Sermon Central
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Revelation
Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 11, 2023 (message contributor)
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1. Revelation: An Introduction (Revelation 1:1-4)
Contributed on Nov 28, 2023
An introduction to Revelation. Not so much a summary of the book, but more an explanation for how I'm planning to read it.
Several months ago, I was having a conversation with my dad about what we should study next. I was debating between several books, and not sure of what I should do next. He encouraged me to pick the study that I thought would be most useful to the church. He has also told me that he would avoid ...read more
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2. The Revelation From Jesus And God (Revelation 1:1-8)
Contributed on Nov 29, 2023
A practical, academically rigorous, no-rapture reading of Revelation. Here, John receives a revelation from Jesus, passed from God, to Jesus, to Jesus' angel, to John, for 7 seven churches. To what end?
Last week, I introduced our new series on the book of Revelation. Really, I didn't explain much about the book at all. My focus was more on how I think the book should be read. If you missed that, you're going to want a copy of my sermon. This week, I want to begin by simply reading the ...read more
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3. A Picture Of Jesus, Our Champion (Revelation 1:9-20)
Contributed on Dec 5, 2023
Jesus is heavily armed. He's present with the churches. And the fate of the churches, for good or bad, is in Jesus' hands. Plus, discussion of being "in the Spirit."
Everything we have in life, as Christians, we have in and through Jesus. Jesus is the one who rescued us from death, and sin, and slavery. Our sins are forgiven through his blood. Through him, we become part of God's family, and have access to God. Through him, we receive the Holy Spirit. ...read more
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4. How Jesus Loves An Unloving Church (Revelation 2:1-7)
Contributed on Dec 6, 2023
Answer: By "revealing" how he views them, and warning them, and giving them time to repent.
Let's start today by reading last week's passage, Revelation 1:9-20: (9) I, John-- your brother and partner in the affliction and in the kingdom and in the steadfastness in Jesus-- I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about ...read more
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5. Who Are The True Jews? (Revelation 2:8-11, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 10:1-13)
Contributed on Dec 11, 2023
Jesus encourages the church for its faithfulness in the face of persecution from the "ones calling themselves Jews, but aren't, but are a synagogue of Satan."
There was a time in the U.S. (and Canada) when white people could put on blackface, and people thought it was amusing. You could pretend to be Denzel Washington, or Will Smith, and people would laugh. There was a time when you could wear traditional Native American clothing on Halloween, and ...read more
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6. Will God Judge The World, And Make Things Right? (Revelation 6:1-17)
Contributed on May 11, 2023
A no-rapture, academically rigorous series on Revelation
Over the past two weeks, in Revelation 4 and 5, we've read about what happened in heaven, after Jesus ascended into the clouds. Jesus rises up, disappears, out of the sight of his disciples. And he rises up into the heavenly throne room, into the midst of the four living creatures. And when ...read more
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7. Who Can Stand On The Great Day Of Wrath? The Church! (Revelation 7:1-8)
Contributed on May 12, 2023
A no-rapture, academically rigorous study of Revelation. We, the church, are the 144,000.
Last week, we saw the beginnings of God's plan for the world starting to unfold. In the first four seals of Revelation 6, we saw pictures of the wrath of God, and the wrath of the Lamb, being poured out on the world through the four horsemen of the apocalypse. They brought with them conquest, ...read more
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8. Who Can Stand? The Church!, Part 2 (Revelation 7:9-17)
Contributed on May 21, 2023
A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation. Life is hard now. It will be harder later, and Revelation prepares us to accept that, and to be faithful in tough times.
Last week, we worked our way through the first vision of Revelation 7, which describes the sealing of the 144,000, from the 12 tribes of Israel. I argued that this was a vision of the church. Israel, is the church. The church, is Israel. I gave a few arguments in support of this, but I left out ...read more
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9. Hearing The First Six Trumpets (Revelation 8:1-9:21)
Contributed on May 26, 2023
The trumpet judgments, are God's call to the world to repent, and come to him. But at 9:21's end, no one listens. A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation.
Let's begin today by taking a step back, and reminding ourselves of the big picture of Revelation, starting in chapter 5. We need to somehow keep at least three chapters together in our mind, for today's passage to make sense. In Revelation 5, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, suddenly appears in ...read more
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10. 9 Marks Of The Demonic (Revelation 9:1-11, 20-21)
Contributed on Jun 4, 2023
A second look at the 5th trumpet-- the demonic, trans locust horde, released to harm people, and bring them to their senses. Despite this, people still serve demons. By themselves, God's judgments don't do what's needed.
Last week, we worked our way through Revelation 8 and 9, covering six of the seven trumpets. I tried to give you the big picture, and cover a lot of ground. But if I'm honest, I did so as a coward. At one critical point, I got nervous, and decided to teach it in a way that wouldn't be ...read more
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11. People Aren't Hopelessly Wicked: John Is Recommissioned, As Prophet To All People (Rev. 10:1-11)
Contributed on Jun 12, 2023
God's judgments don't stand alone, or work alone. He commissions John, and then the 2 witnesses, to testify about Jesus. People turn, when we obey our commission.
This morning, we have the privilege of working our way through Revelation 10. This is a great chapter. I really enjoyed studying it, and wrestling with it. But it caused me all kinds of fits, because it's a chapter that can't be understood by itself. Until you hear the OT echoes, and ...read more
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12. We, The Church, Are The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:1-19)
Contributed on Jun 18, 2023
Here, the church joins John in giving clear testimony about Jesus. We have a ministry that combines power, with suffering. Through this combo, the world turns, fears God, and gives Him glory. A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation.
This week, we have the privilege of working our way through Revelation 11. This is a rich, complex chapter. It's also a chapter where there's a lot of debate about how to read it. A friend of mine has a study Bible, and his notes told him that the chapter should be read literally. But ...read more
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13. Why Satan Hates A Good-Looking Woman (Revelation 12:1-17)
Contributed on Jun 30, 2023
Satan is a four-time loser, and he takes out his frustration on the church. The church lives in the wilderness, like Hagar, until Jesus returns.
Today, we have the privilege of working through Revelation 12. This chapter is going to have a different feel, than much of what we've read so far. We've gotten used to working with symbols, and images, and not taking things literally. And that hasn't changed. But what's ...read more
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14. Our Fight With Satan's Minion, Beast #1 (Revelation 13:1-10)
Contributed on Jul 17, 2023
Satan responds to his losses, by summoning Beast #1 from the sea. Beast #1 =Human power structures, used to attack Christians and deceive people into giving allegiance to the Beast, rather than Jesus.
Today, we begin working our way through Revelation 13. We will cover roughly half today, and the other half next week. Many Christians today find chapter 13 to be one of the most interesting, and thought-provoking, parts of the entire book of Revelation. We will hear about two beasts, summoned ...read more
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15. Satan's Minion: Beast #2 (Revelation 13:11-18)
Contributed on Aug 24, 2023
Beast #2 is designed to persuade people to be patriotic. 1st century, through the imperial cult. Today? Perhaps through mainstream media, and school systems. A no-rapture reading of Revelation.
It's quite possible this morning that I may offend some of you this morning. I'm a little nervous, to be honest. So I just want to say, up front, that I don't take any particular delight in anything I'm saying today. All I'm trying to do, is be faithful to the message of ...read more
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16. Give God What He's Paid For (Revelation 14:1-5)
Contributed on Sep 3, 2023
Is the cost of following Jesus worth it? An encouragement, to be steadfast in the face of persecution. And a call, to live unblemished lives, so we end up with Jesus in Mount Zion.
Over the past few weeks, as we've worked our way through Revelation 11-13 in particular, we've seen one theme repeated over and over: God's people will suffer. People who are have been purchased by blood of Jesus, who follow Jesus faithfully, will pay for that faithfulness in lots of ...read more
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17. Can You Live However You Want, And Still End Up With Jesus? (Revelation 14:6-20)
Contributed on Sep 13, 2023
Ch. 14 gives three pictures, rooted in OT thought, of what God's wrath is like. All are (arguably) symbolic, but all are something to be avoided. An encouragement to be faithful, and endure suffering.
Can you live however you want, once saved? (Revelation 14:1-20) One of the main themes in the book of Revelation that we've seen, especially in the last few weeks, is that the church will suffer on earth. Revelation has described this suffering using a number of different images, and symbols. ...read more
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18. Use Your God-Given Time Well (Revelation 15:1-8; 16:1-21)
Contributed on Sep 24, 2023
God uses the bowls to seek repentance from people, right now, and for the past 2000 years. This is everyone' chance to look up, acknowledge God, and turn to him. A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation.
Today's going to be a bit of an odd sermon. I'm going to spend most of my time giving us a framework for reading a pretty big chunk of scripture. Basically, I'm going to try to give you a pair of glasses, so that you read it in a particular way, seeing the main points it makes. But ...read more
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19. Don't Drink With The Prostitute (Revelation 17:1-18)
Contributed on Oct 1, 2023
A call to avoid compromising with the world for the sake of power, pleasure, or wealth. A no rapture, practical reading of Revelation.
Many of us, at one point or another, have found ourselves desiring a different kind of life. A better life, with nicer stuff. A life with "more." This desire for more tends to run in four directions: (1) Power/fame. At times, we get tired of having no voice, no say, no authority. We ...read more
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20. When Babylons Fall, Cry, Or Celebrate? (Revelation 18:1-19)
Contributed on Oct 11, 2023
A practical, no-rapture, academically rigorous approach to Revelation. A call to rejoice, and to "come out" from every Babylon.
Last week, in Revelation 17, we read in depth about two main characters: the Beast, and Babylon. We've seen repeatedly that the Beast is a symbol for evil human empires. Satan takes ordinary nations, and makes them extraordinary by giving them his power, and authority, and throne. But as ...read more
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21. An Invitation To An Unforgettable Meal (Revelation 19:1-21)
Contributed on Oct 22, 2023
A practical, no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation.
Last week, in Revelation 18, we read about the vision John saw of a future, when Babylon has been destroyed by God. No matter how secure she looks, and powerful, the truth is that she cannot stand against God. Revelation 18 told us there were many reasons why God judged her: her boastful speech ...read more
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22. We Will Reign With Christ (A Really Long Time) [revelation 20:1-10]
Contributed on Nov 2, 2023
A practical, no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation.
Today, we have the privilege of studying a passage, Revelation 20, that's been sharply debated by Christians for at least 1700 years. It's been understood, and applied, in shockingly different ways. I'm guessing that those of you who lean nerd, and are really into end times stuff, ...read more
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23. God's Fresh Start (Revelation 21:1-8)
Contributed on Nov 15, 2023
A practical, no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation. One day heaven and earth will be merged, and God will fully, entirely, dwell with his people.
At one point or another, most of us have felt the need for a fresh start in life. One Friday night, we finished our work, and looked at our paycheck, and decided that it wasn't worth it. We were tired of difficult bosses, or rude customers, or just the work itself. We looked at our job, and ...read more
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24. In The New Jerusalem, You're Either In Or Out (Rev. 21:6-22:21)
Contributed on Nov 21, 2023
The new Jerusalem is both a place we enter, and the church itself. The new Jerusalem=the bride=the church. The focus is on living faithfully-- conquering-- so that we are allowed in.
I'd like to start this morning by simply rereading our verses from last week, Revelation 21:1-8. They start, with what John "sees": (1) and I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth departed, and the sea wasn't in it any longer, (2) and the ...read more