The Spiritual Ponderings of a Simple Preacher Monday, October 7, 2013 by Pastor Anthony Hovey The Book of Revelation #2 of 54 A Sneak Peek At The Coming Attractions Revelation 1:4-8 A new father was changing his first diaper. It was not one those really bad ones. He looked at his wife and said, “This is not that bad.” His wife replied, “Honey that is just a preview of coming attractions.” In the text before us, John gives us A Sneak Peek At Coming Attractions… for the time is at hand… (v.3) There are hardships and horrors coming of unprecedented proportions, of which Jesus said, [there] shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved (Matthew 24:21-22)… As the events of the future are revealed in the Book of Revelation we will see that they are both glorious and grievous... There are things that will occur that will thrill the saint and terrify the sinner... The primary question in the minds of many people as they approach a study of Bible prophecy in general and of the book of Revelation in particular is WHERE ARE WE TODAY? They instinctively feel that the Bible should speak clearly to the special needs of our age. They are right; it should, and it does… John MacArthur writes, “the book of Revelation provides the most detailed look into the future in all of Scripture. The fitting capstone of God’s revelation to man in the Bible, the book of Revelation unveils the future history of the world, all the way to history’s climax in the return of Christ and the setting up of His glorious earthly and eternal kingdom.” (MacArthur N.T. Commentary, Revelation 1-11)… God has given the book of Revelation to the believer. To those who are His willing bond-servants He has given the ability to discern and comprehend the truths of this most fascinating of all the books of the Bible… However, those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as Lord cannot expect to comprehend this book… But the natural man, explains Paul, receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)… To the believer Jesus said, it is given unto you to know the mysteries of heaven, but to them it is not given… Unbelievers could not grasp what Jesus meant when He taught about present spiritual realities; neither can they grasp the future realities taught in the Scriptures. Divine truth is hidden from the worldly-wise. The unbelieving skeptic finds in the book of Revelation nothing but chaos and confusion. They find it to be incomprehensible because it was not intended for them… But to the willing bond-servant of Jesus Christ, it is the understandable unveiling of prophetic truth about the future of the world… However, God did not inspire the Book of Revelation to simply SATISFY our FASCINATION with prophecy, but rather to STRENGTHEN our FAITH for the present… A careful study of the book of Revelation can only lead us to conclude that if we are not living in the age of the Apocalypse, we must at least be living on the threshold of that age… Again let us be aware that Revelation was not given so that we might speculate about or actually discover the time of the Lord’s return… Scripture teaches that as believers we are not to try to set the times or ages which the Father has fixed by His own authority (Acts 1:7). Instead, we are at all times to heed the Lord’s warning to be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming (Matthew 24:42)... God has revealed to us the events depicted in the book of Revelation with the intentions of encouraging and motivating us to live holy, obedient lives… 2 Peter 3:14 says, Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless... The Book of Revelation is as much about preparedness as it is about prophecy… The words of the old prophet Amos seem to jump off every page… prepare to meet thy God (Amos 4:12)… Well, are you prepared to meet thy God? The Book of Revelation tells us what this world is coming to... It tells us what to expect in the future, as well as, what will be experienced in the future… It is into this future that God gives us A Sneak Peek At Coming Attractions… Let’s begin by reading from the Word of God together… Revelation 1:4-8… 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 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. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty… As we begin our study, we notice first of all… I. The Dialogue That Is Commenced (vv.4-6) 1. The Specified Audience (v.4a)… John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace… Revelation 1:10-11… 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea… 2. The Spiritual Authors (vv.4b-6a)… 4b from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6a And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father… 2 Timothy 3:16a…All scripture is given by inspiration of God… 2 Peter 1:20-21… 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost… 3. The Suitable Attitude (v.6b)… to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen… Revelation 4:11… Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created… We notice furthermore… II. The Details That Are Condensed (vv.7-8) 1. Jesus Is Described As The Coming Adjudicator (v.7)… a. The Return Of Christ (v.7a)… Behold, he cometh with clouds… Matthew 24:30… And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven… and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory… b. The Recognition Of Christ (v.7b)… and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him… Revelation 19:11… 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… c. The Retribution Of Christ (v.7c)… and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him... Acts 17:31… [God] hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead… John 5:22… for the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son… 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-9… 7b the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power… d. The Response To Christ (v.7d)… Even so, Amen… John’s response was one of acceptance and anticipation… 2. Jesus Is Described As The Coming Authoritarian (v.8)… 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, (He is the perpetual Lord of all) which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (He is the powerful Lord of all)… Philippians 2:10-11… 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father… Romans 14:11… For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God… Isaiah 45:23… I have sworn by myself… That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear (allegiance)… Revelation 19:15-16… 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… CONCLUSION: In the end nothing matters except for the side on which you stand… In Luke 11:23a Jesus said… He that is not with me is against me… Joshua 24:14… choose you this day whom ye will serve… Selah, Think On These Things…
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 10:15:21 +0000
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