The Revelation
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Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive Outline
The Central Person of Prophecy
II. The Clear Purpose of Prophecy
A. The Sureness of This Prophecy
B. The Nearness of This Prophecy
III. The Comforting Promise of Prophecy
A. Blessed Are They Who Read the Word of God
B. Blessed Are They Who Heed the Word of God
IV. The Certain Prophecy of This Book
A. Six Signs of the End Times
1. Israel’s Return to the Land
2. Russia’s Rise to Prominence
3. The Revival of the Roman Empire
4. The Rise of the Occult
5. Eclipses and Earthquakes
6. Famine and Pestilence
Introduction
We are in the second installment of our End of Days Series.
I have recently started paying attention to the stock market and making investments. Before I started putting my money into it I couldn't have cared less about it. But after making my first investment it has become sort of an addiction for me. I find myself constantly looking at stocks and researching companies and listening and reading stuff put out by stock gurus. And can I tell you what every stock broker or investor wishes they had… the ability to know the future. I mean there are a few stocks that really break out and you can become very wealthy if you knew which ones were going to break out and do something. If you could have bought a ton of amazon stock back when it was selling for $30 a share, which is currently selling at $2400 a share you would be doing good right now. Or if you had a stockbroker that knew the future
Oh how good it would be to know the future, just think about the opportunities we could take advantage of and the heartaches that we could avoid.
Well there is no such thing as a stock broker that knows the future but there is one who knows the future, God Almighty, and he is always 100% right. And God in his love and mercy has revealed some things to us through His Word that we need to discover and hold on too. The devil does not have this ability as much as he would like to make people believe that He does, he does not. In fact not only does he not know the future like God does, but he is also not all powerful like God is
9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
The Bible is chalked full of prophecy, predicting the future, Its what sets the Word of God apart from every other religious book. Every other religious book is mainly filled with creeds, checklists of conduct, practices for good living. But the Bible is the Only book chalked full of prophecy. In fact the Bible is made up of approximately 27% prophecy. That is of the
of the 31,124 verses of scripture 8,352 are prophetic.
1 out of every 4 verses is propetic.
Today we are going to be looking at the Book of Revelation, we are in our second installment of the End of Days Series. We will be going back in forth between the book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel to see the wide panerama of Prophecy. Some people thing the book of revelation is for crackpots and crazies but God meant for it to be a book that brings about blessing
Adrian Rogers wrote this abou the book of Revelation and I quote,
As a matter of fact, there are two books the devil especially hates: one is Genesis, and the other is Revelation. It’s very easy to see why he hates both of these books, because in Genesis his doom is pronounced, and in Revelation it is carried out.
But as you contrast the first book and the last book in the Bible, you see the wisdom of God as you put the Bible together, because, indeed, the Book of the Revelation is the golden clasp that binds the entire Bible together. For example, in the Book of Genesis, you see the creation of the first heaven and the first earth. In the Book of Revelation, you see new heavens and a new earth. In the Book of Genesis, you see the first Adam reigning on Earth. In the Book of Revelation, you see the last Adam reigning in Glory. In the Book of Genesis, the night and the seas are created. In the Book of Revelation, there is no more night and no more sea. In the Book of Genesis, there is a bride who is brought to the first Adam. In the Book of Revelation, there is a bride—the Church—that is brought to the last Adam.
And in the Book of Genesis, you see the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. In the Book of Revelation, you see the tree of life in the new creation. In the Book of Genesis, you see sin as it as it crawls its slimy corroding path into the pages of history; you see that sin brings death and a curse. But in the Book of the Revelation, we come to a time where there is no more curse and no more death. In Genesis, Satan appears for the first time. In Revelation, he appears for the last time before he is sentenced to the pit. In the Book of Genesis, you see man driven from God’s face in sin. In Revelation, you see God’s face in glory. In the Book of Genesis, the inhabitants of the world are looking for a city by faith. And that holy city is presented in glory in the Book of the Revelation. In the Book of Genesis, Satan utters his first lie; but in the Book of the Revelation, we see a city where no lie can ever enter. And I’m so excited tonight to be talking to you about this panorama of prophecy.
In fact there have been generations of people that have sat in the back of churches as preachers and Prophets have taught out of this book and snickered about the predictions that God makes in the word about
1. The CENTRAL PERSON OF PROPHECY
1. The CENTRAL PERSON OF PROPHECY
1 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,
tHE WORD translated here revelation is the greek word -apokalypsis. The word means the uncovering of something that was hidden
You see the revelation or the uncovering of that which used be hidden is its a Revelation of Jesus Christ. if you have ever asked a question like what is life all about. Why am I here. Why are things so out of place in the world withb so much anger and violence. Well things are out of place because Jesus is not on the throne.
He is the Central figure, the central focus of all of scripture even in the Old Testament.
God’s plan has always been for a man to rule the earth and that man is His son whom he appointed to rule the nations with a rod of iron and proof of this was the Resurrection. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. The unveiling of His son.
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
Today we see the hostility of the world towards the name of Jesus Christ. We see the vitriol, the arrogance, the crude humor towards the King of Kings, but in the end it will all be in vein
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
What is the world coming too? It is coming to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And you need to understand something about the Lord. He is the Prince of Peace. He is the lover of our souls. He became a servent and humbled himself to the point of death and death on a cross. But when he ressurected he did so in power. He has now been highly exalted so that just at the mention of His name every knee will bow in heaven and on Earth. He allowed the himself to be mocked, spat upon and beaten. But when He rose again from the grave accomplishing his mission. No one will ever lay a hand on Him again. This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ and you nee dto understand something He is King now.
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
They are wailing because they know he is coming to execute judgemnt. In Chapter
From begining to end, everything revolves around the Lord Jesus Christ. And by the way the book is not Called Revelations, Plural, it is revelation and it is a Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
2. The Clear Purpose of the Prophecy
2. The Clear Purpose of the Prophecy
1 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,
...to show his servants them the things that must soon take place.....
The Focus of the Prophecy is that God wants you and I too know the future, so you and I can be ready.
This is for Bondservents- Now this applies to a certain audience
Now the word here for servant, is actually the word bondslave. And it is for those that have willingly made Jesus Lord of their life. That is it is for those that have willingly made themselves slaves to he Lord. You are free slaves but nonetheless, you live as though you were a slave to him. That is you have renounced your own freedom and will to Him. But there is a blessing to being the slave of Christ...
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The slaves of Jesus become free men, free form the power of sin and slavery to Satan… you remember the one that comes to Kill steal and destroy. If you are not a bondslave of the Lord you will have a tough time reading the words of this book. If you are not a member of the family, it will be like trying to make sense of someone else’s mail
THE SUDDENNESS OF THE PROPHECY
English Standard Version Chapter 1
servants the things that must soon take place.
Now this was written two thousand years ago and he says these are things that will soon take place...
Now there are two words here.... must and soon… The greek word that we translate must means that it is inevitable that it takes place. in the book of Daniel
Daniel 9:26 the end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
Daniel 9:26 the end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
God has decreed that certain thins will take place. Jesus told us of many signs that will preceed the end of day… these things are inevetiable… that is the word must… the second word is soon… that is that these things must take palce must when you see them take place they will be very sudden. That is they will happen with short intervals between them. So stay woke and stay ready. For when you see these things take place lift up your heads for your redemption draws nigh!
Think of this… this morning, this very hour, this very second, the world has never been as close top the end of this age as it is right now!
3. There is a Comforting Promise to the Prophecy
3. There is a Comforting Promise to the Prophecy
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.
God is saying to you and I this morning that if we will read and obey the words of the scriptures there will be a blessing in store for us.
I know that one of the blessing for me is that it always fortifies my faith. I mean when I read these words of this book, my perspective becomes clear again.
I am reminded that there is an enemy, and the things that would normally disillusion me, well when I read the words of this prophecy I am reminded that God told me beforehand that it was going to happen, and my sights get dialed in again.
Men its like looking through a scope for the first time that has not been dialed in. everything is a blur, you can’t make sense at what you are looking at, you dont have perspective looking through a scope thats not been sighted in. You know the deer is out there but your proximity is all off. But when you begin to turn the dials the fous lens, the magnification lense and the objective lens come into correct alignment, you can now do what that scope was designed to do, put down the target.
Ladies and gentlement God has given us a scope and all the weopns you need to take down the target, to fight your good fight. But as long as we stay cool and casual towards God. We keep being to busy to get into his words and recieve a blessing… well your scope is always going to be out of focus… and every time you pick it up you will begin to think its broken. Its not broken, its just that you are not dialed in to The Holy Spirit.
The Glorious Proclamation Of this Prophecy
The Glorious Proclamation Of this Prophecy
4 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. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Lert me now give you the glorious proclamation of this Prophecy.
Remember who this is addressed too- The bondslaves… and their King
Jesus Christ - the Firstborn of the dead. What does that mean? it means that we serve one that has defeated our greatest enemies… sin, Satan and the Grave....
He is the Faithful witness… I hate it when people lie to me. Well meaning people will lie to you. people who love you dearly will lie to you, but listen there is one that will never lie to you.. The Lord jesus. he is the faithful witness. he is the person of truth. And for those that will hear and believe, trust and commit their lives to Him you will always have a faithful companion in the Lord jesus Christ.
He is Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. in a few weeks we will get to Chapter 5 and we will have a peak at his cporonation as King.
He loves us.... This morning you and I need to be overcome by His love again. he loves you with a dying for you type of love. greater love has no one than this than for a friend to lay down His life for another.
because of His love he has freed us fro,m ourt sins by his blood. There is no sin too great, no stain so deep that the Blood of Christ cannot cover and make new
He has made us a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father
past are the days of poor ol me, just a sinner shackled to his sins… Oh no that type of thinking is not humility it is out right rebellion. be who God has called you to be. Live under the new identity that He has placed on you. You are a part of the beloved. you are sons and daughters of the Most High. Start living like it, start thinking like that. There are too many rich saints living like beggars. Stop it, there is a proclamation with this prophecy. he has set you free from your sins, so why are you still living liek they are your master?
Last thing He is returning
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
They struck him once but they will never strike him again… Every eye will see Him the second time. there will be no more mystery when he comes back, and when he comes back it will be in full display of his power and Glory.
Every eye will see him Even those that pierced him… you say well they have been dead for two thousand years. Well their bodiers may be dead but they are still alive in hell and this glory will extend even yto that wretched place. there will be a ressurection of the dead for ebveryone. Just some will have a ressurection for the lake of fire and others a ressurectionf for eternal glory. Evbery eye will see him. the solders that nailed him, Pontius Pilate who condemned him… and every last scoffer and enemy of The Lord jesus will see him. Every person that has ever used his name in vein. Every sleezy comedian that has made him the punch line and every person that has the devils initialled carved into their heart theyb will all see him, and they qwill wail, they will mourn and shutter with fear because of His appearing....
even so come Lord jesus Come… are you ashamed of Him today… let me tell you I am not.....
He is the Firstborn among many more who will ress