Revelation
Gospel In
Gospel in Revelation At the outset of the last book of the Bible the Gospel is presented in the 5th verse, “…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and released us from our sins by His blood.†The ‘Gospel’ as defined from the Old Testament is a ‘deliverance,’ a ‘rescue’; the heralding of glad tidings of ‘good news’ that a ‘release’ from bondage has occurred. This was the scenario of Israel’s delivery from the slavery and bondage of Egypt. It was out of that great act of ‘Redemption’ that the prophets continued to refer to a ‘greater salvation’ to come. Generally what was greater was spoken of in three main categories: (1) as creation to a New Creation (or a renewed or restored Creation). (2) An exodus to a second Exodus idea. (3) Just as Israel was exiled from their land as a result of judgment, a return from exile or a ‘release’ from captivity was also a ‘salvation’ or ‘deliverance’ act. In one respect Rev. 1:5 links all three of these ideas together, however the latter two are the ones most clearly in view. The ‘New Creation’ idea is seen with the reference to Jesus as the “Firstborn of the dead†which is another way of stating that He is the Preeminent One of the New Creation, being the First and Foremost of those who have or will enter into ‘Resurrection Life’. (Col. 1:18; Jn. 5:25-29) Both the ‘Second Exodus’ and the ‘Return from Exile’ ideas are embedded in the three important elements of the ‘Gospel’ which are bound up in “Him who loves us,†and “released us from our sins,†which was “by His blood.â€Being “released†(literally ‘loosed’) “by His blood†has a clear connection to the Exodus while “Him who loves†and “released us†rings true of the ‘Return from Exile’ concept. Another clear allusion to the Exodus idea is seen further in Rev. 5:6, “And I saw…a Lamb standing, as if slain…†This is followed by praise; “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.†The bedrock of the Old Testament saving activity is “Him who lovesâ€. The Gospel proclaims that ‘God loves’, so He sent His Son, the sinless Lamb of God. The Exodus event was the great Old Testament saving act of God. The lamb that was slain prefigured what Jesus would do to ‘save’ His people from the judgment of death. The ‘blood’ was representative of ‘life’ in the Old Testament because the life was in the blood (Lev. 17:11). At the very outset of Revelation we are reminded that Jesus is the core of the ‘Gospel’ itself. He, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, gave Himself, offered Himself a willing sacrifice for those sinners who would repent and receive Him by faith. His life blood was shed to ‘release’; to loose us from the bondage and captivity of sin, satan, and the judgment of death which is for those who reject the only sacrifice that can save from sin. (Jn. 1:29; Rom. 1:4; Acts 4:12) In the end, we can confidently conclude that the Old Testament imagery is the basis for and the compliment to the ‘Gospel’ in the New Testament, whether it is John, Paul, Mark or Matthew. These clusters of ideas are seen throughout. The New Testament people of God have ‘Redemption’ or ‘Salvation’ through a Second Exodus that, like the long awaited Temple, is greater and grander than the first. The first exodus simply pointed the way to the Messiah; the Lord Jesus Christ who leads His people of faith on a New Exodus which finds its fulfillment in Him, the true Temple of God where the Lord’s presence will dwell with His people forevermore. Have you been released from your sins? Are you still in bondage to the devil? Know this day that the Lord Jesus released those who repent of their sinful and selfish ways so that they would know forgiveness and have eternal life. These no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and rose on their behalf. Amen.
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