A study in Revelation
Message 2
Revelation 1:4-6
The course of our Age
Introduction: As we settle into this study we are taken back through the gospel message as a reminder of how things were before we are taken on a journey of how things are going to be. The Revelation is both a blessing and a blame, tonight we are going to look at the blessing of this book. For the child of God we will be reminded of several things that we may have forgotten concerning our faith and freedom through the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice with me…
Revelation is primarily a book of Judgment,
but God chooses to begin it with Grace.
John
to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace,
God begins Revelation by telling men they can have what they do not deserve GRACE!
Converts of this great and dreadful age will probably out number the converts of any age of history. John sees a multitude that no one can number, men and women who are washed in the blood of the Lamb who loved not their lives unto death.
This is the substance of Blessing!!
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.
The source of Blessing is backed by all the
authority of heaven itself, bestowed by the Father, the Spirit and the Son.
Have you ever thought about a star as you
look up on a clear night. The closest star we can see
with the human eye is the Alpha Centauri (about four light years away). The
object that is most distant to the human eye is the Andromeda Galaxy (about a
million and a half light years away). That means the light we see from a star
is about four million years old. We are seeing what has already taken place not
what is currently taking place.
Now think of this in reverse order. If you
were on one of those stars you would be seeing the earth and what has already
taken place not what is currently taking place.
Remember God is omnipresent. That means for
God every sin ever committed, every evil thing ever done is still being seen
and will continue to be seen unless forgiven by the blood of Christ. Only the
omnipotent eternal God who controls every factor of time, space and matter
could ever remove sin.
Some believe this refers to seven angelic
beings (angels) however we already know the blessing comes from the triune God
head. This must mean the perfection of the spirits person and the plentitude of
His power. We don’t often think of the Holy Spirit as powerful, but He is very
powerful. While we live under the day of Grace He is executor of Gods purpose
in grace, during the time of Revelation He will be the executor of Gods purpose
in government.
God was known by many names in the Old Testament, each name revealed a different aspect of God and how he dealt with man. When Jesus came He introduced a new name for God, Father.
The Old Testament had fifteen different words for sin. The full horror of sin was not revealed until Jesus came. Sin ploughed His back, sin crowned Him with thorns, sin hung Him on a cross, sin broke His body, sin broke His heart, Jesus revealed and unmasked the horror of sin.
What God done with
Moses and the Law only prepared mankind for what Jesus would do to define it?
On Mount Sinai Moses dealt with the deed of sin, during the Sermon on the Mount
Today we talk very little about Hell; Jesus spoke more about Hell than He did Heaven. In Matthews Gospel for every verse Jesus speaks about heaven He speaks three about Hell.
Jesus gave the good news and the bad news as well. From the woman at the well to Nicodemas to the rich young ruler to Zaccheus Jesus was a faithful witness regardless of name, popularity, position or prosperity.
Here we also see how the age continues. Jesus has already tasted death, defeated it, ascended to glory and there He implements the plan and purpose of God for this age.
First begotten comes from the Greek word protokos it implies priority and sovereignty. For those who will rise from the dead through Him to everlasting life He is their leader.
Moving from how the age continues we also see how the age concludes. He who once came to be born in a barn and die on a cross is coming back to reign- coming in pomp and power with banners flying and heavens army at His back.
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.
The saint’s response with a benediction about grace that endures.
We read of grace that emancipates (sets free from slavery or restores liberty). This is a joyful shout of the saints
From a grace that emancipates we move to a grace that elevates. Jesus has bestowed upon us all the majesty of a prince and all the ministry of a priest, He has given us power with men and power with God. What more could we ask for. This truly is grace that accrues to us.
This is glory that outshines the sun, the same glory Jesus had with the Father before the world began. This is the glory that one day all mankind will acknowledge. Dominion will be His as well He will reign from the ends of the earth.
Conclusion: What a privilege it is to be saved tonight. I hope you can leave here having a song in your heart and praise upon your lips. The grace that God affords us is priceless and we should address it that way. If the blood of Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that to you, there is something wrong in your life. If your willing to find it, confess it and repent of it. God wants to forgive it and restore you heart to that point of blessing that you once enjoyed. If you have praise in your heart tonight, hold on to it, cherish it and cling to it. It was purchased with the blood of a king.