Preparing for the Future: Seeing Jesus

Preparing for the Future: Seeing Jesus                                

Revelation 1:9-20

8-11-19 

Revelation is not primarily about fear, but hope.

Not hellfire, but glory.

Not Satan, but God.

Not death and destruction, but life and salvation.

Randy Alcorn - “God is going to enjoy his new universe, and we’ll enter into his joy. Since we’ll draw from the reservoir of God’s being, which never runs dry, we’ll never run out of passion and joy.” 

Matthew 25:21 – “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

2 Corinthians 3:18 - “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

I. Jesus reveals His glory.   (Revelation 1:1-16)

1. He is The Faithful Witness. (Vs. 1-5)

2. He is The Firstborn of the Dead. (Vs. 5)

3. He is The Ruler of the earth. (Vs. 5)

4. He loves us and set us free. (Vs. 5)

5. He made us His priests. (Vs. 6)

Revelation 12:11 - “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

6. He has glory and dominion forever. (Vs. 6)

7. He is returning to reclaim the earth. (Vs. 7)

8. He is The Beginning and End. (Vs. 8)

9. He is The Head of the Church. (Vs. 9-13)

2 Thessalonians 2:6 - “And you know what is restraining (the lawless one) now so that he may be revealed in his time.”

10.  He is The Son of Man.  (Vs. 13)

Hebrews 4:15 - “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

11.  He is Eternally Wise.  (Vs. 14)

12.  He is All Knowing and Seeing.  (Vs. 14)

13.  He has Authority over God’s enemies. (Vs. 15)

1 Corinthians 15:24 - “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.”

14.  He has The Words of life and death.  (Vs. 16)

15.  His glory has no comparison.  (Vs. 16)

Revelation 21:23 - “…the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

16.  He is The Resurrected Living One.  (Vs. 17-18)

17. He oversees Heaven and Hell. (Vs. 18-20)

II. How Should We Then Live?

1. Seek complete healing. (Revelation 21:4)

Isaiah 65:17 - “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”

2. Seek complete joy. (Revelation 21:1-3)

Isaiah 65:18-19 “But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people…”

3. Seek complete restoration.  (Revelation 21:5-6)

Isaiah 65:25 - “The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox…They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.”

Revelation 21:1-6

This Week:

1. What is your experience with reading Revelation? What is most challenging about it? Read it this week.

2. Why is it important we understand that Jesus is the Crucified and Risen One before we seek to understand the Book of Revelation?

3. Which description of Jesus is most meaningful to you in chapter one or two? Why?

4. How does Jesus’ power over death shape the way you view death and talk about death with others?

5. How has seeing Christ’s greatness motivated you to be on mission to share the Good news and serve others?

6. Read Isaiah 65:17-25 and Revelation 21:1-6. Notice the fulfillments of prophecy. Use these texts to pray.