Weekly Sermons

The Return of the King

Revelation is the Bible’s last book. Every book has to end somehow, and I have come to understand that this was the best way for God to end the Bible…

Read Revelation 1:1-8                  The Return of the King                              Let’s Pray!

 

Verse 1 lets us know that The Book of Revelation is first and foremost an indispensable source for rounding out the Biblical portrait of Jesus!             

Revelation is BOTH an unveiling ABOUT the person of Jesus Christ and an unveiling of events BY Jesus Christ.

Now because the word apokalysis occurs in 1:1, some say that tells us that Revelation is primarily an apocalyptic book. 

Even though Revelation has some similarities with apocalyptic language, like symbols and interesting images, the book itself claims to be much more.

 

So that the genuineness of your faith – more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.                      -I Peter 1:7

 

You do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.              -I Corinthians 1:7

 

To the best of my knowledge, no scholars say that either of those letters is an apocalyptic book based on those verses!

I believe Revelation is much more of a prophetic book than it is an apocalyptic book. But from verse four we also learn it is a letter to churches.

John wrote exactly 50 chapters of the Bible!          

Now when you read the Bible there is always a first audience and then subsequent audiences, including all of us!

The number 7 symbolically represents completion, fullness, perfection!

So together the 7 churches give us a complete portrait of the church.

In verse 3 we get a unique promise: you’ll be blessed if you do three things with The Book of Revelation:   read it, hear it, keep it!

Unlike chronos, which is more focused on chronological time, kairos is time as significant events.                                  -Mounce, 732

In verses 4 & 5 we get a greeting from the Triune God!

Isaiah spoke of the sevenfold attributes of the Spirit in Isaiah 11:2-3.

Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Might, Knowledge, Piety, & Fear of the Lord.

Verse 5 gives us three titles for Jesus:

 

Jesus is the faithful witness!

Jesus is the firstborn from the dead! 

Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth!

Verse 6 reminds us of three things Jesus has done for believers:

 

Jesus loves us!                               

Jesus freed us!       

Jesus “kinged” us!            

“Jesus, thank you that you love me, that you have freed me, and that you have ‘kinged’ me! To you be the glory today and forever!”                      

Verse 7 is the theme of the book:  The return of the King! 

There is not a single specific quotation from the Old Testament in the Revelation, but over 260 of the 404 verses contain allusions to over 550 Old Testament references.

These are the days people try to take or leave Jesus – but on that day everyone who did not turn to Him in faith will mourn over the many ways they rejected God’s revelation in their lives.

Verses 7 & 8 tell us the return of the King is certain! 

 

The certain return of the King should motivate us be ready for Him! 

Get ready, church, the boss may come today!

Get ready, church, the boss may come today!