This month and continuing through May on both television and radio, Love Worth Finding begins Dr. Rogers’ landmark series on the book of Revelation, “The Triumph of the Lamb.” And given current events, this teaching could not be more timely.
As Christians we frequently hear that we should be living not as if Jesus’ return is somewhere out in the future, but as if He is coming today. Our King is coming! We ought to live as though He died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon. His return comes more clearly into focus as world events grow increasingly grim. At any moment, Jesus Christ may return.
But what will He be like, this One who is coming? Revelation 1:7-11 describes Him:
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” 9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.”
“Alpha” and “Omega” are the two bookends of the Greek alphabet, Alpha being the first letter, Omega the last. Jesus Christ is God’s alphabet. If Jesus were speaking to us today, He would say, “I am the A and the Z.” He is the first, the last, and all letters in between. Jesus is God’s first word, God’s full word, and God’s final word. When you’ve said “Jesus,” you’ve said it all.
Saved or lost, dead or alive, every eye is going to see Jesus when He returns. And we will see Him not as He was; we’re going to see Him as He is, the glorified Christ with the veil taken away. We will be awestruck by His glory and humbled to our knees. Even those who crucified Him are going to see Him again. All will see the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Contrast of His First and Second Coming
What a glorious difference, from His first coming to His second coming!
First Coming Second Coming
Came to die Comes to reign
Came to take sinner’s place Comes to execute judgment
Came as a Lamb Comes as Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Came to save the lost Comes to take vengeance
Messenger of love Righteous Judge
Came in greatest humility Comes in incredible power and glory
Wore a robe of shame, mocked Comes to sit upon the throne of glory
Staggered under a cross Comes riding a white horse
Wore a crown of thorns Will be crowned King of kings
Today the Lord Jesus Christ is mocked and His name taken in vain. But His day is coming.
HE IS THE OMNISCIENT ONE
Jesus is the accumulated wisdom of Almighty God. Don’t get the idea, “Well, I’m saved, I’ve got Jesus, now I’m going on.” You don’t go on, you go deeper. You’ll never need anything more than Jesus. But you can have more of Jesus. You can go deeper into Him. You’ll never go beyond Him. Jesus is all you need. You should seek nothing more and settle for nothing less. He is the omniscient one.
HE IS THE OMNIPRESENT ONE
“In the beginning was the Word.” He is the beginning and the ending of all eternity. He was here before anything ever was, He brought everything into existence, and He’s the one who’s going to bring it to consummation. Sometimes people say, “I’m worried the world is coming to an end.” It will never come to an end until He says so. The One who spoke it into existence is the One who is going to speak it into consummation.
HE IS THE OMNIPOTENT ONE
He is the One who brought all things into existence. He is the One who is going to bring all things into consummation. He’s not just the Galilean peasant, the great teacher, or the philosopher. We don’t just tip our hat to Jesus; we bow the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “very God of very God.” If you miss that, you miss all of Christianity.
In addition, John in Revelation tells us ten more things he noticed about Jesus Christ:
#1 THE RESURRECTED CHRIST WITH UNDIMINISHED HUMANITY
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man…”
Notice John doesn’t say “Son of God,” but “Son of Man.” John was present when Jesus ascended into heaven, but he had not seen Jesus in the flesh for 60 years. Now Jesus stands before him. The ascended Lord has maintained and retained His humanity.
When Jesus Christ came to earth, He did not temporarily become a man. Jesus is eternally now a man. No less God than ever, but when He decided He was going to save you and said, “I’m going to step out of Glory to be born as a baby in Bethlehem,” He took upon Himself humanity. And He has decided to share it for all eternity.
In 1 John 3:1-2, we are given one of the most precious promises in Scripture.
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be life him, for we shall see Him as He is.
When we get to heaven, we’re going to see Jesus, Son of Man, with nail prints in His hand. He is God of very God, but He is the resurrected Christ with humanity that is ever His. He is and forever will like you and me, clothed in flesh, and one day we will be forever like Him. He is the prototype.
#2 THE REIGNING CHRIST WITH UNRIVALED MAJESTY.
13“…clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.”
His clothing is the robe of a king and a judge, reflecting the majesty of our Lord. When you are in the presence of majesty, you bow.
“As I live, sayeth the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God.”Romans 14:11 “…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:11
King Jesus will be the one the world will have to face as their judge.
“For the Father [God the Father] judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” John 5:22
Jesus Christ would rather be your Savior than your judge! Every human being has a date with deity, if not as Savior, then as judge, royally robed in majesty and glory.
We have eight more things John saw in this revelation of Jesus Christ, the resurrected Christ in His glory, and in Part 2 we will look at them. He is no longer the docile Lamb, but the Lion, the Mighty Warrior and King.
If you’re a Christian, this vision of Christ will cause you no fear, only reverence and anticipation. You’re going to want to fall at his feet, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
What a mighty God, what a glorious Savior we have. Hallelujah! Behold, He cometh! Are you ready? If you aren’t sure, here’s how you can know for certain.
