WHO IS JESUS?
Text: Revelation 1:1-8, 18
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
1. Jesus Is The Son Of God (vv. 4-5; cf. Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:1-3)
Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead so why is He mentioned last in John’s salutation? John rightfully mentions Jesus last because the entire book about Jesus. (cf. 1:1 – first five words of the book – the Revelation (singular) of Jesus Christ.
The Greek word translated fullness in Col. 2:9 means “the sum
2. Jesus Is The Faithful Witness (v. 5, cf. 1:18)
The faithful witness to what? Jesus Christ is the faithful witness to the
1) Jesus witnessed to the truth through incarnation (cf. Phil. 2:5-7)
2) Jesus witnessed to the truth through crucifixion
- Jesus, in dying on the cross, testified and witnessed to the truth: the truth about sin (it’s deadly), sinners (the need of a redeemer), and the way of salvation (it’s through the sacrifice of Jesus).
The cross of Christ is the all sufficient sacrifice for sin. (2 Cor. 5:21)
What does the death of Jesus on the cross do for believers?
1] It washes us from our sins with His blood, i.e. brings forgiveness. (v. 5; cf. Col. 2:13; 1:14)
2] It frees us from the
3] It frees us from the kingdom of sin (v. 6, cf. Col. 1:13)
4] It frees us to have
3. Jesus Is The First Begotten Of The Dead (v. 5)
- Jesus is the first begotten from the dead in terms of His resurrection.
- Jesus was not the first person raised chronologically, but He is unique in rank and privilege in terms of those raised from the dead.
Jesus was the first to be able to say, “I have conquered death and hell. I hold the keys. I will never die again.” (Rev. 1:18; 1 Cor. 15:20, 23)
What does Christ resurrection mean for us?
1) Assurance of our
2) Assurance of our
4. Jesus Is The Coming King (vv. 7-8)
- BEHOLD! – Your attention please! I am coming again.
The verb cometh is in the present tense. He is coming.
1) His coming is on the clouds
2) His coming is
3) His coming will cause mourning and wailing (cf. Zech. 12:10)
Bottom line: Why is
a big deal? Because
is a big deal.
- He is the Son of God, the crucified One, the risen Savior, and the coming King.