Series: Following Jesus in a Hostile World - A Series on Revelation
The world we live in is a hostile place. That’s not news; that’s reality. As I was fueling up at the St. Pierre Shell, I chatted with the attendant about the weather and other stuff. Then she commented on the condition of our world and stunned me by saying, “the world is a dumpster fire.”
It’s clear to everyone, no matter their faith perspective, that our world is a mess. We see it every time we turn on the news or read our feeds. Amid these global issues, Christians are under pressure to conform to ungodly ideologies. Sin is being normalized, making followers of Jesus look intolerant to a changing culture.
You may have heard someone say, “Things are getting worse and worse. It must be the End Times.” But Revelation doesn’t begin by answering the question, “When will the world end?” It begins by answering a more important question: Who is Jesus?
The book of Revelation was written to believers in churches living in a hostile world. It was written in such a way that John’s readers in the first century would understand it. Revelation was written to stir the imagination and convey a message of hope to followers of Jesus under fire. The goal was to bring its hearers to a point of worship and confidence in the One who reigns right now, Jesus Christ. It’s not only about the future; it’s a timeless message for believers in any age.
Revelation pulls back the curtain so we can see Jesus the King, speaking to and standing among his people. Come and see what John saw, what is real and true.
1. King Jesus Reveals Himself (1-3)
The first words of this book tell us what the whole book is about. It is a key to unlocking the central truth. We must not forget this key as we read. John writes, “The revelation of Jesus Christ…”
The word “revelation” comes from the term “apocalypse.” That term has been abused so much. I recall seeing a journalist reporting from a hurricane crying, “It’s the apocalypse!” No, it’s not. “Apocalypse” means “unveiling” or “to reveal” which is why we call the book “Revelation.”
What’s being revealed? Well, not what, but who? The tone of the opening words, “The revelation of Jesus Christ…” could be “from Jesus” or “about Jesus.” Which is it? Is it from him or about him? I will give you the college professor answer: Yes!
If you read the progression in the first two verses you will see that God gave Jesus this revelation, who gave it to an angel to give to John. John, probably in his 80s or 90s, is the same John of the gospel witness and the letters.
So, about 60 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the church experiences the hostility of a godless world and needs to be reminded of who Jesus is. They need to be reminded of the resurrected and glorified Christ. They need to see what is really happening behind the visible actions of their world. They need to see how ugly the world system is. They need to see the beauty God sees in his people. They need to be reminded of God’s plan for renewal of all things. And we do too, don’t we?
This revelation of Jesus also comes with a blessing. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near,” (3). This is why we can’t ignore this book, as uncomfortable and frightening as it’s images may be. This is a sensory book. Listen to it. Don’t get lost in the details but imagine what it was like for 1st century Christians to hear this. Look for Jesus in it. And then keep it. Obey it. Take courage from King Jesus.
The curtain is pulled back and we see Jesus.
2. King Jesus Reigns Over History (4-8)
Of particular encouragement is how John reveals King Jesus in this book. In a world seemingly out of control or in the hands of evil people and powerful forces bent on destruction, we will be bewildered. Where is God in this crazy world? Who’s in control?
To answer this question, John gives a greeting to God’s people. “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Do you see the Trinity in this greeting? Seven represents perfection, so John is talking about the perfect Spirit.
How John describes Jesus is worth noting. Jesus is the faithful witness who represented God’s purpose and will and gospel when he lived among us. Even when opposed by the religious authorities, Jesus held firm to the task of preaching God’s kingdom. It led to his death, but he was “the firstborn of the dead,” resurrected by the power of God. He was raised from the dead, and he is the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Now imagine a follower of Jesus standing for the good news in the face of opposition. It’s hard to resist the pressure to conform. But Jesus did it. Perhaps it will cost you your life. Jesus was raised from the dead. And who is truly in control of the history of our world? Emperors? Politicians? Jesus!
And this Jesus loves you and has a hand on you. John writes, “To him who loves us…” Several years ago, an EMC pastor declared that the Bible nowhere says, “Jesus loves you.” But look at this verse: He loves us. He has freed us from our sins. He has made us a kingdom and priests. Before Revelation shows us beasts and dragons and judgment, it tells us this: Jesus loves his people.
God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega…” He is the beginning and the end of life. It belongs to him. The world may look like it is controlled by other powers, Revelation unveils the King who actually reigns over all history. That is encouraging to God’s people when they face hostility.
The curtain is pulled back and we see who is really in control.
3. King Jesus Speaks to His People (9-11)
John knows hostility. Here is an 80-year-old man being treated like a major threat to the Roman Empire. He is imprisoned on an island, Patmos, for speaking about Jesus. Somehow this was subversive; somehow this upset the status quo of the Roman program. So, they exiled him.
He writes, “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance…” Note that John writes in the present tense: he and the church of the first century were in the tribulation. John doesn’t write as someone waiting for the tribulation to begin, He writes as someone already experiencing it.
Ever since the message of the gospel was given to us, there has been hostility from a world in rebellion to Jesus. That hostility is not limited to persecution, like John’s exile, but is seen in Revelation as powerful forces in the guise of empire, idolatry, economic pressure, cultural seduction of the church, and violence, to name a few. Christians around the world are experiencing heat for their faith. We may not experience the loss of freedoms the same way, but we do experience the pressure to compromise our allegiance to Jesus.
That’s one perspective. But the other perspective comes with a loud voice. On Sunday, while worshiping, John says, “I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…” Here’s a voice you can’t ignore. Here’s a message for the seven churches. Remember, seven represents totality, so the message is for the whole church. And the message is this: While the world looks like it’s on fire, Jesus is in control. Not the emperor. Not your opponents. Jesus!
Darrell Johnson commented on this, “How does Jesus respond? He lifts the cover; he pulls back the curtain. Jesus responds with a revelation; with an apocalypse; with an unveiling of the unseen reality of the present. God responds by giving John a powerful vision of who Jesus is.”
So, what does Jesus reveal?
4. King Jesus Stands Among His Churches (12-20)
What is Jesus doing? Sitting on a throne in heaven? Ruling from another dimension?
Watch for this as you read Revelation: John hears and then he sees. In v. 10 he heard a voice and then he turns to see the person speaking in vv. 12-16 (read). What he saw was a man of unusual description. John says he looked “like a son of man” but his hair is white and his eyes are aflame. This is an amazing figure of a man.
If you are familiar with the book of Daniel you may recognize the description. In Daniel 7:9 we read of a similar figure but goes by the name “Ancient of Days.”
“As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
This is Yahweh, God Almighty. Then in verses 13-14, Daniel says he saw “one like the son of man.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
In a.most surprising turn, the man comes before the Ancient of Days and is given sovereign power and is worshiped by men. The OT law specifically forbids the worship of anyone but Yahweh, yet this man is given an eternal kingdom and is worshiped. “Son of man” was Jesus’ favorite description of himself during his earthly ministry. We know that this man John sees is Jesus, but the glorified Jesus. “Son of man” connects Jesus to the mysterious figure in Daniel 7 who receives everlasting dominion and an eternal kingdom.
John’s vision combines the imagery of Daniel’s Ancient of Days with the figure of the Son of Man. The white hair, the blazing eyes…all point to something astonishing about Jesus.
Then Jesus speaks to John and says, “Fear not, I am the first and the last…” Earlier in v. 8, the Lord said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega…” the same expression. And in Isaiah 44:6, Yahweh says, “I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God.” Yet here is Jesus appearing as Yahweh and declaring his Lordship as first and last.
That’s a huge part of the revelatory message. But the really important piece is where John sees Jesus walking.
Do you see where Jesus is?
He’s not merely “above” the church.
He’s not just watching the church.
He’s not watching the church from a safe distance.
He’s walking among the lampstands…. the churches.
King Jesus is among his people. He has a message for his people:
First, he says, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died and behold I am alive forevermore…” Whatever you are facing, you don’t have to be afraid. Jesus is the Lord of history and has defeated our enemies. There is nothing to fear.
Second, what comes next. Jesus says to John, “Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.” Jesus wants to show us what is really going on in the world. Knowing what he knows will help us to endure patiently while we live in this world.
Third, Jesus is present with the church. In v. 20, the mystery of the stars and lampstands is revealed: they are the seven churches. Jesus stands in the middle of his church. He walks among us. He has authority over us. We are not alone. The curtain is pulled back and Jesus is present here in our church.
John was overwhelmed by his vision of the risen Lord. It made him tremble and fall as though dead. Yet Jesus touched him and said, “Fear not.”
That’s why we need the message of Revelation. Not because we need a key to figuring out world events. Not because we want to read the future. We need Revelation because it shows us Jesus as King of Kings. We need this vision of Jesus. When powerful people try to control history, look to this Jesus. When following Jesus gets hard, remember this Jesus. When you think the church has been forgotten, remember who is walking among the lampstands.
You may have avoided this book as you read the Bible. Images of dragons and beasts and mysterious pictures has left you shaking your head. Why read this book?
Because it is for you. It is a book written for the follower of Jesus who is struggling to understand why we live in a hostile world. Scot McKnight calls it a prophetic call to follow Jesus.
AMEN
