The first chapter in the book of Revelation is where we're going to be and where we're going to finish chapter 1 this morning. There are times in small groups where somebody says something or causes you to think about something in a in a in a certain way and it just kind of clicks and then the pastor gets up and uses that in his sermon. And this happened this week in our small group.
Someone said that it reminds them of that scene in the Chronicles of Narnia. Now, full disclosure, I have never read the Chronicles of Narnia. I know. And everyone's face like, are you even saved? That's kind of the question that has now been asked. But I've seen the movie. DOES THAT COUNT? THAT MIGHT even be worse. In in that movie or in that book, Susan and Lucy are talking to to Mr. And Mrs.
Beaver and they're talking about Alan and in there I think it was Lucy that says, "Is he safe?" And Mrs. Beaver says, "Safe? Who said anything about safe? Of course, he is not safe, but he is good. That is such really a a profound way of I would argue would describe what we see in the text today as John sees a vision of the the glory and the majesty of the son of man.
My friends, he is by no means safe. He is not, but he is good and merciful and he is kind. And I trust as I've been praying and prepping for this morning, my goal, my desire as the that we would all look upon the majesty of the son of man and be humbled and strengthened. That's my goal this morning.
Revelation chapter 1, picking it up in verse 9. Here's what the word of the Lord says. I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches to Ephesus and to Smeirna and to Pergamum and to Thotyra and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Leodysia.
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. And on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe, and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace.
And his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand, he held seven stars. From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the shine sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not. I am the first and the last and the living one. I died and behold I am alive forever more and I have the keys of death and Hades.
Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. This is the the word of the Lord. And as we begin and as we examine our text this morning, we see and start with, I John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus.
I love the way John begins. This is a a humble statement as it were. John here is saying I your brother and partner. I I am just like you. John says not only your brother in the Lord but partner in tribulation. That that word partner being that having a connotation of I am your your equal participant in the in tribulation in trial in suffering in affliction.
John is not writing this from an ivory tower overlooking the sea in a tranquil part of his life living out the end of his life in joy. No, we find out where is he writing this from? He's writing this from the island of Patmos. Pastor Matt walked us through that a little bit last week. He's been exiled on account of the word of the Lord because he held firm because he stood on the truth because he proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ and that's where he planted his flag.
He was kicked out of Rome and exiled onto Patmos. This desert-like destitute place. That's where he's writing this. It's not from this ivory tower. In fact, Rome had a had a number of different reasons why they kicked people to Patmos. You could Google it. It's quite fascinating the reasons why they sent him. Ultimately, John's stance on the gospel is illegal in the government's eyes, refusing to bow to the Roman religion of the day because he was so outspoken because he held to the word of God.
They're like, "Okay, get out of here." So, they exile him to basically a desert rocky island and that's where he lives. So when he says, "I your brother and partner, your equal participant," John is saying, "I know what it's like to walk through suffering, through hardship, and I'm your partner in this. We are doing this together." Is this not the same call that that same thing that believers today walk through? And I think oftentimes it feels like when we're walking through trials or hardships at work, the maybe our work is forcing worldly ideologies on us and it's and it's frustrating and angering.
I think sometimes we can feel like we are in an island all by ourselves. When you gather with the saints and you realize, man, we are not walking this alone. We have brothers and partners in these tribulations, in these trials and hardships. But he's not only that. He's a a partner in the in tribulation in the coming kingdom. He's living a partner in the anticipation of the kingdom in which we will all dwell together.
He is a partner there as well. And he says the patient endurance that are in Jesus. I love this. John here is connecting himself with the readers and this idea of of patient endurance that are in Christ Jesus. This is not just a a Revelation 1:9. This is actually a theme that you're going to start to see filtering its way throughout the book of Revelation.
Now, I'm not going to take any thunder from next week. But Revelation 2:es 2 and 3 talk about patient endurance of the church in Ephesus. Verse 13, we're going to see it in Pergamum. Verse 19, we're going to see it in Thotyra. Chapter 3:10, we're going to see it in Philadelphia. This is a regular thing, a regular call to patiently endure trial in the name of Christ for the name of Christ. We also see this in chapter 13 10.
Chapter 13:10, the we're not first beast has come. I'm not going to go into a lot of the context because that would take a lot of time. But verse 10, listen to what John writes. Verse 9, he says, "If anyone has an ear, let him hear." Very similar to what we read about in the churches. If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes. If anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword he must be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. The call to endure.
And then again in chapter 14 verse 12 we read the same language. He says here is a call for the endurance of the saints those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. So all I'm saying here is John introduces this idea of patiently enduring. But that's going to be filtered throughout the rest of this book. So that's one of those things that as you're reading maybe maybe mark that in the back of your mind be like oh I've read that somewhere. You're going to see these themes.
This is just one of them. We also see this by Paul written to the Thessalonian church in chapter 3 verses 2 to 5. He says, "And that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith, but the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you that you are doing and will do the things that we command.
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. A call to endure through the hardship, through the trial. You're not enduring alone. You have others with you. Focus on Christ. Stand firm and endure. This is what he says. And continuing on verse 10 in Revelation 1, he says, "I was in the spirit on the Lord's day. This is not he's he's not in a dreamlike trance.
This is a seems to be by the language a divine carrying through by the spirit carrying John through. Was in the spirit, the spirit of God, a a divine revelation and the and God bringing him to these places or opening up his eyes to see these visions. That's what's happening on the Lord's day on a Sunday. That's what he's saying. This is not to be confused with the day of the Lord. That's a that's a different thing. This is on the Lord's day on a Sunday.
John on the island of Patmos gets caught up by the spirit. That's about as much as we can say about that. And he is given this revelation. It's very similar to what we actually read in Ezekiel. Ezekiel chapter 2, chapter 3. We see that same language as Ezekiel has been shown these visions or this thing and and it's the similar language that he was in the spirit or the spirit brought him there similar language and you'll see a lot of overlap of revelation and Ezekiel well and Daniel and Isaiah and Matthew you get the point so this is the context this is what's going on I was in the spirit on the Lord's day.
And I heard behind me a vo loud voice like a trumpet saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, Ephesus, Smeirna, Pergamum, Thotyra, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Leodysia." Now, I'm a maps guy. Some people are maps people, other people are not. But I got a map for you. I know, right? Just so you're aware, this is where these churches are located. Here's Patmos.
Okay. Right here. The Mediterranean Sea is down down here. Okay. Greece is over there. Okay. So, this is just where those seven churches are located. Ephesus, Mirina, Pergamum, Thotyra, Sardis, Philadelphia, Leodysa. Just so you can get a grasp of who who's John writing to and where is he writing. There it is. Okay. So verse 12. So he hears this voice and verse 10 a voice like a trumpet.
We had a very interesting conversation in our in our staff meeting on Wednesday cuz could you imagine they're talking about like imagine just a loud trumpet in your ear being like so naturally what does John do? He's like what was that voice? It's like a trumpet. Draws his attention. And you're going to see you're going to see this language.
You're going to see the word like a lot, not only in this text, but once again all the way through Revelation. That word like is a very key word. It helps us to understand that John is not necessarily seeing a trumpet, but he's doing his best to describe what he hears and what he sees. Right? So when you see that word like it's a it's a key thing to be like okay it's not a trumpet but the best way that John can think about how to describe that is it's it's like a trumpet or it's like rushing water or it's like this or it's like that.
You're going to see that again and again throughout this book. So naturally John turns verse 12 to see the voice that was speaking to me. And this is where things get real for a moment for John. He sees at first seven golden lampstands. We know by verse 20. We don't have to we don't have to sit there and figure out, okay, okay, what's what what is what is he talking about?
Verse 20 tells us exactly what he's talking about. Okay. Verse 20 says the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Okay? So he turns and he sees seven lampstands. Those are representing those seven churches. But it's very important for us to understand and pastor Matt and you're going to see this a lot. Numbers are key. The number seven is key. It's not that these are the only seven churches in the world. Okay? These are the seven churches that John is writing to.
The number seven has an has the connotation of complete and whole. That's the number seven. And what we're going to see as we go through the chapter 2 and chapter 3 is essentially what we're about to read is not just for these seven churches, but for all churches for all time. And you're going to see that played out because it's going to say things like he he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches, not just one church, but so what we're seeing seven is complete, indicating that what we're about to read is not for just this moment and this time, but also throughout history.
Okay? So he sees these seven golden lampstand. Now what what is a lampstand? A lampstand is simply a stand that upholds a light. Right? That's all a lampstand is. The church, the churches are called to be lampstands. 1 Timothy 3:15, what does it say? That he calls the church to be a pillar and a buttress of the truth. That which upholds the light of the gospel.
That which upholds the truth in a dark world. That's what the church is called to be a lampstand in the community in their area. We are called to be a pillar and a buttress of the truth. And so he sees these lampstands and in the midst of those one like a son of man. That's what he sees. John here is seeing a picture, a vision, and he is seeing the son of man.
He is seeing Christ himself in all his glory on display. This is a wild picture. We know that he is talking about Jesus by the language of son of man. So, if you have your Bibles, jump back with me to Daniel chapter 7. I trust that as we go through our series, you're going to get very familiar with where Daniel and Ezekiel are.
Daniel chapter 7 verse 13. Earlier in Daniel 7, he sees a vision of all these beasts and then he sees the ancient of days. He sees or yeah there were and the ancient of days verse 9 thrones were placed and the ancient of days took his seat. Okay, the ancient of days being God. Verse 13. I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the ancient of days, and was presented before him.
And to him, that is the son of man, was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages shall serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. The son of man is described here as having an eternal kingdom that all peoples, all tribes, all nations, all languages will serve the son of man.
Daniel describes the son of man. We know it to be Jesus the Messiah. In fact, Jesus's favorite way of describing himself, depending on which translations, but between 81 and 88 times, the word son of man is used to describe Jesus in the Gospels. Think about that. I think there's no question who the son of man is. One of those is found in the book of Mark, chapter 2.
Picking it up in verse 9. This is where Jesus is here healing the paralytic, the man who can't walk, right? And his friends carry him over, put him up, bring him up the roof, cut the hole, drop him down. That's what's happening. Picking it up in verse 9. So Jesus, actually, we'll back up just a little bit. Verse 5. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes are sitting there questioning in their hearts, why does this man speak like that?
He is blaspheing. Who can forgive sins but God alone? And Jesus said, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." Or to say, "Rise, take up your bed, and walk?" But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home."
And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all. So that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this." Key here on verse 10. But that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. Who can forgive sins but God alone? That's what the scribes ask. The answer is nobody. No one can forgive sins but God alone. Jesus says, "I am God." That's what he says.
The son of man, God, Jesus the Messiah has authority to forgive sin. We know in verse 13 of Revelation 1, in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man. Now, listen to this description. We're not going to there's going to be on on your PowerPoint. There's going to be lots of texts and kind of what each of these descriptions are. We're not going to go through all of them, but I want to give them to you.
So, I'd encourage you to go ahead and read all of these throughout this week as as further study. But he sees a long robe with a golden sash. If we read were to go and look at Leviticus 16, Hebrews, this is a description of the priestly garments. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the holy one, the son of man, is and continues to be a high priest. His hair is white.
Daniel 7:9 is a picture of his absolute holiness, perfectly pure, no stain of sin, nothing. 100% perfectly holy. That's who he is. Eyes like fire. If we were to go to Hebrews chapter 4, we'd see that that the Lord himself has a gaze that penetrates and cuts through the marrow to get to the sees the very core of who you are.
Nothing escapes the gaze of Christ himself. Feet burnished bronze glowing hot. This is a picture of the coming judgment that he is going to bring. Voice of many waters. His voice is one of power and authority. If we were to go to Ezekiel chapter 43, we would see it laid out there for us.
His voice carries authority. We actually see that in the gospels. There's many times where Jesus is teaching. And the scribes and the people listening would be like, he teaches as one who just carries authority. That's who he is. Once again, the two-edged sword, if we were to jump ahead, which we're not allowed to do according to Ron Legowski, Revelation chapter 19, right?
We see this picture of Christ coming robe dipped in blood and a sword coming out of his mouth with which to cut down the nations. This is a an eradication of sin. That's what he uses this sword for. And his face shining. His face is shining. His glory on display. We go to Ma. We're going to go to Matthew 17 in a little bit. So, kind of maybe flip there if you're if you take a little bit of time.
We are going to end up in Matthew 17 in a moment. But I love I love reading this description cuz the only thing that came that consistently just kept coming to my mind like I want to I want to try to put put yourself in this for a moment. John turns and he sees these seven lampstands which represent the seven churches.
Then he sees the son of man and he sees the glory of Christ unveiled. Eyes like fire, feet ready to bring judgment. You see the power, the authority, the holiness, the righteousness of Christ. And you know what never ceased to dawn on me this week was this Christ is the same Christ who condescended to earth.
This is the same Christ that lived among sinful people for 30ome years. The same Christ who never once abandoned holiness. Not for a nancond in his thoughts, in his mind. He is untainted by sin. This is the same Christ that willingly died. This Christ who has flames of fire and red hot with judgment on his feet.
This is the same Christ that willingly laid his life on a cursed tree. So that you and I could go free. In fact, Kyler, this is not in my notes, but I think it's okay. Kyler, the song that we sang right before the sermon, can you go to verse three of that song and put it up on the screen next?
Think about this for a moment. And when I think that God, his son not sparing sent him to die, I scarce can take it in. Next. That on the cross my burden he gladly beared. He bled. He died to take away my sin.
This Christ that we have just read in Revelation is that same Christ. Oh, that we would be overwhelmed with the reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also sing a song, it was my sin that put him there. And yet out of the magnificent love of God, he sent this son.
This power, this authority he put on hold so that we would not have to spend eternity away from him in hell. If you don't know this Christ, if you don't know this Christ, the one who gladly took your pain, gladly took your sorrow, gladly took what you and I deserve.
If you don't know that Christ, you're going to face this one. That's what we have to face. If you are not in Christ, this Christ with the eyes of fire and the feet coming with ready judgment, that's who you have to face. And notice John's response. John redeemed. John the beloved one. John the one who walked with, touched, heard, saw, ate with this Christ.
What is his response to seeing the full glory of Christ on display? He does not say, "Oh, look. It's Jesus, my homeboy." And I say that because there's shirts that walk around with Jesus is my homeboy and we're just going to approach Christ with a laxidasical look. John upon seeing the full glory of Christ on display falls down as if dead. That is the right response to seeing Christ. He falls down.
When I saw him, verse 17, I fell at his feet as though dead. This is not the first time in scripture we have seen someone see the glory of Christ and have this response. Go with me on a on a slight journey, if you will. Okay, Pastor Matt walked through the first one, Isaiah 6. Upon Isaiah seeing the glory of Christ, what did he do?
Woe is me. He falls down as if dead. Ezekiel 1. Go there with me. Ezekiel chapter 1 verse 28. I I'll kick for context.
I'll go to verse 27. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist, I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist, I saw as it were the appearance of fire. And there was a brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bull that is in the cloud. And on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the alkeness of the glory of the Lord.
And when I saw it, I fell on my face. And I heard the voice of one speaking. Upon seeing the glory of the Lord, what did Ezekiel do? He fell on his face. Unworthy. Verse chapter 43. Then he led me to a gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east.
And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters. And the earth shone with his glory. And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city. And just like the vision that I had seen by the Shebar Canal. And what did he do? I fell on my face. Ezekiel gets it. You see the glory of God, you fall on your face. You see the glory of Christ, you fall on your face. Daniel, as Dave read for us, I'm going to go back there for a moment.
Daniel chapter 10, verse 15. When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. And behold, one like with the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. And then I opened my mouth and spoke. And I said to him who stood before me, "Oh my Lord, by reason pardon me, by reason of the vision, pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength." He was on his face.
He has no strength. Jump into the New Testament. We see this among the shepherds in Luke chapter Luke chapter 2. When the glory of the Lord shone around them, what did the shepherds do? They were enraptured with fear. Terror came upon them. My friends, John, when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
And what I find fascinating about this is this is not the first time that John has seen the glory of Christ unveiled. I told you we were going to go back to Matthew 17. Go there with me now. Matthew chapter 17 picking it up. We're going to go to verse five and six.
He was still speaking when behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice came from the cloud. This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. And when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. Peter, James, John, up on the mount. They see the transfiguration of Christ, his glory unveiled. They see Moses. They see Elijah.
They hear the voice of the Lord. This is my son. And their only response is to fall on their face as though terrified. This is the right response to seeing Christ in all his glory. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not."
Could you imagine for a moment? I I like to try to put myself in certain situations. I I if you're John, you have fallen down as though dead. And this Christ puts his hand on you and says, "Fear not." My response would be like, "Have you seen you?" But he says, "Fear not." That word fear is an is a very fascinating.
This this word fear is like phobia. That's it's like do not be do not be terrified. Do not have fear of me. You've been redeemed. If you do not know the Lord, fear should be absolute terror at what is coming, at his judgment and his wrath that is coming. That should shake you to your very core. We are called to fear the Lord, to have reverential awe, and to understand what should have come our way is is a just wrath.
But what did come our way was gentleness and mercy and grace. So we still need to operate our lives in fear of the Lord as a way to worship and honor and ex ex pardon me exalt his great name to be in awe of his glory and his majesty rolls into worship of our God. Fear not. Jesus says, "I am the first and the last and the living one." This is a another way of saying the alpha and the omega.
I am the beginning and the end. I essentially Jesus is saying, "Fear not. I am sovereign over all. Fear not." And I love how he says, "I died and behold, I am alive forever more and I have the keys of death and Hades." Jesus Christ, because he died, because he didn't stay dead, he rose from death, conquering sin, conquering death.
He holds the keys to death and Hades. In other words, he carries all authority over life and death cuz death has no grip on him. Death has no say in his life anymore. He has complete authority over death. He has complete authority over life. We see this multiple times. Go to the Gospel of John with me. John chapter 5.
I'm going to pick it up in verse 19 as a description of the divine authority that Jesus carries. So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, the son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the father doing. For whatever the Father does that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them to life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. This is a picture of the gospel that he resurrects dead people to give them life. Salvation is in the hands of Jesus. He has the authority over life. He has the authority over death. Chapter 10 of the book of John verse 17. For this reason the father loves me because I laid down my life that I may take it up again. Now notice verse 18.
No one takes it from me. No one takes Jesus's life from him. But I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down. I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my father. Jesus has full authority over life and over death. He holds those keys.
And because he has the authority over life and over death for that's why as a believer in Jesus Christ one who has repented and turned to the lordship of Christ and Christ is king and master and lord of your heart upon your last breath here you are guaranteed by Christ to rise from the dead rise to newness of life and be with him. Romans chapter 6:5 lays out that truth because he has authority over life and over death.
Your resurrection is guaranteed. Jesus then goes on in verse 20, "As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand in the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." And I know there's some in this room who really want me to talk about the seven stars in his right hand.
There's a few differing views. Some would say that this is actual angelic beings given to the churches as a messenger and kind of overseers. Other people would hold that this is directed to the leaders and like the elders of each local church as we can see that in John. We can see that in the book of revelation. Study it for yourself and let me know what you come up with. That's what I'm going to leave you with. I want to draw our attention to this reality.
Is he safe? No. If you are against Christ, if you are not in him, he is the furthest thing from safe. And make no mistake, you will come face to face with him someday. That is inevitable. You will one day stand before this unsafe Messiah and all that wrath, all that judgment will be poured out on you rightly so.
He is not safe. But my friends, he is so good. He is so merciful. He is so kind. And he says, "Come. Come to me. Turn from your life of sin. Turn from being a slave of sin which leads you down the path to condemnation and come to me. Make me your Lord and your Savior and see how good I am.
My friends, he's not safe, but he is good. He's merciful and he is kind. Let us recognize not only this day, but in the days ahead, how good and gracious our king is. Let us have a high view of Christ and a low view of self. Let's pray. Father, we recognize after seeing this text how unworthy we are, Lord.
No one can stand arrogantly in your presence, but upon seeing a glimpse of the glory of Christ, we would all fall down as though dead. So Lord, I pray that our very hearts would be in a consistent posture of humility and a longing to serve you, to serve your son, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Father, for those who don't know you, who are hearing the gospel maybe for the first time, would you grip their hearts so tightly? Would you wake them up?
Would you make them alive to see their sin and bow in repentance? Father, that is a work that only you can do. And we would ask that you would do. We thank you that your will, whatever that is, is good and perfect. Lord, help us to worship you well in Jesus name. Amen.
Transcribed automatically from YouTube captions, so names and words may be misheard.
