Choose Your Side Wisely

Part 1Heritage Addition church of Christ

By Jim Bradshaw, Sept. 6, 2015

Rev 1:1-3 ESV The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, (2) who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. (3) Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Introduction1. Review of Key Word & Numbers

used in Chapter 12. Why are we using the ESV?3. The meaning of the title of the

book.4. The earthly author.5. We are “blessed” by hearing

and doing the words of this book

Rev 1:4-8 ESV John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, (5) and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood (6) and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion

Rev 1:4-8 continued forever and ever. Amen. (7) Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

The Salutation1. Who gives John the Revelation?2. What does the phrase “firstborn

of the dead” mean?3. What is the significance of the

fact that Jesus has “made us a kingdom?”

4. When Jesus returns, who will see him?

5. What does the phrase “I am the Alpha and Omega” imply?”

Rev 1:9-20 ESV I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet (11) saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to

Rev 1:9-20 continued Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." (12) Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, (13) and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. (14) The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, (15) his feet were like a

Rev 1:9-20 continued flame of fire, (15) his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. (16) In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. (17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, (18) and the living one. I died, and behold I

Rev 1:9-20 continued am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (19) Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. (20) As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

What You See Write, Send

1. John in a vision (see PAI), to write from isle of Patmos.

2. It was the Lord’s Day (Sunday, 1st Day of the week).

3. John like his audience was in tribulation, and in the Kingdom.

A Loud Voice Like a TrumpetExodus 19:16 NKJV Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.Exodus 19:19 NKJV And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.

Write in a Book to the 7 Churches of Asia

The Voice That Spoke With Me1. 7 Golden Lampstands.2. In the midst of the Lampstands,

One like the Son of Man.3. He was clothed with a garment

down to feet, and girded about the chest with a golden band.

4. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.

The Voice That Spoke With Me5. His eyes were like a flame of

fire.6. His feet were like fine brass, as

if refined in a furnace.

His Voice the Sound of Many Waters

LOUD POWERFUL

The Voice That Spoke With Me

7. In His right hand, Seven Stars.8. A Sharp two-edged sword.9. His appearance was like the sun

shining in its strength.

The Voice That Spoke With MeHebrews 4:12-16 NKJV For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give

The Voice That Spoke With MeHebrews 4:12-16 continued account. (14) Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

The Voice That Spoke With MeHebrews 4:12-16 continued (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

A Letter From God

Falling in Fear

The Touch of JesusRev 1:17-19 ESV When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, (18) and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (19) Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

1 Corinthians 15:24-27 NKJV (24) Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (25) For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. (26) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (27) For "HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NKJV (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY." (55) "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?" (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Mystery Revealed

1. Mystery (musterion) – something, yet to be revealed.

2. 7 Lampstands are the 7 Churches.

3. The 7 Stars are the messengers to the Churches.

The Mystery Revealed

1. The Gospel – 1 Cor. 15:1-4.2. We must obey the Gospel –

2 Thess. 1:7-9.3. The Gospel obeyed – Romans 6:3-

5.