January 16, 2017
Revelation 1:4-6
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
Ok, we are finishing up Revelation 1:4 through 6 with a study of verse 6. Here is the full Scripture:
John, to the seven churches which 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; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful
witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the
earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own
blood, and made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We are studying Revelation Praise! – learning how better to praise the Lord through selected Scriptures from the book of Revelation! As I have studied in preparation for writing these blogs, I am amazed at how much we can learn about praising God from Revelation! So this will not be a short series!
We have already seen nine reasons why we should praise God – and that is just from verses 4 and 5 of Revelation, chapter 1! I see four more in verse 6:
• Revelation 1:6 – Jesus Christ “…has made us kings….” How is that so? In Revelation 20:6 it is written:
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such
the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
We, having part in the first resurrection (see I Corinthians 15:42-57; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:4), “…shall be like Him [Jesus], for we shall see Him as He is.” (I John 3:2).
✞ We will be perfect in body as He is – having a physical body perfectly adapted to spiritual living.
✞ We will be perfect is moral nature – sinless forever as He is.
✞ We will live eternally – as He “…ever lives…” (Hebrews 7:25).
A thousand years! We will reign on earth with Him during the millennium! And then we will be forever with Him in the New Jerusalem! (See Revelation 21:1-5). Over what we shall reign is not yet revealed. It depends upon how we manage our lives here and now to the glory of God! In the Parable of the Talents (see Luke 19:12-27), the servant who made ten times over what his lord had entrusted to him was given “…authority over ten cities.” (verse 17). The servant who multiplied his lord’s investment five times was given rule “…over five cities.” (verse 19). The only ones whose reigning reward is already revealed are the twelve apostles – Matthew 19:28:
Assuredly I say to you, that in the resurrection, when the Son of Man
sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit
on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Praise the Lord that we have been made kings, and will rule and reign with Him!
• Revelation 1:6 – Jesus Christ “…has made us…priests to His God and Father….” What does a priest do? Two things:
✞ He represents God before man! The priest in the Old Testament was supposed to show forth God’s holiness (see Leviticus 21:1-9) – especially the high priest (see Leviticus 21:10-15). Besides personal and public holiness, he was to have an understanding of Scripture, and teach the people about God.
✞ He represents man before God! It was the priest who presented all the different offerings of the people – given by them to obey and please God. And he was also to pray for the common folk, interceding for them in their need!
We have been chosen to do the same things! We are to show forth God (revealed in Jesus Christ) to the lost world! (See Matthew 5:13-16; 28:18-20; John 13:34, 35; Acts 1:8). And we are to intercede for others before our heavenly Father! (See Colossians 1:9; I Thessalonians 5:25; I Timothy 2:1-4; I John 5:16). Praise Him we are priests to His God and Father!
• The last two reasons to praise God (found in Revelation 1:6) we will take together: “…to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” God is so glorious that mortal man cannot look upon Him and live! (See Exodus 33:20). And in the New Jerusalem, we are told in Revelation 22:5: “They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.” That light is called His shekinah glory!
Dominion is rule over a nation, kingdom, or society. As far as Jesus’ dominion is concerned, when He reigns as “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16) – it will be a good and righteous dominion! (See Isaiah 11:1-10). It is recorded in Daniel 7:14:
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all
peoples, nations, and languages, should serve Him. His dominion is
an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom
the one which shall not be destroyed.
And in Psalm 72:8: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River unto the ends of the earth.” Praise God for His dominion!
“Amen.” And that means, “So be it! ”