R sbc
November 25, 2007
Sunday Morning
Series: Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Sermon # 137
Subject:” The Revelation of Jesus Christ”
Text: Revelation 1-1
Intro: It is not my intention preaching through this book to establish my particular view of this book. It is my intention to show that Christ is the sum and the substance of this book as he is all other books that we have preached through.
When Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit spoke to the COLOSSIAN Church he said these words: Col 1- 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 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 might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
This is not the Revelation of John, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ. That is by virtue of who he is and the full meaning of the word; it means, to unveil, to uncover, to bear open so as to see clearly.
If we take the statement in this verse “must shortly come to pass, then we must believe that it is written before the destruction of Jerusalem. But if we take the statement must shortly come to pass to mean that the things unveiled in this book must shortly begin to unfold then we take it to mean that it was written after the destruction of Jerusalem.
The Father gave it to the son, the son gave it John, and John gave it to the churches that is the revelation of Jesus Christ. We look at this first chapter and we see clearly who the dominant one is in this chapter.
I... “ THE CLEAR RECORD”..VS 2-4
I do not doubt in my heart one bit, that what John saw and wrote in his life was an accurate record of what he saw what he heard, and what he believed to be the truth. Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
1Jo 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
You and I can count on what we read in this book as the accurate word of the Living Lord Jesus christ. This is prelude to his activity through the history of the church and the ongoing activity of his church and his defending and ultimately will defeat the church of the world, the governments of the world, the preachers of the world, and the KINGDOM OF THE BEAST.
II.. CONCRETE RECORD..VS 5-6
(1.) The work of Christ: The faithful witness
John 8-14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
Everything that Jesus did, he did it faithful. He said he would rise from the dead on the third day and he did. He preached, he prayed, he performed, and he did that faithfully till his day he was received back into heaven.
(2.) The wonder of his work: vs 5-6
Three things are said that he has done for his people and believe me my beloved, they are a wonderment. What are they?
A. He loved us:
Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
It is a wonderment in that nothing can separate us from it: Ro 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
It is a wonderment in that it constrains us: 2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: This word constrain means to hold together so as to keep one from falling to pieces....
It is a wonderment in that it passes understanding: Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
B. He washed us:
Believe me we needed washing, we need washing. Christ did and does this for us.
He does it through his precious blood. His word washes us likewise, it is a sanctifying agent of the Lord. Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
c. He made us kings and priest: vs 6
In the old testament you could not be King and a Priest but in the new covenant we can. A prophesy that Peter refers to concerning our royalty and being a priest, is found in: Ex 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Where is this fulfilled? 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
As Kings we reign over our hearts, that is we take control of our lives, the world, the flesh and the devil. Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
As James says here we do this by submitting to the LORD his work and his will for our life.
As priest we offer spiritual sacrifices to the LORD: Peter once again says: 1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
III... A CONQUERING RECORD: VS 7-8
Last Sunday we saw that he is coming and his coming would be final. He is coming to judge. But notice as this first seven verses ends with his coming so do many of the verses in this book. Verse 8 gives us a powerful statement... never forget it, never doubt it, never explain it away...
(1.) The ultimate claim of Christ: vs 8 “ I am Alpha and Omega”
All of you know that this is first and the last letters of the greek alphabet. This speaks of himself. Barnes says: “ It means that he is the beginning and the end of all things; that he was at the commencement, and will be at the close; and it is thus equivalent to saying that he has always existed, and that he will always exist.”
Isa 41:4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
(2.) The Unanimous claim: vs 8 “He is, and he was, and he is to come the Almighty”
When the LORD spoke to Abram: Gen 17-1 “ I am the almighty”
When ruth spoke of the Lord: Ruth 1-21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? Job spoke of him Job 37:23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
David said: Ps 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Re 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
What can we take from this sermon?
1. Look for Christ in all these lessons that are before us because he will be found:
2. Don’t worry about the future he controls it.
3. Praise him for the LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH ...
Re 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
4. Read this whole book not in a way to try to understand everything you read, but to get a blessing finding Christ in it.