Unit: Revelation (Part 1)
Theme: Call to Arms
Lesson Text: Revelation 1:1-20
Supplemental Texts: Nehemiah 8:2-3, 7-12; Matthew 4:17; 5:6; 17:4-8; Revelation 22:7-17
Aim: Take to heart what is written.
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By Mark Scott
Revelation 1:1-20
President Matt Proctor of Ozark Christian College led the 2013 NACC in Louisville, Kentucky. He preached the opening session and taught from Revelation 1. His big idea was, “Never, ever, ever underestimate Jesus.” If people really hear and see Jesus, they will never underestimate him. The apostle John saw and heard Jesus (1:10), and he wanted the seven churches in western Turkey to see and hear him too (1:11).
Hear Him to Be Blessed (1-3)
This last book of the Bible is not as much about charts, predictions, and world events as it is about Jesus. The very first phrase says, “The revelation from Jesus Christ.” The phrase can be translated “from Jesus” or “about Jesus.” Both are true. The revelation (unveiling) that John received from God was about Jesus. God gave this revelation to John to share with believers in the churches of western Turkey.
The means of communicating this message to John was through an angel. John’s congregations were going to encounter tough days ahead, so God wanted to help them prepare. Some things would take place soon because the time was near (though John never identified what time he was talking about). John was in the Alcatraz of the Ancient Near East (the island of Patmos—offshore from Ephesus). John was there because of his preaching of the Word of God (i.e., gospel) and his testimony (1:2, 9). But even though there were challenges John pronounced a blessing on the person who would read and heed (i.e., hear it and take it to heart), his prophecy (i.e., speaking/writing an inspired message from God). This is the first of several beatitudes in Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). To hear Jesus is to bless him, and he turns around and blesses us.
Hear Him to Be Free (4-8)
This greeting and doxology is filled with significant theology—not the least of which is how Christ has set us free from our sins. The apostle John later identified himself to the recipients as a brother and companion in the suffering that the believers were experiencing (1:9). He addressed his symbolic prophecy to the seven churches in the province of Asia. John was the writer, but the revelation itself was from the God who knows no verb tense (who is, and who was, and who is to come)—see also vs. 8. The prophecy was inspired by the Holy Spirit (identified as the seven spirits, symbolic of the complete work of the Holy Spirit). And the Father and the Son work in conjunction with Jesus who was identified as faithful, resurrected, and sovereign over kingly authorities.
Praise is given to Jesus because of his love which motivated him to liberate his followers with his blood-bought atonement. The word freed is from a Greek word that means “loosed.” Jesus loosed us from our sins. Once this happened he made those liberated into a kingdom and allowed them to serve him as priests (cf. Exodus 19:6). These redeemed will rejoice at his return to earth a second time (Hebrews 9:28). Using a loose quotation from Zechariah 12:10, John recorded that Jesus would come with the clouds (Acts 1:9-11). In addition, everyone will witness this cosmic event—even those who killed Jesus. People who really hear Jesus can be freed by him. After all, he is the beginning and the end of everything (Alpha and Omega).
Hear Him Because of Who He Is (9-20)
Before John got to the churches (Rev. 2-3), before he witnessed heavenly worship (Rev. 4-5), before he witnessed the judgments of God (Rev. 6-11), before he uncovered the devilish intent behind why the world is as it is (Rev. 12-19), and even before he saw into the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21-22), he saw Jesus (1:9-20). This is not the humble carpenter from Nazareth of Galilee. This is the resurrected Son of God who “could play kickball with our planet” (Matt Proctor).
Even though John was suffering exile and having to patiently endure difficult days with the rest of the first-century believers, he had a revelation of Jesus Christ on Sunday (the Lord’s Day). God wanted him to tell the seven churches about this magnificent Christ. Jesus spiritually moved among the seven churches. He was the fulfillment of the one who executed the mission of that Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9-14). He was kingly in his dress, wise beyond measure, pure as wool, and piercing in his knowledge of people. He was stable like bronze, and his voice sounded like Niagara Falls. His hand-held stars (angels or messengers), and his face shone like the sun. What a picture!
What else could John do but fall down as though dead. Jesus comforted John with his right hand and with his powerful presence (first and last, dead though now alive, and holding the keys to death and Hades). If we really hear him, we will never underestimate him.
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