salvation, and there is nothing we can do to earn the least little bit of credit for it.
(2) Peace—peace with God (Rom 5:1) and the peace of God, Phil 4:4-7
c. The Trinity is also mentioned in other introductions—
(1) (Rom 1:1-7) "… gospel of God 2 which … 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, … 4 declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead…”
(2) (1 Cor 1:1-3) "…3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(3) (2 Cor 1:2) "…2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(4) (Phil 1:1-2) "…2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(5) (Col 1:1-8) "… Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. … your love in the Spirit."
(6) (1 Th 1:1-3) "…Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. …6 "And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,"
(7) (2 Th 1:1-2) "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
d. The Trinity in Rev 1:4
(1) The Eternal Father—“… from Him who is and who was and who is to come…”
(2) The Spirit—“…from the seven Spirits who are before His throne…”
(3) The Son’s titles in this verse—“…Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth…”
(a) Faithful witness
(b) Firstborn from the dead
(c) Ruler over the Kings of the Earth
3. Jesus Is The Faithful Witness—(Rev 1:5) "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. …”
a. Faithful witness—see also 3:14—(Rev 3:14) ""And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:"
b. A faithful witness is one who universally gives reliable testimony, regardless of any other factor but Truth—
(1) (John 18:37) "Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.""
(2) (1 Tim 6:12-13) "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,"
4. Jesus Is the Firstborn from the dead—
a. He is here called “prototokos”, a term more fully explained in Colossians 1:15
(1) The cults use this to teach that Jesus Christ was a created being and not fully God
(2) Such groups as the Jehovah’s Witnesses use this verse for that purpose, saying that this verse shows that Jesus was the first being created by the Father. Does it mean that? Can it mean that?
b. What does this word “firstborn” mean?
(1) First, using our dictionary method
(Luke 2:7) "And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
(Rom 8:29) "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
(Col 1:15) "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
(Col 1:18) "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
(Heb 1:6) "But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him.""
(Heb 12:23) "to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,"
(Rev 1:5) "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,"
(2) Second, in comparing scripture with scripture, we find it does not mean that Jesus was created—it cannot mean that—
(a) Because of John 1:1-2, which plainly teaches that The Word, the Son of God, is co-eternal with the Father—(John 1:1-2) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God….”
(a) because of John 1:3, Heb 1:1-3, and the verses that follow this one, which plainly show that the Son has made, in the wonderful words of John 1:3, all that has been made—“… All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."
(i) Jesus is the uncreated creator, so “firstborn” cannot mean that he has been created.
(b) From John MacArthur—
(i) Although prototokos can mean firstborn chronologically (Luke 2:7), it refers primarily to position, or rank. In both Greek and Jewish culture, the firstborn was the son who had the right of inheritance. He was not necessarily the first one born. Although Esau was born first chronologically, it was Jacob who was the “firstborn” and received the inheritance. Jesus is the One with the right to the inheritance of all creation (Heb 1:2, Rev 5:1-7, 13).
(ii) Israel was called God’s firstborn in Exodus 4:22 and Jermiah 31:9. Though not the first people born, they held first place in God’s sight among all nations…
(c) Jesus was the firstborn among the brethren, even though His human birth was thousands of years after the father of the faithful, Abraham—Rom 8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
(d) He is the firstborn from the dead—Col 1:18 "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
(e) And, if God had wanted to call Jesus the “first created,” there is a perfectly good Greek word for that.
(3) “…over all creation…” (Col 1:15)
(a) Here is a key—Jesus’ status as the Firstborn is about His dominion over all the universe. Some translations say “of” all creation, but the Greek should be rendered “over” all creation.
(b) In Mat 8, He is Lord over the storm, disease, and demonic oppression
(4) In John 2, He is Lord over natural forces when He turns the water into wine.
(5) In John 6, He is Lord over all natural processes when He creates enough food to feed five thousand.
(6) In John 11, He is Lord over the grave
(7) In His own resurrection, He shows Himself to be the true master over the Grave
(8) In Phil 2:9-11, we see that one day, every knee will bow to Him.
(9) The very confession that must be made to be saved is to recognize Him as Lord of All (Rom 10:9).
(10) Rev 19:16 "And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
5. Jesus is Ruler over the Kings of the Earth
a. Satan is referred to as the King of Tyre, distinct from the Prince of Tyre, who is a mortal ruler—
(Ezek 28:1-2) "The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,' Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god"
(Ezek 28:12-13) ""Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created."
b. There is a political relationship to be dealt with here—Satan is also “the prince of this world,” and according to Mat 4, he has a measure of authority over the kingdoms of this world.
(Mat 4:8-10) "Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'""
(Eph 2:2) "in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,"
(John 12:31) ""Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out."
(John 14:30) ""I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me."
(John 16:11) ""of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."
c. The “authority” Satan had was derived from his rebellion and God’s permission—it was never legal, and since the Cross and the empty tomb, Satan’s authority has been destroyed, pending the final consummation of all things
(Col 2:15) "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."
(Rev 17:14) ""These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.""
“…6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen…”
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