January 4, 2026 Rev. Thomas M. Cox
- OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK
- ORIGINAL MEANING:
Writer- John
Document- a circular letter
Genre- apocalyptic literature
Audience- Christians in Asia Minor experiencing persecution under the Roman Empire
- TIMEFRAME: c. 95 AD (or earlier!)
- SUMMARY: In The Lamb Wins!! (our study of Revelation), we will examine central themes of the Book such as the Throne of God, and how the slain and risen Lamb of God has overcome the dragon. We’ll come to see that Revelation is a call to God’s people to remain faithful to the Lord amidst times of trouble. We’ll learn to trust in the Lord and His Kingdom, not the kingdoms of this present world system.
2) TODAY’S PASSAGE- Revelation 1:1-8 * THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, PART 1
- Jesus gave John a V__________ that he was to share with the churches.
- The Work of Christ:
- He L________ us.
- He P______ for our sins.
- He made us a kingdom of P_______. (see Rev. 5:10; read Exodus 19:5-6 and 1 Peter 2:9-10)
- He will visibly return in Judgment.
- He gets the Glory!
3) TAKEAWAYS:
- HEAD: Know the Christology5: Faithful Witness, 1st-born from the D_____, King of kings
- HEART: Feel confident in the B_______3 of the Lord. We don’t have to be fearful or confused…
- HAND: Remember that we are to read, listen to, and K______3 the words of this prophecy.
REVELATION 1:1-8 (ESV, emphases mine)
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 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.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, 5 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 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.