02.01. LECTURE No. 1 -- Rev_1:1-3
LECTURE No. 1 -- Revelation 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ - A Blessing Promised - John’s Patmos Vision of the Risen Lord
TRULY, my friends, it is with a mingled feeling OF JOY, and of GREAT RESPONSIBILITY, that we approach our study and exposition of this marvelous book, which is the last book of the Bible.
It has long been upon my heart to give a series of messages on the Book of Revelation, but some how I have been hindered and restrained from doing so until now. And there is no doubt but what such delay has been providential, BECAUSE, until now, the people generally were unprepared, and many have been unwilling to hear, such truth as that which is presented in this wonderful book.
But now that the world is engaged in war on an unprecedented scale, and the moral foundations, and political institutions of the nations of the whole earth seem to be crumbling, some people, at least, are beginning to wonder what the end of present world conditions will be! Those who are of an inquiring mind, and who are sincere in their desire to know the truth of the whole matter, WILL BE WILLING NOW, to hear what the Word of God has to say upon the subject of CURRENT EVENTS IN THE LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE PROPHECY. No Apology To Offer And let me say, right in the very beginning, that I have no apology to make to any one for this effort to give a study and exposition of this marvelous last book of the Bible.
THE APOSTLE PAUL plainly tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
This remarkable statement, I am sure includes the Book of Revelation, just as much as it does the Book of Genesis, or any other book of the Old Testament. It includes the Book of Revelation just as much as it does the FOUR GOSPELS, or the EPISTLES of the New Testament.
It is only RIGHT and PROPER, therefore, that we should give time and study, and careful attention to what is written in this last book of the Bible, as well as to any other portion of God’s Word. A Special Blessing As we undertake our study of this particular book, I am fully aware of the prejudice that many have regarding it. It is a very sad fact that SOME PREACHERS have not made a careful study of the Book of Revelation themselves, and therefore are totally unqualified to teach the subject matter contained in the book. It is perfectly natural that such ministers would seek to discourage the people of their own churches from making a study of the book. And in doing so they are acting ABSOLUTELY CONTRARY to the Word of God contained in the book of Revelation itself; for in the very introduction of the Book a SPECIAL BLESSING is pronounced upon those who READ, and who HEAR, and who KEEP the sayings of this Book. In our present study of the Book of Revelation we are not seeking for the favor of men. We do not seek, even for the favor of the ministry of our day who are DENYING THE DEITY OF JESUS THE SON OF GOD, and who are REJECTING the inspired Word, and who are COMPROMISING the truth, and are withholding it from the people for filthy lucre’s sake!
God pity the Pastors of some churches who draw large salaries for their work, and who at the same time withhold the truth of God’s Word from the people. How many of them are blind leaders of the blind, and if so, how many preachers, with multitudes of their Church members, will BOTH FALL INTO THE DITCH!
On the other hand, my friends, in our present undertaking we invite all ministers, who will, to read these messages with an open mind and receptive heart. Truly, we seek and long for the fellowship of all TRUE MEN OF GOD EVERY WHERE!
These are indeed perilous times, and all Christian work which rings true to the Word of God, is a spiritual warfare! These are days when God needs preachers and laymen with GREAT FAITH, and with the MORAL COURAGE of their convictions, who will stand for the whole Word of God NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!
THE APOSTLE PAUL was this sort of a Christian. Indeed, it was with a great sacrifice that he won his right to become the great Apostle t6 the Gentiles.
He was a PHARISEE OF THE PHARISEES! He was WELL EDUCATED having sat at the feet of Gamaliel. He was a ROMAN CITIZEN and A MAN OF NO MEAN CITY. Yet, all which was gain unto him he counted as loss for Christ. Therefore, WITH THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS, Paul purchased for himself the great Apostleship to the Gentiles. In His ministry of the Word of God, the Apostle Paul was not subject to any man, or group of men. He boldly testified to this fact in Galatians 1:10-12, where he said:
“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or DO I SEEK TO PLEASE MEN? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the SERVANT OF CHRIST. But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me IS NOT AFTER MAN. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Thus, my friends, did the great Apostle DECLARE OPENLY before ALL MEN that he was not a PREACHER OF MAN-MADE TRADITION, and that he was not a servant of men, but a servant of Jesus Christ.
In other words, he was not preaching to please men, but to please God. Not A Preacher of Tradition As we begin our study of the Book of Revelation, I take my stand with the Apostle Paul, and declare that I am not a preacher of manmade tradition! Most of you have discovered this already. As I study and expound the Scriptures there has been no Bishop, or District Superintendent, or Church board of any Church, any where, which has dictated to me what I should say.
When I have finished my message they can not threaten to fire me, because I have failed to preach “the tradition of the elders.”
No, I am a FREE MAN IN CHRIST Jesus, and have set myself to the task of preaching the WHOLE WORD OF GOD! But in this regard I can truthfully say that with great SUFFERING and SACRIFICE I have obtained this liberty.
Standing Alone In order to obtain this freedom I have been compelled to STAND ALONE!
While standing alone, I have been compelled to LIVE BY FAITH without a stipulated salary from any source.
Standing alone, we have had to trust God for the supply of daily needs, and for open doors to preach His Word to the people. But praise God, our daily needs have been supplied, even though we have had to live in HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES and LIVE ECONOMICALLY in order to carry on the work.
Our work over the air, and through our Magazine, is purely a work of faith, and a labor of love. And just as long as God will give us strength, and you who know about our work will give us your MORAL and FINANCIAL SUPPORT, we shall continue to preach THE WHOLE WORD OF GOD without fear or favor, and without compromise, TO ALL MEN, EVERYWHERE.
Therefore, with a SENSE OF LIBERTY, and also with a FEELING OF GREAT RESPONSIBILITY, we approach our study of the Book of Revelation. It is our earnest prayer that God will give us freely of His Holy Spirit, and help us all into a better understanding of these things which He caused to be written for our instruction.
Introduction of The Book Now let us read Revelation 1:1-3 where it says:
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His Angel unto His servant John:
“Who bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that He saw,
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” The Title Of The Book Now, first of all, let us consider the NAME OR TITLE OF THE BOOK. At the top of the page, in my Bible it says: “The Revelation of St. John the Divine.” There is no doubt but what this title was given to the book because it was written by John, the disciple of Jesus, who was one of the Apostles. But the very first verse of our lesson text is worded quite different from this, for there it says:
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass.”
The title which men gave to the Book draws our attention immediately to JOHN THE APOSTLE, who merely wrote the book, WHILE THE DIVINELY GIVEN TITLE announces that the great FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE OF THE BOOK was to reveal the true NATURE and PERSON and WORKS of Jesus Christ.
This is in keeping with the scriptural use of names. Bible names are very significant because they usually express the nature and character of the OBJECT or PERSON to whom they apply.
The name of the first book in the Bible is Genesis, which means “beginning.”
It is very appropriate because in that book we have a record of beginnings. For instance in Genesis we have;
- The beginning of the HEAVENS AND THE EARTH,
- The beginning of MAN, the beginning of SIN;
- The beginning of JUDGMENT;
- The beginning of GOD’S GRACE;
- The beginning of the RACE OF ISRAEL, and;
- The beginning of many other things.
EXODUS means going forth from bondage. The Gospel means “good news” and so on through the whole Bible until we come to the Book of Revelation.
Meaning of Revelation The very word “REVELATION” means to reveal, to make manifest, to uncover to view, and to make known. The noun “REVELATION” means a disclosure, an appearing, or a making manifest.
The expression “The Revelation of Jesus Christ;” as used here must therefore mean THE REVEALMENT, or MANIFESTATION or APPEARING OF JESUS CHRIST.
This, my friends, is the KEY TO THE WHOLE BOOK! It is not merely a book of something made known BY CHRIST, but it was intended to be unto us a divine revelation OF CHRIST HIMSELF.
The Christ who died upon the cross as we know rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, and is separated from us, both BY TIME and SPACE. He is alive all right, but for the time-being He is hidden from our view, except as He is revealed to us in the chapters of this book.
In the Book of Revelation the veil which now hides our Blessed Lord from view is lifted, (as it were) and by the EYES OF FAITH we are able to see the risen, ascended, exalted and glorified Christ, in His place at the right hand of God in heaven.
It is true that the Gospels reveal Christ to us, AS HE WAS IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH, when He was upon earth. But the pages of the Book of Revelation reveal the same Christ to us, not as He was, but as He is now, and as He will be when He comes again!
Wonderful Relationships in the Book of Revelation Christ are presented in a threefold way:
First-As to time, for HE WAS, HE IS, and He IS TO COME!
Secondly-He is shown in His present relationship to the Churches here on earth: in His relation to the coming time of tribulation; and His relation to the COMING KINGDOM AGE.
Thirdly-He is presented here as exercising His THREEFOLD OFFICE WORK as HIGH PRIEST, BRIDEGROOM and KING.
Christ To Be Revealed The glorious fact that Christ is to be revealed IN THESE WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIPS, is well confirmed in the Scriptures: In 1 Corinthians 1:7, the Apostle speaks of the Christians at Corinth as being enriched with utterance and knowledge, and as “waiting for the coming (or revelation) of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Also in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul admonished them “TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to came.”
In 1 Peter 1:6-7, the Apostle Peter speaks of His brethren as being “In heaviness through manifold temptations:”- (and) that the trial of (their) faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory AT THE APPEARING OF JESUS CHRIST.”
Also in the 13th verse of this same chapter (1 Peter 1:13) He said unto them: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST!”
Also in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, it says “And to you who are troubled rest with us, WHEN THE LORD JESUS SHALL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN with His mighty angels,
“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.”
Jude also spoke of the APPEARING, or REVELATION, of Christ when he said in Jude 1:14-15, “Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints,
“To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” The Unveiling And so, my friends, we see that when the opening words of the Book of Revelation speak of “THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST,” which means the making manifest, the unveiling to view of our Lord, this glorious fact is confirmed in the Scriptures, and we have every reason to believe that what we shall read in this Blessed Book will reveal Christ to us in all of His relationships to things IN HEAVEN and UPON EARTH, in a FULLER and more COMPLETE way than any other Book of the Bible presents Him.
And some day, He, who is now the invisible Christ, whom we see only by faith, will appear in person, and will be revealed in all of His glory, and power to a wondering world.
How The Book Was Given NEXT let us notice the ORIGIN and the PROGRESSIVE ORDER in which this wonderful book was given.
Revelation 1:1 says: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him:”
Correctly speaking, therefore, God the Father is the ORIGINAL AUTHOR of the truth presented in this book.
This special revelation of truth was given by the Father to the Son. (What for?) To show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass.
Thus THE ORIGIN and PURPOSE of the book are clearly stated.
Now, what did Jesus do about it? It says that: “He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.”
And what did John do? Well, He “Bore record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that He saw.”
Indeed, my friends, when we consider the origin, and the progressive manner in which the Book has come to us, WE ARE COMPELLED to acknowledge its divine importance! Who could be so ignorant and so full of unbelief, and, so disrespectful as to set aside a book that has come to us DIRECT FROM GOD, THROUGH CHRIST, and by the administration of an Angel, and from the pen of one of the greatest saints, who ever lived? Who would dare say that such a book HAS NO INTELLIGENT MESSAGE for the Children of God in this, or in any other age? A Message For Us This Book DOES HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SAINTS OF GOD, and this is confirmed in the third verse of our lesson text where it says: “Blessed is he THAT READETH, and THEY THAT HEAR the words of this prophecy, and, keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
Therefore, dear friends, please do not be fooled by any one, even by your Preacher, if he tries to tell you that the Book of Revelation has no message for the Christians of today.
Preachers as well as other Christians should be careful how they discourage people from studying this book, for in Revelation 22:19 it says: “If any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this prophecy, God shall take away His part out of the Book of life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this book.”
To encourage us, in Revelation 22:7, Jesus said: “Behold, I come quickly: Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
Therefore with the FULL AUTHORITY of the book itself, regardless of what men may say, we can study this book WITH THE ASSURANCE of receiving the approval of God upon our efforts and THE PROMISE of a divine blessing for doing so.
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