How does the story end?

Discussion

What was your biggest take away from the Pre-Work this week?

Updates from Assignments

Main Point: The story of Scripture ends with God’s forever kingdom established. His presence is finally and forever in the midst of His people, as they live out His purposes in His place.

When you think of the end times, what is your dominant emotional response?

Read Revelation 21-22.

When you read Revelation 21-22, what is your dominant emotional response?

What are the nonnegotiabiles with the book of Revelation?

Jesus is coming back.

All Christians agree on the physical return of Christ.

Jesus will return.

Christians emphasize the resurrection of the dead

We will die physically, and then be resurrected physically.

Those who have fallen asleep in Christ will be raised physically

There will be a judgement.

Those who trust in Christ will receive mercy.

Those who don’t will receive judgement.

We will not be collected to an etherial place—We will be in a new heaven and a new earth.

The final place with God with His people.

If you were to summarize the book of Revelation in two sentences, what would you say?

Revelation gives a clear picture of the future victory in Christ

Read Revelation 4-5

This is all before the judgement of God

Note the glory of God

Note the emotions

Why does John weep like that? Why is the scroll important?

When you picture Jesus now, what do you imagine? What is He like?

Revelation 19:11-16—Jesus now.

Four names revealed, one name concealed.

Faithful

Dependability, trustworthy.

True

Authentic, genuine. He’s the real deal.

What He says, you can believe.

Concealed name

This communicates the reality that the human mind cannot grasp the depths of His being.

The Word of God,

His eyes are like “a flame of fire”

This is His penetrating judgement and insight.

Fire was used to purify.

The true King peers into the depth of our souls, sees every act, every thought, every emotion.

He knows us better than us know us.

This reality should thrill and terrify.

It should humble us, knowing that He knows all our sins, depravity, and wickedness.

It should thrill us because He still loves and cares for us.

The diadems, the crown communicates complete and absolute sovereignty.

There aren’t any contenders.

When the King returns, He’ll be accompanies by His armies.

How does this Jesus fit into your daily theology? How does knowing that this is how Jesus is currently change your everyday life?

When Jesus returns, He will permanently establish the Kingdom of God over all creation.

He will eradicate the world of sin and evil.

He will conquer satan in totality.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

We will live in the glory of God, in perfection.

Discussion

Read Revelation 22:5 out loud—What present darkness are you most eager to see pass away?

How can the Kingdom come and God’s will be done in your actions as you wait for Christ’s return?

How does understanding and thinking about the last things impact your life now?

Pre-Work 4.15.26

Turn and Tell: With whom can you share something you learned in this session? What do you plan to share with them?

Finish the “Story of Scripture” and “Practicing Mission” assignments

Due NEXT WEEK

Read Psalm 119

Read “Made You Look” from You Are A Theologian

Take five minutes and pray through Romans 11:33-36. Read it once out loud then use it to shape your prayer.

Next Big Idea question: “Where do we go from here?”