A Jet Tour Through Revelation Sermons - Revelation 1290 Dec 5, 1982 "John F. MacArthur"

What is the speaker’s purpose for the evening?

Well, tonight we’re in for, I trust, a great time, and in order to make the most of it, open your Bible to the book of Revelation. Tonight we have as our purpose a tour through this marvelous book.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of understanding the book of Revelation?

While you’re turning to Revelation 1:1, let me just stay that no book in Scripture reveals the glory of God and Christ in any more splendor than does this book, and yet no book has been more misunderstood and misinterpreted and neglected than this book. In chapter 22 of Revelation, in verse 10, it says, “Seal not the words of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.” If there’s one thing God wants in regard to this book, it is that we know what it teaches: seal it not.

What makes the book of Revelation unique among the books of the Bible?

The book begins with a blessing, chapter 1 verse 3, “Blessed is he that readeth…” It ends with a blessing, chapter 22 verse 7, “…blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.” It is the only book in the Bible that begins and ends with a promise of blessing to the one who reads. And we are told that we are to understand it because the time is at hand, and what that basically means, in chapter 22 verse 10, is that what is said here is the next event on God’s messianic timetable.

What is the primary focus of the book of Revelation, as stated in chapter 1, verse 1?

Now, the key to the book is found in chapter 1 verse 1, and we’re going to dive right in at that point and go from there. “The revelation of Jesus Christ,” that’s what the book is about. It is the apocalypse, the apokalupsis, the unveiling, the revealing of Jesus Christ, the uncovering of the truth about Christ heretofore not known. We’re going to learn things about Jesus Christ in this book that we wouldn’t know if it weren’t for this book and, “The revelation, which God gave to Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass,” in other words, this is a glimpse of the future, the near future, “and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.”

 How was the message of Revelation delivered to John, and what was John’s role?

God wanted to reveal Jesus Christ in full glory. That’s a future reality. And so, he sent the message about this with an angel who delivered it to John. Verse 2 says John wrote it down, “He bore witness of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”

What are the three actions described in verse 3 that bring a blessing, and what does “the time is at hand” signify?

So, in verse 1, God sets out to reveal. In verse 2, John takes the responsibility to write down that revelation, and in verse 3 it says, “Blessed is the one who reads – “ you can underline that “ – who hears – “ underline that “ – who keeps the things written in it.” And then this important statement, “for the time is at hand.” And that’s not related, necessarily, to time itself, but more to the sequence of events. This is the next on God’s calendar of messianic events.

How does Revelation portray Jesus Christ in His second-coming glory, and where was this previously previewed?

It is, then, a revelation of Jesus Christ, and it is Him revealed in full second-coming glory, which was previewed in His first coming on the Mount of Transfiguration, when He showed them a glimpse of His second-coming glory.

Who were the initial recipients of the book of Revelation, and where were they located?

Now, that brings us into verse 4, and we get a little more formal introduction. John is writing this book particularly to be sent to the seven churches in Asia Minor. That would be modern Turkey. There were seven churches; they’re listed for us in chapters 2 and 3. They were actual congregations. They were the initial recipients of this letter, and then it was passed on from them to all the other churches and down to us as well.

 What does the greeting in Revelation reveal about the sevenfold Spirit, and where can we find more details about it in the Bible?

These churches were primarily founded as a result of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, Ephesus being the key church, and from there the Word of God spreading out and no doubt being responsible for the founding of these various churches in the area of Asia Minor. Then comes a greeting, “Grace be unto you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come.” Now, that’s God, the Eternal God, who was, who is, and yet who is in the future to come. “And then from the sevenfold Spirit before the throne.” And it says “seven Spirits,” but so that you don’t become confused, that is the sevenfold Holy Spirit. If you were to read Isaiah 11:2, you can write that down in the margin there and make it a cross reference, you would find that there are seven unique ministries of the Holy Spirit listed there, and He is there for the sevenfold Spirit, which speaks of the fullness of His ministry here called the seven Spirits before the throne.

Who are the three sources of greetings in the introduction of the book?

So, the book is sent with greetings from God the Father, greetings from the Holy Spirit, and then verse 5 says, “ – and from Jesus Christ.” So, it is a letter from the Trinity, and that also sets it apart in a very marvelous and unique way: a letter from the Trinity; all being a part.

What does the term “first begotten of the dead” mean in reference to Jesus Christ?

And then, since it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, it goes on to describe Jesus as the first begotten of the dead. It doesn’t mean that he was the first one that ever rose from the dead; there were others that He Himself raised from the dead. It means that of all those ever to be raised from the dead, including the saints, He is the first and foremost and chief and greatest one of all who will ever rise. “He is the Prince – “ it says “ – of the kings of the earth.” 

To whom is the book dedicated, and how was it delivered to John?

And it says, “Unto Him – “ now, here’s a dedication; the book is from the Trinity, by an angel, to John, written down, passed on to us to read. And then John reminds us it is first sent to the seven churches. It comes from the Trinity and is dedicated – verse 5 – “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His blood.” The dedication is to Jesus Christ Himself, the one who has made us priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” So, the book right there is dedicated to the glory of the eternal Christ.

What is described in verse 7 about the coming of Jesus Christ?

And then it tells us in verse 7, “Behold, He cometh – “ future tense “ – with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” You know what “amen” means? What does that mean? So let it be. And so we find right there that the book is introduced to us as from the Trinity, dedicated to Jesus Christ, who is coming, and when He comes, every eye will see Him, and so let it be. And that’s a kind of a glimpse of what the whole book is about, the coming of Jesus Christ.

What does the title “Alpha and Omega” signify about Jesus Christ?

And then it says in verse 8 that He is “ – Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the one who is, who was, who is to come, the Almighty.” That signifies, of course, God in His essence and Christ in His unique relationship to God within the Trinity.

What is the purpose of the book’s introduction, and to whom was it originally sent?

So, we find that in verses 4 to 8 just some introductory information. The book is from the Trinity to the seven churches, to be spread from there by the agency of John. It is dedicated to Jesus Christ, who is coming, who is the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end, the Lord who is and was, who is to come, the Almighty. In other words, this one who comes is none other than Almighty God. So, the book then is about the second coming of Jesus Christ. It’s about His return, and about the facts that are going to occur around that return.

What happens in verse 9 regarding John’s visions?

Now, we’ve established then that the theme, in the first eight verses of chapter 1, is Jesus Christ in His second coming. Now, as we look at verse 9, he gets into the first of his visions, and it is a series of visions that God gives to John, “I, John.” And he says that a lot in the book, and it’s almost as if he was in a state of shock. It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Can you believe this? I, John, saw this. Me.” You almost get the idea that there’s a certain amount of incredulity in his own mind as to why God would ever allow him such a privilege.

How does John describe himself in verse 9, and why was he on the isle of Patmos?

“I, John, who am just your brother and just your companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. Me, you know, nothing special, just ordinary me, I was in the isle called Patmos.” He was exiled to Patmos for proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. In order to shut him up and get him out of the mainstream, they put him on the isle of Patmos until he died. 

Why was John exiled to the isle of Patmos according to his testimony?

“And I was there,” he says, “for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. That’s why I was there. I was put there because I preach Christ, and I preach God’s Word.”