Portraits of Christ

As you can tell, Josh had an extremely busy week going to Calgary from Monday until Thursday evening.

And then Friday they looked at that house and had a decision.

So knowing what was going on, I said, instead of speaking on July 1st, I'll take today's communion service.

And I just want to focus on three pictures of Christ from the book of Revelation.

So today is communion. I would like to focus on Christ.

Since I'm old school, I don't have the scriptures on the overhead.

So please grab a Bible, or as it's described in Ephesians 6.17, the Word of God, which is the sword of God.

So if you don't have a Bible with you, grab one from the pew ahead.

There's Bibles down. I'd like you to follow what I'm reading.

So Revelation 1, verse 1-3.

Revelation 1:1–3

The revelation from Christ Jesus, which God gave him to show his servants, which must soon take place.

He made it known by sending his angel to the servant John, who testifies to everything he saw,

that is, the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it,

and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

So this is the God's inspired word to John, the same John that wrote the book of John,

so just quite a few years later.

Whenever we remember Christ, we should remember what he has done in the past,

what he is doing now, and what he will do in the future.

Many picture Christ once a year as a cute baby in a manger,

or others view him as he's still on the cross.

But Revelation pictures Christ as he is, mighty and majestic.

God.

So if we turn to chapter 1, I'll read verses 4 to 20.

To the seven churches in the province of Asia,

grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,

and from the seven spirits before his throne,

and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,

the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us, and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

and has made us to be a kingdom, and priests to serve him, God and Father,

to him be glory and power forever and ever.

Amen.

Look, he is coming in the clouds, and everyone will see him,

even those who pierced him, and all the people on earth will mourn because of him.

So shall it be.

Amen.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, said the Lord God,

who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

Verse 12.

This is Revelation chapter 1, verse 12.

Revelation 1:12

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me,

and when I saw seven golden lampstands,

and among the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man,

dressed in a robe, reaching down to his feet,

with a golden sash around his chest.

The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow,

and his eyes were like blazing fire.

His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,

and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

In his right hand he held seven stars,

and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword,

his face like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

Then he placed his right hand on me and said,

Do not be afraid.

I am the first and the last.

I am the living one.

I was dead, and now, look, I am alive forever and ever,

and I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Write, therefore, what you have seen,

what is now, and what will take place later.

The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand

and of the seven lampstands is this.

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,

and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Great.

First notice that John sends the greetings of grace and peace.

We are in the time of grace.

Right from the time of Adam and Eve,

God has not dealt with man in the way he warned them.

Eternal death.

Romans 6.23 tells us,

For the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2.8.9, and we alluded,

well, we talked strenuously today

in the older Sunday school class

about this verse and grace.

But this is, we are in the time of grace.

We unmerited favor.

We deserve death.

God is, through his love for us,

has offered salvation.

Ephesians 2.8-10.

For it is by grace that you have been saved,

through faith,

and this not from yourselves.

It is the gift of God,

not by works,

so that no one could boast.

For we are God's workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Again, grace you have been saved,

through faith.

Not what we do,

but what we believe.

Next,

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega,

who is and was and is to come.

This describes the eternal nature of Jesus.

Jesus.

Everything and everyone else

has a starting time.

God, in Genesis 1.1,

in the beginning,

God created the heavens and the earth.

Starting time.

Everything else,

there was nothing before that.

But Jesus was before that.

He's from everlasting to everlasting.

Warren Wiersbe,

I used his book there,

describes the pictures of Christ as follows.

Christ's garments are those of a judge king,

clothed with honor and power,

like he had a flowing robe and a sash.

His white hair describes his eternity and purity.

His eyes see all to judge righteously.

He doesn't just kind of judge on a scale.

Well, it's,

this is,

if you believe in him,

you're forgiven.

If you don't believe,

you're not forgiven.

It's his eyes judged righteously.

The glowing bronze feet

also speak of judgment,

since in the Old Testament,

bronze altar was the place

where the fire consumed sin offerings.

Sounds of many waters suggest

he speaks with power and authority.

The sword represents the living word of God.

So anyone that's got a sword,

hold them up.

This is the sword.

This is the word of God.

And that's what he uses to fight his enemies.

The Lord's shining continents

reminds us of his transfiguration.

And the sun reminds us

not only of blessings,

but also judgment.

Also,

in Revelation 21,

we're not going to look at this much,

but this is also a picture

how we receive light in heaven.

After the thousand year reign,

when we're truly in heaven,

it's his face,

it's him,

who illuminates all of heaven.

His blazing glory shines forth.

Next is Revelation chapter 5.

Revelation 5 · chapter mention

Another picture of Jesus.

This is the second picture of Jesus.

Then I looked at the right hand

of him who sat on the throne.

A scroll was written on both sides

and sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a mighty angel

proclaim in a loud voice,

who is worthy to break the seal

and open the scroll.

But no one in heaven or on earth

or under the earth

could open the scroll

or even look inside it.

I wept and wept

because no one was found

who was worthy to open the scroll

or look inside.

Then one of the elders said to me,

do not weep.

See,

the lamb,

the lion of the tribe of Judah,

the root of David,

has triumphed.

He's able to open the scroll

and its seven seals.

Then I saw a lamb

looking as if it had been slain,

standing at the center of the throne

encircled by the four living creatures

and the elders.

The lamb had seven horns

and seven eyes,

which are the seven spirits of God

sent out into all the earth.

He went and took the scroll

from the right hand of him

who sat on the throne.

And when he had taken it,

the four living creatures

and the 24 elders

fell down before the lamb.

Each one had a harp

and they were holding golden bowls

full of incense,

which are the prayers

of God's people.

And they sang a new song saying,

you are worthy

to take the scroll,

to open its seals

because you were slain.

And with your blood,

you purchased for God

persons from every tribe

and language

and people and nation.

You have made them

to be a kingdom

and priests

to serve our God

and they will reign

on the earth.

Then I looked

and heard the voices

of many angels

numbering thousands

upon thousands

and 10,000

times 10,000.

They encircled the throne

and the living creatures

and the elders.

In a loud voice

they were saying,

worthy

is the lamb

who was slain

to receive power

and wealth

and wisdom

and strength

and honor

and glory

and praise.

Then I heard

every creature

in heaven

and on earth

and under the earth

and on the sea

and all that is in them

saying,

to him

who sits

on the throne

and to the lamb

be praise

and honor

and glory

and power

forever

and ever.

the four living creatures

said,

Amen

and the elders

fell down

and worshiped.

This time frame

describes the end

of the church age

and the start

of the seven years

of tribulation.

People,

there are people

that believe

in the rapture

that are certain

that believers

will not be present

during the seven years

of hell on earth.

So this is the start

when he opens

the seal

that is the start

of the tribulation

that we read

in verses 6 to 19

of Revelation.

It's a time

of absolute misery.

It's a time

where people's morals

are just destroyed.

It is a time

of hell on earth.

It's a picture

of what hell

of eternity

will be like.

Just a picture,

not the whole thing.

Only Christ

is worthy

to start

this time

of judgment.

Verse 5

describes the lineage

of Jesus

as a human

back to David

through his mother Mary.

You can look

in Matthew.

That's why

the book of Matthew

has his lineage.

It describes it

all the way

back to David.

It was because

Jesus took

the form

of a man

and became

a sin offering

that believers

will not face

eternal punishment.

I was at a funeral

recently

where much

scripture was read

confirming

that the deceased

was going

to eternity

in heaven.

The problem

was

nothing was

mentioned

on the fact

that only

Jesus

can take

our punishment.

the illusion

was

yeah this person

gets to go

to heaven

because I read

the scripture

and it describes

heaven

out of context

out of the

this is why

you're allowed

to go

not because

you're a good

person

just because.

John 3

16

to 18

very

very

familiar

verses

but they

describe

who

qualifies

for heaven.

John 3

16

to 18

for God

so loved

the world

that he

gave his

one and

only son

that whoever

believes in him

shall not perish

but have

eternal life

for God

did not send

his son

into the world

to condemn

the world

but to save

the world

through him

whoever

believes in him

is not condemned

but whoever

does not

believe

stands

condemned

already

because they

have not

believed in

the name

of God's

one and

only son

very clear

believe

not believe

whoever

believes in

him is not

condemned

whoever does

not believe

stands

condemned

already

because they

have not

believed in

the name of

God's

one and

only son

so this

is

there's no

I'm a little

bit better

than I am

bad

and God

likes me

so I get

to go to

heaven

it's very

cut and

dried

verse 6

describes

Jesus as

a lamb

that was

slain

when Moses

led the

nations

out of

Egypt

God

used many

plagues

to convince

the Pharaoh

to let

his people

all leave

the last

plague

was the

death

of the

first

born

of

everyone

the

only

way

that

family

was

to

not

have

death

in the

house

was to

take a

perfect

lamb

slay it

wiping

the blood

on the

door frame

the angel

of death

would pass

over

that house

and go

on to

those not

marked

by blood

this is

why Jesus

was crucified

during the

Passover

it wasn't

a coincidence

this was

a fulfillment

only God

is to be

worshipped

and the

24 elders

do it

eternally

if Jesus

were only

an angel

as some

churches

claim

as some

religions

claim

then no

worship

would happen

to him

also

noted

is the

prayers

of the

saints

who are

true

believers

so people

that when

you pray

and you're

truly a

believer

the prayers

are saved

in the

form of

an incense

prayers

don't just

hit the

ceiling

and die

but are

stored

as sweet

aroma

for Jesus

verse 11

can you

imagine

the roar

of over

100

million

angels

encircling

the throne

along with

the living

creatures

and the

elders

singing

in a

loud

voice

we cannot

imagine

it would

be

absolutely

deafening

we won't

need hearing

aids

I guarantee

that

worthy

is the

lamb

who was

slain

to receive

power

and wealth

and wisdom

and strength

and honor

and glory

and praise

that is

the definition

of praise

and worship

so when

these

when he's

being praised

this

this is

the utmost

that they

can honor

him with

finally

chapter 19

of revelation

verses 4

to 21

this is

what is

to come

actually

the last

the

the

seven years

of tribulation

we have

not

it has not

happened yet

but it is

promised

to happen

but revelation

19

4 to 21

is really

the

encapsulation

is the

ending

the 24

elders

and the

four living

creatures

fell down

and worshiped

God

who was

seated

on the

throne

and they

cried

hallelujah

or amen

hallelujah

then a

voice

came from

the throne

saying

praise our

God

all you

servants

both great

and small

then I

heard what

sounded like

a great

multitude

like the

roar of

rushing

waters

and like

loud

peals

of

thunder

shouting

hallelujah

for our

God

almighty

reigns

let us

rejoice

and be

glad

and give

him

glory

for the

wedding

of the

lamb

has come

and his

bride

has made

herself

ready

fine

linen

bright

and clean

were given

her to

wear

fine

linen

stands

for the

righteous

acts

of God's

holy

people

then the

angel

said to

me

write

this

blessed

are

those

who

are

invited

to

the

wedding

supper

of

the

lamb

and

he

added

these

are

the

true

words

of

God

at

this

I

fell

at

his

feet

to

worship

him

but

he

said

to

me

don't

do

it

I

am

a

fellow

servant

with

you

and

with

your

brothers

and

sisters

who

hold

to

the

testimony

of

Jesus

worship

God

for it

is the

spirit

of

prophecy

who

bears

testimony

to

Jesus

I

saw

heaven

standing

open

and

there

before

me

was

a

white

horse

whose

rider

is

called

faithful

and

true

with

justice

he

judges

and

wages

war

his

eyes

are

like

blazing

fire

and

on

his

head

are

many

crowns

he

has

a

name

written

on

it

that

no

one

knows

but

he

himself

he

is

dressed

in

a

robe

dipped

in

blood

and

his

name

is

the

word

of

God

the

armies

of

heavens

were

following

him

riding

on

white

horses

and

dressed

in

fine

linen

white

and

clean

coming

out

of

his

mouth

is

a

sharp

sword

with

which

to

strike

down

the

nations

he

will

rule

them

with

an

iron

scepter

he

treads

the

winepress

of

the

fury

of

the

wrath

of

God

almighty

on

his

robe

and

on

his

thigh

he

has

the

name

this

name

written

king

of

kings

and

lord

of

lords

and

I

saw

an

angel

standing

in

the

sun

who

cried

in

a

loud

voice

to

all

the

birds

flying

in

midair

come

gather

together

for

the

great

supper

of

God

so

that

you

may

eat

the

flesh

of

kings

generals

the

mighty

of

horses

and

their

riders

and

the

flesh

of

all

people

free

slave

great

and

small

then

I

saw

the

beast

and

the

king

of

the

earth

and

their

armies

gathered

together

to wage

war

against

the

rider

on

the

horse

and

his

army

but

the

beast

was

captured

and

with

it

the

false

prophet

who

had

performed

the

signs

on

its

behalf

with

these

signs

he

had

deluded

those

who

had

received

the

mark

of

the

beast

and

worshipped

its

image

the

two

of

them

were

thrown

alive

into

the

fiery

lake

of

burning

sulfur

the

rest

were

killed

with

the

sword

coming

out

from

the

mouth

of

the

rider

on

the

horse

and

all

the

birds

gorged

themselves

on

their

flesh

verse

four

confirms

Jesus

is

God

receiving

worship

from

the

24

elders

so

we

know

without

a

doubt

that

this

is

Jesus

who

is

coming

the

wedding

of

the

lamb

has

come

this

is

a

fulfillment

of

Ephesians

5

22

to

27

this

is

an

illustration

of

Christ's

relationship

to the

church

wives

submit

yourself

to

your

own

husbands

as

you

do

to

the

Lord

for

the

husband

is

the

head

of

the

wife

as

Christ

is

the

head

of

the

church

his

body

of

which

he

is

the

savior

now

as

the

church

submits

to

Christ

so

also

wives

should

submit

to

their

husbands

in

everything

husbands

love

your

wives

as

Christ

loved

the

church

and

gave

himself

up

for

her

take

making

her

holy

cleansing

her

by

washing

her

with

water

through

the

word

and

to

present

her

to

himself

as

a

radiant

church

without

stain

or

wrinkle

or any

other

blemish

but

holy

and

blameless

only

through

Christ

sacrifice

can

the

believing

church

be

made

clean

nothing

we

can

do

nothing

we

can

say

nothing

we

can

pay

purgatory

means

nothing

any

of these

other

things

we

can't

do

it's

only

Christ's

sacrifice

verse

10

again

confirms

we should

only

worship

God

this

is

where

Satan

sinned

by

feeling

that

he

should

be

worshipped

you

remember

John

was

going

to

bow

down

to

this

angel

and

the

angel

said

don't

worship

me

worship

God

alone

this

point

is

the end

of

tribulation

Christ

is the

rider

coming

to

make

war

with

those

who

are

evil

again

his

eyes

are

like

blazing

fire

able

to

see

and

judge

correctly

crowns

indicate

magnificent

rule

the robe

dipped

in blood

is not

his

own

blood

but

from

Isaiah

63

1-6

we see

he trampled

the wine

press in

his wrath

and their

blood was

splattered

on his

garment

so these

things are

prophesied

all through

the old

testament

this is a

picture

of warning

all the way

from

Isaiah

the armies

of heaven

this is a

combination

of angels

and believers

clothed

and pure

white

and clean

this is the

redeemed

church

people

people who

believe in

the rapture

see this

that this

is the

church

following

after

christ

so this

is the

church

and the

angels

coming

with

christ

you know

coming

for war

so does

it make

sense

to be

robed

in white

if you're

going to

war

well if

the war

is already

predestined

that christ

has one

weapon

and that's

the word

of god

when he

speaks

the war

is over

if you're

a believer

you're just

you're just

there to

witness what

happens

you're on

a horse

white horse

and we see

it happen

we don't

actually fight

but we're

there so

the church

will come

back with

christ

the sword

god speaks

and all

ends

just like in

creation when

he spoke

and all

was created

verse 19

to 21

then i saw

the beast

and the

kings

of the

earth

and their

armies

gathered

together

to wage

war against

the rider

on the

horse

and his

army

but the

beast

was captured

and with it

the false

prophecy

who had

performed

the signs

on its

behalf

with these

signs he

had deluded

those who

had deceived

the mark

of the beast

and to

worship its

image

the two

of them

were thrown

alive into

fiery lake

of burning

sulfur

the rest

were killed

with the

sword coming

out of it

out of the

mouth of the

rider on

the horse

and all

the boards

gorged

themselves

on their

flesh

another

place

this is

Armageddon

this is the

battle of

Armageddon

we read in

Zechariah

Zechariah 12 · chapter mention

chapters 12

to 14

so written

you know

about 2500

years ago

these things

happening

that confirms

that this

battle isn't

just

they're coming

against Jerusalem

this is a

battle of

Jerusalem

that is why

you see

Jerusalem is

always in

the news

it is the

most important

place in

God's

kingdom

this is where

it comes

back

Jerusalem will

not ever be

wiped out

no matter what

happens

Jerusalem

will always

be there

and then

is it fair

that Jesus

destroys all

who are left

there has

always been

grace shown

to people

Adam

Adam

lived over

900 years

after the

garden of

Eden

God chose

Abraham to

start his

chosen people

Joseph

was used

to save

the starving

group of

people

Moses

brought these

people out

of Egypt

430 years

later

as the

nation

Israel

this saved

them from

intense

suffering

as slaves

many

prophets

warned

Israel

about

following

false

gods

Jesus

came to

dwell

as a

human

died

as a

sacrifice

in places

those

believed

in him

finally

during

this

seven

years

of

tribulation

God

sends

an

angel

to

trumpet

the

truth

two

witnesses

with

great

powers

to

trumpet

the

truth

and

144

thousand

Israeli

evangelists

to

trumpet

the

truth

many

will

turn

to

Christ

and

be

murdered

for

their

faith

that

is

promised

but

we

think

well

why

is it

fair

but

revelation

16

10

and 11

states

men

on

their

tongues

in

agony

cursed

the

God

of

heaven

because

of

their

pains

and

their

sores

but

refused

to

repent

of

what

they

had

done

so

even

though

there's

144

thousand

like

you

can

imagine

all

the

things

that

are

going

on

angel

in

heaven

the

two

witnesses

that

there

would

be

televised

all

over

the

world

and

yet

people

still

refused

Jews

remember

they

crucified

Christ

after

they

realized

that

Christ

had

raised

Lazarus

from

the

dead

that

was

only

a

few

days

earlier

they

refused

to

accept

him

as

God

men

during

this

people

not

just

men

people

during

this

seven

years

of

tribulation

will

refuse

to

repent

of

what

they

had

done

is

God

fair

to

judge

them

he

offered

salvation

they

refused

in

conclusion

God

has

never

forced

anyone

to

believe

in

salvation

he

doesn't

do

that

he

offered

his

grace

but

allows

us

the

choice

to

believe

in

him

or

not

communion

is

a

proclamation

of

that

choice

it

is

our

choice

to

believe

that

Jesus

is

the

alpha

and

the

omega

the

beginning

and

the

end

so

with

that

let's

bow

our

heads

and

we'll

partake

in the

communion

service

dear

lord

thank you

that you

are the

alpha

and the

omega

the

beginning

and the

end

who

was

and who

is

and who

is

to

come

lord

we

can

see

from

revelation

and

worship

you

because

this

is

communion

is to

remember

what you

who you

are

and what

you've

done

lord

thank you