7 Visions 01 - Introduction

All right, so that is our study will start here on the Book of Revelation and work through and then all captors. Even though I've divided the sound of the seven Visions it, we are going to go through all 22 chapters. So next week, we'll go over the first Vision today is the introduction. Next week will be a vision, one will see Jesus as lord of the cosmos. And that's why you need to have read chapter 1 by next Sunday. And then Vision to is the Lord of his church. So if you want to work, ahead or know what's coming, that's chapters 2 & 3. And so for July 26th, that will be will cover chapters 2 & 3 on the Sunday. July 26th. Is that make sense? Everybody PT, king-roy. All right, you have your homework and we're going to see if we can't roll through it. So let's go through the seven Visions. He might want to look at that real quick. Anything unusual. By the way, this is the out life. So this is the whole study so everything that we're going to work on centers on this one page. Anything unusual about this slide Is a tornado. Does that concern anybody? Can't count that, maybe what you think but actually the way it's going to break out is for a + 4B. There's 24 Vision number for Vision. So what happens if you look at Revelation and this is what makes to me, I was in and Seminary class and this is one of the classes I took. So really this is an original to me. It's just when I had it, I don't know what 30 years ago and so I just really unlocked that book of Revelation for me and I was able to say that makes better sense at this point in time and then I could understand how the books laid out. So the vision one is Lord of the cosmos and that that's chapter one and we're going to see Jesus as he is Lord of his church. How many churches were there?

Kosmos Church, Philadelphia smart. So we're going to go through those. That's Vision. 23 is Lord of Heaven, bets in chapters 4 and 5. By the way, has anybody ever seen a rainbow? How much the rainbow have you ever seen? Appointment only 180°. Where's the other 180?

Weather Underground and 5. I'm going to show you where the other half. The rainbow is I'm going to show you where the 360 rainbow is. It's in Revelation for doctor. Then we're going to look at the first part which is the rapture and that's in Revelation chapter 6 to 11 and then Lord over his enemies which is in that fifth vision and in the 12 through 15, that's a parenthetical View. And that's who you thought, that's how we find out, who the players are, who are the characters are that the character development. And there is a lot of symbolism in the chapters of 12, 13, 14, and 15. So kind of like an inset and then you jump back out and you continue with the judgments in Revelation, 16 through 18 future rule which is 19 through 20 and then Lord over the New Order, Which is 21 and 22. So, a lot of information in here, my biggest challenge is to squeeze it in to the allotted time frame because as you all, well know, I tend to well, I like to talk, so we'll just, we'll do the best we can. So looking at Revelation, verse Revelation chapter 11, verse 19 is that first to see and what makes this verse. So incredible is, when you're looking at the Book of Revelation, it is literally an Open Door, invitation. God is saying come and see how men see for yourself, what is going on. It's the unveiling Revelation is apocalypses are all right, and that's at unveiling of what's Happening Here. And so he outlined for the entire book us read Revelation chapter 12, verse 19. Therefore write, what you have seen. What is what will take place after this? So when you look at this verse, there are three sections Revelation. Chapter 1 is what you have seen. So who is riding, so when he gets called up and we're going to go through Revelation next week. This is what you have seen, so John is at able to see and that's because the curtain has been indeed. Pulled back and he's able to see what is behind the curtain. If you will, he is able to see into that spiritual round, Revelation 2, + 3, which is where I believe personally that we are right now is the church age and that's where you get into the seven churches of Asia Minor and that's Revelation 2 and 3. And that is what it is right now in this timeframe Revelation chapter 4 through 2 Who is what will take place as a, you know, what will take place and what time folding and you will begin to see all of that? So you have the outline for Revelation all in chapter 1 and verse 19, and it, he just lays it out. So I want to back up to Jesus was talking with the disciples in for Matthew 24:13. He says, while he was sitting on the privately and said, tell us when will these things happen and what is the sign of your coming of the end of the age? And so we have been looking for the sign of his second coming for how long, how much is 1000 /? 2,000 years we've been anxiously, awaiting, his second coming and when he's coming back and the apostles were, we're here. They were just like, tell us something. Let us see something, tell us what we can look for this type thing. And so Jesus answered the question and he said, watch out that no one deceives you watch out that no one deceives you and you think back through your lifetime, how many people have come up and they have seen like the Antichrist. How many people have come up and seemed like they were the Messiah. How many people have come up and they intentionally? Well, maybe while it is intentional but they have been deceived themselves but they deceive others Brands. I have shared with you from the very beginning that I started teaching in this class is that you are responsible for what you hear, you are responsible for what you hear, what you, what you believe, and what you take in and what you allow in. So everything that I tell you, I expect that you're going to go validates, you're going to go check your going to go fact check it, and you're going to make sure that it's correct because if it's not correct, we need to have that discussion. We as followers of Christ are individually responsible for everything that we believe. And so, we need to make sure and stay guarded that no one deceives us through their trickery or they'll put in 1 or 2 oz of Truth and then 6 oz of a lie and it is got just enough Possibility that it seems real. So it must be. But in fact it's not a, i is one of those things. So you have to be extremely cautious when you use AI to make sure that you've packed check is not always correct. And so you have to fact check it when you look at it and so watch out that no one deceives. You do you think that Satan can use a? I I think he might be the one that and when you when you think about it, you're thought there is not far off from the truth, because as these things, come around, Satan's whole purpose is what to deceive, he is the great liar, all of those things, and he'll use every tool they can, for many will come in. My name, saying, I am the Messiah and they will deceive many. What's his name? John Smith?

Latter Day, Saints, John Smith, what's wrong with him? I guess I'm the angel moron. Remind me to verify that he built himself up as a messiah.

Is he not built up as one of them as well? I mean, it is that and people follow that, Faith, if you will, fall asleep. That's correct. And so as you think through this verse right here, did Jesus. Not know what he was saying. Oh yeah, he knew exactly what he was saying and he was warning us of folks like those two folks right there, that they're going to come and they're going to come in and try to deceive as many as they can. And Satan is using them to deceive many and even do, it's Alice Lee. You're going to hear of wars and rumors of wars, do I need to explain that? You are not alarmed because these things must take place but the end is not yet. So we know that we have wars, we know that we have rumors of wars, you can open up the news on any given day and you can read about those. So those continue to go for nation, will rise up against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Have you seen a few earthquakes are late? So, you know, again, things are shifting here. By the way, it's not just humans that were cursed in the great fall. And Genesis chapter 3, it was all of creation, right? It was everything. It was the earth, and everything else. All these things are the beginning of labor, pains, if all of this is the beginning, If all of this is the beginning, what's going to happen at the midpoint or the endpoint. Think about that on that scale. So what are we going to do with this study game? What are you going to do with this first off? I want you to realize that this is the unveiling of Jesus Christ, this is literally that showstopper. So when you go to a movie, or when you go to a place and the curtain goes up, you are then able to see what is behind the curtain. What is behind that curtain and on stage and so we're going to look and see this as truly the unveiling of Jesus Christ. The next thing is it's going to change our perspective. If you have a leader that is we how we are you going to be as a phone. Say about the same but if you have a ruler, if you have a leader that is strong and mighty and able to overcome anything and everything and nothing stands in the way. What kind of follower will you be then Fearless? So Jehovah, Nissi. My protector. He is my banner, very good, very good, Jehovah, Nissi member. We looked at that. It from Psalm 23 Jehovah, Nissi, our Banner. No, I don't really expect you remember that detail but Jehovah, Nissi is our Banner. He goes before us and a battle Jehovah. Roy. Our Shepherd he watches over us and protect us when you know that you have that protected when you know he is going before you in the battle and you go to battle every single day, does that not change your perspective on how you live your life? Absolutely. It should does it not change our ministry? Does it not change that the emphasis of what we do and how we do it, does it not change the importance of water, where do it's just good to do these things to. This is what we got to do. It changes the way we approach business, when we see Jesus, for who he really is. And that's where we're going to be looking at as we study Revelation to see Jesus as he really is, I can't hardly wait to see you next week and share with you and in chapter 1, it is truly an amazing thing. Have your eyes gotten frosted foggy, fuzzy blurry overtime? Yes. And we as Christians not only have our physical eyes gotten that way, but our spiritual eyes have gotten that way. Also, And to do that, we have the Book of Revelation which never changes but it changes our vision. It gives us a chance to refocus and other words. Go to the doctor. So, when you go to the doctor, you get new glasses are new contacts, right? You get a new prescription, you get those adjusted that types of thing. But when we go to the great physician, that also changes are focused on him and it really lines are gay so that way were able to see clearly what it is, he has for us and that's the purpose of this study. That's what I hope to share with you and impress upon you and hurt you with as we go through because we want to see God for who he really is. We want to see God for who he really is it in in that part of the apostles were struggling. Even because they had trouble seeing what was yet to come and they said they couldn't see all of that. Just and they got to spend time with him but they still could not see things Yet to Come Revelation hair. Us to see God for who he really is. And then the other thing, this is going to be earth-shattering too. Many life is all about Jesus. Not you life is all about Jesus, not you and not me, it is all about him, our lives are, but a tape of thin paper, we are a breathe, but that's alright. Thank you. I'm deaf in one ear. Can't hear out the other one, but our life is, but a vapor. And when you think about that, it is all about Jesus and serving him everything points to him. But we tend to allow our gaze to go from here and looking inside here to looking up and sing Christ in. So as we go through this, I hope that you are as encouraged as I will be as I go back and refresh on this study. So the Rolla Revelations first off. What kind of times were the apostles in? Think about it. What were they in trouble?

Sunday crucified upside down? That's correct. How are the other apostles? Various grotesque ways, right?

I can't answer that. I know that John was the youngest I cannot. I do not know when people are we in trouble times. Yes, we are in troubled times right now and so Revelation was written. It was given by God to John, to write to encourage his people during troubled times. And so we are in that same trouble time and is going to give us the encouragement. Because when we see Jesus, as who he really is the unveiling of Jesus Christ, and we see him on the throne and we see the picture that he is given to us in the Book of Revelation and in chapters 1 4 & 5. That is why we have the Book of Revelation. 10, it is written to strengthen their faith and resolve. Not only then, but today because your faith will be strengthened, when you realize who you really are serving and we, as Christians do not really know at time to we are really serving. We do not appreciate his true strength and we do not appreciate the true reverent that we should have. When we come into the presence of God, we have gotten lazy. So our gaze is to realign back onto cries and that is one of the goals of this study. As we work through, is to give us that encouragement and the streets in your faith and resolved moving forward. It is also written as an unveiling, not as a hottie in. This is a grand event. This is a grand opening. This is a this is a massive thing. This is like a premier moment, World premier moment and that's what happened. As those curtains are pulled back and it's written as such and it's not meant to be a secret and yet so many Christian, so many followers of Christ do not understand. Have never been able to have not dug into for any number of reasons The Book of Revelation. So what I do hope is to give you that encouragement, unlock some of this wonderful book and that you would also encourage cuz it's not meant to be a secret. It's meant to be put out here and let everyone know. Hey, this is the plan and God has a plan for what's going on. Been bailing do gives us who the writer is. The writer is John John and it gives us an update. So this is, this is where we are. This is what's going on. And this is what's really happening. Now, that Jesus has ascended into heaven, this is where things are, and this is, what is Yet to Come and the Alpha and the Omega himself is talkin with John the Alpha and Omega the beginning. And the end, the King of Kings and the Lord of lords is talkin with John and having him write these things. So that we may know what is going on. It is the unveiling also gives us an introduction because the first three chapters tell us about where we are right now, chapters 4 and 5. Tell us about the throne room of heaven, but when we get into chapter 6 as for the Rapture occur and so it chapter 6 is the rapture chapter that's where that judgment begins to unfold. And so we get to See this as an introduction. We also get to see this whole thing from God's perspective. It's not from our way, looking up. It is God's perspective because he is showing John look at these things. This is my perspective and how I'm looking at it and as you read and if you understand, this is God's perspective is going to share with you also that encouragement and give that to you, and it's going to help you to reorient. Hate your life to reorient 8 because it's not going to be. I'm poor destitute downtrodden beat up. Can't get anything right. Everything's going wrong and I've got what was this? What was that? What was me? What would swallow? All of those things is going to reorient 8, because we serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord and nothing stands in his way. And nothing catches him off guard. And he's been watching this whole time. It also gives us a promise. I promise. I can't tell you how many

My wife services that I have led and I N with revelation, 22 behold. I make all things New new and the old things have passed away and that is his promise and we're going to live in glory. For those who follow Christ, we're going to see those new things but it also gives us a present reality. How are we going to get up tomorrow and be bolder in our faith? Be bolder in power. We live be bolder and how we approach things and it is a faithful message because we know the author and where it comes from. Don't miss these things though. It is a revealing of a first person is not an event. It is the revealing of a person who is that person? Jesus Christ. It is that revealing don't miss that. It's also a reward to the faithful cross because Think about that? It's a reward to the faithful Christ. Christ means what Messiah Christ means Messiah. So it's a reward to the Messiah. What is the reward? We are that reward and it's also a reward for The faithful in Cross because it's faithful in Christ. There's going to be three surprises In Heaven. There will be three surprises in heaven. First one. I'm here. I'm here. That's first price second. You're going to look around and you unsave.

They're not here.

And third, the glory of it. Now, I'll Grant you the second Vision yard second, you're not really going to see because you're not going to be able to think about those that aren't here. But those are going to be this process because there are those who on this Earth, try to live to, where they are working their way to heaven. And I got news for you. There's only one way to heaven and I won't tell me. Blood of Jesus Christ, John 14:6, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father, except through me, Jesus Christ game so just remember that. But its rewards. Don't miss. That is a me. It's meant to show us something. What do you think that we're being shown here?

What do you think Revelation is meant to show us? God is Sovereign. God is sovereign. What is revelation meant to show us? Gloria bloodworm.

Hateful towards what were faithful towards absolutely in Christ, The Glory of Christ. What is it meant to show us or give us. Instructions as to how to instructions.

Hope hope. Yes, my working going on right here, you know, thinking back to what is it? So, don't miss in. God's perspective is only a short time. So as I have gone through my gears each year, seems to go by faster and faster and faster and faster, right? And I'm sure that I'm not alone. Everybody in this room has seen those years, kind of start clicking off as you go through, but in God's perspective, it's just a short time in the grand scheme of things and it it changes that perspective, don't miss that, it is, John God, Christ and Angelic beings that are telling us, this story that are unveiling. What's going on? Here it is. John God Christ in the Angelic. B&O man. What a story. They have it is meant to be a blessing as we study this book. It is the one book that promises a blessing simply for looking through it and studying it and I will a bad over the last couple 3 months when I have been reading through this book. I've gotten Another Blessing and since the last time that I studied it to this level, I saw things this time around that, I did not see the last time or the time before that. There's been new things that have come around and my eyes have been opened and so truly, God's word is a living testimony today living book. And so it is, I can't hardly wait to share that. I hate that I have to end here in just five minutes. So, the whole and every generation. See, you did a perfect segue, the whole, and every generation is the hope of the church, and the world is not in philosophies and ideologies. The hope is not in our philosophies and ideologies, you can have all those and I enjoy having those types of discussions with the next person. They're great fun. But I'm going to tell you, none of that give this whole true or false hope is not to be found in a military solution. I hope that our military is able to resolve conflicts over the Middle East. I hope that our military can take care of other conflicts in various places, but that is not going to give us. The ultimate hope is not to be found in legislation as powerful as our Senators and House of Representatives seem to think they are. But how can I be found in legislation? You can't hope that legislation going to fix anything. Was it Thomas Jefferson or James Madison. That said morale? He cannot be legislated. I messing up the quote, but the prince was there and I remember it better than me. But anyways, they were rotting US Constitution Day and he said, we cannot legislate morality and we cannot legislate that it is just going through. The Bible is on the way to do. That will not be found in Academia, so no matter and which is a good thing cuz it's we've looked around in our various universities that were biblical principles have since abandoned that, I mean, there is a university that used to be. I mean, everything in, it was a worldview and they've abandoned that in its entirety, and swallowing entirely to the wrong, end of the spectrum and abandon that teaching completely. It is amazing and not just the one. There are several, that hope cannot be found in Academia. Hope will not be found in the United Nations are the United States. It's not their ho democracy will not settle the issues of the world. Pandemic and we can do democracy all day long, but that's not going to settle everything. The hope and every generation, the Revelation points us to our only hold. And that hope is in a person in the person of Jesus Christ. And it's not a persuasion, it is through the person, so everything points to Jesus. So if you look through the Glorious, Cosmic Christ, the Old Testament, you think Gruden and through my time with you, I've always shared that God has a plan, nothing catches him off guard. And the Old Testament, is the Tapestry on, which the New Testament is painted in the Old Testament. You see pictures of a coming Messiah, cuz everything in the Old Testament, says the Messiah is coming. The Messiah is coming. This is what the future's going to look like when you look in the New Testament, you see pictures of a suffering servant. You see, Jesus who was walking amongst us, who, who had, you know, just so much. Love for us that he taught us in and walked up. And he even went to the cross and died on the cross and was buried in a tomb. And you see him as a suffering servant? However, the Book of Revelation, my dear friend gives us a picture of the Glorious and reigning Kings reigning. King at 8 who is glorious and mighty and on the throne, and in command. And he is sitting there right now. Today, it's all about him who he is. It's all about Jesus who he was, it's all about Jesus, who is to come, it's all about Jesus. The one with the fullness of God's spirit is all about Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. The one who came to save us. It is about the faithful witness of Jesus Christ. He never broke stride, he was always faithful. He was the firstborn from the dead and he is the ruler over all Kings. There is no King that is not in a submission to Christ. Was it able A Beemer not, whether they believe in Jesus or not every King. Every ruler is in submission to Jesus Christ and you can rest assured of that. It's all about Jesus who loved us, it's all about Jesus who washed us with his blood. He made us from the very beginnings of the world to him. Belongs all glory in all Dominion. It is all about him forever and ever. Amen. So be it. This is true. This is the way it is. It is all about Jesus, the one who's coming, and it's all about the one that every I will be holding that. So people can say, I don't believe in Jesus right now, and I believe it takes a whole lot more faith to be an atheist, and it does to be a follower of Christ because when you're an atheist you're saying I don't believe in Jesus Christ but on that one day you're going to stand and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And that's exactly the truth. So next The Lord of Kosmos read chapter 14 next week and this is going to go back in and reread it, remember your homework assignment, if you have not read the entire book, read it. And if you have finished you finish reading where you're at and then go back and you read Revelation chapter 1, a little bit slower. And with that being said, that's just the intro. So if you would come in and work for a father, thank you for today. We thank you, most of all that she saw fit to leave Heaven's throne room to come to this earth to die on the cross for each and every person here. Lord, I pray. That is we study your word, that you would open up our eyes and our heart, that our lives would be changed. Lord, that we would see you for who you truly are that, it would truly be an unveiling Lord. I pray that you would speak to our hearts and embolden us and let us know that you are indeed the King of Kings reassurance Lord, as we study your word, that you would open it up before us and and allow us to see your word as you have intended it to be seen. Nnn felt by each and every person here. And those unable to be here, Lord, I pray that you would influence them, Lord, that you would compel them to to study your word. As you have laid it out before speed Pastor Thomas, he brings today's message that you would anoint him fill him with your spirit and or that you would speak through him and use him as a vessel of Honor for you. And those in attendance today to worship would come to know you a little bit stronger, a little bit more faithful and those that don't know you Lord that today would be the day that their name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. We love you so much and your most holy and precious name. We do pray and ask these things. Amen.