Revelation 1:18
“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:17-18)
One of the most troubling problems in governments, large and small, around the world is this: leaders are only temporary. They grow old and die. Now when some leaders shuffle off of their leadership platforms, people are grateful. The news recently has highlighted the problems of leaders who have overstayed their welcome. But it is always troubling when good leaders grow old or die. All of us wonder, “What will life be like when this good leader is gone?”
And it’s not just our leaders. What about our own lives? What about when this earthly life is over? Can we have any assurance about the afterlife? Can we be confident about eternal life?
The good news of Jesus Christ gives men confidence about eternal life. The details of a train ride in 1867 are unclear. But according to General Lew Wallace, a conversation with a renowned atheist on the train changed his life. The atheist was the well-known Robert Ingersoll. During his conversation with Wallace, he absolutely trounced the Christian faith. Ingersoll was known for giving lectures all over the country denouncing religion as mere superstition. But after that train ride, General Wallace determined that he would study the Christian faith more closely. The result was that Lew Wallace studied the Scripture and became enthralled with the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. To honor the Lord, Lew Wallace went on to write the most popular novel in the 19th century. Perhaps you’ve heard of it, since the story was later made into a major motion picture. The title was “Ben-Hur.” Across the years, the Gospel of the living Christ has radically changed the lives of people like General Wallace. The good news of Jesus Christ gives men confidence about eternal life.
On this Resurrection Sunday, 2022, we are delighted to proclaim that Jesus Christ is “Alive forevermore!” Now some who hear those words may conclude that, if He is alive forevermore, then Jesus never experienced the bitter dregs of the cup of death in the first place. But our text today joyously proclaims that Jesus did, in fact, die, but now He is alive forevermore! Today, we are rejoicing in His Resurrection. Consider the glories of our mighty Lord in Revelation chapters 1-3 and what this revelation of Christ means for you and me.
Meditation on Christ’s Glory in Revelation 1-3
Jesus, the Christ, of God’s great revelation, showing His servants all things that He said
Faithful and true is this God of salvation, Firstborn Creator who rose from the dead
Ruler of all of the kings of the nations, loves us and freed us: His blood for our sins
Made us a kingdom of priests’ ordination: Glory, dominion forever, Amen!
Look! He is coming in clouds soon hereafter; all who have mocked Him and pierced Him shall wail
Alpha, Omega, the Heavenly Father, testifies now that His Son will prevail
Alpha, Omega, God’s Son and our Savior, this Son of Man is the voice that we hail
Telling us all of God’s love and His power; this Revelation, this Christ is unveiled
High Priestly robe is His beautiful clothing. Hair, white like wool, and His eyes like a fire
Feet like the bronze as refined by their flaming: We fall before Him, the Lord we admire
Voice like the waters, the waves in their roaring, His right hand fills all His men with desire
Out from His mouth, the sharp sword made for fighting, telling us all of what God now requires
His face like sunlight in brightness is shining: wisdom and power and justice unite
Fear not! The First and the Last is now ruling: present and future and past in His sight
Living, He died, but He lives by His rising! He holds the keys of old death and hell’s might
Pastors and churches our Lord is still holding; Christ fills them all with His brightness and light
Christ has the sevenfold Heavenly Spirit: He grips His pastors who are but mere men
He is the holy and true without limits: Christ holds the key and the Gospel will send
Our faithful Lord calls us all to repentance. Poverty, blindness and shame He can end
God of creation: our churches He visits; True, faithful witness, the Father’s Amen
Don’t Be Afraid: It is the Lord’s Command
In an earlier message, we noted that when John, the beloved Apostle, saw the Exalted Son of Man, he fell before Him like a dead man. Seeing this remarkable vision in the Scriptures, you and I understand John’s response. As the old timers used to say, a vision like this will “put the fear of God in you.” Rightly so. Yet Christ placed that hand that held the seven stars upon His servant and said, “Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last…” This reminds us of the psalmist who said that the Lord had surrounded him and laid His hand upon him (Psalm 139:3).
This Exalted One, the Son of Man, the Revealed Christ, surrounds His servants with His favor and says, “Fear not.” He knows the end from the beginning and He is the beginning and the end. In a culture that worships its fantasy super heroes, Jesus Christ is the reality. As the psalmist wrote in Psalm 5:12, He will cover His servants with the shield of His favor. Will you embrace the Exalted Christ by faith? In the words of Hebrews 10:39 “Do not draw back – do not shrink back” – in fear, for you will be destroyed, place your faith in the One who can preserve your soul. You will find that He will turn you from your fear to rejoice in His favor.
What is it about Jesus that causes us to put away our fear? Jesus Christ is “the first and the last.” Like the expression, “Alpha and Omega” (Revelation 22:13), “first and the last” connects Jesus with the eternal Lord of Hosts. In a fascinating verse proclaiming the deity of the first two Persons of the Godhead, Isaiah 44:6 states, “Thus says the Lord the King of Israel, and His redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (See Isaiah 48:12.)
Don’t Be Afraid: Jesus is the Great “I AM”
“I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
According to Exodus 3:13-14, Moses told the Lord that the people would ask about the Lord’s name. The Lord responded, “I AM that I AM.” In John 8:58, Jesus Christ testified of His deity and eternality when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” In his Gospel, the Apostle John recorded the “I AM” statements of Jesus Christ:
“I am The Bread of Life,” (the Living Bread) (John 6:48, 51), “I am The Light of the World” (John 8:12; 9:5), “I am The Door of the Sheep” (John 10:7), “I am The Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), “I am The Son of God” (John 10:36), “I am The Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25), “I am The Way, the Truth and The Life” (John 14:6), “I am The True Vine” (John 15:1). In John 18:6, when the mob came to confront Christ, He said, “I am He,” and they all fell backward. In the Book of the Revelation 1:18, the Apostle John recorded the words of Jesus Christ: “I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Do you get the idea that Jesus Christ is sufficient for you – for every part of your life and afterlife?
Don’t Be Afraid: Say “Amen!”
In a message entitled, “And All God’s People Said”, based on Revelation 7:9-12, we studied the significance of God’s people saying, “Amen.” Those who truly believe “amen” God’s promises. They embrace them as true. John the Baptist described that affirmation this way: He that receives this testimony “sets to his seal that God is true” (John 3:33). John continued, “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). So consider the testimony of Jesus Christ in Revelation 1:18 on this Resurrection Sunday:
“I am He that lives and was dead”
“Behold, I am alive forevermore”
“Amen; and [I] have the keys of hell and death”
Jesus Christ is the True, faithful witness, the Father’s Amen. “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!” Yes, He who lives was dead. He experienced real, physical death. But He arose victorious over the grave. “He arose, He arose, Hallelujah, Christ arose!” And He is alive forevermore. When John spoke of “everlasting life” – eternal life – here is the Source. Jesus Christ is alive forevermore.
The great “I AM” has given us this great command: “fear not.” Will you say, “Amen” to the great “I AM” and place your trust in Him?
Today, if you will listen to the voice of the Great Shepherd of the sheep, you can have live forevermore. In John 10, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28)
On this Resurrection Sunday, we are rejoicing that Jesus Christ, the Risen One, is alive forevermore. And His gracious finished work – giving His life on the cross and gloriously rising again – demonstrates that He can give us eternal life. So as we draw this message to a close, let’s be practical. How does Christ give us eternal life? John 10:27-28 lays it out for us. Jesus said,
- My sheep hear my voice
Have you opened your ears to the Shepherd’s voice? Do you listen eagerly for His Words in the Scriptures? Do you really hear His voice, and know that He is speaking to you personally?
- And I know them
Jesus, the Great Shepherd, knows His sheep. It’s one thing to say that you know the Lord. It is quite another for Him to say that He knows you! Jesus knows those that love His voice and pay attention to His Word.
- And they follow me
The best indication that you are one of the Lord’s sheep is that you follow Him as your Shepherd.
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:23-24). If you want to follow Christ, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.
- And I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, nor shall any man snatch them out of my hand
The One who is alive forevermore gives His sheep eternal life.
Last Sunday, Mrs. Burke gave me this delightful poem written by her father 68 years ago this week. Yet the truth of this poem is timeless.
Tell Me The Story of Easter (to the tune of Tell Me the Story of Jesus)
Tell me the story of Easter, show me the tomb where He lay
Tell me the news of His triumph, early – that first Easter Day
Tell how He suffered in anguish, bearing the price of our sin
How He was buried and guarded, sealed – and imprisoned within.
Rich was the tomb where they laid Him, fragrant the spice and the balm
Fair was the garden of flowers, silent – the vigil and calm
Then the earth trembling, surrendered, soldiers were frightened and fled
Back rolled the stone by an angel, forth came the Christ from the dead
Show me the tomb where they laid Him, empty but eloquent room
“He is not here, but is risen,” He who has conquered the tomb!
Angels now linger with comfort, death has been robbed of its sting;
Mortals believing can worship, lift up their voices and sing!
- Rev. Ralph T. Norlund, April 15, 1954
Jesus is alive forevermore. Let us praise Him on this Resurrection Sunday.
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio www.cbcfindlay.org