Well, turn with me now, please, to the passage we read in Revelation chapter 1, and reading again at verse 17.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead, but he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not.
I am the first and the last and the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades.
Well, this revelation that came to John, as he tells us himself here in verse 9, came to him when he was in the Isle of Patmos.
Patmos was a place that the Roman authorities at the time used as a penal colony.
They used to send people there who they regarded as troublemakers or potential troublemakers,
and that's how they regarded some of the leading figures in the church as well at times during the times of the Roman Empire.
And he tells us he was here in verse 9 in the Isle of Patmos for the patient endurance and tribulation of Jesus.
He was there because he was regarded as a threat to the authority of the empire.
He was sent to the Isle of Patmos to be banished there.
It was an island which was very difficult to escape from.
In other words, he was one of those persecuted for his role in the church,
for his leadership in the church, for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And it's interesting, he calls himself their brother and partner in tribulation and the kingdom and patient endurance that are in Jesus.
Now, that obviously would be greatly encouraging to those that he was writing to,
because it's obvious going through the book of the Revelation that he was writing to people who knew what persecution was.
And he was writing to encourage them, so he describes himself as being at one with them.
And he's saying to them, although I'm an apostle, I'm in the same situation as you are.
I haven't escaped the persecutions.
I'm writing to you from the Isle of Patmos.
And he says he was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, the first day of the week.
He was in the Spirit.
That means he was under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
That doesn't mean he was in an ecstasy where he didn't know what he was doing.
But he was under the control, under the inspiration, and under the government or control of the Holy Spirit.
So, in other words, what he's writing afterwards, the interpretation of the things that he saw and heard,
they came to him because of the teaching of the Holy Spirit.
He was under that Holy Spirit's influence at the time.
He was there in the Lord's Day in the Spirit.
And it's significant that he mentions it was on the Lord's Day, the first day of the week,
which was a celebration in many ways of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, as it still is for us.
This is what the Lord's Day is for us today.
We are here today celebrating the fact that Christ is risen from the dead,
ascended to glory, as we've been singing in Psalm 68.
He ascended up on high and led captivity captive.
He assumed his place on the throne of heaven, on the throne of the universe,
presiding over all his enemies, including, as we'll see here, death as well.
And that's important in the context of the book of the Revelation.
It's probably a book that most of us don't read too often,
and a book that has many things in it that are difficult to understand
and difficult even to present by way of setting out its teaching.
And it's quite common and understandable that people avoid the book of the Revelation,
you know, so as not to go into it too deeply,
because it is, in parts, very difficult to understand,
even for ourselves who preach the Word of God.
But it's important that we realize,
what is the purpose of the book of the Revelation?
What is the main thread of teaching running through the book of the Revelation?
It is the triumph of Jesus.
It is the supremacy of Jesus over all the powers that are in the universe,
including the power of the devil and his angels,
the powers of evil.
This thread right through the book of the Revelation says,
Jesus is King.
Jesus is Lord.
There is no power like the power of the Lord.
There is no authority like the authority of the Lord.
And the book of the Revelation is a book,
however difficult passages in it are to understand,
it's clear right through that this is the thread of teaching.
We have a Savior who rules the world.
We have a Savior who is King,
not just of time, but of eternity.
We have a Savior who will always be King,
who will never relinquish his kingship,
who will never be defeated in carrying out his kingship.
Today we're worshipping this King.
We're worshipping the one about whom
the book of Revelation is
and reveals his supremacy.
So these are the things he says that he heard and saw.
So let's look more closely at verses 17 and 18,
17 to 18 especially.
When I saw him,
he describes what he saw there in the passage there
from verse 12,
when he turned to see.
And in fact,
from verse 12 down to 16,
that's actually the longest description of Jesus
that you have in the whole Bible.
It's a precise description of Jesus.
All these words describe the person of Jesus
and where he is.
And it's the longest uninterrupted description
of Jesus in the Bible.
That's by the way,
but it's important.
And what is John's response?
Well,
something a bit like in Acts chapter 9,
when Paul was on the way to,
Saul was on the way to Damascus
when he was carrying certain messages,
having been for years an opponent of Jesus.
He met the risen Jesus.
Jesus came into his path
and interrupted his progress
and revealed himself.
Glory is light from heaven,
the same Jesus here
that you find here in Revelation.
And what John is telling us is,
when I saw him,
I fell at his feet as though dead.
He didn't say,
Lord, it's great to see you.
He didn't react as if this was just an ordinary person
or some important human being
that was revealing himself to him.
He fell at his feet as though dead.
In other words,
it's telling us today
what an awesome sight it is
to see the risen Jesus.
What an awesome sight is the glorified Lord.
We're not worshipping today
somebody who is tiny
and just of limited significance.
We're not worshipping today
somebody who's just a made-up figure
by the church over many centuries.
We're worshipping one
who is so awesome
that the Saul of Tarsus,
who thought he was in charge of his own life,
and John here,
the apostle who knew Jesus very well,
fell at his feet as though dead.
It was such an overwhelming,
awesome experience
to have this confrontation
with the glorified Christ.
Now, John knew Jesus very well.
John knew Jesus in his time on earth.
He was one of his disciples.
He was one of the closest to Jesus
in his walk with him
while Jesus was with the disciples in this world.
He knew Jesus very well.
He was very familiar.
He loved Jesus.
He knew him as one that was special to him.
But he had never seen him
as he saw him here.
He had never before been confronted
with a glorified Jesus.
He didn't fall down before him,
though he knew Jesus very well previously
and say,
Lord, it is good to see you.
It was good to see him.
But he fell at his feet
as though dead.
He was overwhelmed.
The glorified, risen Christ
was such an awesome sight.
This was the only proper response,
just to fall prostrate at his feet
and acknowledge him for who he is.
And you know,
this is such a wonderful emphasis,
not just in terms of the awesomeness
of the glorified Jesus,
but go to verse 13.
In the midst of the lampstands,
one like a son of man.
This is Jesus being described.
The lampstands, he tells us
in the final verse of the chapter,
are representative of the seven churches.
In other words, the whole church.
I think we can take it that
the letters to the seven churches
at the time,
they were real churches
in real locations on earth.
But they really stand for,
if you like,
the whole church throughout time
where Jesus presides over them
and speaks to them.
But he says he is in the midst
of the lampstands.
Who is in the midst of the lampstands?
What's he like,
this person that's in the midst
of the lampstands?
Here we are gathered here today
as worshipers of the Lord,
and we have the assurance of the Lord
that wherever the two or three
are gathered in my name,
I am there in the midst.
Who is there in their midst?
Whose presence are we seeking today?
Presence of this person.
This glorified Jesus
through his Holy Spirit.
And you know,
there are many times
when I, as much as anybody else,
need to stop myself
and just ask myself
and say to myself,
who are you going to be
preaching about today?
Whose presence do you want
to be with you today?
Whose presence do you want
to be in that congregation today
as you preach the gospel to them?
This Jesus.
This person.
This grand,
magnificent,
in many ways,
indescribable person.
That's who's here today.
That's who's here in our midst.
We can't see him physically
with your eye,
but if you experience today
his touch on your heart
or on your mind,
remember who he is.
Remember what he's like now.
Remember where he is.
Remember what John says about him.
Remember John's response.
Remember the way he was overwhelmed
by this vision of Jesus.
Friends,
we live in a world
where Jesus is,
if thought about at all,
is denigrated.
Just a figure you kick aside
as you think about him briefly.
Or somebody you find easy
to ridicule
as you ridicule the gospel.
Just think of what it's going
to be like.
Just what it's like now
to be in the presence
of the Jesus
who's in the midst of his church.
Think of what it's going
to be like to face him
as he sits on the throne
of judgment
and at the end
of the history of the world.
Think of all those millions
of people
who've dismissed him
and who come
when it's too late
to realize
what a glorious person he is.
What authority he has.
What magnificence is here.
Who is Jesus to you?
What's he like
in your own experience?
What do you think about today
as you think of Christ?
Do you just think of someone
who appeared on the earth
for a few years
and gave great teaching
to the disciples
and died on the cross
of Calvary
and arose again
from the dead
and is that about it?
Is Jesus in your life
the biggest
the most important
the most significant
of all people?
Is he your saviour?
And if you confess him
as your saviour
is this how you see him?
Is this who you serve?
John's response
response is falling
as though dead
as his feet
but he laid his right hand
on me he said
and of course that's
and he touched him
he laid his right hand
on me saying
fear not
I am the first
and the last.
Briefly
you find in the
gospel records
the Lord coming to
lay his hand
on certain people
maybe at the time
he was healing people
he communicated something
through his touch
as well as
through his words
and John is saying
he laid his hand
on me saying
fear not
in other words
he's saying
John don't be afraid
I understand
why you've fallen
at my feet
as dead
but don't be afraid
and he said that
to the disciples
when he was walking
on the sea
and they were terrified
and he said
don't be afraid
it is I
it's myself
and you know
one of the wonderful things
that you can take
from this today
is that
the glorified Christ
for all his magnificence
in all his magnificence
the glorified Christ
still has the same touch
of comfort
of assurance
of reassurance
for his people
here on earth
it's the same Jesus
who ministers to us
in our need here
as minister to John
here on the isle of Patmos
that's your counselor
that's your friend
this glorious
exalted Jesus
he's the one you
today
experience in your life
as a Christian
the one who lays
his hand upon you
and assures you
it's me
you can't see me
I'm glorified
I'm exalted
I'm indescribably
magnificent
I have all authority
in heaven and earth
but I'm here for you
isn't that something
that encourages
your heart today
as it also
humbles us
that this Jesus
is the one
who's with us
on the way
through life
when our trust
is in him
that whatever
our circumstances
it's this Jesus
that comes to us
and say
don't you be afraid
I'm in control
I'm on the throne
of the universe
I have my hand
on your life
I have a grasp
of you
and of your future
as well as your past
don't be afraid
where else
is an assurance
and reassurance
like that today
and so he comes
to reassure John
and he says to him
fear not
I am the first
and the last
and the living one
I died
and behold
I am alive
forevermore
I am the first
and the last
in other words
it's really
telling us something
about the uniqueness
of God
and the uniqueness
of Jesus
the uniqueness
of this person
it takes us back
to the likes of
Isaiah chapter 44
where God is saying
there
thus says
the Lord
the King of Israel
his Redeemer
the Lord of hosts
I am the first
I am the last
besides me
there is no God
who is like me
let him proclaim it
let him declare
let it be said it
before me
fear not
nor be afraid
have I not told you
from of old
and declared it
is there a God
besides me
there is no rock
I know not any
the same God
of Isaiah
now appearing
to John
as the risen
glorified Christ
I am
the first
and the last
the living one
I died
and am alive
forevermore
in other words
the reassurance
that comes to us
from Jesus
it's not just
a spoken word
even though it is
his word
it's based
upon certain
truths
if your heart
is going to be
comforted today
you need your
comfort to come
on the basis
of something
sure
something certain
some truth
that you know
will not give way
under your feet
there it is
in the Bible
the truth of God
the truth that is
in Christ himself
that's where your
comfort is based
that's where we look
to for our hope
isn't it
we live in a world
where many
politicians will say
no this is hope
we've got hope
for you
what's it based upon
sadly
many times
it's based on
human wisdom
only
but Jesus
comes to you
today in the
gospel and says
this is comfort
for you
this is reassurance
for you
this is certainty
for you
fear not
because I am
the first
and the last
I am the living
one
who died
and is alive
forevermore
now it's possible
to translate that
when he says
the first
and the last
and then what
follows on from that
as the first
you can think of God
being the source
of all the creation
he created
brought all things
into being
I am the first
I am the one
who's been there
from all eternity
and I brought
everything else
that exists
into being
and I am the last
he will bring
all things
to the conclusion
that he has always
had in his purpose
and has appointed
in other words
you could say
from this
that if you ask
the question
who's going to have
the last word
on human destiny
who's going to have
the last word
on your life
and my life
who's going to have
the last word
when it comes to
my relationship
to eternity
and the things
of eternity
he is
I have the last word
he's saying
not Putin
not Trump
not Hitler
not Nebuchadnezzar
not Pharaoh
none of these
great word leaders
down through the
course of history
though they themselves
thought that they
were the masters
of their own situation
and of other nations
as well
and God is saying
regarding them
and regarding
everybody else
who's thought
that they had
the last word
over other people
no God is saying
Jesus is saying
I have the last word
you may think
you've got the last word
in your own life
you may think
that you're in control
of your own life
you may think
that today
and I may think
and others may think
when we come to
leave this world
we're going to be
in charge of our
own destiny
no no we're not
Jesus is saying
I have the last word
I'm in charge of it
I'm in control of it
I'm the governor
and you're my subjects
I'm the first
and the last
the almighty
but he says then
I am
I died
and I am alive
and behold
I'm alive forevermore
now that can be
translated
some people
will translate it
something like follows
I am the living one
who died
and behold
I am alive
forevermore
I am the living one
who died
and behold
I am alive
forevermore
in other words
you think of the death
of Jesus
as the living one
the God he is
in our nature
having taken
our human nature
to himself
you think of
this God
the son of God
the second person
of the glorious trinity
that God is
the living one
who came
into this world
to die
who experienced death
through our human nature
as he gave himself
to die
the death
of the cross
I am the living one
who always had life
in myself
who was none other
than God
from all eternity
but I'm the living one
who died
my divine nature
didn't die
but I died
through my human nature
I experienced
that death
which you deserved
through my human nature
as I gave myself
to the death
of the cross
mystery
absolutely
but what a glorious
truth
and how important
to see it
as a glorious truth
I am
the living one
who died
or who became dead
and I'm alive
forevermore
I rose from the dead
I defeated death
I'm now sitting
on the right hand
of God the Father
I'm in charge
of the universe
I have the scroll
as later chapter here
5 will tell you
I have the scroll
that is opened up
where all the events
of history
are unfolded
and I'm in charge
of it
nobody else
could open it
but I opened it
and I turn its pages
and I'll do that
till the last page
is turned
and when the last page
is turned
that will be the end
of human history
in this world
in this life
but I will turn it
I'll be the one
who'll do that
and as he says himself
in John 10
before he died
that it was for this reason
the Father loves him
because he said
I lay down my life
so that I might
take it again
this command I received
from my Father
what's he talking about
this is Jesus
speaking to the disciples
speaking before his death
and this is how he speaks
of himself
it's because of this
the Father loves me
because I lay down my life
because I the living one
the living son of God
I lay down my life
through my human nature
I've come to die
but not only that
so that I might
take it again
in other words
he's speaking of his
resurrection
only the living one
the son of God
could lay down his life
in order to take it again
in order to take it back
by resurrection
from the dead
and what's resurrection
from the dead
it's triumph over death
the triumph
that's mentioned here
as well
I'm the living one
who became dead
and I'm alive
forevermore
you see all of that
fits into this great thread
that we mentioned
at the beginning
running through revelation
the thread that gives us
the greatest assurance
today that if we are
the Lord's people
then we're going to
share in his victory
we're sharing in it already
but throughout eternity
this will be our song
unto him who loved us
and washed us from our sins
to him be glory
and majesty
and dominion
and power
forevermore
I am the living one
who became dead
and I am alive
forevermore
what a saviour you have today
what a privilege is yours
to be a Christian
not just to be taught
by words that Jesus
left us in the Bible
not just to know
that he has given us
certain things
that will last us
throughout time
and on into eternity
but what a privilege
to know that
this is our friend
this is our companion
this is the one we love
this is the one
we look after us
will look after us
why are we assured of that
well because of what
he's done already
because he's the living one
who died
and now is alive
forevermore
and he finishes by saying
and I have the keys
of death
and Hades
Hades sometimes translated
hell in the older
translations
but Hades is a Greek word
which really
really means the realm
of the dead
or the place of the dead
sometimes there's
there's no distinction
made between those
who left this world
have gone to heaven
and those who've gone
to a lost eternity
you can call hell
or Hades
but Hades sometimes
is just a general description
of what's beyond this world
we continue to live
beyond this world
and in other passages
of the Bible
it's obvious that
Hades
the realm of the dead
is actually
inhabited by
those who live
forevermore
and those who have
an eternal death
in hell
and
the way hell
is usually described
but you see
the important thing here
is
not so much going into
the meaning of the words
as such
though that's important
I have the keys
of death
and of Hades
of the realm
of the dead
I'm the only one
who has the authority
to unlock it
or the authority
to lock it
and today
as your saviour
Jesus is saying
as he's come
to release you
from the guilt
of sin
as he's forgiven
your sin
as you've come
to accept him
as your saviour
Jesus is saying
I have turned the key
in your life
and released you
from the grip
of death
from the grip
of condemnation
as Paul wrote
to the Romans
there is therefore now
no condemnation
to those
who are in
Christ Jesus
why is there
no condemnation
because of what
Jesus has done
and who Jesus is
why is there
no condemnation
because he has
the key
of death
and if Christ
unlocks
the door of death
to any one of us
and saves us
from it
nobody's going
to close it
on us
but the other
side is equally
true remember
because if once
we've lost
left this world
and enter
a lost eternity
if we're not
saved
Jesus
is going
to turn
the key
on hell
for us
and nobody
has the authority
to open it
there is no
exit
when Christ
has turned
the key
that's why
it's so important
for you
and for me
today
that before
we die
we have come
to know him
as the one
who has
unlocked
the door
to life
for us
and locked
the door
to hell
forever
against our
entry
john's
response
and christ's
reassurance
and at the
end of
revelation
it comes
to a
climax
in its
teaching
when it
speaks in
chapter 20
about the
great throne
the great
white throne
that was set
up before
whom
everyone
who ever
lived
will come
to be
will come
to stand
and this
is
you remember
how it
says
in chapter
20
and verses
11 and
12
then i saw
the great
white throne
and him
who was
seated on
it from
his presence
earth
and sky
fled away
and no
place was
found for
them
and i saw
the dead
great and
small
standing
before the
throne
and the
books were
opened
then another
book was
opened
which is
the book
of life
and the
dead
were judged
by what
was written
in the
books
according
to what
they had
done
and the
sea
gave up
the dead
who were
in it
death
and hades
gave up
the dead
who were
in them
and they
were judged
each one
of them
according
to what
they had
done
then death
and hades
were thrown
into the
lake of
fire
this is
the second
death
the lake
of fire
and if
anyone's
name was
not found
written
in the
book of
life
he was
thrown
into
the lake
of fire
friends these
things in
eternity are
real
but christ
has come
to rescue
us
from that
death and
hell that the
bible speaks
of and
to bring
us into
the possession
of that
life which
he himself
has authority
to give
us a
life which
he says
in john's
gospel is
abundant
life he
came to
give us
life he
experienced
and gave
himself to
death to
give us
life he
rose from
the dead
to give
us life
he is
exalted
to heaven
to give
us life
he is the
glorious one
before whom
paul and
john fell
down at
his feet
as though
dead
but you
know all
of that
is so
that you
and i
will live
through him
so that
we will
know him
as the
one who
said i
am the
way the
truth and
the life
whoever
comes to
me i
will never
cast out
may god
bless these
thoughts on
his word
to us we're
going to sing
in conclusion
now singing
in psalm
95
psalm 95
in the
scottish
altar 1
to 6
oh come
let us
sing to
the lord
come let
us everyone
a joyful
noise make
to the
rock of
our salvation
let us
before his
presence come
with praise
and thankful
voice let
us sing
psalms to
him with
grace and
make a
joyful noise
and as we
sing these
verses to
the end of
verse 6
we're conscious
that we're
singing about
and we're
singing to
the one
who's described
in revelation
as our
great king
oh come
let us
sing to
the lord
oh come
let us
sing to
the lord
come
let us
every
one
a joyful
noise
make
to
the
moment
And make a joyful noise.
For God, a great Lord and great King,
half of all God's ears,
shares of the earth that met his hand,
the strength of hills is his.
To him the spacious sea belongs,
for he the same did be.
That high land also from his hands
is for man's worshiping.
O come and let us worship him,
let us bow down with hope,
and on our knees before the Lord,
our ringer, let us all.
If you would let me get to the main door,
please, after the benediction.
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God the Father,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you now and evermore.
Amen.
Thank you.