THE TRIUMPH OF THE RESURRECTION

Revelation 1:9-18

INTRODUCTION: Have you ever asked yourself who it is that was giving the revelation of Jesus Christ to the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos? Revelation 1:1-3; Revelation 1:17-18. Those are the very words the apostle John heard of the Lord’s day from one whose face shown like the sun shining in all its’ brilliance. Revelation 1:4-8. This One speaking to the apostle John is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and appearing to John in His glorified body. Our Lord Jesus laid out for the apostle John five facts about Himself that makes us praise our God to this very day!

  I.   I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST!

Revelation 1:8: Our Lord did not want to leave any doubt to the apostle John or to those John was writing to as to Who our Lord Jesus was and is and shall always be: Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12-13; John 1:1-3. Jesus our Lord is saying here that He is the beginning, He is our Creator God! Genesis 1:1: If Jesus is not our Creator God, according the Word of God He cannot be our Savior: Hosea 13:4.

  II.   I AM THE LIVING ONE!

Before the birth of Jesus of a virgin mother, our Lord Jesus lived as “the Word of God.” Genesis 1:1. Our Lord Jesus was the second Person of the God-head and has always lived.
John 1:1-4. King David said: 1 Samuel 17:26; Psalm 42:1-2. Before our Lord Jesus lived on earth as a living man, He was the Living God!

III.   “I WAS DEAD!”

The physical death of our Lord Jesus Christ is a central teaching of the Christian faith. The cross and the resurrection are the very center of our Christian faith. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Revelation 1:8. The death of our Lord Jesus is different from the death of every other person who has ever lived on this earth. All the rest of us suffer death; our Lord Jesus achieved death. Our Lord Jesus Christ’s death was His crowning work. Jesus death was His supreme work in His Father’s will for Him. All the rest of mankind dies because of sin. Jesus Christ did not die because of His own sin but to pay for all mankind’s sin: 1 Peter 2:21-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 10:14-18. Our Lord Jesus was a willing sacrifice for our sins: John 19:30.

  IV.   BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOR EVER AND EVER!

The death of our Lord Jesus on the cross was not the end of His life. If Jesus death on the cross was the end we would not be celebrating the triumph of the cross today. If Jesus Christ died and stayed dead than our preaching about Jesus Christ is in vain: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. Jesus Christ did die on the cross but death could not hold Him: Revelation 1:17-18. That little phrase: “Do not be afraid” is written 133 times in our Bibles. Do you know why it is said so many times? It is because if our Lord Jesus Christ lives then we also who are followers of Jesus Christ will live for eternity also: Matthew 28:5-10. It is because Jesus lives that we His followers need not to be afraid.

V.   JESUS HOLDS THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES!

Our Lord’s resurrection from the dead means not only did our Lord raise from the dead but that He holds the keys of death and Hades. Because our Lord Jesus rose from the dead, death has no more dominion over His followers: Psalm 23:1-6 KJV. 2 Corinthians 5:7-8; Philippians 1:21-23; Hebrews 2:14-15. Our Lord’s death and resurrection now guarantees us our death will user us into His eternal presence! Proverbs 4:18/ Revelation 1:18.