Revelation Series; wk. 1 - The Revelation of Jesus 8.17.25
The Revelation of Jesus
Fear Not: An Introduction to Revelation
I’ve never preached through the book of Revelation before full disclaimer. And let’s be honest, most of us haven’t done a full Bible study through it either. But over the next few weeks and months, we’re going to walk through the entire book together. My prayer is that God reveals Himself to us in powerful ways.
If you’re tense about diving into Revelation, take a deep breath. Chapter 1 isn’t as intimidating as you may think. In fact, it’s one of the most encouraging introductions in all of Scripture, reminding us that even when life gets difficult, God wins.
Living With Urgency
When people are close to the end of their lives, their perspective changes. My step-grandmother worked in ICU at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, caring for patients staring death in the face. Those moments often brought clarity people began to speak about what mattered most.
On her own deathbed, my grandmother, who had resisted faith her whole life, nodded her head and whispered “yes” when I asked if she wanted to receive Jesus. In that moment, she realized she was closer to eternity than ever before, and it changed how she thought and lived.
The apostle John experienced something similar. Exiled on the island of Patmos, separated from people and near the end of his life, God revealed to him a vision of ultimate hope. That vision became the book of Revelation.
The Greek word for “Revelation” is apokalypsis meaning an unveiling. Far from a horror movie or doomsday prediction, Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ as King.
The Purpose of Revelation
In the opening verses, John tells us why this book matters:
The purpose of Revelation is not to scare us, but to bless us to prepare us and compel us to live urgently with the gospel. If we truly believe that Jesus is coming again, then every moment, every relationship, and every conversation matters.
Revelation isn’t just about the future; it’s a call to faithfulness in the present.
The Message to the Churches
John writes not only for himself but for the churches the people of God. Revelation 1 reminds us that Jesus loves us, freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom of priests. And He’s coming again.
This isn’t an isolated message. The themes of Revelation echo throughout Scripture—from Isaiah’s prophecies to Jesus’ own words in the gospels. God has been pointing us to this hope all along: He wins, and He invites His people to walk in that victory.
God still speaks today through His Word, through His church, and even through miracles and dreams. The real question is whether we are listening.
Christ Glorified
John describes a breathtaking vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:
And yet, when John falls at His feet in fear, Jesus lays His hand on him and says:
This is the heartbeat of Revelation: Fear not. The One who holds the keys of life and death has already secured the victory.
Living on Purpose
Revelation isn’t meant to leave us paralyzed by fear but energized with purpose. We don’t know when the end will come, but we do know who holds the end and that changes how we live today.
So let me ask: What would you say if you were on your deathbed? What truths would you want your children, your friends, your family to hear?
Don’t wait until then to share them. Live with urgency now. Love deeply, forgive quickly, and speak boldly about Jesus.
The Ending We Can Trust
Author David Jeremiah puts it this way:
That’s the message of Revelation. God wins. Jesus reigns. And we are called to live with hope, faith, and courage.
This is going to be an incredible journey through Scripture. My encouragement is simple: lean in, listen closely, and live with urgency. Because in the end no matter how dark it gets the light of Christ shines brighter.
Fear Not: An Introduction to Revelation
I’ve never preached through the book of Revelation before full disclaimer. And let’s be honest, most of us haven’t done a full Bible study through it either. But over the next few weeks and months, we’re going to walk through the entire book together. My prayer is that God reveals Himself to us in powerful ways.
If you’re tense about diving into Revelation, take a deep breath. Chapter 1 isn’t as intimidating as you may think. In fact, it’s one of the most encouraging introductions in all of Scripture, reminding us that even when life gets difficult, God wins.
Living With Urgency
When people are close to the end of their lives, their perspective changes. My step-grandmother worked in ICU at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, caring for patients staring death in the face. Those moments often brought clarity people began to speak about what mattered most.
On her own deathbed, my grandmother, who had resisted faith her whole life, nodded her head and whispered “yes” when I asked if she wanted to receive Jesus. In that moment, she realized she was closer to eternity than ever before, and it changed how she thought and lived.
The apostle John experienced something similar. Exiled on the island of Patmos, separated from people and near the end of his life, God revealed to him a vision of ultimate hope. That vision became the book of Revelation.
The Greek word for “Revelation” is apokalypsis meaning an unveiling. Far from a horror movie or doomsday prediction, Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ as King.
The Purpose of Revelation
In the opening verses, John tells us why this book matters:
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3)
The purpose of Revelation is not to scare us, but to bless us to prepare us and compel us to live urgently with the gospel. If we truly believe that Jesus is coming again, then every moment, every relationship, and every conversation matters.
Revelation isn’t just about the future; it’s a call to faithfulness in the present.
The Message to the Churches
John writes not only for himself but for the churches the people of God. Revelation 1 reminds us that Jesus loves us, freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom of priests. And He’s coming again.
This isn’t an isolated message. The themes of Revelation echo throughout Scripture—from Isaiah’s prophecies to Jesus’ own words in the gospels. God has been pointing us to this hope all along: He wins, and He invites His people to walk in that victory.
God still speaks today through His Word, through His church, and even through miracles and dreams. The real question is whether we are listening.
Christ Glorified
John describes a breathtaking vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:
- Eyes like flames of fire.
- A voice like rushing waters.
- A face shining like the sun.
And yet, when John falls at His feet in fear, Jesus lays His hand on him and says:
“Fear not. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17–18)
This is the heartbeat of Revelation: Fear not. The One who holds the keys of life and death has already secured the victory.
Living on Purpose
Revelation isn’t meant to leave us paralyzed by fear but energized with purpose. We don’t know when the end will come, but we do know who holds the end and that changes how we live today.
So let me ask: What would you say if you were on your deathbed? What truths would you want your children, your friends, your family to hear?
Don’t wait until then to share them. Live with urgency now. Love deeply, forgive quickly, and speak boldly about Jesus.
The Ending We Can Trust
Author David Jeremiah puts it this way:
“Regardless of what happens in this life, no matter how depressing the world news or how dark the season we might endure, life in Christ has a happy ending. And nothing on earth, heaven or hell, can ever take that away.”
That’s the message of Revelation. God wins. Jesus reigns. And we are called to live with hope, faith, and courage.
This is going to be an incredible journey through Scripture. My encouragement is simple: lean in, listen closely, and live with urgency. Because in the end no matter how dark it gets the light of Christ shines brighter.
Posted in Revelation Series, Spiritual Growth
Posted in Revelation Bible Study, Jesus Wins, End Times Hope, Book of Revelation Explained
Posted in Revelation Bible Study, Jesus Wins, End Times Hope, Book of Revelation Explained
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