Revelation 1:1-3 - Back to the Future

In Revelation, we find the beloved Apostle John exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for his testimony about Jesus.  John is calling us to certainty in Christ and to patient endurance.  But, importantly, John was writing down the vision that the Almighty One gave him about things that had just begun to happen so that the early church would be both warned of persecution and encouraged they get through it.

        As you know, I’m just a farm boy from Saskatchewan.  I’m no theologian.  I’m a sinner saved by Jesus.  I am reading Scripture just as you are, but I confess I don’t feel like I know enough about Greek, Jewish, or Roman history to fully understand what went on in the first century AD.  By the grace of God, we are allowed to learn and grow in our understanding.  Christians are responsible for hearing, understanding, and obeying God’s word.  That’s my goal in this review.

        One thing that I’ll say at the outset that I don’t think I’ve heard preached in our Southern Baptist circles is that Jesus in chapter 1:20 and again in 2:1 explains that there is a messenger or an angel for each of the seven churches described in the province of Asia (Western Turkey).  We don’t know if there is an angel for the church in every region of the world, but I don’t doubt that there is.  Also note that while there are common characteristics of the church (we are a Kingdom of priests for God, Jesus’ Father (1:5) for instance) there are also distinctives of the church in each locality.  I think that is something we recognize today as much in culture as it is in the church.  I’m from a small town in Northern Saskatchewan.  And while every Saskatchewanian is similar (we all share the cold winters), our unique towns and cities are known for certain things, traits, etc.  Culture is not homogenous.  Take that for what you will, but it is significant in the church.  The other thing that strikes me is that the angel or messenger has a role.  Jesus is writing a letter to the angel of each church.  I don’t know the significance of that but I have no doubt that it was and is significant.

        My view, and I hope you’ll agree with me, is that eschatology today is extremely divided.  We have all sorts of camps and subcamps.  It’s a breeding ground for division rather than unity.  Through this review you’ll see where I stand - and it’s a far way from where I started (I wouldn’t say I was ever a committed futurist or that I’m super committed to any camp, but I do want to be fully committed to the Alpha and Omega today and every day).  In that mindset, we must view the context of the growth of the early church and look at where we are now as the generation of living Churchmen and women.

        So, what are we all about?  And what was the early church all about?  We ought to be an optimistic lot because we know God will keep us and bring us into His presence without a single fault (Jude 24).  The Bible tells us that, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).  We have promise after promise from Jesus that He will return and that he will reward us with a crown of righteousness (see 1 Peter 5:4 and 2 Timothy 4:8).  Hebrews says it succinctly, “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all eagerly waiting for him” (9:27-28).  Likewise, 2 Peter not only tells us that Christ will return, but also what will happen on Judgement Day, “On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.  And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight” (2 Peter 3:12-14).  Frankly, and I speak only for myself here, I’ve failed to walk blamelessly, but that is my goal, that is my hope; that is exactly what we shall do by the grace of God.

        Christians, we must faithfully preach a victorious Saviour and victorious people of God, for that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  God never acts without purpose.  Jesus Christ revealed the message of Revelation via an angel (1:1) and His beloved apostle, John, with great purpose for the ancient and early church and with great purposes for the church for all times.

        When was the message sent and when was it written down for blessed reading?  Well, there is no mention in Revelation that Jerusalem had been sacked by over 20,000 Roman troops under General Titus.  So it is highly unlikely that this message was sent after AD 70 when Jerusalem was surrounded and then destroyed.  The Temple is listed in Revelation 11 as still existing.  And, of course, Rev. 17:10 talks of five kings who have fallen, one who is, and one who is coming.  Five had fallen and Nero was currently reigning (Nero ruled between 54 and 68 AD).  My view (not original in any sense and influenced by Wesley, Eusebius, Origen, Spurgeon, the Venerable Bede, Augustine, Cyril of Jerusalem, Arethas of Caesarea, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Hodge, Tertullian, and many others) is there is a good argument that Revelation 13:15-18 is indeed referring to Nero and that Revelation speaks to the early church about a tribulation to come within a generation of Jesus ascension into heaven and then speaks to the church for all time about the final return of Christ before He judges and creates a new heaven and new earth.  I see no internal (and scant external) evidence that the vision John received (and passed on to the church) from Jesus was passed on after Nero and after the destruction of Jerusalem.

        Jesus sent this letter as an encouragement and a warning to the early church telling them what would soon take place and encouraging them to listen and obey (1:1-3).  Before the significant persecution, God was gracious in providing this warning to the early church.  Almost 2,000 years later we too must listen and obey.  And we too must be encouraged that if we face persecution because of Jesus - so be it, for greater is our crown of righteousness that only Jesus can provide us on judgment day (Matthew 5:8-12).

        God never changes; He wants to encourage and build His church up today as much as He did 2,000 years ago.  It’s okay to marvel at the mystery of Revelation and to acknowledge the challenge it’s posed to Christians over the years.  As we read Revelation remember that Paul reminded Timothy of the great mystery of our faith: God revealed in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirt, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16).  Despite the mystery, God gives us all the Light we need to trust Him and understand His word.

        I believe we are called to fear God and build for the long haul as we eagerly await eternity as promised by our loving Father (Psalm 85:9).  We must increase our godliness and our righteousness to honor God, becoming less like the world and more like our Creator.  God’s word says there is only one faith, one lord, and one baptism (Ephesians 4:5-13).  The Bible also says there is only one body (whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free) (1 Corinthians 12:13).  We must be very careful not to create classes of Christians or multiple paths to God (or multiple peoples of God).  There is only the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).  And we, as members of that body, are called to increase our knowledge and understanding of God as we are sanctified (2 Peter 1:5-8).  So my friends, let’s ask God to help us to grow in our knowledge of God’s way and His purpose for us.

        Fifty days after Jesus was crucified came the Festival of Pentecost.  At that time there were Jews and converts to Judaism in Jerusalem from at least 16 different areas including Mesopotamia, Rome, Egypt, Libya, Crete, and Arabia.  And what happened?  Well, just ten days prior Jesus had ascended into heaven after spending forty days appearing and showing himself to the apostles (Acts 1:3).  Jesus promised the apostles that the Father would baptize them with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5).

        You will recall that at Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell on all the believers who were gathered together in one place (Acts 2:1).  All of those believers included Jesus’ apostles - Galileans - and yet when the Holy Spirit fell on them they began speaking the languages of the Jews who had gathered for the Festival(s) in Jerusalem from all over the world.  The Galileans were able to clearly communicate to the nations on that day “about the wonderful things God has done!”  No Google Translate.  No English to Arabic dictionaries.  No censorship was possible for God was forming and His Church in a creative yet explosive way as only God can.

        Notice here that people from the province of Asia (i.e. where the seven churches of Revelation were from) were present at Pentecost.  Their first love, their love of God our Saviour started on that day as they heard the wonderful news, the Gospel.  God’s mysterious plan was revealed to the nations, the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son.  Jesus the Victor had just defeated the devil on the Cross.  He had just taken on Himself the sins of mankind and fulfilled God’s prearranged plan of salvation (Acts 2:23).  Yet there was much to know and much more to come.  We often, glibly perhaps, say, ‘The best is yet to come.’  We have no idea how much that is true.  As the children of Naria once found out, Aslan is not safe - but He is indeed Good.  Life with God is the good life, the great adventure.  Much, much better than we could dream or imagine.

        You see, the apostles had just experienced a mind swirling and transforming 40 days - off and on - with the resurrected Messiah.  They went from being cowards to the bravest of the brave, from boys to men of Christ.  In John 20 we are told Jesus met with His disciples and breathed the Holy Spirit on them.  Wow.  He was personally indwelling them with the Advocate, the Counsellor, and the Holy Spirit who would guide and lead them.  Just as Jesus promised He would.  In John 16 Jesus explained to His apostles that this would happen.  Undoubtedly they did not understand then.  In fact, Jesus told them that they could not bear to hear the terrible yet wonderful truth at that time (John 16:12).  But once Jesus had been crucified and resurrected by the Spirit of God, then came the time when they were ready.  Don’t push God.  Be patient.  Everything is in His timing, not ours.  They were given the Holy Spirit when they believed and trusted in Christ.  That is the same for us.  We are indwelled with the Spirit of Christ when we believe and trust in our Saviour.  If you haven’t done so already I encourage you to confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour today.  He died on the Cross to pay the penalty of your sins.  God loves you, completely.  He offers you eternal life.  You must repent of your sins and accept His free gift of salvation.  Do that now.  And for those of you who trust Christ.  Recommit to following Him.  Commit to going wherever He guides you.  For we know that God never changes.  It is this same God who today convicts the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment (John 16:8).  Jesus said, “The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me” (John 16:9).  That remains true today.

        Jesus made those who believed in Him holy by His sacrifice on the Cross (John 17:19).  God’s prearranged plan was that those very disciples would hear and understand their sin and accept Jesus as Saviour and King.  They would receive the Holy Spirit and be sent out to the world to tell others everywhere to believe in the Son of God.  That is the story of Pentecost that preceded the message we hear about in Revelation.

        Jesus prays that His people will experience perfect unity so that the world will know who His people are; and, so that the world will know how much God loves them.  In the book of Acts the Holy Spirit indwells the Galilleans and they can tell people from all over the ancient world the truth of Jesus Christ.  We have the same gift today!

        Like those disciples, our job is to pass on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are to tell people about Jesus “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  The apostles, much like us were eager to hear about the future.

        Before Jesus was crucified the apostles asked Him to explain when the great buildings of Jerusalem - the magnificent buildings with the impressive stones in the walls would be completely demolished (Mark 13, Luke 21, and Matthew 24).  Jesus explained to them plainly that God’s terrible judgment would fall on Jerusalem.  The destruction of the Temple (and God’s judgment and the penalty on the religious leaders), the terrible day of God’s fury and fierce anger prophesied in Isaiah 13 and Joel 2, would happen within their generation.  Jesus says of these things, "I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place" (Matthew 24:34).  

        We don’t have to ponder which generation would be subject to the judgment that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 23 - the judgment of the religious hypocrites - the Jewish leaders.  Jesus told us plainly.  Jesus told about the “evil generation” that kept asking Him for a miraculous sign (Luke 11:29).  Jesus’ generation was condemned and judged because they refused to repent (Luke 11:32).  Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of His generation - Jesus condemned them and prophesied their eternal judgment (Matthew 23:33).  Only God can do that.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, that judgment will fall on this very generation” (Matthew 23:36).  Make no mistake, Jesus was saying that those people who condemned Him to death and killed Him by crucifixion would be held accountable.  God is good, loving, and just.

        Luke explains this point further in Peter’s famous Pentecost speech in Acts.  Peter stepped up and led that glorious morning on Pentecost (Acts 2:16).  Peter quoted the prophet Joel in his famous speech.  Peter said it was in the “last days“ the very generation that Peter, Luke, John, and the apostles lived in, that Joel prophesied about.  It was on that generation that God poured out both the Holy Spirit - and Jesus prophesied judgment on that generation.  (I know this can be hard for those of us Southern Baptists raised hearing futurist or John Nelson Darby-type preaching, but indeed it is what Scripture says).  Peter preached the wonderful truth about what God had done.  The early church was the end times for the nation of Israel; and, it was the beginning of God’s church.  God’s precious body of believers continues from the old covenant to the new covenant - one people of faith in Christ.  One family, or tree if you will, of believers.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached clearly by Peter at Pentecost - and by all those who shared in foreign languages that blessed morning.  It is the very message that all of the Old Testament is about.  A message about a Savior, an Anointed One of God.  The Messiah’s resurrection is a message of hope, victory, and judgment on all of God’s enemies.  Love, mercy, grace, and justice.  It is a message that every person must repent of their sins turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

        Peter preached to over 3,000 who believed at Pentecost that they must “save yourselves from this wicked generation” (Acts 2:40).  Peter and the apostles had just spent time with the resurrected King.  They knew the generation for which they lived and nothing could hold them back from preaching the Gospel.  From that glorious day, promised by Jesus, sprang the church.  The seven churches of Revelation, just like all local churches, got their start that day.  It would be about 40 years until God brought His promised destruction of Jerusalem.  But the Chruch had begun.  The body of Christ (the Ekklesia), the called-out ones, the assembly, the soldiers, and members of God’s family, was born.

        The early church was all about explosive growth.  Jesus told His disciples that within one generation (40 years) there would be terrible trials alongside judgment on the religious class (Matthew 23).  But God also told His disciples that they were to be focused on making disciples.  Jesus, the great Carpenter would make many builders, fishers of men.  God forbid that the church look and sound like a doomsday cult.  We are to meditate on God’s glorious splendor and His awesome and wonderful works (Psalms 145:4-6).  God will renew and restore His people, His church.  He will restore and teach us His ways.  On Pentecost we see the explosive power of new life - it was the power of a life made new that Nicodemus pondered (John 3) and Jesus promised (John 3:16).

        Nothing can separate us from God’s love.  And nothing can stop the church, the one and only people of God.  We are living parts of His body.  We are to be fully committed to God, making disciples and growing as God commands.  From that day in Jerusalem, Pentecost, people went back to the very area they came from (Rome, Egypt, etc.).  And the explosive growth of the church continued.  Christians had their first and only love.  And for every generation since the Kingdom has been growing.  It will continue to grow until Christ’s second coming - His final return on Judgment Day.

        We know that the judgment that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 23 and 24 and what Peter preached about in Acts 2 (the judgment on the wicked generation) did indeed take place.  Nero, Vespasian, and Titus all played their twisted parts.  God brought His promised judgment to the Jewish leaders (prophesied in Matthew 23).

        God is not done growing His Kingdom of priests (1:5).  No one knows the hour of Jesus' final return - Judgment Day.  But the church must do its best to follow God with an eternal perspective.  It’s an optimistic and resilient mindset, more than a growth mindset.  This is our time to make disciples, to be the living stones and boulders Jesus commands us to be.

        No matter the circumstances we are safe and secure in Jesus.  A life following Christ will take us into figurative and literal wars.  We will be attacked, mistreated, and faced with every sort of challenge.  Just think of the pioneers who settled in North America.  What a challenge.  What an opportunity to build for God.  They built for the long haul.  We do the same.  And think of all the wars (civil and international) and all of the strife in the church.  And political and economic challenges.  Yet God’s mercy is new each morning.  His promises are ever more sure.  God’s Kingdom is forcefully advancing.  

        We are optimistic, beyond that, confident in our Holy God who will deliver us, protect us, answer us, satisfies us.  We don’t deserve it, but God is with us every step of the way as we love Him, acknowledge His name, and follow our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life (Psalm 91:14-16).

        Please help us to honor you today, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Jackson and Beckett