08/14/2026
REVELATION 1 SERMON 1 OF 2 8.13.2026
GREETING- THIS REVEALS JESUS CHRIST
God leads us on paths of righteousness, into this church this morning- turn to your neighbors sitting around you and greet them with the peace of Jesus Christs offers….
The enemy- SATAN- the Devil has been defeated- we are starting sermons on the last book- REVELATION. It starts by saying – “The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST.” We see in Greek it is a noun this revelation, unveiling something that has been hidden.
PRAYER- Almighty God, you come to us as Father, Holy Spirit, and Son, having given us the gift of your presence in our lives and hearts.
Now give us the grace to love you with our minds as fully as we ought.
Cast aside in us our half-hearted at times efforts that are lacking given your majesty and power. Create in us an awareness, enabling us to view you as one who gives us grace rather than punishment, so we may love you and faithfully serve you all the days of our life.
OFFERING- Let us remember that the gifts we give today may be worthy of the gift we have received from the One who poured out His life for us on the cross.
SCRIPTURE--Revelation 1 New International Version Prologue
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and Doxology
4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” [b]
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” [c]
So shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
John’s Vision of Christ
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, [d] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
SERMON- THIS REVEALS JESUS CHRIST
JESUS, THE ONE WHO SHOWS HIS PEOPLE WHERE HISTORY IS GOING.
LIKE A MAP.
Show your hands- how many are good at directions? Like to read maps/Google Earth? Or try to find the road to Jonesboro or Kennett via county roads?
Sometimes I get lost- not asking directions-or asking too late…we are going to reveal REVELATION.
How about reading Revelation- it is like a map- Eugene Peterson tells us if you, read the 1st 65 books of the bible- at a minimum: a working knowledge of Isaiah to Malachi is useful.
There is hope- it will take work, more reading but I hope the notes provided and these sermons will show you the roads to take. So are you ready… Let us get started… by setting the stage…
Today, I have four movements. 1. Revelation unveils Jesus — Revelation 1:1–2.
The Greek apokalypsis means an unveiling or disclosure. Right from the first verse, John tells us what the book is about: Jesus Christ.
2. Revelation brings blessing — Revelation 1:3.
There is a three-part movement here worth emphasizing:
READ → HEAR → TAKE TO HEART.
That is excellent for Front Porch Fellowship. We are not studying Revelation merely to construct an end-times chart. We are reading it so God's Word changes how we live.
3. Revelation shows us who Jesus is — Revelation 1:4–6.
John gives us magnificent Christology:
• the faithful witness
• the firstborn from the dead
• the ruler of the kings of the earth
• the One who loves us.
• the One who freed us from our sins by His blood.
That last movement is especially important. Before John shows us beasts, judgments, Babylon, or Armageddon, he shows us Jesus and the Gospel.
4. Revelation points us toward His coming — Revelation 1:7–8.
Then comes the great announcement:
“Look, he is coming with the clouds.”
Daniel 12:9-10- an angel told Daniel many prophecies would not be understood until the end times- they are sealed for now until…
Rev. 22:10 when John is told not to seal up the words of prophecy- because the time is near.
Blessings- blessings- blessings- like extra credit for reading- this is what this book holds- the truth of the Word of GOD.
Divine revelation to man by GOD. In the Greek text of Daniel this revelation, uncovering of secrets, Daniel first interprets dreams for the king- unknown before GOD gave wisdom to Daniel to what was hidden before to make known.
Last Sunday, we discussed Simeon- Luke 2:32- he took baby JESUS in his arms, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT- blesses baby JESUS, spoke of HIM as a light to lighten the Gentiles.
GOD intends to reveal this book to us- to bring light- to be understood by us reading, hearing these words- we have the theme of this book.
It is not the revelation of John, no, it REVEALS JESUS CHRIST.
It was given to John, who many think it was the John raced Peter to the tomb. Now we can understand that this book is the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
So, Christ: as the author. Reveals what- HIS present work in the church, disclosing future events, concerning CHRIST HIMSELF.
What? His Return, His Second Coming, here is an outline:
• 1:5 — “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness.”
• 1:7 — “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him,” so we have an unveiling.
• 1:13f — Reveals Christ’s ministry in the middle of the lampstands.
• 5:5-6 — Reveals Jesus Christ as the Lion and the Lamb.
• 6:14f — Reveals the unveiling of the Lamb on the throne and His wrath.
• 19:10 — Reveals the return of the Lord as King of kings.
1. The Risk of Ignorance- do not pass by, take to fiction- any book the Devil hates are one we need to read. Satan fights hard to keep you from reading- from getting God’s blessing- remember what Jude said about mockers and bad teachers processing their religion is the only way. We need to study – learn Revelation tells us it is literal – symbolic with visions, letters, prophecy works and direct declarations. Some statements are clear and direct- HE is coming again. Others are symbols.
2. The is one way into heaven- that the FATHER, of all. The church is CHRIST’s body HIS witness, CHRIST is the door of SALVATION.
3. Deciphering the Secret Codes- fact is Revelation is not literal- it I symbolic- we are told this in verse 1 – 12:1, 3; 15:1. To those saying it is a mystery- yes, a mystery if you do not have the key- look at 1:20; 10:7;17:5,7…Numbers are used refer to the OT; symbols too we will see revealing God’s Word to us.
4. Positive and Negative Motivation- Revelation is the only book that motivates readers by promising a blessing to those who read/obey.
5. Blessings of His Majesty- we will see John’s reaction to the personal testimony of Jesus Christ- prophet-priest- king.
6. Purpose of REVELATION- a King who is coming again- every eye will see Him- when everything changes the situation on earth and the purpose of His coming.
7. Campaign to ban the book- if you believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God- expect Satan of the bad teachers Jude speaks of will be close by. The “Jesus Seminar” was an attempt to undermine the truth and the Word of God contained in Revelation- if you disagree with what I am saying let’s talk and at least listen to what I am saying- testing my word against the Spirit of God and the Word.
8. The Overcomers-Words of Jesus say it all: “He who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Have your notes/ your Bible- chapter 1
Prophetic Book- To unveil Jesus Christ as King over all the earth- grace & peace, age of peace begins with transforming grace of God through Jesus Christ
Pictorial Book- Time after time things are shown to us; John writes words and in pictures too; we are shown symbols, images, showing what to going to happen in the future. Messages given first by the Father; then to the Son; and the Son sends it to John via an angel- messenger.
Profitable Book- For personal application, a book the devil hates; profitable for personal assembly- hearing and motivating. The devil’s doom is revealed; read the book- you will be blessed. It is the only book that has a special blessing for those who read or hear it.
Addressed to- one letter- to seven churches- Paul wrote separate letters to 7 different churches- 7 means completeness, map location forms a circle, churches addressed individually. 1:4
o God the Father: one who is, who was, who will be- the I AM of Exodus
o God the Spirit 7 Spirits referred to as completeness of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:1-2); 7 characteristics of the Spirit of God and
o God the Son: Christ the “faithful witness,” the subject/the theme of revelation, first born of the dead-resurrection- the ruler of the earth.
Personal Dedication to Him who loved us, who loosed us, and who lifted us qualified for citizenship in God’s kingdom
Purpose of the Book- v7-8-: Jesus coming, Second Coming of Jesus Christ: not the rapture of the Church, Christ’s physical appearing in the heavens and on earth to present the King; one day coming when every knee will bow-tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord; His kingdom will encompass the entire universe.
The Kingdom is Jesus is the Alpha and Omega- the first- the last; message of revelation: Jesus is coming back and He is in charge. Jesus is coming back- we should study this book, let the excitement grow within us, and bear fruit in Him.
Message to the Seven Churches- John sees in a vision 1:9- John writes while in the Spirit- in exile-on Patmos, John was the one person God entrusted to reveal the end of this present age and the beginning of a new world. In the Spirit- on the Lord’s day- Sunday-
o Revelation of Jesus Christ- John describes his vision- to see the voice- to whom is speaking to him
o What he sees- Christ, in the midst of lampstands- v20 reveals lampstands are the churches- giving light- not the light itself-only the instrument of giving light- must receive both oil and fire- so no Church has in itself either grace or glory- it must receive all from Christ its head- otherwise there is not light at all.
o Image of the lampstand- Exodus 37:17-23: basis Jewish menorah- later used in the temple- the temple of Jerusalem type of Christian Church
o Lampstand of Christ-walking- among 7 lampstands- like a priest to and feeding the lamps with oil- trimming wicks- in a sanctuary where the presence of God roams
o Not possible to have Christ apart from the church…only way from Christ to heaven- and the battles against sin is through the church
o John describes Jesus- v3-16- similar to Daniel’s description of Ancient of Days in 7:9-10, 10:5-6-
o Jesus is teaching- Son and Father same substance- His face like the sun shining in all its brilliance; head like wool, white as snow; eyes like fire ; feet like bronze- glowing in a furnace; voice like rushing waters or sounding like a trumpet; hand with stars; mouth with sword; face like the sun
o Word of God is central- central aspect of Jesus: His voice. His appearance may change in history: His word does not.
o Christ is dressed in a robe- reaching his feet-a golden sash around His chest- this was what the high priest would wear.
o Christ asserts his supremacy- eternal existence as the Son of God;
o Nature of humanity
o Becoming the Second Adam- he tasted death for every man/woman/child
o Resurrection of Christ-central point if world’s history
o He is alive forever- His redeeming work through all the ages of the world’s future
John is overwhelmed- falling to the ground- WORSHIPS JESUS. Jesus is the living One- one who dies and one who was dead and alive forever- He is the source of life.
o John is commanded to write both what he has just seen and what will be shown him afterward
o V 20 angelos- means messenger- same word used for supernatural messenger-human leader of each congregation – called the messenger of the church reveals as steward of God- must preach the Word
o John is told: Fear not, for I Am the eternal God
o Fear not, for I Am the Resurrected Christ
o Fear not, for I have the keys of Death and Hell.
What is the key to understanding?
God has a plan- for the nation Israel-direct descendants of Jacob, and the Church-Jewish and Gentile believers. Only one door to the Father- Jesus. Every person, Jew and Gentile must come by way of the cross.
BENEDICTION- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom: 15:13)
JOHN
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