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Home , Revelation 1

The Revelation of : “Introduction” Revelation 1:1-8,

Introduction- The is a book that is often set aside because it is too difficult to understand, too creepy, or too scary. Conversely, it is one of the most exciting books in the , and promises a blessing just for reading it! This message is the first in the verse-by-verse study of Revelation, that will continue to be offered online on Sunday at 6 pm even after public worship services resume.

I. The "Supersciption" ("something written above, on a cover, envelope") 1:1,2 1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

A. Title and purpose of the contents is to be Revelation 1:1a 1. The word, "revelation", ‘apokalupsis’, "unveiling" 2. “revelation”, Latin ‘revelare’, “to reveal, unveil” 3. “” Greek title, “Revelation” from the Latin Vulgate 4. As a verb, ‘apokalupsis’ is found often, “to expose to full view what was previously unknown, hidden, secret”. a. Greek OT in Daniel 2;19,22; 10:1; 11:35 b. Son of Man as revelation to man Luke 17:30 c. Rom. 8;18; I Cor. 1:7; II Thess. 1:7 5. “of Jesus Christ” is either “about JC”, or “from JC” Rev. 22:16

B. Purpose is simply to unveil, reveal, things yet future 1:1b 1. Believers are bond-servants, a slave ‘doulos’, give up your will to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ John 12:24-26 2. The is carried by slaves of Jesus Luke 12:15; 2 Peter 2:19

C. Book is an unveiling of things which “must soon take place” 1:1b 1. The book is yet future, inspired by the , from our Sovereign God 2. If you don't control the future, you can't predict the future… Sovereignty!

D. Delivery of the apokalupsis is 1:1b,2 1. From God to Jesus John 5:20-24 2. Jesus sent and communicated the message through His angel Heb. 2:2 3. From His angel to John 4. From John to the Body of Christ a. John testified (validated) to the Word of God b. John testified (validated) to the testimony of Jesus Christ c. “all that he saw” concerning Christ’s glory, coming, and kingdom

II. The Promise of a Blessing for Reading the Contents of Revelation 1:3 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

A. Blessing promised for reading Revelation not found in any book in the 1. “He who reads” is in the singular, reading the word 2. “Those who hear”, ‘akouw’, public reading in church, and responsibility 3. To those who “…heed the things”, that is, to observe and apply

B. The reading is a words, things, pointing to the entire content of the book

C. The words are “prophecy”, direct revelation from God Himself

D. The time is near, the world is drawing closer 2 Peter 3:8,9

III. The Greeting from the Author to the Recipients Joined Together in Christ 1:4-7 4 John to the seven churches that are in : 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 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— 6 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. 7 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. So it is to be. Amen.

A. The author is John, the apostle 1:4a 1. Language and style is like the 2. Authorship is endorsed by , Origen, Tertullian, Clement

B. The recipients are the seven churches in Asia Minor 1:4b

C. Grace and Peace from the Sovereign God 1:4c; 2 Peter 1:2-4 1. From God, the Father a. From Him who is, the “I AM” b. From Him who was, eternally existing c. From Him who is to come, the coming one (Father/Son) I Cor. 15:20-28 2. From the seven Spirits, the fullness of the Holy Spirit Is. 11:1,2 3. From Jesus Christ 1:5-7 a. Faithful Witness, our Prophet Deut. 18:15-22 b. Firstborn of the Dead, our Priest Jn.11:24-26; Acts 2:23,24; Heb. 5:1-10 c. Ruler of the kings of the earth, now (Mt. 28:18), future Daniel 2:44; Rev. 4,5; 36,37

D. Jesus Glorified and Exalted as our Savior and King 1. He loves us, His constant care and ministry as mediator II Tim. 2:5 2. He "realeased us", ‘luw’, "untied" a. From our sins, the curse of Adam and our sins Rom. 3:21-25 b. By His blood shed on the cross, the penal substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ for God's elect people 3. Made us to be one kingdom of many priests, every believer a priest 4. To Him belongs ‘doxa’ and‘kratos’ forever.

E. Jesus is coming to gather the church (I Thess. 4:13-18), and return with us to earth for His Second Coming Rev. 19:11-20 1. “with the clouds”, “Shekinah” glory? Believers? 2. “every eye” means it will be public 3. “those who pierced Him” references the Jews :10 4. “all the tribes of the earth”, distinction between Jew and Gentile

IV. The Benediction from Jesus Christ (possibly from the Triune Godhead) 1:8 8 “I am the and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

A. , the A to Z, who is the beginning of all things, and who will be at the end of all things, and the author and finisher of our faith Rev. 1:11; 21:6; 22:13; Col. 2:3; Hebrews 12:2

B. The "who is and who was and who is to come" speak of His eternality, His sovereign control over history, and His power to accomplish all of His purposes 44:6

C. The Almighty, ‘pantokratwr’, "having all power" I Chronicles 29:10-13, 10 So blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.