As you can tell, Josh had an extremely busy week going to Calgary from Monday until Thursday evening.
And then Friday they looked at that house and had a decision.
So knowing what was going on, I said, instead of speaking on July 1st, I'll take today's communion service.
And I just want to focus on three pictures of Christ from the book of Revelation.
So today is communion. I would like to focus on Christ.
Since I'm old school, I don't have the scriptures on the overhead.
So please grab a Bible, or as it's described in Ephesians 6.17, the Word of God, which is the sword of God.
So if you don't have a Bible with you, grab one from the pew ahead.
There's Bibles down. I'd like you to follow what I'm reading.
So Revelation 1, verse 1-3.
The revelation from Christ Jesus, which God gave him to show his servants, which must soon take place.
He made it known by sending his angel to the servant John, who testifies to everything he saw,
that is, the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it,
and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
So this is the God's inspired word to John, the same John that wrote the book of John,
so just quite a few years later.
Whenever we remember Christ, we should remember what he has done in the past,
what he is doing now, and what he will do in the future.
Many picture Christ once a year as a cute baby in a manger,
or others view him as he's still on the cross.
But Revelation pictures Christ as he is, mighty and majestic.
God.
So if we turn to chapter 1, I'll read verses 4 to 20.
To the seven churches in the province of Asia,
grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us, and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
and has made us to be a kingdom, and priests to serve him, God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever.
Amen.
Look, he is coming in the clouds, and everyone will see him,
even those who pierced him, and all the people on earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be.
Amen.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, said the Lord God,
who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
Verse 12.
This is Revelation chapter 1, verse 12.
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me,
and when I saw seven golden lampstands,
and among the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man,
dressed in a robe, reaching down to his feet,
with a golden sash around his chest.
The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow,
and his eyes were like blazing fire.
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,
and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
In his right hand he held seven stars,
and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword,
his face like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
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 now, look, I am alive forever and ever,
and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Write, therefore, what you have seen,
what is now, and what will take place later.
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand
and of the seven lampstands is this.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,
and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Great.
First notice that John sends the greetings of grace and peace.
We are in the time of grace.
Right from the time of Adam and Eve,
God has not dealt with man in the way he warned them.
Eternal death.
Romans 6.23 tells us,
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2.8.9, and we alluded,
well, we talked strenuously today
in the older Sunday school class
about this verse and grace.
But this is, we are in the time of grace.
We unmerited favor.
We deserve death.
God is, through his love for us,
has offered salvation.
Ephesians 2.8-10.
For it is by grace that you have been saved,
through faith,
and this not from yourselves.
It is the gift of God,
not by works,
so that no one could boast.
For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Again, grace you have been saved,
through faith.
Not what we do,
but what we believe.
Next,
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega,
who is and was and is to come.
This describes the eternal nature of Jesus.
Jesus.
Everything and everyone else
has a starting time.
God, in Genesis 1.1,
in the beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth.
Starting time.
Everything else,
there was nothing before that.
But Jesus was before that.
He's from everlasting to everlasting.
Warren Wiersbe,
I used his book there,
describes the pictures of Christ as follows.
Christ's garments are those of a judge king,
clothed with honor and power,
like he had a flowing robe and a sash.
His white hair describes his eternity and purity.
His eyes see all to judge righteously.
He doesn't just kind of judge on a scale.
Well, it's,
this is,
if you believe in him,
you're forgiven.
If you don't believe,
you're not forgiven.
It's his eyes judged righteously.
The glowing bronze feet
also speak of judgment,
since in the Old Testament,
bronze altar was the place
where the fire consumed sin offerings.
Sounds of many waters suggest
he speaks with power and authority.
The sword represents the living word of God.
So anyone that's got a sword,
hold them up.
This is the sword.
This is the word of God.
And that's what he uses to fight his enemies.
The Lord's shining continents
reminds us of his transfiguration.
And the sun reminds us
not only of blessings,
but also judgment.
Also,
in Revelation 21,
we're not going to look at this much,
but this is also a picture
how we receive light in heaven.
After the thousand year reign,
when we're truly in heaven,
it's his face,
it's him,
who illuminates all of heaven.
His blazing glory shines forth.
Next is Revelation chapter 5.
Another picture of Jesus.
This is the second picture of Jesus.
Then I looked at the right hand
of him who sat on the throne.
A scroll was written on both sides
and sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a mighty angel
proclaim in a loud voice,
who is worthy to break the seal
and open the scroll.
But no one in heaven or on earth
or under the earth
could open the scroll
or even look inside it.
I wept and wept
because no one was found
who was worthy to open the scroll
or look inside.
Then one of the elders said to me,
do not weep.
See,
the lamb,
the lion of the tribe of Judah,
the root of David,
has triumphed.
He's able to open the scroll
and its seven seals.
Then I saw a lamb
looking as if it had been slain,
standing at the center of the throne
encircled by the four living creatures
and the elders.
The lamb had seven horns
and seven eyes,
which are the seven spirits of God
sent out into all the earth.
He went and took the scroll
from the right hand of him
who sat on the throne.
And when he had taken it,
the four living creatures
and the 24 elders
fell down before the lamb.
Each one had a harp
and they were holding golden bowls
full of incense,
which are the prayers
of God's people.
And they sang a new song saying,
you are worthy
to take the scroll,
to open its seals
because you were slain.
And with your blood,
you purchased for God
persons from every tribe
and language
and people and nation.
You have made them
to be a kingdom
and priests
to serve our God
and they will reign
on the earth.
Then I looked
and heard the voices
of many angels
numbering thousands
upon thousands
and 10,000
times 10,000.
They encircled the throne
and the living creatures
and the elders.
In a loud voice
they were saying,
worthy
is the lamb
who was slain
to receive power
and wealth
and wisdom
and strength
and honor
and glory
and praise.
Then I heard
every creature
in heaven
and on earth
and under the earth
and on the sea
and all that is in them
saying,
to him
who sits
on the throne
and to the lamb
be praise
and honor
and glory
and power
forever
and ever.
the four living creatures
said,
Amen
and the elders
fell down
and worshiped.
This time frame
describes the end
of the church age
and the start
of the seven years
of tribulation.
People,
there are people
that believe
in the rapture
that are certain
that believers
will not be present
during the seven years
of hell on earth.
So this is the start
when he opens
the seal
that is the start
of the tribulation
that we read
in verses 6 to 19
of Revelation.
It's a time
of absolute misery.
It's a time
where people's morals
are just destroyed.
It is a time
of hell on earth.
It's a picture
of what hell
of eternity
will be like.
Just a picture,
not the whole thing.
Only Christ
is worthy
to start
this time
of judgment.
Verse 5
describes the lineage
of Jesus
as a human
back to David
through his mother Mary.
You can look
in Matthew.
That's why
the book of Matthew
has his lineage.
It describes it
all the way
back to David.
It was because
Jesus took
the form
of a man
and became
a sin offering
that believers
will not face
eternal punishment.
I was at a funeral
recently
where much
scripture was read
confirming
that the deceased
was going
to eternity
in heaven.
The problem
was
nothing was
mentioned
on the fact
that only
Jesus
can take
our punishment.
the illusion
was
yeah this person
gets to go
to heaven
because I read
the scripture
and it describes
heaven
out of context
out of the
this is why
you're allowed
to go
not because
you're a good
person
just because.
John 3
16
to 18
very
familiar
verses
but they
describe
who
qualifies
for heaven.
John 3
16
to 18
for God
so loved
the world
that he
gave his
one and
only son
that whoever
believes in him
shall not perish
but have
eternal life
for God
did not send
his son
into the world
to condemn
the world
but to save
the world
through him
whoever
believes in him
is not condemned
but whoever
does not
believe
stands
condemned
already
because they
have not
believed in
the name
of God's
one and
only son
very clear
believe
not believe
whoever
believes in
him is not
condemned
whoever does
not believe
stands
condemned
already
because they
have not
believed in
the name of
God's
one and
only son
so this
is
there's no
I'm a little
bit better
than I am
bad
and God
likes me
so I get
to go to
heaven
it's very
cut and
dried
verse 6
describes
Jesus as
a lamb
that was
slain
when Moses
led the
nations
out of
Egypt
God
used many
plagues
to convince
the Pharaoh
to let
his people
all leave
the last
plague
was the
death
of the
first
born
of
everyone
the
only
way
that
family
was
to
not
have
death
in the
house
was to
take a
perfect
lamb
slay it
wiping
the blood
on the
door frame
the angel
of death
would pass
over
that house
and go
on to
those not
marked
by blood
this is
why Jesus
was crucified
during the
Passover
it wasn't
a coincidence
this was
a fulfillment
only God
is to be
worshipped
and the
24 elders
do it
eternally
if Jesus
were only
an angel
as some
churches
claim
as some
religions
claim
then no
worship
would happen
to him
also
noted
is the
prayers
of the
saints
who are
true
believers
so people
that when
you pray
and you're
truly a
believer
the prayers
are saved
in the
form of
an incense
prayers
don't just
hit the
ceiling
and die
but are
stored
as sweet
aroma
for Jesus
verse 11
can you
imagine
the roar
of over
100
million
angels
encircling
the throne
along with
the living
creatures
and the
elders
singing
in a
loud
voice
we cannot
imagine
it would
be
absolutely
deafening
we won't
need hearing
aids
I guarantee
that
worthy
is the
lamb
who was
slain
to receive
power
and wealth
and wisdom
and strength
and honor
and glory
and praise
that is
the definition
of praise
and worship
so when
these
when he's
being praised
this
this is
the utmost
that they
can honor
him with
finally
chapter 19
of revelation
verses 4
to 21
this is
what is
to come
actually
the last
the
seven years
of tribulation
we have
not
it has not
happened yet
but it is
promised
to happen
but revelation
19
4 to 21
is really
the
encapsulation
is the
ending
the 24
elders
and the
four living
creatures
fell down
and worshiped
God
who was
seated
on the
throne
and they
cried
hallelujah
or amen
hallelujah
then a
voice
came from
the throne
saying
praise our
God
all you
servants
both great
and small
then I
heard what
sounded like
a great
multitude
like the
roar of
rushing
waters
and like
loud
peals
of
thunder
shouting
hallelujah
for our
God
almighty
reigns
let us
rejoice
and be
glad
and give
him
glory
for the
wedding
of the
lamb
has come
and his
bride
has made
herself
ready
fine
linen
bright
and clean
were given
her to
wear
fine
linen
stands
for the
righteous
acts
of God's
holy
people
then the
angel
said to
me
write
this
blessed
are
those
who
are
invited
to
the
wedding
supper
of
the
lamb
and
he
added
these
are
the
true
words
of
God
at
this
I
fell
at
his
feet
to
worship
him
but
he
said
to
me
don't
do
it
I
am
a
fellow
servant
with
you
and
with
your
brothers
and
sisters
who
hold
to
the
testimony
of
Jesus
worship
God
for it
is the
spirit
of
prophecy
who
bears
testimony
to
Jesus
I
saw
heaven
standing
open
and
there
before
me
was
a
white
horse
whose
rider
is
called
faithful
and
true
with
justice
he
judges
and
wages
war
his
eyes
are
like
blazing
fire
and
on
his
head
are
many
crowns
he
has
a
name
written
on
it
that
no
one
knows
but
he
himself
he
is
dressed
in
a
robe
dipped
in
blood
and
his
name
is
the
word
of
God
the
armies
of
heavens
were
following
him
riding
on
white
horses
and
dressed
in
fine
linen
white
and
clean
coming
out
of
his
mouth
is
a
sharp
sword
with
which
to
strike
down
the
nations
he
will
rule
them
with
an
iron
scepter
he
treads
the
winepress
of
the
fury
of
the
wrath
of
God
almighty
on
his
robe
and
on
his
thigh
he
has
the
name
this
name
written
king
of
kings
and
lord
of
lords
and
I
saw
an
angel
standing
in
the
sun
who
cried
in
a
loud
voice
to
all
the
birds
flying
in
midair
come
gather
together
for
the
great
supper
of
God
so
that
you
may
eat
the
flesh
of
kings
generals
the
mighty
of
horses
and
their
riders
and
the
flesh
of
all
people
free
slave
great
and
small
then
I
saw
the
beast
and
the
king
of
the
earth
and
their
armies
gathered
together
to wage
war
against
the
rider
on
the
horse
and
his
army
but
the
beast
was
captured
and
with
it
the
false
prophet
who
had
performed
the
signs
on
its
behalf
with
these
signs
he
had
deluded
those
who
had
received
the
mark
of
the
beast
and
worshipped
its
image
the
two
of
them
were
thrown
alive
into
the
fiery
lake
of
burning
sulfur
the
rest
were
killed
with
the
sword
coming
out
from
the
mouth
of
the
rider
on
the
horse
and
all
the
birds
gorged
themselves
on
their
flesh
verse
four
confirms
Jesus
is
God
receiving
worship
from
the
24
elders
so
we
know
without
a
doubt
that
this
is
Jesus
who
is
coming
the
wedding
of
the
lamb
has
come
this
is
a
fulfillment
of
Ephesians
5
22
to
27
this
is
an
illustration
of
Christ's
relationship
to the
church
wives
submit
yourself
to
your
own
husbands
as
you
do
to
the
Lord
for
the
husband
is
the
head
of
the
wife
as
Christ
is
the
head
of
the
church
his
body
of
which
he
is
the
savior
now
as
the
church
submits
to
Christ
so
also
wives
should
submit
to
their
husbands
in
everything
husbands
love
your
wives
as
Christ
loved
the
church
and
gave
himself
up
for
her
take
making
her
holy
cleansing
her
by
washing
her
with
water
through
the
word
and
to
present
her
to
himself
as
a
radiant
church
without
stain
or
wrinkle
or any
other
blemish
but
holy
and
blameless
only
through
Christ
sacrifice
can
the
believing
church
be
made
clean
nothing
we
can
do
nothing
we
can
say
nothing
we
can
pay
purgatory
means
nothing
any
of these
other
things
we
can't
do
it's
only
Christ's
sacrifice
verse
10
again
confirms
we should
only
worship
God
this
is
where
Satan
sinned
by
feeling
that
he
should
be
worshipped
you
remember
John
was
going
to
bow
down
to
this
angel
and
the
angel
said
don't
worship
me
worship
God
alone
this
point
is
the end
of
tribulation
Christ
is the
rider
coming
to
make
war
with
those
who
are
evil
again
his
eyes
are
like
blazing
fire
able
to
see
and
judge
correctly
crowns
indicate
magnificent
rule
the robe
dipped
in blood
is not
his
own
blood
but
from
Isaiah
63
1-6
we see
he trampled
the wine
press in
his wrath
and their
blood was
splattered
on his
garment
so these
things are
prophesied
all through
the old
testament
this is a
picture
of warning
all the way
from
Isaiah
the armies
of heaven
this is a
combination
of angels
and believers
clothed
and pure
white
and clean
this is the
redeemed
church
people
people who
believe in
the rapture
see this
that this
is the
church
following
after
christ
so this
is the
church
and the
angels
coming
with
christ
you know
coming
for war
so does
it make
sense
to be
robed
in white
if you're
going to
war
well if
the war
is already
predestined
that christ
has one
weapon
and that's
the word
of god
when he
speaks
the war
is over
if you're
a believer
you're just
there to
witness what
happens
you're on
a horse
white horse
and we see
it happen
we don't
actually fight
but we're
there so
the church
will come
back with
christ
the sword
god speaks
and all
ends
just like in
creation when
he spoke
and all
was created
verse 19
to 21
then i saw
the beast
and the
kings
of the
earth
and their
armies
gathered
together
to wage
war against
the rider
on the
horse
and his
army
but the
beast
was captured
and with it
the false
prophecy
who had
performed
the signs
on its
behalf
with these
signs he
had deluded
those who
had deceived
the mark
of the beast
and to
worship its
image
the two
of them
were thrown
alive into
fiery lake
of burning
sulfur
the rest
were killed
with the
sword coming
out of it
out of the
mouth of the
rider on
the horse
and all
the boards
gorged
themselves
on their
flesh
another
place
this is
Armageddon
this is the
battle of
Armageddon
we read in
Zechariah
chapters 12
to 14
so written
you know
about 2500
years ago
these things
happening
that confirms
that this
battle isn't
just
they're coming
against Jerusalem
this is a
battle of
Jerusalem
that is why
you see
Jerusalem is
always in
the news
it is the
most important
place in
God's
kingdom
this is where
it comes
back
Jerusalem will
not ever be
wiped out
no matter what
happens
Jerusalem
will always
be there
and then
is it fair
that Jesus
destroys all
who are left
there has
always been
grace shown
to people
Adam
lived over
900 years
after the
garden of
Eden
God chose
Abraham to
start his
chosen people
Joseph
was used
to save
the starving
group of
people
Moses
brought these
people out
of Egypt
430 years
later
as the
nation
Israel
this saved
them from
intense
suffering
as slaves
many
prophets
warned
Israel
about
following
false
gods
Jesus
came to
dwell
as a
human
died
as a
sacrifice
in places
those
believed
in him
finally
during
this
seven
years
of
tribulation
God
sends
an
angel
to
trumpet
the
truth
two
witnesses
with
great
powers
to
trumpet
the
truth
and
144
thousand
Israeli
evangelists
to
trumpet
the
truth
many
will
turn
to
Christ
and
be
murdered
for
their
faith
that
is
promised
but
we
think
well
why
is it
fair
but
revelation
16
10
and 11
states
men
on
their
tongues
in
agony
cursed
the
God
of
heaven
because
of
their
pains
and
their
sores
but
refused
to
repent
of
what
they
had
done
so
even
though
there's
144
thousand
like
you
can
imagine
all
the
things
that
are
going
on
angel
in
heaven
the
two
witnesses
that
there
would
be
televised
all
over
the
world
and
yet
people
still
refused
Jews
remember
they
crucified
Christ
after
they
realized
that
Christ
had
raised
Lazarus
from
the
dead
that
was
only
a
few
days
earlier
they
refused
to
accept
him
as
God
men
during
this
people
not
just
men
people
during
this
seven
years
of
tribulation
will
refuse
to
repent
of
what
they
had
done
is
God
fair
to
judge
them
he
offered
salvation
they
refused
in
conclusion
God
has
never
forced
anyone
to
believe
in
salvation
he
doesn't
do
that
he
offered
his
grace
but
allows
us
the
choice
to
believe
in
him
or
not
communion
is
a
proclamation
of
that
choice
it
is
our
choice
to
believe
that
Jesus
is
the
alpha
and
the
omega
the
beginning
and
the
end
so
with
that
let's
bow
our
heads
and
we'll
partake
in the
communion
service
dear
lord
thank you
that you
are the
alpha
and the
omega
the
beginning
and the
end
who
was
and who
is
and who
is
to
come
lord
we
can
see
from
revelation
and
worship
you
because
this
is
communion
is to
remember
what you
who you
are
and what
you've
done
lord
thank you
that
you
offer
salvation
through
grace
and now
as we
partake
it's just
a reminder
a physical
reminder
of what
you did
on the
cross
for us
and I
thank you
for that