TOPIC:‌“The Glorified Christ”

 

TEXT:‌Revelation 1:12-18

 

‌‌“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 behold I am

‌‌alive for ever and ever” (1:17)

 

‌Jesus Christ is the most influential person that has ever lived. The entire world for twenty centuries has concentrated its attention on Him. No other man in the history of the world has had so many books written about Him as Christ. The Apostle John himself wrote that “the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:25) about the man, the miracles and the message of Christ.

 

‌During His life, He was without question the center of every conversation and the most controversial figure of His time. The people were baffled by His words, astonished by His claims, and transformed by His touch. H. G. Wells, the famous historian of the 20th century, was right when he said of Christ: “Jesus of Nazareth is easily the dominant figure of history.” Why? Because nearly two thousand years later Christ has still left His impact upon every country and individual of the world.

 

‌But today in this message I want to turn our attention to the vision that John had of the Glorified Christ as He appeared before the seven churches and as He will appear one day in the future.

 

I.

 

‌Consider, to begin with, the CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING the vision. Give ear to the words of John: “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day” (vs. 9, 10).

 

‌There are three important things that we need to come to grips with at this point. First of all, think of the PERSON who saw the vision. We read again in verse 9: “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.” The words “I, John,” are found twice more in the book. It is extremely interesting how John describes himself here as compared to his other writings.

 

‌Though he was chosen by Christ to communicate His message to the seven churches, John does not present himself as some self-exalted prophet. He describes . . .