The Sure Rule of God (An Overview of Revelation)

Text: Various

Theme: God’s Sovereign Plans are Sure.

Proposition: Every believer can comfortably trust in the surety of God’s sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule.

Speaker's Purpose: I want to persuade my audience to comfortably trust in God’s sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule.

Interrogative: What is revealed in the book of Revelation that motivates us to trust in God’s sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule?

Transition: In the text today we will see that God’s sovereign plans are sure to come to pass, in those things that have been and shall be. We will see that in the threefold division of Revelation found in 1:19, God’s sovereign plans were first of all sure as they unfolded in John’s life (‘the things which you have seen…’). Secondly, God’s sovereign plans were sure as they unfolded in the Seven Churches (‘the things which are…’). Finally, we will see that God’s sovereign plans are sure as they will unfold today and in the future (‘the things will shall take place after these things…’).

INTRODUCTION

Last time we closed out our study of the text of the book of Revelation in chapter 22. We inspected God’s Final Message for us today. We divided chapter 22 it into six sections and learned that in light of Jesus’ final words of comfort and warning, we must live a life of fervent service for Him.

Today, we want to take some time to take an overview of the book of Revelation and remind ourselves of the surety of God’s sovereign plans in the past, present, and the future to come. As we do, we will discover that Every believer can comfortably trust in the surety of God’s sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule.

Transition: In the text today we will see that God’s sovereign plans are sure to come to pass, in those things that have been and shall be. We will see that in the threefold division of Revelation found in 1:19, God’s sovereign plans were first of all sure as they unfolded in John’s life (‘the things which you have seen…’).

I. The Surety of God’s Sovereign Plans in John’s life

Explanation/Application/Illustration: Every believer can comfortably trust in the surety of God’s sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule.

Transition: Now let’s take a look at the reality that God’s sovereign plans were sure as they unfolded in the Seven Churches (‘the things which are…’).

II. The Surety of God’s Sovereign Plans in the Seven Churches

Explanation/Application/Illustration: Every believer can comfortably trust in the surety of God’s sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule.

Transition: Finally, we will see that God’s sovereign plans are sure as they will unfold today and in the future (‘the things will shall take place after these things…’).

III. The Surety of God’s Sovereign Plans today and in the future

Explanation/Application/Illustration: Every believer can comfortably trust in the surety of God’s sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule.

CONCLUDING APPLICATIONS

Since God’s rule is sure and His goodness is certain, we must take the time to govern our lives by that thought and let it shape our daily activities. Paul said that the coming of the Lord was meant to comfort every believer! Peter reminded us that we can endure the trials of this life because of the surety of God’s soon return! Let us live in light of the surety of His sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule! Every believer can comfortably trust in the surety of God’s sovereign plans and the goodness of His rule.