Rev 1:1-2
The Change of the Church
The Book of Revelation is one of the most exciting books in the Bible. It is
filled with mysteries and arouses our curiosity. Whenever I ask a group which
Bible book would you like to study next, the Book of Revelation is usually named.
And why is that? Because it describes, as John says in \\#Rev 1:1\\, "things
which must shortly come to pass." The future has already been degreed and written.
Our copy of the future is the Book of Revelation.
For the next few weeks, I will attempt to preach about some of the events that
the Book of Revelation speaks about. This will not be a Bible study on prophecy,
symbols, or time lines, but a series of sermons on future events. Indeed, you may
have more questions about Revelation when I finish than before I start, but since
the future is written, we ought to be as informed and prepared as possible.
I will deliberately skip over some of this book, not because it is not important
but because portions of it do not pertain to our future events. For example, most
of chapters 2-3 deal with seven churches and most of what was told to them has
come to pass.
I. Notice some truths about the Book of Revelation.
A. John is writing about the future.
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew
unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and
signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are,
and the things which shall be hereafter;
1. This is the future of the world.
2. One way or the other, it is your future.
B. Not only must these things come to pass but they must shortly come to
pass.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is
at hand.
1. Understand, we do not know WHEN these events will happen.
2. The Bible’s emphasis on not on WHEN the rapture will happen
but on WHAT will happen.
a. The Bible gives us some time indicators but they are vague.
b. The truth is, the church has been looking for these events
to start every since Jesus ascended.
c. However, they will happen and once they start to happen,
they will come rapidly and in succession.
C. \\#Rev 1:3\\ This book deals with events which if understood and obeyed,
can be a blessing to its readers.
1. The blessing is that those reading and obeying before the
rapture can be saved and a part of the rapture.
2. The blessing for those reading and obeying after the
rapture is that they can be saved, be warned, and flee.
D. I tell you this truth to frighten or shock you into listening.
1. There has been a lot of talk of late about the Mayan calendar.
2. Evidentially it has predicted a few things correctly in the past
and it predicts the end of the world in 2012.
3. We have a Book that has never missed.
4. You and I better read it and we better believe it.
5. The best news about the earth’s future is that you can miss most
of it.
II. First Major Event \\#Rev 4:1-3\\ The Church Will Be Changed
A. John represents the church in this book. Everything that happens to
John in this book is a representation of what will happen to the
church.
1. I know that is an unprovable statement; however, I believe it.
2. John has the unique privilege of recording what happens to the
earth as an observer rather than an inhabitant.
3. My contention is that he is watching from the perspective of the
church.
4. So what I am saying it that we could substitute John’s name through
out this book and use the word CHURCH.
B. Several things happen to John.
1. \\#Rev 4:1\\ John changes locations.
a. The church will be relocated to heaven through an event that
we call the rapture.
b. Revelation describes it as a door opens, a trumpet sounds,
and John is gone.
c. \\#1Thess 4:13-17\\ gives a few more details.
(1) \\#1Thess 4:14\\ It is an event only for the saved.
(2) \\#1Thess 4:15-17\\ It is an event which will happen to
both the saved dead and the saved living.
(3) \\#1Thess 4:16\\ We need not fear the event for the
Lord Himself will take us through it.
2. \\#Rev 4:2\\ John himself is changed into a spiritual being.
a. John was already IN the Spirit.
Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a
great voice, as of a trumpet,
b. At the rapture, John is remade into a spiritual being.
c. Those raptured receive a glorified body.
(1) \\#1Cor 15:51-53\\.
(a) \\#1Cor 15:51\\ This is "the change" of life.
(b) \\#1Cor 15:52\\ It will be an instantaneous change.
(c) It will occur at the sound of a trumpet, just as
John heard.
(d) \\#1Cor 15:53\\ The new body will be both
incorruptible (can’t ruin) and immortal (can’t
die) body.
(2) \\#1Cor 15:44\\ Once that happens, it will no longer
be a natural body but a spiritual body.
(3) \\#1Cor 15:48-49\\ calls it a "heavenly" body.
d. That is what is happening to John and that is what will
happen to the church.
3. \\#Rev 4:3\\ Then John sees God.
a. \\#Revelation 1:12-17\\ describe John seeing Jesus as his
vision starts.
b. \\#Rev 4:2-11\\ describe John, as the church, seeing God
and His heavenly throne.
(1) This might be what every believer first sees upon
entering heaven.
(2) We might term this the "throne room."
c. This is nothing like any human eye has ever seen.
(1) \\#Rev 4:3\\ John does not describe God as a human with
arms and legs but as colored and translucent stones.
(a) Jasper is a green colored, clearish stone.
(b) Sardine can be a flesh-colored or orange colored
stone.
(c) I don’t want to read more into this than we should
for God is neither a light nor a stone.
(d) However, God is some One like we have never seen
and John is searching for a way to describe Him.
(e) Other places in the Bible call God a Spirit and
say that He is Light.
(f) While there is no doubt that God appears at time
in the shape of a Man, He is obviously much more
complex.
(2) Then John describes the throne with a green tinted
rainbow around it and lightning shooting out from it.
(3) There are unique creatures all around the throne room.
d. These descriptions all require discussions too detailed for
our purposes this morning.
e. Let’s just leave it that the John, who represents the church,
is carried into the presence of God.
4. At this point, John is given protection and understanding.
a. Those raptured are protected from earth’s future events.
b. We will see the future events unfold from heaven.
c. It appears that we will understand the future events for
John had someone with him to explain at least in part what
was happening.
III. Your future can be altered.
A. I am not saying this event will take place today or tomorrow.
1. I am saying the changing of the church is a major future event that
will occur and once it occurs, a horrific series of events will
begin and nothing will stop them.
2. This book is not written so that the earth’s future can be altered
but so that the individuals future can be altered.
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to
try them that dwell upon the earth.
a. There is a fork in the road and this Book gives you an
opportunity to take the UPPER fork.
b. You must believe on Jesus Christ and be saved in order to be
apart of the rapture.
B. Salvation is not a bad thing. It will be the greatest and most
glorious event of your life if you will accept Christ.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,
and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even
as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
C. To be saved, you must do two things:
1. You must believe what the Bible says about Jesus Christ.
2. You must repent of your sins. That means, the best you know how,
you must surrender control of your life to Jesus.
D. Salvation could not be easier or more beneficial to you.
Don’t let the devil win another day in your life. Trust Jesus Christ today.
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