AtomRevelation Part 1
Revelation 1:3-8
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. 4John 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 the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. 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.
We’re beginning a 6 week quick overview of the book of Revelation today using the lectionary texts from this past Easter season…as we didn’t have the time or occasion to lift them up during the Easter season.
Today is the introduction…from chapter 1…and let’s start like this…
Who here wants to be blessed by God?? Serious Question!! Who desires a blessing from Almighty God himself???
I would assume that every hand would be raised at this point…and the Good News of today is that this series on Revelation is for you…those desiring to be blessed by the Living God…notice verse 3 in our lesson…here’s how to receive this blessing.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it;
This is, to my knowledge, the ONLY book of the bible that starts out with a promised blessing to those who read and hear…and this is the first of SEVEN blessings in Revelation. In other words, in seven different places, Jesus reminds disciples that their connection, relationship, their commitment to him will bring blessing.
Now, let’s also understand something about this blessing…
In our day and age…we equip blessing with STUFF…tangible STUFF that will fit in our homes and garages. This is NOT what John, the author of Revelation is taking about. Thus, we’re not talking about reading Revelation in order to get stuff…treating God like a “vending machine deity”…rather…What might being blessed look like??
Since a few weeks ago, when I started working on this text for today, I’ve been thinking about it this way…I’ve experienced a multitude of reactions from people when they have a pastor type person around…and…let’s use these as images as to how God MIGHT choose to bless you in these next few weeks…as you read, hear, and keep what is written in this book in your life.
Note that as I reflect on these times…led me to think of three ways God might choose to bless you…
Here’s the first one…this took place during the tail end of Vacation Bible School. I was washing my hands in the men’s room when all of a sudden the door flew open and three young kids crashed into the room…loud and boisterous…you could say they were a bit out of control…
AND…when they saw me standing there, the room became still and silent…and after a short conversation…I left, running into one of the mom’s of these three standing outside of the door…and the puzzled look on her face turned into understanding as to how it was that these three young folks had all of a sudden some type of control had come into her child’s life…
Anyone today feeling that your life is abit out of control like that mom?? Or perhaps like:
A friend who recently lost his job and is uncertain as to what his future is…OR,
Another friend, young pastor friend, who was diagnosed two weeks ago with a malignant brain tumor and given 3 months to live…OR,
Another friend who is struggling with his teen-age daughter’s decisions and praying hard as to how to proceed as her decisions are diametrically opposed to their family values.
Maybe, the blessing you will receive through your reading of this book is the re-discovery that God is the one who can help bring your life under control when it’s running out of control…
Let’s pray that God will bless you with some sense of how to regain some control in the midst of a life that is currently running completely out of control!!!
Here’s another…as to how God may choose to bless you…
One of the privileges that Pastor Wade and I experience is the privilege of being with God’s people when they are in the hospital for many reasons. There, in the midst of a high and intense time of stress, we are privileged to share in scripture and in prayer.
There was the time when a person had called the church office and told Judy about a loved one in the hospital…but also wanted her to tell us as pastors “to not bother coming up, it’s not that big a deal…we don’t want to be a bother…we know how busy they are anyway…”
And yet, when I walked into this loved one’s hospital room…and we shared in scripture and prayer…WOW…the blessing of the peace that came into that room was incredible…there is indeed a “peace that passes all understanding!!” I continue to be amazed at how God can use ordinary people…like Wade and me…and others…to bring this blessing of peace!!
Perhaps you are also one who is struggling with peace of mind, with contentment…with the storms of life that a battering at your heart and soul!! Perhaps you will be blessed with this peace that only God can give as you hear and read this book…
Here’s a third scenario to try on…
A person that I’ve been working with…talking about some of the decisions needed in this person’s life and the need of making some changes in life came in to talk the other day…and we talked about these necessary changes again.
Now, this person KNOWS their need of making some better choices…and is asking for help and encouragement…and so, it just seemed like the right thing to do to ask…and I did…
“Do you need a simply nudge on the shoulder to get yourself going in the way that you know you want to go…or is a kick in the pants needed??”
And this person’s knowing smile said it all. A nudge would be nice, yet I think I need a kick in the pants…
Perhaps you also are one like this person who KNOWS what is needed in your life…and perhaps, God, through the reading of this book will give you the nudge…or the kick in the pants…that is needed in your life…in order to have the courage to stand up and make the change…and go through the pain that this change will bring…in order to receive the BLESSING of God himself.
And a fourth…
She had sinned…and she knew it!! Without question!! Sinned against her God and against others within the community of faith…
And we meet…and talked about it…and she then knelt at this altar to offer her confession. And then…the words were spoken… “You are forgiven!!” And, in those three words, she was set free from the sins that had held her so tight.
You heard the Gospel today…about forgiveness and love…
Maybe there are folks here today that need to be blessed through the words of Jesus saying, “Your sins are forgiven…go in peace!!” You’ve been carrying the weight of sin far too long and it’s time to unload it at the feet of the Risen and ascended Lord…Maybe!!!
Today, as we begin our public reading of portions of this book, the promise is made…
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.
Among these blessings are blessings of getting life into control, of peace in the midst of storms, of forgiveness, of gentle nudges and kicks in the pants as needed.
Yet, in order to receive these blessings…there is a catch… this isn’t AUTOMATIC…it’s takes some effort…the effort needed to READ and HEAR the words of this prophecy and to KEEP what is written in it.
And, let’s recognize that, as we read this over the next few weeks…we will struggle with HOW to read it because it’s written in a style of writing called “apocalyptic” writing. Those who have participated in our Revelation studies know some of the characteristics of this writing….one of which is the use of numbers…and…
This use of numbers starts in verse 4. Remembering that the number 3 is significant…as is 7 and 12, 24, and multiples of these numbers. In verse 4, we come upon the first of many of the triads in this book…notice…
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come
And this is quickly followed by a second triad…
and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, (Holy Spirit) 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, (the Lord) and the ruler of the kings of the earth (God).
And this may be the first blessing…
John wants us to know that through Jesus, God will provide enough grace and peace for each day no matter what our situation in life…completely…three in one!!
In these six weeks, we are going on a journey…that will touch down in only 6 different places on Sunday…leaving the rest of Revelation to you to read throughout the course of the week.
Note that next week we’re already going to be in chapter 5.
• And, in between are the letters to the 7 churches…
• In between is the first vision of the crucified and Risen Lamb of God on the throne as Lord and King of all.
• In-between now and then…each person needs to offer their response to the question: do you want to be blessed by God…in the way only God can?
If the answer is yes, then, take out your Bibles over the next 6 weeks…add a GOOD commentary or two…and READ; remembering the words of verse 3:
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it;
My goal – dare we suggest 100%...as I sense that 100% do desire that blessing…some of which you have already experienced today in Worship and will experience as the Risen Christ gives to you the gift of body and blood!!
Blessings to all on this brief, yet potentially, life changing journey through Revelation…
AMEN.
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