JESUS WALKS AMONG THE CHURCHES

Rev1:1-20

Key vs. 1:13 “and among the lampstands was some like a son of man dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.”

Starting today we will study Revelation till the end of September. We will cover the most of the important events in the book. Are you excited? Or are you scared without knowing what to expect from it. I can understand either of your feeling. Revelation study is like doing a puzzle. You will try this piece or that, eventually we will piece together to see a big picture. In the same way if you persist, you will find a glorious picture of God’s salvation plan. No matter how you feel now, let me assure you that by just reading the book, you are already blessed. Vs. 3 says: Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy. I pray that as we study further, we can understand the meaning and take it to our hearts and live by it, then we will be even more blessed. Today we will study its introduction and know who Jesus is.

First, The Revelation of Jesus Christ (1-3)

Let’s read vs 1-3 all together.

¹The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ²who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. ³Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

This book is often called the Revelation of John. As a result, we tend to think that John wrote this book out of his experience or imagination. However, John himself calls it the revelation of Jesus Christ. This book was originated from Jesus himself, not John. Jesus sent his angel to John and he wrote what he saw and heard from the angel. John did not produce this book. Jesus is the author of the Revelation; John wrote it down for Jesus.

Vs.2 concludes that this is the word of God. Revelation is written in many symbols such as the numbers, colors or precious stones or stars, women, locusts, beasts, lampstands etc. Unlike other books such as Genesis, gospels or epistles which use plain literature forms, Revelation is pretty unique. Therefore it is easy to dismiss it as the word of God. Because of unique styles employed in Revelation, even many believers distance this book with strange feelings.

John insists that it is the word of God like any other books. Genesis deals with the beginnings; Revelation describes the endings. Without knowing Revelation it can’t be said that our Bible knowledge is complete. In Genesis, we lost the paradise. In Revelation, we see the paradise regained. God will judge the world and establish the kingdom of God. Therefore after completing Revelation, Jesus declares in Rev22:18 warning that no one should add to or subtract from the Bible. The Bible is complete with Revelation.

In vs. 8, God says: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty”   What are the letters Alpha and Omega in Greeks?  They are like English A and Z. If we know A to Y, can  you say you know all alphabets? No, it is incomplete. Jesus is called the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He is the beginner and also the finisher, and between. He is everlasting God.  In Genesis we men failed due to our sins. God sent his son Jesus to forgive us and restore us. In Revelation, God completes his glorious salvation in the New heaven and the New earth. Praise Jesus who completes the eternal kingdom for us.

 Second, One like a Son of Man (9-18)

Let’s read vs. 9-11 all together.

⁹I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, ¹¹which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

How did John receive this revelation from Jesus? It seems like that John was exiled to a labor camp in Island of Patmos. Revelation was written about AD95. John must be very old, probably 85 years old if he had followed Jesus at age 20 like many of us. He had served Jesus over 60 years faithfully, but now he was exiled to a lonely island, about 50 miles from Ephesus. His body was aching and his bones shivering every moment. While worshipping the Lord on one Sunday, this revelation was given to him. Jesus appeared to his old servant to comfort him and encourage him. And through him, Jesus wanted to strengthen fellow servants scattered through the region because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

History says that around this time, Roman emperor Domitian instituted emperor worship. He claimed himself to a divine son of God and the Lord of the universe. He built many temples and demanded people to burn incense, confessing that he was the Lord of their lives. When he entered the theater, people rose and shouted that he was the Lord. Men can be crazy. How can a mere man be the Lord and divine!  Only Jesus is our Lord.  Christians cannot confess that emperor is Lord. They were arrested on the spot and imprisoned. Their property was confiscated and they were thrown into lions in Collosium. Jesus told John to write this revelation to the seven churches who went through severe sufferings like this. 

Shepherd Moses Park who is visiting us told that he had visited these seven churches. He saw the underground caves where the 1^st century believers lived to escape the persecution. They abandoned all comforts only to worship a true God. Compared with their sufferings, our sufferings are nothing. Jesus gave this revelation to such suffering believers. In chapters 2 and 3, in his letters to the 7 churches, Jesus promised the crown of life to those who overcome. Jesus did not promise easy-going life. We must overcome all troubles by faith.

How did Jesus appear to John? Let’s read vs. 12-16.

¹²I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"^[b]dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ¹⁶In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

What kind of image do you find from this description of Jesus? Let’s take a closer look at each description. Who wears a robe reaching down to his feet? High priest. This shows that Jesus is a priest who prays for us when we go thru sufferings. How about his head and hair? White like wool, and white as snow.  This shows his holiness and infinite wisdom. These days people dye their grey hairs to look younger. But the older we get, the wiser we become, there was a time people thought such and respected the old folk. His eyes like a blazing fire. This shows that no one can hide their sins before Jesus’ penetrating eyes. His feet like bronze glowing in a furnace. He could sqash his enemies under his feet. His voice like the sound of rushing waters. This shows his powerful authority that no one can resist. Out of his mouth came a double-edged sword. His word is sharper than double-edged sword and can cut and judge. His face like the sun shining in all its brilliance. He is a glorious God.

From this description, who do you think Jesus is? Look at vs 17-18.

Jesus said: I am the first and the last. I am the living one; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

He died for our sins, yet he is alive, defeating the power of sin and death. He is the living one. Budah taught a beautiful thing, but he died; yet never lived again. Mohamed conquered many territories, but died and never to rise. Jesus is the only living one who lives forever and ever. He holds the keys of death and hades. He has authority over death and he could send people to Hades where unbelievers die and wait for the final judgement. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He can destroy his enemies like pieces of pottery under his feet. He will sit on the white throne to judge the world. His name is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. When Pilate asked: Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered: Yes, it is as you say.  Jesus is the sovereign ruler of the whole universe. He commanded his apostles: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. Praise Jesus who is our Lord and Savior. We worship him and honor him.

Why did Jesus show his glorious image to his servants? Jesus appeared to comfort and strengthen those who were going thru severe persecution. Jesus did not come to take them out of the world. Jesus came to strengthen them to overcome the troubled world with him. This is the same Jesus who told his disciples after resurrection. IN this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world (John16:33). Jesus told Smyrna church: Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give the crown of life.(2:10)

Are you going through troubles? Are you ready to die to receive the crown of life? Jesus appeared to the suffering believers to help them to overcome it. Overcomers are the victors. Do you want to be overcomers with Jesus?

Jesus knows that all true believers will undergo fiery troubles as the end is near. He wants us to know that he is determined to go through the troubles to the end with us. General McArthur is popular in Korea. The picture of his Inchon landing inspires us all. Why? He led his soldiers ahead of them. Jesus is our commander-in-chief. He reminds us that he is determined to go through the tribulation with us. This is the reason I don’t believe that we will be raptured before the tribulation. We will go through the tribulation with Jesus. Jesus never makes us wimps; he wants us to be overcomers and receive the crown of life. Be faithful to his word and overcome the world.

Read vs. 1:17-18 all together