The Capitol Cornerstone Ceremony Sept. 18, 1793 The original capital cornerstone, made of sandstone with the silver plate under it, has never actually been found. Perhaps there is a warning here – a nation that has lost its cornerstone may lose its foundations. Does the church have a cornerstone? Did we lose it? Is it buried never to be found? No! Jesus Christ Himself is the cornerstone of the church (Eph. 2). He is not lost or buried. He is risen and He is standing with His enduring church today. Introduction to Revelation A revelation (unveiling) of Jesus Christ A book of prayer and worship A book of blessing for persecuted believers A book of pictures, not puzzles A commentary on our spiritual battles (Eph. 6:12) Revelation ties the Bible together. (70% from OT) Written 90 – 95 AD by the Apostle John Sermon Title: A Revelation of Jesus (Rev. 1) 1. What does Jesus reveal about Himself? • He is the faithful witness. (5) • He is the Firstborn of the dead. • He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. • He is the Alpha and Omega. (8) • He is the Almighty. • He is the living One, forevermore. (18) • He has the keys of death and Hades. 2. What does Jesus reveal about Christians? • We are “His bond-servants.” (1) • We are shown “things which must soon take place.” • We are “loved.” (5) • We are “released from our sins by His blood.” • We are “made into a kingdom.” (6) • We are made “priests to His God and Father.” (6) 3a. What can Christians expect? A BLESSING! “Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” - Rev. 1:3 • This is the first of seven beatitudes in Revelation. • Read it, hear it, and keep it, and you will be blessed. • To “keep it” means “take to heart what is written in it.” • Revelation is addressed to “his servants”—not just prophecy buffs, not Ph. D.’s, experts, or angels, but you can be blessed. • Martin Luther refused to preach from Revelation. He did not understand it. He missed the blessing. 3b. What can Christians expect? PARTICIPATION IN TRIBULATION! “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” - Rev. 1:9 • This was certainly the case for the apostle John who was exiled for simply teaching the Word and having a testimony. • The proper expectations for Kingdom life is not: Health, wealth, and prosperity. • The proper expectations for Kingdom life is: participation in kingdom, tribulation, and perseverance. • It is a package deal. Why? For simply having a testimony of Christ! • John gave his testimony publicly, and He was exiled. • You give your testimony publicly, and someone will try and exile you too. • It takes no courage to be brave at church. • But when you give and live out a public testimony for Christ, on campus, at work, in your business, on your team, there is no doubt, you may have to endure and overcome whatever happens next. • Our culture is increasingly hostile to the Christian lifestyle and testimony. • Each of the seven churches in Revelation 2-3, is told by Christ to “overcome.” • Whatever the church is going through in history, it must overcome. • That is the mark of a Church a Christian participating in God’s kingdom. 3c. What can Christians expect? TO SEE CHRIST'S RETURN “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” - Rev. 1:7 • Every eye will see Him. Your eyes will see Him. • Every knee will bow before Him. Your knees will bow before Him. • At the final and full revelation of Jesus – all humanity will see and drop to its knees. • Some will fall before Him with joy and gladness. Their earthly suffering has come to an end. • Others will fall before Him in mourning – knowing their judgement day has come, and their eternal suffering is only beginning. CONCLUSION: Vance Havner told a story about a Christian who just read Revelation. Vance was curious and asked him, “Did you understood the book?” The man said, “Yep, it means Jesus is going to win.”