Epistles of John

John preached what he saw: the Son of God

The Apostle John

  • nearly 90 years old
  • silent in Acts while Peter, the lead, did most of the preaching
  • 5 books of the canon, Gospel of John; 1, 2, 3 John; Revelation

1 John 1:1–2 (CSB) What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—

John saw:

  • cross
  • upper room
  • ascension

Middle man

  • spoke about what you saw

1 John 4:14 (CSB) And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior.

Tip of the spear/missile/bullet

1 Corinthians 1:23 (CSB) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.

John preached what he saw: the Holiness of God

1 John 1:5 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.

The holiness of God - perfect, without sin. Preached the holiness of God like Isaiah.

John preached what he saw: the Truth of God

Against false teachers

1 John 4:5–6 (CSB) They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

But we are from God

We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us;

Because we are have a new heart, his Spirit and a renewed mind.

Unbelievers do not listen to preaching

anyone who is not from God does not listen to us.

Preaching is either or, black & white, right & wrong

This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

Demonic spirits enables false teaching

Holy Spirit enables right preaching

Revelation of Christ to John

John preached what he saw: the Glory of God

Revelation 1:1–3 (CSB) The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.

The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw.

What John saw:

  • The Glory of God
  • King of kings
  • Lord of lords
  • Christ is reigning now and forever

Blessed those preach the Revelation

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy

Blessed who are sitting under the preaching of Revelation

and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.

John preached what he saw: the Command of God

God the Son:

The revelation of Jesus Christ

God the Father:

that God gave him

The people of God:

to show his servants what must soon take place.

The angel of God:

He made it known by sending his angel

The preacher of God:

to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy

The church of God:

blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy

The word of God:

and keep what is written in it

The time of God:

because the time is near.

Revelation 1:11 (CSB) saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

John preached what he saw: the intentions of God

Revelation 1:16 (CSB) He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.

Revelation 1:20 (CSB) The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

seven stars ἄγγελος (angelos) messenger, angel

In NT, mostly heavenly but sometimes human. You have to go by context.

In this context, it is the human preacher of the local churches.

And it starts like this:

Revelation 2:1 (CSB) “Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

Each preacher must preach the not just one letter but all seven letters and the entire prophecy and book of Revelation.

Just by reading Revelation to the congregation, we are preaching it. The preacher’s voice will rise in urgency and exhortation.

John preached what he saw: the preaching of Christ

Christ is coming again soon

Revelation 22:7–8 (CSB) “Look, I am coming soon!

Christ blesses

Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

John saw and worships Christ

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me.

Christ is rewarded and rewards

Revelation 22:12 (CSB) “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work.

Christ begins and ends:

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Genesis 1:1 (CSB)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 3:15 (CSB)
15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

Christ brings us into his joy

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

Genesis 3:21 (CSB)
21 The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.

Genesis 3:16 (CSB)
16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.

Genesis 3:17–18 (CSB)
17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.

Christ separates us from sin forever

15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Spirit and the Church proclaim “Now is the time!”

17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.

We preach Revelation and warn others

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.

19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.

Christ is coming again

20 He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Christ proclaims grace upon grace

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen.