Back for more of Revelation.  Today we dug into Revelation 1:9-20.  In this passage John describes his encounter with Jesus.  I broke John's vision of Jesus down into 3 groups here (all relate to Jesus):  His voice, His appearance, His action.  Here is what we discover:

His voice:  v. 10 - like a trumpet, v.11 - gives John instruction to write, v.12 - speaking directly to John, v.15 - voice sounds like rushing waters, v.16 - like a two-edged sword

His appearance:  v.13 - like a son of man, long robe, golden sash around chest, v.14 - white hair, eyes like blazing fire, v.15 - feet like bronze growing in a furnace, v.16 - holds 7 stars, words/mouth like a sword, face like the sun shining in full strength

His action:  v.10 - speaks to John, v.17 - touches John and tells him to not be afraid, v.19 - tells John to write down what he is about to hear

There is great news and what a revealing of God's Son!  Wow!  Could you imagine encountering Jesus in this way?  John's response is, "I fell at his feet as though dead."  Would you do that?  Jesus tells John to not be afraid.  This section reminds me of something I read on how to correclty read Revelation.  One of the main points was that the central image of Revelation is Jesus.  This book is a revealing of Jesus.  In other words, don't get caught up in trying to figure out what events are next or when exactly it is Jesus is going to come back.  Get caught up in Jesus.  Look at what John writes about Him and worship Him.  Praise Him.  Let this book give you a new vision of Jesus. 

Praise the LORD for this new vision of Jesus. 

Revelation 1 again this morning with a good friend.  We read aloud the greeting and doxology section (1:4-8).  Some good stuff here about Jesus’ identity and our identity and purpose.  We are moving very slowly through this book.  I read somewhere that the best way to read Revelation is slowly and with a lot of prayer.  How do you read it? 

In the following verses (4-8) Jesus is described as:

·         Him who is, who was, and who is to come

·         The faithful witness

·         Firstborn from the dead

·         Ruler of the kings of the earth

·         Him who loves us

·         Him who has freed us from our sins by his blood

·         Alpha and Omega

·         The Almighty

Man, look at this list describing Jesus and His identity!  Great stuff!  What a vision John had of Jesus. 

Our identity and purpose

·         Freed from sin by His blood

·         Made us to be a kingdom and priests 

Look at this list of what He has done for us and what He has given us to do!  We have freedom from sin and we have purpose (to be a part of the kingdom and to be priests).  Questions I'm thinking about?    

What does it mean to be a part of His kingdom? 

What does it mean to be priests? 

Revelation Study

Back to Revelation 1 again this morning with a good friend.  This book is certainly an amazing book and offers me a fresh vision of Jesus.  

Why does that matter? 

Because we need vision to drive us to live like Him.  Keeping a vision before, and in, one’s mind can drive the transformation process.  It’s what drives a person to run, run, and run for running a race.  Want to get in shape?  Set before yourself a vision of what your life and your body could look like in shape.  Want to become a great quarterback?  Watch last season’s Colts games when Peyton Manning was playing ;-).    Vision drives us.  Of course the Spirit does the transforming, but we certainly get to help and push the process forward to a certain degree.  

So, Revelation begins by telling us what this book is all about.  There are a couple of different ways to interpret the beginning words of this book.  

NIV 84:  ¹ The revelation of Jesus Christ

NIV 11:  ¹ The revelation from Jesus Christ

ESV:  ¹ The revelation of Jesus Christ

NLT:  ¹ This is a revelation from Jesus Christ

Obviously the words of/from are debatable to scholars and this is reflected in the different translations.  Is this a revelation of Jesus or is it from Jesus?  I’m not falling off the log for one or the other, but satisfied to say it’s both.  This book is certainly a revealing of Jesus and the Lamb slain since the foundation of the world.  It is also a revealing by Jesus.  He is the revealer of God’s plan.  The incarnation teaches us that.  Jesus tells us He has come to do the Father’s will and part of that will is to reveal the Father and His plan to us. 

Someone said we should read Revelation prayerfully.  So, I close with a prayer.         

Reveal to me Your word, Father.

Reveal to me Your Son and give me a fresh vision of Him.
My heart is open to obey and respond to You. 
Give me understanding and wisdom. 

Amen.   

Studying the book of Revelation with a friend from church this morning.  Excited!  Great things in store.  Is Revelation an ignored book in your church?  Why is it that the only ones in churches talking about Revelation are the crazy ones who seem to be just concerned about the rapture and the global wars that are soon to take place?  Is this what Revelation is concerned with?    

This morning we hung out on verse 1 (really the first part of verse 1), "The revelation of/from Jesus Christ."  My reminder in this first part of Revelation is that this book is all about Jesus as the Lamb slain.  He is the central figure of the book.  The Christians in John's day needed an encouraging message.  They needed a fresh vision of God and His kingdom to keep them going and seeking Him amidst suffering and persecution.  Revelation gives them that.  It gives them/us a fresh vision of Jesus.  I'm excited and pray that God would give me a fresh vision of Jesus. 

More details to come...