Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Dr. Park Tucker, former chaplain of the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, told his story of walking down the street in a certain city, feeling low and depressed and worried about life in general.

As he walked along, he lifted his eyes for a moment to the window of a funeral home across the street.

He blinked his eyes a couple of times, wondering whether his eyes were deceiving him.

But sure enough, he saw in the window of that funeral home was this sign, in large, bold words: “Why walk around half-dead?

We can bury you for $389.50.

P.S.

We also give green stamps.”

Dr. Tucker said the humor of it was good medicine for his soul.

Many people are walking around half-dead because worry has built a mountain of problems over which there is no path, and they have surrendered to fate forgetting what it means to live.

Transition:

In a vision John saw Christ, the resurrected, glorified, eternal King.

In symbols John told what kind of king he is, one totally different from any Caesar and how he, John, fell dead to the “Living One” who died so that John might live.

Scripture Reading:

These are very reassuring words spoken to John by Jesus for us!

We saw in the previous verses the description of what John was seeing—This was indeed the Messiah, the One that John grew very close to, yet this was the Christ in a Glory that John had never seen before.

These are very reassuring words spoken to John by Jesus for us!

Transition:

This interaction that follows now between John and Jesus gives us at least three solid responses to seeing the living Messiah!

I. Worship Properly (v.17-18)

As we saw at the conclusion of the sermon a couple weeks ago: John has a proper response to seeing Jesus in all His Glory:

rev

As you might recall, what happens here follows a similar pattern to that found in and 10: heavenly vision, falling down in fear, strengthening by a heavenly being, additional instruction.

It’s not surprising that John responds similarly to many prophets before him who had received a glorious vision (e.g., ; ; ; ).

John’s response to the awesome sight of the glorious Son of Man was to fall at his feet as though dead.

It’s not his own sin that puts John on his face before Jesus; it’s the glory of the risen Christ.

This was not a trance or some involuntary medical condition; rather, it was a reaction in response to having seen a spectacular vision.

What happens here follows a similar pattern to that found in and 10: heavenly vision, falling down in fear, strengthening by a heavenly being, additional instruction.

It’s not surprising that John responds similarly to many prophets before him who had received a glorious vision (e.g., ; ; ; ).

John’s response to the awesome sight of the glorious Son of Man was to fall at his feet as though dead.

It’s not his own sin that puts John on his face before Jesus; it’s the glory of the risen Christ.

his was not a trance; rather, it was in response to having seen a spectacular vision.

This is pure reverence!

proper worship!

falling to Jesus’ feet as though dead!

Illustration:

When Queen Victoria had just ascended her throne she went, as is the custom of Royalty, to hear “The Messiah” rendered.

She had been instructed as to her conduct by those who knew, and was told that she must not rise when the others stood at the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus.

When that magnificent chorus was being sung and the singers were shouting “Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” she sat with great difficulty.

It seemed as if she would rise in spite of the custom of kings and queens, but finally when they came to that part of the chorus where with a shout they proclaim Him King of Kings suddenly the young queen rose and stood with bowed head, as if she would take her own crown from off her head and cast it at His feet.

An Epigram On Worship:

Before the worship service, if one needs to be talking, talk with the Lord!

Now why is John specific enough to note the “Right” hand— the Dextera Domini in Latin "right hand of the Lord" ?

Why is John specific enough to note the “Right” hand?

In the Bible, to be at the right side "is to be identified as being in the special place of honor" The right hand is a symbol of His hand of power and protection on John, the same hand that holds the seven stars (vv.

16, 20).

Jesus then places his hand of power and protection on John, the same hand that holds the seven stars (vv.

16, 20).

The message given by this glorious figure—Christ—is the same one that had been given to the women at the tomb ():

“Do not be afraid” or in our passage: “Fear not!”

For those who believe, there is no need to fear.

Why?

This Person is the First and the Last—essentially the same as the Alpha and the Omega (see also ).

This Person is the First and the Last!

Fear can melt away because of who Jesus is and what he has done.

Fear can melt away because of who Jesus is and what he has done.

Fear can melt away because of who Jesus is and what he has done.

The specific wording “the First and the Last!”—essentially is the same as the Alpha and the Omega.

What does this mean?

The title used of God as Creator in Isaiah is now connected to Jesus-- Jesus and the Father are the same nature.

Different Persons, same nature: God.

The terms “first” (prōtos) and “last” (eschatos) emphasize that Jesus always has been and always will be Lord of all.

Then Jesus points out a foundational truth:

Here in the Greek, vv. 17 to the end of 18 are just one continuous run on sentence, and we might do well to see the close connections and contrasts.

Christ is the living one—not a dead idol as is Buddha, or Confucius, or Muhammad but alive and always with his people, every moment, in control of all things.

He is the same one who was resurrected.

He died; that is, he experienced physical death on the cross.

But now he is alive forever and ever.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he can promise the same for his people.

God became man that the Living One might become the dead.

Not only that, but now Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades, which give him complete control over that domain.

Christ alone has absolute authority over people’s lives and deaths.

He alone can free people from the ultimate enemy, spiritual death.

Believers need not fear death because Christ holds the keys.

The catch is “are you a true believer?”

Do you trust completely in Christ’s work to free you from hell?

The term “Hades” can refer just to the realm of the dead (6:8; 20:13, 14), not necessarily to the place of final punishment or “hell.”

But in context, hell seems to fit just as in where the same term is used:

Jesus then has the keys to hell.

Don’t be part of the crowd that Jesus will lock up for eternity!

Jesus made a way for you to receive forgiveness and live abundantly for eternity.

Trust in Him rather than your good works.

The one who sustains the churches is himself the Life Giver.

The one who sustains the churches is himself the Life Giver.

The one who sustains the churches is himself the Life Giver (note the threefold repetition of “dead/death”).

The term “Hades” refers to the realm of the dead (1:18; 6:8; 20:13, 14), not to the place of final punishment or “hell.”

Jesus then speaks words of encouragement to John and his readers

Illustration:

Transition:

What is the next thing to do after worshipping properly?

II.

Share Proficiently (v.19)

Jesus tells John to share this experience:

Rev

And this is not the first time we hear Jesus command John to share this!

The command to write down what John had seen a repeat of verse 11 to stress the importance of what He is about to say.

The wording serves as an expansion of the command in verse 11 to encompass this whole book.

“the things that you have seen, those that are, and those that are to take place”

(yet another use of threes in this section—in fact, the sixth time in this first chapter)

The command to write down what John had seen is repeated (see also 1:11).