Crucial Takeaways From The Book Of Revelation

There is no shortage of material covering the book of Revelation. Countless commentaries and sermons have been written on the book. Its message of prophetic warning and promised redemption has been proclaimed in pulpits, on the streets, in villages, and in countries whose cultures are wrapped in anonymity and mystery. Faithful men of God have taken the Gospel and the promise of Christ's return to hungry hearts and desperate souls over the course of the centuries, bearing good fruit and reaping harvests in places that had been inhabited by the vile figures of pagan idolatry and the dark arts. The Spirit-breathed Word of God (John 17:17; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21) has not lost its ability to reach the hardest of hearts, and in doing so, change the course of nations and individual objectives. The late Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer (1912-1984) wrote a book entitled, "He is There and He Is Not Silent", explaining that God is at work in the world, drawing people to Himself (John 6:44), using committed brethren to carry on the work of the Gospel and that the Word of God is never silent when it comes to dealing with issues and concerns that people find themselves dealing with every day. We need to take the time to stop and hear what God has to say in His Word and the work of Christ's true church to be assured that He has all things under His control (Colossians 1:16-18). The modern church has dropped the ball in presenting this message to a world growing more anxious by the day with seemingly nowhere to turn for answers. We get caught up in the worries and weariness just as much as the world, which is something Jesus warned us about in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34).

We have at our disposal treasures of knowledge and inspiration from the pens and minds of Bible teachers such as David Jeremiah, Billy Crone, L.A. Marzulli, John MacArthur, W.A. Criswell, John Walvoord, Charles Swindoll, Donald G. Barnhouse, R.C. Sproul and others, yet for the most part, their material tends to be unused and unread. Christian, in these final days before HIs return, we need to get off our "blessed assurances" and examine our walk with Him to see if we are the real thing or playing some kind of game where we look holy on the outside but are no better than the garden variety pagan next door (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus is coming back at a time in which He will not be expected. You can say, "Well, that applies to the unconverted world." No, it applies to all of us. This is why it is so important to give a reason to the world why we follow Jesus in the first place. All of what I have written falls in line with what will likely be my last series of sermons covering the book of Revelation. I want to wrap up the teachings I have presented by pointing out that Revelation is not strictly prophecy. It is a call to both the unsaved and the redeemed to get right with God, because there will be a day when all the preparations that we were planning to make will come to naught. Revelation is a warning to everyone, believer or not, that God means what he says and is not going to tolerate what is happening much longer.

Aside from describing the brutal and horrifying times that will come upon the world for its defiance against the LORD and the fact that Jesus is returning to make all things new, Revelation has other points worth noting. I pray that you will take them to heart and that you will use them as the LORD leads.

1) Revelation is the final look at what happens when a nation and a world rejects God and witnesses the consequences of such a foolish and dangerous decision.

2) Revelation is a record of the futile attempts by humanity to justify unbelief.

3) Revelation is a record of the rotten harvest of defiance and what happens when the world gets its wish of forsaking God for the drivel of human "wisdom" (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).

4) Revelation shows the results of man-centered thinking and actions. It comes to nothing.

5) Revelation is the FINAL call from a Holy and Loving God to humanity (Ezekiel 18:23,31-32; Matthew 11:28-30) to come to Him for salvation before Jesus returns to judge the world (Matthew 25; Revelation 20).

6) Revelation carries the theme of repentance and renewal as much as it does prophecy and warnings to flee from the wrath to come.

7) Revelation shows how God allows evil to take its course, but in the end comes to an end and will be judged once and for all. This current world is not all there is, and God, in His mercy, will not let it continue in such a manner (2 Peter 3:1-13).