THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST (#2)
Revelation: "The Unveiling" • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Good evening, thanks so much for everyone coming out tonight as we dig into the word of God. Let’s pray and then were going to dive right in.
Heavenly Father, you desire to give good gifts to your children, we know that Your Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, and so we ask for Your presence as we seek to know and understand the book of the revelation of Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Lead us, teach us, and guide us into Your truth. My opinion does not matter Lord, but God your truth is what we desire so grant us that truth let me not stray into error but let my words be only the words that come from You and you alone. In Jesus Name I pray Amen.
Background:
Background:
At the time he recieved the vision recorded in Revelation John is currently in exile on the island of Patmos.
He is the last living Apostle of the original 12
John has suffered torment at the hands of the government, and they tried to kill him by boiling him alive.
This doesn’t work however as God miraculously saves his life, but the soldiers place him aboard a vessel and carry him into exile on an island with very little vegetation, and leave him there. It is here that 1,2,and 3rd John were written, as well as the book we are now studying Revelation.
We learned last week that there are many differing interpretations on the book of Revelation, and most pastors if they are of the few who attempt to teach it (most don’t) go the safe route and there is nothing wrong with that, they give multiple views, there will be times where we may come across a subject that God has not yet given me peace about yet and when we come to those passages I will give the various viewpoints.
You have been given a handout, and while I will do my best to slow down and help you fill in the blanks I would like for you to follow along the best you can, and that way we can cover more ground.
We left off last week looking at the key to the entire book of Revelation and how we see the return of the Lord JEsus Christ. We spoke briefly about the many misconceptions there are about the rapture or the calling up of the church of JEsus Christ. How, many people believe that there will be a sudden calling away and even in movies such as left behind and others, the scene we see is how every Christian simply vanishes and their clothes are left and the people that are “left behind” are left wondering what happened and then have to figure it out on their own.
While many things are confusing in the book of Revelation this is not, along with other passages we went through were very clear that when Jesus comes back for His church there wont be anything ambiguous or hidden about it, they will see him and quake with fear.
Reve
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
So He says here that Jesus Christ after the tribulation as we looked at in Matthew, Luke, Acts, and Mark last week, after the tribulation, after the sun and moon are darkened is going to come in the clouds of Heaven, a trumpet is gonna sound, and He is going to gather up the saved.
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
Mark 13:24
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luke 21:25
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Luke 21:
Notice he uses the phrase the elect speaking of the church, but now here in He uses the phrase “YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH”
So Jesus was speaking with his soverign foreknowledge that his words would be written down, and he was giving personal encouragement to the churches who are still awaiting his second coming. WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF TRIBULATION FOR HE GOES WITH US, WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF TURMOIL ON THE EARTH FOR HE GOES WITH US, WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID BECAUSE HE IS WITH US EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE!
We dont hang our heads in sorrow knowing that we will go through the tribulations of this world, we look up because we know the day is fast approaching when Jesus will return and GLORY BE TO GOD WE WILLSEE HIM FACE TO FACE AND HE WILL WIPE ALL EVIL AWAY!!!
So there is going to be no secret calling away where people are left unaware of what took place when the Lord gathers His elect (all Christians) the world we see him and fear if they are not found covered in the blood of the Lamb of God.
Now let’s briefly look at some other passages dealing with this same subject and let’s see if the Bible helps explain itself.
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-
Now this is where people with pretribulation rapture views have issues because there are scholars that say that this is NOT talking about the second coming of the Lord we must differentiate between, .... between what are there two raptures?
NOPE only one then if is not referring to the rapture what is it referring to?
I am not a smart man but let’s look again at what it says.
COMING OF THE LORD!!!!
Sounds like the rapture to me!
The purpose of Paul writing this is that they had lost loved ones and they’re sorrowful, but He is giving them hope… “You don't have to mourn like those who have no hope” because we know that if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Christ Jesus will be raised.
he says one day HALLELUJAH THERE'S GOING TO BE A GLORIOUS REUNION ONE DAY!!!! Children will see their parents, grandparents will meet their grandchildren for the first time, still born babies will see mom and dad for the first time, But even better than all of that .....
WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE WHEN MY JESUS I SHALL SEE AND I LOOK UPON HIS FACE THE ONE WHO SAVED ME BY HIS GRACE, WHEN HE TAKES ME BY THE HAND AND LEADS ME TO THE PROMISED LAND WHAT A DAY, GLORIOUS DAY THAT WILL BE!
ya’ll can sit still but I’m gonna have church!
So what do we see in this passage? do we see Christ coming in the clouds?
YES
Do we have a trumpet?
YES
Same thing.
But does the Bible say anything about the timing of this event?
Not at all actually look at the next chapter
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
NO MAN KNOWS THE DAY NOR HOUR! God never reveals when this calling away is going to be in any of these passages!
look at the next verse
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
So why does he not have to tell us the timing of the rapture in chapter 4?
Because we already know that the day of the Lord come like a thief in the night. so why does knowing that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night!
Because thats th
SO WHY LEARN THIS ANYWAY PREACHER?
Whats the point?
If we cannot know the day nor the hour why even bother with all of these symbols and difficult teachings that are hard to understand?
IT IS THE WORD OF GOD!
I have heard out of the mouths of Christians:
ID DOESNT REALLY MATTER IT WILL ALLPAN OUT IN THE END SO I LOVE JESUS, and I am not concerned with this.... be careful rember the promise
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
1 Thessalonians
For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
So when we look at this passage we see the same exact elements we saw in all the other passages of the coming of Christ:
Jesus coming in the clouds, a trumpet sounding, the gathering of the church,.
Have have we seen anywhere that this rapture is going to come anywhere before the tribulation?
Does it say dont worry were going to be long gone before the tribulation cometh?
NOPE NOT AT ALL
instead look at what it does say...
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
Wait what?
If he is talking to believers (brethren) and he says don’t let this day overtake you.... WHAT DAY?
The day of the Lord!
You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
Be watching but it will not take you by surprise, you will be here but it wont take you by surprise:
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
So he says don’t be caught off guard, don’t be surprised when this tribulations comes and your here, dont be afraid because your redemption, the day when the Lord returns for His children is getting closer anc closer, as things heat up were getting closer, as prophechies unfold were getting closer, however I am afraid that there have been people who have believed something that is not outlined in scripture and when they realize that it is not Biblical it is going to so rock them it could lead to more problems as the tribulation worsens.
So he says don’t be caught off guard, don’t be surprised when this tribulations comes and your here, I am afraid that there have been people who have believed something that is not outlined in scripture and when they realize that it is not Biblical it is going to so rock them it could lead to more problems as the tribulation worsens.
So he says don’t be caught off guard, don’t be surprised when this tribulations comes and your here, I am afraid that there have been people who have believed something that is not outlined in scripture and when they realize that it is not Biblical it is going to so rock them it could lead to more problems as the tribulation worsens.
LIKE WHAT PROBLEMS?
Will it shake their faith to the point where they begin to doubt everything they have ever been taught?
When the tribulation period begins will they be so shaken that they will begin to question everything and be deceived by the anti Christ?
There are people today struggling with doubt simply because they are being fought against by professors in college and in the workplace there are people who would seek to cause Christians to question what they believe, for the mature in Christ it doesnt bother us but for those who are not mature in the faith it can cause them to be shipwrecked in doubt and if this is happening in our day today then what will it be like as the day approaches.
Panic does things to people minds....
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
I have often wondered how the church of Jesus Christ could be deceived and yet with all of our traditions, and beliefs not being rooted in the Holy Word of God I believe it is more possible than ever for people who are part of the church to be shaken in their faith.
But not you!
You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
Matthew 24:28
Now lets take a short look at one thing:
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
Now people will see this and think, wait a minute he is speaking of two seperate things here isnt he? the coming of our Lord and our gathering together unto him.
No he is not when the Bible uses phrases such as
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, he is not referring to two or three seperate people,
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
two different things or two of the same?
The same thing
But in right after the subject of after the tribulation, Christ coming in the clouds, the trumpet sounding the elect being gathered..... He gives the parable of the fig tree
Matthew 24:32-
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Meaning when you see them begin to come to pass that generation that sees the beginning of this is not gonna pass away until its finished. He says
Matthew 24:
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Now look, what day?
He says again “THAT DAY”
If I said to you THAT DAY
Well wouldn’t your next question be what day?
It has to be something you and I spoke of previously or it wouldn’t make any sense would it.
For instance if I told you that we were going to get together to talk about some things on thursday
Then I came back and said “HEy on that day we were talking about earlier let’s go get lunch.... you would know what day because you had prior knowledge
The “That Day” He keeps referring to
The same day we have been talking about the day the sun and moon are darkened and Jesus Christ will come on the clouds and gather the elect.
Now heres the funny thing people will take that verse and say well Jesus can come at any moment because no man knoweth the day or the hour, but then when you take them to MAtthew 24:28-29
Where it says its happening after the tribulation of those days they will say: “Thats not about the rapture, because WE KNOW the rapture is before the tribulation” Ok and then you say well how do you know Jesus can come back at any moment?
Theyll say: “Well no man knows the day nor the hour, well I respect what your saying but no one, not a professor, not a pastor, NO ONE has showed me a clear cut proof of how we know we are going to be raptured up before tribulation begins on this old world.
Right here in
they contradict themselves around every turn....
Wait
Now listen I WISH I WAS WRONG, but what I find in scripture tells us that we must be prepared for life on this Earth to continually become more and more depraved until the Lord returns.
(Noah)
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT WE BELIEVE BUT WE MUST ALLOW GODS REVEALED WORD TO TEACH US!
It sounds so true NO MAN KNOWS THE DAY NOR THE HOUR!!
ABSOLUTELY TRUE, but that doesn’t mean it will happen before the tribulation either.
Jesus says it will be after the tribulation, but we don’t know the day nor hour.... isnt it easier to just let the Bible speak to us rather than trying to jam our beliefs in with it?
Let’s look quickly at and I am spending alot of time of the coming of Lord because like I said is the key verse and if your gonna be mixed up about youre gonna be messed up for the rest of the book.
That’s why this pretrib rapture idea which only came about a few decades ago has so confused everybody that they look at Revelation and they cant make it fit, their trying to jamthat square peg in the round whole, but if you throw that out and just study the text you will be able to understand the book of Revelation.
Look at where the sun and moon are darkened
Revelation 6:12-
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Were going to go through this in great detail, but just know this in the book of Revelation this is the only passage which describes the sun and moon darkened and stars falling from Heaven, so this is the event we read about in , , so that shows with the opening of the 6th seal that is what the bible refers to as the great tribulation. That means everything before the 6th seal is the tribulation, that also means everything after the 6th seal that is not the tribulation, that is God puring out His wrath. GOD POURING OUT HIS WRATH IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE TRIBULATION.
The tribulation does not go the entire 7 years, the main events of Revelation last for a period of 7 years, often called Daniels 70 weeks. The tribulation does not cover all 7 years it only covers half of that period of time. Then Christ comes, then God pours out His wrath in the remaining time.
Now we finish by going back to
Revelation 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
who is talking here?
Who is saying these thing?
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
THIS IS NONE OTHER THAN JESUS CHRIST!!!!
The Son died was buried and rose again!
jesus Christ is being called the almighty!
A-Z
Jehovah witnesses
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
And the government shall be upon his shoulder:
And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Jesus in
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:9
John is thier companionin tribulation.
Now what is tribulation?
Isn’t tribulation a pretty important word when dealing with end time prophecies?
Now remember throughout this book I am going to be preaching against the doctrine of a pretrib rapture because the entire belief system is set upon this foundation that before tribulation comes JEsus is coming for His church. But wait is that consistent with what we just read?
The first time we see the word tribulation JOHN is using the word, a born again child of God, lead pastor and disciple of the Lord!
:
I have found that if your having difficulty understanding what a definition of a word is, if you go and find the first time it is used then there is usually an explanation right behind it.
This is the parable of the sower
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
So what is causing tribulation in the life of this particular believer?
Its persecution because of the Word of God! So what about John in Revelation? John says look I’m your companion in tribulation, and then he mentions he is in the isle of patmos for wht?
For the word of God and the testimony of Jesus CHrist.
Look up everytime the word is used in the NT 90% of the time it is Gods people going through tribulation.
PERSECUTION OR AFFLICTION
Is tribulation speaking of the wrath of God being poured out upon John?
Does tribulation =God’s wrath?
9 times out of 10 it is man afflicting someone because of thier opposition to the gospel.
Now look tribulation could be referring to God afflicting in other places but 9 out of 10 its man being afflicted by man, and here we see that John is our companion in tribulation.
Now here he says I JOHN YOUR BROTHER,
Who is he talking to when he says your brother!
Isn’t he talking to the reader?
Blessed is He that readeth… and who is the reader?
REMEMBER THIS BOOK IS MEANT TO SHOW GODS SERVANTS THE THINGS WHICH WILL SHORTLY OME TO PASS!
Do you know what that tells me?
That tells me that if you are a servant of JEsus Christ, your going through a tribulation, and people think they can serve Jesus Christ and live for God and NOT be persecutedtheir wrongbecause the Bible says
ALL THAT LIVE GODLY LIVES IN CHRIST JESUS SHALL BE
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Cause let me tell you somethingevery servant of god is going to endure some kind of tribulation in thier lifetime. YOU WILL SUFFER AND BE AFFLICTED
BUT
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Now John in Revelaiton tells us what happened to him:
Revelation
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
A VOICE AS A TRUMPET
Isaiah
“Cry aloud; do not hold back;
lift up your voice like a trumpet;
declare to my people their transgression,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
a very loud voice
Revelation 1:11-
saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
Revelation 1:15-
His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Whats that sword?
Herews
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Revelation 1:17-
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
THINGS WHICH WERE SEEN- past everything up until that point
THINGS WHICH ARE- present (2-3)
which makes sense because 2-3 are letters to seven churches tha existed at the time he was writing.
THINGS WHICH WILL COME- (4-end)
Future
(pray)