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Grace and peace of our loving Lord Jesus Christ to all who love the Lord with an undying love. Last week we begin the reading of and meditation of the book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is an interesting book because it not only is the last book of the 66 books of the Old and the New Testaments, but it is also an interesting literary genre. It is an apocalyptic writing, uh prophetic writing, uh as they say. And therefore, um we're not used to uh reading uh such a prophetic writing. We we don't understand how we are to uh read it. Uh simply said, it is a book um full of symbolisms. So um and we are to understand these, all of these symbols point to the person of Christ Jesus. So I I don't want to oversimplify it, but it is rather that simple. Uh the book of Revelation is about the revelation of Jesus Christ. It's about Jesus, it's from Jesus, and it is written at a time where uh Christians needed uh to awaken, uh repent, and renew their commitment to the Lord. And symbolism, symbolic words uh have uh their own way of particularly stirring up our our souls, our heart and our hearts and minds. So, well, with that introduction, let me uh introduce the book of Revelation. The book opens not with a riddle, but with a revelation. The word for revelation is apocalypsis, uh, which means unveiling. So John, the author, uh, writes that this unveiling is from and about Jesus Christ, given by God the Father and delivered through John for the benefit of the church. And unlike the popular notion that's out there, uh the book of Revelation is not a prediction of end time or and future events. After all, this was written uh 2,000 years ago for the audience back then and as well for the rest of the ages. So uh let's keep that in mind as we uh read this book and meditate on it together. This is a Christ-centered vision which meant uh to sustain the suffering saints through all our generations as they face their present uh tribulation. Uh verse one, what must soon take place? This echoes Daniel chapter two, verses twenty-eight and twenty-nine, signaling that the end times uh of the Bible, the end times, was inaugurated by Christ's resurrection and are already therefore unfolding. Um, in other words, the end times began for us 2,000 years ago with Jesus' death and resurrection. So Christians are reminded that we're not just waiting for the future to come to us. Whether we realize it or not, we are already living in the last days. John writes to seven real churches in Asia Minor, but their number uh seven also symbolizes the fullness of the universal church. So the seven churches also represent all churches everywhere throughout history. Verse three. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. So the promised uh blessings in verse three upon those who read, hear, and keep. This underscores the practical and pastoral purpose of this book. Revelation is not given to satisfy curiosity, but to cultivate obedience and endurance. Verses four and six. John to the seven churches that are in Asia, grace to you and peace from whom from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth, to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. So the greeting uh in verses four to through four to six is profoundly uh Trinitarian in its formula. Uh from God the Father, who is and who was and who is to come, the Spirit, the seven spirits before his throne, a symbolic fullness, and Jesus Christ, uh the second person of the Trinity uh Trinity. So Jesus is described in these titles the faithful witness, uh, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. And this describes Jesus' earthly ministry, his resurrection and authority, and his exalted reign, which is upon us now. The church does not need need a new message for hard times. The church simply needs to see the reigning Christ in all his glory in our present time. Christ has already freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God, and we are not waiting for his glory to begin sometime in the future, but it's already upon us. We're participants in his rule and worship now, here and now. In the glorious vision, crescendos in verse 7, behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him. The crucified king will return, not in obscurity, but in his full glory. So in this book, uh, who is God? God is the sovereign author of redemptive history. He is not distant, uh, but he is imminent, who is and who was and who is to come. He holds time and eternity in his hands. Jesus Christ his son is not merely a prophet, but the exalted King, the faithful witness, the resurrected Lord, and the cosmic ruler. The same Jesus who washed his disciples' feet now rules the cosmos and will one day return to renew. So uh, who is God? God is imminent, God is with us, God is the author of our redemptive history. And so God has not left us uh his church in the dark. He has unveiled his plan and purpose in Christ. So the revelation is a testimony to his desire uh desire, God's desire, not only to be known, but to strengthen God's church, God's people amid tribulation. What is our guilt, however? Our guilt lies in forgetting who reigns. He we often live as if earthly rulers hold ultimate authority or as if Christ's kingdom is merely a future reality. Like the early churches, we are tempted to compromise, despair, or grow indifferent. We ignore the cost of our redemption and live like spiritual orphans rather than as freed priests of the king. So uh John's opening verses confront our apathy. Christ has freed us from our sins by his blood, yet we often return to bondage to sin. Christ has made us priests, holy nation, but we live as if worship is optional or even irrelevant or powerless. Um we must repent of that. And how does the grace of God shine in this passage? Grace shines in the fact that this vision is given uh at all to us. God reveals his plan not to confuse us, but to comfort and call us to faithfulness. This is not a closed book, it is an open scroll for the obedient. The blessing of verse 3 is for every believer who hears and keeps the word, not just scholars or mystics. And at the heart of this revelation is the gospel. Christ has already freed us, and we are not trying to earn his approval or survive on our own. We are a kingdom and priests because of his finished work. That means our identity is secure and our calling is active even now. So uh maybe look to God and please uh pray uh with me the following words. Gracious Father, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, in a world full of noise, confusion, and fear, you have not remained silent. You have revealed your glory in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is the faithful witness, the risen Lord, and the ruler of all. So thank you, Lord, for showing us who you are and what you're doing in the midst of us today. Thank you for freeing us from our sins by the blood of Jesus and for making us part of your kingdom. Forgive us for how quickly forgetting uh your power and your promise. Help us to live as holy priests of your holy nation, offering ourselves our lives as worship, in worship, and intercession and obedience to your name. May we read uh hear uh and keep your word, knowing that Christ reigns and is coming soon. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. So as we uh read the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, a literary genre called prophetic or apocalyptic writing. An unusual uh book, but um this book intends to show us and help us to meet the person of Christ Jesus. May we uh grow in faith into him and may his sovereign lordship guide us and keep us this day and forevermore.