Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation 1:1-8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell ©2004

Why Should He Change?

Three preachers were discussing the question, If Jesus Christ came back to earth what church would he go to?

The Episcopalian said, He would go to the Episcopal Church because of our line of Apostolic Succession.

The Holiness said, He would go to the Holiness Church because of our enthusiasm.

The Baptist said, Of course, He would go to the Baptist church.

*/Why should he change after all these years?/*

This morning we will commence a series of sermons from the Book of Revelation.

The word */revelation/* *ἀποκάλυψις* simply means */an/* */unveiling, to uncover, to reveal/*.

The Apostle John was commanded by Christ to write down the things He saw in a book and send it to the seven Churches in Asia.

The word */signified/* *σημαίνω* means */to show by a sign./*

As you study Revelation, expect to encounter a great deal of symbolism, much of it related to the Old Testament.

The original audience understood it.

With God’s help, most of this book can be understood; although there are some mysteries.

Yet, this book is very relevant today because Christ’s return is near.

3 points,* /Christ’s Revelation, Christ’s Redemption, Christ’s Return.

/*

*/ /*

*/Firstly, /*Christ’s Revelation

 

/a.

Prophecy Is Certain/

* *

*Revelation 1:1:* /The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants — things which must shortly take place.

And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, /

/ /

*/Prophecy is certain because it originates with God./* Since God has spoken these words they are powerful.

The Book of Revelation like all of the Bible is inspired by God.

It will come to pass.

*2 Peter 1:19-21:* /And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit./

/ /

*/Prophecy is certain because God is powerful./*

In the beginning God spoke and creation began.

*Hebrews 11:3* /By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the *word of God*, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

/Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise us that the word of God will determine the end of time.

God has determined how the world will end.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the consummation of all things.

It is the counterpart to the Book of Genesis.

God is in control of everything that happens.

He is reigning from His throne.

It’s mentioned over 40 times.

*/Prophecy is certain because God knows everything/.

*/The past, present and the future are all the same to the Lord.

He knows everything.

/*Isaiah 46:10* /Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure./

The Lord wants us to know what will happen.

He has showed His plans to us.

We are in the privileged position of knowing how it all ends.

God wins!

Good triumphs over evil.

The Lord has revealed the future to us to give us hope and patience.

He hasn’t left us in the dark.

*/Prophecy is certain because God guided the human authors/*.

Christ passed the message He received from the Father to the apostle John.

It is so important that God sent his angel to reveal it to John help him interpret the vision that he saw.

John is commanded to write the vision in a book and send it to the seven Churches.

In verse 1 God says that these things will happen soon.

In verse 3 we read the time is near.

*Revelation 22:10 says:*/ And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

/

 

God’s Word Is Sure

 

Dr.

Charles C. Ryrie has pointed out that, by the law of chance, it would require two hundred billion earths, populated with four billion people each, to come up with one person who could achieve one hundred accurate prophecies without any errors in sequence.

But the Bible records not one hundred but over three hundred prophecies fulfilled in Christ’s first coming.

/b.

Prophecy Is Christ Centered /

/ /

*Revelation 1:1-2:* /The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants — things which must shortly take place.

And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw./

/ /

This Book truly is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Various aspects of Christ’s work are seen in this book.

He is Prophet Priest and King.

/As we study this book let’s remember that the things that happen prepare for the Revelation of Jesus Christ/.

John said that He bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ.

This book, like all the Scriptures centers round Christ.

*Revelation 19:10b*: says /the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy./

This means that the true purpose *of prophecy *is to bear testimony to the Person and work *of Jesus*.

/Prophecy, is designed to unfold the loveliness of Jesus.

/

/ /

In c*hapters 1-3* He’s our */Great High Priest/* walking amongst the seven Churches.

Watching over them beholding their service and conduct.

In *chapters 5-6* He is the */Lamb of God/* slain for our salvation.

He is risen and has inherited all things from His Father.

In *chapter 7* He is the */Lamb who Shepherds/* His sheep.

In *chapter 10* He is the */Angel of the Covenant/* who announces the coming of God’s Kingdom.

In *chapter 12* He is the */Child,/* the Seed of the Woman who crushed the serpent.

He came to save us and then ascended to back heaven waiting to receive His kingdom.

In *chapter 14 *Christ is pictured as */Son Of Man/* who gathers the harvest.

In *chapter 19* He is the */Heavenly Bridegroom/* marrying His Bride, the Church.

Then a little further on in chapter 19 He is the */King of Kings/* and */Lord of Lords/* coming back to reign.

He leads the armies of heaven as Captain of the Lord’s Hosts and defeats Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet.

In *chapter 20* He is seen as the */Righteous Judge of All/*.

In *chapter 21* He is seen as the Light of the world for the new creation.

*/The scriptures center round Jesus Christ.

/*He is the message of the Bible.

Many people read the book of Revelation and see only the plagues and blood shed that happens on the earth.

They see the rise of antichrist and the accompanying chaos and miss Jesus Christ.

*/The only future this world has is the return of Jesus Christ./*/

/He is revealed in nearly every chapter.

I trust that we will see our Savior in a deeper more beautiful way and worship Him in awe and wonder.

/c.

Prophecy Requires Obedience/

/ /

*Revelation 1:3-4a: */Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near./

/John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: /

/ /

*/Blessed/*/ /are those who */read/* *ἀναγινώσκω* the words of this prophecy/./

*/According to C. H. Spurgeon, A Bible which is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t!

The key to victory is It is written./*

/Who here has read the Book of Revelation?* */I have never ever heard a minister preach through it.