WEBVTT 00:00:01.129 --> 00:00:04.089 Well, I invite you to turn with me in your copy 00:00:04.089 --> 00:00:06.169 of God's Word that you've brought with you or 00:00:06.169 --> 00:00:09.050 in the purac in front of you to Revelation. We 00:00:09.050 --> 00:00:11.410 are going to be in the book of Revelation chapter 00:00:11.410 --> 00:00:16.769 1 today looking at the exalted and risen Jesus. 00:00:17.850 --> 00:00:23.350 Looking at the exalted and risen Jesus. Revelation 00:00:23.350 --> 00:00:27.109 has been characterized as a picture book and 00:00:27.109 --> 00:00:30.039 in many ways it is a picture book. sort of like 00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:34.380 a graphic novel, less photography, and if you're 00:00:34.380 --> 00:00:37.880 into art, more impressionism. As we look today, 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.100 we will not see a photograph of what Jesus looks 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:44.399 like. We will look at a picture of what Jesus 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:48.200 is like in his character and his essence as the 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.240 risen and exalted Christ and see why and how 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:55.719 that is so good for us today. So, Revelation 00:00:55.719 --> 00:00:58.659 chapter 1. Look with me beginning at verse 12, 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:05.120 and we will go through verse 20. Revelation 12, 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.439 1. Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:13.700 to me. And on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands. 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:16.700 And in the midst of the lampstands, one like 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:19.719 a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:22.299 a golden sash around his chest, the hairs of 00:01:22.299 --> 00:01:25.920 his head were white like white wool, like snow. 00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:30.219 His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:33.799 like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:37.359 his voice was like the roar of many waters. In 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:40.939 his right hand he held seven stars. From his 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:44.200 mouth came a sharp two -edged sword, and his 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:47.640 face was like the sun shining in full strength. 00:01:48.219 --> 00:01:51.579 When I saw him I fell at his feet as though dead, 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:56.439 but he laid his right hand on me saying, Fear 00:01:56.439 --> 00:02:00.319 not, I am the first and the last and the living 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:03.879 one. I died and behold, I'm alive forevermore. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:08.099 And I have the keys of death and Hades. Write 00:02:08.099 --> 00:02:11.400 therefore the things that you have seen, those 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:14.240 that are and those that are to take place after 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:17.460 this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:20.500 you saw in my right hand and the seven golden 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:23.860 lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of 00:02:23.860 --> 00:02:26.930 the seven churches. and the seven lampstands 00:02:26.930 --> 00:02:33.849 are the seven churches. Well, on Palm Sunday, 00:02:34.650 --> 00:02:40.270 we beheld Jesus gentle and lowly and humble. 00:02:40.729 --> 00:02:43.409 And just as much as we needed to see our humble 00:02:43.409 --> 00:02:46.900 Savior, coming to lowly needy people like me 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:50.379 and like you. We also need to see that very same 00:02:50.379 --> 00:02:55.300 Savior high and lifted up, resurrected in power 00:02:55.300 --> 00:03:01.360 and glory and authority as we see Him here. For 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:05.680 His glory is the great end for which we were 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:10.560 created and this image of glory actually answers 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:14.969 all of the distress. that you're experiencing 00:03:14.969 --> 00:03:22.349 in life right now or tomorrow? Yes, indeed, whether 00:03:22.349 --> 00:03:24.870 going through personal trials, temptations, or 00:03:24.870 --> 00:03:28.729 griefs, or troubles, or if you're just bothered 00:03:28.729 --> 00:03:32.949 by all of the plagues of our society that seem 00:03:32.949 --> 00:03:36.990 to be new every time you turn on the news, this 00:03:36.990 --> 00:03:41.129 picture of the exalted risen Savior is the answer. 00:03:41.580 --> 00:03:45.419 As we behold Christ in this passage, what we 00:03:45.419 --> 00:03:50.460 should feel and think is both a sense of consolation 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:55.060 and confidence. As we behold the exalted risen 00:03:55.060 --> 00:04:00.560 Christ, He gives us His consolation and confidence 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:04.860 to live for Him. So let's see that. Let's see 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:09.669 this picture of Jesus, the risen. ruling king. 00:04:09.969 --> 00:04:12.629 You remember the context of the book of Revelation 00:04:12.629 --> 00:04:16.689 written by the Apostle John? Where is John? John 00:04:16.689 --> 00:04:19.250 is on the island of Patmos. Why is he on the 00:04:19.250 --> 00:04:22.879 island of Patmos? Well he's exiled. He is exiled 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:27.139 for the cause of Christ, and he is in the Spirit 00:04:27.139 --> 00:04:30.800 on the Lord's Day. The Lord's Day is Sunday, 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:33.639 the Sabbath, the Christian Sabbath, moved to 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:37.459 Sunday in celebration of what? The resurrection 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:41.079 of Christ from the dead. And though John is unable 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:44.939 to gather with the saints, because he's alone 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:50.040 on Patmos, he's not really alone, is he? No, 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:54.990 not at all. As he turns, hearing this voice like 00:04:54.990 --> 00:05:00.829 a trumpet, he sees this awesome sight never beheld, 00:05:01.649 --> 00:05:05.329 well, the most awesome sight ever beheld by a 00:05:05.329 --> 00:05:09.699 mortal man. It's an impression of what Jesus 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:13.439 is really like and it should reside deeply. This 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:16.560 image of Christ must reside deeply in our hearts 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:20.300 and our minds if we are to feel that sense of 00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:25.899 comprehensive comfort that he brings us. We behold 00:05:25.899 --> 00:05:29.079 His Majesty beginning in verse 13. What do you 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:32.920 see here? What impression does this visualization 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:35.879 create? As I read these words again, He's one 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:39.259 like a son of man, clothed with a long robe, 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:42.459 a golden sash around His chest. The hairs of 00:05:42.459 --> 00:05:45.740 His head are white like wool, like snow. His 00:05:45.740 --> 00:05:50.019 eyes, flames of fire, feet like burnished bronze 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:53.899 refined in a furnace. His voice like the roar 00:05:53.899 --> 00:05:58.879 of many waters. Seven stars. He holds the stars 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:01.300 in his hand and out of his mouth comes what? 00:06:02.180 --> 00:06:06.560 A double -edged sword. And his face is shining 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:08.980 like the sun at full strength. When was the last 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:10.980 time you tried to look at the sun and not be 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:14.240 in a solar eclipse? It's almost impossible to 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:17.279 look at the sun for more than an instant. And 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:22.519 this image. is one of the majesty of God, and 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:25.980 more specifically, the divine sovereignty of 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:31.100 God. The divine sovereignty of God. John is overwhelmed. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:34.300 This is almost too much for him to take in. In 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:38.160 fact, he is knocked over by this image as the 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:42.839 Son of Man stands before him. This description 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:46.360 of the Son of Man draws a lot of language from 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:49.740 the Old Testament. Most of Revelation is made 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:53.959 up of images from the Old Testament. And this 00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:58.100 harkens back to Daniel. In Daniel chapter 7, 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:02.579 the prophet has a vision of the Son of Man. And 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:06.100 that vision in Daniel, bottom line, that vision 00:07:06.100 --> 00:07:10.680 in Daniel taken with this vision here in Revelation 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:15.220 is showing us that this one is the Divine Lord 00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:18.709 of Glory. He's the divine King of kings and Lord 00:07:18.709 --> 00:07:24.550 of lords. He is God, and He is King. This Jesus. 00:07:27.589 --> 00:07:31.990 He's the Lord of everything. And in a day, the 00:07:31.990 --> 00:07:33.930 day in which Revelation was written that day, 00:07:34.230 --> 00:07:37.709 this would have been an immense comfort. to Christians 00:07:37.709 --> 00:07:40.430 who are being forced in various places in the 00:07:40.430 --> 00:07:44.209 empire, particularly towards Rome, to bow down 00:07:44.209 --> 00:07:50.170 to Caesar as a god, Caesar as a lord and as divine. 00:07:51.230 --> 00:07:56.149 One far greater than Caesar is here. One far 00:07:56.149 --> 00:07:58.850 greater than any president or premier or prime 00:07:58.850 --> 00:08:07.360 minister is here in this passage. in all the 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.259 chaos of this world, in whatever we're going 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:15.379 through day in and day out, amidst all the clamor 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:19.060 or the text messages that you get throughout 00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:22.800 the week that compete for your attention for 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:27.160 a moment here this morning. And for many moments 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:29.579 throughout your week, we need to be captivated 00:08:29.579 --> 00:08:34.620 by this picture of reality if we're gonna hold 00:08:34.620 --> 00:08:38.980 everything else in its proper perspective. Otherwise 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:41.480 we'll be dominated by the chaos in this world 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:44.879 rather than seeing the one who controls and is 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:48.299 risen far above the chaos and clamor of this 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:53.320 life. We need to behold this son of man. No matter 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:55.759 what trial we are in, no matter what administration 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:59.059 is in the White House, no matter how the nations 00:08:59.059 --> 00:09:05.120 vainly rage against God's people, you and I are 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.299 not captive to the world. We are not captive 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:12.919 to our sin or to Satan. We are living right now 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:16.860 under the dominion, under the reign of this sovereign 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:20.820 King who is absolutely, absolutely in charge 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:25.179 of your today's and your tomorrows. That's who 00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:29.779 the resurrected exalted King Jesus is right now. 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:35.860 And this image brings consolation to John because 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:42.460 we see he is sovereign Lord and he is all -sufficient 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:47.059 Savior. And that all -sufficient Savior is depicted 00:09:47.059 --> 00:09:50.000 in the various pieces of the garment that he 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:53.529 is wearing. We get little glimpses of the fact 00:09:53.529 --> 00:09:59.129 that Jesus as our Savior is a prophet and a priest. 00:09:59.450 --> 00:10:03.690 and a king, and what each of those prophet, priest, 00:10:03.809 --> 00:10:06.990 and king ministries means to us. We see in verse 00:10:06.990 --> 00:10:12.629 13 some priestly aspect of our exalted king's 00:10:12.629 --> 00:10:16.909 ministry. The robe and the sash around his waist 00:10:16.909 --> 00:10:21.230 remind us of the garments that the priests wore. 00:10:22.099 --> 00:10:25.320 And we see also as we look at this picture that 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:32.240 Jesus is tending these lampstands in verse 12 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:36.179 and 13. That reminds us of the work of the high 00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:39.379 priest back in the Old Testament. The work of 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:41.419 the priest in the Old Testament was to keep the 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:44.000 oil in the lampstands, to keep them burning, 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:48.200 to keep them bright. The priests themselves would 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:52.559 offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:59.460 And this particular aspect of the priestly work 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:02.779 applied to this image of Christ is so powerful 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:06.019 because we realize that Jesus didn't just offer 00:11:06.019 --> 00:11:12.139 a sacrifice. He was the great high priestly sacrifice 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:17.340 for our sins. And he's a high priest who's able 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:21.240 to help because he's present. Oh, you see back 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:25.639 in verse 13 that he is among the lampstands. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:29.539 He's in the midst of the lampstands. What great 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:32.659 assurance to John, even though John is exiled 00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:35.580 on this island and he probably doesn't get much 00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:37.700 news of what's happening to the church on this 00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:41.340 island. What great assurance to see that Jesus 00:11:41.340 --> 00:11:46.600 is among the lampstands. which represent the 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:51.960 church. And so John sees, ah, Jesus is with His 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:55.299 church. He's among His church. He's with His 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:58.940 people. He's not going to abandon His people 00:11:58.940 --> 00:12:02.379 in their moment of need, but He's going to tend 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:06.059 them, care for them, fan them into flame. Dear 00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:10.419 ones, if you are in Christ today, He is with 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:16.870 you. And we also see not only the priestly ministry 00:12:16.870 --> 00:12:20.250 of Jesus and how He is present with us, but He 00:12:20.250 --> 00:12:23.450 is present with us as a prophet as well. How 00:12:23.450 --> 00:12:26.110 do we see that prophetic ministry of our all 00:12:26.110 --> 00:12:29.570 -sufficient, consoling Savior? Well, we see that 00:12:29.570 --> 00:12:32.889 as we see what comes out of His mouth. Out of 00:12:32.889 --> 00:12:37.009 His mouth comes a double -edged sword. What does 00:12:37.009 --> 00:12:42.700 this signify? Well, Jesus Himself, who... proclaims 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:46.960 that He is the Word, also uses the tool of God's 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:50.279 Word, which is described like a sword. And so 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:53.200 God's Word, the sword of the Spirit, comes to 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:57.440 us. As Hebrews says in Hebrews chapter four, 00:12:57.480 --> 00:13:00.340 the Word of God is living and active, sharper 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:04.440 than any two -edged sword. It penetrates, dividing 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:07.620 soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:11.440 the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart. 00:13:12.009 --> 00:13:17.429 And so Jesus, with His Word, comes in His prophetic 00:13:17.429 --> 00:13:22.850 ministry, His speaking ministry, to purify us 00:13:22.850 --> 00:13:25.990 with the sword of His Word. And in some way, 00:13:26.169 --> 00:13:29.970 He's both a King and a prophet in this way because 00:13:29.970 --> 00:13:34.220 His Word judges us. Now, that doesn't mean that 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:37.299 His Word condemns you, Christian, because we 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:40.059 know that the Scripture says that there is no 00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:42.700 condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:48.279 But His Word does come to rebuke, to admonish, 00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:53.080 to correct. Why? Because He doesn't want to leave 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:56.240 and He will not leave any vestige of sin in you. 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:59.200 He won't leave any vestige of sin in His church 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:03.639 because He has saved you to be a holy people 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:10.080 for Himself. So He won't let anything in the 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:15.679 church hinder Her relationship with Him. Let 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:19.059 any sin remain in your life that will harm you. 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:22.360 He loves you too much. And so, in his speaking, 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:25.139 in his prophetic ministry, he comes with this 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:28.879 sword, so to speak, to root out all that is harming 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:33.240 his people and displeasing to him. But you also 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:36.659 see his kingship. in the description further 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:40.700 there in verses 14 through 16, all of that mighty 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:45.440 imagery of His power, of His might, eyes like 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:51.659 flames of fire, et cetera. And you see here, 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:54.980 not only the priest that sacrifices himself, 00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:59.940 the prophet who speaks words of life, but also 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:04.769 a king. Who's in charge of Fairview Presbyterian 00:15:04.769 --> 00:15:10.669 Church? Jesus. This king. He is absolutely in 00:15:10.669 --> 00:15:13.129 charge. And if you read on through Revelation 00:15:13.129 --> 00:15:16.549 what he is going to do, he's going to speak words 00:15:16.549 --> 00:15:21.129 of love and critique to his churches. And as 00:15:21.129 --> 00:15:26.370 he comes, he is the one to say, this is going 00:15:26.370 --> 00:15:28.590 well in your church and these are areas where 00:15:28.590 --> 00:15:31.029 you need to repent in your church. He is the 00:15:31.029 --> 00:15:34.070 one who defines her worship, her work, her belief, 00:15:34.169 --> 00:15:38.590 her practice. He is the one who gives shape to 00:15:38.590 --> 00:15:42.690 and protects and defends his church. You saw 00:15:42.690 --> 00:15:45.610 that imagery of the seven stars, the seven stars 00:15:45.610 --> 00:15:49.649 which correspond. to the seven angels. Oh, He's 00:15:49.649 --> 00:15:52.389 protecting His church. He's defending His church. 00:15:53.129 --> 00:15:57.789 And He's subduing you to Himself. That's a good 00:15:57.789 --> 00:16:01.370 thing. Our catechism says that He executes the 00:16:01.370 --> 00:16:05.750 office of a king by subduing us to Himself. He 00:16:05.750 --> 00:16:08.409 wins us to Himself. He brings us to Himself. 00:16:08.789 --> 00:16:12.840 He rules, defends, and protects. But he doesn't 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:16.159 just do this one time. No, he is the all -sufficient 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:20.419 Savior. And you see that sustaining sufficiency 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:23.899 as you realize that he is working and laboring 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:27.320 among the lampstands. He's not just distant in 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:30.259 heaven, but he is at work in his church now by 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:34.000 his Holy Spirit putting oil in the lamp, so to 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:38.950 speak, giving power to the church. as it were, 00:16:39.070 --> 00:16:43.169 by His Spirit, sustaining her, guarding her, 00:16:43.389 --> 00:16:46.669 protecting her, defending her, teaching her, 00:16:46.970 --> 00:16:50.149 leading her. Christ will not abandon her. He 00:16:50.149 --> 00:16:54.009 is actively at work right now in this church, 00:16:54.870 --> 00:16:59.009 sustaining His people, sustaining you. That's 00:16:59.009 --> 00:17:02.049 an incredibly encouraging thought in a day where 00:17:02.049 --> 00:17:05.009 the church sometimes seems very small in a big 00:17:05.009 --> 00:17:08.400 world. It seems opposed to Christ and opposed 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:13.980 to His people. No. No. Christians then were not 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:16.700 in the grip of Caesar. Ultimately, they were 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:21.339 in the grip of grace. And so are you. And so 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:26.259 am I. That's the picture. The all -sufficient 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:28.980 savior, prophet, priest, and king, the one who 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:32.660 is in charge of all things, sustaining and ruling 00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:35.160 and defending his church, providing for all of 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:41.759 her needs. We're in this picture too. Fairview 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:45.299 Presbyterian Church is in this picture too. He 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:49.359 provides for us, he rules and defends us. We 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:54.150 need not think that Our faithful gospel witness 00:17:54.150 --> 00:17:58.430 in this place has lasted for the last 239 years 00:17:58.430 --> 00:18:02.609 because of sheer self -determination. No, we 00:18:02.609 --> 00:18:06.970 are here today because of Christ's preservation. 00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:11.559 That's the great consolation that comes to John, 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:15.019 and it's great consolation to us to know that 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:18.500 we have a priest who has opened the way to the 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:22.099 Father by his shed blood, a prophet that speaks 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:25.960 wonderful words of life to every situation, and 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:30.279 a king that rules, defends us, and conquers all 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:35.000 of his and our enemies. He is an all -sufficient 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:40.710 Savior for you. It's a comprehensive Savior who 00:18:40.710 --> 00:18:45.190 touches every hurt. And He gives faith and repentance 00:18:45.190 --> 00:18:49.150 to every one of us who are wounded by sin. And 00:18:49.150 --> 00:18:50.950 so in the light of all that you've heard this 00:18:50.950 --> 00:18:53.609 morning and all that we've sung and what we're 00:18:53.609 --> 00:18:56.289 hearing now, if you today realize that you don't 00:18:56.289 --> 00:19:00.269 know this Savior King, that you've never turned 00:19:00.269 --> 00:19:04.180 from your sins. to trust in Him alone for salvation. 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:07.619 The Bible says that He is the only way to salvation. 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:09.940 He is the way, the truth, and the life. If that's 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:12.240 you today and you realize you don't know Him 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:14.980 as Savior and Lord, today is the day of salvation. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:18.579 Let resurrection day be the day of repentance 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:21.720 and faith for you. Come to Christ, believe in 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:27.150 Him, and you will be saved. Jesus provides us 00:19:27.150 --> 00:19:29.670 that divine comprehensive consolation but he 00:19:29.670 --> 00:19:32.670 also gives us confidence and this is where his 00:19:32.670 --> 00:19:36.369 victory over the grave and death give us great 00:19:36.369 --> 00:19:39.109 confidence and dispel our fears. Notice here 00:19:39.109 --> 00:19:45.009 in verse 16 or rather verse 17 that John sees 00:19:45.009 --> 00:19:51.869 Jesus and what happens? Verse 17, he falls at 00:19:51.869 --> 00:19:57.160 the feet of this figure as though dead. Now, 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:01.019 when you behold the incomprehensible picture 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:04.299 of this divine majesty, it's only natural to 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:08.059 be frightened and afraid. I've told you before 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:10.519 about the first time I read the book of Revelation 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:14.200 to Briley, and Briley maybe can remember this. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:18.039 I got through the description of Jesus in this 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:20.119 passage, and do you remember what my daughter 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:24.240 said to me? She said, Daddy, Jesus sounds scary. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:29.740 And I said, you were paying attention. You're 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:32.940 paying attention. But I did not read Revelation 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:37.980 to her to frighten my child with some sort of 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:43.900 terror. When we read this book, there should 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:46.940 be a sense of holy awe that comes upon us as 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:49.599 Christians. If we're not Christians, there is 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:53.059 a sense of terror, but John is not left in terror. 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:57.299 Jesus doesn't leave him there. No, he dispels 00:20:57.299 --> 00:21:03.259 John's fear. Before the unveiled majesty of the 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:08.579 Lord of hosts, it's only natural for those to 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:15.460 see that image to fall in utter terror and feel 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:18.519 as though they are about to be utterly destroyed 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:22.140 because in light of Christ's awesome holiness, 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:26.549 the disparity between. Christ and His creature 00:21:26.549 --> 00:21:30.730 and His people is so great that it leaves us 00:21:30.730 --> 00:21:34.430 keenly aware of our unworthiness and sin. Daniel 00:21:34.430 --> 00:21:36.789 had this experience, the prophet Daniel had this 00:21:36.789 --> 00:21:39.349 experience in Daniel chapter 10, and you remember 00:21:39.349 --> 00:21:42.470 Isaiah. When he saw the Lord high and lifted 00:21:42.470 --> 00:21:46.970 up, he also said, what, woe to me, I am undone. 00:21:50.609 --> 00:21:55.210 In the face of the Lord Jesus, sinners. naturally 00:21:55.210 --> 00:21:58.829 prostrate themselves, yet Jesus comes to us in 00:21:58.829 --> 00:22:01.450 tenderness. He comes to us in tenderness, and 00:22:01.450 --> 00:22:04.130 what does Jesus say here? He says, fear not. 00:22:05.170 --> 00:22:09.329 Don't be afraid. Oh, how tender Jesus is. He 00:22:09.329 --> 00:22:14.170 bids our sorrows to cease. He comes to us and 00:22:14.170 --> 00:22:18.150 encourages our hearts. Why? Why does Jesus say, 00:22:18.190 --> 00:22:21.650 fear not? Why? Why does the Bible say to us over 00:22:21.650 --> 00:22:25.720 and over again, Do not fear. Well, in this passage, 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:31.119 Jesus says, fear not, verse 17, for I am the 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:35.339 first and the last. Oh, what good news to know 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:39.680 that Jesus is in charge of history. Jesus is 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:42.680 in charge of current events. He's the first, 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:45.500 he's the last, and he's in charge of everything 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:49.690 in between. And so, dear ones, verse 17 really 00:22:49.690 --> 00:22:52.670 begs us to ask the question, what is shaping 00:22:52.670 --> 00:22:57.410 my worldview? What is shaping my worldview? Is 00:22:57.410 --> 00:23:03.730 it the news? Is it my favorite podcast? What 00:23:03.730 --> 00:23:07.150 is it that tells me how to think about the world? 00:23:07.750 --> 00:23:09.769 Am I going to let the world shape my worldview? 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:13.819 Or am I going to let the Lord Jesus, the first 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:17.339 and the last, who is in charge of history, who 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:20.400 is shaping all things for the good of His church, 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:27.039 show me how to think about my world? No matter 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:30.819 what you read in the news or see on the world 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:35.140 stage, the main headline is this. This is what's 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:39.140 going on right now. God is working out his purposes 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:42.500 through the Lord Jesus Christ as year proceeds 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:46.420 to year for the good of his church. And if you 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:48.779 read through Revelation, you will see the end 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:51.799 of the story. And the end of the story is this, 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:58.000 Jesus wins and his people triumph with him. That. 00:23:58.839 --> 00:24:01.480 It's a reason for confidence. That is why Jesus 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:04.380 can say to you today, fear not. I'm the first 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:06.539 and the last. He's the Lord of history. But why 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:09.420 else should we fear not? Oh, on this great resurrection 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:12.119 day, we shouldn't pass over this. The other reason 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:16.440 we should not fear is in verse 18. I am the living 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:20.500 one. I have died and behold, I'm alive forevermore. 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:24.660 I have the keys of death and Hades just as Jesus 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:29.799 paid for our sins at the cross. He also conquered 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:33.680 death by rising from the grave. And dear ones, 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:36.660 if he has dealt with your greatest reason for 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:40.019 fear, and if you really dig deep down, the base 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:44.940 fear under all other fears is that fear of death. 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:49.660 If he has dealt with that greatest fear and the 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:55.220 reason why we are doomed to die because of our 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:57.099 sin, the wages of sin is death. If he has dealt 00:24:57.099 --> 00:25:01.039 with all of that Then we really have no other 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:09.680 reason to fear, do we? He took God's wrath upon 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:16.039 Himself for our sin at the cross, and He took 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:18.640 the wages of our sin all the way to the grave, 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:24.940 and He rose from the grave, triumphing over death 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:30.220 on our behalf. He conquered Hades and the grave 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:33.859 which means that in the resurrection when Jesus 00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:36.619 comes again he is going to unite soul and body 00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:40.019 together and we are going to live in a real physical 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:44.339 and spiritual existence in heaven that is beyond 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:47.619 all we could ask or imagine. That is a certain 00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:51.380 and sure hope that we have because Christ has 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:58.450 died and because Christ is risen indeed. As Paul 00:25:58.450 --> 00:26:02.569 has said, we who have died with him will also 00:26:02.569 --> 00:26:06.549 rise with him because we were united to him in 00:26:06.549 --> 00:26:10.009 a death like his, we will be united to him in 00:26:10.009 --> 00:26:14.009 a resurrection just like his. We are so connected 00:26:14.009 --> 00:26:16.349 to Christ. You have to understand that you are 00:26:16.349 --> 00:26:20.349 in Christ, that he is in you. Your life is so 00:26:20.349 --> 00:26:23.049 bound up with Christ's life that you could know 00:26:23.230 --> 00:26:26.670 more, you could no more be separated from God 00:26:26.670 --> 00:26:29.269 the Father's love than Christ could be separated 00:26:29.269 --> 00:26:32.609 from God the Father's love, because you are in 00:26:32.609 --> 00:26:36.589 Christ. And he can no more deny you than he can 00:26:36.589 --> 00:26:43.190 deny himself. So see today, see today just as 00:26:43.190 --> 00:26:49.920 verse 17 says, that Jesus placed his hand, this 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:52.759 mighty sovereign Lord places his hand gently 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:56.720 on John's shoulder to reassure him. See him placing 00:26:56.720 --> 00:27:01.359 his hand on you today and saying this, fear not, 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:05.839 I am the living one. It's easy to say, isn't 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:09.019 it? Don't be anxious, don't be afraid. Easy to 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:12.680 say, hard to believe. And so when Monday comes 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:15.940 or Tuesday comes and those worries and renumeration, 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:19.480 ruminations, not renumeration, ruminations, worries, 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:23.619 cares, frets, just start bombarding you, come 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:28.440 back to this word. Proclaim to yourself the truth 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:33.119 that Christ proclaimed to John. Pick up this 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:36.420 book, read this passage, preach to yourself Jesus 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:41.740 died, Jesus rose. Jesus lives. Jesus died, Jesus 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:45.579 rose, Jesus lives for me, and I have nothing 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:49.900 left to fear. And as you proclaim the truth of 00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:53.079 the risen Savior to your heart, you'll know the 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:55.740 assurance of God's love, you'll know confidence 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:58.799 in Christ, and you'll speak boldly for Christ. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:03.059 I think it's interesting that when you have the 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:07.400 vision here of John and Jesus' reassurance and 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:10.650 strengthening to John, of his resurrection power, 00:28:11.009 --> 00:28:13.349 John is then commissioned to do what? To write 00:28:13.349 --> 00:28:17.349 Revelation. And when you see that vision that 00:28:17.349 --> 00:28:20.029 Isaiah has, very similar vision that Isaiah has 00:28:20.029 --> 00:28:23.309 in chapter six of Isaiah, and Isaiah's picked 00:28:23.309 --> 00:28:27.470 up and cleansed and reassured of his relationship 00:28:27.470 --> 00:28:30.809 with God, he is commissioned. And then Daniel, 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:34.940 is also strengthened in his own experience with 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:38.400 a vision of the resurrected or exalted Christ. 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:40.859 You remember the disciples, when they behold 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:44.880 the Lord of glory after he's risen, Jesus pronounces 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:48.599 peace upon them. He reassures them and he sends 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:52.960 them out to be witnesses for him. And so that's 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:55.700 the effect of this passage on us. Not only should 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:58.160 it console our hearts to know that Jesus is the 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:01.869 everything savior for me and for you, The word 00:29:01.869 --> 00:29:04.950 today also gives us confidence to go on mission 00:29:04.950 --> 00:29:08.630 for Him, to be His witnesses, to proclaim the 00:29:08.630 --> 00:29:10.930 good news that Christ has died, Christ has risen, 00:29:10.950 --> 00:29:17.430 He's coming again. He strengthens us to go and 00:29:17.430 --> 00:29:20.849 sends us out from this place to proclaim the 00:29:20.849 --> 00:29:23.349 good news that He has risen.