How many of you remember the television series “The Early Edition”? This was one of my favorite TV shows back when there was still a few decent shows to watch. It aired on CBS from September 1996 to May of 2000. It was set in the city of Chicago, Illinois, it followed the adventures of a man Gary Hobson who mysteriously received the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper the day before it was actually published. He would get tomorrows newspaper today. Most people would have narcissi ambition if they got tomorrows newspaper today. But not Gary he was a good ole soul. He then uses this knowledge to help others, prevent death and injury, save lives and prevent terrible events. What would you do if you got tomorrow newspaper today? Well I’m going one better; we have been given the book of future events. The truth of what will happen as a new world is ushered in. Are you like Gary Hobson using valuable information to help others?

I The Revelation of Jesus Christ

1. The ancient Greek word translated Revelation is apokalupsis (apocalypse). The word simply means “a revealing, an unveiling of the future. Jesus is the one doing the revealing. It is also Jesus’ the object revealed; He is the person revealed by the book. From the outset, we are given the most important truth about the Book of Revelation. This book shows us the Antichrist, it shows us God’s judgment, it shows us calamity on the earth, and it shows us Mystery Babylon in vivid detail. Most of all, it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to us. In these first chapters he tells of the nature of His church. The good, the bad and the ugly…This is a verdict from Jesus regarding the condition of the church. We are the body of Christ. We can see the state of each of these seven churches – and the state of our church and our own walk with Christ – by looking at what Jesus has to say to each church in each section.

2. These words declare God’s purpose in giving this revelation to Jesus Christ; namely, that He (Jesus) might show it to His servants. No one who truly ponders this divine purpose can be indifferent toward the contents of the book. It is not merely intended for a select few, but for all His servants… God gave Him to show to His bond-servants. The Greek word used here is “doulos” a slave, bondman, a man of a submissive spirit. So, one must be saved, a servant of Christ to have spiritual eyes to understand the depth of the unveiling.

3. Things which must shortly come to pass. The original word for shortly is (tachus) translated quickly and it occurs seven times, 2:5, 16; 3:11; 11:14; 22:7, 12, 20. It is the word from which we get the English word “tachometer.” Some of you have on your car a tachometer it measures the velocity of your engine, the revolutions per minute we call rpms.

We can understand this word in that example as a word that speaks about the swiftness of this book. Because when we come to the future events in chapter 6, what comes, comes very fast. It can mean “in a brief time. The idea is one of imminence, that the next event on God’s redemptive schedule is the coming of Jesus Christ, it is imminence. Next we have an angelic begin involved.

4. He sent and signified it. The antecedent of He is Jesus Christ. It is He who showed the contents of the book, Note also by his angel. The reference is apparently to a particular angel. We cannot with certainty know exactly what angel this is however many Bible scholars believe it is probably Gabriel. I think it is Michal seeing that this book deals with the seventieth week of Daniel that last week or 7 years pretending to Israel and we know that Michael is the Chief Prince of Israel according to the book of Daniel…Finally we get to John the messenger of this fascinating book.

5. The author God chose was John the divine, the beloved, the one who leaned upon the Savior bosom (breast) at the last supper. John the apostle, the writer of the Fourth Gospel, the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of James the elder and author of 1,2,3 John. The name “John” occurs five times-three times in this chapter (verses 1, 4, 9) and twice in the last two chapters 21:2; 22:8. Most Bible teachers believe this book was penned in AD 95-96 on the Island of Patmos where John was banished by the Roman Emperor Domitian. There John survived and was forced to work in the mines. After Domitian was murdered by a plot supported by his wife John was able to return to Ephesus where he had lived for years after fulfilling his promise to Jesus to care for Mary his mother in Jerusalem.

WHY would God choose John to experience his glorious presence in such a powerful way? There is one answer: his heart of love, compassion and worship toward Jesus!
…. There are 404 verses in the book of Revelation where we find a dramatic story told in a language that is sometimes difficult to understand. However, remember if the literal sense makes sense seek no other sense. There is much that can be understood because much is reveal here and else-where to unlock the mysteries and yet not all together because it is for a time to come, the Tribulation saints and the 144,000 witness will better understand.

4. Verse #2 is a testimony of John who was chosen for this wonderful task…Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. God is in the business of unveiling Jesus. That is our business as well! Therefore, Revelation demands our attention for it is the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus and a testimony of things to come.
II The Books’ Blessing Vv. # 3
1. We find something that is found in no other book of the bible. That is this is the only book that comes with a special blessing for reading it. This is the first of seven beatitudes; the others are found in 14:3-16:15-19:9-20:6-22:7-22:14.

III. The Recipients of the Message vv. 4a
1. John now addresses the seven churches in Asia (modern day western Turkey). These Churches exist all within thirty or forty miles of each other. We look at verse 11 and find a listing of these Seven Churches. They were the direct earthly recipients of this letter. And we’ll study those seven cities and those seven churches in detail as we get in to chapters 2 and 3. Their names are descriptive of the kind of churches that exist but also relate to the different ages of the church of Jesus Christ for almost 2000 years. Jesus speaks of the characteristics of churches both commendation and condemnation.
IV. The Source of the Message vv. 4b-6
1. The greeting comes from the Triune God, call it a Trinitarian benediction. (I am) is described by the phrase “which is”… He is eternal, He was, He is, He is to come, looking at the past, the present, and the future. This title is used many times. Look at verse 8, again God is described as the One who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Next is the Holy Spirit described as the seven spirits. Seven spirits is a puzzling phrase found in the New Testament only in Revelation. Some believe this is John’s special way of referring to the Holy Spirit. Many translators have suggested “Sevenfold Spirit” emphasizing the completeness of the Spirit of God..
2) In vv.#5 We can make no mistake who it is that will come again. It is He who redeemed us from our sins Jesus Christ. John says He is the faithful witness, the faithful witness. Isaiah 55:4 prophesied that the Messiah would be a witness to the people. A faithful witness is one who always speaks the truth and Christ always speaks the truth, always the faithful witness, never deviates from what is true. In fact, in chapter 3 verse 14 He is called the Amen, the faithful and true witness. He is a faithful witness to the Godhead…look at Colossians 1:15-17.
b) The second title John gives Him is “the firstborn of the dead.” This doesn’t mean He’s the first one ever to be raised from the dead….no, others had been raised in time before Him. But it means of all those who were raised from the dead that He is the preeminent one. Firstborn, prototokos, means preeminent. That of all who have ever been raised before or after, He is the preeminent one. Again look at Philippians 2:9-11
c) And then he gives Him a third title, “the prince of the kings of the earth.” The word “prince” is “archon”, it chief ruler. He will make Him the ruler of the kings of the earth. In fact in Revelation 19:16 He will be King of kings and Lord of lords.
2. In this wonderful letter the trinity gives us a benediction and that steers us to a last observation. This last observation is a glorious doxology. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,. He loves us, has freed us, and made us to be a kingdom and priests. He loves us and in the past, at the cross, released us from our sins by His blood. Blood here is a term referring to His entire atoning work. When you see the reference to the blood of Christ in Scripture, it is a reference to His full atonement. His atoning work on the cross released us from our sins…I Peter 2:5-9
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossian 1:20
3. He made us Kings, the word is leaders of the people. We who believe are all in this sphere of God’s rule through Christ and that kingdom is entered by faith in Jesus Christ. …and then John said, “He made us priests to His God and Father. Having been released from our sins we have become a kingdom, a part of a kingdom we’ve entered by faith, we’re under His rule. We have also become priests. What does that mean? We now have direct access to God, do we not? A priest is one who had the right to enter God’s presence. In Israel the priest and the priest alone could go into the holy place. And once a year the high priest into the holy of holies where God was. We now are all priests that’s why we say we believe in the priesthood of believers, we all enter into the holy place. We all have access to God.
V. The Objective of the Message vv.7-8
1. His doxology is followed with a declaration concerning the Lord’s coming, and a description of who Jesus is in verse 8. All of history is moving to a focal point. One day Jesus will break through the clouds and all creation will change. The church has always lived in the anticipation of this event. His coming will impact everything in the world. He will restore the world to its original intent. I Thess. chapter four speaks of the Rapture but this refers to the latter part of His second coming as described in the chapter of Daniel 7:13-14.

2. All people’s will witness this profane scene at once…today technology we can do this, those that pierced Him refers to the Jewish nation and all people will mourn. Zec. 12:10

3. Before John describes his first vision or scene he records the sovereign words of the Lord God who will bring it all to pass. He is the Alpha and Omega, the A to Z, the one in control from before the beginning of time until after the end. His eternity is noted in the phrase, who is, and who was, and who is to come. Finally, His power is seen in the title the Almighty, the one whom none can resist. 9 of the 10 times this term appears in the New Testament are in Revelation.

Conclusion:
I’ve got a question for you. Do you think Jesus ever felt as though all of his efforts in ministry were wasted? Allow me to point us to Isaiah 49:4.

“But I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.’”

Jesus knew what it felt like to work hard in ministry only to have little fruit to show for it. Ultimately, none of Jesus’ efforts were wasted—but it didn’t always feel that way, humanly speaking. Jesus knows how his people feel today when they’re discouraged and their missionary efforts feel pointless.