A Glimpse of the Kingdom Revelation 1

Understanding Revelation Let’s distance ourselves from the commercialism and sensationalism. Yet this is not an academic study! A Challenge and a Promise: God blesses the one who reads this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to it and obey what it says (Rev.1:3) He has made us his Kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen! – Rev. 1:6

Revelation 1:1-4,9-11 Written by John, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples Author of 4th Gospel (John) & 3 letters Written 85-95 AD While exiled on Patmos During Emperor Domitian’s persecution Written to 7 familiar churches Ultimately inspired by God (1:3) A book of Prophecy (1:3; 22:7,10,18,19) Not alone: 25% of the Bible is prophecy Apocalyptic Style: using highly symbolic visions of the end of the age. Not wild-eyed hallucinations: an extension of Daniel, Ezekiel, etc. “The meaning…is found by comparing it with previous prophetic and apocalyptic revelation in the Old Testament. This has led many interpreters to view the Book of Revelation as presenting realistic predictions of the future… a sensible view of the future in harmony with the rest of Scripture” —Walvoord, Revelation, pp. 23-30

STRUCTURE: 4 sequential visions 1-3:A Diminishing Church, a Growing Menace The glorified Jesus speaks to His churches. 4-16: Intense Upheaval, War and Spiritual Activity The Kosmos achieves ultimate POWER …while it spirals out of control! God strives: judges and redeems amidst it all. 17-20: God Ends the “Mystery Babylon” An Alternative and Realistic Kingdom: the victorious return of Jesus 21-22: Resolution and an Eternal Future The “Bride of Christ” and New Jerusalem (21,22). “All national institutions of churches…appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” - Thomas Paine, political theorist. They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that. 2 Timothy 3:5 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. Rev. 21:3 The cannon thunders … limbs fly in all directions … one can hear the groans of victims and the howling of those performing the sacrifice … it’s Humanity in search of happiness. – Charles Baudelaire, French Poet

PURPOSE To finish the prophetic picture of the Bible Reveals the events surrounding the 2nd Advent Application: Calls Christians to be faithful witnesses despite a hostile world… Evil will intensify as this age draws to an end . . . but Jesus will have the last word. The end of the age will be a time of intense judgment …but also a time of intense evangelism. Christians can expect to suffer persecution . . . but Jesus will enable us to be “overcomers”

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ . . . from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and released us from our sins by his blood, and he has made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Rev.1:5-7

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ Suddenly, I heard a loud voice behind me, a voice that sounded like a trumpet blast…When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. Rev.1:10-17a “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev.1:8

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as a dead man. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’” Revelation 1:17b-18

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ The Savior who serves. The King to be served. Why Important? Jesus Christ really is this way! Else, an impersonal, feriocious enemy! Else, Jesus the Emasculated Servant

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Why So Important? Jesus Christ really is this way! Otherwise, an imbalanced view: Jesus the Emasculated Servant