Introduction: My thanks to the Adult Sunday School Class for this opportunity to build on what Chris and Jim have already so ably set forth for us regarding a general introduction to the book of Revelation – specifically Revelation chapter 1. Right at the beginning Jesus has commanded us to take to heart (heed, keep, do, pay attention to) his prophecy to us (v. 3), so that is what I would like us to do together during this session.

We ought to take to heart the words of Jesus’ prophecy because of who He is:

• He is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth (v. 4), the First and the Last, the Living One (who was dead but is now alive for ever and ever) and who holds the keys of death and Hades (vv. 17-18), No one else in all the universe has the power and authority to command us to take His words to heart. It was Jesus who said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matthew 24:35. This is why we have placed our faith and trust in His words. This is why the Bible is precious to us. As Peter proclaimed: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68. Indeed, He is the faithful witness. Our lives stand or fall on the basis of hearing his words and putting them into practice, Matthew 7:24-27. He has all authority, the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the everlasting God, the First and the Last, the Living One. Eternal life or death depends on Him who holds the keys of death and Hades

Why is it so important for us to believe in the verbal inspiration of Scripture? Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3. To say that God merely inspires thoughts is not enough since it is words that make up thoughts. So much of biblical understanding depends on the meaning of words.

Illustration: I love to hear an organist pull out all the stops to play Bach, for example. Here in the first chapter of Revelation, all the stops are pulled out! There is every reason for us to take to heart the words of Jesus prophecy because of who He is!

• He is the Son of Man, vv. 12-18, cf. Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Acts 7:56 – the God-man. When did John see Jesus like this before? Matthew 17:1-3. Surely John remembered that experience. And as the Son of Man, Jesus will come like a flash of lightning which will brighten the entire sky, Matthew 24:27. He will be revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels, 2 Thessalonians 1:7. This is our Lord Jesus we will meet at His Coming!

We ought to take to heart the words of Jesus prophecy because of what He did.

• He loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, v. 5 – the first and greatest motivator to take to heart his words and to put them into practice. He gave his life for us, so we give our lives for Him!

Who says doctrine is dry? It is the greatest possible motivation for practical Christian living.

• So, as a result, we are made to be a kingdom and priests to serve God! v. 6, cf. 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9. How does Jesus do this? By freeing us from our sins by His blood!

How will the world out there believe? If they see us as a kingdom and priests serving God. What does a priest do? He intercedes for the people and in serving them seeks to lead them to the Savior!

We ought to take to heart the words of Jesus prophecy because of what He will do.

• What is it that He will do? He will come again!, Revelation 1:7. Where did we see this before, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him,…”, v. 7, cf. Acts 1:9-11, Daniel 7:13.
• His Coming is the second greatest motivator to take to heart his words and put them into practice. He is coming again, and we all will answer to Him on that Day!
• As if to reinforce 1:3, Revelation ends the way it begins: “The angel said to me, ‘These things are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’ ‘Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.’” “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”, Revelation 22:6-7, 12.
• How, then, do we take to heart the words of Jesus’ prophecy? We live every moment in the light of His Coming when He will tie everything together, cf. Ephesians 1:9. Then, all history will find its fulfillment. Nothing else could be more important than that. Only Jesus can bring history to its conclusion, cf. Revelation 5:4-10. Are we ready for that coming? Are we taking it to heart? Does it motivate what we do each day? His coming is God’s great exclamation mark for our world – and for us. Therefore, Jesus wants us to be about His business as faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us. That’s what it means to take His words to heart. That’s what it means to read and hear the book of Revelation – to let it drive our thinking every day. He is coming soon!
• God spare us in these coming weeks from merely studying the book of Revelation as some kind of academic exercise – to simply exchange ideas about the order of events having to do with His Coming. How inconceivable it would be in the Glory of His Coming to sit around and talk about Dispensational or Reformed theology when we are in the very Presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.