Join us for an enlightening session led by Bible teacher David Hawking as we explore the profound symbolism within Revelation. Learn about the control and authority God wields over everything, including the universe itself. Hear listener stories and insights, emphasizing the real power of prayer and community. Prepare to embrace the essential truths of our faith, as we delve into the victorious image of Jesus and His ultimate plan for humanity. From His eternal sovereignty to the unfolding of prophetic events, this session is rich with biblical wisdom.
No one can take you out of the hand of God. I was saying that at a meeting a number of years ago, and a fellow afterwards said to me, well, you can jump out. So, you know, that concerned me a little bit because I decided, well, maybe you can. So I need to search that out. I found out that everything is in the hand of God, including the universe. So what I said to him was, well, you might move from knuckle to knuckle, but you’re not getting out. You cannot escape the sovereignty of God wherever you would go.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, this is Hope for Today with Bible teacher David Hawking. And today on the broadcast, we step back into one of the most jarring moments in the life of the Apostle John. He knew Jesus. He knew Jesus intimately. But nothing, nothing could have prepared him for this. eyes like fire, a voice that shatters the silence, a face like the sun at full blaze. And when he speaks, this is Jesus speaking, he’s not taking suggestions. This isn’t a gentle invite. It’s a declaration from the throne. Open your Bible to Revelation chapter 1, verses 16 through 20, as we continue our study, The Glory of Jesus Christ. First of all, we’ve got a listener letter, and Matt, what do you have?
SPEAKER 02 :
I love this, Jim. It just blesses my heart so much. It says, Dear Hope for Today, thank you, thank you, prayer warriors, for the times you pray for me. She calls in, and she actually names the people, you know, our volunteers here, you know, Dina, Ruth, Joyce, Rose, all these people, and she says, every month I call, September, October, November, you faithfully pray for us.
SPEAKER 01 :
I don’t know how many times I’ve been in the office here, Matt, working with you. And in a room just down the hallway, a group of volunteers are praying over prayer requests that have been called in and written in. We really do pray for you.
SPEAKER 02 :
We don’t just say it. It’s not lip service. We really do. And I love this. This lady is so blessed because she had so many issues. And we stop what we’re doing and we do pray. We believe the Lord blesses that. And she says at the end of it, every day the Lord gives me is a blessing. I’ve been listening to my favorite radio programs for nearly 25 years. David Hawking’s Bible sermons is one of the best.
SPEAKER 01 :
I love that. To God be the glory.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you, Margaret.
SPEAKER 01 :
We give God the glory for everything that happens in and through this ministry. If you have a prayer request or if you’d like to get in touch with us to share a testimonial, we’ll tell you just a bit later how to do that. Now turn to Revelation chapter 1, verses 16 through 20. And here’s David with more of our study, The Glory of Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER 03 :
This revelation of Jesus Christ is totally different from what we see in the Gospels. And we are listing 12 characteristics of him. And if you’ve been taking notes, the eighth characteristic is his sovereignty. Now, sovereignty is a wonderful English word that usually refers only to God. When you speak about man having sovereignty, you have to identify it a little bit. You mean he has some sort of control over something. The sovereignty of God refers to the total control of God over everything. It’s all under his care. The Bible speaks about the sovereignty of God ruling over all. His throne is in the heavens. His sovereignty rules over all, says Psalm 103, 19. Now here in Revelation 1, we read in verse 16, he had in his right hand seven stars. Now down in verse 20, the seven stars are the seven angels. Now they do all of his bidding. They execute all of his messages and his plagues and his judgments. And they are all in the hand, not of God the Father, but in the hand of God the Son. The one who is giving this revelation, the one who’s literally in charge, the kingdoms of this world will one day become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. And this authority has been granted to him by the Father. Now he’s going to exercise all authority over everything. Jesus said, all authority has been given unto me in heaven and in earth. In his right hand are the seven stars. Look at chapter 2, verse 1. It says, The right hand is indicating the place of authority. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father on high. And he exercises all the authority of that sovereign Lord on the throne we call God the Father. God the Son has all of his authority. And now in his right hand, the place of authority and exercising authority are all the seven stars, the seven angels. Look at chapter 3, verse 1. It says, “…under the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God.” The Lord Jesus holds in his right hand these seven angels who are going to do his bidding and his work throughout the book of Revelation. In John chapter 10, we learn something about the mighty power of the hand of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 27, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, John 10, 27, 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, what? Hand. My Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. And that’s what you call power. Now, if I read that verse correctly… If you’re in his hand, it’s what it says. He said, I give them eternal life. They shall never perish. No one can take you out of the hand of God. You cannot escape the sovereignty of God wherever you would go. That’s how powerful is his hand. And this simple point about our Lord is telling us that all these events are under the sovereign control of God. Do not think that world events and the terrible situations that we see are out of control. They are not out of control. There is one who is calling all the shots. You say, well, what about the devil? Friends, we’re going to learn in the book of Revelation that the devil is also under the direct control of our sovereign God. He can’t do anything that God doesn’t allow him to do. You know, in the case of Job, very interesting that God would put a little hedge around Job and the devil could not touch him except God would allow it, even in the sense of physical problems in his life. Very interesting. Now, the Bible says that the whole world is really under the sway of the wicked one, but we are under the control of God. And it’s so strong, it says that greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. It amazes me how good Christian teachers today believe that somehow we can be possessed by the devil himself. Now, I know Christians can act like they’re possessed. But I’m going to tell you something. The Spirit of God is not going to share his dwelling place with the enemy. Greater is he who is in you than he that is what? In you, fighting it out with the Spirit? No, than he that is in where? In the world. Spirit of God in you, devil in the world. And it’s important to understand that. The right hand of God. You talk about power and sovereignty and control. The Lord Jesus Christ is controlling everything. Turn to Hebrews chapter 1, verse 3. To show you how much he is controlling things and events. Hebrews 1, which, of course, is a great book to describe the person and work of Jesus Christ. And one of the key phrases in that book is that he is better or greater than. He’s greater than angels, greater than Moses, greater than the priests, and so forth. But in Hebrews 1… verses 1 to 3, is kind of an opening section, setting the stage for how great the Lord is. It says, God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days, or literally in the Greek, in the last of these days, spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the what? The world. Some of you have a footnote there that says ages. That is correct. That’s the Greek word. It is not talking here about making the material and physical universe. It is talking about his control of time itself. He has made literally the ages. All of time is under the control of our sovereign God. And it’s important that our attitudes be proper towards this sovereign God. Understand everything is under his control. Everything is in right hand. And all the events of Revelation are going to happen. Why? Because he’s directing the whole thing. He’s directing it all. Clear to the last when the seven angels dump out the seven last bowls of wrath. It’s the same seven angels. They are sitting in his hand. He’s in sovereign control. So the sovereignty of our Lord is presented. Number nine, back to Revelation 1, last part of verse 16, is his authority. His authority. Revelation 1, 16. Out of his mouth went a sharp knife. Two-edged sword. Now in Hebrews 4.12, it says that the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than what? A two-edged sword. There are two different Greek words for sword. One refers to a hand sword, which the Romans became masters of, which had two edges and was a hand sword for hand-to-hand combat. The other word for sword, which interestingly is used in Revelation, refers to a long, heavy sword that was primarily used by barbaric tribes, where you have to use both hands, raise it over your head, and really give them a chop. And it’s usually a death blow. Out of his mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword. And this particular phrase would have a tendency, knowing what Hebrews 4.12 says about the word of God being a sharp two-edged sword, to make you think of the same sword. But in reality, it is the two different words. In Hebrews 4.12, it’s the two-edged hand sword of the Romans. But in Revelation chapter 1… Here in verse 16, and also throughout Revelation, it is a Greek word for a long and heavy sword that brings a fatal blow. Look at chapter 2, verse 12. Chapter 2, verse 12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamon, or Pergamos, write, “‘These things saith he who hath the sharp sword with two edges.'” It’s referring to his judgment and his authority being exercised against this world. Look at verse 16 of the same chapter. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Again, the voice of many waters, his majesty, his power, his greatness, the feet trotting in the winepress. There’s a whole imagery here of the resurrected Lord as the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords. That’s the picture of the book of Revelation. He is the victory, the one who will give us the victory. We look in Revelation 19, please, near the end of the book. Verse 15 says, Revelation 19 verse 15. And once again, it’s the same word for a long, heavy sword that gives a fatal blow. It says in verse 15, out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations. He shall rule them with the rod of iron. So it’s talking about his judgment and his vengeance against this world. Verse 21. and the remnant were slain with the sword, same word, of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth, and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. So the imagery here is of judgment. I read in Isaiah chapter 11, a messianic passage, in chapter 11 verse 4, this statement, but with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth, and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. We’re talking about the Lord’s final vengeance against this ungodly world system. In 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 8, you have another strong statement about God’s vengeance coming upon this world. In chapter 2, verse 8, it says, “…and then shall that wicked one, the Antichrist, the man of sin, be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” Again, it’s always connected with the mouth of the Lord. God doesn’t need any hand-to-hand combat. He needs no military armaments that we have. Our Lord needs just to speak a word, and He destroys. Just says the word, and it’s national wipeout time. They’re gone. The wonderful authority and power of God. Now back again to Revelation 1. The tenth thing, the tenth characteristic, is what I call His beauty. his beauty. Here’s where we have described the beauty of our Lord Jesus. In verse 16, the last phrase it says, and his countenance. Some say that’s his face. It can also mean the total appearance, but his appearance, his countenance, primarily his face, was as the sun shining in its strength. Malachi 4.2 says he is the sun, S-U-N, of righteousness who will arise with healing in his wings. Turn to Matthew chapter 17. Matthew chapter 17. His countenance or his face is like the sun shining in its strength. Like high noon looking straight up into the sun. In Matthew chapter 17, we have this unusual occasion in which Jesus took three men, Peter, James, and John, to a high mountain. We believe the Mount Hermon. And it says in verse 2 of Matthew 17, he was transfigured before them. Whatever his true nature was, all of a sudden came out so that we could see somewhat of his glory. It says his face did shine like the what? Sun. Same idea as in Revelation 1.16. And his raiment was as white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, Lord, it’s good for us to be here. I mean, talk about saying the obvious. All right. Hey, we are the chosen few. I mean, we’re talking revival. All right. We’re glad to be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three booths, three tents, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elijah. I love this. While he yet spoke. He’s not even getting the words out. While he is talking. Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, Be quiet, Peter. No, my translation, but it comes out the same way. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well. Please hear ye him. When the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them. Is that beautiful or what? And said, Arise and be not afraid. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only. the beauty of Jesus. It’s like the sun shining in its strength. Jesus said, I am the light of the world. But something hit me. Back to Revelation 1. Did you notice, watch carefully, the angels are what in the book of Revelation? What do they call? Stars. The churches are what? Lamb stands, but Jesus Christ is like what? The sun. Isn’t that interesting? The angels are like stars. The churches are like lamb stands. But Jesus Christ is like the sun, shining in its strength. Look at Revelation 21, verse 23. In Revelation 21, 23, it says… And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did light it. And look at this, and the lamb, the lamb is the lamp of it. Well, he is greater than the sun. We won’t need the sun anymore. We won’t need the moon anymore. We don’t need the stars anymore. All we need is Jesus. And His light is not a metaphor anymore. It’s reality. Now I understand why light exists. No wonder the psalmist said in 139, the darkness and the light are both the same to you. Why? Because He is light. God is light and in him is no darkness at all. Light representing righteousness and darkness representing sin in John’s analogy. But the truth of the matter is there’s more to it than that. God is light in every sense of the word. All of this which we enjoy and see. One day when Jesus pulled back the curtain of his flesh and the Mount of Transfiguration, literally rays of light, the Greek text has, shot out from his body and blinded those who were trying to look at him. Thank God we’re going to have resurrected bodies ourselves one day or we couldn’t even stand the sight. And we are going to see. this wonderful, lovely, beautiful, the altogether lovely one, we’re going to see him one day face to face. Hope that is seen is not hope. For why does a man hope for what he sees? But if we don’t see, then we with perseverance wait for it, says Romans 8. We are saved, it says, on the basis of hope. Beloved, we are the children of God, but it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. The hope of the believer is one day we’re going to see the one we have committed our lives to. The world out there can say, you’re nuts. He died 1900 years ago. Well, don’t break my bubble. It’s the most wonderful, thrilling, nutsville life I’ve ever had. You say, what if it’s not true? I’ve lost nothing and gained everything in this life. But if it is true and you don’t believe in him, you have lost everything and gained nothing. What is it profit of a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Angels are stars, churches are lampstands, but Jesus is the sun shining in its strength. Talk about beauty.
SPEAKER 01 :
You’re listening to Hope for Today with David Hawking. And David will be back in just a moment or so to close out our time in the Word for Today. First of all, Matt’s here, and we have a wonderful resource to share with you. You’re going to like this. Matt?
SPEAKER 02 :
In our last radio series, we witnessed Daniel’s exile to Babylon and the trials and the tribulation he and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experienced. faced from living in its idolatrous, pagan, and evil culture.
SPEAKER 01 :
Matt, in our current series, Through Revelation, we’re going to see Babylon’s continued influence in a vivid picture of the world’s condition today and in the prophetic future.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, and Jim, we’re talking about Babylonianism. That’s it. I mean, what is Babylonianism, and how did it grow out of ancient Babylon into what’s been an incredibly destructive and deceptive impact on civilizations and history?
SPEAKER 01 :
Over a 4,000-year time span. Yeah. How has Babylonianism saturated our culture today? That’s a great study all by itself. And how will it unleash unparalleled evil in the end time?
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, our featured resource is a biblical guide for all you need to know about Babylonianism. How to stand guard against its compromising and misleading dogma. and how to understand its role in end times deception. This month, we’re featuring a special price on my dad’s book, Babylon, Its History and Prophecies. Normally $15, just $10 this month.
SPEAKER 01 :
And Matt, what a wonderful, powerful study guide commentary this is. I would call it a roadmap. through scripture on the topic of Babylonianism.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, it not only helps believers to be aware and prepared, but it also reemphasizes the wonder of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER 01 :
That’s the beauty of scripture and the joy of heaven that awaits believers.
SPEAKER 02 :
Amen. Amen. Get Babylon, its history and prophecies, normally $15. Just $10 this month when you call 1-800-75-BIBLE, 242-53. In Canada, call 1-888-75-BIBLE or purchase at davidhocking.org.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, also, we want to put something in your hands that will take your study time with us here in the book of Revelation to the next level. This is David’s complete message outlines in Revelation, just $10. To purchase online and get the downloadable version, go to davidhawking.org. For the print version, call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE. That’s in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And if this broadcast, by the way, has been encouraging you, challenging you, or pointing you back to the truth of God’s Word, would you consider supporting us? You can send a gift by mail, drop us a line, share a prayer request, or tell us how God is using Hope for Today in your life as you study God’s Word with us when you write to Hope for Today, Box 3927. Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, Abbotsford is A-B-B-O-T-S-F-O-R-D-B-C-V-2-S-8-P-1. All right, let’s get back to David in our study.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thanks, friends, for listening to Hope for Today and our study of the great book of Revelation. You know, it’s the one book that many rabbinical scholars say is okay for Jews to read. And one of the reasons… is that it quotes voluminously from the Jewish Bible itself. Almost everything except the names of the seven churches all come out of the Old Testament, the Tanakh, the Jewish Bible. Well, friends, I am really enjoying this study of Revelation. I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am in teaching it. There is no book so dramatically powerful in describing our blessed Lord and the future of planet Earth. Wow. I’m telling you right now, what we’re studying is a key to the whole issue of worship. I can hardly wait till we get to chapters 4 and 5, as we will focus on the worship of our blessed Lord. And I hope that you’ll be able to tune in for each of these broadcasts in the wonderful book of Revelation.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you, David. And friends, I cannot overstate how important it is for you to invite your family and friends to listen along with you as David moves verse by verse through this incredible book. It brings glory to God. It is the gospel. It is the hope of the future that we have in Jesus Christ. And it’s just too good to keep to yourself. So tell someone you love about this broadcast. You’ll be blessed for doing so. Well, next time, David takes us even deeper into John’s earth-shaking encounter with the risen Jesus. Jesus, who’s not just loving shepherd, but also righteous judge. He stands among the churches with eyes of fire, a sword from his mouth, and a voice that shakes the heavens. This isn’t soft, sanitized religion. What it is, is raw, unfiltered truth from the Word of God. Amen. Well, you hear it taught the way it was meant to be. Next time on Hope for Today.
Join us for an enlightening session led by Bible teacher David Hawking as we explore the profound symbolism within Revelation. Learn about the control and authority God wields over everything, including the universe itself. Hear listener stories and insights, emphasizing the real power of prayer and community. Prepare to embrace the essential truths of our faith, as we delve into the victorious image of Jesus and His ultimate plan for humanity. From His eternal sovereignty to the unfolding of prophetic events, this session is rich with biblical wisdom.
