Episode 4: Firstborn - Chapter 1 Verse 5A

A little girl once complained when her father reached down to grab a basinet holding her new brother: "Oh no! Not the baby! He's taking over the whole house!"

In the same way, many Americans feel like AI is taking over their communities. Like that young girl, Americans feel frustrated as they see their bills go up.

If you are in a situation where you are feeling frustrated or hopeless about your surroundings, please know that God is in control!  

Jesus is God's only Son, but Revelation refers to him as "firstborn of the dead." Jesus will take care of you, no matter what your situation is.

Watch Christine's Revelation Study video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4pHL1_UPF0

Music by Good_B_Music from Pixabay

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:20

Let's do it.

SPEAKER_01 0:22

Welcome to Coffee with Jesus. I'm one of your co-hosts, Elizabeth Bristol. And today, Christine Hobbs and I are going to continue our conversation about chapter one of the book of Revelation. This is, I think, our number four on chapter one. And we're starting with verse 5A, if you're following in your Bible. And just to remind you, Christine records bite-sized portions of the book of Revelation on different podcasts that go along with this one. And we'll put a copy of the one that goes with this one in the show notes. And she breaks down every chapter line by line. And then these chats are a companion series of podcasts where we take another bite and we discuss some of the topics in more detail because some of those are, yeah, they need a little more of a chat, I think, right, Christine. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 1:20

Right. I mean, just even though I go line by line, I'm just skimming the surface, really. Yeah, there's more meat behind each and every line than even what I'm touching upon.

SPEAKER_01 1:32

Right. It's just it's intense. But it's fun to do this because it's sticking with me more. Like I listen to your podcast, then we talk about it. And um, yeah, I wanna I want to remember all these details. So that's helpful.

SPEAKER_00 1:46

And I think it's fun because I think different people learn differently. You know, some people they need the audiovisual to go along with the words that are in scripture, and that helps them to retain. And then other people are more conversational, and I think this type of an atmosphere is more useful for them to learn.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

Yeah, or even the both the combination.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Correct. Correct.

SPEAKER_01 2:13

Wow. So today, let's see, remind us we're starting for a moment, if we could.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

And I'm gonna actually start in verse four just to refresh people's memories in case they're following along, um, what we talked about last week, so that as we jump into this week, they can um have context. So we started off in in verse four where it says, John to the seven churches that are in Asia, grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come. And that was a Trinitarian type statement, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne. Um, and that was we talked about the Holy Spirit and the different traits of the Holy Spirit. And now we get to yes, and now we get to verse five, and it is from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. And we could again, it's one of those statements where it's like, okay, yes, Father, Son, and Holy Um Ghost is the order that we're used to hearing it. And yet, here it's Father, Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, the Son, the faithful witness. And, you know, the reason I had somebody question me on that, and the reason why I think it's presented in that way is because this, remember, the book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. And so yeah, so there's gonna be a lot more time spent on this fifth verse and the rest of Revelation talking about Jesus Christ. So it was put in that order. And I think that throws people because we're so used to hearing Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

Right. Wow. I love, you know, so you asked me beforehand. Um, I said, what can I do to add, you know, to help um in this podcast? And you asked me to give some examples of Jesus, the faithful witness, as the fulfillment of what has been written in scriptures. And I gotta say, it was blown away. And I mean, I've been reading my Bible forever, but I saw it was weird. I went online and Googled, you know, where is Jesus the fulfillment of scripture? And I'm so glad you asked because one website listed 351 verses from the Old Testament that Jesus fulfills. And I was like, wow. And so, you know, again, we all hear at Christmas time, we hear lots of those verses from Isaiah. He was a Nazarene, he was out of the, you know, the rod of Jesse, and and it was born to a virgin. But really, there are, it's just amazing to me what's in there. Um, you know, born in Bethlehem, they even, you know, his name, right? God with us. Ummanuel was the descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Judah. I mean, they're so specific, and even talked about like the flight to Egypt, you know, that was in Hosea 11:1. And of course, I love John the Baptist, and he was um right, prophesied about in Isaiah 40, verse 3. Exactly. And all the stuff in his ministry, right? That he was gonna be a healer, even his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. You know, he was rejected by his own people. He was, and especially the crucifixion. That was that was rough. That was um, gosh, it was sp they were so specific. Betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. Yes, and that's prophesied beforehand. Zachariah and Psalm 41, and just you know, his hand and feet pierced, he was mocked and scorned, given vinegar for thirst. That was in Psalm 61, verse 21. Sorry, 61, verse 2021. And again, soldiers divided and cast lots for his garments, no broken bones, buried with the wrist, written ahead by the prophets, like totally every single one fulfilled.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

It's mind-boggling. Mind-blowing, you know, it's like you said if we really study this out. Yeah, if you read Isaiah chapter 53, yes, I mean, you cannot read that and not recognize that that was Jesus Christ, and that was written so many years prior to his birth. It's just um, you know, it's why we as Christians can look at the Bible and say, we know our religion, our what we put our faith in is true because only a God could inspire those individuals, the prophets, to write these things.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Lots of authors, and yet it all fits together.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

Yes, and there's no other faith, there's no other um claim of of you know being a god that can do that. No other religion is able to say, This is what I'm gonna do before I do it. So you will know that I am God, right? Only Christianity, and that's why we can say we follow the one true God. There's always been all of these gods that people have made up, but how do we know we have the correct God? And that's why, because our God says, I know the beginning from the end, and I'm even going to tell you how it's going to end, so that you will know that I am true. Yeah. That is that's the piece of knowing the prophetic things that make this book so exciting. Not to scare us once again, but that we know where God is going. And we don't have to be fearful. So that is, and again, it's one of those lines that we could just fly right over that. Like, yep, these letters are from Jesus Christ. He's a faithful witness. Well, what does that really mean? Right. And that's what it means. He is the witness to everything that is written in the book, right? He testifies to the truth of everything that came before him. And it's all about him. I mean, even our calendar is based on Jesus Christ, BC AD. Right now, those who don't want to believe that there was a Christ, that he is the God of this world, they want to do away with before Christ. They don't want it to mean that, right? Because that makes him the pinnacle of all history, and yet he is. Yes, that's the reality, you know. Yes. Wow. Really cool, really cool stuff. And then it goes on, I think, to say the firstborn of the dead. And this one, you know, is one that well, what does that mean? Right, you know, right, it is a little confusing. Yeah, right, because he wasn't clearly he wasn't the first to die, you know. We we have all of the old testament people that we read, um, and they died in earthly death. So, what is firstborn of the dead mean? Right. Um, and it that is a phrase because everyone who died, they die an earthly death. Everyone who died before Jesus, yep, correct, would die an earthly death. There were two who were even in scripture resurrected. We have Lazarus, you know, um, the other one was the the boy that um the widow, the widow's son, or Talita que that other one, yep, Jesus raised, yeah, yeah. So there are these examples in the old testament where they were brought back to life. So even that Christ wasn't the first to be brought back from life. Right. The difference between those events and the event of Jesus Christ was that Christ died and conquered death came back. All of the people that you just mentioned, they had an earthly death, and then they would have a second earthly death. They weren't alive permanently, right? Right. Whereas Christ died, resurrected, and would live forever, resurrected, amen, conquering death, right? So he's the firstborn of the dead. Wow, he died and was born into the eternal peace of what we're promised later on, you know, that we will have eternal life because he conquered death, but he was the first. Wow. So why is that important, right? Like why is that peace so important? And it it goes back to understanding the old testament that there were um some important cultural things that went along with being the firstborn of the family, right? You know, they the firstborn got the inheritance, they became that double inheritance, yes. Correct. They were the inheritor of the the family line. Yes, so Jesus becomes the inheritor of all of us. Oh wow, as the firstborn, he becomes the head of the family, the one who inherits the family birthright, which is eternity. Wow. So that's really a small little statement, but has a big punch to it, right? Right?

SPEAKER_01 12:42

There are so many things like that, you know, especially within the the Jewish culture and that whole thing that we sometimes miss as Christians from America, you know what I mean? Because we don't all know that culture and that heritage. And yes, that one is one of them, that double mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

And that portion of really, you know, uh, of course, the New Testament is hands-down wonderful and promising, and you know, you can't get enough, but there is the importance of understanding the Old Testament because there's a lot that pieces into why things roll out the way they roll out. So, you know, these are the type of things I like to touch upon because all of a sudden it makes sense, and we'll come back around to talk about why it's important that Jesus inherited that birthright and how that factors in from dominion of this world, which we know Satan knows. Adam turned Adam was given dominion and turned it over to Satan by his disobedience. Yeah. And when Jesus, if you remember, was in the desert, Satan came to tempt him. Yeah, and Satan said, Come on, Jesus, just worship me and I'll turn it over to you now. And in other words, like it's gonna be all yours anyways, but right now it's mine. And Jesus didn't deny him right. He had the authority that, yep. And he just said, No, had he done that, he would have been imperfect because he would have worshipped somebody other than his father. Right. Satan knew it, it was a ploy, it didn't work, he remained faithful and true to his father and was going to proceed the right way. Satan was trying to get him to take the shortcut, but that little story tells us that Satan right now still has dominion over this earth. Yeah. And Jesus is going to take it back, and he's going to be able to take it back as the inheritor with the birthright.

SPEAKER_01 15:00

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 15:01

That's why it's important that we know that he is the firstborn of the dead. And we'll we'll go into more detail about that when we hit those chapters. So for now, that's just a little hint. Um, it will make more sense as we continue to roll out these verses. Okay. But deep stuff in just three little lines, you know. And um, and then that last one is a description that Jesus is ruler over the kings of the earth. Yes. What are your thoughts there? What do you think about that?

SPEAKER_01 15:36

I love that, right? Because again, in this day and age, with all the the division going around, sometimes it's easy to forget that God is over that, you know, He puts the leaders into place. There are several scriptures again, not 351, but still, you know. Um, what was the one we were looking at? Daniel 2. Um, let's see if I can call it up here. It's 21. Yes, okay. Have you got it handy there? I yeah, I have it there.

SPEAKER_00 16:08

Let me see that. Is that like he um who changes the times and the epochs, he removes kings and establishes kings, he gives wisdom to wise men and acknowledge to men of understanding, and knowledge rather to men of understanding.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

And so that's encouraging, right? Because it's easy to get critical these days. And again, just to remember, God is in control, nothing takes him by surprise. And and even though it doesn't always look like we expect it to look like, we can still trust him.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

You know, as we as we vote for our preferred candidates in in different races of our government, sometimes it's like, oh, yeah, voted for that guy. How did he get him? You know, and and you're just like, wow. Um, and yet we have to know God is sovereign over it all. And regardless of who gets put in office, it's leading to the same end result. Right. He's told us what that is going to be ahead of time. So, you know, I always say, as people, you know, I see people really arguing over, you know, the presidency. I'm like, had Joe Biden gotten in or a Democratic candidate, they were more for one world order. They were more for um the environment and all of that, which sounds like a good thing, but they were all about having no borders and being more going in that direction. With Trump getting in office, um, the other side of the fence was like, yay, but we're still heading in the same direction because he's pushing us faster to the AI and the digital currency and all of those sort of things. So it didn't really matter in terms of prophecy which person got in office, because we're still getting to that end result. Exactly how God said it would look. And so, you know, we vote for who we think is the preference for overseeing the things that we're concerned about. For some, it's environment, for others, it's immigration. You know, whatever that looks like, and I'm not here to tell you you're right or wrong. I'm just saying God is sovereign over it all, and we are heading to that end result. Wow. And it will happen. Yeah, no matter what.

SPEAKER_01 18:42

And no matter what. And it's not surprising, it's exciting.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

And that's the thing, right? So I I always say if you're feel uh fearful about what's coming, check your barometer, make sure you're walking with the Lord, because we shouldn't have to feel fearful. Because if we know we're children of God, then he has us, right? He doesn't forsake us. Right. So, whatever it's going to look like, you know. Um, currently, right now, I'm back studying the church of Smyrna that's very persecuted. And he's saying, Don't fear what man can do to you. Right. And so, you know, it seems like it it could be scary times ahead, and yet we got to know that God's in control and what's his promises to us. Can we trust him? He's not out to beat us up.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

No, he loves us, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:37

He loves us. So that's part of the privilege of knowing the the end, um, because we don't need to be afraid. And the world kind of is looking a little scary if we're looking at it from the surface level. Like, what in earth? And again, God's sovereign even over that, because the secular people who have no interest in reading their Bible is like, what is going on? It's getting their attention, giving us an opportunity as believers to speak into that. And we've got to be bold and courageous enough to step up to that place and put ourselves out there to say, well, you know, here's what scripture says.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

Right. And so we need to know what scripture says to be able to do that absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

Yeah. And that's my big platform. I am always get in the word. You must read it to know. And it's not gonna sink in all at once. It's there's a lot in there, right? And there's a lot to know, and I haven't even skimmed the surface.

SPEAKER_01 20:49

Yeah, yeah. But that's why we're doing this. That's why we're doing this. So that looks like a that looks like another bite today. Exactly. I do, yeah, I do want to pray. I know a lot of things you were saying going through my mind. I really do lift up anyone who is feeling a little trepidatious about their relationship with God, because all you have to do is tell him that you want to be his, and he wants you more than more than we want him. And um, so I just am so grateful again for his incredible love, that we can trust him, that his ways are higher than ours. And one day we're gonna see how it all made amazing sense when we are in heaven and we get to see how he put all these pieces together. And um, we are your sheep, Lord, and you promise that we will hear your voice. We want to hear your voice, and we want to hear everything you have to say. And um, okay, so confession, not always. Sometimes your words are a little convicting. And here's the thing: we want to wanna hear everything you have to say to us. And so I ask you to help us to be willing to do that, help us to make the time and refuse to get up off that couch until we've heard everything you have to say as you explain it to us. I think about those times when I've been a little bit nervous because I know what I've done and I know what you might have to say, and yet you always amaze me the way you treat me with your love. So I just don't want anyone to be afraid of you. I just ask you to draw them close. Your word says that when we draw near to you, you draw near to us. And so I think each person who's listening today is drawing near to you. And I pray that you would just you would do what your word says and draw near to them and answer their questions and speak those sweet somethings into their ears. Because we do. We want to hear every single thing you have to say to us in Jesus' name. And um, and I also wanted to say too to the listeners, feel free to send us any questions you have. Um, I know I've said this before that we certainly don't pretend to have all the answers, but um, I've been in Christine's Bible study for, I don't know, I think we figured out 10 years, and she does a lot of research. And we aim we'll aim to answer your questions through research, but we'll also be willing to tell you we don't know if we don't have the right answer. We can wonder together. And I think that's what we're here for. So I just want to thank everyone for joining us today. Thank you, Christine, for coming and sharing. And absolutely, yeah, and thank each person listening. Um, again, there's so many things you could be doing, and we're so excited to be doing this with you. So praying, kept praying in agreement that blessing that God says when um that we're blessed by reading this book. And um, that's cool. So we thank you and um look forward to next time already. All right.