Lesson 3 January 5, 2003

Intro:

What motivates us as believers?? 3 main areas that should!

1. The mercy of God - Rom 12:1

2. The love of Christ - 2 Cor. 5:14-15

3. our future in Christ - 1 John 3:2

Observations on Imminency

The primary thought expressed by the word "imminency" is that something important is likely to happen, and could happen soon.

Actually, "imminency" implies three truths concerning our Lord's coming.

1) While no one knows the time of Christ 's return, He may come at any moment and it is possible that He might come today.

2) The rapture is signless, and it will be unannounced and largely unexpected.

3) No clearly prophesied event must transpire prior to the rapture, for this might date the time of His coming.

- the rapture must be pre-tribulational.

5. 1:4-6 Greetings - Salutations

a. Recipients; First thing we discover is Who is John addressing?

"seven churches that are in Asia"

#1 Geographical:

In 1:13 it says that Christ is in the midst of them!

#2 These churches are fully representative of all churches of all time! Their glories and their failures!

- The characteristics seen in these 7 churches are those that will be found in churches in every generation of the Church age.

- Each assembly of gathered believers is to regulate their own function, being responsible before the Lord for their ongoing relationship with Him.

b. Epistolary greeting; "Grace to you and peace,"

c. Source of the Grace and Peace;

- Order is unusual; Father; H/S; Son in vs:5

#1 Father: "Him who is and who was and who is to come;"

* This is the Greek way of summarizing the name of God, His unique name, YHWH, "I am" of Ex 3:14.

#2 Grace and Peace comes from the Holy Spirit; "from the seven Spirits who are before the throne."

- Nowhere in Scripture is grace and peace ever spoken of as coming from any other source then God/F, the Son or the Holy Spirit.

- Reason for the order change: Christ is being looked at here as the risen Son of Man, the One to whom the revelation is being given through the Spirit (agent) to the churches.

- Isa 11:1-3 gives us some incite into the fullness of the Spirit!

#3 The 3rd source of Grace and Peace; "from (avpo.) Jesus Christ"

- In the OT there were 3 basic offices; Prophet; Priest; King!

God spoke to His people through a prophet!

God had fellowship with His people through a priest.

God ruled His people through a king!