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We’re coming to the wrap up of our Casket Empty Series.
This series has been fast.
I do want to encourage you, to take the time for a more in depth study with our mid-week Bible Study on Zoom, you can do a study with a partner, as a family, or on your own.
We still have a few books available that will give you more of the details than I’ve been able to give in our 20 minutes on Sunday morning.
You have your timeline, and you have your bookmarks.
This is the second to last sermon in our series, and so once again I’ll share with you our in flight instructions as we fly over the New Testament looking down from about 40,000 feet.
Don’t get frustrated by the pace.
Try and see the connections.
Enjoy your flight.
We’re now looking at circa AD 95 until the return of Christ - and we don’t know exactly when that will be - not even Jesus.
Matthew 24:36 (ESV)
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
So as we’re getting into this, I want to give you a couple of insights into apocalyptic literature at the time of the writing of this book.
It’s written about the future.
It’s written using veiled references from the present.
It’s going to require interpretation.
And as you’re giving that interpretation you need to be careful.
Remember good interpretation is always founded upon solid observation.
So, with that, let’s go.
Yet to Come (Part 1)
Our book begins this chapter with this sentence that I think sums it up well:
“The period of YET TO COME completes God’s pan of redemption through history with a glorious vision of the ending.”
The New Testament began with the introduction of Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, fulfilling the expectations and announcing the arrival of the kingdom of God.
I want to read the opening paragraph a bit because David Palmer puts it so well:
“His public ministry demonstrates the reality of the kingdom with healings, casting out of demons, and prophetic signs.
His atoning death enacts the new covenant.
His victory on the cross disarms principalities and powers.
His resurrection dawns God’s new creation.
His ascension enthrones him as exalted Lord.
With heavenly authority, Jesus commissions his people to teach the nations.
He pours out the Holy Spirit to empower their witness.
He gathers all nations into the church to display God’s renewed humanity in Christ.”
Palmer, David.
Casket Empty: God's Plan of Redemption through History: New Testament Study Guide (p.
295).
Casket Empty Media LLC.
Kindle Edition.
Palmer goes on with this:
At the same time, the New Testament also announces that the full realization of God’s purposes is still YET-TO-COME.
The kingdom of God grows among wheat and weeds.
Church leaders are in the pains of labor until Christ is formed in the lives of their people.
The church is a bride still being perfected.
The kingdom of God suffers violence, and an unbelieving world persecutes the church.
False teaching assails the church, which has been entrusted with God’s truth.
The end times have truly begun, and yet the spirit of the antichrist has gone out into the world.
The kingdom of God is inaugurated but not fully consummated.
An intense spiritual battle still remains.
Palmer, David.
Casket Empty: God's Plan of Redemption through History: New Testament Study Guide (pp.
295-296).
Casket Empty Media LLC.
Kindle Edition.
Revelation
As we look at the final book of the Bible it is important that we recognize it is singular, nor plural.
This book pulls back the veil so to speak of what God is doing in the plan for redemption in history.
It allows us to see God in the sanctuary, enthroned, worshiped, and surrounded by the heavenly hosts who fall before His holiness.
God is in control.
The final book of the Bible is not so much about end times as it is about the person of Jesus Christ.
Palmer says, “God reveals Christ’s present rule and future glory.
This reality produces hope and strengthens our resolve in times of distress.
Jesus is revealed as the exalted Son of Man and Lord of the church.
He is worshiped in heaven and stands worthy to enact God’s eternal purpose.”
When we read this book in this light it is a book of hope, a book of light, and a book of glory.
As John is writing this vision down, he is in exile on the island of Patmos off the coast of present day Turkey.
We start with this bold heading:
God Reveals the Present Rule and Future Glory of His Son
John speaks of Jesus’ eternal glory at both the beginning and end of this book:
And Rev 22:13
This book was first circulated to seven Christian communities around the Roman province in Asia Minor, thus the mention of the seven spirit who are before the throne.
It is a time of great persecution for Christians throughout the Roman Empire.
We remember that the Jewish War had broken out about AD 66 to 70, and that the temple had been destroyed.
The persecution continued.
The hostility towards Jews continued to grow throughout the empire.
In the opening three chapters Jesus addresses the seven churches that John mentions in his opening in verse 4:
As we journey through the book we get a variety of visions given to John, many of which resemble other apocalyptic visions from the Old Testament.
Jesus stands among the 7 golden lampstands that illuminate the heavenly sanctuary as in the book of Daniel.
He is clothed in a long robe with a gold sash.
His hair is white.
His eyes are like a flame of fire and his feet like bronze.
His voice resounds with divine authority like the roar of many waters.
He holds 7 stars, and from his mouth comes a double edged sword.
His face shines like the sun.
John is overwhelmed.
When we think of the descriptions of God we see throughout the Old and New Testament all of these recount Jesus’ authority and oneness with God the father.
As Jesus addresses the seven churches and describes each on of them and their spiritual condition and concludes with a warning for those who disobey him and a promise of blessing for those who press on in faith.
We see the exalted Jesus worshiped in Heaven in chapters 4-5.
He is the only one worthy of opening the 7 sealed scroll of God’s will.
Jesus is the Lamb of God slain who purchased people from all nations.
The Lamb of God who Purchased People from All Nations, Is Slain
Jesus is the Royal Messiah, and as John looks towards the throne of God, he sees a Lamb standing.
Jesus has given his life to carry the sin of the world.
This takes us all the way back to the sacrifices of the Old Testament back in the opening 5 books of the Bible.
It also points to Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 53:
and John 1:29
The lamb stands enthroned in heavenly glory following his resurrection.
The book clearly points to Jesus as the Son of David and the Suffering Servant.
He conquers the nations not by killing them, but by dying for them.
His death and resurrection are the very center of the Gospel message and the biblical narrative as we learned from Paul:
Throughout the book of Revelation we see a lot of 7’s.
Remember the number 7 connotes perfection or completeness in many cultures, including Jewish and early church.
Seven churches, seven stars, seven spirits, seven horns, seven seals, trumpets, thunders, etc.
Seven - complete, perfect, “It is finished.”
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