Good morning.  We go to the book of Revelation today. The message of the book is captured in verse 7. “Behold He is coming!” Jesus is coming! That expectation is what drives our faithfulness, our endurance, our repentance, and our encouragement!

Our focus will be on the seven letters the Lord Jesus had for seven local churches of that day. Every letter turned the churches attention to the coming of Jesus, and He urges them to live NOW in light of His coming.  We’ll talk about that but there are other important characteristics of the letters that I want to start with. 

First: Jesus knows these churches! He knows every person in every church. He knows what is going on in these churches. He told them, “I know your deeds”, “I know where you live”, “I know your afflictions”, “I know your poverty.” He sees what is right and what is wrong.  He commends them for some things, he strongly condemns other things. Those who need rebuke are rebuked. He said, “Those I love, I rebuke and discipline”. To those who were doing what pleased Him,  He said, “Hold on to what you have.” Be faithful and true! To the end.  

The first obvious application for us is that Jesus knows us. He knows you and me, this church and every church. That can make us uncomfortable because He knows what we need to change, what needs repentance, what displeases Him. But it is also deeply comforting because He knows our trials, our suffering, our heartache and our endurance. He knows your good works. He knows your love, and your loyalty to Him. 

I think the natural question to ask after reading these letters is, what Jesus would say if He wrote such a letter to me? What would He commend, what would please Him? What would concern Him, what would He warn me about?  I have often solemnly considered what the Lord Jesus would say to RLC if he wrote us a letter. I would want everything to please Him!  I would want it all to be commendation. But I would also want to hear anything that displeased Him or that he wanted us to change.

Second observation: Hope is given to every church!  Although there are serious problems in some of these churches, the invitation to repent is given to all of them. And encouragement is given to all to be one who conquers, to the end. And then receive honor and glory when Jesus comes.

I know people who see themselves as the black sheep or the person who always messes up. And they feel locked into their past sins and failures.  But no matter our past failures Jesus invites us to repent, to overcome, and He offers us the glories of reigning with him!  

Third: In all seven letters Jesus promises a special blessing to the one who conquers. The word means to prevail, or win a victory over. Jesus makes it pretty clear what conquering means right in the letters. “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.  Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” To conquer means to endure, to be faithful to the end, even under severe trials. 

Here are all the promises to conquerors: “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. The one who conquers will be clothed in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on MY throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” 

These believers were called to overcome hardships, poverty and imprisonment, suffering at the hand of the devil, and even being put to death. These magnificent promises were to motivate them and us, to conquer in our trials and tribulation till He comes.

Fourth: Every letter ends with this appeal: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  Jesus wants your attention!  We are to humbly listen, receive and obey what the Spirit says. Specifically we should listen to what the Spirit said to these 7 churches.

In verse 4 John tells us the WHOLE BOOK is written to the 7 churches. (not just chapter 2,3) So we need to read these letters in the context of the whole message. And the message of this book is that present evil, and tribulation and end-time trauma, will all turn to glory, relief, and honor for the saints in the new heaven and earth.  And it’s THAT story that makes us more than conquerors. 

The predictions of suffering and tribulation prepare us to endure. The sovereign rule of God over evil people and end time events, keeps us from being shaken.  The glorious final outcome fills us joyful confident expectation.

Without a deep conviction that this is the way things turn out, we become angry and disillusioned by the apparent triumph of evil, shaken by persecution, discouraged by the pain of life.  But if we know the story, if our hearts are attached to this story, if we know that we are part of this story, it gives us everything we need to fight the good fight.  If we know the story we are forewarned, forearmed, and we are prepared to conquer in all these things. This book prepares comfortable, successful, safe people, for the great test and trials that are coming on the earth.  And it turns us into overcomers. It gives us a hope that will carry us through ANYTHING! That hope is that Jesus, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords is coming and will conquer and reign. And we will with Him!

None of us here may go through any end time persecution or martyrdom, but there’s a message we need to hear. We all have dreams and hopes and plans for our life and we should. But what happens when something goes wrong with our perfect story. We go through a divorce, or a death, or a crushing defeat, or maybe in days to come we DO face some devastating persecution. So “What happened to that picture perfect life we had planned for ourselves?”  Well, we turn to the Bible, and we’re reminded that we’re not promised a picture perfect life here, in this age! 

That picture perfect life we long for, that life without death and tears, that life without failure and pain, that life more beautiful and than we could can imagine is IN the age to come!  Our hope and joy are NOT dependent on our story in this life turning out just the way we want it. Our hope and joy are anchored in the unshakable promise of our Father’s Kingdom.  

The present world is messed up, it’s full of sadness and injustice and evil. And it’s not all going to be fixed in this life. The things that have been promised to us, the things we long for, have to be fulfilled in the age to come, which will be inaugurated by the coming of Jesus. So eagerly waiting the appearing of Jesus and the glory of the age to come is the way we cope with all wickedness, ALL disappointment, pain and even persecution. It’s HOW we conquer!

That’s how the NT church was taught to think. 1 Cor 1:7 Paul said, “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”

Alright let’s go to verse 1 “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.” John is the writer, but Jesus is the author. It’s the revelation of Jesus Christ. He unveils or reveals the things the Father gave Him to show us.

John said it’s written to show us “the things which must soon take place”. The phrase “soon take place” can trouble us. We might even ask the same question that Peter said scoffers ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” Peter’s answer is that time is relative to God.  A day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day to the Lord.  

But it does seem that Jesus and the apostles wanted us to expect His coming at any day. John said, the hope of His appearing “purifies us even as he is pure”.  This hope drives our discipleship and endurance. It keeps us from being enamored with this world. It keeps our hopes and dreams where they should be - on the appearing of Jesus.

Peter said, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2 Peter 3.10-14

Peter wants us to live with an eager expectation of the “day of God”, looking forward to the new heaven and earth.  

John goes on, “He made (this revelation) known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.”   Jesus used His angel to tell John all he heard and saw. He is just telling us how this message got transmitted to him.  

Verse 3 “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.”  Certainly you will experience blessing now, but I think the point is IF you read and respond to the message of this book you will be blessed, or “it will go well for you” WHEN the Lord comes.

“For the time is near”. In God’s prophetic timetable these events are imminent, right on top of us.  They will come upon the world like a thief in the night.

Verse 4 “John to the seven churches that are in Asia.  These churches are in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodocia.  All cities in what is modern day Turkey.  They are local churches, gatherings of believers just like us in many ways. 

Verse 4 goes on, “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.”  The first message of the book is “grace to you and peace”!  And it’s from “him who is and who was and who his to come, that is from God the Father, and from the seven spirits. Probably a reference to the Holy Spirit. “And it’s from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”  

These titles of Jesus are given to exalt Jesus in our eyes. 

Jesus Christ is The Faithful Witness. Certainly that means Jesus is trustworthy, reliable. It also refers to His faithfulness to speak truth, even though He knew it would lead to his death. Witness literally means martyr. Jesus was slain for the word of God, some of his followers will be too. Rev. 6:9 “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.” Jesus modeled being a faithful witness for us.  He is our leader in faithfulness and suffering.

Jesus Christ is The Firstborn of the Dead. That declares His deity. Rom. 1 “He was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit, by his resurrection from the dead.”  It declares His status as the highest name and authority in the universe.  “He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things.” Colossians 1

Jesus Christ is The Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. He rules over all kings on earth now.  But someday he will make them bow before Him and crush their rebellion against Him. In Revelation 17 The kings of the earth are arrayed in battle against Christ; but it says, "They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings."   

But Jesus is not only conquering king, victorious warrior and the Supreme ruler of the Universe. John breaks out in worship “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” This mighty and glorious Jesus, loves you! He shed His own blood to free you from your sins!   He cares for you. He cared about setting you free.

AND “He made us a kingdom, priests to our God.” In this world, we are aliens and strangers. But in God’s kingdom we are royal priests.  And our royal status will be seen in the kingdom to come. We will reign with Him, be glorified with Him, sit on the throne with Him. And so we break out in praise with John. “To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

Then verse 7 “Behold, He is coming with the clouds.” Look, pay attention! Jesus is coming! This is the big announcement! Life as we know it will be suddenly be interrupted, by this monumental event, the biggest event of human history. 

“He is coming with the clouds.” This goes back to what Daniel said, “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. 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.  Jesus is that One coming on the clouds! 

And there will be nothing secret about His coming! “Every eye will see Him.” “Even those who crucified Him.”  Even His people, Israel. For the present time they have rejected Him as their Messiah. But as Zechariah said, 12:10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” 

Verse 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”   God was in the beginning, He’s here now, and He is to come.  That is true of the Father and the Son! 

The past, present and the future are all in his hands. History is not random or meaningless. God is directing all human events to the end He has planned. The future does not belong to evil people, to communists or the political left or right, or to those who hate the truth.  The future belongs to Jesus Christ.  He is to come!  “He who is coming will come and will not delay!”

Isaiah said, “Say to those with anxious hearts: Be strong, do not fear. Behold your God will come!  He will come with vengeance. With divine retribution, He will come to save you.  Then the eye of the blind will be opened, the lame will leap like a deer and those who cannot speak will sing for joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and mourning will disappear.”  The Lord is coming and He will restore all things to way they should be.  (Isaiah 35)

Then John adds “He is the Almighty”. He HAS the power to bring all this about. To impose His will on the earth. He will slay the man of lawlessness just with the breath of His mouth.  This will be easy for Him. 

This is the way John introduces us to the letters from Jesus to the seven churches. Behold He is coming. And that focus is what drives our faithfulness, and our endurance, and our repentance where that is needed.  It is what makes us conquerors in life.  So get to have your life changed as we study these letters.  Get ready to repent, to be deeply encouraged, to have your hope fixed on the Day of the Lord.