A study in Revelation
Message 5
Revelation 1:9-11
The worship of our Age
Introduction: Tonight we are continuing our look at the character of our age; this topic will carry out for some time. Tonight we are looking at worship and how it fits into our age and especially into the day and time we live in. Were going to see worship present in John’s life and ministry and see the importance it held in his life and in our life. We are going to see how worship leads us into the introduction of the seven churches and how the Revelation and its seven churches are viewed today.
John tells us he was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day. This could easily be understood and even preached or taught that he means Sunday. While it may very well tell us this it also tells us much more. As a Christian John was prepared for worship, not only that worship was something he practiced every day. While John may be giving us an indication of what day of the week it was, he is also telling us that spiritually he was ready to hear from the Lord.
Are born again Christians today spiritually ready to hear from the Lord? I really don’t think so. As a matter of fact my experience indicates that many who attend church do so for reasons other than worship. Sunday is our day to bring praise honor and glory to the Lord for the many blessings He has given us. Also it would do us well to realize fresh and anew the measure of mercy and grace God has afforded us.
John tells us he heard a great voice. We know from scripture that God speaks in many different ways. Sometimes it is with a still small voice, other times like this on it is with a great voice. When God proclaims something to you do you really understand it as God speaking, if so does it stir your heart, does it bring you to a point and place of worship.
We talk about the many things that church is missing today. One of them is the foundation of God’s people willing to hear His voice and then to listen and put into practice. If we are going to proclaim the goodness of God we should also practice it. I know we have convinced ourselves that we try, but have you really got down and ask God what He thinks? Is He satisfied?
Jesus tells us He is Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. There is no other. There is some tonight that are putting their trust in a person, place or thing instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. To borrow a phrase from another preacher “they can be wrong if they want too” but that won’t change the truth of salvation and eternity. I want to ask a question tonight, is Jesus first and last in your life? If you’re honest with yourself it will be hard to answer, if you don’t know just ask God to speak to you. He will, and then you will have to face the answer, are you willing to do this? You see if Jesus is first and last in your life He is Lord of your life.
Next we see a list of churches, here is the first mention of the seven churches of Revelation. We will see that there are four views of the Revelation and the seven churches.
First is the historicist view, those who hold to this view fee that Revelation surveys the whole of Church history only.
Second is the preterist view, those who hold to this view feel that Revelation was fulfilled in the past, shortly after it was written.
Third is the futurist view, those who hold to this view feel that everything after chapter three will be fulfilled in the future.
Forth is the spiritual view, those who hold to this view feel there is no physical fulfillment only spiritual principles through recurrent themes.
The pronouncement of Jesus as Lord and savior is consistent through all four.
Conclusion: Worship was very important to John it was through worship that John saw the vision God gave Him for the seven churches. I hope we have been able to see the importance of worship and how we should approach it. As something we have to offer to God, from our heart because of His mercy and grace.