{"id":1122,"date":"2019-04-28T14:57:17","date_gmt":"2019-04-28T21:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1122"},"modified":"2019-04-28T15:03:24","modified_gmt":"2019-04-28T22:03:24","slug":"the-risen-christ-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/28\/the-risen-christ-says\/","title":{"rendered":"The Risen Christ Says&#8230;."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1122-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Easter-2-04-28-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Easter-2-04-28-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Easter-2-04-28-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Second Sunday of Easter<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">April 28, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Revelation 1:1-19<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Risen Christ Says\u2026<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw\u2014 that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father\u2014to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So shall it be! Amen.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;I am the Alpha and the Omega,\u201d<\/i> says the Lord God, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;who is, and who was, and who is to come, the almighty.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the Lord&#8217;s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.\u201d <\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone &#8220;like a son of man,&#8221; dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he placed his right hand on me and said:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Do not be afraid.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I am the First and the Last.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I am the Living One.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And I hold the keys of death and Hades.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear fellow worshipers of our Living Lord and Savior,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">He is risen!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is risen indeed!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">April 15<sup>th<\/sup>.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>What do we automatically associate with that day?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For most of us the date April 15<sup>th<\/sup> automatically makes us think of one thing:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>taxes.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>July 4<sup>th<\/sup>.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What do we automatically associate with that day? <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>That is the day on which we celebrate our country\u2019s independence.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The second Sunday in May.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What do we automatically associate with that day?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That is the day on which we celebrate Mother\u2019s Day.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">All of those were pretty easy, yes?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now let me ask you this:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The first Sunday after Easter.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What do we often times associate with that day?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For many pastors the first Sunday after Easter all but guarantees a low attendance as God\u2019s people tend to \u201ctake a break\u201d after attending all the Lenten and Holy Week services.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For many of God\u2019s people the first Sunday after Easter all but guarantees that they are going to hear a sermon on\u2014 \u201cDoubting Thomas.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not this year, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not today.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Today as you and I continue our celebration of Easter we are going to utilize the opportunity that is given to us in our Epistle lesson for this morning.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we turn our attention then to the opening section of Revelation chapter one let\u2019s study this portion of Scripture under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b><i>The Risen Christ Says\u2026. <\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\">There are two things we want to see today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span>First, let\u2019s see what the risen Christ says to His servant, the apostle John.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then let\u2019s see what the risen Christ says to us, His servants today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Since there is so much contained in our sermon text for today we simply do not have enough time to touch on all of the truths that are recorded for us here.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So, I invite you to take out your bulletins and keep them open to our text for today so that you can follow along as I highlight the portions of this text that we will study this morning.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">In verse 11 and in verse 19 of our text the risen and ascended Christ very simply says to His servant John, <i>\u201cWrite!\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What is John to write about?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse 19.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The risen Christ says, <i>\u201cWrite, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While this passage certainly applies to the entire book of Revelation, today let\u2019s see how this passage applies specifically to the portion of Revelation that serves as our text.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">First, the risen Christ says to John, <i>\u201cWrite, therefore, what you have seen\u2026.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What has the apostle John already seen?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We find part of the answer to that question in verse five.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John writes, <i>\u201c\u2026and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead\u2026.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>Now look at verse eighteen.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus says, <i>\u201cI am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever!\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As far as I can tell from my personal reading of Scripture, the apostle John was the only apostle who could say that he was an eyewitness of <b>both<\/b> the death and the physical resurrection of Jesus.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John was there on Calvary as Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the world.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See John 19:25-27)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John was the first of the apostles to understand that the empty grave in the garden on that first Easter morning meant that Jesus had <b>physically <\/b>risen from the dead just as He promised He would!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See and compare Luke 24:12 &amp; John 20:8)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore when the risen Christ therefore says to John, <i>\u201cWrite what you have seen\u2026\u201d<\/i> that command does indeed encompass John\u2019s eyewitness accounts of both Jesus\u2019 death and His physical resurrection.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">At the same time the risen and ascended Christ also says to John, <i>\u201cWrite\u2026what is now\u2026.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What does this include?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First let me direct you to verses 12-16 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is the section that begins with <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me\u201d<\/i> and ends with the words <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHis face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John\u2019s vision of the risen Christ in heaven is astounding, my friends!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Using words that are reminiscent of the visions that were given to men such as Daniel and Isaiah this portion of our text emphasizes three important truths.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It emphasizes that the risen Christ is indeed the victorious Conqueror.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It emphasizes that the risen Christ is still with His Church here on this earth, ruling over it, interceding for us and protecting us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It emphasizes that the risen Christ is most certainly the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> God Jehovah Himself!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Because the risen Christ is the one and only true God a crucial aspect of <i>\u201cwhat is now\u201d<\/i> is found in the second portion of verse five.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John writes, <i>\u201cTo him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father\u2014 to him be glory and power for ever and ever!\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because the risen Christ is our victorious Savior God who loves us beyond measure we know that we <b><i>have been <\/i><\/b>\u201c<i>freed\u2026 from our sins by his blood.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As you have heard me say at least once or twice before\u2014 through faith in what the Lord\u2019s Christ has done for us <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">all <\/i><\/b>of our sins <b><i>are <\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\">completely <\/span>forgiven!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because the risen Christ is our victorious Savior God who loves us beyond measure we have a glorious purpose in life!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The risen Christ Himself <i>\u201chas made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the saved children of God we have the privilege of joyfully and thankfully serving our Savior God by using the gifts, talents and abilities that He has given to us to bring glory to His Name and to serve Him (Pointing to the cross) by serving each other as brothers and sisters in the faith.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Does this mean that our life <b>now <\/b>as the redeemed children of God here on this earth will be a \u201ccakewalk\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse nine of our text:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cI, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John had been sent into exile to the island of Patmos because he faithfully stood up for the Truth of God\u2019s Word and because he boldly proclaimed Jesus as this world\u2019s <b>only <\/b>Savior from sin.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When you and I, my friends, strive to follow John\u2019s example, when you and I refuse to compromise the Truth as God Himself has recorded it for us right here in His holy Word, as you and I boldly point people to the cross of the risen Christ as the <b>only <\/b>way to be saved\u2014 we too can encounter ridicule and opposition.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Can we allow that ridicule to change what we believe, teach and confess?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Can we allow the world\u2019s opposition to the cross of our Savior (Pointing to the cross) to lead us to concede that there could possibly be another way to heaven other than by trusting in Jesus as one\u2019s personal Savior from sin?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Absolutely not!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The answer to that question is found in the final point we want to look at today.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The risen Christ Himself told the apostle John, <i>\u201cWrite\u2026what will take place later.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Ultimately, these words take us back to what the risen Christ says in verse 18 of our text, <i>\u201cI am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And I hold the keys of death and Hades.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the victorious Conqueror over sin, death and the devil the risen Christ has the power to raise <b>all<\/b> people from the dead\u2014 which is exactly what He will do on the Last Day!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the victorious Conqueror over sin, death and the devil the risen Christ has the power to rescue someone from an eternity of suffering in hell and usher them into the glory, perfection and happiness of His heavenly Kingdom!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s why it is so important for us to stay close to the risen Christ <b>now<\/b>!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our close connection to Him now through regular use of His holy Word and Sacrament insures that for us <i>\u201cwhat will take place later\u201d<\/i> is that when it is time for our journey here on this earth to come to an end we will hear our Savior God say to us, \u201cWelcome home, My child!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">At the same time we have friends, we have family members, we have co-workers, don\u2019t we.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cWhat will take place later\u201d<\/i> for them also includes standing before the judgment throne of the risen and victorious Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We want to do everything we can to share with them the <i>\u201cGood News,\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:italic\"> the <i>\u201cGood News\u201d<\/i><\/span> that Jesus died to pay for their sins, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cGood News\u201d<\/i> that Jesus physically rose from the dead for them so that through faith in Him (Pointing to the cross) they can spend eternity with us in our heavenly Father\u2019s home.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<p> <font size=\"3\"><br \/>\n<\/font> <\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">For the sake of the apostle John who was in exile on the island of Patmos and for the sake of the entire Christian Church right down to this very day the risen and ascended Christ came to John in this glorious vision and said, <i>\u201cWrite what you see and send it to the seven churches\u2026Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What then does the risen Christ say to us, His servants today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse three.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We read, <i>\u201cBlessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/font><\/div>\n<p> <font size=\"3\"><br \/>\n<\/font> <\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/font><\/div>\n<p> <font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\"><br \/>\n<\/font><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"line-height:normal\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\"><i>\u201cRead!\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That is what the risen and ascended Christ now says to you and to me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Keep on reading about what the apostle John saw with his own two eyes.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then you will always have the confidence of knowing that Jesus died for<span style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"> your<\/span> sins and was raised to life again for <span style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">your<\/span> justification.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Keep on reading about <i>\u201cwhat is now.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then you will always have the confidence of knowing that the risen Christ is indeed the victorious Conqueror who is now ruling over all things, protecting you from your enemies and interceding for you before the throne of our heavenly Father.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Keep on reading about <i>\u201cwhat will take place later.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then you will always have the confidence of knowing that through faith in what Jesus has done for you <i>His <\/i>Easter victory is <i>your<\/i> Easter victory.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then you will always have the confidence of knowing that one day, my friends, one day the risen Christ will come and take you Home so that you can experience and enjoy the epitome of His Easter victory for all of eternity!<\/font><\/h1>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\"><br \/>\n<\/font> <\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\">&nbsp;<\/font><\/div>\n<p> <font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\"><br \/>\n<\/font> <\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/font><\/div>\n<p> <font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\"><br \/>\n<\/font><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"line-height:normal;mso-pagination:widow-orphan\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman, Times, serif\">To God be the glory!<\/font><\/h1>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Easter-2-04-28-19.mp3\">Easter-2-04-28-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Second Sunday of Easter April 28, 2019 Revelation 1:1-19 The Risen Christ Says\u2026 &nbsp; The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.&nbsp; He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw\u2014 that is, the word of God [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1122\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}