REVELATION - Living in Light of Christ's Return
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REVELATION - Living in Light of Christ's Return
As I come forward at end of worship
SLIDE 1 “WELCOME WE ARE GLAD YOUR HERE”
Words of encouragement from worship time
We finished the Book of Revelation last Sunday
Now its about walking with Jesus from here on
What does that look like walking with Christ?
Today I wanted to go through a specific layout through all 22 chapters so that it help focus our hearts on “Living in the Light of Christ Return”
SLIDE 2 “REVELATION - Living in the Light of Christ’s Return”
I pray that we all will be able to hang on to these keys points today for encouragement, strength and endurance till our days we are forever with The Lord
I could go into history of the gods and the fallen divine council / the sons of God......I’ve preached on that before and fill I have even more insight now after even more studying.......but this is the Book of Revelation of Jesus ....and His kingdom come
So I felt impressed by Holy Spirit to pick up start at this point today
Jesus was born in Bethlehem we know that.....but Mary and Joseph were actually from Nazareth…that was Jesus’ childhood home place.....we think or often just picture that all this takes place around Jerusalem.
They would have to travel from Nazareth to Jerusalem once a year (feast of Passover) so Jesus had been there, Scripture tells us He was 12 when He made His first trip to Jerusalem
Some years later , Jesus is baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist....He is now full of the Holy Spirit
Jesus is then led to the wilderness or desert to be tempted by the devil......Jesus is now back in Nazareth till He hears of John being taken into custody
Now remember much of Revelation is the coming new kingdom of God and the church....God’s promise to the church through the saving grace of His Son Jesus His eternal heavenly family…amen
So lets take a look into that and then The Lord will bring us back full circle at the end of the message okay
Because remember today is about “Living in the Light of Christ’s Return”
SLIDE 3
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee;
13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
SLIDE 4
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light,
And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,
Upon them a Light dawned.”
Now the word sitting is interesting here…the Greek word is kathemai and it really means sitting or residing in a place occupied by someone else
Now look at the next verse
SLIDE 5
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
We have all the foretelling of the promise through the prophets, then His birth in Bethlehem but now we see the promise of the kingdom now has been kicked off!
To this point all the prophets from Abraham to Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah and so many others have been telling the people stop the idol worship and other gods, stop the corruption, turn to God.......but as the last verses in 2 Chronicles says there was no remedy
SLIDE 6 “REVELATION - Living in the Light of Christ’s Return”
Well now there is and He is Jesus....look at that last word in verse 17 there ......the kingdom of heaven is at “hand”- thats to bring near and join one to another
Jesus has gone to the cross, shed His powerful blood for our sins, He is resurrected from death for our new live in Him and Holy Spirit to seal us and to live and walk with Christ in the power of Holy Spirit.
The church age is set and what we have been in over the last 2000 years
It is amazing how many people we talk to say that they don’t want to read or know about Revelation that its just too scary
Chapter One says we are blessed to read and heed the words of this prophecy for the time is near- those who are near access to God
SLIDE 7 “REVELATION - ANGEL TO JOHN”
Chapter 1 is from God to Jesus communicated by His angel to John to the Seven churches
God confirms this prophecy with His credentials as being the Alpha the Omega, the One Who Is and Who Was and Who Is to come the Almighty
He is told write what you see to the seven churches; to Ephesus to Smyrna to Pergamum to Thyatira to Sardis to Philadelphia and to Laodicea
John then hears a voice from behind
SLIDE 8 “JESUS - THE SEVEN LAMPS AND STARS”
John said when he saw Him he immediately fell at His feet as a dead man
Jesus tells John don’t be afraid I am the first and the last the Living One, I was dead but now I am alive forevermore and I have the keys to death and Hades
He tells John the mystery of the seven stars at My right hand are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the churches.
Jesus tells John the stars and lampstands were a mystery, John did not ask Jesus....its not He already knew what John was thinking
SLIDE 9 “REVELATION CHAPTERS 2 & 3”
Revelation chapters 2 and 3 is each angel of each church writing to them
These letters were sent to the churches of John’s time but still powerful for the church today. As any church of today can fall under these descriptions. One sure verse repeated to these churches is “I know your deeds”
SLIDE 10 “THE 7 CHURCHES CHART SLIDE”
Ephesus: The church that had abandoned its first love for Christ
Smyrna: The church that would face severe persecution
Pergamum: The church that needed to repent of sin
Thyatira: The church whose false prophetess was leading people astray
Sardis: The sleeping church that needed to wake up
Philadelphia: The church that had patiently persevered
Laodicea: The church with lukewarm faith
Address: Each message opens with the address "To the messenger of the church in… write"
Description: This is followed by a short description of Jesus Christ, the sender of the message
Appraisal: Jesus analyzes the spiritual condition of each church and knows every church and every member of the church because he walks among these churches
Counsel: After analyzing the spiritual condition of each church, Christ advises it to change its condition
Hear what the Spirit says: Each church is urged to "hear what the Spirit says to the churches"
Promise to the overcomer: Each message concludes with a word of promise to the overcomer
OVERCOMER is nikao - one who holds fast to the faith....it is the main keyword repeated for the churches in chapters 2 &3
Some say the churches of Revelation the different church ages of progression through time
SLIDE 11 “THE CHURCH AGE TIME PERIODS CHART SLIDE”
You know over time we have gotten many different denominations of faith......mostly because another thought could do it better than the previous....even now with so many non denominational churches we still all fall short and will always have a desperate need for Jesus because He is the only perfect One that does it right all the time!
SLIDE 12 “CHAPTER 4 COME UP HERE”
John described something like the sound of a trumpet speaking....saying come up here…I will show you what must take place after these things....immediately he was in the Spirit
This where many believe the church is taken up because of the messages were just to the church in last 2 chapters ,,,,now the words trumpet, come up here, immediately in the Spirit impress upon us that must be that time.
I preached this as first but as I had shared I felt as going further on something was missing or out of place and I became very desperate for the Lord to show me why I was feeling that way.
SLIDE 13 “THE THRONE OF GOD IN HEAVEN”
John was asked what he saw when he came up and the first he describes is God sitting on the throne like jasper and sardius and a rainbow around the throne like emerald in appearance
Around the throne were the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders
The 4 living creatures do not cease day and night saying Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty Who Was and Who Is and Is to come!
SLIDE 14 “THE 24 ELDERS CASTING THEIR CROWNS”
When the 4 living creatures give glory and thanks to God then the 24 elders fall down and worship and cast their crowns before God saying worthy are you our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and because of your will they existed and were created.
God carries out all his will on earth and heaven through the 4 living creatures all moving in unison through the wheels of the Spirit as described in Ezekiels vision
SLIDE 15
17 Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved.
18 As for their rims they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes round about.
19 Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also.
SLIDE 16
20 Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
21 Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
SLIDE 17 “EZEKIEL 1 WHIRLING WHEELS”
maybe something like Ezekiel saw in his vision
As I was desperate for God to show me why I felt something was not right and what was I missing as we were going through chapters 4, 5 6 and so forth..... I felt the Spirit telling me read Rev again and again and again and He would reveal new things and
I did and a lot of things started catching my heart
SLIDE 18 “THE THRONE OF GOD IN HEAVEN”
In chapter 4 if you read word for word We have the throne of God…all described, the 4 living creatures all described…the 24 elders all described and what they do.
This is what the Lord caught me with.....where are the saints of the church?
This were the best 2 slide pictures around the throne in chapter 4 I could get because all others found have myriads and myriads of saints surrounding this scene
SLIDE 19 “THE SCROLL OF 7 SEALS REVELATION CHAPTER 5”
Revelation 5:1–3 (NASB95)
1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
SLIDE 20 “WHO IS WORTHY?”
John said he began to weep because no one was found to open the book and look into it
One of the elders said to stop weeping behold the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David has overcome as to open the book and its seven seals
Revelation 5:8–10 (NASB95)
8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
SLIDE 21 “THE SCROLL THEY SANG A NEW SONG”
“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
John then says he heard the voice of many angels around the throne and it was like myriads upon thousands of angels saying worthy is the Lamb to receive power riches wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing
Then every created thing in heaven on earth or in the sea were saying blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and the 4 living creatures said amen!
The elders fell down and worshipped
SLIDE 22 “REVELATION 6 THE SEALS ARE OPENED”
John starts off chapter 6 writing that when he saw the Lamb break the first seal he heard one of the 4 living creatures say come
He said he looked and a white horse with a rider with a bow and he had a crown and he went out conquering
The Lamb broke the 2nd seal and again one of the living creatures said come and a red horse with one who sat on it was granted to take peace from the earth, that men would slay one another and a sword was given to him
The 3rd seal and the 3rd horse is a black horse, he who sat on had scales and he brought about famine and great inflation
The 4th seal an ashen pale green horse and he who sat on it was death and Hades and was given authority to kill over a fourth of the earth with sword, famine, pestilence and by wild beast
The Lamb is who opens or breaks all the seals but only on the first 4 seals each of the 4 living creatures say come with the breaking of those
SLIDE 23 “THE SEVEN SEAL SCROLL CHART SLIDE”
The Lamb broke the 5th seal and John saw the martyrs underneath the altar that had been slain for their testimony for God and were crying out to God how long would he wait to avenge and judge
They were given white robes and told to wait till their fellow servants and brethren would be killed as they were.
The Lamb breaking the sixth seal we have cosmic changes with a great earthquake, sun becoming black, moon as blood, stars falling to the earth, mountains and islands moved from their places
Many kings, commanders, rich and strong hide themselves in the mountains saying fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb
It is important to keep these cosmic changes close in your mins because we will see these things talked about by the Lord in other scripture we will go to here shortly
SLIDE 24 “REVELATION CHAPTER 7”
Chapter 7 is the chapter I feel the Lord has revealed to me that becomes most unique and important for believers and followers of Christ
So all these- not good events are happening and now at the
beginning of chapter 7 we have an interlude....that is why the slide just shows all quite and calm
We have 4 not good angels at the 4 corners of the earth to bring more destruction and we have another angel comes that has the seal of God saying
Revelation 7:3 (NASB95)
3 “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
Now they the 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel we have heard much about ....but are sealed or marked not brought to heaven.....have to read and pay attention to every detail
SLIDE 25
3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
The 144,000 will be marked for when the locust are let loose from the pit so they will not be harmed in chapter 9
We have the 7th seal still not opened, no woe proclaimed upon the earth ....that is important for us as believers…that happens in end of chapter eight and there is 3 woes for those who will be on the earth
So now we need more Scripture to pull all this in in chapter 7 and other books of the bible
SLIDE 26
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
This is after the marking of the 144,000....Jew first then the Greek (that’s Romans chapters 1&2)
SLIDE 27
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Now check this out this is important
SLIDE 28
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”
14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The key word here is come out of....so its during something happening you come out.... we will see how this lines up in the gospels and Daniel
washed robes is important also
SLIDE 29
15 “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
16 “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;
17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
SLIDE 30
REVELATION CHAPTERS 1-6 (Around Throne of God)
*God, Jesus (the Lamb)
*4 Living Creatures
*24 Elders
*Myriads of Angels
*Every Created Thing
*Chapter 7 - Saints (multitude of the nations and tribes)
So the first 6 chapters of Rev we have around the throne in heaven- God, The Lamb / Jesus, 4 living creatures, the 24 elders, myriads of angels and every created thing, now in chapter 7 we have the saints
Here in chapter 7 we have the references to Daniel and Gospels to help us get clear insight
SLIDE 31
1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
3 “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
SLIDE 32
5 Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river.
6 And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”
7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.
SLIDE 33
8 As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”
9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.
10 “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.
11 “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
Daniel 12 is the last chapter in Daniel
Many say this is just for Israel (the holy people).....we know from Romans 11 we who are saints saved by Jesus ‘ blood are grafted into Israel....we know from Rev 12 when the dragon satan is thrown out of heaven he makes war with the saints and accuses us day and night
Lets’s look at what Jesus says
The disciples ask Jesus when these things will take place and what will be the signs
SLIDE 34
5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
6 “Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many.
7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.
SLIDE 35
8 “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
10 “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
SLIDE 36
11 “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
13 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
SLIDE 37
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
15 “The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house;
16 and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat.
SLIDE 38
17 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
18 “But pray that it may not happen in the winter.
19 “For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.
SLIDE 39
20 “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 “And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him;
SLIDE 40
22 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
23 “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.
Now next verses very important....remember the 6th seal what is happening with the cosmic adjustments?
SLIDE 41
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
26 “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.
SLIDE 42
28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.
29 “Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
30 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
SLIDE 43
32 “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
33 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.
34 “It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.
SLIDE 44
35 “Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
36 in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ”
WORSHIP TEAM COME
SLIDE 45 “REVELATION - Living in the Light of Christ’s Return”
On the day of Jesus Resurrection (matt 28)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit
Teaching them to observe what I commanded you
And then He says something very important....remember were it all started today in Galilee....repent for the the kingdom of God is at hand....He said that is what I came to do
Now He finishes with this before ascending to heaven…Lo I am with you always vens to the end of the age
Prayer / close