Look, He is coming (Rev 1a)

Look, He is coming!

Rev 1:1-8

Key Verse: 7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

Introduction: Today’s passages are an introduction to the book of revelation. It states concisely what the book of Revelation is about, its author, its content and its purpose, and what we should do about it. It is believed that this book was written by John the Apostle near the end of the first century.

At this time the entire church faced an intense persecution.  Some of prominent leader were already martyred, Peter and Paul. Even the author John himself was in exile at the island Patmos.  Yet far worse condition was coming; systematic persecution of believers in the entire territory of Roman empire.[during the reign of Emperor Domitian] The main reason of persecution was believers’ rejection of emperor worship.  Christians served only God and his son Jesus as the Lord and would not serve any other as their Lord.

Two matters dominate the events in the entire revelation.  One is the Holy War against the power of this world. The other is the role of Jesus in this holy war through the redeeming power.  In this war the believers suffer persecutions and martyrdom. But God sends his wrath to the world brings victory to Jesus the supreme king.

It is inevitable that all believers will be engaged spiritual warfare against the ungodly forces of this world. The most formidable ones are the political powers of this world, to which we feel powerless. But behind this is the power of Satan. Who will win this war is very important for the believers.

1.      The revelation of Jesus Christ [1-3]

Read 1. This revelation is about Jesus Christ. There are so many events recorded by John. But in its entirety, it is about Jesus, so it is called ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ’ When it says the revelation of Jesus, it can be taken by two ways. One, Jesus revealed this to us, the other, it is the revelation about Jesus.

Whatever is hidden about Jesus is revealed in this book. Who is Jesus that we know? Who is Jesus the world recognizes?

The Jesus that we know is through the gospels. So we know him very well of his work and his teachings. We know his purpose of coming. Peter confessed to Jesus, you are the Son of the living God. Once Jesus said of himself that before Abraham he was. This Jesus was seen last when he was ascended to heaven. As the disciples were looking intently into the sky, an angel said to them, ‘this Jesus will come back as the same way as he left them’.

Since this was the last scene of Jesus, they know and remember, we can sum up three things about Jesus: Jesus is the Son of God and overcome the power of death.  Jesus would prepare a place in heaven and will come back to take the disciples with him, and since Jesus said to his disciples that they must preach the good news to the world and He will be with them through the end of ages, we, believers, must take these words in our heart by faith. These are all that we know of Jesus.

But the revelation of Jesus that John received from God is far beyond what we have learned from the Gospels and Acts.  It is about Jesus in power and glory, which the Gospel alluded but says very little. It is about his war against Satan and evil forces of this world and is about his victory and its consequences on the people of the world and on his followers. 

Then how did the message come to John?  Read V2.  God took John to see in his own eyes the evolving events in action. So the whole revelation is like by the first hand eye witness. Eye witness carries most accurate and most detailed information. It is not like revelation by word. Eye witness can give us the whole events in its complexity, clarity and with certainty. So this revelation of Jesus is thorough, complete and certain. We know that Jesus action and his life during the time between Jesus ascension and his coming back is unknown to us.  This has been hidden from us and we are to go by trusting his goodness in his word. But God, in his will and in his own accord, decided to reveal this to us so that we may know its entirety with certainty and clarity. This is what we need. Even now we must know Jesus’ work with more clarity and certainty. This is vital for those who are suffering under intense persecution and even facing death. In this certainty and faith believers are not to yield to evil forces of this world but stand firm even to the point of death.

How to handle the message of this book?

Throughout history the believers were reluctant to get into this book because of its complexity.  Virtually throughout church history up until last century, comprehensive understanding of the entirety of this revelation was simply absent. Certainly this does not mean that God has not spoken through this book so long. The book of revelation is most complex and difficult to understand. Because of this, early father did not pay much attention to it. So in the past, even renowned leaders were shy away from this book. Though God has revealed much of its meaning through the last century, we are not far from the understanding of the early fathers. But in two ways, the messenger made emphasis on how to handle this revelation.  It is emphasized in two places; at the beginning and at the end of the book so that no one may make mistakes despite of its complexity.

Let’s look at what is at the end of the book:

8 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. Rev 22:

Every single letters or words are important and bears its meaning. So no one should dare to omit any word of it. No one should dare to add on it. If one does so, he will face a great danger to put himself out of God’s blessing. What should we do about it? Difficulties and complexities do not warrant us to change any wording or sentences to make fit for our reasoning. Let it be stand as it is even if we do not capture full meaning.

At the beginning of the book the messenger taught how to handle this book.

3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Here the word ‘read’ means reading aloud so that many may be able to listen. So within believers’ community, this book must be read aloud and many who listen to the book must treasure what they heard in their hearts. Then God’s blessing is assured to them.  Though in God’s time God will reveal fully all that is written in this book, for now believers are to read aloud and hear it and treasure in one’s heart.  Understanding is good. But more important thing is to get familiar with it and treasure it in one’s heart.  The aim is to let the believers get to know it well.

I like to discuss about what it means to take it to heart.  In this revelation, there is very little words that we have to put into action or to obey (except ch 2-3). Almost all of it is to give us ‘understanding’ of who Jesus is and what shall happen. It is aimed to bring radical changes in the understanding of our view of the world and Jesus.

Let’s say that a human being is like a pyramid. The lowest part has the large footing that gives weight and firm foundation of his being. This part is composed of ‘understanding’ about life and the world—the world view, view of life. It consists of conviction and faith. In the middle third is a part of reasoning and thinking that is based on two things, what the foundation provides as the basic frame of understanding and what the world gives to the person in form of demand or threat or hope. The top third is action.  This is the sum or decision derived by reasoning and emotions of the middle third. If we deal with the top one third without changing middle or bottom thirds, it is almost impossible to bring any changes. Most of the human science, behavioral and psychological, tries to understand the top, i.e actions, by handling the middle third. These science cannot touch or has no will to deal with the bottom third, the foundation of life.

Revelation aimed to changes or will bring changes our life from its root, the foundation.  If we turn our blind eyes, then, we remain as we are and we will miss out the radical changes of our understanding of the world.  So it says, we must take it to heart. This must be treasured in our inmost being, as the truth and as the truth enduring to the end of the world.

Why in such a way? Because the time is near, the recipient of this letter was told to take prophecy into heart.  This mean that what is written in this book would soon happen in the life time of the recipient of this letter.

This message was delivered to the churches in the first century, there was not much time left for the fulfillment of this prophecy.  As we noted earlier, the holy war against the power of the world, intense persecutions on the believers and God’s wrath on the world and eventual victory are the main events. All of these three are important for them to know. Among these three the persecutions on believers comes first. They have to know all these three things are coming in a very short time. So the primary goal of revelation is for the believers to persevere in the holy war against the power of the world. The focus of this ‘time’ ‘soon or short’ is on the emphasis that ‘the time of pain’ is short ;though it is a must-process as the due course of history, it shall come to pass and the victory and glory of the coming of Christ is very near. How short might it be? According to Daniel’s prophecy, it is 70^th week, which is understood as 7 years.

When I am in pain and anguish, one minute feels like hours and days. But even in such intense pain and sorrow, believers are to bear with it in faith and holiness so that they may see the final victory of Jesus and participate in his glory. It is coming soon. We cannot escape from this. But it will soon be over in victory. We are called to persevere through intense suffering under persecution, and final victory as Jesus comes while those who cause it will face God’s wrath. The aim is to persevere.

2.      The goal of this letter.

Read v 4-5a. This message was given to the seven churches in Asia.
First, this message was given to the churches. This was not given to the world. The world cannot know and accept any of these prophecy since they rejected all the message of and by Jesus who lived on this earth and who resurrected and ascended to heaven. Unless one accepts this basic understanding of Jesus, he cannot accept and reason from any part of this revelation. So knowing and believing the work of Jesus on the earth is the foundation of understanding of this revelation. Only those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus will know and understand this prophecy.

Second, it was sent to the seven churches. Many different opinions are around. Each explanation has some truth and merit in it. But I believe that this was because Jesus wanted to address the issue with specificity, meaning that the exact problems of the church must be addressed and handled so that there might be no ambiguity in meaning and in application.  It comprises of all problems that church as a whole face are found in these seven churches. Unless the problems the church will face are identified exactly and resolved completely, they might have less chance of entering the glory of the coming Lord. The message is thorough in the sense that the problems of each church are well defined and solution is offered. It is complete in the sense that the letter addressed all of the problems that were plaguing the church community and that would plague in coming year of church history in view of securing their salvation.  Jesus did not miss out any though it mentioned seven churches only. So it is applicable to all churches in history regardless of time and place. Simply God is giving this message to the churches today as well.

One thing that we can add is that these churches were about to face such intense persecutions and on coming persecution necessitate such revelation of truth.   

Then what is the purpose of this prophecy given to the churches?

Read 4b. It is found in the greetings of this letter. The ultimate goal of this letter is to give them or to provide them with the peace and grace of God.  We find such greetings in many letters of the Apostles, we may take this greeting as a formality of the time with little significance. But I will take this as the purpose of this writing; to impart God’s grace and God’s peace.

When resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciple who were gripped with fear and uncertainty, his first word was, peace. Peace be with you. Jesus said to his disciples, I will give you peace, the peace I will give is different from the peace world gives. This is the peace that transcends all human understanding and circumstances. As we know the situation of the seven churches at the time of this writing, they were intense persecutions. Many of them were in danger of losing their assets and even lives. Death was common place among his fellow believers and even the surviving were facing martyrdom in a matter of days. To such peoples as these God is calling for grace and peace.

Grace is the opposite of judgment and condemnation. Under intense suffering from the power of the world, we question ‘is it God’s wrath’ or ‘is it a persecution’? When we know by heart that God’s grace is secured for each of us through Jesus’ blood, we know that it is not judgment but persecutions. In God’s grace we can persevere through all hardships and persecutions with hope, and even with joy for it will soon be over with victory. God’s grace is the essential element that we have to have as we go through hardships of life.

Peace is opposite of unrest and fear and anxiety. Ultimate victory gives us peace. God is imploring this peace even in the midst of intense persecutions and suffering. It is not judgment and it is not condemnation. Instead of fear and anxiety, we see coming of Jesus our Lord in his glory and power. Fear, anxiety driven by sense of condemnation and judgment are the norm for the living in this world as sinners. Lack of these two leads many to all kinds of distress and psychological problems. No one can escape from them. But despite of all these, God is calling for peace and grace to his people. That peace and that grace of God are real as we come to know the truth of Jesus.

In order to bless us with this grace and this peace, what the Triune God did. Each God head is pushing for our peace and grace in distinctive ways.

from him who is, and who was, and who is to come:  God is securing this peace and grace by his authority as the creator of heaven and the earth, as the one who is alone from creation to the eternity.

and from the seven spirits before his throne : Holy Spirit is securing this for us by attesting to the truth of God and implementing Father’s will and purpose for and on behalf of his believers.

5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

·         Jesus bore witness of God’s righteous judgment and his grace in redeeming sins of men through his suffering and death on the cross. Another meaning of witness is martyr. Jesus bore witness of these even to the point of his death.  Witness of God’s truth even to the point of his death. 

·         The first born from the dead: Jesus is the first to be resurrected. Also he is the first one among those who are to be resurrected. Jesus is the heir of God’s blessing of resurrection.

·         Jesus is the rule of all power, including all powers of the world; he inherited this power and authority as the first born.

In this way, these three heads are working together with a clear goal for the believers; that is to give them grace and peace. If this is so, then, what or who shall deter this blessing! Nothing! No one! Even all hardship and all persecutions, we have grace and peace that transcend all evils of this world. This is the kind of peace that Adam had in the Garden of Eden. This is the peace that God wanted to impart to his people Israel through the Sabbath worship. This is the peace that we believers will have in his kingdom. But having that peace and that grace is most critical when one faces intense persecution, and imminent danger to life. 

All these became possible because of what Jesus did.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

·         He loves us. Jesus’ love for sinner is the driving force of all the works he did.

·         The essence of his work is redemption of men by his blood.

·         The goal is for us to be God’s kingdom and priest.

Here again all these are made possible because Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. This is to be the point of praise and honor. This theme, the theme of Jesus’ redemption, continues to the end of Revelation. This work is the reason for Jesus glory and power, this is the reason for his victory, this is the reason for him to be the king. God’s utmost desire is fulfilled by Jesus; that is for us to be His kingdom and His priest.

Contrary to such gracious will and prayer of God for the followers of Jesus, God’s will for the world is quite different.  

3.      Look he is coming

7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen

Jesus is coming. Here declares one event. There is no introduction or guiding thought. His coming is typified by its suddenness. Without any notice or premonitory signs, Jesus appears with power and glory. This is what it means; Look! He is coming! His coming is so unexpected that they are caught at a bad time by Jesus’ power and glory. There will be no time to escape or change. Whatever they are, they are fully exposed to Jesus and they are vulnerable to Jesus’ holy judgment. No escape is possible.

Who would be seeing Jesus’ coming?

Every eye will see him. Every single individual must face Jesus power and glory. No one stay aloof or irrelevant to Jesus’ power and glory because he or she is just one of billions.  All must face him. There won’t be any exceptions. Even the one who pierced him cannot hide from Jesus.

What would be their responses? All people of the earth will mourn because of him. This is clear contrast to what we learned from the previous passages. There three God head worked for the believers so that they may have grace and peace. Their heart is filled with praise to Jesus, the one who redeemed their sins.

But the whole world will mourn because Jesus has taken over the absolute power over their lives and they had rejected Jesus grace and lived ungodly life. They are facing judgment by the only one righteous; Jesus.

One of the themes in the midst of intense struggle between good and evil is the question on who is worthy to bring judgment on the evil. As we noted in the previous paragraph, believers give praise to Jesus because he redeemed sinners by his blood.  This key theme is connected to the judgment of all those who rejected this offer.  Why does this make Jesus worthy to judge? We can list two things: Jesus is the one who offered life giving love to all sinners. Since he offered his life, if this is rejected, he is worthy to bring judgment on all those who reject.  Second, he is the one who honored God fully and is found to be only one righteous among all human race.  

Now they see him in all power and glory, only thing that would face is Jesus righteous judgment. While all the believers will give praise to Jesus, all the people on earth will mourn, facing a grim judgment on them.

It is the depiction of the consummation of all history. It is by Jesus’ second coming in glory and power.  This is ending point; two outstanding events; Jesus glory and judgment on the unbelieving. This makes ending of long struggles of human races under the power of sin and evil.  It is the closure of human history and the beginning of God’s kingdom and His rule.

If any believers fail to know this, he or she will make an unwanted mistakes or erroneous decisions.  The world will test us in various ways. Such test will come in forms of alienation, temptations, condemnation, corporal or financial punishment, and threat to our being, and even death.  

But we must remember, Jesus our Lord is coming. We should walk before him, not before the eyes of the world.  There seems to be long and dark tunnel of hardship in which we do not see any light. But it says that it must soon take place. The time is short. We must persevere in righteousness and holiness, being filled with full of grace and peace.

Who is saying this?

V8  In this introduction, V7,8 is described as the direct utterance of God the Father.

It is the Lord God. God the father is described in two ways.

1.      I am the alpha and Omega; alpha is the first alphabet of Greek letter and omega is the last one. It means he made the beginning and will make the end. He is the beginner of the history and he is the one who end the history. He is the one who has all authority over entire history of human beings. God is in control of the entire human history. This is that end that the author of history is making and declaring.

2.      The Lord God is described as the one who is and who was and who is to come. This means that the living God now is the God who was before creation of the world and is the Same God who is to come in order to make a closure of history. The God who is at work now declares with God’s authority and almighty power that transcendence over time and history of the world.  

By these two qualifying sentences, God is saying that what he said, i.e. the coming of Christ is guaranteed by God himself. By this way God is assuring his follower that Jesus’ coming is not a guessing or probable but a certainty as God is certain and almighty and ever-existing.