Revelation Precursors
The End is Nigh • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsThe groundwork for the book of Revelation is laid far before we hit those final pages in our Bibles. In fact, individuals have been speaking about the end-times generically and specifically for quite some time. That provides important context for how we read these pages today and power-through all the symbolism and prophecy within these verses.
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Laying the Groundwork
Laying the Groundwork
I find that the amount of opinions people have on the end-times far out-paces their knowledge of end-times scripture.
Leads to people depending on “experts”.
Infamously, Harold Camping attempted to predict mathematically when the end-times would occur, but was mistaken multiple times leads thousands to make life-altering decisions physically and financially.
We should read these words to understand what God wants us to do today, not as a textbook to be quizzed on and prove we “have better grades” than our brothers and sisters… BUT MORE ON THAT LATER
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.
Critical opening line: A Revelation (1) OF CHRIST, and (2) Given to his servantS (plural)
(1) Much focus is placed on signs, wonders, judgment of the damned, the anti-Christ…
No different than a church becoming obsessed with Praise and Worship spectacles and forgetting what the church experience points to!
Must remember the Christ… passion, grace, redemption… to whom this Revelation points
(2) Given to multiple servants NOT JUST JOHN
Peter talks about it before his first sermon to those observing the Pentecost…
14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy. 19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Peter again mentions it in his first epistle when speaking of suffering
16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 19 So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.
Peter mentions it a third time to describe the uncertainty of the timing
3 Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, 4 saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.”
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
John also write about it prior to the book of Revelation
18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour.
Why note these pre-Revelation notes regarding the events of Revelation?
Temptation of many End-Times Theology “fanboys”: Fixation on “shiny object” scripture rather than application.
Pursue interpreting the signs.
More worried about demonstrating their discernment of “mysteries” rather than mission.
“Everyone wants to be John the Baptist; no one wants to be Mary Magdalene”.
Groundwork provides markers for how we are to alter our conduct and convictions based on these prophecies. --> “That’s a crazy dream, but what do I do with this?”
Read some of the pre-Revelation statements about the end-times in Acts 2:14-21, 1 Peter 4:16-19, 2 Peter 3:3-4, and 1 John 2:18. Take a moment to think about WHY these messages are being communicated. 1) Why do many fans of end-times theology seem to be so passionate about the subject? What is the actual impact they are having on others? 2) What are some lessons we see taught in these scriptures? How are they applicable to our lives TODAY?
The Lessons for Us
The Lessons for Us
We see many of the lessons of Revelation in these contextual verses.
Peter establishes that it is “the end-times”… It’s not a future event; it’s a current era.
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
This “current era” also implies there is “current” action for us to take.
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. 13 But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
“THE POINT OF REVELATION” is not fear; not damnation; not “Christian revenge”… it’s conviction for the faithful to participate in God’s glory while we can!
It is HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS with the knowledge of ultimate victory.
Analogy: If you give engineers regulations without explanation, they’ll complain. If you give them the courtesy of some explanation, they’ll still complain but they’ll be more understanding.
Life doesn’t suddenly get easy just because you know there is glory and salvation… but it becomes more bearable.
Faith in the promise greatly aids perseverance!
John spends more time addressing the impacts of “anti-Christs” (plural)
7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; 11 for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.
Strangely modern warning (for our day in age)
Of course it is… we’re living in the end times!
Anti-Christ is not a single boogie-man; often describes those who “look pretty Christian”
18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.
Read 1 Peter 4:8-11, 2 Peter 3:11-13, 2 John 7-11, and 1 John 2:18-19. Again, consider some of the lessons being taught for us today. 1) In a world that is often either 100% “pro-acceptance” or 100% “pro-judgment”, how do we see paradigm bending in these scriptures which differ from the world’s normal fights? 2) How does the promise of victory, glory, and renewal lead to deeper levels of conviction for those who’ve grown too comfortable, and comfort for those who feel overwhelmed and overburdened?
In the pop-culture telling of Revelation, the end-times is a movie we are hoping will one day come true.
We see Revelation as “promise” and not as “contemporary”.
Looking at Revelation as “future” allows us to ignore the important lessons is imparts on us today.
Scriptural model of Revelation is one that is more about encouraging the discouraged and warning the overly-comfortable.
As we continue to hear more of the end-times and encounter more “prophets” with gnostic views of Christ’s second coming, DO NOT BE DISTRACTED.
If we don’t know when the second coming may occur, we don’t want to waste any time on idle debates and opinionated interpretations… focus on being the body of Christ.
Being the body of Christ is the best way you can be prepared for whatever comes next.
