Revelation 1:1-3 - Homiletics

Introduction: the purport of the book.

In commencing a series of sketches which shall furnish in outline a homiletic exposition of such a book as this, the writer may well feel borne down with a sense of the responsibility of the task he has undertaken. And yet such responsibility, great as it is, is prevented from being overwhelming through the infinite joy and comfort he has himself derived from a repeated study of it—a study extending over some fifteen or twenty years, and now renewed for the special purpose of giving utterance to convictions of its value and glory, which deepen with each succeeding examination of its contents. Into the detailed opinions of the varied expositors as to whether the preterist, futurist, or historical interpretations are the most correct, it will neither be in his province nor to his taste to enter. There is another order of exposition—the spiritual—which, accepting whatever can be verified in the other three, sees rather throughout the Apocalypse an unfolding of the principles on which the great Head of the Church will carry forward his own work, and a parabolic setting of the fortunes of his Church as she moves forward to the final consummation of all things. As Dr. Lee remarks, £ "the historical system assumes that single events, as they come to pass in succession, exhibit the full accomplishment of the different predictions of the Apocalypse," while "the 'spiritual' application is never exhausted, but merely receives additional illustrations as time rolls on." Hengstenberg's remarks are worthy of being remembered: £ "That the Christian may remain steadfast and fearless where he is, even though it should be in the midst of a falling world, this book is fitted to render for such a purpose a most important service. It has thus proved a blessing even to many who have very imperfectly understood it. For it is wonderful how the edifying power that resides in the book forces its way even through the most imperfect understanding of its contents, if only the soul that applies to it is hungry and thirsty, weary and heavy laden, if it only stands in living faith on the Divinity of Scripture and the glorious consummation of the kingdom of Christ." In full accord with the convictions of the value of the Apocalypse, thus admirably expressed by the great evangelical German divine, do we now commence for homiletic purposes to unfold its plan. Our first sketch must needs be like the first three verses—introductory. Introductory, however, though the verses are, they are amazingly full of holy and blessed teaching. We have here—

I. THE NAME GIVEN TO THE BOOK . "The Revelation ( ἀποκαλύψις £ )" (verse 1). At the forefront of the book this is its avowal. It declares itself to be nothing less than the disclosure of what was behind a veil, and so invisible to mortal sight, until the veil was drawn aside and unseen things were thereby disclosed. That there are other realms than our globe, peopled with moral and spiritual beings, is again and again declared in Scripture; that there are mysterious forces of good and of evil in the distant places of creation is also told us. That there is many a contest over man in these far-off realms; that there is a Divine Being who watches over the conflict, and who will "bring forth judgment unto victory;" that the theatre on which the issue is to be fought out is this globe; and that at the consummation the direst enemies of the world and of man will be put to an utter shame;—all this could no philosophy forecast, nor any science teach; all this lies behind an impenetrable veil. If we are to know these things, they must be revealed to us, and this can be done only by our God! Note: As this is declared at the outset concerning this book, as such it must be regarded; until its claims be disproved, they should be reverently accepted.

II. THE METHOD OF THE REVELATION . The several steps are shown us—the terminus a quo and the terminus ad quem. We have:

1 . Its origin. "God"—God the Father. If God be the Father of all men, that he should let them know something about himself is most reasonable. To suppose that he cannot, is to suppose that a father would build a house for his children, of such a kind that they could never find out where their father was!

2 . Its channel. "Jesus Christ." God gave it to him. HE is the Medium, the Mediator between God and man; and the clearest disclosures of God and his purposes come to us through the everlasting Son.

3 . Its agents.

4 . Its mode. "He signified it." The word means "to signify by symbols."

5 . For whom? "To show unto his servants," etc. The Word of God is committed as a trust to those who love and serve him. The faith was "once [for all] delivered to the saints." Why to these? (cf. Matthew 13:10 , Matthew 13:11 ). Note: Here in outline is a wondrous sketch of how God reveals his truth.

III. THE CONTENTS OF THE REVELATION . £

1 . Events. "Things which must shortly come to pass."

2 . Such events as are necessarily involved in the bringing about of the Divine purposes. "Must" (verse 1).

3 . Events which, in the prophetic forecast, are near at hand. "Shortly," i.e. in the reckoning of Heaven (cf. 2 Peter 3:8 ). The next great crisis of the world is the second coming of the Son of God. He is on the way. But at what point of time the Son of man will be revealed it is not given to man to know. The series of events that prepare the way for the second coming began immediately after the first and are going on now. Not a moment is lost. Heaven's great harvest day is coming on.

IV. THE USE TO BE MADE OF THIS REVELATION . (Verse 3.) Reading, hearing, doing.

1 . It was to be read in the Churches. "He that readeth," equivalent to "he that reads it in the assemblies of the saints." The Word of God is not to be hid in a corner, but publicly read. It is not the preserve of the few, but the charter for the many.

2 . The people are to hear. God's truth was to be set before men through the ear. The doctrine that it is more effective when set before the eye, finds in such a passage as this no support.

3 . The hearers must keep the things written therein. Note: If the book is so obscure that no one can understand it, it is hard to say how men can keep the things that are herein written. The blessing pronounced on those who do keep them implies that they are sufficiently plain for that purpose. How, then, are we to "keep" these things?

V. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE WHO RIGHTLY USE THIS REVELATION . "Blessed is he," etc. (verse 3). It is not difficult to see in what this blessedness consists.

1 . Such will have a good understanding; for they will know the meaning and plan of the world's course and destiny.

2 . They will have a sure resting place in the absolute certainty of the final triumph of truth and righteousness.

3 . They will have a good hope. "Looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."