Revelation

I read revelation and I am scared. Is God unreachable entity.

Revelation: what is it?

Revelation is the final book of the bible.

this books outlines what is called apocalyptic lit

written by and apostle named John there is debate over what year it was written but scholars suggest pre 70 AD

John is not writing his own experience but rather what the lord has Showed him

The theme of this book is the relaity of the spiritual warfare of the world and conflict between the church and the demonic on the other

The book highlights Christ supremacy over all of creation. and his rule and reign from heaven.

What it is not

book of secrets for us today

a guide book to how the world is going to end

a pathway to the rapture

How should we approach

like every other book in the bible, this book is written for us but not to us. we are not the church in Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

This book highlights christ goodness to the end of the age

Read with awareness of the OT

Read with a focus on Jesus identity

alpha omega

God forever

The conclusion to a great story

end of all things

reversal of the fall

God wins

Revelation 21:1–8 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Gods Distance

feeling distance from God is normal

however God is not like any other God who is unreachable

Psalm 145:18 ESV

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

The lord is near. sometimes we can distance ourselves however that will never change the nearness of our God

James 4:8 ESV

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Isaiah 55:6 ESV

6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

God can feel distant especially when we read texts like

Revelation 7:9–12 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 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.”

God is holy and our sin has separated us from God however he is always been coming after us in spite of this