The End Times

Introduction

Many people have fears when it comes to the book of Revelation and the study of the end times

I remember growing up, especially after watching the left behind movie, I had serious fears that everyone I knew was going to be rapture and that I would be left behind!

This fear would be even real when I had just sinned

But after going through the bible a couple times now, I realize that these fears are irrational and also there is much more hope than darkness in the bible when it comes to describing the end times.

2 Timothy 4:8 (ESV)

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

We are to love His appearing!

There are also many blessings found in the book of Revelation for those who read, hear and do what the book says we should do.

By the way the major theme of what we should do in the end is that we should endure!

What does the book of Revelation teach

The word Revelation is apokolypses which is where we get the word apocalypse from.

What it means, is the revealing, or the unveiling of something.

The book of revelation is literally the revealing or unveiling of Jesus!

It was given to John, who was an apostle of Jesus

It was given to him to describe what had already taken place, with regard to the end times, what was currently taking place and what is going to take place

Its important to not that this book was written at a time when there was much persecution going on in the church. One of the primary reasons this book was written was to give the early church hope

So, we should definitely not be scared of reading the book of revelation.

No theres many things that we can look at when it comes to the book of Revelation, i.e. when will the rapture happen, what will happen during the tribulation, who is the antichrist and what will he do. But today we will focus in on who the book of revelation describes Jesus being.

More specifically we’ll look at Jesus as being:

The Lamb of God

The Warrior King

The Restorer

Lamb of God

Revelation 5:5–9 ESV

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Q Why was Jesus called the Lamb of God.

We see Jesus being called the Lamb of God, not only in Revelation but also in John and other places in the bible.

Lambs were a central part of the Israelite faith.

This is especially evident in one of Israels most important event’s called the Passover

Passover celebrates Israels freedom and escape from slavery in Egypt.

God had accomplished this through sending the 10 plagues.

The most devestating of this was when God had pronounced His judgement over Egypt because of their rebellion by killing the firstborn son of every household

Death however did not enter into the home of the Israelites because they were covered by the blood of the sacrificial passover lamb.

In the same way that the Israelites were covered by the blood of the sacrificed lambs, so we are covered by Jesus’ blood when he died for us.

The lambs used for sacrifice in Israel points forward to Jesus who was the full and final sacrifice for our sins.

Revelation and the end times speaks about how many will be judged and face eternal death, however those who are in Christ will be passed over and will get to experience eternal life with Jesus

The Warrior King

Revelation 19:11–20 ESV

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

In revelation and other end times books we experience another facet of Jesus.

We get to see him as the valiant warrior who defeats all the enemies of God and His people.

This goes back all the way to Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Revelation ties in all of the prophecies of God destrorying the powers of evil and death found in the Old Testament into a condensed summary explaining all that God will do for His people.

Our victory is assured through Jesus!

In the end, the darkness will get darker and things will be very chaotic with Satan getting his way in different ways, but we are assured that Jesus will attain victory

Jesus has infact already attained victory for us

Colossians 2:15 “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

The Restorer

Revelation 21:3–5 ESV

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. 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.” 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.”

Revelation seems like all gloom and doom but did you know that it is actually one of the most hope filled books in the bible.

Theres so many things in this world that are hard to watch and go through

Losing a loved one

Seeing lives shattered through disease

Experiencing and being tormented by evil

Battling with our own flesh, desires and emotions

But God will restore all things. This is something He has promised all throughout scripture and He has re-emphasized it in revelation

Jesus, at the right time will restore all things.

There will be no sickness, death or evil when He comes back restores all things.

Everything will be made new!