A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

D. Christ is the King controlling the course of history, (Rev. 6-7).

1. Regardless of how things appear or how things fare for the Church, Christ Jesus is now and ever shall be the blessed controller of all things, 1 Tim. 6.13-16 – I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, [14] to keep the com mandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, [15] which he will display at the proper time – he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, [16] who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

2. Even in the midst of the worst tribulation, persecution, and confusion, our Lord will shelter his people; if we share in his sufferings, we too will share in his glory, 1 Pet. 4.12-19.

E. Christ is the Sovereign One, calling the world to repentance, (Rev. 8-11).

1. The trumpets of Revelation in chs. 8-11 are to stimulate us to repentance, “for their overriding purpose is to jolt the unbelieving world out of its complacency and self-centeredness, to summon it to repentance and to