Revelation, Lesson 3
• The Israel Text of the Week
The land promise given in Genesis 12 was fully specified later: (Gen 15:18) "On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates…"
• Q and A review on vocabulary words
• Review of homework, particularly the question of authorship
1. A Summary of John’s Work—“…to His servant John,2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw…”
a. Some Basic Facts about John
(1) Most scholars believe that John was the youngest of the 12 Disciples, perhaps only a teen ager during Jesus’ earthly ministry
(2) “…to His servant…” Again, the word is best translated “slave.” John, as all true believers, was a slave to a great master, the Lord Jesus.
(3) Apparently there was a family relationship or friendship that existed, because on the Cross, Jesus made provision for His mother’s care by giving that responsibility to John
(4) He was the human penman for the Gospel of John, the letters of 1st , 2nd , and 3rd John, and Revelation
(5) There was a rumor among believers that John would live until the second coming, but that rumor was based on a misunderstanding of what Jesus said to Peter about John (See Jn 21)
b. “…John…” Here is the first hint of controversy—so now we need to turn to our study guides to deal with the issue of the authorship of the Apocalypse
c. John the witness
(1) John the martyr or, the one who bears witness—(93 times in verb and noun form)
(a) He was suffering exile and living on a cold barren rock of an island that, given his age, should have led to his death from exposure.
(b) Persecution, while common in that time, was not universal—everything depended on the place and who was the direct overseer of the place in question.
(c) Many Christians did die as martyrs, or witnesses of the faith—However, it is not just those who die for the faith who are martyrs.
(d) But the basic meaning of marturian is “to bear witness…” This word is used 93 times in the New Testament, so using the Bible as a Dictionary of itself, lets see the meaning of “martyr”
(i) Jesus Christ Himself came as a witness of the Truth— (John 18:37) "…For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.""
(ii) John the Baptist witnessed Who Jesus was (and is)
(A) (John 1:15) "John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'""
(B) (John 1:32) "And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him."
(C) (John 1:34) ""And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.""
(iii) The Woman at the well testified—John 4:39) "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did.""
(iv) Jesus’ own works testified as to Who He was—(John 5:36-37) ""But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish; the very works that I do; bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 "And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form."
(v) The Scriptures witness who Jesus is—(John 5:39) ""You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."
(vi) The Father testified of the Son—(John 8:17-18) ""It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 "I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.""
(vii) The Holy Spirit testified and testifies about Jesus—(John 15:26-27) ""But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 "And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning."
(viii) The word can refer to a Christian’s reputation— (Acts 6:3) ""Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;"
(ix) God testified to the Truth of the Gospel the Apostles brought by miracles— (Acts 14:3) "Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands."
(x) The Law and the Prophets witnessed as to the Truth of the Gospel to come— (Rom 3:21) "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,"
(xi) Abel did die for his testimony— (Heb 11:4) "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks…”
(xii) Enoch’s testimony was so strong that God took him home directly—Heb 10:5 “…By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God."
(xiii) John testified as to Who Jesus is—
(A) (1 John 1:2) "the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us;"
(B) (1 John 4:14) "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world."
(C) (Rev 1:9) "I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
(xiv) We see the martyrs who died to seal their testimony—(Rev 6:9) "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held."
(xv) By our Testimony, we can overcome—
(A) (Rev 12:11) ""And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
(B) (Rev 20:4) "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."
(xvi) God testifies as to the Truth of the book of Revelation.
(Rev 22:16) ""I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.""
(Rev 22:20) "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
d. So, what does it mean to witness?
(1) It means every aspect of Christian life and testimony that we see above—
(2) Witnessing is not something we do on a Thursday night—our witness involves
(a) Reputation
(b) Love of the brethren
(c) Behavior
(d) Teaching
(e) Discipling
(f) Sacrifice and steadfastness under persecution
(g) And for many, ultimately it means our earthly lives sacrificed in His service.
e. To what did John witness? “…to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw…”.
(1) The Word of God—
(a) God knew that this was the last book of the Bible—(Psa 119:89) "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven."
(b) Though Revelation has no direct quotes of the Old Testament, it does repeat the central themes of the Old Testament and it alludes to the eschatological (end times) passages of the New Testament, including
(i) Mat 7:21-23—the Great White Throne
(ii) Mat 24—(the description of the Tribulation. and Glorious Appearing)
(iii) Acts 1:8-11, 2 Peter 3, The Glorious Appearing
(iv) 2 Th 2:1-14—the Man of Sin—compare with Rev 13.
(v) Jude—The Glorious Appearing
2. The Blessing of God on All Who Read, Hear and Obey— “…(3) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near…”.
a. A Blessing, and (perhaps) a description of an early church worship service
(1) The three participles translated reads, hear, and heed are in the present tense. Reading, hearing and obeying the truths taught in the book of Revelation (and in the rest of Scripture) are to be a way of life for believers. The change from the singular he who reads to the plural those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it depicts a first century church service. It was common practice when the church gathered for one person to read the Scriptures aloud for all to hear (c.f. 1 Tim 4:3). (MAC)
(2) Why was this the case?
(a) Most of the early believers were poor, or were slaves, and had no resources, and some had no education (though there were educated slaves which were the tutors for the children of the wealthy
(b) A copy of the Old Testament would have been very expensive
(c) Though they had the books of the New Testament, they were often not together in one place for the same reason as above.
(d) So, an appointed person read to the whole congregation, and many committed to memory what they heard in these primitive church meetings.
(3) A description of a second century worship service from the writings of Justin Martyr—
“… on the day called Sunday, [we] gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who [sees to the needs of] the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because… Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead….”(Justin Martyr, 150 AD)
b. A blessing—markarios—
(1) A Christian is deliriously happy because of this book
(2) A Blessing for the reader—and what a great honor it was to be a Lector, who assured that God’s people could hear the Word, and of course, the Lector also had to study and prepare to read his passages for each week.
(3) A Blessing for the listener—the only way most of them could know the Word and Grow was to have it read to them.
(4) A Blessing for the one who acts on the information given—Mat 28:19-20—From the beginning, it was never the intention of God to make converts, but instead to make Disciples who live out the Gospel.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Revelation Lesson 2a
Revelation, Lesson 2
Bro. Charley Buntin
Vocabulary
tribulation (small “t”) normal things we must endure just because we are human and we are here.
The Tribulation (big “t”) the seven years following the Rapture
The Great Tribulation—the last 3½ years of the Tribulation
The Blessed Hope—another name for the Rapture
Rapture—the snatching away of the church, prior to the Tribulation
The Glorious Appearing—the second coming of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation.
1. Review
a. The basic understanding for all end-times studies is the place of Israel in God’s Plan.
(1) To help us all understand this principle, I am going to have an “Israel Passage of the Week…”
(2) In this week’s Israel passage, we see God’s first Territorial Promise to Abraham— (Gen 12:6-7) " . 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land."
(3) This land promise was specified later: (Gen 15:18) "On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates…"
(4) And God has never abrogated this promise—Israel will one day possess all of the land, but it will not be accomplished by the earthly weapons of Israel nor of the US, but God will give the land.
b. There are five basic principles we are following in teaching Revelation
(1) The book of Revelation is important for us to understand.
(2) The book of Revelation is NOT hard for us to understand.
(3) The book of Revelation outlines itself (Rev 1:19).
(4) The book of Revelation teaches itself.
(5) The meaning of the book of Revelation is best stated in one phrase: Jesus Wins!
c. Five problems with the way people have interpreted Revelation
(1) They make everything into allegory
(2) They use ancient manuscripts which are not Biblical to interpret Revelation
(3) They speculate about modern day explanations for images Revelation or characters seen in Revelation. Example—(Rev 9:1-11) There have been various attempts made to find some modern mechanical thing that this “stands for,” when the scriptures are plain that these “locusts” are supernatural creatures, demonic in nature.
(4) They identify The Man of Sin with a current historical character
(5) They do not read the book as it was written
d. From last week—“…the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants…”
2. The Doctrine of Imminence—“…things which must shortly take place….” …(Again)—“…1:3—for the time is near [soon]…”
a. Nearness—
(1) Personal nearness—We all have a date with death
(2) And the time of the rapture is certainly closer than it ever has been—but this just makes the skeptics continue their blasphemy—(2 Pet 3:3-9) "knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." …7 … the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. …”
(3) Yet it has been the proper attitude for all believers in the church age to expect Christ’s return at any time—
(a) Job saw it indeed, far off—(Job 19:25) "For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;"
(b) The Church of Corinth was on watch—(1 Cor 1:7) "… waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ …"
(c) Paul expected it—(Phil 1:20) "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed…."
(d) The Thessalonians were in wait for Him—(1 Th 1:10) "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."
(e) Paul celebrated both parts of the second coming and urged that believers should be looking—(Titus 2:13) "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
(f) All true believers are looking for Him—(Heb 9:28) "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
(g) Peter wanted his people to be anxious and pulling for it to be close—(2 Pet 3:12) "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God…"
(h) Jude wants us to look for God’s Mercy to us—(Jude 1:21) "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
(i) Paul spoke of the crown of righteousness that all those will receive who loved His appearing—(2 Tim 4:8) "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
(Rev 22:7) ""Behold, I am coming quickly! ...""
(Rev 22:12) ""And behold, I am coming quickly,."
(Rev 22:20) "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
(4) So, believers are to always be on the watch, ready to meet our Lord in the Rapture, because the Rapture is the next thing on God’s prophetic clock
b. There are distinctions, often overlooked, between Israel and the church on this matter—
(1) The Rapture is for the church, the Glorious Appearing is for the Tribulation Saints.
(2) The Rapture (the catching away, Latin)—the Harpazo (Greek)
(a) The church is waiting for Christ and is told to look for Him—we are waiting for no other signs, as there is nothing left on the calendar for the church except to be the church (Chapter 2)
(i) (John 14:2-3) ""In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
(ii) (1 Cor 15:51-52) "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
(iii) (Col 3:4) "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
(iv) (1 Th 4:16-17) "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
(3) The Glorious Appearing—
(a) Believing Israel (and the other Tribulation believers) are will be enduring the Tribulation and looking for the Glorious appearing—Mat 24—and they are given many signs that must take place before the Glorious Appearing.
(b) The Great Tribulation will be worse than any time of trouble that ever has been.
(c) The Tribulation will be so bad that if God did not end it, everyone would be wiped out
(d) People will be claiming that Christ has already come
(e) False Christs and false prophets will arise and deceive many
(f) Christ will return to defeat His enemies and set up His kingdom.
3. The Revelator [God the Father] Revealed The Revelation to Christ Jesus, Who revealed it to John, Who Revealed It To Us—“… And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, {2} who bore witness to all things that he saw…”
a. The Message sent— Apostello
(1) The word means sending someone as a representative, with a mission to accomplish, under the authority of the person doing the sending
(a) An example
(Mat 2:16) Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men
(2) This verb is the verb form of the word “Apostle,” God’s special messengers who brought us the Gospel
(3) The Verb form is used by Paul, sending people to certain places—(2 Tim 4:12) “… And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus….”
(4) It is used of God sending forth the Apostles—(1 Cor 1:17) “…For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…”
(5) It is used of anyone who is sent to preach—(Rom 10:15) "And how shall they preach unless they are sent? …”
(6) It is used of the angelic beings sent by God to serve believers—(Heb 1:14) "… ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?"
(7) It is used of the Spirit being sent—(1 Pet 1:12) "…the Holy Spirit sent from heaven…”
(8) And it is used of Our Savior being sent to live, die, rise, and come again for us— (1 John 4:9-10) "… God has sent His only begotten Son …”into … He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
(1 John 4:14) "… the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world."
(9) But here we see the Word itself being the “apostle,” the “preacher,”
(a) The word is being sent, as a unified single message—who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He is going to do…
b. The essence of the message of this book
(1) Is that God is going to formally, personally, and absolutely establish His Sovereign rule over all, and particularly against the evil world system, now in abject revolt.
(2) Jesus Christ is going to be finally and definitively owned and crowned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
(3) And this message will be sent—as information for the edification of our minds.
(4) So, in a sense, the written Word becomes the apostle.
4. The Message signified— (Rev 1:1) "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants; things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,"
a. This word refers to communicating Truth by using symbolic language—for example, here we see Jesus showing in visual language that He will die on the Cross—
(1) (John 3:14) ""And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,"
(2) (John 12:32) "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die…”
(3) (John 18:31-32) “… Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him and judge Him according to your law." Therefore the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death, that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die… " [The Jews did not crucify, they stoned.]
(4) (John 21:18-19) "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
(5) Here again we see our basic principle:
(a) Revelation is meant to reveal Christ, not to conceal anything, except the exact time of His coming—Mark 13:32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…”
(b) Even the symbolic language of Revelation is meant to reveal
(6) This message is partially given in signs and figurative language, so that we may understand it on levels other than strictly verbal.
(7) John also saw things that defied any words he knew—which is the same experience Paul had.
b. “…by His Angel…” Who was the Angel who delivered this book?
(1) It was not a human being
(2) It was an angelic being
(3) Revelation is unique among New Testament books, in that angels had a hand in delivering it.
(4) There are over 60 direct references to angels in Revelation—again, it is a supernatural book.
Bro. Charley Buntin
Vocabulary
tribulation (small “t”) normal things we must endure just because we are human and we are here.
The Tribulation (big “t”) the seven years following the Rapture
The Great Tribulation—the last 3½ years of the Tribulation
The Blessed Hope—another name for the Rapture
Rapture—the snatching away of the church, prior to the Tribulation
The Glorious Appearing—the second coming of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation.
1. Review
a. The basic understanding for all end-times studies is the place of Israel in God’s Plan.
(1) To help us all understand this principle, I am going to have an “Israel Passage of the Week…”
(2) In this week’s Israel passage, we see God’s first Territorial Promise to Abraham— (Gen 12:6-7) " . 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land."
(3) This land promise was specified later: (Gen 15:18) "On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates…"
(4) And God has never abrogated this promise—Israel will one day possess all of the land, but it will not be accomplished by the earthly weapons of Israel nor of the US, but God will give the land.
b. There are five basic principles we are following in teaching Revelation
(1) The book of Revelation is important for us to understand.
(2) The book of Revelation is NOT hard for us to understand.
(3) The book of Revelation outlines itself (Rev 1:19).
(4) The book of Revelation teaches itself.
(5) The meaning of the book of Revelation is best stated in one phrase: Jesus Wins!
c. Five problems with the way people have interpreted Revelation
(1) They make everything into allegory
(2) They use ancient manuscripts which are not Biblical to interpret Revelation
(3) They speculate about modern day explanations for images Revelation or characters seen in Revelation. Example—(Rev 9:1-11) There have been various attempts made to find some modern mechanical thing that this “stands for,” when the scriptures are plain that these “locusts” are supernatural creatures, demonic in nature.
(4) They identify The Man of Sin with a current historical character
(5) They do not read the book as it was written
d. From last week—“…the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants…”
2. The Doctrine of Imminence—“…things which must shortly take place….” …(Again)—“…1:3—for the time is near [soon]…”
a. Nearness—
(1) Personal nearness—We all have a date with death
(2) And the time of the rapture is certainly closer than it ever has been—but this just makes the skeptics continue their blasphemy—(2 Pet 3:3-9) "knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." …7 … the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. …”
(3) Yet it has been the proper attitude for all believers in the church age to expect Christ’s return at any time—
(a) Job saw it indeed, far off—(Job 19:25) "For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;"
(b) The Church of Corinth was on watch—(1 Cor 1:7) "… waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ …"
(c) Paul expected it—(Phil 1:20) "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed…."
(d) The Thessalonians were in wait for Him—(1 Th 1:10) "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."
(e) Paul celebrated both parts of the second coming and urged that believers should be looking—(Titus 2:13) "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
(f) All true believers are looking for Him—(Heb 9:28) "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
(g) Peter wanted his people to be anxious and pulling for it to be close—(2 Pet 3:12) "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God…"
(h) Jude wants us to look for God’s Mercy to us—(Jude 1:21) "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
(i) Paul spoke of the crown of righteousness that all those will receive who loved His appearing—(2 Tim 4:8) "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
(Rev 22:7) ""Behold, I am coming quickly! ...""
(Rev 22:12) ""And behold, I am coming quickly,."
(Rev 22:20) "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
(4) So, believers are to always be on the watch, ready to meet our Lord in the Rapture, because the Rapture is the next thing on God’s prophetic clock
b. There are distinctions, often overlooked, between Israel and the church on this matter—
(1) The Rapture is for the church, the Glorious Appearing is for the Tribulation Saints.
(2) The Rapture (the catching away, Latin)—the Harpazo (Greek)
(a) The church is waiting for Christ and is told to look for Him—we are waiting for no other signs, as there is nothing left on the calendar for the church except to be the church (Chapter 2)
(i) (John 14:2-3) ""In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
(ii) (1 Cor 15:51-52) "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
(iii) (Col 3:4) "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
(iv) (1 Th 4:16-17) "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
(3) The Glorious Appearing—
(a) Believing Israel (and the other Tribulation believers) are will be enduring the Tribulation and looking for the Glorious appearing—Mat 24—and they are given many signs that must take place before the Glorious Appearing.
(b) The Great Tribulation will be worse than any time of trouble that ever has been.
(c) The Tribulation will be so bad that if God did not end it, everyone would be wiped out
(d) People will be claiming that Christ has already come
(e) False Christs and false prophets will arise and deceive many
(f) Christ will return to defeat His enemies and set up His kingdom.
3. The Revelator [God the Father] Revealed The Revelation to Christ Jesus, Who revealed it to John, Who Revealed It To Us—“… And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, {2} who bore witness to all things that he saw…”
a. The Message sent— Apostello
(1) The word means sending someone as a representative, with a mission to accomplish, under the authority of the person doing the sending
(a) An example
(Mat 2:16) Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men
(2) This verb is the verb form of the word “Apostle,” God’s special messengers who brought us the Gospel
(3) The Verb form is used by Paul, sending people to certain places—(2 Tim 4:12) “… And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus….”
(4) It is used of God sending forth the Apostles—(1 Cor 1:17) “…For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…”
(5) It is used of anyone who is sent to preach—(Rom 10:15) "And how shall they preach unless they are sent? …”
(6) It is used of the angelic beings sent by God to serve believers—(Heb 1:14) "… ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?"
(7) It is used of the Spirit being sent—(1 Pet 1:12) "…the Holy Spirit sent from heaven…”
(8) And it is used of Our Savior being sent to live, die, rise, and come again for us— (1 John 4:9-10) "… God has sent His only begotten Son …”into … He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
(1 John 4:14) "… the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world."
(9) But here we see the Word itself being the “apostle,” the “preacher,”
(a) The word is being sent, as a unified single message—who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He is going to do…
b. The essence of the message of this book
(1) Is that God is going to formally, personally, and absolutely establish His Sovereign rule over all, and particularly against the evil world system, now in abject revolt.
(2) Jesus Christ is going to be finally and definitively owned and crowned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
(3) And this message will be sent—as information for the edification of our minds.
(4) So, in a sense, the written Word becomes the apostle.
4. The Message signified— (Rev 1:1) "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants; things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,"
a. This word refers to communicating Truth by using symbolic language—for example, here we see Jesus showing in visual language that He will die on the Cross—
(1) (John 3:14) ""And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,"
(2) (John 12:32) "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die…”
(3) (John 18:31-32) “… Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him and judge Him according to your law." Therefore the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death, that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die… " [The Jews did not crucify, they stoned.]
(4) (John 21:18-19) "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
(5) Here again we see our basic principle:
(a) Revelation is meant to reveal Christ, not to conceal anything, except the exact time of His coming—Mark 13:32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…”
(b) Even the symbolic language of Revelation is meant to reveal
(6) This message is partially given in signs and figurative language, so that we may understand it on levels other than strictly verbal.
(7) John also saw things that defied any words he knew—which is the same experience Paul had.
b. “…by His Angel…” Who was the Angel who delivered this book?
(1) It was not a human being
(2) It was an angelic being
(3) Revelation is unique among New Testament books, in that angels had a hand in delivering it.
(4) There are over 60 direct references to angels in Revelation—again, it is a supernatural book.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
rev 2
Revelation Lesson 1—The Revelator and His Revelation
If it is read as it was intended to be read—as the future history of the time of the end, then the book of Revelation is not hard to understand.
In fact, as we will see in expositing the first verse, Revelation it was designed by God the Father, delivered by the Lord Jesus, and written by John to reveal Truth, and it was not intended to be difficult to understand.
The Apostles and first century of believers had no problems understanding it, and the great leaders of the early church mostly agreed on what it meant and how to interpret it.
1. Introdution
a. There are five basic principles that must be understood and daily applied in our study of the capstone of Scripture
(1) The book of Revelation is important for us to understand.
(2) The book of Revelation is NOT hard for us to understand.
(3) The book of Revelation outlines itself (Rev 1:19).
(4) The book of Revelation teaches itself.
(5) The meaning of the book of Revelation is best stated in one phrase: Jesus Wins!
b. Five problems with the way people have interpreted Revelation
(1) They make everything into allegory
(2) They use ancient manuscripts which are not Biblical to interpret Revelation
(3) They speculate about modern day explanations for images Revelation or characters seen in Revelation. Example—(Rev 9:1-11) There have been various attempts made to find some modern mechanical thing that this “stands for,” when the scriptures are plain that these “locusts” are supernatural creatures, demonic in nature.
(4) They identify The Man of Sin with a modern-day character
(5) They do not read the book as it was written
c. How to read Revelation
(1) A self-interpreting encounter with and look at the risen Lord
(2) A self-interpreting set of messages about and to specific churches of John’s day
(3) A self-interpreting revelation of the events of the last days and the consummation of all things
2. John was NOT the Revelator—Christ IS the Revelator—(Rev 1:1-3) The Revelation of Jesus Christ…”
a. The Revelation
(1) The word “…apokalupsis…” means to reveal
(a) not to conceal
(b) nor to make difficult to understand
(2) Other uses of the word in the NT
(a) The prophecy about the Infant Lord by Simeon when they brought Jesus into the temple—“…(Luke 2:32) A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
(b) The word refers to the judgment of the wicked—(Rom 2:5) “… the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God…”
(c) The word refers to the full revelation of the Sons (and daughters) of the Kingdom—
(i) (Rom 8:19) “…For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God…”
(ii) (1 Cor 1:7)”… so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
(iii) “…(2 Th 1:7) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels…”
(iv) “…(1 Pet 1:7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
(v) “…(1 Pet 1:13) Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
(vi) “(1 Pet 4:13) but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy…”
(d) The word refers to the full revelation of the Gospel—“…(Rom 16:25) Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began…”
(e) It was used by Paul to describe the Gospel revelations he had received from God—“…(Gal 1:12) For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
(f) Paul used it to refer to the revelation of Heaven he had received from God—
(i) (2 Cor 12:1) “ It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord…”
(ii) (2 Cor 12:7) And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure…”
b. The Revelation of Jesus Christ
(1) Revelation is Trinitarian, it reveals the tri-unity of God
(2) Revelation is a Christology—Many Titles of Christ are used in Revelation
(a) (Rev 1:4-5) “… Him who is and who was and who is to come…”
(b) “… the faithful witness…” “… the firstborn from the dead…”
(c) “… the ruler over the kings of the earth….”
(d) “…To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
(e) (Rev 1:8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord…”
(f) "…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
(g) (Rev 1:17) “… I am the First and the Last….”
(h) (Rev 2:8) "…the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
(i) (Rev 3:14) "...the Amen…”
(j) “…the Faithful and True Witness…”
(k) “… the Beginning [orgin] of the creation of God…”
(l) (Rev 5:5-6) “… the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David…”
(m) “…{6} … a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
(n) “… the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world….”
(o) “…O King of the saints!...”
(Rev 17:14) "… He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."
(Rev 19:11) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True…”
(Rev 19:13) “…His name is called The Word of God…”
(Rev 19:16) And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
(Rev 21:14) Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
(Rev 22:13) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
(Rev 22:16) "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
(3) Revelation is a Theology—(Rev 1:4-6) John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, {5} and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, {6} and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
(Rev 1:9) I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Rev 2:21-22) "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. {22} "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
(Rev 3:5) "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
(Rev 3:10) "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
(Rev 3:12) "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
(Rev 3:20) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
(Rev 4:8-11) The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" {9} Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, {10} the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: {11} "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."
(Rev 5:13-14) And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" {14} Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
(Rev 6:10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
(Rev 6:16-17) and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
(Rev 7:3) saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
(Rev 7:10) and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
(Rev 7:12) saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
(Rev 10:6) and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,
(Rev 11:4) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
(Rev 11:13) In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
(Rev 11:17-18) saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. {18} The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."
(Rev 12:6) Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
(Rev 14:1) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
(Rev 14:7) saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
(Rev 15:3-4) They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! {4} Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."
(Rev 15:7-8) Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. {8} The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
(Rev 16:5-7) And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. {6} For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due." {7} And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
(Rev 16:9) And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
(Rev 17:17) "For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
(Rev 18:8) "Therefore her plagues will come in one day; death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.
(Rev 19:1-2) After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! {2} "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."
(Rev 19:6) And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
(Rev 19:9) Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."
(Rev 21:3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
(Rev 21:10-11) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, {11} having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
(Rev 21:22-23) But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. {23} The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
(4) Revelation is a Pnematology
(5) It is the revelation of a future history and Jesus Christ is the Author and Actor of that history.
(6) The Revelation is of Christ’s personal, visibly, and bodily return and the events surrounding that event. It is the revealing of HIM.
c. The Triune God Reveals the Future— “…which God gave Him to show His servants; things which must shortly take place….”
(1) The Father gave the Son the message to send
(2) The Servants of God
(a) The saved of the church
(b) The Jews who will be saved in the last generation revival—“(Rom 11:25-26) For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. {26} And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob…”
(c) All the Gentiles who will be saved during the Great Tribulation—who will most certainly need this guidebook during the Tribulation
d. “…Must shortly come to pass…”—the word “shortly” means “soon” (MacArthur)
(1) Must—this is a fixed point. These are things which will happen at some point
(2) Shortly—the doctrine of the imminence of Christ’s return
(a) The Bible teaches the Imminence of Christ’s return—He could return for His church at any time.
(b) There are skeptics because of the length of time that has passed, and this was predicted! (2 Pet 3:3-14)
(c) Other Bible passages that deal with Imminence
(1 John 2:18) “…Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour….”
(d) Other Revelation passages
(Rev 2:5) "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent.
(Rev 2:16) 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
(Rev 3:11) "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
(Rev 11:14) The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
(Rev 22:12) "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
3. The Revelator [Jesus Christ] Revealed The Revelation to John, Who Revealed It To Us—“… And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, {2} who bore witness to all things that he saw…”
a. The Message sent— The essence of the message of this book
(1) Is that God is going to formally, personally, and absolutely establish His Sovereign rule over all, and particularly against the evil world system, now in abject revolt.
(2) Jesus Christ is going to be finally and definitively owned and crowned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
(3) And this message will be sent—as information for the edification of our minds.
b. The Message signified
(1) This message is also partially given in signs and figurative language, so that we may understand it on levels other than strictly verbal.
(2) John also saw things that defied any words available to him.
c. Who was the Angel who delivered this book?
(1) It is not a human being
(2) This is an ordinary angelic being
(3) Revelation is unique among New Testament books, in that angels had a hand in delivering it.
d. John bears witness—
(1) He was suffering exile and a cold barren rock of an island that should have led to his death from exposure.
(2) But John fully finished this assignment.
4. The Blessing of God on All Who Hear and Obey— “…{3} Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near…”.
a. A Blessing, and (perhaps) a description of an early church worship service
The three participles translated reads, hear, and heed are in the present tense. Reading, hearing and obeying the truths taught in the book of Revelation (and in the rest of Scripture) are to be a way of life for believers. The change from the singular he who reads to the plural those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it depicts a first century church service. It was common practice when the church gathered for one person to read the Scriptures aloud for all to hear (c.f. 1 Tim 4:3). (MAC)
And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration (Justin Martyr, 150 AD)
b. First, a commendation for reading and acting upon the information gleaned information, is required of any usage of the Bible
(1) Reads
(2) Hear
(3) Keep
c. Short timer!
If it is read as it was intended to be read—as the future history of the time of the end, then the book of Revelation is not hard to understand.
In fact, as we will see in expositing the first verse, Revelation it was designed by God the Father, delivered by the Lord Jesus, and written by John to reveal Truth, and it was not intended to be difficult to understand.
The Apostles and first century of believers had no problems understanding it, and the great leaders of the early church mostly agreed on what it meant and how to interpret it.
1. Introdution
a. There are five basic principles that must be understood and daily applied in our study of the capstone of Scripture
(1) The book of Revelation is important for us to understand.
(2) The book of Revelation is NOT hard for us to understand.
(3) The book of Revelation outlines itself (Rev 1:19).
(4) The book of Revelation teaches itself.
(5) The meaning of the book of Revelation is best stated in one phrase: Jesus Wins!
b. Five problems with the way people have interpreted Revelation
(1) They make everything into allegory
(2) They use ancient manuscripts which are not Biblical to interpret Revelation
(3) They speculate about modern day explanations for images Revelation or characters seen in Revelation. Example—(Rev 9:1-11) There have been various attempts made to find some modern mechanical thing that this “stands for,” when the scriptures are plain that these “locusts” are supernatural creatures, demonic in nature.
(4) They identify The Man of Sin with a modern-day character
(5) They do not read the book as it was written
c. How to read Revelation
(1) A self-interpreting encounter with and look at the risen Lord
(2) A self-interpreting set of messages about and to specific churches of John’s day
(3) A self-interpreting revelation of the events of the last days and the consummation of all things
2. John was NOT the Revelator—Christ IS the Revelator—(Rev 1:1-3) The Revelation of Jesus Christ…”
a. The Revelation
(1) The word “…apokalupsis…” means to reveal
(a) not to conceal
(b) nor to make difficult to understand
(2) Other uses of the word in the NT
(a) The prophecy about the Infant Lord by Simeon when they brought Jesus into the temple—“…(Luke 2:32) A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
(b) The word refers to the judgment of the wicked—(Rom 2:5) “… the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God…”
(c) The word refers to the full revelation of the Sons (and daughters) of the Kingdom—
(i) (Rom 8:19) “…For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God…”
(ii) (1 Cor 1:7)”… so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
(iii) “…(2 Th 1:7) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels…”
(iv) “…(1 Pet 1:7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
(v) “…(1 Pet 1:13) Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
(vi) “(1 Pet 4:13) but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy…”
(d) The word refers to the full revelation of the Gospel—“…(Rom 16:25) Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began…”
(e) It was used by Paul to describe the Gospel revelations he had received from God—“…(Gal 1:12) For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
(f) Paul used it to refer to the revelation of Heaven he had received from God—
(i) (2 Cor 12:1) “ It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord…”
(ii) (2 Cor 12:7) And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure…”
b. The Revelation of Jesus Christ
(1) Revelation is Trinitarian, it reveals the tri-unity of God
(2) Revelation is a Christology—Many Titles of Christ are used in Revelation
(a) (Rev 1:4-5) “… Him who is and who was and who is to come…”
(b) “… the faithful witness…” “… the firstborn from the dead…”
(c) “… the ruler over the kings of the earth….”
(d) “…To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
(e) (Rev 1:8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord…”
(f) "…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
(g) (Rev 1:17) “… I am the First and the Last….”
(h) (Rev 2:8) "…the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
(i) (Rev 3:14) "...the Amen…”
(j) “…the Faithful and True Witness…”
(k) “… the Beginning [orgin] of the creation of God…”
(l) (Rev 5:5-6) “… the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David…”
(m) “…{6} … a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
(n) “… the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world….”
(o) “…O King of the saints!...”
(Rev 17:14) "… He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."
(Rev 19:11) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True…”
(Rev 19:13) “…His name is called The Word of God…”
(Rev 19:16) And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
(Rev 21:14) Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
(Rev 22:13) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
(Rev 22:16) "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
(3) Revelation is a Theology—(Rev 1:4-6) John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, {5} and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, {6} and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
(Rev 1:9) I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Rev 2:21-22) "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. {22} "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
(Rev 3:5) "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
(Rev 3:10) "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
(Rev 3:12) "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
(Rev 3:20) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
(Rev 4:8-11) The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" {9} Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, {10} the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: {11} "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."
(Rev 5:13-14) And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" {14} Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
(Rev 6:10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
(Rev 6:16-17) and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
(Rev 7:3) saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
(Rev 7:10) and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
(Rev 7:12) saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
(Rev 10:6) and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,
(Rev 11:4) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
(Rev 11:13) In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
(Rev 11:17-18) saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. {18} The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."
(Rev 12:6) Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
(Rev 14:1) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
(Rev 14:7) saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
(Rev 15:3-4) They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! {4} Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."
(Rev 15:7-8) Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. {8} The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
(Rev 16:5-7) And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. {6} For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due." {7} And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
(Rev 16:9) And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
(Rev 17:17) "For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
(Rev 18:8) "Therefore her plagues will come in one day; death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.
(Rev 19:1-2) After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! {2} "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."
(Rev 19:6) And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
(Rev 19:9) Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."
(Rev 21:3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
(Rev 21:10-11) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, {11} having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
(Rev 21:22-23) But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. {23} The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
(4) Revelation is a Pnematology
(5) It is the revelation of a future history and Jesus Christ is the Author and Actor of that history.
(6) The Revelation is of Christ’s personal, visibly, and bodily return and the events surrounding that event. It is the revealing of HIM.
c. The Triune God Reveals the Future— “…which God gave Him to show His servants; things which must shortly take place….”
(1) The Father gave the Son the message to send
(2) The Servants of God
(a) The saved of the church
(b) The Jews who will be saved in the last generation revival—“(Rom 11:25-26) For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. {26} And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob…”
(c) All the Gentiles who will be saved during the Great Tribulation—who will most certainly need this guidebook during the Tribulation
d. “…Must shortly come to pass…”—the word “shortly” means “soon” (MacArthur)
(1) Must—this is a fixed point. These are things which will happen at some point
(2) Shortly—the doctrine of the imminence of Christ’s return
(a) The Bible teaches the Imminence of Christ’s return—He could return for His church at any time.
(b) There are skeptics because of the length of time that has passed, and this was predicted! (2 Pet 3:3-14)
(c) Other Bible passages that deal with Imminence
(1 John 2:18) “…Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour….”
(d) Other Revelation passages
(Rev 2:5) "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent.
(Rev 2:16) 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
(Rev 3:11) "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
(Rev 11:14) The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
(Rev 22:12) "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
3. The Revelator [Jesus Christ] Revealed The Revelation to John, Who Revealed It To Us—“… And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, {2} who bore witness to all things that he saw…”
a. The Message sent— The essence of the message of this book
(1) Is that God is going to formally, personally, and absolutely establish His Sovereign rule over all, and particularly against the evil world system, now in abject revolt.
(2) Jesus Christ is going to be finally and definitively owned and crowned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
(3) And this message will be sent—as information for the edification of our minds.
b. The Message signified
(1) This message is also partially given in signs and figurative language, so that we may understand it on levels other than strictly verbal.
(2) John also saw things that defied any words available to him.
c. Who was the Angel who delivered this book?
(1) It is not a human being
(2) This is an ordinary angelic being
(3) Revelation is unique among New Testament books, in that angels had a hand in delivering it.
d. John bears witness—
(1) He was suffering exile and a cold barren rock of an island that should have led to his death from exposure.
(2) But John fully finished this assignment.
4. The Blessing of God on All Who Hear and Obey— “…{3} Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near…”.
a. A Blessing, and (perhaps) a description of an early church worship service
The three participles translated reads, hear, and heed are in the present tense. Reading, hearing and obeying the truths taught in the book of Revelation (and in the rest of Scripture) are to be a way of life for believers. The change from the singular he who reads to the plural those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it depicts a first century church service. It was common practice when the church gathered for one person to read the Scriptures aloud for all to hear (c.f. 1 Tim 4:3). (MAC)
And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration (Justin Martyr, 150 AD)
b. First, a commendation for reading and acting upon the information gleaned information, is required of any usage of the Bible
(1) Reads
(2) Hear
(3) Keep
c. Short timer!
Revelation overview
Introduction to Revelation
1. Five Key Ideas
a. The book of Revelation is important for us to understand—(Rev 1:3) "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
b. The book of Revelation is NOT hard for us to understand—because it is a revealing, not a concealing—Rev 1:1 “…The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants; things which must shortly take place….”
c. The book of Revelation outlines itself (Rev 1:19) "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
d. The book of Revelation teaches (or interprets itself).
(1) The Prophet is directed where to look—
(a) (Rev 6:1) "Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see.""
(b) (Rev 6:3) "When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see.""
(c) (Rev 6:5) "When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand."
(d) (Rev 6:7) "When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see.""
(2) The book often defines its own meanings
(a) (Rev 7:13-14) "Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
(b) The Prophet, like Paul, is also told what NOT to write! (Rev 10:1-4) "I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.""
(c) John is given a “hands on” assignment—11:1 “… Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there…”
(d) Then John is told what TO write—(Rev 14:13) "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.""
e. The meaning of the book of Revelation is best stated in one phrase: Jesus Wins!
2. What John Saw (in real time)
a. The Key Verses of Chapter 1
(1) Verse 1
(2) Verse 2
(3) Verse 19
b. The key concept—this book is about revealing Truth, not concealing Truth
3. What John Wrote in real time—Seven Letters to seven real churches.
a. The Cold Orthodox Church—(Rev 2:1) ""To the angel of the church of Ephesus… (Rev 2:4) "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
b. The Persecuted Church—(Rev 2:8) ""And to the angel of the church in Smyrna …(Rev 2:10) ""Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
c. The Church Being Corrupted— (Rev 2:12) ""And to the angel of the church in Pergamos …(Rev 2:14-15) ""But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."
d. The Corrupted Church (Rev 2:18) ""And to the angel of the church in Thyatira … (Rev 2:20-23) ""Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."
e. The (secretly) Dead Church— (Rev 3:1) ""And to the angel of the church in …"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead."
f. The Good, Strong Church—(Rev 3:7) ""And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia …8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name…”
g. The Apostate Church—(Rev 3:14) ""And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans…15-17) ""I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;"
4. What John Saw and wrote about what will happen in the future
a. What John saw in Heaven—Rev 4 and 5
b. What will happen on Earth, directed by Heaven—Rev 6-19
(1) The Judgments—there is a question about the pattern.
(a) Possible patterns
(i) Three consecutive period of time
(ii) Two consecutive periods, with the last one doubled up with the third one
(iii) My View—Three consecutive periods that build on one another, the first intensified by the 2nd, and the 2nd and 1st intensified by the 3rd
c. The Seals
(1) The First Seal: The White Horse, A Conqueror—(Rev 6:2)
(2) The Second Seal: A Red Horse—(Rev 6:4) a Warrior and ruthless killer
(3) The Third Seal: A black horse: famine
(4) The Fourth Horse—a pale horse, ridden by Death
(5) The Fifth Seal—6:9—the vision of the martyrs
(6) The Sixth Seal a great earthquake with an obstructed sun and with a moon that appears to be blood red because of the effects of the earthquake
(7) The Seventh Seal—Silence in Heaven—(Rev 8:1) "When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."
d. Trumpets—As the Trumpets are sounded, the wrath of God increases in its expression
(1) The First Angel—a third of the trees and green grass are destroyed in the beginnings of a great ecological disaster—(Rev 8:7) "The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
(2) The Second Angel—the disaster extends to the seas—“…8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed…”
(3) The Third Angel—the ecological disaster extends to rivers and springs, making them poisonous and bitter—(Rev 8:10) "Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water."
(4) The Fourth Angel—the light from heavenly bodies is either eliminated or it is destroyed—(Rev 8:12) "Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night."
(5) The Fifth Angel—an army of demonic “locusts” come from the bottomless pit to attack all those who have not yet believed—(Rev 9:1) "Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit." Read Rev 9:2-11
(6) The Sixth Angel—an army of demonic forces will be released and begin to rampage that have been supernaturally held back by angels controlling the area—(Rev 9:13) "Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,"
(7) The Seventh Angel—the great declaration of victory (not yet fully accomplished, but from here on, the wrath of God intensifies—I11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
e. The Bowls of God’s Wrath
(1) The Sore—(Rev 16:2) "So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
(2) More ecological disasters—“… 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. …”
(3) More Ecological disasters, 2 “…4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood."
(4) Supernatural Intense Heat— (Rev 16:8) "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire."
(5) Supernaturally intense pain in darkness so deep that it makes the pain worse (Rev 16:10) "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain."
(6) God releases the demonic army which has been forming—(Rev 16:12) "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared."
(7) (Rev 16:17) "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!""
(8) Peripheral but important
(a) The Sealing of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists
(b) The Salvation of multitudes no man can number—Rev 7:9-14
(c) The Two Witnesses—chapter 11
(d) The Woman and the Dragon—Chapter 12
(e) The Beast
(f) Mystery Babylon
(g) Armageddon
(h) The Glorious appearing
f. What will happen in the Millennial Kingdom—Rev 20:1-10
g. What will happen at the Great White Throne—Rev 20:11-15
h. What will happen in Heaven—21 and 22
1. Five Key Ideas
a. The book of Revelation is important for us to understand—(Rev 1:3) "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
b. The book of Revelation is NOT hard for us to understand—because it is a revealing, not a concealing—Rev 1:1 “…The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants; things which must shortly take place….”
c. The book of Revelation outlines itself (Rev 1:19) "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
d. The book of Revelation teaches (or interprets itself).
(1) The Prophet is directed where to look—
(a) (Rev 6:1) "Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see.""
(b) (Rev 6:3) "When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see.""
(c) (Rev 6:5) "When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand."
(d) (Rev 6:7) "When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see.""
(2) The book often defines its own meanings
(a) (Rev 7:13-14) "Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
(b) The Prophet, like Paul, is also told what NOT to write! (Rev 10:1-4) "I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.""
(c) John is given a “hands on” assignment—11:1 “… Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there…”
(d) Then John is told what TO write—(Rev 14:13) "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.""
e. The meaning of the book of Revelation is best stated in one phrase: Jesus Wins!
2. What John Saw (in real time)
a. The Key Verses of Chapter 1
(1) Verse 1
(2) Verse 2
(3) Verse 19
b. The key concept—this book is about revealing Truth, not concealing Truth
3. What John Wrote in real time—Seven Letters to seven real churches.
a. The Cold Orthodox Church—(Rev 2:1) ""To the angel of the church of Ephesus… (Rev 2:4) "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
b. The Persecuted Church—(Rev 2:8) ""And to the angel of the church in Smyrna …(Rev 2:10) ""Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
c. The Church Being Corrupted— (Rev 2:12) ""And to the angel of the church in Pergamos …(Rev 2:14-15) ""But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."
d. The Corrupted Church (Rev 2:18) ""And to the angel of the church in Thyatira … (Rev 2:20-23) ""Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."
e. The (secretly) Dead Church— (Rev 3:1) ""And to the angel of the church in …"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead."
f. The Good, Strong Church—(Rev 3:7) ""And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia …8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name…”
g. The Apostate Church—(Rev 3:14) ""And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans…15-17) ""I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;"
4. What John Saw and wrote about what will happen in the future
a. What John saw in Heaven—Rev 4 and 5
b. What will happen on Earth, directed by Heaven—Rev 6-19
(1) The Judgments—there is a question about the pattern.
(a) Possible patterns
(i) Three consecutive period of time
(ii) Two consecutive periods, with the last one doubled up with the third one
(iii) My View—Three consecutive periods that build on one another, the first intensified by the 2nd, and the 2nd and 1st intensified by the 3rd
c. The Seals
(1) The First Seal: The White Horse, A Conqueror—(Rev 6:2)
(2) The Second Seal: A Red Horse—(Rev 6:4) a Warrior and ruthless killer
(3) The Third Seal: A black horse: famine
(4) The Fourth Horse—a pale horse, ridden by Death
(5) The Fifth Seal—6:9—the vision of the martyrs
(6) The Sixth Seal a great earthquake with an obstructed sun and with a moon that appears to be blood red because of the effects of the earthquake
(7) The Seventh Seal—Silence in Heaven—(Rev 8:1) "When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."
d. Trumpets—As the Trumpets are sounded, the wrath of God increases in its expression
(1) The First Angel—a third of the trees and green grass are destroyed in the beginnings of a great ecological disaster—(Rev 8:7) "The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
(2) The Second Angel—the disaster extends to the seas—“…8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed…”
(3) The Third Angel—the ecological disaster extends to rivers and springs, making them poisonous and bitter—(Rev 8:10) "Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water."
(4) The Fourth Angel—the light from heavenly bodies is either eliminated or it is destroyed—(Rev 8:12) "Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night."
(5) The Fifth Angel—an army of demonic “locusts” come from the bottomless pit to attack all those who have not yet believed—(Rev 9:1) "Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit." Read Rev 9:2-11
(6) The Sixth Angel—an army of demonic forces will be released and begin to rampage that have been supernaturally held back by angels controlling the area—(Rev 9:13) "Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,"
(7) The Seventh Angel—the great declaration of victory (not yet fully accomplished, but from here on, the wrath of God intensifies—I11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
e. The Bowls of God’s Wrath
(1) The Sore—(Rev 16:2) "So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
(2) More ecological disasters—“… 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. …”
(3) More Ecological disasters, 2 “…4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood."
(4) Supernatural Intense Heat— (Rev 16:8) "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire."
(5) Supernaturally intense pain in darkness so deep that it makes the pain worse (Rev 16:10) "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain."
(6) God releases the demonic army which has been forming—(Rev 16:12) "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared."
(7) (Rev 16:17) "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!""
(8) Peripheral but important
(a) The Sealing of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists
(b) The Salvation of multitudes no man can number—Rev 7:9-14
(c) The Two Witnesses—chapter 11
(d) The Woman and the Dragon—Chapter 12
(e) The Beast
(f) Mystery Babylon
(g) Armageddon
(h) The Glorious appearing
f. What will happen in the Millennial Kingdom—Rev 20:1-10
g. What will happen at the Great White Throne—Rev 20:11-15
h. What will happen in Heaven—21 and 22
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