The Revelation of Jesus Christ | Revelation 1:1-3

Scripture

• Revelation 1:1–3

About this sermon

This morning, we begin a study of the last book of the Bible. It is INDEED the capstone of all the divine revelation that we have in holy Scripture. The human author of the book — John the apostle. The time — 95-96 AD at the end of the reign of Domitian. The location of writing — the island of Patmos, where John has been held captive during a time of persecution (1:9). The book is a prophecy that is like a train station where all the other threads of biblical prophecy find their conclusion, and where all the categories of theology find their demonstration. It is a book that is full of symbolism, but most of the symbolism is explained and understood either in the immediate context in straightforward terms of explanation, or by knowledge of other Scripture that the symbolism draws on. John Walvoord in his commentary on Revelation, made the point that of the 404 verses in the Apocalypse, 278 contain references to the Old Testament. It is God communicating to His people and the world the END OF STORY, just as the book of Genesis communicates to His people and the world THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY. It is a book that is largely futuristic. The events described in chapter 4 and beyond have to do with things in the future. And yet, like prophecy has always functioned, it is an encouragement to every generation of believers who live before the events arrive, because it establishes our hope, and our promise of certain triumph IN THE GOD who CONTROLS the future — just as He is sovereign over the present. Though it is a book unlike any other book in the New Testament, and is full of symbolism, it is to be interpreted in keeping with a commitment to a grammatical-historical approach. John Walvoord voiced what it is my own perspective of the matter. Walvoord — “The expositor of the Revelation is inevitably forced to choose one of the systems of interpretation which have emerged in the history of the church as a proper approach to this last book of the Bible. The author has assumed that this book should be interpreted according to the normal rules of hermeneutics rather than as a special case. The prophetic utterance of the book has therefore been taken in its ordinary meaning unless the immediate context or the total revelation of the book indicates that terms are being used in a symbolic sense, as they frequently are in apocalyptic writings. Instead of assuming that the interpretation should be nonliteral unless there is proof to the contrary, the opposite approach has been taken, namely, that terms should be understood in their ordinary meaning unless contrary evidence is adduced. Hence stars are stars, earthquakes are earthquakes, et cetera, unless it is clear that something else is intended. The result has been a more literal interpretation of prophecy and revelation in general and a clearer picture of end-time events than is frequently held by expositors.” Above all, as we will see demonstrated this morning and throughout the book, this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is the revelation FROM CHRIST, but it is preeminently the revelation OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST — SHINING ITS LIGHT ON JESUS CHRIST. THE GOSPELS tell us of Christ coming in humility to save us from our sins. THE REVELATION presents us with Christ glorified, the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s who will judge the world and reign forever. It is the only book of the New Testament that specifically promises blessing to the reader and the hearer and the keeper of its contents. TO STUDY THIS BOOK IS TO BE BLESSED. TO STUDY THIS BOOK IS TO BE FOCUSED ON JESUS CHRIST. This morning, we begin with the preface of the book. That preface tells us FIVE THINGS about this book. 1. The person of the Revelation (vs.1a) 2. The process of the Revelation (vs.1-3) 3. The purpose of the Revelation (vs.1-2) 4. The promise of the Revelation (vs.3) 5. The priority of the Revelation (vs.3) I. THE PERSON OF THE REVELATION (vs.1) The book of Revelation teaches God’s program for the end of time and then what follows — eternity. It presents God the Father, and the Holy Spirit of God. It presents truth about the Scriptures and about the angels and sin and salvation and God’s plan for the nations and justice. But it is all in the context of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. We see Jesus glorified. We see God’s plan for the exaltation of His Son. John MacArthur, in the introduction to his commentary on Revelation demonstrates at least THREE WAYS that Christ is magnified in this book. (What is below is a summary)

Topics

• Bible Study
• Jesus Christ
• Prophecy & End Times