Our Glorious Christ: A Vision for Victims and Sufferers

Bible reading

Let me ask you to turn your Bibles to the Book of Revelation 1. Revelation 1:1-20,

I’m reading from the English Standard Version.

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

John 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, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

This is the word of the Lord.

In the conference so far, we have been seeking with all of our ability and hopefully dependence upon God, to set forth Christ. We are praying that all of these sermons help us to grow in our knowledge of him, but not just the kind of knowledge that we record in our notepads, but the kind of knowledge that is accompanied with faith; a faith that causes us to cherish him, treasure him, to love him, trust in him more and more.

I trust that we have seen that we could spend weeks upon weeks upon weeks upon weeks exploring the glories of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Our glorious Christ

Today’s sermon is titled “Our glorious Christ.” What we are saying together, if you were to line us all up here, is that we would be saying that the God-man Jesus, who suffered and was crucified, was not only raised from the dead, he was exalted on high and he now appears as our glorious Christ. All of these elements that we have been hearing from this pulpit are true and are important, and yet I think what we’re seeing in the Book of Revelation is that if we do not see, if we do not understand, if we do not know the Jesus that we claim to know, that we’re believing in, if we don’t know him as how he has revealed himself – namely our glorious, exalted Christ – we don’t know him in the way he wants us to know him.

The picture painted of this Christ is diverse. It’s a full orb picture. And we are not meant to live our Christian lives with half the Bible, with a view of Christ or a vision of Christ that has been truncated, summarized, squeezed down, boiled down, to some few nuggets. The Bible is instead giving to us a Christ that is glorious. He is resplendent in many ways: from his humanity to his supremacy, from his preincarnate self. All of these are things that are important for us to grasp, and I pray that them being chopped up into different sermons creates in us an appetite to leave this place and go off to pursue more knowledge from his holy Word about who he is.

The portion in front of us, especially Revelations 1, is arguing that for us, or more directly for the readers of this particular book, which is the Church, if they are going to endure against their trials and temptations, they are in need of this vision of a glorious Christ. Positively put, we the Church are in need of a vision of Christ in all of his glory, if we are to faithfully endure against trials and temptations.

There’s something we ought to see in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that is staggering, that is immense, that is awe inspiring, because that’s how he’s revealed himself. And that is not just like bonus points for knowing Jesus; seeing Christ in his exalted, majestic state is essential for us to faithfully endure against temptations and trials.

God and the Church

That’s how Revelation 1 begins. Let’s see the opening of this particular chapter. Revelations 1:1-8 are a long opening. There’s kind of two different openings to the Book of Revelation and here’s a summary of what you’re looking at in this portion: God wants the church, in this first 8 verses, Revelations 1:1-8, to know that Jesus, who has been exalted as Sovereign Lord of all. He wants them to know that this Lord is coming. He’s coming.

If you are looking for two key things so you don’t get lost inside of these 8 verses, Revelations 1:1-8, focus especially on Jesus and the Church. God, Triune God, (is articulate in these verses we’re about to look at) this God wants the church (a lot to be said about the Church, right) to know Jesus as Sovereign Lord of all.

So, you’ll notice there, Revelations 1:4, John to the seven churches that are in Asia. He actually lists the churches for us. Who is the audience of this particular chapter or this particular book? It’s seven churches and he tells us which churches those are and where they are. The number seven is an interesting one. I know, I know, I know what you’re thinking, I know what you’re thinking already. It actually is a part that shows up in the Bible. It actually is. I know it’s been misused, right, but just because it’s been misused does not mean that we stop using it correctly.

You’ll notice that there are seven churches and they are actual churches that actually existed in an actual place. But as you continue reading the book of Revelation, you will notice that that cycle of sevens continues, and continues and continues, so that the way we are supposed to understand what we are reading is these words are related to actual people in actual churches; but that those churches are also representative of the whole. It is not as though this book was only meant for them, because actually you’ll notice after we are done with the seven churches, as you keep moving through the book of Revelation, they actually fade, and what is being referred to is the Church as a whole, not merely these seven churches. So, they are actual churches because God cares about those local churches, but they stand in this particular book as a representative of the universal church.

So that the way we ought to think about that cycle seven is complete and thorough and full. That’s who’s being addressed – the entire church is being addressed in this section.

Notice the second part of Revelation 1:4-5,

“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, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.” It’s God who’s speaking. It’s God who’s speaking and we are given that classic formula of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Son and the Holy Spirit are reversed, we are not quite clear on why, but there you have it. God, God in all of his transcendence, the ancient of days, is being described as him who was, him who is, and the one who is to come. He covers all of time. This is God. This is this Holy Spirit, so that when you read “the seven spirits”, look at where it is. You know is the Holy Spirit you’re talking about. It’s the Father, the Spirit, and the Son.

No, no, John does not in the middle of describing the Triune God go on a little diversion to speak about a different seven spirits and then come back again to complete the formula. The Spirit here is the Holy Spirit that we know: the third person of the Trinity. Why seven spirits? I believe because there’s an association in this entire portion of God and his church. The seven churches, the seven spirits, Christ in his Church. This this God in this particular section is not being described as apart from his church but in his Church.

Son of God

And then notice the Son, and this book is going to centre on the Son.

He describes the Son as the, Revelations 1:5, “faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings on the earth.”

What does God want us to know? He wants us to know something concerning his Son Christ and how that relates to the church. And so, when he gets to the Son, these are the things that are being said about him: he is the faithful witness. Interesting how John has already been described as one who is a faithful witness. He’s one who has borne witness to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. His suffering for the witness that he’s bearing, this man John. Who is Jesus? Jesus is the faithful witness. That word “witness” could even be translated as “martyr” – the ones who have died for this truth that is being proclaimed.

Jesus is one who has passed through that death because of the confession that he bore. He came and he spoke the truth, the perfect truth about God and he stood for that until the very end. He was crucified because of that. As he is being interviewed by Pilate, he’s being asked questions and what does he give, what does he offer? A good confession is what Paul calls it.

It’s going to be important, these little nuggets in this opening, oh because it’s exactly what he did the rest of the books, the rest of the letters, that the churches, when they’re being addressed, they’re being called to certain things that are true, first and foremost about Jesus Christ. So, there you are. He’s the faithful witness. He’s the firstborn from the dead. It’s a position of exaltation. He’s the rightful royal heir. Psalm 89:27 speaks of Solomon using that title; a firstborn.

Who is this Jesus? He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. That’s who this Jesus is. Revelation 1:5b, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood…”

Who is this Jesus that is being addressed, that we’re talking about here? Christ effectual priestly service as both priest and sacrifice is being highlighted. He is not only the king of all kings, he’s one who has done a certain thing – what’s this certain thing? He has loved us she has freed us from our sins by his blood. What has he effected by that sacrifice? Revelation 1:6a, He has “made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father…”

The work of this Christ, who has been exalted as king of all kings is not merely kingly, it’s also priestly. And it has produced a certain effect. What’s the effect? That those whom he served, those whom he loved – the church – they too have become a kingdom of priests. So, if you’re thinking about the church, Jesus and who he is and what implications that has upon the church, if he is the king of all the kings on the earth, who through his blood he has purified the Church and what is the effect? Those who have been purified have themselves become that eschatological, that end time, temple. They have been exalted to become priests and kings. Revelation 1:6b, “…to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Little things that he’s dropping inside here, they are all going to be massively important as he builds with the rest of this particular section.

Return of the King

Well, what’s the big deal? What’s going on about this particular king? What’s the urgency? Here’s the urgency: this king is coming. This king is coming. Revelation 1:7-8,

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come…”

This king is returning and the return of this king is going to mean the fulfilment of all of the promises of the Old Testament, as the Old Testament has been looking forward. Even the New Testament has been looking forward to the return of the king. And judgment for the wicked and salvation for the righteous has been anticipated. It’s all going to be signalled by what is being spoken of here. So, as John writes, he quotes Zechariah 12. We spoke yesterday. I might not have read this if we’re not just yesterday speaking about the suffering servant who was, what? He was rejected, isn’t it? He was rejected by his own people. Well, that’s Isaiah 53 speaking of how the Messiah would be rejected. Well, Zechariah 12:10, do not go there, let me read this for you.

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they will mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”

Zechariah 13:1

“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”

Notice how John records these words for us though. Read them again. Revelation 1:7,

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him…”

Who pierced him? The Jews pierced him, isn’t it? The Jews pierced him. The Jews pierced him. That piercing of Jesus by the Jews is highlighting the rejection of him. So, what is Zechariah promising? That these Jews who rejected Jesus, yes, they even pierced Jesus, they crucified Jesus, there is coming a time, there is coming a time, way up ahead, when they will look upon him whom they pierced and they will mourn and they will repent.

But listen to how John adds to it, Revelation 1:7,

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, (and then he adds something) and all tribes (of the?) of the earth will wail on account of him.”

This promise of a massive in-bringing that, in Zechariah, is a promise of a remnant coming in from Israel who will, so to say, come to their senses, is enlarged, and all the elect from all of the tribes of the earth shall be brought in.

Amen!

Then Revelation 1:8 wraps up with this formula:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Here’s the point:

These things that are about to be spoken are being spoken by the one who matters, by the one who controls absolutely every element of history. He is the very beginning. Nothing comes before him. He is the very end. Nothing comes after him. What he’s about to say is decisive. What he is about to declare is final, so it’s repeated twice in Revelation 1:4 and then Revelation 1:8 again. And what things are about to be said? In this immediate section in Revelation 1, things concerning especially Christ and things concerning his Church. So, let’s dive into the vision then and see what this looks like, which is the main section we’re looking at, Revelation 1:9 to the end of the chapter.

Prophecy in Revelation

Notice first of all that this vision that John is about to see, it follows the pattern that we see in the in the Old Testament for end time type prophecies, right? Those who have studied a little bit more call them apocalyptic, right? So, whenever a vision like this is seen, if you look at Daniel, which we shall look at shortly, they follow a certain pattern. Three steps: the vision, the prophet’s reaction, and then the interpretation. The vision, the prophet’s reaction, and then the interpretation. God wants the church, the seven churches, yes, the universal Church, to hear these truths that John is going to proclaim, and they are going to be caught up in this particular vision.

So, hear keenly. All of us should be on the edge of our seats, perked up – a really interesting English word – “Speak, I’m listening,” because it’s been set up like that. Who is speaking? The Alpha and the Omega, who was and is to come. Here is the vision. That’s one.

Grandeur of the Vision

Secondly, as we enter into the vision and we start articulating the different elements of the vision, do not miss the grandeur of the vision, the impact of the vision. It’s very easy to get into, what does the white hair mean and what does this mean, which we’ll do, which will do, but before that, don’t lose sight of the effect of the vision.

What’s going on here? There’s a thundering, deafening voice speaking. It’s like the sound of many waters. So, you can’t just go through, “Okay, sound like many waters. Note that.” You have to hear the sound of many waters and hear the words being spoken like that.

There’s a… is my Zambian friend here or did he get tired and leave us? Oh, he’s right there. These brothers have one of the Seven Wonders of the World in their country. It’s called Victoria Falls. In the local language there they call it Mosi-oa-Tunya, hope I said that correctly, which means “the smoke that thunders.” And then some colonialists came, and they called it Victoria Falls instead after the Queen. Bless her heart.

God gave me the privilege of seeing the Victoria Falls at full flood. I’m getting goosebumps just saying that. You feel like a little child, you feel like an ant, when you’re looking up at this thing and you have to turn your head to see the end of it on one side and the end of it on the other side. And there are thousands, upon thousands, upon thousands of litres of water coming off the cliffs and going down the cliff and hitting the rest of the water, thunderously. And that is leading to this spray of water that fills the air but showering you. And you stand down there on the little bridge and you yell – full grown man (so I’m saying you feel like a little child!) – you yell as loudly as you can (ask him about these details later, if I’m exaggerating) and you can barely hear yourself. You’re like… because all you are hearing is the thundering noise.

What did John hear? Not just some words; a thundering voice that I’m sure it makes those Victoria Falls sound like they’re on mute. This is the effect of what he is seeing and experiencing: a face that is blazing in blinding brilliance. It’s described as the light of the sun. Have you ever tried to look at the sun? Have you ever tried? I know these things you tried when you were a small child and then we all got busy and we lost wonder. Try it today, perhaps. See how long you survive. Try it off and we see if you want to go blind.

What did John see? One whose face was shining with the brilliance of the sun. Hair pure whiteness, like snow. And you can tell he’s grappling and he goes for “wool”. He is looking for language to describe the awesome majesty of what he beheld. Eyes like fire, a sword – not just a sword – a sharp sword coming out of the mouth. Long robe, sash around the chest, feet like bronze. This is the image that he saw. Saints, this is majesty, if you’ve ever been in the presence of that, or a semblance of that. This is splendour that John is beholding. A fleet of vehicles and some suited armed guards behind a president or dignitary look like child’s play before this. This is like nothing you’ve ever seen. This is power in its raw, untamed nature on display.

What are the implications of that? What’s the importance of the bigness of all of this?

That means the things that are about to be declared about Jesus: hear this clearly. The things that are about to be declared about Jesus are more weighty than the weight of all the planets and all the world put together. Nothing is more important in the cosmos, on earth, in all of history, beginning to the end, and whatever comes before that and after that.

This is it. Hear this. Don’t miss the point. That’s the grandeur of it, anchored upon the one who’s speaking. Oh, don’t forget because it will be said multiple times. Who is speaking? The Alpha and the Omega.

Oh, it’s a world filled with a lot of opinions. It’s a world filled with a lot of noise. It’s a world filled with a lot of experts. Oh, you hear this: none of their voices, none of their conclusions, none of their opinions, stand above the word that is being declared by the Alpha and Omega, the one who is the beginning and the end, who was and is and is to come.

So, what is this, that is about to be said? I hope you’re listening by now. Three things about Jesus: this Jesus is the king of kings, this Jesus is the judge of the whole earth, this Jesus is the final priest.

He’s the king of all kings, he’s the judge of the whole earth and he is that final priest.

The Final Priest

So, Revelation 1:12 tells us what’s going on. It says, Revelation 1:12-13,

“Then I turned to see (he’s speaking about the churches being addressed) the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man (Highlight that. Put an asterisk. You heard about Christ’s humanity not too long ago.) In the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.”

What are we seeing here? You’re seeing Christ revealing himself as a priest. His dressing could potentially be that of a king. Immediately I first read the robe, I thought Isaiah 6, isn’t it? The train of his temple fills… the train of his robe fills the temple. The longer the train of the robe for the king, the more the majesty. It’s a, it’s a thing that articulates the bigness of that particular king, and with God, it’s an endless one that wraps up the entire temple.

But notice a description, both of the clothing but also the place where he is. He is standing in a place where there are lampstands. There are lampstands. Where are lampstands found? In the temple, in the temple. And then he’s described wearing a certain attire that has a sash around the neck.

Listen to Exodus 28:3-4,

“You shall speak to all the skilful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. These are the garments that they shall make: a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.”

So, pause and reverse a little bit. How is Jesus showing up? As a priest. But note this, not just as a priest, he’s showing up as our glorious priest. You have to, you have to hear, you have to see him as a priest in the way in which he has revealed himself. And how has he revealed himself? With absolute, exalted majesty and splendour.

Do you remember what was said already about what Christ has accomplished Revelation 1:5? Read it again. Revelation 1:5. What does it say there?

” …and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins (how?) by his blood…”

Whose work is that? Sounds like who? Of a priest. That’s what Jesus has accomplished. He has freed us from our sins by his blood.

Now hear this, again, because we need to hear it about 10 times. That word is final. But for the Church, those for whom he died, they have been freed from their sins by his blood, says the Alpha and Omega, the one who was, who is and who is to come. The one who is exalted in all of his splendour and majesty above every other authority declares that. That’s how he shows up. That which he has purchased through his blood on that cross for his people is immutable. It is irreversible.

Someone is guarding it – that declaration about his people – someone is guarding it. Did you see him? Who is guarding it? The Glorious Christ. You go argue with him and say otherwise! Nobody can turn those words around, not even you, not even your weak, little conscience. These words are being declared by the Alpha and the Omega. Hear that.

Judge and King

Notice as this vision continues, Revelation 1:14 to the end:

“The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. (Okay, like this, like this…this is another kind of white. I’m sure we’ll sympathize with John here, when we finally see him. “Like, yeah bro, there’s really no white like that white.”) His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”

So, a lot of imagery being spoken over here about how Christ is revealing himself that points straight back to the Old Testament, right back to the Old Testament. So, who is this Christ that is being revealed? Well, we already have snippets from the opening, right? Revelation 1:1-8. But it’s important for us to go back and see how was this being used. Because in the Old Testament in Daniel specifically, Daniel 7 and then especially Daniel10, it is speaking about an end time vision of the Son of Man. That’s what he’s called, the Son of Man. How does he appear there? Let me read these verses for you. We hear the similarities and hear how Daniel is speaking about this specifically. Daniel 7:9-12,

“As I looked, (listen)
thrones were placed, (thrones were placed)
and the Ancient of Days (O, we’ve already met him in this story. He’s the one who was and is and is to come)
(And the Ancient of Days) took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.”

So, when Daniel sees this image, what does he see? He sees the image of a what? Of a judge. This is the image of a judge. Oh, and that’s exactly what’s going on in the book of Revelation. The time has come. The time has come. That’s how this story will end, with that great judgment of all peoples. The books will be opened, and the final word will be declared.

But listen, as Daniel is speaking about this, how does he speak about it? He doesn’t just say a judge. Look again at Daniel 7:9. I guess I told you not to go there, so I’m not sure how you can look. He says, “As I looked, thrones were placed…” Who’s passing judgment? It’s a king who’s passing judgment.

Daniel 10:6 will add to this imagery,

“His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.”

This king is sitting to pass judgments on all peoples and his judgment is perfect. As bronze has been refined by fire, there are no flaws in the way in which he judges. This is the God, this is the judge who sees all things: things hidden in secret, things in the past, he knows it all, it is all laid bare before him.

And as he passes that judgment, that judgment is the final word, it’s the ultimate judgment. It does not matter whether those who come before him have managed to convince themselves of things that are not true. This judgment will reveal it, what is true in accordance to him. It does not matter if those who stand before him or once upon a time dragged before certain courts and declared to be heretics, declared to be dissenters, declared to be rioters, and they were condemned perhaps to death by being fed to the lions or by being put to the stake to be burned there – whatever other small judgments that have been passed before this day – all crumble before this judge. This is the final word. This is the only word that counts.

You see, I still marvel at Paul’s words, is it? In 1Corinthians 4, “To me it’s a very small thing to be judged by you…”

Said none of you. Because when you hear someone said you’re not the most awesome, most amazing person they’ve ever met, you can’t get up next morning because of your deep discouragement.

Paul: “It’s very small thing to be judged by you. I don’t even judge by itself.”

Who is the judge? God and when that day comes, he will reveal absolutely all things.

Paul is living in light of that. Oh, Jesus wants the people who are reading this letter that John is writing to live like that, exactly like that. That’s the model. He wants them to live, with their eyes singularly set, not on social standards, not on opinions, not on a pleasing man, not on fitting in, not on looking normal and acceptable whatever the room temperature is in this particular room. No, with their eyes singularly fixed on the king of kings, the judge of all the earth and to know that that judge is coming and is coming soon. And to be concerned and to care the most about that word, about that judgment.

Oh, let’s go all the way back to the beginning. Listen, here’s what we’re saying, the Church in this time of temptations and trials will not be able to persevere, to endure faithfully, unless they are captivated by the vision of a glorious Christ who comes as the King of Kings, as the judge of all peoples and as the priest.

They need to see that they have to live according to that vision, or they will stray to the right or to the left. Temptations might be too strong, or the trials might be too much, and they will not endure to the very end and that’s what all the letters are about. Jesus wants them to conquer and hear this: how do you conquer? I say it a billion times, so we don’t forget. By being captivated by a vision of a glorious Christ. Not a nice Christ. A nice Christ will not bring you through. A glorious Christ – speaks and everything else keeps quiet, because you can’t hear it, shines brightly with his face, sees absolutely all things live before him.

Isaiah 49:1-2 speaks about that sword,

“Listen to me, O people,
and give attention, you peoples from afar.
The LORD called me (this is Isaiah speaking) from the womb,
from the body of my mother he named my name.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
in his quiver he hid me away.”

If you keep reading, he starts complaining about the fact that, “but nobody really listens.” It’s Isaiah’s concerned throughout the whole book, isn’t it? Well, that’s the first servant. Oh, this servant we will listen to because he’s like no other servant that has come before him.

Well, if you saw this vision how would you respond? Let me ask you, how would you respond?

I’ll tell you how John responded. Revelation 1:17,

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

How about start for response? “I fell at his feet as though dead.” Have you ever asked yourself the question, “When I first see Jesus, you know what I’ll ask him…”

I don’t know how it fits here. This is… this doesn’t quite work out that way. I’m suspecting we might need to take some time to acclimate, and I don’t think we will be asking our most curious questions. We will be in utter awe. Utter awe the majesty of the exalted Christ!

Could I say this: would we be those who read the Bible so much, who meditate on it so much, who understand it so much, that our response to Christ would not be trivial, would not be, “Oh that was cool. That is a neat connection.” But that from the pages of scripture we would be quiet just by seeing him and ask ourselves, “Who is this man?” Like the disciples in the boat, isn’t it?

I mean he wasn’t even this, remember. They just saw him stand up and say, “Peace be what? (still)” They were all what? They were afraid. They were afraid and they asked, “Who is this?” It’s like they don’t know him.

Oh church, I wonder how many of us need that again, and then again, and then again, and then again. Or we don’t need to search the scriptures to go for new, cool, complicated things, we need to keep looking at who? We have to keep praying from Genesis to Revelation, “Holy Spirit, give me eyes to see,” Because it’s right here. “Keep me from being like the Pharisees.” As the disciples are marvelling, the Pharisees are not seeing anything. Keep me from being that. I want to see. I want to be captivated by this.”

The King of kings

Let’s wrap up with this last section. What’s the aim here? Revelation 1:17,

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

It’s incredible stuff here, people. I mean, think about it. I mean that glorious, glorious vision of Christ, as I said it multiple times already here, who is it to? It’s to be written down for who? For some to churches, seven churches, seven local churches. Oh, absolutely yes, they are a representation of the Universal Church – but it is to seven local churches.

What he is and how he has revealed himself is important for those seven local churches to understand so that they can live the way he’s about to call them to live.

The call here will be clear and we have seen it already, and we’re going to highlight it in this particular section. The call is to follow this Christ, to bear witness, to bear faithful witness to this Christ, to conquer as this Christ has conquered. So, here’s the gist of this entire section: Christ’s glory is meant to be both the confidence of these local churches, but also the copy for these local churches.

Christ our Confidence

Christ’s glory is meant to be their confidence. He is here. He is amongst us. Marvel at those words to John again. “Do not fear.” Aren’t they the most counterintuitive words ever? What do you mean, “Do not fear?”

John is standing in front of the most scary thing there is: Jesus exalted as king of kings and judge of the whole earth. Nothing is more scary than this. If you have little kids who have nightmares, you can tell them that it can get worse than the shadow in the room. You remember Isaiah 2? Think about the relationship of splendour and terror right here. And yet, this exalted King, who is judge of the whole earth, is also the priest, so he’s able to say to little John, “Do not fear.” Ah, because he offered the sacrifice. What else will make you stand in front of him on that day and not fear? Nothing else other than him.

So, he’s able to say, “Do not fear.” This is to the church. This glorious Christ is in the church so that they can have confidence in the face of adversity, whether it be nero or local magistrates or mobs that are forming around in their villages, seeking to knock down their doors, seeking to burn their businesses down, seeking to drag them in front of tribunals and cause them to recant their confession about Jesus. These churches are to be captivated by a vision of a Christ who is grander than the fiercest looking man in that crowd who wants for nothing more than to kill them.

Because if they’re not caught by a vision that is grander than that, they will capitulate. They will yield. They’ll be afraid of the wrong person. Yeah, they’ll be afraid of the one who can only kill the body and not the one who after killing the body, can cast the body into eternal hell. So, they have to see so that this becomes their confidence. “I have made a confession and on this I stand. And I shall not recant – not because I’m not afraid of the sword, or the fire, or the prison, or whatever persecution – but because I’m impressed by something far more than that.” And that’s the vision of our glorious Christ.

Christ our Copy

So, he is their confidence but marvel at how he’s also their copy. He’s spoken of in Daniel as the “Son of what? You know that title. It’s a grand Messianic title but what are we taught here? What that’s all about? Our transcendent God descended, and he identified himself, he took upon himself the form of a man, and as he rose from the grave was he man or only God? Was he truly God and truly man or truly God alone? Class is in session! He was truly man and truly God, wasn’t he? And look at him when he’s appearing as he is in all of his glory. What title does he have? Son of Man.

He descended to our decaying, corrupting state and by representing us to the very cross and atoning for all of our sins, he has taken us in our lowly state, and he has risen glorious together with us. So that as we look at Christ, we ought to be catching a glimpse of the glory that we shall share together with Christ. And all the different letters are offering them different glimpses of that glory that they will share.

I will say it again: apart from being captivated by this vision of our glorious Christ, we shall not be able to endure in the face of temptations and trials, because the person who has been captured by the glory which is to come, has power against sin, doesn’t he? He knows who he is – cleansed. He knows who God is – the ultimate judge who sees all. He knows what will come – glory is what he’s inviting his people to.

Saints, there’s more power in that than all your accountability meetings put together. They’re nice. They’re important. They are helpful. Keep them up. Go this week. But, oh my goodness, apart from this, why would we be going to war with toothpicks and leave the nuclear codes at home? Why?

This is the work that Christ is doing in the Church as that priest, trimming those weeds, refining the Church, calling the Church, pushing them forward (to) pursue holiness.

May it be that we’re catching a little glimpse on this side of Heaven of the fact that Satan has been conquered. How? In the life of the church as they’re waging war against their sin, as they’re resisting the trials and temptations in their lives that are calling them to quit on Christ. The church is demonstrating that even in the face of that, they will continue to bear a faithful witness in their actions and in their lips. Little declaration of that ultimate loss that Satan is going to eventually experience.

Tribulation and Glory

Let me read these two portions for us to capture the similarities here. Listen to Daniel 7:25 again. This is where we are being pointed back to by this particular portion. Tribulation has been prophesied in the Old Testament. You caught it, isn’t it? John is going through tribulation. He speaks about himself in Revelation 1:9,

“I, John, your brother and partner in tribulation…”

They are going through tribulation. John is going through tribulation. He’s saying we are brothers in that. Daniel 7, “And the kingdom and the dominion…” Sorry, sorry – Daniel 7:25,

“He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.”

The nations are going to rage, and they will ignore God. I mean things are getting more and more blasphemous, even in our time, isn’t it? More and more sacrilegious, isn’t it? Like an absolute abhorring of God by mankind. And that is going to continue to grow even in places where we’ve experienced peace. So, for us to even think to ourselves like the solution is to avoid going to countries for missions where we will be persecuted; in reality in this very place, we have two choices: identify with Jesus and suffer shame and that will continue to increase; or compromise and fit in.

Tribulation has been common for God’s people for two thousand years and it shall only increase to be so. Daniel 7 is speaking about that. It’s coming. Not only a hatred for God, but a hatred for saints. That is exactly what Jesus Christ endured when he came to this world. Jesus Christ was rejected by man. Jesus Christ was hated by man. That is a copy of our lives. He’s not only our confidence, he’s also our copy. He endured on that narrow path as one who suffered reproach from men.

What are we to do? Follow Jesus on that same path. He’s, our example. Eyes on him. The cross before the crown.

Daniel continues. That was 7:25 of Daniel. 7:27-28 says,

“And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; (They will inherit the Kingdom.)
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Here is the end of the matter.”

That’s Daniel. So, summary – here’s how the story ends. Daniel says even though God’s people will be oppressed and persecuted to the point where they shall be wearied – that won’t be the end of the story. Those same persecuted, oppressed, rejected people are going to be the heirs of the Kingdom, so that the words that are being spoken of Christ, are seamlessly being spoken of the Church as well.

His glory, his reign is a copy of what we are about to step into. Who is he? He is the priest. He is the king. Who are we? We are the priesthood. We are the kings. We are being called to keep an eye on that. The Son of Man has gone ahead of us and we are to follow the same path he has followed, knowing the glory that awaits us.

Serve the King

So, pastors, you know, there’s only a handful of you in this place. Labour on. Do not quit now. You’re not alone. Marvel when you go to your church, little or great, multi-story building or meeting under a tree. None of those things compare to the glory of the fact that Christ is amongst you.

Would that spur you on? You have been given a charge and that’s charge is not in front of your congregation. It’s not in front of your biggest critics. That charge is in the presence of this Christ.

He knows you. He is holding you in his hands. He will sustain you. He wants you to hear him, to see him, to trust him, to serve him, to follow him. Don’t make yourself a servant of anything lesser: little ambitions of a bigger church, a smaller church, or a better church.

Serve the King

Saints, that includes you, pastors, and myself. Praise the Lord for that. Our Saviour is risen. He has been exalted on high. Let us fix our gaze on him. He is coming soon. Amen.