Fear Not! (Introduction, part 4)
e. The Subject is Joyous.
I really wanted to put a
lot of words besides "Joyous" to explain what the feeling of Christians should be when
they read the book of Revelation, and you can write down words that may come to
your mind. In 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Paul wrote in response to
Christians who thought the rapture had already taken place. You see some were
shaken in their minds; they were troubled because someone had told them that
the day of Christ had already come. Notice what Paul says to encourage them
about the Revelation of Jesus Christ, when Christ will be revealed. Paul said
in verse 3
“We are bound to thank God
always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly,
and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we
ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of
the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also
suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those
who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord
Jesus is revealed
(apokalupsei) from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire He
will take vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when
He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among
all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”
And again, turn to another 1:7,
this time Corinthians 1:7, we will read beginning in verse 4:
4 I thank my God always
concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5
that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,
6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come
short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is
faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord.
And finally let us turn to a third 1:7, this time 1 Peter 1:7, but starting in verse 3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed (yes, that is the verb form of the word apocalypse, apokaluphthenai) in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into. 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you (when?) at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Why have I asked you to read these
three passages? Did you notice something other than all three were 1:7
passages? Did you notice the circumstances that the writers, first Paul, then
Peter, and finally from the island
of Patmos
Why is the revelation of
Jesus Christ so crucial to Christianity? Because true Christians are counted worthy
of the kingdom of
God
Revelation 1:7 says, “He
comes with clouds.” That is joyful, delightful for the Christian. He’s coming
in power, in majesty, in magnificence, in grandeur. The Subject of the
Revelation is delicious to the Christian, and especially those who have been
persecuted for his or her faith. Revelation uncovers and takes away the veil of
the sufferings of Christ, but it also takes away the veil from the sufferings
of the saints. And not just the sufferings of this old world, of old age, of
the sufferings that overtakes the heathen and the Christian, the atheist and
the saint. Paul, Peter, John and Jesus all point to the revelation as a victory
to those who have suffered for the cause of Christ.
Look, please, one more
time at another writing; this found in Romans 8.
13 For if you live according to
the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the
body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are
sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba,
Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs
with Christ, if indeed we suffer with
Him, that we may also be glorified
together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be (WHAT?!!)
revealed (apokaluphthenai, the verb
form of “taking off the veil”. REVEALED in who?!!) in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for
the revealing (your translation may say
manifestation, but it might as well say ‘REVELATION’ because it is the same
word as found in Revelation 1:1 APOKALUPSES! The taking away of the veil) of the sons of God.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is Joyous, it’s soothing, it’s rapturous, it’s ecstatic because it is not only the revelation and unveiling of Jesus Christ, it is our unveiling too from the sufferings of this world that are not worthy to be compared to the glories which shall be revealed.
One more thing
about Revelation: We are to be excited about the revelation of Jesus Christ and
also our own revelation, but look once again at Romans 8:19.
19 For the earnest expectation (apo-kara-dokia) of the creation for the revealation (apoc-a-lup-sin) of the sons of God eagerly waits (apek-dech-e-tai). (This is the original Greek order,
using a play on words with three words beginning with “apo”)
20 For the creation was
subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in
hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know
that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
23 Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the
redemption of our body.
The Revelation is not
just Jesus Christ going from from a slain Lamb to a conquering King. Not just we believers
from suffering saints to becoming priests and kings unto God and His Father.
But the Revelation is of ALL of creation. ALL of creation groans and labors
with birth pangs. But even creation will be delivered and revealed to what it
should be.
