Things Seen

By Pastor Tim Hitchcock

 

Introduction:

--Last week, we began a study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book of the Bible.  We established the true title, the background, the outline, and the introduction to the book.  This week, we want to look at "Things Seen."

Scripture: Revelation 1: 4-20

--To better understand this passage, we are going to divide it into five parts beginning with the greeting.

 

I.) The Greeting (vs. 4-6):

--The text starts with a greeting.  John was going to tell us what he has seen, but first, he wanted to say, "Hello."  This is the Apostle John writing to the seven churches, which were in Asia at the time of his writing.  These were not the only churches in Asia, but were the ones singled out for this letter.

--John wanted them to know that he was the writer, but the message was from God the Father.  He identifies the Father as He which is, which was, and which is to come.  Because this epistle deals with future events, John wanted to establish that God is so great that He is not limited by time itself.  He exists past, present, and future at the same time.  Therefore, He can reveal the future.

--He also wanted them to know that the message was from the Holy Spirit.  Seven is the number of completion and refers to the perfection of God (See Isaiah 11: 2).

--Finally, the message was from Jesus Christ.  He is the faithful witness.  We frequently fail in our witness, but He did not.  He is the first begotten of the dead, meaning that a greater resurrection is coming.  He is no longer a baby in a manger.  He is the prince of the kings of the earth.  He is the one true Lord. --He is the one who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.  Not only that, He made us to be kings and priests to God.  He deserves and will have both glory and dominion for ever.  Amen!!!

 

II.) The Message (vs. 7-8):

--Having established who is doing the talking, John stated the message.  Jesus Christ is coming in the clouds (Acts 1: 9-11).  He is coming to rapture the church.

--Every eye will see Him.  Some will say it was a delusion or mass hysteria.  Others will say it was not what they thought it was.  Whatever the excuse may be, those who have heard the gospel and turned away will not believe what they see with their own eyes (II Thessalonians 2: 8-12).

--Even the Jewish people will see the one whom they pierced.  They will not yet believe, but they will soon turn to Christ at the close of the Tribulation.

--This glorious day for the saints of God will be absolutely terrifying to the lost.  They will wail in anguish at the sight of Christ in the clouds.  They will have a premonition that judgment is at hand.  And the servants of God will say, "Even so, Amen."  We will be so tired of foul and abominable things done on this world that we will gladly go with Him.

--Christ added His warning.  He is not some sweet little baby nor some senile old fool.  He is the Almighty God.  He is coming to gather His army to retake His world.

 

III.) The Vision (vs. 9-18):

--Next John humbly stated that he was no one special.  He was just a fellow brother in Christ who had experienced tribulation and had to patiently wait for the kingdom of Christ to be established.  Yet on the Lord's day, he was in the Spirit and had a vision of Christ.  He struggled to put into words what he saw, but it is the most terrifying passage in the letter.

--First, he heard a great voice behind him.  It sounded like a trumpet.  Christ spoke and said, "Write what you see." --Next, he turned toward the sound.  He saw seven golden candlesticks and someone standing in the midst of them.  His head and hair was white and blinding as freshly fallen snow on a sunshiny day.  But the eyes stood out as a flaming fire.  His feet were brilliant and radiant like pure brass in a molten state, and the voice was like standing beside Niagara Falls.  He had in his hand seven stars.  His mouth spoke like a sharp two-edged sword and His whole appearance was like the blinding light of the sun itself.

--If this does not scare you, then you do not know what you are going to confront when Christ returns.  John was so scared he fell down like he was dead, and he is the one who called himself "the disciple whom Jesus loved."  But Christ touched him, and said: “Fear not."

--This is the one who has the keys to both death and hell.  When we experience His presence, even as children we will fall to the ground and hope for those words: "Fear not."  What do you think those who are counted as enemies of God will experience?

 

IV.) The Command (vs. 19):

--John saw the vision and even in the midst of it, Christ spoke the command, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter."

--Christ wanted this vision to be preserved for posterity.  He wanted it to be part of our Bibles.

 

V.) The Explanation (vs. 20):

--In one final footnote, Christ offered an explanation of the vision.  We know that He is this figure.  He is the Ancient of Days, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.  But what about the seven stars in his right hand.  Jesus said that they are the angels of the seven churches.

--There are two thoughts here:

1.)    Each church has its own angel who defends it against the onslaught of the devil. 

2.) The angels are the pastors of the churches

       ---The word translated angel means messenger and may be used to refer to humans as well as angels.  In this case, the pastors are charged with the responsibility of shepherding the churches.

--I believe that both explanations are true.  Christ also explained the seven golden candlesticks.  He said that they represented the seven churches.  As a candlestick each church should radiate the light of the gospel to a lost and dying world.

Conclusion:

--As long as we act as a candlestick shining forth with the good news about the gospel to this lost and dying world, we will be standing with Christ.  But if we allow that flame to become impure and to exude a thick and choking black smoke that shuts out the light, then God will do the only sensible thing to do.  He will put out our candlestick.  He will close the doors of the church for His name's sake.

--In light of that we need to purify ourselves.  We need to get with His program.  We need to do what He expects of us. 

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Revelation 1: 7)

Friend, will you be ready?