THE BOOK OF REVELATION

INTRODUCTION - Our two fundamental rules of interpretation for the book of Revelation have been to read the book like a first century Christian and read it with the Old Testament close at hand. The early church understood this book. They did not see it as a book full of mysteries, rather they saw the Old Testament parallels and easily interpreted the book for their own time. This is what we are going to have to return to if we are going to avoid all the bizarre and diverse interpretations which we hear so often today. This morning we come to one of the most glorious passages in all of Revelation which describes the universal rule and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, given to Him at His ascension to the throne of His Father in heaven.

1) THE THREE WOES AGAINST FIRST CENTURY ISRAEL - Revelation 11:14 - The three woes mentioned in this verse bring together all of our studies since the beginning of Chapter 8. We need to keep the full picture in mind as we come to the final trumpet blast. Let us remember that the book of Revelation is fundamentally concerned with the judgment of first century apostate Israel and the triumph of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Israel has turned from God and Christ, so she will be judged with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD. The Church becomes the new temple, the new city, the new dwelling place of God, and the people of God now expand to include all the nations, not just the Jews. The events described back in Chapter 8 are leading us to the great and glorious picture displayed in the final verses of Revelation 11. In Chapter 8, there was silence in heaven as something momentous was going to happen. In answer to the prayers of the persecuted Church, God comes forth to judge Israel. The plagues of Egypt, bitterness and darkness, and a demonic force are all unleashed against the apostate nation of Israel. She is judged for her sins against the Lord. John is sent to Israel with this bitter message of judgement. The church is separated from false Israel and as the final witness of God's Word takes place in Jerusalem, all is prepared for its great fall. The woes which Revelation 11:14 is speaking of are: the demonic forces unleashed against Israel (Chapter 9), the witness of the Word of God against Israel (Chapter 11) and now in the final verses of Chapter 11, the proclamation of the rule and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ over all the kingdoms and authorities in this world. Why would this be a "woe" to Israel? It is because the kingdom was being taken away from them (Matthew 21:43) and given to others. Christ was taking the throne of David, and they had rejected Christ. The new Temple will be revealed in heaven, while the old one on earth will be destroyed. With the establishment of Christ in glory, the apostate Jews would be finished.

As we study this passage today, we are not going to concentrate upon the devastation which the reign of Christ brought to apostate Israel of the first century. Instead, we will look upon the glory and greatness of this passage as it applies to the Church of Jesus Christ. This is perhaps one of the greatest passages written in Revelation, for it teaches us how to look at Christ today in His ascended glory and majesty. This picture of Christ will either make us totally fearful, for if we do not bow to Him, we have much to fear, or the passage will evoke praise and adoration for the One who sits on the eternal throne of heaven.

2) THE GLORIOUS PROCLAMATION OF HEAVEN - Revelation 11:15 - In the first century, the testimony of all of heaven was: "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" This is a theme found throughout the New Testament as one considers the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is not some monarch in heaven waiting to rule and reign. He is not waiting for the world to end so that He might take up His position on the throne of David. Even at His resurrection, Christ claimed all authority and power in heaven and earth as His own (Matthew 28:18,19). God has raised Him and seated Him above all authority and power, putting all things under His feet (Ephesians 2:20-23). Every knee is called to bow and every tongue is commanded to confess Christ as Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). Men think that they live under their own authority. Nations think that they exist in their own power. Yet we must understand that we are living in the world of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything we have is given to us from Him and it is only because of His grace that we are alive this morning, even those who do not acknowledge Him. The point is not whether Christ rules or not, the point is that you had better bow before this completely supreme monarch before He comes against you in His wrath. For now, you are being shown mercy, but beware of trampling that grace with your rebellion against Christ! He is Lord!

The passage before us provided the great inspiration for Handel to write the "Hallelujah Chorus." It is part of his greater work, "The Messiah," which describes the coming of Christ into this world to save sinners. "King of kings and Lord of lords…Hallelujah! Hallelujah!…And He shall reign forever and ever." These are the themes which Handel repeats in such majestic music. The composer was also theologically correct in his placement of this theme in his oratorio. He does not put this praise to Christ at the end of his work, rather it is inserted as the Gospel goes forth into the world. Christ ruled in the first century and continues to rule as He subdues all the nations of the world to His Gospel. This was the theme which Handel was portraying in His work.

3) THE RESPONSE OF THE CHURCH TO THE PROCLAMATION OF HEAVEN - Revelation 11:16-18 - We have already seen that the twenty-four elders are a symbolic picture of the church. The church responds to the absolute reign of Christ by drawing upon Old Testament imagery. In Psalm 2, we see the exact same themes being mentioned. The nations rage against God and Christ, but the Lord in heaven laughs, for He has set His Son as King upon His holy hill. God, therefore, commands the kings of this world to bow before Christ, "kiss the Son," otherwise they will perish in Christ's anger. As Christ ascended to that throne in the first century, this is the message which we should be bringing to the rulers of this world and our own country. To kings, presidents, and nations, we must tell them that there is a Lord over all of them, who rules and reigns. If they do not embrace this sovereign ruler, they will be destroyed. Thus, we see throughout history that leaders may rise, but if they do not acknowledge Christ, and if they pursue wickedness, they will eventually meet the true ruler of this universe. Christ rules them with a rod of iron and will smash those who do not bow to Him. On the other hand, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…" (Psalm 33:12). When a nation fears God and worships Christ, that nation will experience the manifold blessings of the sovereign Christ of the universe.

This is the way the early church saw Christ. In Acts 2:36, Peter told the Jews that Christ was both Lord and Christ. Jesus had taken the throne of David in the first century and had started His reign. In Acts 4:24-33, the disciples recognize the fulfillment of Psalm 2. Herod and Pilate (Jerusalem and Rome) had raged against Christ, but they were brought down. Now the rule and reign of Christ had begun, which is why the disciples could go out with such courage and boldness as they preached. Their power found its source from the throne of the universal reign of Christ.

4) THE OPENING OF THE NEW TEMPLE OF GOD - Revelation 11:19 - The temple in Jerusalem was being brought down, but this did not bring an end to worship. Instead, the final verse of Revelation 11 reveals to us the New Temple where God dwells. Here is the "woe" spoken against first century Israel. No longer would Jehovah be worshipped in Jerusalem, instead, His Temple is a spiritual Temple, existing in the Church, the true people of God. Here we see the Temple open, in other words, worship has been made accessible in and through the name of Christ. Now we may approach that holy place if we are found in the person of Christ.

5) WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST? - Do we believe what the text is saying, that Jesus is presently ruling and reigning over this universe? Many Christians today will call Jesus "Lord" but will limit that Lordship to their own pleasures and preferences. They might call Him Lord of the spiritual realm, but do not see Him reigning in the world. If this is the case, then we had better stop singing those hymns which define His comprehensive Lordship in the entire universe! There are those who preach a false Gospel, saying that Jesus can be our Savior without being our Lord. This is not Christianity, and to believe in a Christ who is not Lord is saying that you really do not know who Christ is. The text tells us that Christ is Lord over every known authority in the world, no matter how great or small. Therefore, if Christ is Lord of all, then first, He is Lord of His Church. All of our worship, organization, leadership, sacraments, prayers and confessions are subject to His authority and command. Everything we do as a church must be subject to Him. Yet this means that the people of God are also called to live in subjection to that Lordship. If we do not bow to Christ in our personal Christian lives, our thought lives, our individual lives, our life in this world, then we cannot expect Christ to bless the church. The Lord Jesus will remove the candlestick from any church that does not live this way. Secondly, if Christ is Lord of all of life, then He is Lord of our families. Here is where we see a great contradiction in Christian experience. We might live "Christianly" in the church, but do we contradict this when we go home? Does our behavior change in our families? Do we become overbearing wives and wimpy husbands with unruly children? Do we become zealous sinners full of anger and contradiction in our homes? Do we think that Christ's Lordship does not extend to this place? If this is the case, do not expect God to bless your family with His grace. Instead, expect the iron rod of Christ to judge and discipline your home for you are not living under His Lordship. Finally, if Christ is Lord of all of life, then He is Lord of every human political government and institution. No nation is free from the rule of Christ. Every president and king is in subjection to Him, whether they love Him or hate Him. If a ruler does not bow the knee to Christ, then he should expect to receive the iron rod of Christ. He will be deposed from his rule. Thus, we must warn rulers and call the nations to repentance! There is the sovereign and complete King in heaven. His rule is a theocracy, absolute, covering every area of life. To live against Him will bring His wrath. To bow before Him and His mercy will reap the blessings of the covenant of grace. Let us bow, in every area of life, to the King who rules with all the authority of heaven and earth!