The Seven (Part 2)

*Spring through the gist of the book like my date in the porsche…

In 1961, a symbol of division was built the sent sound waves of oppression around the world.

Shortly following the Cold War, the remnants of communism still reigned in East Germany. A wall was built to keep people fleeing from the east to escape to the west in order to find freedom.

This divided country became two worlds. One marked by oppression, the other by freedom.

In 1989, everything changed. As you know, the wall is no longer standing… But how did it fall?

What if I told you that it had nothing to do with political unrest in the east.

Many attribute the fall of the wall to a bureaucratic accident involving a poorly communicated travel policy… But that isn’t it either.

As much as we would like to think this, although President Raegan played a role in exposing the corruption, he isn’t to credit either…

If you google how the wall fell, these things will be written about everywhere… But what really happened doesn’t involve politics, weapons, and bureaucracy.

It was God.

In the 1980’s east Germany was failing. Their economy was crashing, free speech was retracted and individual freedom was no longer a reality.

During this time, a church in the heart of east Berlin, St. Nicholas Church, was being shepherded by a man that would be a catalyst for God’s divine intervention in the country of Germany.

Pastor Christian began facilitating weekly, secret prayer gatherings in his church to pray and plead before the Lord to tear down the wall and restore their land.

Weekly prayer gatherings led to thousands catching wind.

What started as a secret gathering led to 10,000 people coming together for what we know today as the “Monday Demonstrations.”

These were peaceful prayer walks where many men and women persevered with confidence before soldiers with weapons, praying for God to do a mighty work.

And He did.

On November 9, 1989, as a result of a confused government spokesman and his misrepresented speech, an unintended announcement was made that those in the east could now travel into the west.

Thousands flooded the gates and the wall was no more…

And if you think for one second that the government official was to credit, whether by his intention or his mistake, you are incredibly wrong.

God answered the prayers of thousands…

Why did God answer the prayer of his people who were asking for the redemption of their current world and life?

Because all throughout history, according to scripture, and even within the book of Revelation, we see that God is in the business of …

unifying the divided

freeing the oppressed

establishing new beginnings.

30 years before John wrote and delivered the letter of Revelation, Paul identified this theme when he wrote a letter to one of the seven churches that Revelation was written to- the church in Ephesus.

Ephesians 1:7–10 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Imagine a world in which all is made right… No sickness. No death. No disease. No suffering. No hardship. Clarity of purpose. Confidence in your identity. Longstanding peace. Eternal comfort.

And a life long relationship with your creator who saved you from all of those things I listed…

Revelation is a reminder that this world is not simply a world we can only imagine…

It’s a world that exist today. It is heaven.

And it’s a world that we can begin to experience in the now, here on earth.

Finally, it’s a world that will be our reality in the future.

Since God is in the business of redeeming, unifying, and restoring, the book of Revelation takes a deeper dive when unveiling these truths.

Chapters 1-3 are specifically written to the seven churches.

Chapters 4-19 pull the curtain back on what is really happening in the world around them.

It is in these chapters we begin to learn about these three things…

What is actually happening in Heaven.

What is actually happening on Earth.

What is actually going to happen in the future.

A future that encompasses the unification of heaven and earth.

The now and not yet.

*We will not be able to address every single thing…

Remember, this book is written in layers, not chronologically. It is repeating congruent truths through symbolism… (Bowls, Trumpets, Seals, etc)

We will be addressing key figures this morning.

My prayer is that you have a general conception of the usefulness and purpose of this book as well as an understanding of for the context of our study in the seven churches in chapters 1-3

What is actually happening in Heaven?

Revelation 4:1–2 ESV

1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.

John has just seen who is really in power through the revelation of what is happening in Heaven...

When you look around in our world, who and what do you see? Who is in control? Who has the power?

Think about the churches who were reading this letter. What did they see?

They probably saw the power of the Roman Empire.

Everywhere they looked they saw Roman power through the symbolism of the eagle, soldiers constantly roaming their cities, massive buildings illustrating dominance and splendor.

Within this power was injustice, murder, and the ideology of the self.

A society that was centered around the individual’s ability to build their own platform.

But what John is seeing is something entirely different.

He is showing us what is in the unseen. We now can see what is unseen.

We can see the world from the perspective of Heaven… What is being revealed is what is actually happening in Heaven…

If we are going to accept this invitation that John has received, to step through this open door, what would we see then?

We see a throne. The word “throne” is used 19 times in chapters 4-5.

Everything happening in the book of revelation is around the throne as the throne is the center of all things. (Ch 4 verses 6-8 and the creatures surrounding the throne in worship)

This throne isn’t resembling an earthly kingdom… it is the one true kingdom. the Kingdom of God.

This vision of God’s throne being the center of Heaven reminds us of this truth…

Our world is not fiction… but it isn’t quite reality either… it’s not really the full picture…

Regardless of what we see around us, it is not a full picture of what is really happening.

In a world of corruption, frustration, lies, and confusion, John is pointing us to a greater truth- God is in complete control, sitting on the throne of His heavenly kingdom.

It gets better.

Revelation 5:1–6 ESV

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 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.” 6 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.

(Seven eyes = complete sight)

We can “weep no more.”

No need to feel helpless and hopeless… Why? Because the Lamb is at the right hand of God?

Who is this lamb?

John 1:29 ESV

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus is alive and seated at the right hand of God!

The sheer reality that Jesus is alive and seated at the right hand of God on Heaven’s throne implies that regardless of the chaos of this world, the trials of this world, and the sin that is destroying it…

Jesus is alive and God is in control!

So what is happening in heaven should remind us that regardless of how dysfunctional and evil our world is, we can be confident that God is in control.

This is why Paul says…

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Fix your eyes on Jesus.

What does it look like to fix our eyes on Jesus? Paul outlines this following verse 4…

Put off the old self- don’t live for your personal desires, live for God! Live the way He has designed you to live according to His ways!

Colossians 3:15–17 ESV

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Fix your eyes on Jesus. Walk in His ways. Trust that He is alive and reigning with God in Heaven.

Everything is under control.

But it’s hard to remember that when we live in a world that is broken, isn’t it?

We are living in a world that seems to be declining on all fronts.

Raise your hand if your life was easier 15 years ago?

It was for me… I just entered the 6th grade! talk about easier!

Since 2016, according to multiple sources including the Wall Street Journal…

life expectancy has declined by more than two years

quality of life of decreased in ranking going from ranked 16th in the world to 28.

only 16% of our country trusts our government most of the time

and according to the pew research center, 70% of our country believes that we will have a significantly weaker economy and increasingly immoral society by 2050.

There are wars and rumors of wars.

An individualistic society fueled by the expectation of immediate gratification, propped up with the ability for anyone to build their own platform, results in a culture that overrides common morality for the sake of personal success and comfort.

In a country that seemingly offers no concrete truths, we are being suffocated by the “freedom” we supposedly have.

Why is it that in a country founded on individual freedom, free speech, and democracy, we feel restricted, cornered, and forced to conform to what culture says should be our “new normalities?”

This, believe it or not, isn’t unfamiliar to history.

Revelation provides insight into what’s happening on earth…

And history shows that what we are experiencing today is a repeatable reality throughout all of history…

What is actually happening on Earth?

From what we have studied thus far, we know that there is more to what we are able to see that is at play in our world.

Revelation uses the illustration of dragons, beasts, and Babylon to describe current realities of our world.

Revelation 12:9 ESV

9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

The dragon symbolizes the ultimate spiritual enemy of of God who is at war against heaven and God’s people.

We see that the dragon is a representation of Satan.

Satan, a fallen angel of the Lord, exists to permeate the lives of people on earth through deceitful schemes in hopes to destroy the kingdom of God.

In Revelation, the dragon influences the beasts in Rev. 13 and 16.

The beasts are idolatrous ideologies that demand we stay within Babylon.

Revelation 13:1–2 ESV

1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea… 2 … And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.

Babylon is the system of of sin and seduction centered around the pursuits of our sinful desires- luxury, immorality, idolatry, and the persecution of God’s people.

Babylon is anything that seeks to build a world without God in it.

These ideas are fighting against you… Babylon seduces you but the beast is what you come to worship outside of Jesus.

Babylon is that…

Revelation 17:2 ESV

2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”

So here we are… Revelation shows us the relationship between these symbols in the book’s narrative that paints this great battle in the unseen realm.

The dragon (satan) influences the beasts (worldly powers that take advantage of platforms and authorities) by using Babylon (the sinful system of our broken world) to attack the kingdom of God that includes you and me- believers.

There is a battle for your mind, a battle for you heart, and a battle for your hands that is being influenced within the spiritual world- the unseen realm.

From terrorism, extreme ideologies, abuse of political power, and immorality that seduces our attention, we are living in a world that seeks to distract you from the truth in God’s word that offers us freedom from the influential power and agenda of a sin infested world.

Babylon -> Society

Beast -> Idolatry

Dragon -> Enemy

Satan has been defeated but he’s not done fighting…

How do we operate within this battle?

We stand firm.

Stand firm in the battle.

Ephesians 6:14–18 ESV

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Paul ha identified that we are involved in this spiritual battle and has instructed us that our defense is our armor- the pursuit of truth, righteousness, the gospel, confidence of salvation, and our weapon being God’s Spirit within us.

The weapon that is used is PRAYER.

Notice the call isn’t to run into the battle, to fight with all your effort and might, and to white knuckle your way through this life trying to do everything right!

Standing, although is involves an action, is simply a posture.

The action in this posture is prayer.

It is centered around the continual dependency upon the Lord to strengthen your armor that includes the pursuit of those things-

Prayer is the strategy for victory.

Charles Spurgeon says…

"Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of Him that we are capable of in this life."

He continues in one of his sermons to put it this way…

"Oh, to be known of God and to speak with God as a man speaks with his friend! This is the true spirit of prayer—not the mere utterance of words, nor the reading of a form, nor the saying of good things from memory, but the drawing near of the soul to God, and speaking to Him, and hearing Him speak in the secret places of the heart. True prayer is not a mechanical duty, but a living communion and fellowship with the Most High."

As you read the book of Revelation, recognize it’s attempt to pull the curtain back on this seen and unseen reality and let it encourage you to stand firm in the battle.

Let it move you to a deepened relationship with God.

As we seek to deepen our relationship with God, to depend on Him wholly for our transformation and the restoration of this broken world, we can rest assured knowing our future will be our present redeemed.

What will actually happen in the future?

Before we answer this question, let me take you back to a moment where Jesus explained a key truth…

Matthew 18:6 ESV

6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

The disciples, right before this passage, were fighting about who was going to have a more prominent position in His kingdom…

Jesus bypasses them, calls a child over, and essentially uses the child as an example of the type of people we should strive to be.

A small unspoiled child doesn’t think less of themselves and also doesn’t think more of themselves.

They recognizes their position before authority and to others.

Jesus declared that this type of humility is what would be honored in the kingdom of God… and then he says these words…

Matthew 18:6 ESV

6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Jesus wasn’t playing around… Those who sought to distract and destroy his children would be destroyed themselves…

So what happens in the future?

Revelation 18:21 ESV

21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;

When Jesus returns, with His army of angels, He will “cast into the sea” or destroy those who have sought to destroy His people.

Jesus wins.

Revelation 21:1–4 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.”

The broken world will be overcome by the heavenly world and everything will be made NEW.

How are we to function as believers until this day comes to pass?

Hold on to hope.

And this is what the seven churches would have pulled from this letter in Revelation…

Fix your eyes on Jesus

Stand firm in the battle

Hold on to hope

So then let me remind you…

Fix your eyes on Jesus (forsake the traps and snares of this world and pursue the teachings of Jesus)

Stand Firm in the battle (Deepen your relationship with Him! It isn’t just a way of life, it’s a relationship in your life.)

Hold on to hope (Have confidence that one day, all will be made new!)