Revelation 1:9-16
Introduction:
A. Through out the Bible, we see the Lord Jesus Christ described differently according to what dispensation He is portrayed in.
1. In the Old Testament, He is Jehovah God, the Almighty. The Creator of all things and LORD of heaven and earth. His Voice walks in the garden and thunders from Mt. Sinai. He is Almighty God who owns and controls all.
2. In the New Testament, we see His incarnation, He is the Son of God. The Word manifested in the flesh, a babe in a manger. He is raised in a carpenter’s home, teacher of the teachers in the Temple, obedient to His earthly parents, baptized by John as the Lamb of God, sinless, gracious, merciful, powerful over sickness—sinfulness—the wind and waves. He died on the cross as the sinner’s Sacrifice, was buried and rose again. He descended into the earth and ascended back into heaven.
3. In Revelation 1:7-8, He Appears as the world will know Him in the Second Coming.
B. In verse 13, John sees Christ in the same way that Daniel saw Him:
Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (14) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
C. For the first time since the Lord’s ascension back to heaven over 60 years before, John sees his Lord and Savior. The sight is one far different from the picture in his memory.
1. In the First Advent, Christ was born in a carpenter’s home. Christ came in grace, mercy, compassion, gentleness and longsuffering. John knew Him as his Lord and Saviour, as a great Teacher, as a Miracle Worker, as a Servant, as a Soul Winner. John laid his head on Jesus’ breast. John was there when Jesus prayed in the garden, was taken by the mob, mistreated by those in authority, nailed to an old rugged cross, gave Mary unto his care, died, was buried, and resurrected.
2. In the Second Advent, He comes in power, great glory, majesty, awe, and fearfulness of judgment.
a) 2 Corinthians 5:14-16 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (15) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (16) Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
b) After the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension—John saw Christ no more in the flesh. Therefore, John’s remembrance of Christ is as He was when He walked on the earth.
c) Now John sees the Lord, “like unto the Son of man,” but glorified as the King-Priest of the Universe. This is what the World will see in verse 7 and chapter 19.
1) As King - Revelation 1:7 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 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
2) As Priest - Hebrews 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
3. In the Revelation, we will see:
a) Who He is.
b) Who He was.
c) Who He shall be.
D. For the first time, John sees the eternal I AM THAT I AM! A picture that describes the person of the Lord of lords and King of kings.
E. You and I have never seen the Lord Jesus Christ, so our mental picture of Him is found in these verses. There is no description given of Christ when He walked this earth.
1 Peter 1:8-9 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
F. First, we see Christ in His Position:
1. The seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches of Asia. These churches are the testimony of Christ in the world. It is through the local church that Christ shows Himself to this lost world.
2. Jesus Christ continues to be amid the churches today that are standing in the Old Paths. I am not talking about the so-called churches that have gone the way of the world or corrupted the doctrines of God’s Word.
3. It is not numbers that impresses God. It is not the antics of entertainment or entertainers that impresses God. It is adherence to the Truth of God’s Word and a passion for the souls of men that He loves.
G. Secondly, we see Christ in His Person:
1. His Eternality. Verses 8.11. I want to begin the description of our Lord here.
a. The Self-existent One. “Which is, and which is, and which is to come.” He needs no counsel nor does He need anything.
b. “Alpha and Omega.” He is the Loftiest Idea in all literature.
c. “The Beginning and the Ending.” He is there when everything begins and will be there when everything ends.
d. “The First and the Last.” Before all things and After all things. The First one in and the Last one out as we said in the military. As with the three Hebrew children in the Book of Daniel, He was in the fire before they got there and He was in the fire after they got out, awaiting the next ones to be thrown in.
e. The One who created all thing, controls all things, and will consummate all things. Colossians 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
f. “The Author and the Finisher” of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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