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Revelation 1:1-8
1 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, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 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.
4 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, 5 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 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 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.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Watch the Sermon
Summary: This Sunday we begin a series on "the revelation of Jesus Christ" to the apostle John (Revelation 1:1). John tells us what he saw and that all who hear it and keep it are promised a blessing (1:3). His words were addressed to seven actual churches in Asia Minor, which are representative of all Christ's churches down to our day (2:7; 2:23). John unveils the spiritual battle raging behind the events of history—both things "that are and those that are to take place after this" (1:19). The fierce, ongoing battle Christ and his church face against the devil and his allies will definitively come to an end under the glorious reign of Jesus Christ. In his prologue, John lifts up Christ. He is supreme in the church, over the earth, and the focal point of all history. With such a hope, we can endure all manner of trials for his sake.
Review & Apply
In your Christian life, what has been your experience with the book of Revelation, in terms of the teaching you've received or your own personal study?
How does John's prologue help us understand the rest of his letter?
How does this passage stir your affections for Christ?
How could it lead to obedience in your life?
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