The Answer to the Super Hero Dilemma

This week I am going to take you back to our Academy Fall Week of Prayer 2022. The topic was “Jesus in Revelation.” (The content is largely taken from the GC Youth Week of Prayer 2022 series)

Super Heroes capture our attention and imagination. This is nothing new. Our attention and imagination have always been drawn to these powerful figures of folklore; the stuff of legend.

God utilizes this aspect of our humanity by introducing some fantastic creatures and a narrative of the powerful forces of good and evil pitted against each other.

Every book of the Bible, every teaching is intended to show us one thing…one person. The Real Superhero of the Bible. One Book in Particular mentions our hero more than any of the others. The author: John, one of the 12 disciples, wrote the book in 96 A.D. John underwent a powerful character transformation as a result of his exposure to this Bible’s Superhero. He was known as the “Son of Thunder” before he met this superhero. And after exposure to him he became known as the “Beloved Disciple.”

Which Book does John speak so much about the Real Superhero?

It is a difficult book for many due to:

– Symbolism

– Mysterious Numbers

– Secret Codes

– Hidden Keys

– reads like a Horror Movie

– Wild Beasts & Dragons

– Death & Plagues

– Disease, Pain, Destruction

So, what is this strange and difficult book?

You may have guessed it already: The Apocalypse; The Revelation.

While the book of Revelation may have all of those strange, dark, and powerful elements. Is that really what the book of Revelation is all about?

Revelation comes from the Greek word, apokalypsis: to unveil or uncover. But, what is being unveiled?

While the Super Hero of scripture is found in every story and page in scripture, God sends a message to John to write a book, which is not only specifically about our Super Hero, but a book designed and written to capture our attention and imagination.

This is the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ!!

– Jesus is mentioned in every single of the 22 chapters

– 38 different names and descriptive titles are used for Him

– He is mentioned in the 1st 3 chapters 137 times!

We find our Superhero being:

— The 1st and last (1:17)

— The Son of God (2:18)

— The Holy and True (3:7)

— The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

— The Word of God (19:13)

— The King of kings and Lord of lords (19:16)

— The Alpha and Omega (22:13)

In addition to the multiple names and descriptions our Super Hero has what every other Super Hero has. What is it He has?

You guessed it! Superpowers!

Super Power #1 we find in the book of Revelation

Our Super Hero is said to be “the beginning of God’s creation.” What does that mean? Does it mean that Jesus was the first created being?

John 1:1-3, 14 says that Jesus created everything and there was nothing that was created that wasn’t created by Him. So, then what does that word, “beginning” really mean?

Arche does mean beginning, it also means ruler. Jesus is the ruler of creation. But, beginning works, too. Because all created beings find their beginning in Him.

And so, Super Power #1 is this: Creative Power. Jesus has true creative power. He bring matter into existence simply by His words. He doesn’t need to take already existent material and rearrange them to make a different thing. He can make a brand new thing.

I’ve heard it said that a farmer can plant a seed and bring forth new life from that dead seed. However, God can produce fruit without the need for seed and dirt. He created the dirt.

Super Power #2:

Do you know what Jesus’ favorite description of Himself is? He is referred to this 28 times in the book of Revelation.

I’ll give you a hint…

That’s right! A lamb! But, let me ask you, who refers to themselves as a lamb? I mean, most people to depict strength and victory use other animals. Strong, ferocious animals.

But, a…

In Old Testament scriptures horns represent power and eyes represent wisdom or knowledge, and the number 7 represents perfection. Therefore….

Super Power #2 is All Powerful and All Knowing (omnipotent and omniscient.) While Hollywood is dreaming up fantastical creatures who have some desire or semblance of omnipotence or even omniscience. Our Super Hero ACTUALLY has them!

Which leads us to our final Super Power.

Super Power #3: