The Bible Series Revelation
Notes
Transcript
Some time had passed since John wrote his gospel introducing the world to “The Word becoming Flesh”. At the first coming of Jesus Christ, we read that Christ Himself declared, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Christ first came in peace, coming to save us because you and I were already CONDEMNED!!! Scripture had been clear on this...
Genesis begins with God… “in the beginning God...”
Right away we see mankind disobey God and sin stains God’s perfect creation
God promises to Redeem mankind
We see God choose a nation for Himself… to show God to mankind
To this nation he gave His Law to show His Character and standard (we all fall short)
From this nation Israel He chooses to work through the line of David to bring the “anointed one” the “Messiah” or as you would translate this into Greek… “The Christ”!!!
God would send His prophets who would declare this coming messiah, the one who would rule, and deal with sin and evil once for all
The Messiah came and they did not receive Him
He lived according to God’s standard as God in the flesh
He died a physical death, shedding His blood to atone for our sin
Three days later He rose from the dead conquering sin and death!
He ascended with the clouds into Heaven leaving His bride the church for a little while to once again return
We now come to the last book in His Holy Scriptures… From Genesis to Revelation it has been His story, His working in and through man, focused on His Son Jesus Christ… as we come to the last book it is no different.
Revelation is the summation of all things! We will see our Savior Jesus Christ in greater ways than ever before.
Daniel would write in Daniel 9:24
“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.
Revelation declares how Christ does all of this!!! God told Daniel at the end of Daniel 12:9 :
He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.
What Daniel was to conceal, Christ reveals through the Apostle John in this book of Revelation!
Apocalypse!!!
Apocalypse!!!
This word Apocalypse usually strikes fear or concern in the hearts of people…
Our society, culture, and let’s be honest, HOLLYWOOD was distorted this word. I believe this has been done so intentionally by our adversary!
Online Oxford Dictionary
1. the complete final destruction of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation.
2. an event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale.
Vocabulary.com
Apocalypse is a word that means "the end of the world" — or something so destructive it seems like the world has ended, like the event of a major earthquake. The apocalypse is the total destruction of the world, as prophesied in the Biblical book of Revelation.
Wikipedia
Apocalypse (from Ancient Greek ἀποκάλυψις (apokálupsis) 'revelation, disclosure') is a literary genre originating in Judaism in the centuries following the Babylonian exile (597-587 BCE) but persisting in Christianity and Islam. In it a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a human intermediary.
Louw Nida Greek
to cause something to be fully known—‘to reveal, to disclose, to make fully known, revelation.’
Listen to the opening verses of this wonderful book of Revelation 1:1-4
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. John to the seven churches that 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,
Apo-cal-lipsus … yesus … christos … !!!
The revealing, making fully known… Revealing Jesus Christ!!!
NOTE: it is singular… there is only One being revealed
This book we call REVELATION is all about Jesus Christ, we will see Him fully made known, and how He will show how the summation of all things!
There will be multiple Key Individuals we will look at in this book:
The Nation of Israel
Seven Churches
The Beats and The False Prophet
The Dragon
144,000
Two Witnesses
But at the beginning, throughout the book, and even at its close we see Jesus Christ!
Let’s briefly consider this letter… yes this is a letter!
Letter Info
Letter Info
John is writing the seven churches “from Him who is and who was and who is to come”!!!
It’s a letter just written in a different approach and not with your normal content.
Purpose: to show things which must take place & to testify about Jesus Christ
Greeting: from Jesus to John & the churches
We are told almost right away the 3 fold content: Revelation 1:19
“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
Closing: is seen in 22:12-21 His farewell ending of this letter.
This letter was intended to be read! It was written to be delivered, read, and understood by those who recieved it! This was intended to bring a blessing to all who… READ, HEAR, and HEED the words of this book!
Just look at what we will be blessed with as we study through this amazing book!
Overview of Revelation
Overview of Revelation
As we read through this book it is clearly divided into the three segments spoken of in 1:19.
INTERLUDES: These segments multiple times break away into interludes where we are given glimpses of the scene in Heaven. These are powerful moments where we get a clearer picture of our Savior & God!
THINGS SEEN: We see Jesus like never before… He is not meek, weak, or frail…
He is All powerful, glorious and Holy!
We see Him active in His church… His bride
THINGS THAT ARE:
There is a personal letter from Jesus Christ to seven literal churches
Christ gives each church a: Command, Commendation or Condemnation, a Correction, and a Challenge
These were very practical then and even more so possibly today!
THINGS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE: (Two segments- 4-18 is the Great Tribulation & 19-22 things of eternity)
In this segment the church is no longer mentioned.
Through books like Daniel, Thessalonians, and Revelation and many others we see that prior to these things the church is Raptured “Caught up” with Jesus in the clouds
This last section deals with prophecy revolving around many of those key individuals shared earlier
Prophecy
Prophecy
The Seven Seals:
These seals are only able to be opened by The Lamb of God Jesus Christ!
Each one releases God’s wrath and sin and evil
The seventh one brings in the Seven Trumpets
The Seven Trumpets:
These trumpets are sounded by angels who have been prepared for this Day of the Lord
Like the Seals they bring even greater devastation on mankind and the earth
They also bring with them the Woes heralded by God’s messenger
The seventh Trumpet brings in the bowls of God’s Wrath
The Seven Bowls:
These are poured out on humanity, the earth, and Babylon in rapid succession
These bring the greatest of all God’s wrath
They are rapid and correlate some with the second coming of Jesus Christ
All of these judgments are deployed on mankind, the False Prophet and Beast as…
God is working once again with His Nation Israel!
We see God’s people return to Him, recognizing their Messiah!
We see in this severe time of judgement, people turn to the Lord!
There is EVANGELISM occuring and a GREAT REVIVAL…
God desires that none perish… however, many will reject Jesus the Christ
Jesus the King of kings… Revelation 19:11-16 describes Him this way:
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Millennial Reign
Millennial Reign
For 1000 years following the Great Tribulation after Jesu Christ returns we see Him sit on David’s Throne and RULE!
During this time Satan is bound in the bottomless pit
When he is released… we see the Judgement… Called the Great White Throne Judgement
We come full circle in the end after the judgement… sin and death are thrown into the Lake of Fire for ETERNITY
… and those whose name is found in the Lamb’s Book of Life!!!
These go on to dwell in the new heaven and new earth for all ETERNITY!
How do we close a study of the Bible better than ending with a book like Revelation!? It rightly fits here as the last book. Bringing closure to all the loose ends, dealing with death, sin and evil. This is a book of summations. However it was also written to encourage, give hope, and to spur the church into action. I am confident that you find yourself challenged, encouraged and blessed as you READ, HEAR, and HEED the words of this book…
A Blessed Ending...
A Blessed Ending...
Revelation pronounces blessings on:
— “all who listen to [this book] and obey what it says” (1:3)
— “those who die in the Lord” (14:13)
— “all who are watching for [Christ]” (16:15)
— “those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb” (19:9)
— “those who share in the first resurrection” (20:6)
— “those who obey the prophecy written in this scroll” (22:7)
— “those who wash their robes so they can … eat the fruit from the tree of life” (22:14)
This letter ends this way with these words: Revelation 22:20-21
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
The Lord’s Table
The Lord’s Table
The Bread
The Cup
Oh Lord come quickly! We look forward to your return for your bide the church!
