Lyrics

We have seen so far:
i. Significance of the author – John
ii. Source of the Revelation – Jesus Christ
iii. Subject of the book – Jesus Christ
iv. Structure of the Book

i. Significance of the author – John
John – 5th of John’s NT books
Compare:
Moses – First 5 of the OT books
Consider the parallels in particular between Genesis and Revelation:
Genesis Revelation
Creation New Creation
Satan comes in as the serpent Satan the serpent and dragon removed
Sin and the fall Redemption and eternal salvation
Tree of life guarded Tree off life freely available
Plagues of Egypt Plagues on whole world
Mark of Cain Mark of the beast
Sin, sorrow and suffering begin Sin, sorrow and suffering ended
Sun and moon created to give light Sun and moon no longer needed for light
Babel its origins Babylon its fulfilment
Manna for the Israelites Manna for Pergamos
ii. Source of the Revelation – Jesus Christ

iii. Subject of the book – Jesus Christ
a) Plan of Salvation (chp 1)
b) Presence of Christ amidst His people (chp 2 to 3)
c) Power over the world (chps 4 to 19)
d) Purpose for Universe (chps 20 to 21)
e) Pre-eminence in all things

iv. Structure of the Book
Cf 1:19
a) Lord in the midst of His people
b) Lamb in the midst of the throne
c) Lion over the world
d) Lover of the Church
e) Light in eternity
Or:
a) In Patmos (1:9)
b) In Heaven (4:1,2)
c) By sand of the sea (13:1)
d) In wilderness (17:3)
e) Great and high mountain (21:10)

Consider the Setting:
7 churches
Local churches to Patmos – just across the water!
Of all the places we might choose to be Patmos would not be one of them!
Our disappointments can be Gods appointments.
If life gives you lemons!
This is not just about making the best of a bad situation but rather making the most of a God given situation and opportunity!
If we understand that God is in control, as we can certainly see here in Revelation then that injects purpose and infuses meaning into every part of human life and experience!
If we understand that from anywhere in the scriptures that God is in control, it is surely from the book of Revelation!
The 7 churches are in a geographical loop and sequence; interconnected by the Roman roads and each a postal town in the old Roman administration.
The infrastructure of Rome ordered to provide free movement and distribution of the Gospel!
There is a very practical and down to earth reason for the order of this ministry, John grasps the opportunity that presents itself to him and ministers.
John’s circumstances are greatly constrained, movements restricted, imprisoned and held on an island; possibly even set to work in a limestone quarry. These are not circumstances of his choosing by any manner of means!
John could either live according to circumstances he would like to be in and proceed to hit his head against a brick wall or he could live according to the circumstances that he was actually in!
John discerns the hand of God in his circumstances and goes through the door that has been opened to him rather than trying to navigate around about the door.
Placed here by GPS:
• Global Positioning System?
• God’s Providential Sovereignty!
So far as God is concerned he is:
• The Perfect Person in
• The Perfect Place for
• The Perfect Purpose
This may not follow our plan or the normal pattern of life either; let’s not get irritated nor frustrated by Gods sovereignty.
Note that John is thought to be around 90 years of age here!
His greatest contribution to the scriptures and to the church and God’s people waited till he was 90 years of age!

Normally we may be used with a secular pattern of:
• Childhood
• Maturity
• Education
• Adulthood and service
• Old age and retirement
Christian life and service doesn’t necessarily comply with that pattern!
Moses aged 80 before God started to use him properly.
Esther was present in the palace for 1 single crises in the 4000 year history of the nation of Israel.
Are we willing to be so used? Are we only willing to be who and what we wish to be, where and when we want to be?
Like Naaman the leper (2 Kings 5:12) “are not Abana and Pharpar rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel?”
Down through the history of God’s people He has operated in this very fashion:
• Joseph
• Moses
• Naaman’s little maid
• Nehemiah
• Esther
• Daniel
• Paul and Silas in prison
For the salvation of His people and the revelation of His word!
This ministry from John is no mere rhetoric or platitudes but is backed up by:
a) God “which is, which was, which is to come”
A parallel to JeHoVaH; consonants form the 3 parts of the Hebrew verb ‘to be’:
• He who will be
• Who is
• Who has been
We note that the order of tenses is different here!
This order of:
• Is
• Was
• Shall be
Cf.
Verse 5:
• “who is the faithful Witness” – Is
• “first begotten of the dead” – Was
• “Prince of the kings of the earth” – Which is to come
Cf Verse 8 and verse 18
The pattern seems to be consistent.
As if we see God from the present extending back to the past and forward into the future; like an eternal light house casting His light into history.
Not so much that God has a past and a present but rather God as eternally present throughout history, providing a structure, order, plan and narrative to the whole of history.
Eternally present throughout history and over history; as Alpha and Omega (1:8) the originator and terminator of time and history; as the eternal “I AM” ever in the present!
Recall “I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” quoted by the Lord to establish the reality of life after death to the Sadducees in Mark chp 12:
“26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.” (Mark 12:26-27)
For this to establish the continued existence of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob there is an inherent assumption in this statement; that God Himself does not change!
This statement presumes that the relationship of God to time is different from our relationship to time.
For me to state that I am the friend of….. does not provide for them the assurance of their perpetual existence! Yet this statement regarding Abraham, Isaac and Jacob does!
For God; what is, will always be because God does not simply have a past / present and future tense but He is the eternal being present in and over past, present and future.
The continued existence beyond death of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are established because they are connected by the perpetual “I AM” to an unchanging God, an eternal being, not simply a person subject to and passing through time.
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)
“17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
The God whom Abraham met is exactly the same God we meet today! He has not changed, He cannot change!
The eternal character of God orders and ordains not only events today but in the past and present and future.
This gives a coherence, order, plan and structure to all of time.
This brings all of history to an ordered conclusion and destiny!
b) Spirit of God
c) Jesus Christ
This is a thoroughly Trinitarian section
These opportunities are empowered by the 7 fold spirit of God (v4), able to meet the need of Gods people.
V5 “and from Jesus Christ.”
We note in these 2 verses reference to the doctrine often referred to as the ‘Trinity.’
Not a Biblical term admittedly but a soundly Biblical teaching and truth and pattern.
God is 1 essential being with a 3 fold personality.
Cf. Human nature – not 3 persons but 3 aspects of the 1 individual.
Not 1+1+1 but 1X1X1
The truth of the Trinity is taught throughout scripture and especially in the NT:
1. God the Son – John 1:1,14
2. God the Father – John 6:27
3. God the Holy Spirit – Acts 5:34
All 3 Persons involved with:
1. Incarnation of Jesus – Matt 1:18, 20, 23; Luke 1:35; 1 John 4:14

2. Miracles of Jesus
a. Performed by Jesus – John 2:11
b. In the name of His Father – John 10:25
c. By the power of the Holy Spirit – Matt12:28; Acts 10:38

3. Baptism of Jesus – Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 3:22

4. Resurrection of Jesus Christ
a. God – Psalm 16:5-10
b. Lord Jesus – John 10:17-18
c. Spirit of God – Rom 1:4
d. God the Father – Rom 6:4

5. Salvation of the Christian
a. Spirit of God – 2 Thess 2:13; John 3:6 – the one who performs / is the executor of the work of saving a soul.
b. Lord Jesus – John 10:28 – whose work provides that salvation
c. God the Father – 1 John 4:14 – with whom the plan of salvation originates

6. Indwelling if the believer
a. Spirit of God – John 14:17
b. Lord Jesus – John 14:18
c. God the Father – John 14:23

7. Baptism – Matt 28:19
8. Teaching of the Believer / Apostles – John 14:26
9. Our relationship with God – Ephesians 2:18
10. Prayer
a. In the name of Jesus – John 14:13,14; 16:23
b. To the Father – Luke 11:2; Matt 6:9
c. By the Spirit of God – Rom 8:26

11. Fruitfulness in the Christian life:
a. Father – John 15:1-2
b. Son – John 15:1,4-5
c. Spirit of God – Gal 5:22

12. Comfort and Consolation to the Christian
a. Father – 2 Co 1:3
b. Son – 2 Co 1:5; 1 John 2:1
c. Spirit – John 14:16-17

13. Eternal security of the Christian:
a. Jesus – John 10:28
b. Father – John 10:29-30
c. Spirit of God – Ephesians 1:13
14. Testimony in the heavens (1 John 5:7)
15. Inspiration of Scripture

Is this a NT doctrine only?
Consider Deut 6:4 :
• Elohyenu – plural title for God
• Echad – composite unity cf the same word in Gen 1:5; 2:24
• Yahid – Singular unity – used in Gen 22:2
Consider also Gen 48:16-17