Revelation Sermon - 2
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Revelation: Another Introduction
Revelation 1:1-8
1. Introduction – Last week we started our journey through the book of Revelation. If you weren’t here last week, the sermon is up on the church website. Please take time to listen to it this week and get familiarized with what this amazing book is all about.
a. Last week was an introduction to how the book of Revelation is written and how we are going to go about studying it.
i. This week I want to continue with more introductory material. We are going to briefly look at the structure of the entire book, we’ll look at how and why John wrote in symbols, and we’ll look at some of the main themes on this book.
2. Structure – In your bulletin this morning you should have received two handouts. One with the sermon outline on it, the other with an overall outline of the book of Revelation.
a. This outline is by no means authoritative – this is simply my own outline of how I think the book is written.
i. I believe reading and understanding the book in this way will help us better grasp the overall purpose and intent of this letter.
b. I just want to quickly point out some aspects of this outline. First, I want you to notice the symmetry of the vision.
i. When the vision of the 7 seals starts in chapter 6, and again when the vision of the 7 trumpets in chapter 8, there’s a symmetry to the vision.
1. There are 4 seals broken, or 4 trumpets blasted – and in this set for 4, whether seals or trumpets – they all present the same reality, we’ll study this in detail when we get here.
a. Next, notice the next set of 2, whether seals or trumpets – these sets present a different side of the same reality.
2. After the 6th seal is broken and the 6th trumpet is sounded – there’s an interlude.
a. Then after the interlude the 7th seal is broken and out of the 7th seal come the 7 trumpets.
i. But here’s what I want us to understand – after the 7th trumpet is sounded – at that point we come to the end of the drama.
c. Remember last week I said the drama in the Revelation is cyclical. It is not written in a linear – this happens, then this happens, then this happens, kind of way. At many points we come to the end of the drama, only to start over again.
i. But in chapter 11:15 – we actually come to the end of the drama. God’s judgment has been poured out, the battle is already won. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ – let’s all sing the Hallelujah Chorus!
d. And so, what we have from chapters 12-22 is not different visions, but a detailed description of what has already taken place.
i. Think of this way – chapters 1-11 paint with broad sweeping strokes – covering a lot of ground in not a lot of time.
1. While chapters 12-22 paint in finer detail the vision of the previous chapters.
a. Keep that outline with you, put it in your Bible at home and has we read through this book refer to it and hopefully the book will start to make a little more sense to you.
3. Symbols – So probably the question everyone has as they read the book of Revelation is “why is it written this way?”
a. Why are there so many symbols? Why does the book have to be so complicated and at times, grotesque?
i. Think about symbols in this way. John uses symbols in the same way that Jesus used parables.
ii. Jesus taught in parables to awaken and excite the hearts of those who were spiritual.
1. Parables got the attention of those who had become spiritually sleepy. Parables are vivid stories, surprising stories – and they convey a message more impactfully than just relaying a message.
b. In his teaching, Jesus could have simply said, “God is your heavenly Father and he loves you very much.”
i. Good message – but instead, Jesus tells a parable, popularly called the Prodigal Son, but when we study the parable in detail we see that it is actually about the Father.
1. What relays that message more impactfully – a statement about God’s love, or a story?
a. Jesus could have said, “God will never stop pursuing you.” Good message, but the point is driven home more impactfully by telling the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin.
ii. Jesus could have simply said, “Love your neighbour,” but to drive the point home, he told the parable of the Good Samaritan.
1. By using parables, Jesus got the attention of his audience and got the attention of his listening believers who might not have otherwise been paying attention.
c. The prophets of the OT also spoke in parables – and the prophets warned that judgment was coming on an anesthetized majority.
i. But the prophets also promised that a remnant would be shocked out of their spiritual sleepiness.
1. Jesus used his parables for the same purpose, and it’s the same reason Revelation is written with such vivid symbols.
d. Remember, John is writing to 7 real churches in Asia Minor; these churches are experiencing persecution.
i. They are feeling the pressure on all sides to compromise their beliefs.
1. Or, they have been lulled to sleep and complacency by the world around them.
e. John could have written, “Hang in there, church!” “It’s all going to be OK! Keep the faith. Jesus is going to win!”
i. But that would have simply been a motivational book. Instead, John’s goal is to awaken the spiritually sleepy. He could have written “Jesus is going to win. The Roman Empire is going to fall.”
1. But instead, through a series of vivid visions, John shows is people that not only will Jesus defeat evil at the end of the age… John shows his people that evil itself is living on borrowed time.
f. John wants to excite the imaginations of his flock. He wants to encourage them, not with superficial fluff, but he wants to encourage them with truth that will last for the long haul.
i. So, John gives his flock an epic vision of who Jesus.
1. John unveils, reveals, he pulls back the curtain on who Jesus is right now, and what he is doing, right now.
g. This is why Revelation is written the way it is – if we can just get a glimpse of this Jesus, if we can just get a glimpse of what Jesus is doing for us right now, if we can just get a glimpse of what Jesus will do in the future…
i. It will wake us up out of spiritual malaise and excite in us a passion and love for Jesus that will never burn out.
h. The symbols are there – not for us to take literally – not to think of actual pale green horse or multi-headed beasts or literal 1000-year reigns – the symbols are there to excite our imaginations.
i. When we come across these symbols in our study, we’ll explore them, seek to understand them in 1st century context, and then we’ll see how these symbols can excite and awaken our 21st lives.
1. They language is symbolic; it’s not meant to impart information. Symbolic language is used to stir our minds, emotions, and imaginations in order to cause us to live more passionately for Jesus.
i. I think we desperately need these visions in our lives today because many Christians in the 21st century are sleepy; we’ve been lulled into complacency by the world.
i. We need the visions of Revelation to enlarge of vision of who Jesus is and we need the vision of Revelation to awaken us out of spiritual sleepiness so that we live passionate for Jesus in the present.
4. Themes – So what are the main themes of Revelation? What have you heard? What do you think the main themes are?
a. Remember last week when I said that Revelation is a letter? Most of our NT is written in the form of a letter – it is a very personal form of communication between the writer and the person or church he is corresponding with.
i. Letters, epistles, often begin with a greeting and introduction.
1. But in the case of NT letters, Paul’s, Peter’s, James’, and John’s – the greeting is always more than, “Dear so and so, I hope this letter finds you well…”
b. The opening verses of the NT epistles also serve as a way to introduce some of the major themes developed through the rest of the correspondence.
i. And Revelation is no exception.
1. In vv1-8., we have the introduction to the book of Revelation – John identifies himself as the letter writes, the recipients will be named in a bit, but, if we read these verses carefully, and not skim over them to get to the good stuff…
a. We’ll see several major themes mentioned here that a developed more fully as the letter progresses.
5. Soon take place – Verses 1 and 3 introduce the first major theme of Revelation. Revelation discloses the events that must soon take place.
a. Verse 3 tells us that the time is near. But we hear that and immediately think, “Really?” “Near?” “Count it up Lord, 20 centuries since John’s vision. Two millennia. Soon take place? The time is near?
i. But what we have to realize is that the end is always near. Jesus said at the beginning of his earthly ministry, “Repent for the kingdom of God has come near.”
1. The kingdom has come near because the king of that kingdom has come to earth.
a. And because the king has come near, because Jesus has promised to always be close to us – John can write that the final in-breaking of that kingdom, of the new creation is also near; John can properly write that these events will soon take place.
b. IThe NT teaches that ‘the end’ even if it is still many years away, is always near.
i. If we understand this theme in this way – it makes sense that at the end of the book Jesus calls himself the bright Morning Star.
1. The morning star appears when night has reached its darkest. And although it is still dark, and will be for hours yet – when the morning star appears, you know that night is ended. The time is near.
6. Faithful Witness – The next major theme is given in verses 2 &5. In these verses the term ‘faithful witness’ is used.
a. And whenever a word or phrase is repeated in such a short space – alarm bells have to go off in our head.
i. It tells me that faithfulness and witnessing are going to be major themes of what follows.
1. And as we read, we see God’s faithfulness displayed to us through the visions given to John.
a. But this book also speaks of human faithfulness to God.
b. It shows us that covenant faithfulness to God and a radical discipleship to God IS possible in a world that is trying to squash him.
i. Faithfulness, pay attention to it. We’ll see it over and over again.
7. Worship – The next theme I see introduced in these verses is the theme of worship.
a. Did you notice as I read this passage earlier that John seems to interrupt himself as he’s writing?
i. He’s telling his recipients where he received this vision and then all of a sudden, in the middle of verse 5 he breaks into song.
1. There are numerous hymns recorded for us throughout this letter, along with many spoken doxologies and words of acclamation.
a. From beginning to end, Revelation is a book of worship.
b. Revelation glorifies God – celebrating his being, creation, reign, salvation and justice.
i. Revelation worships Jesus – celebrating his redemptive death, his salvation, reign and coming.
c. And while Revelation declares the Father, Son and Spirit as the only one worthy of our worship – Revelation is also a call to forsake all false deities.
i. Who or what are you going to worship? Revelation makes clear that Caesar is not lord or god or king.
1. And the songs of worship reinforce and celebrate who God is.
a. But the songs and worship in Revelation aren’t simply there for information sake.
i. The songs are an invitation to join our voices with the voices who are already singing these songs.
1. Worship is a theme we’ll be coming back to.
8. God’s Reign – But these verses also introduce us to the theme of God’s reign – God’s reign over all things is going to be clearly demonstrated throughout the entirety of this book.
a. Let’s be honest for a bit – sometimes it looks and feels like no one is ruling the world. Or maybe worse – egomaniacal morons are running the world.
i. But what this book reveals to us – what this book unveils, is that the unseen reality of the present is that God is ruling the world – he always has and he always will.
b. God shows the scope and magnitude of his reign. He says, I am the Alpha and Omega. The first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet.
i. And what this means is God is the first and last of any sequence you can think of.
1. But the scope of God’s reign is expanded further.
a. God says, “I am the beginning and end.” The Greek words used are arche and telos.
c. The word arche literally means ‘source’ – it’s where we get our word ‘archetype’ or ‘architect.’
i. God says, “I am the source of all things.”
1. But God also says, “I am the telos.” And literally, the word telos means “goal” or ‘inherent destiny.’
a. God – and Jesus uses these same words at the end of this letter – God says he is the source of all creation. But more than that – creation reaches its goal, it reaches its intended end in God.
i. And Revelation will show just how that is going to happen.
d. What we see right here at the beginning of the last book of the Bible is that God is inescapable.
i. His rule is everlasting and despite what present circumstance appear to show – God is indeed ruling the world.
9. God Loves Us – The last theme that is introduced in these opening verses is one I actually skipped over.
a. Verse 5 introduces us to Jesus’ love for us.
i. Sometimes we get so obsessed with interpreting the visions and symbols and getting to the ‘good stuff’ of this book – that we miss the simple yet important point that Revelation is one long love letter.
b. Has anyone ever told you that before? That Revelation is a love letter from Jesus to his church?
i. The dominant image of the church in Revelation is bride. The church is the bride of Christ, and the bridegroom – Jesus – is wooing us and displaying his love for us.
1. What we have in Revelation is Jesus putting on a divine drama for us – showing us how much he loves us; we see Jesus pursuing us and rescuing us.
a. And what we are shown clearly in this divine drama is that we don’t love Jesus as we should.
i. We get caught up in this or that; we get distracted by our ‘to-do’ lists or our work or other activities.
1. Or we get enticed by the world. Revelation shows us clearly that we don’t love Jesus like we should.
c. But it also shows us how to correct that. Revelation shows us that complete and utter faithfulness to Jesus is possible. And the book of Revelation can ignite in us a passion and love for Jesus so that we will remain loyal to him under the pressure to compromise.
i. There are many more themes that we’ll touch on through the course of this study, but these are the main themes I seen introduced at the beginning of this letter.
1. Remember, an introduction is never simply an introduction. There’s always something more in there for us to digest.
10. Conclusion – Next week, we’re going to study 1:9-20. Read those verses this week. Try to read them more than once so that you are familiar with it.
a. Also, as you read this book, have a notepad handy and as you read try to answer these two questions… What jumps out at me?
i. What puzzles me? Try to answer those questions, feel free to talk to me about this book. I’m not an expert in it, but I have studied it quite a bit. I’d be thrilled to talk to you about it.