Revelation 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Sermon Audio:

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

The Revelation of Jesus Christ. These are the first words in this glorious Book. I have heard people call this book “Revelations”. Though I don’t mean to be nit picky, it is not REVELATIONS plural but REVELATION. The Book reveals Christ. Every interesting part of it reveals another aspect of our Lord Jesus. The singular focus of this Book is Jesus.

This Book was written by a disciple named John who dearly loved Jesus. When Jesus met Simon He gave him a new name Cephas or better known as Peter (see John 1:42). But John gave himself a new name. He called himself “the Disciple whom Jesus loved”. John immersed himself in Jesus. He clung to Jesus. At the Lord’s Table we read:

John 13:23 (NRSV) One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him

When Christ hung on the Cross the Bible says:

John 19:26 (NRSV) When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”

On the day that Christ rose from the grave John the Beloved Disciple was the first to get to the empty tomb (see John 10:1-10), though Peter was the first to go into the tomb. SIX TIMES in John “The Disciple whom Jesus loved” is mentioned. John gave up his own name – it seems – just to dwell on our Lord Jesus.

Let us be like our brother John.
Let us lose ourselves in Christ.
Let us embrace this REVELATION of our Savior.

The Built In BLESSINGS Of The Book

You can only be blessed by this Book if you do what it says. You must …

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that READETH, and they that HEAR the words of this prophecy, and KEEP those things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

The Book is to be READ Each week I ask you to read the chapter I am preaching, to incorporate it into your daily walk with God. It will take me several weeks to preach through the Chapters of this great book. So READ the current chapter. If you’ve read it once, read it again. Read it prayerfully. Read it seeking a revelation of Christ.

The time is at hand. We live in the last days, more-so now than at any other time. As we study Revelation we will see that Satan’s end game is to dispose of national entities and establish a singular, one world government. This has been the gradual drift of the world since the beginning of time. In my lifetime I have seen the rise of the United Nations, a one world entity that seeks to control all nations under it’s umbrella. We have had one world conferences and Presidents of the United States who have tried to give away our national power in place of a one world governmental control.

We have had Presidents try to give away America.
Britain had Prime Ministers try and give away that nation.
Satan wants world domination.
When Satan takes anything and merges it to one, it becomes dark.

The big news of the decade is Great Britain and Brexit where our mother country is pulling out of the European Union. Both Great Britain and America have installed leaders who put their nation first above others, to the howl of the liberal media and liberal politicians. The Book of Revelation prophesied many years ago of the rise of a one world government and a one world leader, a god like man who would rule every nation. It is when we READ the Book that we understand the danger of NOT PUTTING AMERICA FIRST. If we give in to a one world government – no matter how rosy the picture may be painted – we open the door to the Beast of Revelation 13 “having seven heads and ten horns”, a ten nation confederacy seen in Daniel 2:41-42. The ruler of this vast empire has authority given to him by Satan himself (Revelation 13:2), as well as a one world Church (Revelation 13:3-4). The end game is to establish a one world currency in the mark of the Beast which, if you do not have it, you cannot buy nor trade (Revelation 13:16-17).

Reading the Book makes us watchful, not foolish. Satan will do everything he can to destroy Christ and His Gospel. This is the focus of the one world government. God established nations to maintain world order. Multiply and fill the earth means spread out and control. Anything that moves us toward a one world government moves us from Christ and toward Tribulation, a great and terrible Tribulation.

The Book is to be HEARD You must invest time in it not only PERSONALLY but also PUBLICLY. Come to Church with ears wide open to God, to HEAR what He has to say to you in this Book. When we gather together in Christ’s name He promises:

Matthew 18:20 (KJV) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

When God’s people gather together in obedience and seek His Word the Spirit of God blesses us. We hear from the Lord. The Christian is a part of the Body of Christ and a member in particular:

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NASB) Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

When you come together focused on His Word, The Spirit guides us into all truth …

John 16:13-14 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Book is to be KEPT The Book of Revelation is not just a novelty item. Jesus said:

Luke 11:28 …. blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Matthew 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Your life is not founded or seated on the Rock that is Christ unless you take His Word and apply it to YOUR life. Every week we give an invitation and inevitably I see people looking around to see who else is going to move. No one else can live the Christian life for you. No one else can hear the Gospel and be saved for you. What God speaks to your heart to do, DO IT. Trust Him. Live for Him.

John Was Suffering Because He Loved Jesus

Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in TRIBULATION, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John loved Jesus, but this love for Jesus did not raise him above suffering. In fact I have found that the more you love Jesus, often the more you are tried. When you love Jesus then you stand in direct opposition to this present fallen world.

If you are never at war with the world then you may be OF the world!

Jesus warned us …

John 15:18-22 (NKJV) If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

God gave His Law to the world to convict the world of sin.
Today there are no sinners, just different lifestyle choices.
What does God say in His Word? To whom was the Law given?

1 Timothy 1:9-11 (NKJV) the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

If you read carefully through this list of sins that the LAW IS AGAINST you will see FORNICATION or Heterosexual sin and SODOMY or Homosexual sin. You will see LYING and PERJURY (we had a President a few years ago who perjured himself before a Grand Jury). We see UNGODLINESS and INSUBORDINATION – those who have no respect for vested authority. We see MURDER and LAWLESSNESS. Many of the things in this list are not only winked at in the fallen world but are also heartily endorsed. When you lovingly deny the lifestyles so rejected by the Word of God the world will hate you.

BUT a true friend speaks the truth in love!

John was imprisoned for intolerance. The world accused him, I am sure, of hate crimes and bigotry, but this is but the world. John dared believe that no one can be saved and go to God’s Heaven unless they receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. This infuriated the world. The Roman world allowed people to worship their gods and goddesses as long as you worshiped the Roman gods and goddesses equally. You had to be inclusive – or else. But John believed what Jesus taught:

I am the Only Way to God (John 14:6)
I am the One you must believe in (Matthew 7:21-27)
I have the words of Life (John 6:63)
I alone give eternal life (John 3:14-15)
I am the gate of the sheep (John 10:7)
I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
I am the Resurrection (John 11:25)

The world doesn’t like this. The world loves tolerance unless you are intolerant of their tolerance, then the world becomes intolerant. The world is for inclusiveness. How dare John and the early disciples say that Christ is the Only Way to God? How dare they?

This is why John was on Patmos. It was a prison Island. We will suffer when we stand for God’s truth. A Christian Baker has lost his business, and stands before the Supreme Court of the United States. He has suffered and will suffer. When you stand for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ you will suffer. But remember this …

It Was In Suffering That Jesus Was Revealed To John

Revelation 1:4-6 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 AND FROM JESUS CHRIST, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

John is writing here, but he also says “and from Jesus Christ”. Jesus is with me. Jesus reveals Himself in our trials no matter what they might be.

The Christ Follower Is Never Alone – EVER! If you’re following Jesus, Jesus is watching you. That’s just common sense! This first AMEN statement of John celebrates not the trial John is going through but that Jesus is with His people.

How do I know that Jesus is with me?

Revelation 1:5 AND FROM JESUS CHRIST, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us,

Because Jesus Christ is the FAITHFUL WITNESS. He stays the course. He was sent to this earth by the Father, and so perfectly mirrored the will of the Father that to see Him was to see the Father. Philip asked Jesus one day:

John 14:8 (NKJV) … “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

Jesus replied … John 14:9-10 (NKJV) … “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

Jesus is the faithful Witness. He was sent to do the will of the Father. Though He went through TREMENDOUS SUFFERING on Calvary He never backed down. He will not abandon you, dear Christian. He cannot. God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Jesus loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NKJV) We love Him because He first loved us.

How did Jesus love us? Before we ever loved Him He went to Calvary for us. Before we were aware of our sin He gave Himself for you and for me.

Revelation 1:5 (KJV)… Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Jesus suffered a blood bath so we could be bathed in His Blood!

He died for us so that we could be elevated from sinner to saint. Jesus paid a great cost for each believer He redeemed. He paid the greatest price that could be paid. This is why He promises …

Hebrews 13:5 …. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Jeremiah 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Matthew 28:20 …. lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus is with us in the trial. Dear ones, if you belong to God then God is with you – Father, Son, and Spirit. God is with you! If, when the trial comes, you find yourselves looking everywhere BUT to Him them, dear ones, your heart is not right. Repent. Turn to Him. He will be with you.

My Trial Does Not Diminish What Christ Is Making Me To Be We read again …

Revelation 1:5-6 Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ made us on purpose for a purpose. On Patmos John was not diminished, but was given an opportunity to be a king and a priest unto God even in the midst of suffering. God did not make you to be trash, but treasure. Because of Christ we are elevated. So as we suffer we praise God for it. We cry out with John …

to HIM be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. We are not without worth – we are of the Royal Family because of Him.

We are kings because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – and we are part of His Family.

Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then AN HEIR OF GOD THROUGH CHRIST.

You are heirs of God, children of the King. You are also priests unto God, having direct access unto Him. God is shaping you through the trials. He is molding you for service to Him now, and life with Him throughout eternity. The scripture says:

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I heard a wonderful illustration by Pastor Tony Evans today, one I want to share with you. A man is lost in a desert, and is on his third day without water. He’s dying. He desperately needs water. When he is about out of hope he sees a shelter, a little shack, off in the distance. Staggering he gets to the shack. Opening the door he sees a dusty water pump. He pumps and pumps the handle but nothing comes out. Nothing! Oh how his thirst grows with every squeak of the handle. In desperation he looks around the shack and sees a mason jar filled with water, and on it a note:

Use This Water To Prime The Pump
Refill If After Use For The Next Traveler

The man is on the horns of a dilemma. He is so thirsty. Should he drink the water and get a temporary blessing, or should he have faith in the Word written and prime the pump.

This man is us.

Do we believe God’s Word? If so, we will do as He says no matter what our circumstances. We will not deny God’s Word but trust it, trust Christ as the Living Word, and embrace and DO what He says no matter what we feel. Feelings change. Popular opinions change. But the Word of the Lord endures forever (1 Peter 1:25). John didn’t look around at his helpless and hopeless circumstances but he looked upward …. and there was Jesus.

Look To Jesus And We Will Win

Revelation 1:7 (KJV)  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Jesus is coming. He died for our sins at His first Advent, but there is coming another Advent where every eye shall see Him. Those who mocked will mock no more. The unrighteous shall see. Those who crucify Him afresh with mockings and cursings shall WAIL because of Him. John was being persecuted for doing the right thing, but what comforted him was the sure knowledge that Jesus was coming again. He is coming again! He is coming again! When He comes, the scales of justice will be balanced. The backbiter and manipulator will be revealed. His Children will be magnified, and the children of Satan cast into hell forever more.

Praise His Holy Name!