The Invitation Still Stands
Notes
Transcript
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,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
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.
KEY PASSAGES
Rev 22:17 (ESV)
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Mat 11:28
“28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Joh 6:37
“37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
Introduction:
this is the great Revelation of Jesus Christ. The word “revelation” (apokalupsis) means to uncover and unveil. It means to pull back a covering or a veil that is hiding something. It means to make known something; to reveal something that a person could not find out for himself
Revelation is “The Book That Must Be biblically Interpreted.”
God’s clock measures time differently than man’s clock
V 1 Jesus Christ gave the Revelation to His servants. Who are His servants? Believers who truly follow and serve Christ. This is significant to note, for there are many who profess to believe and follow Christ and do not. The Revelation is not written to them. The Revelation is a closed book to those who do not genuinely follow Christ. It is a closed book to the world. Jesus Christ gave the Revelation to His servants and His servants alone.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Rev 1:10 “10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet”
John the apostle was the man chosen by Jesus Christ to receive the Revelation. But note this: John had to be available. Jesus Christ always chooses a man to carry the messages of God to men. But before He can choose a man, the man has to be available
If the Revelation is truly the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, then we must watch and be ready, for every event will certainly take place and nothing will stop them
Rev 1:3 ESV
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.
It is never enough to just read and hear the Word of God. We must always do what God says, keep His commandments.
Every thing said in this opening statement declares the importance of the Revelation. Revelation is not only to be read and heard, it is to be heeded.
There are seven blessings in Revelation
Rev 1:3 “3 For Obedience
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.”
Rev 14:13 “ Of Eternal Life
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!””
Rev 16:15 “ Of Prayer-fullness and Purity
15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)”
Rev 19:9 Called to the Marriage Supper of The Lamb
“9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.””
Rev 20:6 Conquering Death through Christ
“6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
Rev 22:7 Heeding His Word
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.””
Rev 22:14 Keeping All His Commands
“14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.”
Jesus is the Eternal King
Psa 2:4-12 “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.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 2:4–12 (ESV)
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.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Isa 9:7
“7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”