Number 4 In A Series of Studies on Revelation -

Do You Know This Jesus? - Revelation 1:7-20

Let us not forget as we are studying through the final book of the Bible that Revelation 1:1 says this is "The revelation of Jesus Christ."

After a brief, but through introduction in verses 1-6, the Book of Revelation gets its theme. John could not wait until the last chapter to tell us how this will all end.

1. The Christ, v. 7-8

His Coming Again, v. 7a. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him..."

Christ is coming again... Majestically..."With clouds." A sign of glory and power.

- Israel was led by a cloud.

- Tabernacle confirmed by a cloud.

- In the Transfiguration a voice spoke from the cloud.

- Jesus ascended from Mt. Olivet on a cloud, Acts 1:11.

· Visibly..."And every eye shall see Him." Jesus in Matthew 26:64 told Caiaphas that he would see him. Caiaphas is dead but when Jesus comes Caiaphas is going to see him.

His Crucifixion, v. 7 b. "And they also which pierced him..."

Revelation 1:5 "blood."

Revelation 5:6 "Lamb...had been slain."

"Lamb" - 27 times

Revelation 7:14 "Blood of the lamb."

His Conquering, v. 7c. "And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."

Christ's return will bring believers joy and happiness. But Christ's return will bring unbelievers fear and sadness.

Those who have rejected Jesus Christ will be...judged...condemned...sentenced...confined...punished for eternity.

His Completeness, v. 8. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

· "I am Alpha and Omega..." The first and last letters of the Greekalphabet. The alphabet is an ingenious method by which we capture all the knowledge and wisdom of a civilization and keep it for posterity. Jesus says He is the a to z.

- He is the full source of knowledge.

- He is the final source of knowledge. This refers to the omniscience of Christ - He knows it all.

· "The beginning and the ending..." This refers to His omnipresence. It is spoken of here in terms of time. At the beginning, He was there. At the ending, He will be there.

· "Which is, and which was, and which is to come..." This speaks of the eternality of God.

· "The Almighty." This speaks of His omnipotence. All mighty! Absolute power.

2. The Correspondent , v. 9-10.

John's title, "Brother and companion..." As believers, as have a common family and a common fellowship.

John's trouble, "In tribulation...was in the isle that is called Patmos..." This was not the great tribulation that he talks about later. His was his own personal tribulation. Patmos was a small, rocky island in the Aegean Sea, only 10 miles long and 6 miles wide, used as a penal colony. John had been sent there by the Roman Emperor Domitian to work in the quarry.

John's testimony, "For the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." By this time, John was an old man, in his 80's. All the other apostles had been killed as martyrs. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified upside down. Mark was dragged through the streets of Alexandria and burned. He is without a single human companion, but he remains true to His Lord.

John's triumph, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet." Did you pick up on the contrast? John was ‘in the isle that is called Patmos" and at the same time he was "in the Spirit on the Lord's day." That is true triumph, true victory. Not the absence of trouble, but the presence of power and purpose in the middle of trouble!

3. The Congregations, v. 11-12.

John is commissioned to write what he is about to see and send it to the seven churches of Asia. In a later study I will deal with the significance of these "seven" churches. For now, let's settle in on the idea of "churches." You see it is plural. It was not some kind of universal, invisible something, it was seven local, visible churches. By faith in Jesus Christ people are born into the family of God. By obedience in baptism believers are placed into one of God's churches.

If Church.com were a stock on the Nasdaq right now it would carry a strong "sell" recommendation from most people. Many just aren't sure there is much of a future for churches.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me assure you that as far as God is concerned, church is where it is at! Jesus Christ is in the church business.

· Christ founded His first church while He was on this earth, Matthew 16:18.

· The only agencies Christ left on this earth with His authority to do His work are His churches.

· And, perpetuity is promised only to churches, Ephesians 3:21.

Here's the point: If we are going to be involved in Christ's work we must get involved in church work.

How many know I am married? Yes, I am very married. This past December (2001) Susan and I celebrated 35 years of marriage to each other. She and I are very different, but we are one — one physically, one spiritually, one financially, one morally.

- You cannot really love me, and ignore my bride, Susan.

- You cannot really love me, and not also love my wife. We are one.

The church is the bride of Christ. If you are going to have a serious relationship with Jesus Christ you must develop a serious relationship with one of His churches.

Many of the present day Christian organization (parachurch) say they understand they are not the church, but are an "arm" of the church. Every local church is the body of Christ and another "arm" is unnecessary and unuseful. Don't under-sell the ability of God's churches to do all that needs to be done for the kingdom of God! Don't under-value God's churches - they are "golden" to Him.

4. The Communication, v. 13-17a.

Remember, John's attention was gained when he heard behind him a great voice. It was as clear as a trumpet, v. 10. Trumpets were used in the Old Testament to call God's people to worship and to war.

Verse 12 tells us he turned to see the voice and sees seven golden candlesticks. Verse 20 tells us that were the seven churches. While seeing those seven candlesticks he sees someone "in the midst," that is in the middle. That someone he begins to describe. This is not the average way to describe a person. But this was...

...no average person.

...John was using things of His day to describe someone who was indescribable.

It would be like an American Indian 400 years ago describing Fort Worth today — airports, cars, schools, skyscrapers.

One of my favorite Indian story seems fitting here. An Indian brave was sending love messages to his Indian maiden by way of smoke signals when a nuclear bomb exploded. He could only say, "I wish I had said that!"

This was an explosive vision John is communicating under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - a description of the glorified Christ.

Look again at verses 13-16. What a difference in the way Christ was seen where in Revelation than when He was seen in the gospels. Let me make this clarification before we begin. This is not what Jesus looks like - this is how Jesus appeared to John in this vision. The symbolism is used to describe the character, person and purpose of Christ.

His Garments, v. 13. Once He wore the modest attire of a carpenter; now the robe of royalty. He is no longer a criminal on a cross. He is dressed gloriously and majestically like a king.

His Head and His Hair, v. 14a. Once crowned with thorns and covered with blood for our shame; now like wool, white as snow. This speaks of His eternal pre-existence and purity.

His Eyes, v. 14b. Once shed tears over a rejecting city and at the death of a dear friend; now are as a flaming fire.

His Feet, v. 15a. Once wearied because of His travel through this sin-cursed world and washed by a devoted woman with her tears; now shine like bright brass, refined by the fire.

His Voice, v. 15b. Once faltered in dying agony on the cross; now a great voice, as of a trumpet, like the sound of many waters.

His Right Hand, v. 16a. Once had quietly blessed the little children, once bound by a cruel mob, once nailed to a cross; now glistened with the stars of His churches. God's pastors are upheld, placed, protected, and guided by this great One.

His Mouth, v. 16b. Once spoke with sweet words of love and grace; now speaks with the cutting of a two-edged sword, an instrument of war and death.

His Face, v. 16c. Once marred with the vile spittle of evil men, once bruised by the blows of angry men, once marked with bitter anguish; now shires as the brightest sun with the glory of God.

It is as though this Christ was a total stranger to John. While Jesus Christ was on this earth John became known as "the beloved." It was John who had reclined on Jesus' bosom. It was John, of the Twelve Apostles, who was the closest to Christ, even closer than Peter and James. Jesus committed the care of Mary, his mother, to John.

Do you see how John reacts to this new Christ? Verse 17. The effect of this heavenly vision upon John was nothing short of paralyzing! Ladies and gentlemen, we have such a low, a too familiar, even an inaccurate view of Jesus Christ in our day. We have lost sight of His holiness, majesty, power, dignity and character. We have done our best to remake Him to fit our culture, but He refused to fit!

When John saw Him as He now is he was on the floor. "Fell at his feet as dead!" That's quite a statement John made. You read through this Book of Revelation and John saw . . .

Heaven's throne

The three-fold judgment (seals, trumpets, vials)

144,000 sealed witnesses

Locusts out of the bottomless pit

The unholy trinity (Satan, anti-Christ, false prophet)

Heard the new song of the saints of heaven

The Battle of Armageddon

Satan's binding

Great White Throne judgment

Lake of fire

New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven.

But never did he fall on his face as he were dead. But when he saw Christ, he did!

5. The Comfort, v. 17b--18.

John feels the touch of a hand, it is the hand of Christ on him. And it was the "right" hand - the hand of authority and power. John hears the voice of Christ, "Fear not." And please get a hold of this. John was not told, "John, you can make it. John, you can rise to the occasion." This wasn't about John, this was all about Christ.

Those without Christ have everything to fear. Those with Christ have nothing to fear! Christ has everything you will need to face whatever you face. "I am the first and the last..." Eternity.

"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen..." Victory.

"And have the keys of death and hell." Authority.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

6. The Commission, v. 19.

John was commission to write three (3) things as in outline of this book.

The things which thou hast seen, chapter 1.

The things which are, chapters 2-3.

The things which shall be hereafter, chapters 4-22.

7. The Clarification, v. 20.

John was to understand two (2) things.

The seven stars are the angels (messengers, the pastors) of the seven churches. It is good to hear a pastor being called an angel. Sometimes we are called other things. The seven candlesticks are the seven churches.

A janitor would wait patiently each week for a group of seminary students to finish their Saturday morning basketball game. While he waited, he would study his Bible. One day, as the students were leaving the gym, they noticed the janitor carefully reading his Bible. One young man asked which book in the Bible was his favorite. The old man answered, "The Book of Revelation." The young student was surprised and asked the janitor if he understood the complicated book. "Oh, yes!" the man answered. "I understand it. It means Jesus is gonna win!"

Let me add to that. Not only does Jesus win, but everyone who receives him wins, but everyone who rejects Him loses!

Do you know this Jesus? Is He your personal Savior? Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but He has not saved all the people of the world. God has given you a choice - will you accept or reject?

"What must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31

I urge you to do this now!

Prepared and delivered by
Dr. Jerry D. Locke
Lake Worth Baptist Church
4445 Hodgkins Road
Fort Worth, TX 76135-2136