Revelation – Things are Not as They Seem The Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches

1. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches It seems that Revelation is not preached much or too much. Advice given to me: “Don’t preach from Revelation until you have been in ministry at least 20 years.” It’s been 22 years.

2. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches Let’s have a little quiz: Revelation is a blend of what 3 types of literature? Letter - Need to know it’s context Prophecy - Both fore-telling and telling forth God’s Word to the present Apocalyptic

3. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches What is the meaning of the word “apocalyptic?” “unveiling” “revelation” “opening-up” “lifting the lid”

4. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches We ended last time with a story about some seminarians playing in a gym. And while they played the janitor read in one of the guys’ Bible. What did the Janitor say in answer to the seminarian who asked, “So what does the book of Revelation mean?” Janitor: “It means that Jesus is gonna win.”

5. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches Scripture Reading Revelation 1:9-20

6. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches Entitled this series “Things are not as they seem.” Revelation wants to help us see reality in light of an unseen future and a present reality seen only with the eyes of faith. This series will be based largely on Darrell Johnson’s book, Discipleship on the Edge.

7. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches “New Testament scholar George Beasley-Murray has suggested that we can think of the images in Revelation in terms of the modern-day political cartoon.” Johnson, p.36

8. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches What is this cartoon saying? What is the beaver symbolic of?

9. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches What message is this cartoon giving? What if you knew that this was during the time of Clinton’s impeachment hearings? Animals – symbolic

10. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches What is the message of this political cartoon? What if you knew that that it was published July 1st, 1997 about Hong Kong? Would you have seen a dragon swallowing Hong Kong?

11. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches So will there be a literal “enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads . . . [who] stood ready in front of the woman was about to give birth,…” Rev. 12:3,4

12. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches Remember the characteristics of Apocalyptic Literature: Written during times of oppression Given as visions and dreams People portrayed as animals Highly symbolic - #’s & colours Gives broader perspective on present reality

13. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches John is on the prison island of Patmos. His letters would all be read before being sent on. He writes in images that his congregations would understand. They understood the symbols. We need to learn the context, to understand them.

14. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches Let us look at the image given to us in vv.12-16: “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were 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 out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”

15. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,” v. 13 “Like a Son of Man” Like - trying to find words to describe what he saw Son of Man Daniel 7:13-14: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” heavenly being who will establish an indestructible kingdom

16. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches was someone "like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. v.13 “Dressed in a robe” Priestly robe “Priest, in Latin, is pontifex, it is an engineering term that means ‘bridge-builder.’ A priest is one who builds a bridge between 2 sides of the canyon…. John is being reminded that Jesus is the greatest bridge=builder of all. He is the one who bridges the infinite chasm between us and God.” Johnson, p.43 Sash around chest = work is done

17. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire v.14 Head and hair white like wool Symbol of wisdom Symbol of purity Eyes were like blazing fire Jesus is not only pure but purifying Fire illuminates and penetrates burns away impurities Johnson, p.45

18. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. v.15 “Feet like bronze” Compare to the vision to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel where are human kingdoms are compared to a huge statue whose feet are a mix of iron and clay – not able to support it weight – ready to fail Jesus’ kingdom rests on feet of bronze – will last forever

19. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. v.15 “Voice like rushing waters” - drowns out other noises [voices] - gives peace

20. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” v.16 “In his right hand he held seven stars” - seven stars = the 7 messengers to the churches - saying more – “In 1st century mind, the seven stars would clearly refer to the seven planets known at that time.” Johnson, p.46

21. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches “People thought that all of life was under the sway and control of those planets. People anxiously consulted the astrology tables…. In Greek religion the goddess Hekate held the stars and calls herself ‘beginning and end.’ Counter image. Alternate vision. The seven stars in in Jesus’ right hand…. The planets do not control anyone. Jesus controls them. The planets do not run life. Jesus does.” Johnson. p.46 Are you checking your horoscope? What does that say about who you believe is in control?

22. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” v.16 Out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword - Jesus’ word is clear and sharp not dull - they cut evil out

23. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” v.16 His face was like the sun - John trying to describe what he saw - Numbers 6:24-26: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you 
       and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you 
       and give you peace.”

24. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,” v.13 Among the lampstands - Jesus in all his glory is among his churches - Jesus is portrayed here not above and far removed from us but in the middle of his churches - Jesus is here in the middle of Ottewell

25. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches So in the middle of our individual lives or communal life together, whatever may be going on, allow this unveiling of Jesus in the middle of his churches inform you and comfort you. Things are not as they seem.

26. Revelation – Things are Not as They SeemThe Son of Man Amid His 7 Churches Revelation 1:17-18: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.