God strengthens and grows His church through preaching

Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.


Introduction and Review:
Yesterday we considered the ways in which God strenghtens and grows His church.  We suggested that one of the chief ways is through corporate prayer.  We noted through the book of Acts that every time the church prayed in Acts 3-8, some area of ministry was strengthened.  In the Gospels we saw how Jesus had ordained the pattern to continue from what was set for the temple and synogogue of His day.  Prayer was to be priority! Then finally we looked at the New Testament epistles to see how much prayer continued on into the later part of the Apostolic era and saw the without question - corporate times of prayer and prayerfulness among God's people in the church was one of the ways used by God to strengthen and grow His church. 

As we turn our attention yet again to Acts 3-8 and other passages, we ask the question: "how is it that God grows and strenghtens His church?" We saw the first method to be that of prayer.  However there is a second important method: preaching.  Once more we will consider mainly Acts 3-8, followed by a few reflections on Jesus' pattern of ministry, with some final observations in the Epsitles to discern whether or not preaching is yet another way God has prescribed to strengthen and grow His church.

God strengthens and grows His church through preaching as seen in Acts 3-8
It is truly amazing how many sermons and instances of preaching we find throughout the Book of Acts.  Whenever we count up the sermons, addresses and exhortations given by the Apostles and their associates, we end up with roughly 20 such examples.  Just as we saw with the pattern of prayer in yesterday's post, we see that when the Word of God was preached, strengthening and growth occurred. For example in Acts 3:11-26 we see Peter preaching his second sermon, expounding further on the miracle of the healing of the lame man at the Gate called Beautiful in 3:1-10. Peter ties the miracle to the activity and person of the resurrected and Ascended Christ in heaven.  Thereupon his conclusion of that sermon, we read the outcome in Acts 4:4 
"But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand."

Then we read later on in Acts 4:5-12 and in Acts 5:29-32 of Peter preaching twice more, and with God strengthening the church in some area and conversions being the result.  In Acts 7:1-60 we see one of the fullest and complete sermons recorded in Acts.  Stephen is the keynote speaker and before it is all said and done, he will be recorded as the church's first martyr. 


Stephen's preaching undoubtedly led to persecution but also to advancement in the cause of Christ. God indeed strengthens His cause and grows His people spiritually or numerically (or both) through preaching.  

Jesus' pattern of preaching in His ministry
Mark 1:38 records for us the early conviction Jesus had about preaching: He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” In Luke's Gospel we see Jesus reading and expounding from the scroll of Isaiah, describing how He had fulfilled the contents of Isaiah 61:1-2a.  In Matthew we see recorded a number of sermons - from his inaugural Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 to his final Sermon "The Olivet Discourse" of Matthew 24-25.  It is not hard to see Jesus' priority on preaching and how He used it to advance the cause for which He came - to go to the cross and to unfurl to the people the Kingdom of God. 

How we see God using preaching in the Epistles
We could say in all fairness that the Epistles represent the outcomes of and in some cases, the preaching of the Apostles.  The Book of Hebrews for instance may very well had been a sermon and extended exposition of Psalm 110 and Genesis 14 as the author aimed to explain to His readers why Christ is superior to the Old Covenant Judaism.  The Epistle to the Romans has Paul detailing the place of preaching in the conversion of sinners in Romans 10:11-17 and the strengthening of saints.  Galatians 1 begins addressing what consistutes solid gospel preaching from counterfiet versions.  Then of course the epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus have instructions given to Timothy and Titus as to how they ought to preach in the church and how preaching equips the church to live and do the will of God.  1 Timothy 4:13-16 plainly states:  "Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."

Conclusion:
Today we have looked at how God uses preaching to strengthen and grow His church. We saw in Acts 3-8 how God used the sermons of the Apostles to motivate the church in its forward movement and how God brought about the conversion of many souls. In the Gospels we saw how Jesus had made preaching on of the chief priorities in His earthly ministry.  Then in the Epistles we saw how preaching is the very fabric of the life of the church, without which the church cannot be strengthened nor ever hope to grow. 

God strengthens and grows His church through prayer

Acts 3:1 "Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. "


Introduction:

Edmund P. Clowney writes the following in his book: "Living in Christ's Church": "The Jesus who went to heaven also comes to dwell with His disciples. He went to prepare His Father's house, the place where God dwells with men (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:3). But before He comes with the Holy Angels He comes in the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18). That coming took place at Pentecost. With the rushing wind of the Spirit the promise of the Father was kept and the New Testament church became the dwelling place of the Living God."1  In reflecting on Clowney's thoughts, it strikes me how the church as God's temple ought to be not only characterized by the presence of the Living God.  In being so, it ought to be known for how it prays together.



The Book of Acts is the Holy Spirit's Divine record of the first 30 years of the early church from Jesus' final commands at His ascension and the church's birth at Pentecost to its worldwide missionary efforts led by the Apostle Paul.  Acts 1-2 details the beginning stages and Acts 3-8 details for us the transitions and growing pains of the early church.  In today's post we aim to focus on some passages in Acts 3-8, along with other scriptures, in order to answer the following question: "How did God strengthen and grow the church?"  Below we will suggest that one of chief methods God utilizes in growing and strengthening His church is that of prayer

Some observations from Acts on prayer in the life of the church. 
As soon as the Lord Jesus Christ had ascended into heaven in the sight of the apostles in Acts 1:11, the very first thing they did was to tarry in the upper room in Jerusalem to wait and pray.  As we quoted above, the apostles right after the day of Pentecost were going up to the temple to pray. (Acts 3:1) Truly it is interesting how much the early church prayed in those early days, and yet how little emphasis is placed on prayer in so many churches today.  Again we come to Acts 4 and find the early church praying in Acts 4:32-31.  As that incredible prayer meeting drew to a close we read in Acts 4:31 - "And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness." 

Then of course we arrive at Acts 6 where the church was at a crossroads as to what do do in the care of widows.  Upon the suggestion of the Apostles the church did the following as recorded in Acts 6:4-5 "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them." Now in each of those instances where the church came together and prayed, the outcome was a strengthening of ministry, of the people and of the proclamation of the Word.  

Jesus set the pattern for His Father's House to be a "house of prayer"
Jesus in the course of His earthly ministry expressed the following pattern of prayer for His people in Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17 and Luke 19:46 as them coming together at the "house of prayer". God has so ordained that prayer and intercession be one of the chief ways in which He will come alongside us and in us to strengthen and grow the church.  As a beginning pattern that had been ordained from the days of the tabernacle and temple, Jesus demonstrated that such a pattern was to also mark the New Covenant church. It would also be suggested by this author that the set pattern of Jesus greatly informed the practice of the New Testament church. As those apostles and early statesmen led the church under the Holy Spirit's leading, they taught the church the primacy of prayer in both the church's life and individual Christian life. 

How prayer operates in church life in the epistles
A quick scan of all 21 new Testament epistles will yield the vital role prayer played in the strengthening and growth of the early church. In understanding what qualifies as a standard method used by God in strengthening His church, we must see it prescribed by Jesus, practiced in the book of Acts and expounded upon in the Epistles. Just by listing a sample of references, one can see that this clearly is one of the chief methods employed by God to be used in the church today: Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Cor 5:20; Eph 6:18; Col 1:9; 1 Thess 5:17; 2 Thess 1:1; 1 Tim 2:1-2; 4:5; 2 Tim 4:16; James 5:16; 1 John 5:13 and Jude 20.  I am certain there are many more, but the reader can take note that scarcely is there any instruction written and composed by the Holy Ghost to Christ's church that does not emphasize the need for prayer.  

Conclusions
We have looked today at how God strengthens and grows His church by way of prayer.  We noted through the book of Acts that every time the church prayed in Acts 3-8, some area of ministry was strengthened.  In the Gospels we saw how Jesus had ordained the pattern to continue from what was set for the temple, tabernacle and synogogue of His day.  Prayer was to be priority! Then finally we looked at the New Testament epistles to see how much prayer continued on into the later part of the Apostolic era and saw the without question - corporate times of prayer and prayerfulness among God's people in the church was one of the ways used by God to strengthen and grow His church. 

Endnotes:
1. Edmund P. Clowney. Living in Christ's Church. Great Commission Publications. 1986. Page 27

Life Applications on Christ's coming millennial kingdom

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Introduction:

These past several days have been devoted to taking a closer look at the events surrounding Christ's second coming and Kingdom Reign. Undoubtedly there is much more to be said about these two chapters, and certainly Revelation 20 - being that chapter 20 by itself is one of the most contested areas of Bible interpretation.  But I thought that for today's post we would consider what applications we can draw for life today before plunging any further.  Though Christ's Millennial Reign (at least in the estimation of this blogger) lies in the future, nonetheless the realities of Christ's coming kingdom do reverberate into this present age in which we live.  Four particular areas in the Bible utilize Christ's coming Kingdom to focus present day living: 

1. Prayer

2. Person of Christ

3. Promises of God
4. Perseverence

Prayer

This first practical area in applying the truths of Christ's coming Kingdom is actually defined by Jesus Himself.  Notice His famous model prayer - "The Lord's Prayer", in Luke 11:1-4 "It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, ay: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 ‘Give us each day our daily bread. 4 ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’”  In another place in Luke, Luke 18:1-8, we see Jesus utilizing His coming Kingdom in the context of prayer.  In Luke 18:1 we read - "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart." As Jesus then tells his parable of the widow and the unjust judge, he closes with this application in Luke 18:8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”  Truly the coming Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ provides the horizon for our prayer life so that we pray according to God's eternal timeframe rather than the the timeframe of this life.  Furthermore in the parallel account of Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus ends the prayer there with the idea that the Kingdom that is coming is also at the same time having a present impact on believers today: "For yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever, amen." But notice the second life application of Christ's coming Kingdom....

Person of Christ

Several posts back we had compared Jesus' names, characteristics and actions in Revelation 1 and 19-20.  We won't rehearse those here, however what is remarkable is how Christ's coming Kingdom makes us a Christ-centered people.  For one thing, in the celebration of the Lord's table we are urged to focus our attention on His coming kingdom.  Take for instance 1 Corinthians 11:26 "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes." I often remind our church when we celebrate the Lord's supper that we are a people of the two comings: Christ's accomplished redemption at His first coming and what will be His accomplished return at His second coming. The coming Kingdom focuses our attention on Jesus Christ.  As Hebrews 12:2 reminds us - "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

So in thinking upon Christ's coming Millennial reign, we have noted how such a truth applies to our prayer life and focusing us more upon the Person of Jesus Christ.  But now notice a third life application....

Promises of God

God's great and precious promises in His Word are what comprise the backbone of daily Christian living. (2 Peter 1:3-4) When we consider the passages in the Bible on Christ's coming Kingdom (chief among them being Revelation 19 & 20), we note that one of the purposes for Christ's establishing His Kingdom here on this earth is to fulfill promises made to His people.  There will be undoubtedly promises fulfilled to the church and there will be promises fulfilled to Israel.  The Bible uniformly declares that God never lies and that He always keeps His promises. (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). 

For one thing God promised to Abraham and his descendants that they would dwell in the land of promise. (Genesis 12:1-7) Despite their failure, God's promises to Israel remain firm and He promises in scores of places to restore her so that she can finally fulfill what He had ordained for her from the beginning. (Zechariah 12-14; Romans 11:25-26) An earthly stage to Christ's Kingdom is necessary for God's promises to Israel to be completed.  Indeed if God breaks His promises to Israel, then that jeopardizes any hope we as Gentile believers may have in the here and now.

We also note that Christ's coming Kingdom means that Christ's promises to His church to rule and reign with Him will be realized.  Indeed we enjoy the positional priviledge of having spiritual positions in the heavenly realms in Christ. (Ephesians 2:6-10) The Kingdom undoubtedly right now has been inaugurated in heaven with Christ seated over His church. (compare Acts 2:34-36)  However in order for us as The Church to have the fulfillment of Christ's promises to us, we too need a Millennium wherein we can rule and reign with Jesus for 1,000 years (Revelation 1:5-7; 20:4-6); judge the angels (1 Corinthians 6:3) and along with Israel to be prepared for what will be the final wedding at the end of all things following the Millennial reign of Jesus. (Revelation 21-22) .

All of the more than 8,000 promises in the Bible hang on such truths as these. The coming Kingdom of God has so much application to daily life.  May these life applications of prayer, the person of Christ and the promises of God be the areas in which we utilize the reality of coming Kingdom of Christ as revealed in Revelation 19-20 and other places. So Christ's coming millennial kingdom as bearing on our prayers, focus on the Person of Christ, understand the promises of God and fourthly....


Perseverance
A quick journey through the epistles of the New Testament will reveal how much the coming Millennial Kingdom is used by the Holy Spirit to encourage perseverance in the here and now.  Romans 16:20 has Paul reminding his readers of how soon they will in some way crush Satan under their feet, an event that may very well be tied to what we read in Revelation 20:1-3.  Persevering in preaching is tied to the reality of Christ's coming kingdom in 2 Timothy 4:1.  Perseverance in Godly living and practical holiness have as the basis of their motivation Christ's coming kingdom.  Other scriptures that encourage present perseverance are linked directly to the coming kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess 2:12; Hebrews 12:28-29; James 5:8; Jude 24-25)


Conclusion:


Four particular areas in the Bible utilize Christ's coming Kingdom to provide the following life applications for today: 

1. Prayer

2. Person of Christ
3. Promises of God
4. Perseverance

3. Promises of God
4. Perseverence

A Poem - The Coming Kingdom

A Poem - The Coming Kingdom

2,000 years has come and gone, and we lift our heads on high

Awaiting the Savior to return, our redemption draweth nigh

When He comes, this age will end, the church will defy the ground

A raptured resurrected church, with glory rushing around

Earth's final gasp will usher forth with the coming evil realm

The final rebellion, predicted to be set with satan at the helm

The church meanwhile in glorious bliss will stand to give account

The failures of life will burn away and Christ's work will amount

She will be prepared as a glorious bride to wed her loving Lord

For Christ will had gathered His chosen ones to be in one accord

Then comes wrath, the cosmos shakes, the earth a darkened mass

Quaking, shaking, fearsome sounds, Christ is coming fast

Hording armies will raise their swords to fight the Eternal King

With one swipe of His terrible sword their sudden defeat will ring

The Kingdom Age, a millennium long, Christ will reign supreme

With Satan bound and Israel restored the Kingdom will certainly gleam

The Kingdom will close, Satan released for a final attempt to rebel

To lead a final war against the King, with nations 

choosing hell

The Final Judgment commences, unbelievers raised to

contempt

Sadness swells, tears are wiped from saints who are exempt

Heaven and earth will be made anew, Christ and His church shall be

The glorious saints, in resurrected form will praise Him eternally

Comparing the actions of Jesus Christ in Revelation 1 & 19-20

Revelation 1:5-6 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Introduction:

Yesterday we compared the descriptions of Jesus Christ that we find in Revelation 1 & 19-20.  We noted at least four physical descriptions that match the Post-resurrected and exalted Christ in both passages.  We ended yesterday's post with the main application being from Hebrews 13:8 - that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Today's post will conclude what has been a three part series on comparing the two great visions of Jesus Christ in both Revelation 1:4-16 and 19:11-20:6.  To guide us through a comparison of these two texts, we have been noting three headings: Jesus' names, descriptions and actions.  As we already noted, we covered in yesterday's post the description of Jesus Christ, with His names in the post prior to yesterday's. In today's post we will focus our attention on how John describes Jesus' actions in Revelation 1 & 19-20.  As the reader notes the actions listed below, pray and ask the Spirit of God to show you the glory of Jesus Christ in each action.

1. According to Revelation 19:11 and 20:5, Jesus' coming will entail three principle activities: judgment, waging war and reigning. 
In Revelation 1:5 we see reference to Jesus Christ ruling in Heaven. In Revelation 1:7 we see Christ coming to restore His people Israel, along with His coming to judge. Then in Revelation 1:16 we see Jesus described in terms corresponding to He readiness to make war with His enemies. Therefore from these two sets of passages, we see both a heavenly aspect of Christ's reign followed by what will be an earthly aspect of His reign. 

2. In Revelation 1:7 and 16 we see reference to Jesus' four main activities in His second coming and Kingdom: restoring, waging war, judgment and reigning.  In look at Revelation 19-20 we can note the following eight point method by which Jesus is going to accomplish all of these things:

a. slaying. Revelation 19:15

b. tending. Revelation 19:15

c. treading the winepress of wrath. Revelation 19:16

d. seizing the anti-Christ and false prophet. Revelation 19:20

e. casting of the false prophet and anti-Christ into the lake of fire. Revelation 19:20

f. Raising tribulation martyrs and Old Testament Jewish believers from the dead. (based upon Daniel 12:1; John 5:24-28;  Revelation 20:4)

g. Restoring the then living nation of Israel who looks upon Him in faith at His return. (Romans 11:25-26; Revelation 1:7; 7:1-8; 14:1-5)

h. Beginning His 1,000 year or Millennial reign upon the earth (Revelation 20:1-6) 

Conclusion:
In the past three days we have considered the following comparisons between revelation 1 and 19-20: Jesus' names, descriptions and activities.  The aim has been to show the reader how glorious and awesome Jesus Christ is and will be at His second coming.  The other aim to was to demonstrate how much uniformity and continuity there is from beginning to end in the book of Revelation.  May these studies prove edifying and spiritually uplifting to the reader as we look forward to the blessed hope of the glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)

Comparing the descriptions of Jesus Christ in Revelation 1 & 19-20

Revelation 1:5-6 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Introduction:

Yesterday we compared some of the names of Jesus that we find in Revelation 1 to what we see revealed in Revelation 19-20.  We noted that in both sections of Revelation, the following five names are found common to both:

1. "Faithful"

2. "True" or "Witness"
3. "King of Kings" or "Ruler of the Kings of the Earth"

4. "Jesus"

5. "Christ"

Yesterday, today's and tomorrow's post will cover a three part series on comparing the two great visions of Jesus Christ in both Revelation 1:4-16 and 19:11-20:6.  To guide us through a comparison of these two texts, we are considering three headings: Jesus' names, description and actions.  As we already noted, we covered in yesterday's post the names of Jesus Christ unfolded in these chapters. In today's post we will focus more of our attention on how John describes Jesus in Revelation 1 & 19-20.  As the reader notes the descriptions listed below, pray and ask the Spirit of God to show you the glory of Jesus Christ in each description.

1. "eyes as of a flame of fire" Revelation 19:12
"eyes were like a flame of fire" Revelation 1:14






2. Jesus has a head, with hair white like wool in Revelation 1:14
In Revelation 19:12 we see upon Jesus' head many diadems



3. In Revelation 1:13 we see Jesus dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet
In Revelation 19:13,16 we see a description of that robe as being "dipped in blood"



4. In Revelation 1:16 we see coming out of Jesus' mouth as sharp, double edged sword
In Revelation 19:15 we see the same sword proceeding out of His mouth



Now one other final note of interest pertaining to believers in both of these passages.  In Revelation 1:6 we read: "and He has made us to be a kingdom,priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  In Revelation 20:4-5 we read the fulfillment of this promise in the earthly kingdom to come - "Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."  It seems to be clear that both church age saints taken in the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation, and those who by conviction of the Spirit of God believe on Christ in the tribulation, who are martyred, will be raised and seated with Christ on similar thrones.  

Point of Application
When I read these two visions in Revelation 1 and 19-20, I discover the truth stated in Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."  Tomorrow we will look at the actions of Jesus that we see revealed in both sets of passages.  To God be the glory!

Comparing the names of Jesus Christ in Revelation 1 & 19-20

Revelation 1:5-6 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Introduction:

The Book of Revelation is truly the Revelation of the Person and work of Jesus Christ in both Heaven right now and what will be His work in returning to earth to set up His kingdom and the bringing in of the age to come.  The student of scripture can greatly benefit from comparing two great visions of Jesus Christ in both Revelation 1:4-16 and 19:11-20:6.  To guide us through a comparison of these two texts, we will consider three headings: Jesus' names, description and actions.  In today's post we will note the names of Jesus Christ unfolded in these chapters.  As the reader notes the names listed below, pray and ask the Spirit of God to show you the glory of Jesus Christ in each one of those names.

Jesus' names in Revelation 1 & 19-20

Revelation 1:4-16 details for us a number of names of the Lord Jesus Christ.  As a matter of fact of the 200 or so names of Jesus recorded for us on the pages of God's Word, nearly 40 such titles occur in Revelation 1.  Now we won't list every single one of those names, however when we look at the names listed for us in Revelation 19, we can then see if such names occur in Revelation 1.

In Revelation 19 the main subject is the same as that of Revelation 1: Jesus Christ in His second coming. Revelation 20 then picks up the events following Christ's return with regards to His earthly reign, binding of Satan and final judgment at the end of Christ's earthly reign. As the Apostle John writes by Divine inspiration, he notes for us the following names of Jesus in Revelation 19.  In the listing of these names I will also include the references from Revelation 1 to see how well both chapters match up:

1. "Faithful" = Revelation 19:11

"Faithful" = Revelation 1:5

2. "True" = Revelation 19:11

"Witness", that is, everything Jesus is saying is true, since He is the truth = Revelation 1:5

3. "King of Kings" = Revelation 19:16

"The Ruler of the Kings of the Earth" = Revelation 1:5 

4. "Jesus" = Revelation 20:4 

"Jesus" = Revelation 1:1,2,5

5. "Christ" = Revelation 20:4-5 

"Christ" = Revelation 1:1,2,5


As the reader can see there is an amazing correspondence between the two chapters with regards to Jesus' names.  Tomorrow we will do some more comparisons.  To God be the glory!