Temple Baptist Church - 10-20-2019
Revelation 1:4-6
Introduction:
A. I know that we are going through the Book of Revelation on Sunday nights, but for the next couple of Sundays, I will spend both services there. I am trying to systematically preach through but need to go back to some verses that I preached on earlier.
B. I want to take a closer look at verses 4-6. Why was the Book of the Revelation written?
1. God is not “unveiling” Jesus Christ to the world in this final Book of the Bible.
a) The Bible, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is about Christ. The Bible is a ‘Him Book.” Therefore, it is about the being and importance of God to man.
1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (The world does not know God! The world knoweth us not, because it knew him not!)
b) He has “unveiled” Himself through both nature and the gospel. These two things are all that the world will see and are all that it takes for the sinner to come to Christ. The lost sinner has rejected both!
c) The world has rejected the “Light” of nature. Evolution is a willful rejection of what the world sees. Creation, design, order, and perfect harmony.
Psalms 19:1-4 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (2) Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. (3) There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (4) Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Romans 1:18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
d) The Bible is also a “People Book.” Without man, there would be no Bible. Therefore, it is about the being and importance of man to God.
e) The world has rejected the “Light” of the gospel. Atheism is a willful rejection of the revealed knowledge of God as Satan blinds men to the gospel.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2. He is revealing Jesus Christ to the children of God. Just look at 1 John 3:2.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (The children of God DO KNOW HIM! God is “unveiling” Jesus Christ to us!)
C. To the world, we are mentally challenged. If it were not “politically incorrect” to do so, the world would have you and I institutionalized!
1. Christianity is a classic case of “mental illness” in our day. We talk to someone who does not exist!
2. Though most would not refer to me as such, I am a “fool” for Christ. Someone who does not exist speaks to me in a “still small voice” that I both hear and understand. I thank God every day that I know Him, love Him, and serve Him.
D. The Book of the Revelation is:
1. A Book about who Jesus Christ is. We see Jesus Christ as He is.
2. A book about who you and I are: where we were, where He brought us to, and what we shall be one day: like Him!
3. A Book of prophecy concerning the end-time, the judgement of this world and sinners, and the beginning of eternity for both lost and saved.
E. I want to take a short look at the child of God this morning in relationship to Christ and the end-time.
1. Who Christ is and what He did for us. This is all about Him! “Without Him, I would be nothing!”
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
2. About who we were. Lost without God, without hope in this world.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
3. About what He did. Jesus Christ became sin for us and died in our place.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
4. About what we became. The sons of God, saved by God’s amazing grace.
Ephesians 2:1-7 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:22-26 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
5. About who we are. As priests, we can approach God through Jesus Christ instead of through an earthly priesthood.
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1 Peter 2:5-9 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
6. About what we will be. As kings, we will reign with our Lord in the Millennium.
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Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
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