Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11: Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12: And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13: And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15: And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16: And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 19: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 20: The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Introduction

As I have noted last time, the title of this book is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." God delights to make Himself known, not to obscure nor to confuse. His intention is not to conceal but to reveal.

Where would we be if Jesus Christ did not reveal Himself to us? We would still be in darkness, without hope, without comfort and without direction. Furthermore, without revelation, there would be no true worship. For true worship is the spontaneous and natural response to the revelation of God and His greatness. We have seen illustrations of this in the experience of great men in the Bible, namely Moses, Isaiah, Peter and John and how they responded when they were given a supernatural vision of God's greatness and holiness. This morning we continue to look at the example of John and his Response to Christ's Revelation.

We already have looked at the ...

I — The Revelation of the Person and Purposes of Christ

John, while exiled in the isle of Patmos, was given a glorious vision of Jesus Christ. And this majestic and glorious Christ stands in the midst of the church building His church. He is walking among His churches for the purposes of reconciling, interceding, sanctifying, guiding, protecting and shining. And this vision forever changed his life.

Then we looked at ...

II — The Response to the Person and Purpose of Christ

As soon as John saw this glorious vision of Christ, John fell to the ground afraid. He was filled with fear at the sight of Christ. Upon seeing Christ and His glory he became painfully aware of Christ's holiness and his own sinfulness. He responded in humility, fear and submission. This is the consistent response of those who see even just a glimpse of His glory. 

So, this morning, consider with me the ...

III — The Reassurance in the Person and Purpose of Christ

Revelation 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 

As John falls down at Jesus' feet, Jesus reached down and touched John with His right hand and spoke to him. Do you see the gentle approach of Christ to His fearful and trembling servant? Our Lord placed His hand upon John's shoulder to raise him up. This gentle approach of Jesus was intended to reassure John and that he should not to be afraid.

Someone has said, "The gesture is designed to give the assurance of comfort; the hand which was raised up to bless (Luke 24:51), which was reached forth to heal the leper, to raise the sinking Peter (Matthew 14:31), and to touch the wounded ear of Malchus, is now stretched out to reassure His servant; and the words, like those which John had heard upon the Mount of Transfiguration, and when toiling against the waves of Galilee, bid him not to be afraid. (Comp. Daniel 10:10.)"

"No other hand could have revived the apostle, but the hand which was pierced for him had matchless powerp."

As our Lord touched John, He spoke to him and bids him not to fear. 

Revelation 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 

There are many voices in the world offering comfort but nothing and no one can comfort like our God can.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4: Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Our God is the God of all comfort and He comforts through His word.

Psalm 119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50: This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psalm 119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

God's promises revive His people. It comforts them in all their troubles.

But understand that Christ not only calls John not to fear, He also gives him reasons why he should not fear. The reassurance that Jesus provides to John is based on who Christ is and what He is able to do. There are four specific aspects of the character of Jesus that He tells John that he can rely upon.

Let's now look at these four specific aspects of the character of Jesus:

1. I am the first and the last

Revelation 1:17 ... Fear not; I am the first and the last: 

Jesus begins by telling John that he does not need to fear because He is the first and the last. Jesus has already hinted at this earlier in ...

Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: ...

Who says Jesus never claimed to be God, for this is a clear claim to deity. Jesus is the Almighty God!

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Richard of St. Victor wrote, "First, because before me a God was not formed; last, because after me there shall not be another. First, because all things are from me; last, because all things are to  me; from me the beginning, to me an end. First, because I am the cause of origin; last, because I am the judge and the end." 

John needs not be afraid because if Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Almighty, then He clearly has all the power and authority over all things. Jesus is the God of all eternity, Lord of eternity past and eternity future! There is nothing to fear because Jesus is in control of everything. 

2. I am He that liveth

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, ...

Jesus here, confirms that He is life by saying, "I am he that liveth ..." "I am the living one." He again plainly declares this in ...

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me 

John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

Christ possesses life in Himself. 

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

He is the source of all life.

We do not need to fear, because Jesus is life. And for those of us who by the grace of God, have chosen to commit their lives to Him, we have this promise from Scripture:

1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12: He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

3. I was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore 

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen ...

This describes perfectly what Jesus did on our behalf. His death was vicarious: He died in the room and stead of sinners and it was perfect and complete: it was once and for all.

Carpenter wrote, "There are two wonders here: the living One becomes dead, and the dead One is alive for evermore."

"The infinite and omnipotent Creator bound Himself in time and space and stooping to be abused by His finite and puny creatures. The source of all life stooped to taste of death."

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

O the depth of God's love for us, that He was willing to endure such agony and shame and death!

Jesus is the one who lives, and was dead, and is alive forevermore. He has the credentials of resurrection, and lives to never die again. The victory that Jesus won over sin and death was a permanent victory. He didn't rise from the dead just to die again. He lives for evermore!

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen ...

And our Lord Himself says, Amen!

4. I have the keys of hell and of death

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Having risen from the grave, Christ has the keys of hell and of death.  Keys picture authority and control. Jesus controls death — referring to our physical death — and hell — referring to what happens to our soul after death. Jesus has all the power and authority in heaven and on earth. He has the power to cast as well as deliver people from death and Hell.

Jesus is reassuring John that He is the One who controls both his life here on earth as well as his eternal destiny. That had to be a great encouragement to John for in effect, Jesus is saying that John do not need to fear because He already paid the penalty for his sin and He controls his destiny.

Closing Thoughts

These are the four specific aspects of the character of Jesus — He the first and the last; He is the living One; He was dead but became alive for evermore; and holds the keys of hell and of death. For these reasons John don't need to be afraid. As the Lord bids John to fear not, so He also bids us the same. 

You and I are called to look up in hope and confidence not by arguments invented by men. No, it is by words of Him before whom you and I tremble. Fear not for I have not given you a greater revelation of Myself to destroy but to use you in a greater way!

Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 20: The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

This morning as we conclude this sermon on John's Response to the Revelation, may we understand that the Lord graciously revealed Himself to John not to destroy him but to use in a greater way. Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is why the Lord is revealing Himself to us His glory and majesty. It not His intention to destroy us but that we might love Him more, trust Him more and serve Him more.

I pray that you may be drawn to Him in love and adoration and service. God bless you all!

AMEN!