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Revelation 1:17-18 [New King James Version (NKJV)]
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
- From Grave to Glory
- We tend to view life based upon our present situation
- Our health, finances, & relationships
- Solomon’s goal was pleasure, but Job’s goal was worship & service
- Revelation 1 puts John 19 into perspective (from cross to crown)
- Puts John 3:16 in perspective
- Places our lives in perspective (not just saving sacrifice, but glorious conquering king
- We must look forward as well as backwards
- This passage hinges on two tenses of the verb “to be”
- Jesus was dead
- Jesus is alive (“I am alive”)
- The end gives meaning to all that precedes it
- Solomon’s end was disappointment
- Judas’s end was destruction
- Paul’s end was triumphant
- There is no triumphant of death when death is a door & not a prison
- We tend to view life based upon our present situation
- John on Patmos
- When John was on Patmos (exiled there by Diocletian) he has a vision of the glorified Lord
- John is overwhelmed (as was Paul in Acts 9 & Isaiah in Isaiah 6) — trembling in fear
- John falls as if dead in terror & worship
- John had met Jesus at several different stages of Jesus’ life
- As a man while they were fishing (Isaiah 53:2 looked like an ordinary man)
- In Samaria (John wanted to call down fire from heaven)
- At the cross (John looked upon a dying & disfigured man)
- In the Upper Room (resurrected, but not glorified)
- At Patmos (glorified, enthroned Christ)
- Christians are going to live either as if Christ came alive in the past or is seated in glory & power in the present
- To celebrate the risen Christ without celebrating the glorified empowering Christ is to minimize his impact in our lives
- John experienced a different level of the manifestation of Christ than he had 60 years earlier with Christ on earth
- If believers live as if what Christ did was merely a past event they will miss his triumphant present power in their lives
- When John was on Patmos (exiled there by Diocletian) he has a vision of the glorified Lord
- They live triumphantly
- Not many believers live as if they are empowered by the reigning God of the universe (powerful, majestic, sovereign)
- Romans 8:37 because He is the mighty conqueror we are more than conquerors in him (we are royalty)
- Philippians 4:12 we are triumphant even when physically suffering, persecuted, and in need (must live triumphantly)
- Who is king in your life? — circumstances, concerns, or Christ
- Faith focused or feelings fastened?
- Do we have to see what John saw to respond as John responded?
- Christ lifts us up
- Jesus lifted up John (see God face to face)
- He touched him (strengthen)
- He calmed him (1 Jn. 4:18 casting out fear)
- Gave John perspective (1st & last; middle also)
- Alive forevermore = no going back (life to death to ∞life)
- Christ holds the Golden Keys
- Key to Hades to set the prisoner free
- Key to Death to lock death away forever
- Our life & future are secure in the hands of the living Lord
- Jesus lifted up John (see God face to face)