REVELATION

Revelation conveys the reality of evil, and the widespread moral decay.

The anti-trinity of evil:

The Dragon (Satan): Represents the source of evil, portrayed as a “roaring lion” or “ancient serpent” who deceives the world and wages war on the saints.

The Beast from the Sea (Antichrist): This symbolizes the oppressive, totalitarian worldly power that demands worship and uses violence and economic coercion to control humanity.

The False Prophet (Beast from the Earth): This symbolizes corrupt ideology, propaganda, or counterfeit religious authority that deceives people into worshiping the beast.

Systemic and Societal Evils:

Babylon the Great: This is a symbol for the entire global system of human arrogance, consumerism, exploitation, and idolatry that sets itself against God.

Persecution of the Faithful: The systematic persecution, murder, and harassment of Christians who refuse to worship the beast or participate in its corruption.

Economic Exploitation: The use of wealth as a tool to control and oppress, where many are compromised by their economic ties to the system of Babylon.

Personal and Spiritual Sin (Last Days): Reading

“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Rev. 9:20-21

Identifies seven major sins that characterize the rebellion of humanity in the end times: demon worship, idolatry, murder, sorcery / magic, arts, sexual immorality (look at the perversions in our society today), theft, and a stubborn refusal to repent.

Blasphemy and Lies: The forces of evil are characterized by “haughty and blasphemous words,” lies, and the spread of deceitful propaganda to gather nations for battle against God.

Idolatry: The ultimate evil is the worship of the beast and its image rather than the Creator.

The book of Revelation warns us that these systems and behaviors are self-destructive.

In our day the world's elite are engaging in human trafficking of children for sex, human sacrifices and cannibalism.

Despite their apparent power, they are doomed to fall!

We as believers are warned to not compromise with worldly systems, we are to encourage faithfulness.

The book of revelation’s ultimate message.

Jesus wants His Church to know that, despite opposition and persecution in the present, His purposes will prevail in the end.

God reigns on the throne of the universe, and the slain Lamb, Jesus, has triumphed through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

Revelation 5:6 Says,

“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.”

Also, Revelation 5:9

“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,”

No matter how much the forces of evil might appear to be victorious, their defeat is a foregone conclusion.

John’s visions in Revelation deliver the same message of hope today that they gave to his original audience.

Jesus has already prevailed, and He will one day come in power to fully vindicate His people and dwell with them in the renewed heaven and earth.

Assured of this truth, believers can have hope.

All of God’s people have a part to play in the cosmic battle between light and darkness; we are not to sit on the sidelines and wait for the end of history.

Now I’m reading Rev. 2:7

 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Rev. 17:14 tells us

“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

And also Rev. 21:7

“The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.”

Jesus Himself calls us to be conquerors with Him.

Start reading in Revelation 1:1-2

Prologue (setting the seen)

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.”

The revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one being revealed (Jesus is referred to as the Son of man, Lion of Judah, Lamb, and Word of God).

Jesus is also the revealer. God gives the unveiled truth to Jesus.

Rev. 5:7

“And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.”

His angel gives the scroll to John for God’s servants in the church

Rev. 10:9

“So, I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth, it will be sweet as honey.”

God’s servants in the church had total commitment and devotion to Jesus.

Apostate: What is the condition of a lot of churches and their congregations today?

If we do not have total commitment and devotion to Jesus, then maybe we have completely abandoned and renounced our Lord and Savior?

The entire apocalyptic vision given by Jesus Christ to John must...take place.

The revealing of God’s plan for His church, the final judgement of evil, and the eventual triumph of Christ’s kingdom, which are set to begin quickly.

Rejection: The act of not accepting something.

I must apologize to you guys and to God for treating His sovereign plan as unworthy of my consideration.

Do you think God asks me for my approval or my opinions...No He Does Not!!

Rev. 1:3

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

Blessed. Is the first of seven blessings or benedictions given to those who hear and keep or obey God’s Word.

In the early church one would read aloud while others listened.

The time is near. The day of the Lord is coming.

The great and terrible day when Yahweh (A God who is present and active) will punish the disobedient and save the faithful.

Amos 5:18-20 warns that the “Day of the Lord” will be a time of darkness, judgement, and despair, not the light or rescue anticipated by unfaithful Israelites.

Christians will not face destruction on judgement day.

Rev. 1:4-6

Greeting to the Seven Churches

“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, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”