Revelation 1:1-3

Revelation chapter 1 I want to read the first three verses and then go over briefly what we looked at last week the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John who bear record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand. God blessed to us His sacred and holy word. The book of Revelation we said is certainly a bewildering book. It’s not easy to understand even for those. who are mature in the faith. One of the reasons is that what is portrayed in the book is in picture form and sometimes it’s baffling to the mind. We also said that good men have widely differed on the book, some taking extremely opposite views. We talked about the four major views and I’ll just mention it again. I’m not going to weary you with these four views as we go along, but I talk talked about the historicist, Revelation is to them a survey of the whole of church history, step by step, but days in the book of Revelation are equated to years. So when it says, talks about 1, 260 days, they’re talking about 1,160 years. And one of their purposes is to expand the time so that it gets to the time of the Roman Catholic Church to make, the pope and the Rome that is mentioned in the book here referred to that particular entity and the Pope. We said the partial preterist view is that revelation is mostly fulfilled in the past. Preterist means past, so we’re saying it’s partially past. It’s mostly fulfilled, except the last few chapters like 20 through 22. We would say that the book is high. figurative. The futurist says that everything after chapter 3 awaits fulfillment in the future. They take a very literal approach to the book for the most part. The fourth view is the idealist view. There’s no specific fulfillment. All we got is overall principles, recurring themes for all ages. Now, Revelation is a a brilliantly written book. given, of course, by the Spirit of God and inspiration. But it draws heavily on the Old Testament and prophecy of the Old Testament in particular. Therefore, you must be familiar with the Old Testament, understand, and interpret the book. It’s so difficult because I said it’s a book of signs. And you’ll notice he says it’s signified in verse 1 or signified. In other words, it’s expressed by signs. to say about Christ. What I’m going to undertake is a brief overview of the book rather than a detailed study. I don’t have all the answers for every detail in the book. What I’m going to try to do is lay the foundation, try to get some main points in so that you may have an idea of how to approach the book. Any time you have any questions, you’re free to ask. I don’t say that I have all the answers, but I will attempt an answer. Now, we began talking. last week about the contemporary nature of the book. And we focus here on the first three verses, because it talks about the time is at hand. And in other words, we expect, as we come into this book, or at least we’re told, to expect a soon fulfillment, quick fulfillment, here of what is in the prophecy. Shortly means quickly at once without delay with speed. shortly. At hand means near, eminent, present, ready. We looked at some New Testament passages, and it’s a couple of Old Testament passages regarding the use of these words. And we also mentioned how Revelation opens with these two phrases. The time is at hand. And shortly come to pass. And it closes in Chapter 22 with those same, emphasizing that particular aspect. We looked at a few objections that some people have. Now, what I want to do this morning is I want to look at the contemporary evidence that’s found throughout the book. Instead of just looking at what we hear at the beginning and what we hear at the end, I want to look inside the book and see also that this is the case. And the first evidence, I suggest to you is found in verse 9. of chapter 1. John, a companion in the tribulation. I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the aisle that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Now, sometimes the Bible speaks of the word tribulation in a general sense. In a sense of all Christians may have persecution as they go through this life, that is certainly true. However, John is thinking about a specific period of hardship. In the Greek, there’s an article before the word tribulation. He says, the tribulation. So he has a specific tribulation in mind. The King James does not translate this article. But various marginal references will point this out if you have that in your Bible. This book speaks in chapter 7 of verse 14 of the Great Tribulation. Talked about those that came out of the Great Tribulation. They’re up in heaven. And you’ll recall that in the Olivet discourse of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24, that he speaks about the great tribulation. If you want to turn with me to Matthew in chapter 24, I want to read verses 15 to 21. Jesus says this, when you therefore see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the Holy place, whosoever readeth, let him understand, then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains, let him which is on the house top, not go down to anything, not go down to take anything out of his house. Let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days. But pray that your flight be not in winter, neither on the Sabbath day. Where then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be. Remember Christ is talking to his disciples when he says, pray not that your flight be not in winter, neither on the Sabbath. They indicating this time element when this was going to occur was going to be in their days. Jesus is specifically, I think, referring to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. The Roman invasion of the land to put down a Jewish rebellion. Jesus calls this whole period of time, this persecution of the people of God, to the demise of the nation of Israel as the tribulation of those days in chapter of 24 and verse 29. What I’m telling you this morning according to what John writes in 1-9 is, he has tasted the initial aspects of this monstrous event. He is seeing the initial phase here of the tribulation. He has been a victim of it. He’s been arrested. He’s been banished to the owl of Patmos for the preaching of the gospel. Thus, the urgency of John’s message to prepare the people of God because he expects something soon, quick, a near fulfillment of what he’s writing, so that they are prepared, and they should realize it is at hand. Now, if you look at chapter 2 of the Book of Revelation, and you’ll notice in verse 10, when he writes to the church at Samerna, he says this, fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you in prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. That be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He expects them to endure this tribulation. Look at chapter 2 verses 20 through 23 as well. To the church at Thyra retire, he writes these words. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee because thou sufferst that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and I give her space to repent, and I gave her space to repent of her fornication, she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and then that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins in the hearts, and I will give us. to every one of you according to your works. According to these verses of Scripture, it seems to me that he’s saying that’s going to come upon you. And he mentions these particular churches in Asia Minor. Sir John here is a companion in the tribulation as he sees it initially starting. Now, is there any questions about this particular point that I’m making? Yes, Keith. So are you saying that No, I think I don’t think that she is. I think this is a false teacher in the church if I retire, probably a woman, who has usurped authority, and is leading the people of God into some type of idol worship. Just as Jezebel in the Old Testament led Israel to bail worship, he mentions the the idols, eating things, sacrificed idols, and the fornication is often connected with idol worship, as Corinthians indicates to us. So I assume that it’s something of that nature. Any other questions? The church for… Right. Why would Samirna or Thyra Tira worry about these matters if there are 2,000 years in the future? That’s right. What I was trying to show is there are hints that they should worry about it because he tells them that it’s, you know, it’s coming. Now, in light of that, look at chapter 3 and verse 10 of the book of Revelation. This is to the church at Philadelphia. Notice what he says to them. The church of Philadelphia is kept from the ire of trial. Hour of trial. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. Now Philadelphia here is not an imaginary church. It’s not symbolic. These are actual churches at this particular time in Asia Minor, to which John writes. This is not the prophetic portion of the book. The Lord promises to shelter and protect these believers from this period of tribulation, which is about to affect those around. them. In fact, all parts of the Roman Empire will eventually be swept up in this tribulation. Christians are going to suffer, some severely, some less, during this period. But particularly, the focus will be to test those who dwell upon the earth. Now the word earth, and we’ll be looking at this here, the Greek word here can be translated land. as well as earth. And I would take, for the most part, in this book, that it means the land, the land of Israel in particular, is what is going to be tried with this great tribulation. But also we’ll see that it spreads to the rest of the Roman Empire. Now, does it make sense for Christ to make such a promise to a church in John’s Day when the tribulation, is going to occur thousands of years later. Just the reverse of what we were talking about earlier with Russell’s comment. The dispensationalists want to make a secret rapture. This is the church that gets raptured out, and so they try to make a secret rapture somewhere along the line before the Great Tribulation. But no one in the Philadelphia Church had experienced a secret rapture, and the church no longer exists today. So Christ’s promise had to be given to bolster the faith of these first century readers, those who were about to witness the hour of testing all around them. So the Church of Philadelphia is kept from the hour of trial. So there are several things here in the first opening chapters that indicate the relevance of the Great Tribulation coming upon these people. Now, look at Revelation Chapter 11, verses 1 and 2. I want you to see here that the temple is still standing. And there was given me a reed like under Rod, and the angel stood saying, rise, measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court, which is without the temple, leave out, and measure it not, for it is given under the genesis. tiles, and the holy city shall be tread underfoot 42 months. Whatever the book of revelation means, however you would interpret the book, it seems clear that the Temple of Jerusalem is still standing when John writes the book. And I suggest you then that the book was written prior to 70 AD. This is not some rift. rebuilt temple, but the very one Christ gave a prophecy about. Because John uses Christ’s very words. If you compare Revelation 112, when he talks about it being given under the Gentiles and the Holy City, shall they tread under foot for 42 months here, you’ll notice that this seems to be taken from Luke chapter 21. and verse 24. If you want to look there with me, and you’ll notice in verse 20 of this, he talks about, when you shall see Jerusalem come pass with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Notice verse 24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And so we see the very similar wording here to what we find here in Revelation 11 and 2. And Jesus, of course, is talking about the temple that he has visited. He’s talking about the temple he has discussed with the disciples. When they said, look at this magnificent temple, and he said, I tell you this all is going to be destroyed. Every stone is going to be removed and so forth. In late 8066, the Jewish rebellion took place. Not long afterwards, Vespasian was sent to Judea by the Emperor Nero, early 67, to put down the revolt. Vespasian’s army swept through the land of Israel, crushing all resistance, by August 8070, the Roman breached the inner wall of Jerusalem and subdued the city. In the process, the temple and the city were transformed into a raging inferno. Every stone of the temple was removed. Now, when you go to Jerusalem today, you’ll notice that they have what they call the wailing wall that’s still there. That wall was still there. That wall was still there. That wall. That wall, you’ll notice that they have what they have, wasn’t part of the temple. That wall was surrounding the temple. The temple was like sectioned off and there was like a wall around it and inside that boxed area was the temple itself. The temple was completely destroyed. So all is left is one of those retaining walls on the outside. It should be noted that from the spring of 67 to August of 70, the time of the siege was a period of 42 months. any questions about this point this point? From the spring of 67 to August of 70, the time of the siege was a period of 42 months. We’ll look at this more fully when we go through the comment, like a more of a brief survey of the whole book more systematically, more like verse by verse. But at this point, I’m just trying to say, trying to get you to think about what’s in the book and how it relates. Now, if you would, let’s look at Revelation 18. Let me read verses 16 through 20. Revelation 18, 16 to 20. And saying, alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. For in one-office, power so great riches has come to naught. And every shipmaster in all the company in ships and sailors and as many as trade by sea stood afar off. And they cried when they saw the smoke of our burning, saying, what city is like under this great city? And they cast dust on their heads, cried, weeping and wailing, saying, alas, alas, that great city wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness, for in one hour she is made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her. And then if you look at verse 24, and in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of the saints, and of all them that were slain upon the earth, for the land. I’ll focus your attention on verse 20. Do not the words apostles and prophets require a contemporary interpretation of this book. You remember that the apostles were close companions of our Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. The only exception of this was the apostle Paul, who personally saw, who personally saw, and conversed with Christ, but admits that he was an apostle born out of due time. 1 Corinthians 15A. He was an exceptional case. He was special. Scripture states that the New Testament church was built upon the foundation of what? The apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the chief corner stump. Right? So when we talk about apostles and prophets, we’re talking about foundations. part of the church, are we not? Whatever this passage has to say, it must relate to the early church, to those involved in the founding of this New Testament church. God promises to avenge the martyrs after a little season in chapter 6 and verse 11. Not more than a thousand years later, or now almost 2,000.000. years later, if we continue counting on here, let me ask you this question. Are there any apostles today? Are there going to be any apostles today? Can there be any apostles today? All the apostles are long dead and buried, none roam the earth. The office has ceased to exist when the last living apostle died. There is no apostolic succession. Are there any prophets today. Do not the scriptures teach that with the completion of the canon of scripture, as we tried to see from 1. Corinthians 13, that this extraordinary gift of the Spirit will fail, it will cease, it will vanish away. 1. Corinthians 138 to 10. Remember what the very first chapter of our confession of faith says in paragraph 1, the last phrase of it, those former ways of God’s revealing his will under his people now ceased. If that is what you confess, how can you come to the book of Revelation and say, oh, this is all in the future. Aren’t you going to have to resurrect apostles? Aren’t you going to have to resurrect prophets to do that? However, if this book is written before 70 AD, it relates to the early church, we don’t have that problem, do we? And Daniel, chapter 9 and verse 24, one of the things that Christ is going to do, and that 70 weeks prophecy, is to seal up the vision and prophecy. Matthew Henry says, he sealed up. That is, he put an end to that method of God discovering his mind and will and took another course by completing the scriptures, the can of the New Testament, which is more sure word of prophecy than by vision. and I think that’s correct. Now, if this prophecy about Babylon still awaits fulfillment in the future, somehow or other, we’ve got to resurrect these extraordinary offices. So I challenge the biblical validity of such an interpretation of this book. Those of you who hold the confession of faith and you say you agree with the confession of faith, well, What are you going to do with this? So God avenges the apostles and prophets by destroying Babylon. Any questions about this point? Matthew 23, Jesus talks to them about the blood that’s been shed. You are the murderers of the… You’re the children of the murders of the prophet, the sons of them. You garnish their graves, but you’re actually falling in line with them. And he said, all their blood from Abel on is going to come upon this generation. That’s right. Is that what you’re thinking of? That passage? That’s Matthew 23, right toward the end. Yes. I would agree with you. I didn’t even… You notice I didn’t even interpret Babylon here. I’m just trying to, without even interpreting things, I’m trying to lay out for you why I think this should be interpreted this way. I’m going to run out of time before I run on a… before I get done. Okay. You know what? Maybe I’ll stop right here and then I’ll just pick up next week here. Because I’d like to take my time and look at these other two points I want to make before going on. So any other questions on this? Again, all I’m trying to do right now is show is we go through the book how, right throughout the book, that this is the case. Yes, Russ. Oh, Jerusalem. Yes. Remember what Jesus said, can a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem? And so, I’m not going to get into this, but I don’t think Peter ever went to Rome. So, you know, we can dispatch that whole idea that Peter went to Rome and became the first pope. And so all that is bunk. You won’t find that biblically stated in Scripture. And we’ll we’ll be talking about the fact that the Apostle, for the most part stayed around Jerusalem and worked there with the early church. And they went out from there. You know, you’ll see Peter goes out and he preaches in Samaria, and, you know, he goes down to Joppa and so forth. But then he comes back to Jerusalem. So when Paul goes to Jerusalem, he meets him at Jerusalem and so forth. But at any rate, let me, Let us stop here at this point. But I’m still looking at the contemporary nature of this argument. The book has a contemporary flavor for us, and we should look at it that way. Keith, could you close us?