Introduction

Last Sunday we found that it was the Apostle John, the writer of the Gospel of John and 1, 2, 3 John, that is the author of this Book. When John wrote this letter he was a prisoner on an island called Patmos because he was preaching the Gospel of Christ. It is about and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Book of Revelation is a letter that is addressed to seven churches in a place called Asia Minor. Today this area is known as the country of Turkey. All seven of these churches were situated here. These churches would have been started in some way or another by the ministry of the Apostle Paul. John meant for his letter to be read out loud in each of the seven churches, starting in Ephesus and passed on to the next church in line.

Before John begins the body of the letter he uses the first eight verses to remind his readers of the trustworthiness of the Christ they served. It is in these first eight verses, and especially verses 4-8, we find two truths concerning our Savior Jesus Christ. That is what we want to focus on today.

(Revelation 1:4-8)

John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—the glory and dominion are His forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”

THE FIRST TRUTH - HE CAN BE TRUSTED (verse 1:5)

Verse five tells us that He is the Faithful Witness. A witness is one that testifies to the truth. The Lord Jesus as a witness reveals God to us.

(John 1:18)

No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father’s side — He has revealed Him.

What does Christ reveal to us about God? First, He reveals the power of God. Think about the miracles Jesus performed while He was on earth: the feeding of the five thousand and raising the dead girl. The reason the miracles were done in His name is because He is God.

Christ also reveals to us the love of God. This can be seen in His death on the cross.

(Romans 5:6-8)

For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

Christ reveals the wisdom of God to us. This is the means of our redemption - Jesus, who was perfect and never sinned dying for us who are sinful.

(1 Peter 3:18)

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm.

Finally, Christ reveals to us God's hatred of sin. This can be seen in His death.

(Romans 6:23)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:32)

He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?

God is not going to let sin go unpunished. There is only one choice. Either the sinner must accept Christ who paid the sinner's debt on the cross or be sent to the lake of fire to pay for his own sins.

Verse five gives us another reason Jesus can be trusted. Because He is the first to be resurrected from the dead. He was resurrected to never die again.

(Revelation 1:17-18)

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.

You and I must believe that He has been raised from the dead if we are to be saved.

(Romans 10:9-10)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Verse 5 also says that Jesus is the Prince of the kings of earth. He will never be defeated. He is King of Kings and Lord or Lords.

THE SECOND TRUTH - HE HAS PROVED HIS LOVE FOR US (verse 1:5)

Jesus loves us!

(Philippians 2:5-8)

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

He washed us from our sins with His own blood.

(1 Peter 1:18-19)

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.