Revelation Bible Study - Laodicea

Introduction

We have come to the end of our studies giving the overview of each book of the bible. The last book, and the one we will use to segue to our more in depth verse by verse study, is the book of Revelation.

When you read the book of Revelation, you see the magnificence, the glory, and the power of God. Nothing in the book of Revelation shows God as small, weak or detached from humanity. We find a great God, who does all things well. A God who is powerful enough to shake the worlds and bring about the final judgment and destruction on those that all their lives had rejected Him by their actions.

We will see the exalted Christ, no longer suffering on a cross, but the all powerful One walking in the midst of His churches and calling into account those that refuse to obey His Word.

We will see the protection of the true saints, the people of God in the midst of a terrible judgment that will come upon the whole world.

We will see God turning back to His chosen people Israel, to turn them from their skepticism unto belief in Jesus as Messiah.

We will see God bring about the final judgment that to so many seemed like He had forgotten about, or given a pass to the wicked, and what a judgment it is! The mountains will quake, the earth will shake, the entire planet will be baptized with fire. The enemy of our soul, the devil, will be locked up a thousand years, given one season of release, and then finally judged for all eternity in the lake of fire.

We will see a tender God calling to man to turn from their sin, turn from their unbelief, and to come while He is calling them.

We will see the treasures and pleasures of heaven. A place so glorious, that words can in no way do it justice.

A crystal sea

A foundation made up of precious stones

A tree for healing

A singing of praises to God

A fellowship with Jesus and the Father and all of the saints of old that have gone before us.

Revelation finishes what Genesis began:

In Genesis, we find the entrance of sin and the curse; In Revelation, its end.

In Genesis, we find the dawn of Satan and his activities and his doom in Revelation.

In Genesis, the Tree of Life is relinquished and in Revelation, it's regained.

In Genesis, Death makes its entrance and in Revelation, its exit. Genesis records the beginning of sorrow and in Revelation, it's banished.

Genesis records the commencement of prophecy and Revelation records the consummation.

With all of the glory of God put on display, and all the good that awaits the child of God, it is no wonder the apostle John ends the books with these words of Jesus and the apostle’s answer “…I come quickly, even so, come Lord Jesus!”

The Greek word for Revelation is Apokalupsis which conveys the idea of "an appearing; unveiling, coming; to show or expose to view

Key Verse: Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

What did John see? Rev. 1:1-20

Jesus!

The stars (the pastors)

The candlesticks (the churches)

What are the things which are? Rev. 2:1-3:22

The seven churches.

What are the things that shall be? Rev. 4:1- Rev. 22:21

Ray Bakke shares the story about a Glasgow professor named MacDonald who was put into a German prison camp in WW2, along with a chaplain from Scotland. A tall, wire fence separated the Americans from the British in this P.O.W. camp. MacDonald was assigned to the American barracks and the chaplain with the British. The German guards did not know that the Americans had a homemade radio and were able to get news of the war. MacDonald would take a headline everyday to the fence and share it with the chaplain in the ancient Gaelic language which the Germans could not understand. One day the news reported that the German high command had surrendered and the war was over. MacDonald took the news to the chaplain and then watched him disappear into the barracks. Moments later, a roar of cheering erupted from the British barracks. The camp was transformed as despair was replaced with hope and anticipation. Men walked around singing, shouting, laughing, and waving at the German guards. When the guards heard the news three days later, they fled into the dark of the night, abandoning the camp, and leaving the gates unlocked. The next morning, the prisoners walked out of the camp as free men. Yet, they had truly been set free three days earlier by the news that the victory had been won and the war was over. We too, can now rejoice as Christians, even though the Lord has not returned yet, for we know He is going to return for us and win the victory over Satan. We know the final outcome of the battle and have been set free from the bondage of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. May we rejoice in His coming and be watching for His return. Treasures From the Scriptures - Mattoon's Treasures – Treasures from Revelation.

Chapter 1:1

The prophecy of the future.

It is not intended that this book be mysterious or confusing, but illuminating and revealing. God wants us to understand what this book is about and what we have to look forward to and what is the destiny of unsaved men and women. He wants them to know so they will turn to Christ and trust Him as Savior. It is an open book in which God reveals His plans and purposes to His church. When Daniel finished writing his prophecy, he was instructed to "shut up the words, and seal the book" (Daniel 12:4); but John has been given totally opposite directions from the Lord... Revelation 22:10—"Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book." Treasures From the Scriptures - Mattoon's Treasures – Treasures from Revelation.

The events are going to "shortly come to pass." This word "shortly" is the Greek word en tachei which forms our English word "tachometer." It is an instrument used to measure speed or velocity. The word "shortly" indicates swiftness. The events in this book will come to pass swiftly when they begin to unfold. The Lord also wants us to realize that His return is soon, it is imminent. We need to also realize that God does not measure time the same way we do. 2 Peter 3:8—But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Treasures From the Scriptures - Mattoon's Treasures – Treasures from Revelation.