Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
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FROM JESUS TO JOHN
REV. 1:4-8

INTRODUCTION John told 12 times in this book to write.

        1.    7 Churches: v 4 a
                a. Note: 7 used 61 Times in 37 Verses.

        2.    Grace and Peace: v 4 b
                a. Grace = Greek, peace Hebrew
                    "grace and peace" (NAS) 3 times    Titus 1:4, 1 Pet 1:2, 2 Pet 1:2
                b. "grace to you and peace" (NAS) 11 times
                    Rom 1:7, 1 Cor 1:3, 2 Cor 1:2, Gal 1:3, Eph 1:2, Phil 1:2, Col 1:2, 1 Thes 1:1,
                    II Thes 1:2, Phile 1:3, Rev 1:4
                c.    "grace, mercy, and peace" (NAS) 3 times
                    1 Tim 1:2, 2 Tim 1:2, II Jn 1:3

        3.    Eternal, Triune God v 4 c, d & 8
            ". . . from Him who is and who was and who is to come; . . . "
                a. ". . .a good reproduction of the Hebrew word for Jehovah-. . . ".
                b. The eternally existing one.

                Rev. 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord
                God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

                Rev. 21:6 And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
                beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water
                of life without cost. (NASB)

        4.    The 7 Spirits: v 4 d
                a. Isa 11:2, And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of
                    wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of
                    knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

                b.    Resting upon Jesus at His Return. Newell page 10

                        1. The Spirit of Deity. 2. The Spirit of Wisdom.
                        3. The Spirit of Understanding. 4. The Spirit of Counsel.
                        5. The Spirit of Might. 6. The Spirit of Knowledge.
                        7. The Spirit of The Fear of God.

                c.    Same words Rev. 4:5, 5:6.
                d.    The word spirit 22 times in this book 17 of those times Spirit.
                e.    7 Spirits, 7 Churches, 7 Words about Jesus
                f.    Again note: 7 used 61 Times in 37 Verses.
                h.    The number 7 means complete or perfect.
                        1)    God rested on the 7 day
                        2) Jericho circled 7 times.
                        3) Naaman dipped 7 times in the Jordan.
                        4) 7 beatitudes.
                        5) 7 petitions in the lord's prayer
                        6) parables in Matthew 13.
                        7) 7 sayings from the cross.

1.    The Revelation of Jesus Christ
        5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler
        over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

A. Portraits of Jesus.

        1. Faithful Witness. v 5 a
            a. Rev 1:1 and Rev 22:16
                Rev. 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to
                His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent
                and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,

                Rev. 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for
                the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning
                star." (NASB)

            b. Moffatt suggest: Witness is Martyr.
                1) Faithful "martyr" . . Death. v 5 a
                2) First born, . . .. . . Resurrection. v 5 b
                3) Ruler of the Kings, Ascension. v 5 c
                4) He is coming again, . coming v 7

            c.    Faithful Witness. v 5a (Continued)
                ". . . and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, . . . "
                1)    What He heard He made known.
                2)    He taught the way of God in truth and catered not to man.
                3)    He confirmed His witness with miracles.
                4)    God the Father confirmed His Son.
                5)    He was faithful unto death.

        2. First Born. v 5 b
            ". . . the firstborn from the dead,
            a. Raised to die no more.
            b. First with a resurrected body
                1) First Born, Matt 1:25, Luke 2:7, Rom 8:29, Col 1:15, Rev 1:5
                2) Only Begotten, John 1:14, 18, 3:16,18, 1 John 4:9
 
Col 1:15-18 (KJV) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

        3. Ruler of the Kings. v 5 c
            ". . . and the ruler over the kings of the earth."
            Theme of New Testament Books:
                Gospel of John = Deity of Jesus
                Romans = Salvation by faith alone.
                Revelation. Jesus Rules

B. Performance of Jesus. v 5-6b
    " To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,. . . "

        1. Loved Us. v 5 d
            a. Present tense. Continues to love.

        2. Loosed Us. v 5 e
            a. Love is proved in His loosing.
            KJV "washed us" loosed by washing.

        3. Lifted Us. v 6 a
            ". . . and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father,"

            a. Kings or Kingdom?
                1) Basileus = Kings
                2) Basileia = Kingdom
Exodus 19:6 (NASB) and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
'These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

            b. J Vernon McGee;
                ". . . we are never called Kings."
 

C. Praise of Jesus. v 6 b
    ". . . to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

        1. Glory and Dominion. v 6 b
            ". . . to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
            a) All people live under the governmental rule of someone.
                All earthly rule is temporary. He has dominion forever.

D. Pronouncements about Jesus.
    7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.
    And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

    1. He Is Coming. v 7 a
        " Behold, He is coming with clouds,. . . "

    2. He Will Be Seen. v 7 b
        ". . . and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him."
            a. Contrast with a secret Coming like a thief in the night.

    3. He Will Judge. v 7 c
        "And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.
            a. God Rules the over riding theme of this book.

Illustration
There is a little piece of silk in the museum of Springfield, Illinois, that could not be bought for any amount of money. Why the value attached to it? Because of its significance. That little bit of silk is all covered with blood. It was once a part of a dress worn by a beautiful girl, who sat by Abraham Lincoln when he was shot; and it was that beautiful girl who took his head in her lap, as a mother would receive the head of a baby, and it was that girl who held him while he bled his life out. The State of Illinois purchased that dress, and cut out this piece of silk covered with the blood of the great statesman, emancipator of an enslaved race, and the man who in the programme of God became a cohesive force in the salvation of this great nation.

If a state would do that for the blood of a man, what should the world do for the Blood of Jesus with all its emancipating power, and all its cohesiveness for a scattered race? For, if the race of man, without regard to nationality or colour or condition of life, is ever to be united and held, it will be by the cohesiveness of that Blood. F.E. Marsh