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Here's Anne Graham Lutz.
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When you read your Bible, behind these words there is a living person. This is God's Word, and he speaks through this word. So when you open your Bible and you read it, listen for his voice to speak to. It's living. It's God's Word. And John turned around to see the voice that was speaking to him. And let's look at what he saw.
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Welcome to Living in the Light with Bible teacher Anne Graham Lotz. The Apostle John was given a vision of the glory of Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation, but it's only a sneak peek to which we're introduced. The majority of the book of Revelation focuses on prophecy. And for John, it's actually history. His eyewitness account of what will soon come, very possibly in this very generation. What a glorious sight to experience. So now let's join Ann as she continues with her message entitled His Glory Revealed through Prophecy.
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God gave the Apostle John a vision of the glory of Jesus. So we're going to look at the fact that the vision of his glory is revealed in four ways. I see in this passage in chapter one, it's revealed through prophecy. It's revealed through our praise. It's revealed through our perseverance until we fall prostrate at his feet. So let's look. The fact that the vision of his glory is revealed through prophecy and through our praise. Verse 8, he says, I'm the alpha and the Omega. That's the first and the last letter of the Greek Alphabet. The Alphabet sums up all of our wisdom, all of our knowledge. Jesus, the Bible says, is the fullness of God's wisdom. God's wisdom resides in him. He knows everything. Jesus. And there's a fancy word for it, it says omniscience. It means he knows everything. He's never had a new thought. If he had a new thought, it means he hadn't known it before. So he's always known everything. Which means, oh, beloved friend, it means you have always been on his mind. He's always been thinking of you. And when he died on the cross, he was dying for you by name. And he rose up from the dead to give you eternal life by name and ascended into heaven where he prays for you by name. And one day he's coming back for you as though nobody else, just receiving you by. He knows you. He loves you. He understands you. You're on his heart, you're on his mind. He's always thinking of you. He's omniscient. And then it says the One who is and was and is to come. That's the same way that God the Father was described earlier. But Jesus is God, and now this is being used to describe Him. And this is a fancy word for his omnipresence, meaning that he's fully present yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Fully present in every generation, every culture, every nation, every world, every planet. If there are other things out there, he fills the universe. He's all in all, he's omnipresent, which means he's fully present with me here on this platform, and he's fully present with you watching online, wherever you are, fully present with those that you've left at home, fully present with your loved ones you're separated from for whatever reason, your kids off at school or parents that you don't see too often, or fully present everywhere, all the time. The vision of his glory is revealed through prophecy and through our praise. Keep praising what's interrupted your praise. Praise him and keep on praising Him. You can't even think of what to ask him for. Sometimes your burdens are so heavy you don't know how to pray. That's okay, just praise Him. He inhabits the praises of his people. And then thirdly, the vision of his glory is revealed through our perseverance. In verse nine is the only place that John gives a personal testimony in this book. But he says in verse nine, I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. So John, we believe, is 80 or 90 years of age at this point. Apparently he offended the wrong person preaching the gospel. I mean, he wrote the gospel of John. He was an evangelist of the world, pastor of the Ephesian Church. And somebody got crossways with him and the Romans arrested him and they threw him on Patmos. Patmos was like a penal colony. It's where the Romans put their prisoners. And tradition says that the prisoners there had to do hard labor. So I can't imagine the hard labor John was required to do at 80 or 90 years of age. But he was on Patmos. And so I know he was suffering because of his age and the conditions, and he was in solitude. He was in exile on Patmos, cut off from his friends, cut off from his church. And when you read the gospel and you read his letters, first, second and third, John, he seems to be a people person. He's warm and loving and emotional. And now he's cut off. He has nobody to pray. With nobody who would encourage him. He's just isolated while he's suffering. And you know, when you're suffering, if you have somebody who brings you a casserole or puts their arm around you and prays for you or just gives you a call to check on you, it's comforting, it's encouraging. But when you're suffering and you're all alone, you're isolated, that makes it worse. So John was suffering in solitude. And I just wonder if there's somebody here. Are you suffering, suffering physically, in your health you have some disease, or suffering emotionally, you've gone through a divorce or. Or suffering because of grief, the loss of a loved one? I've lost two dear friends in the last two weeks. Suffering because of some sort of attack where you're being slandered. You know, there's all sorts of suffering. And it makes it harder, doesn't it, when you're suffering alone, Nobody to share it with, nobody to talk to. So what's your Patmos? I think Patmos can be a chemo bed, radiation bed. Patmos can be a hospital bed. Patmos can be when you're in a marriage and the love has run out. Patmos can be when you're the only believer in your family or the only believer in your workplace. Or, you know, I can be up here and guess, but what is your Patmos? And what way do you feel? Exiled, isolated, cut off, and on top of that, you're suffering. That was John's condition when he wrote this book. And then in verse 10, look at it, he says, on the Lord's Day, I was in the Spirit. So just stop there for a moment. How would he know what day it was? So in his cave, did he make little marks every day, you know, and then he comes up every seven, he's got the Lord's Day, or it was every day the Lord's Day for John. And it says he was in the Spirit. So I think that means not only did he have the Holy Spirit within him, but he was in a sweet spirit. He was in a right spirit. When you're suffering in solitude on Patmos, what's your spirit like? I mean, how many of us would have a complaining spirit? God, don't you remember all the things I've done for you? I was a disciple of Jesus, and I was there at his crucifixion and his resurrection and saw his ascension. I was there at Pentecost. I helped Peter heal that man at gate. Beautiful. And then we established the church, and I pastored in Ephesus and I don't deserve this. Get me off of Patmos so I can serve you. How many of us, when we're suffering, insult, we say, why me, God? Why does this happen to me? And we have a complaining spirit, a bitter spirit, a resentful spirit, an offended spirit. What's your spirit like? John, in suffering, in solitude on Patmos, was in the spirit. And that's when he saw the vision of the glory of Jesus. And I'm here to tell you, check your spirits, because God may be wanting to reveal himself to you in a fresh way. But if you're complaining, if you're bitter, if you're resentful, if you're hanging on to whatever, you may miss the blessing that he has for you there. Because it was when John was in solitude, suffering on Patmos. That's when he saw the vision of his glory. It's like Isaiah in chapter six, isn't it? Isaiah 6. It was the year that King Uzziah died. That's when Isaiah looked up and he saw the Lord. It was when something bad happened and his world came crashing down. That's when God opened his eyes to Jesus seated on the throne. So when something bad happens, when you're suffering your solitude, or some disaster strikes, or something awful happens, or something unexpected, or to a child, to a grandchild, to a spouse, to a parent, to a loved one, and you just say, oh. And it just shakes you to the tip of your toes. And look up, look up, look. Don't miss what Jesus wants to show you. Reveal to you. I have a family member who's going through a very difficult time. And she said she's never felt closer to the Lord. He has shown up all day, every day, whispering in her ear, giving her promises, encouraging her, comforting her. But she had to have the eyes to look up. And she's suffering in solitude. So John said, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard a loud voice like a trumpet. So let's look down. In verse 12, he says, I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And I want to stop right there. Because John was smart enough to know that there was a living person behind that word. So when you read your Bible, behind these words, there is a living person. This is God's Word, and he speaks through this word. So when you open your Bible and you read it, listen for his voice to speak to. It's living. It's God's word. And John turned around to see the voice that was speaking to him. And let's look at what he saw. He saw seven golden lampstands. And among the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. So I told you, at the end of this chapter we found the lampstands represent the Church. I told you the Church was suffering, that Domitian was on the throne. He was persecuting the Christians. And the Son of. That's Jesus drawing near to those who are suffering. So if you're suffering, if you're going through a hard time, Jesus draws near to you. I remember my mother being asked, which of your children. She had five of us. Which of your children do you love the most? And she said, I love the one who's lost until he's found, the one who's sick until he's well. And if Jesus loves anybody the most, it's those who are suffering on Patmos, especially those who are suffering for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. So he draws near. Maybe you're like Mary Magdalene was at the tomb when she turned to see the man that was standing behind her and she thought it was the garden. I think she was blinded by her tears. Don't let your tears blind you to the presence of Jesus in your life. And I'm praying that Jesus will reveal himself to you in such a way that your tears won't keep you from seeing him drawing near to you. The Son of Man walking amidst the lampstands, drawing near and had a robe reaching down to his feet. That's the robe of the high priest. And Hebrews tells us that he is our high priest. He ever lives to make intercession. For as he's praying for you by name. And he has a golden sash around his chest. If you watch the coronation of King Charles, he had a gold sash across his chest because that's the dress of a king. Jesus is king. He is in charge. He's in authority. He knows what he's doing. And it says his head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. That's the ancient of days, the everlasting Father. So he is all wisdom. Jesus never makes mistakes. Do you know that there are no accidents with him? And if you're a child of God, you're called according to his purpose. Everything that comes into your life is for your good and for his glory doesn't mean that you're going to feel good and be healthy and wealthy and prosperous and the things that people tell you, your ultimate good is to be conformed to the image of Christ. And so he Prays for you. And he's working those things out to make you conformed to his image. And he knows what he's doing. His feet were like bronze, glowing. Excuse me. His eyes were like blazing fire. Feet like bronze, glowing in a furnace. That's his judge. He's getting ready. I think he's anger. And coming back to place under his feet in judgment all those who had rebelled against him and all those who would harm his people. His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. If you have stood beside a rushing stream or rushing waterfall and you've tried to speak, you can't hear yourself speak. It drowns it out. So all of the profanity, the obscenity, the blasphemy, the things that people are saying. One day all of those voices will be silenced and he'll have the last word. In his right hand he holds seven stars. We know at the end of this chapter. The stars represent the leaders of the church and they represent you and me. So in his, he holds you in his right hand. It's the hand of his power, the hand that's hung the stars in place and spins the planets and the hand of his authority and his power and his righteousness. And he upholds you. And John 10 says, Nobody, not even yourself, can pluck you out of his hand. He holds you in his right hand and out of his mouth comes a sharp double edged sword that is his word. It's his word in chapter 19, one of the most amazing chapters in scripture, maybe one of the most frightening when he comes back dripping in his blood of his enemies and has that sharp double edged sword with which he smites all of those who have gathered to kill each other. And then they look up and they see him. And then they aim their missiles and their guns and their battleships. They aim to make war against the Lamb. It's a sword. Stupidest thing. And they all dropped dead from the sword of his mouth. So keep your sword handy. His face was like the sun, shining in all of its brilliance at the end of John's long night. It was the face of Jesus that turned his night into day. Not the hands of Jesus and what he does or the feet of Jesus and Rico, but his face just who? Jesus. That's why I say praise him for his deity, his humanity, his eternity. Just focus your prayers, focus your faith on who Jesus is. If he never does anything for you, if all he ever did for you was die on the cross to forgive you of your sin, give you eternal life, that's enough, isn't it, would you just praise him for who he is? Look for the blessings every day. So John, when he saw him like this, is the same John, by the way, at the Last Supper, do you remember? He was the beloved disciple sitting next to Jesus and he leaned against Jesus shoulder. He was just so close to Jesus. When I saw him like this, verse 17, I fell at his feet as though dead. John falls prostrates at the feet of Jesus. And I think the vision of his glory is revealed through prophecy and our praise and our perseverance when we're suffering in solitude and we have that vision until we're prostrate before him. So what does it mean to fall at his feet as though dead? I've never heard a dead man speak. So I think it means we're silent. We're no longer making excuses for our sin, no longer rationalizing our behavior, no longer defending what we've done, no longer telling him what we think he ought to do. We're just silent. And I've never seen a dead man move. So I think it means we're absolutely still. We're no longer wrestling with his will for our lives. We're no longer trying to get him to go our way instead of us going his way, no longer resisting the Holy Spirit. We're silent and still. I think it's Galatians 2:20. Paul said, I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live the life I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Have you ever reached that point of just dying to yourself, silent and still, laying at the feet of Jesus, saying, jesus, you can help yourself. You can have anything. You can have everything. I surrender all to you. All he cared about was feeling the hand of God on his life. And so it says in verse 17. Then he placed his right hand on me and he said, do not be afraid. I wonder if he needs to say that to somebody here. Do not be afraid. Why are we so afraid to surrender everything to him? I know why it is. We think he's going to have us do something we don't want to do. We think he's going to have us come up with something less than we could plan for ourselves. We think he's going to have us do something scary or something hard or something bad. Or send us to Africa, send us across the street to our neighbor. Share the gospel with a child or parents. Can I just tell you that's where the adventure begins? I wish I had time to give you testimony when I surrendered all, the Lord took my life. And I've done some hard things, some difficult things. I've been to Africa, I've been to India, I've been to China. I've been to all these different places, scared to death. But I'll tell you what. What I've discovered is what he can do in and through me. If I simply make myself available, if I surrender everything, then he takes responsibility. And I've discovered he never expects anything of me that he's not willing to do. Through me, he equips me, enables me, empowers me to do everything he commands me to do. And it's an adventure. It's exciting. You get to know him. It's like Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water. And he knew Jesus in a way that the disciples in the boat never knew. He knew he could walk on water, and I know he sank, but he walked on water. And you're gonna fail too. And we'll make mistakes. And Jesus will be right there to catch us by the hand. And I guarantee you, Peter walked back to the boat on the water. So that's my challenge to you, to surrender everything, to see what he can do in and through you. And then Jesus said in verse 19, Write therefore what you have seen. What I'm going to show you now, what will take place later. So, John, right there on Patmos, I have something for you to do. Right there in your suffering and your solitude, as you're persevering, seeking to be faithful. Look up. He has something for you to do. He wants you to serve him. And I don't. I can stand up here and guess all night as to what it might be. Maybe by the end of the weekend you'll know. Maybe you already know. But it makes Patmos so worthwhile, doesn't it? I think if you would ask John, was it worth it to share the word of God and the testimony of Jesus and wind up on Patmos? And I think John would have said, I'd go back any day just to receive the vision of his glory and to write it down, to encourage people who needed a glimpse of the glory of Jesus in their lives. So my challenge to you, would you look up, ask God to give you a vision of the glory of Jesus? It's revealed through prophecy, revealed through your praise. Come up with your own alphabetical list of his names and reveal to our perseverance. And the Christian life is not a sprint, it's a marathon. Step by step, day by day, week by week, month by month, following Jesus, silent and still, making ourselves available for his use. But right now, Lord Jesus, the vision is glorious. I can't imagine what it would be to actually see it on that day when the sky unfolds and you yourself come back to receive us, to be with you, whether it's at death or the rapture. What's it going to be to actually see, visibly see your glory? And until then, I just have to thank you, thank you, thank you for the sneak peek that you give us through prophecy and through praise and through through our perseverance, trusting you, being faithful to you in the midst of our suffering and our solitude, while we're on patmos, falling prostrate at your feet, making ourselves available for your use, going wherever you send us, speaking whatever you tell us, doing whatever you want us to do, we're yours. The joy of my life is to serve you. And I know the service flows out of that surrender.
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Be sure to take advantage of all that's available for you@anngramlawatts.org from Ann's blog. Her messages, Bible studies, books and videos all will give you a deeper, richer relationship with Jesus through God's word. And thanks for joining us today for living in the light.