Cecil A. Fayard

Elliott Baptist Church

February 8, 2004

 

What John Saw

Revelation 1:9-20

 

INTRO: What did our dear brother in Christ, the Apostle John, see and hear on that Lord's day so many years ago?

 

1. He heard a great voice (vs 10).  This voice instructed John to write what he saw in a book, the book of the Revelation, and to send it to the seven churches of Asia (vs 11).

 

2. He saw Christ Jesus (vs 13).

  1. John saw the head and white hair of Christ (vs 14a)

  2. He saw the robe that Christ is wearing reaching down to His feet (vs 14b)

  3. John saw the golden girdle (vs 14c)

  4. He saw His feet as brass (vs 15a)

  5. He heard the Lord's voice, a mighty voice, as many waters (vs 15b)

  6. He saw seven stars in our Lord's right hand (vs 16a)

  7. John saw the two-edged sword (vs 16b)

  8. He saw our Lord's glorious countenance (vs 16c).

 

3. Christ told John to "fear not; for I am the first and last" (17).

4. John heard Christ as He said that He was "alive for evermore, men; and have the keys of hell and of death" (vs 18).

5. The Lord Jesus told John to write about what he had seen and heard (vss 19-20).

 

  1. VSS 9-11, THE BACKDROP OF JOHN'S VISION

  1. Vs 9, John was on the Isle of Patmos when he received the vision of Christ.

  1. "I John"-- this reminds us of the book of Daniel when Daniel said: "I, Daniel" ( Daniel 8:15; 9:2; 10:2).

  1. Daniel was well known all through the Babylonian and Persian empires by Jews and Gentiles.

  1. John was the last of the Apostles and well known by folks in the churches.

    1. "Your brother and companion in tribulation....."  Troubles and trials are a part of every ones lives even the believer.  Edward Overby says: "This time until Jesus comes is a tribulation time for all Christians" (5).

    2. John was the last of the Apostles, but humbly refers to himself as "your brother."

    3. "Companion"-- meaning partner.

    4. "In tribulation"-- John had been exiled because of his faith, message, and godly life.  The Bible says: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Tim 3:12).

    1. "In the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ."

    1. John was and is a companion of the saved, the Lord's kingdom.

    2. "Patience"-- John is our example, in all ages, of endurance and steadfastness (I Cor 15:58).

    1. "Isle of Patmos"

    1. Rocky island about twenty miles out from Ephesus in the Aegean Sea, ten miles long, three miles wide, used as a Roman prison.

    2. Because John was the best known and best loved apostle, he was exiled instead of being killed for Domition feared a Christian revolt against Rome.

    1. "For the Word of God...."

    1. John was exiled because he preached the Word!

    2. He testified that Jesus is the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.

  1. Vs 10, We find John worshiping the Lord, as he was accustomed on the Lord's day.

    1. "On the Lord's day" refers to Sunday, not Saturday.

    1. "I was in the Spirit."

      1. In fellowship with God.

      1. If folks today were in the Spirit on the Lord's day, we would have few absentees.  Folks would be where they ought to be - in church.

      2. Some suggest that John, by being in the Spirit, became something that he had not been.  Those who are in the Spirit do become something they had not been before.

      3. Those who are not in the Spirit cannot experience what those who are in the Spirit experience.

    1. "A great voice" - so strong, so powerful, it was "as of a trumpet" blast.

  1. Vs 11, The voice that John heard was that of Christ, the voice of the one whom he loved, the voice of the one on whose breast he had leaned.

    1. The ancient of days, the alpha and omega (vs 8) tells John to write what he sees and send it to the seven churches of Asia.

      1. The book of Revelation was to be sent in those seven individual, local churches.

      1. Newel said: "There was then no 'synod,' 'conventions,' 'conference,' or 'diocese' of Asia!" (25).

    1. "The church .... is always a local, independent congregation" (Criswell 143).

  1.  VSS 12-16, THE VISION DESCRIBED

  1. Vs 12, John turned to see Jesus, for he knew His voice; he had heard it often.

    1. John saw seven golden candlesticks.  What are these candlesticks; the answer is found in vs 20.

    2. "Golden" indicates that they are alive, in operation, serving the Lord.

    3. We should desire that our church be a lighthouse for God.

  1. Vs 13, Jesus is ever in the midst of His true churches.  In the midst of the candlesticks is our High Priest in glorious appearance.

    1. "One like unto the Son of man"-- what John saw was the human form of God, the Son of man, God the Son, the Son of God.  Eighty-three times Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of man.  Luke 19:10 says: "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

    1. "Clothed with a garment down to the foot...."

      1. Referring to His dignity (Isa 6:1),

      2. Regal robe of a king, judicial robe of judge, celestial majesty and judicial authority.

    2. "Golden girdle."  The girdle that Christ is wearing here is about His breast.  This symbolizes:

  1. Kingly repose- the Son of God upon his throne.

  2. "About the paps" means "about the breasts."  This symbolizes:

1) His affection, His sympathy, His love for His people.

2) His heart is a heart of loving kindness to "usward."

  1. Vss 14-16, A Sevenfold description of our Lord's character:

1. "His head and his hair were white like wool" (vs 14a).

a. The eternity of His character (Daniel 7:9).

b. Nobility and purity of His thoughts.

2. "Eyes..as a flame of fire" (vs 14b).

a. Pictures His omniscience.

b. Heb 4:13, "....all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

3. "Feet like unto find brass" (vs 15a).

a. Judgment of God upon sin.

b. "He treads upon the enemies.  He walks upon sin.  He condemns iniquity" (Criswell 145).

4. "His voice as the sound of many waters" (vs 15b).

a. One message- the Gospel.  Many Gospel messages preached by many preachers.

b. One voice- His voice, His message (Heb 1:1-2)-- We are His ambassadors.

5. "In his right hand seven stars" (vs 16a).

a. These stars are the angels of the seven churches (vs 20).  "Angels" is the Greek word aggeloi meaning "messengers, pastors."

b. God holds up His preachers; they are in His hand.

6. "And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword" (Vs 16b).

a. This is the power of the preached message.

b. The word is sharp and powerful (Heb 4:12).

7. "His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."

a. This is Christ glorified.

b. Preachers proclaim the Word, but Christ is the glory, power, the light of the Word.

  1. VSS 17-20 THE VISION CLARIFIED

  1. Vs 17, Christ says to all of His elect: "Fear not; I am the first and the last."  "It is I; be not afraid."

  1. Vs 18, Christ is the one who died but rose again the third day.  He arose to never die.

1. He has the keys of hell and death.

2. The one with the keys has the power over the lock, to lock or unlock.

a. I can't go to hell.  The door is locked for me.

b. Death has no victory for the door of heaven is unlocked.

  1. Vs. 19, the three part message sent to the seven local churches is given here:

1. "The things which thou hast seen" (chp 1).

a. Past

b. Risen Christ

2. "The things which are" (chp 2-3).

a. Present

b. Letters to the churches

3. "The things which shall be hereafter" (chp 4-22).

a. Future

b. Rapture and events that happen thereafter.

4. Vs 20, Here we have the doctrine of the church.

a. The stars are the pastors.

b. The candlesticks are the churches.

 

CONCLUSION: The things that John saw point to a living Savior who loves His churches.

 

For additional copies of the sermon CD's, please contact the church office:

Elliott Baptist Church
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38901
Phone: 662-226-4425
Pastors Email: cecilafayard@msn.com