THE MAGNIFICENT CHRIST/ PASTOR'S STUDY

 FROM THE PASTOR’S STUDY

Pastor Tom Sawhook

Sunday, January 17, 2010

A Study in the Book Of The Revelation

“THE MAGNIFICENT CHRIST”

I.  Circumstances of John   

            1)  His struggle:  facing difficult times – Rev. 1:9

                        1 – Related him to others facing difficult times

 What kind of tribulations and others facing?

Their meetings were held privately at night

They didn’t worship the king, but they worshipped God

 Socially they were from the lower  class and Rome didn’t like it

 Economically – idol worship was not practiced and it hurt the     business of the idol makers.
Legally – they were persecuted because Christianity was looked  Upon as being anti-government.

2 Tim. 3:12   ‘all that live Godly will suffer persecution’

2 -  Reasons for his stand on the Word and for Christ

2)  His sphere of being:  On the Island of Patmos –

Rev. 1:9 -  “isle called Patmos”

3)  His state of being:  He’s in the spirit

                        Rev. 1:10  “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day”

4)  He’s startled:  He heard a loud voice behind him

                        Rev. 1:10  “and heard behind me a great voice.”

                        Exodus 19:6

II.   Command of Jesus

            *  Write to the seven churches of Asia which he had seen.

                        Rev. 1:11 “seven churches in Asia- Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyratira, Sardis, Philadelphia,  and Laodicea”

III.  Clear description of Jesus’ current status

1)  Ruler of the church

     Rev. 1:12, 13  “one like unto the Son of Man”

       Colossians 1:18

     Rev. 1:12   ”seven golden lampstands

        Symbolize the church as the light of the world

          Golden Lampstands
            Gold is a precious metal – the seven churches are precious and a symbol of God’s number of completion and of churches throughout  the ages.

            AS A RULER OF THE CHURCH:

            1 – Acts as our great High Priest

                        Rev. 1:13

                        As our High Priest He offers:

                        1)   A person with whom you can relate

                              Hebrews 4:16  “obtain mercy and find grace in the time of need”

                        2)  A place you can find relief

                                    Heb. 4:15   “he feels for us and our infirmities"

                        3)  Prayers  securing your redemption

           Heb. 7:25  “Save them to the uttermost---ever liveth to make intercession.”

            2 – Accentuates need for holiness

                        Rev. 1:14  - ‘white like wool and white as snow – purity and holiness

                                                Isaiah 1:18

            THE NEED FOR HOLINESS IS CENTERED AROUND:

                     1)  Person of holiness

                                     GOD

                        2)  Plan of holiness

                                     WE ARE CALLED UNTO IT.

                        3)  Pattern of holiness

                                      ALL THAT WE DO

         3 -  Aware of what’s going on

                        Rev. 1:`14    “eyes were as a flame of fire”     His penetrating gaze

2)  Responds in judgement in the church

            Rev. 1:15

            RESPONSE IN JUGEMENT IS DONE BY:

            1 -  Delegates authority  (church)

                        Rom. 16:17 – ‘mark them that cause divisions and avoid them”

            2 – Divine intervention  (chastisement)

                        Heb. 12:6-8  “whom the Lord loveth, he chastens

            3 -  Death (cessation of life)

3)  Resounds with authority in the church

            Rev. 1:15  “and his voice as the sound of many waters”

            Matthew 28:18  “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”

4)  Relegates leadership to the church

            Rev. 1:16 “seven stars”

            Rev. 1:20  “seven stars are angels of the seven churches”

              ‘angels’ -  “angelos”   means messengers

            CONCERNING LEADERSHIP:

            1 – He grants them authority

                        Heb. 13:17  “obey them that have the rule over you.”

            2 – He will gather them for accountability

                        Heb. 13:17  “as they must given an account”

            3 -  He will give them awards

            I Pet. 5:2-5  ‘feed the flock of God”   “ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away”

5)  Readily guards the church

            Rev. 1:16  “out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword”

            1 -  He guards the church from those without

            2 – He guards the church from those within

                        Rev.2:16

6)  Regarded as absolute deity in the church

            HE IS GOD!!

           Rev. 1:16   I John 5:20  “even in His son Jesus Christ. This is true God and eternal life.”

7)  Reassurance

            1 – Steadfast presence

            2 – Sacrifice

                        Rev. 1:18 “I am he that lives and was dead

            3 – Security of Eternal Life

                        Rev. 1:18   

                        2 Tim. 2:19 “the Lord knows them that are His”

            4 – Supreme control over hell and death

                        Rev. 1:18 “have the keys of hell and death”        

LET’S PLACE OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE ONE WHO GAVE IT ALL…   THE MAGNIFICENT CHRIST!!