JUDE & REVELATION
Sermon 12
Introduction: In the previous lesson we studied the Epistles of Peter and John. This lesson will begin with Jude, the book to expose Apostasy. We will conclude this lesson and this study with the Revelation. The Revelation is the Book of Final Consummation.
JUDE
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: Jude, or Judas, the full brother of James, and a half brother of the Lord Jesus Christ
B. Date: 67 A.D.
C. Purpose: This is the epistle for the day in which we are living. It is a warning of false teachers that will come in
the last days.
D. Key Verse: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for
me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered
unto the saints.” Jude 3
E. The Epistle of Jude is complementary to II Peter, as they warn of the same thing.
1. Jude begins his epistle, as do all of the other New Testament writers, by placing his name at the beginning.
2. He along with his brother James, did not believe their half brother, the Lord Jesus Christ, was the Messiah
until after His Resurrection.
3. The Resurrection made all the difference in the world, for here we see that he is a true believer in the Lord.
4. He does not claim the kinship to the Lord Jesus, but rather states that he is a bond slave to him.
5. He writes to all believers, declaring that they are sanctified, preserved and called.
6. He writes to tell the believers to hold fast to the Word of God no matter what Satan brings against them.
REVELATION
I. SURVEY
A. Writer:
B. Date: Between 96 and 100 A.D.
C. Place: The Isle of Patmos
D. Purpose: It is not the revelation of John, but it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Its purpose, therefore is to
reveal the Lord Jesus to all men. It’s purpose is also to make known to us what shall be the end or
consummation of all of God’s redemptive purposes.
E. Key Verse: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter.” Rev. 1:19
F. Key Thought: The entire Book of Revelation is a commentary upon Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with
clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindred of the earth shall wail
because of him. Even so, Amen.”
G. The Book of Revelation is a great blessing to the believer’s today, but it will also be needed greatly by the
believers during the Tribulation period.
H. There is an Interesting comparison between the first book of the Bible and the Last Book of the Bible.
GENESIS REVELATION
Creation of the Sun No Need of the Sun
Satan’s Victory Satan’s Defeat
Sin’s Entrance Sin Exit
Man Left God Invited Back
Curse Pronounced No More Curse
Tears and Sorrow “And God shall wipe away all Tears
Garden Cursed City Glorified
Tree of Life Forbidden Tree of Life Eaten
Paradise Lost Paradise Regained
Death Enters No More Death
Work and Sweat on Man’s Brow Eternal Rest
I. The “Sevens” of the Book of Revelation
1. The Seven Churches in Asia - 1:4, 11
2. The Seven Spirits - 1:4
3. The Seven Golden Candlesticks - 1:12, 20
4. The Seven Stars (Angels) - 1:16,20
5. The Seven Church Letters - 2:1-3:22
6. The Seven Lamps - 4:5
7. The Seven Seals - 5:1; 6:1-8:1
8. The Seven Horns - 5:6
9. The Seven Eyes - 5:6
10. The Seven Trumpets - 8:2-11:9
11. The Seven Thunders - 10:3-4
12. The Seven Thousand Slain - 11:13
13. The Seven Heads - 12:3
14. The Seven Crowns - 12:3
15. The Seven Angels - 15:1
16. The Seven Plagues (vials) of God’s Wrath - 15:1-16:21
17. The Seven Mountains - 17:9
18. The Seven Kings - 17:10
19. The Seven “Beatitudes” -
a. Blessed are those who read this prophecy: 1:3
b. Blessed are those who die in the Lord: 14:3
c. Blessed are those who watch for Christ’s coming: 16:15
d. Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper: 19:9
e. Blessed are those in the first resurrection: 20:6
f. Blessed are those who keep the words of this book: 22:7
g. Blessed are those who wash their robes: 22:14
20. The Seven Personages
a. The Woman, Israel - 12:1-2
b. Great Red Dragon, Satan - 12:3, 4, 9
c. The Man Child, Christ - 12:5-6
d. The Anchangel, Michael - 12:7
e. Israel’s Remnant - 12:17
f. The Beast out of the Sea - 13:1-8
g. The Beast out of the Earth - 13:11-18
21. The Seven Judgements
a. Religious Babylon - 17
b. Political Babylon - 18
c. The Beast and False Prophet - 19:20
d. Godless Nations - 19:21
e. Gog and Magog - 20:7-9
f. Satan - 20:10
g. The Wicked Dead - 20:11-15
22. The Seven “New” Things
a. New Heavens - 21:1
b. New Earth - 21:1
c. New City - 21:9-23
d. New Beginning of Nations - 21:24-27
e. New River - 22:1
f. New Tree - 22:2
g. New Throne - 22:3-5
II. OUTLINE - The Book of Revelation has to do with time. Time is made up of Past, Present and Future. With that in mind I present this outline.
A. Revelation of the Past - Chapter 1
1. vs. 19 “the things which thou hast seen.”
2. Vs. 1 states that this great book is the unveiling of the Lord Jesus Christ, as to his coming and his reign.
3. John had already seen him and bore record of him in the past. - vs. 3
4. He came the first time to pay the price and he will return the second to claim what is rightfully his.
5. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in likemanner as ye have seen him
go into Heaven.” Acts 1:11
B. Realizing the Present - Chapters 2 & 3
1. The Setting behind the Seven Churches - Archaeologists have unearthed much of importance to give a
background knowledge of events and customs of these ancient cities in Asia Minor (presently Turkey)
a. Ephesus - 2:1-7 - When Paul visited Ephesus in A.D. 55, it was a thriving, progressive city. Forty years
later when John wrote this message, the inhabitants were resting on past laurels. They had lost their zeal.
The saints in Ephesus had once been energetic and alive just as the city. They were still sound in doctrine
but had left their first love. John used this condition of the city to drive home his spiritual application.
b. Smyrna - 2:8-11 - According to mythology, Amazon Smyrna, the foundress of Smyrna, wore a high crown on her head. Ancient writers refer to this city as the “Crown of Smyrna.” In John’s day, the followers of the goddess Cybele wore a laurel wreath (crown), and were faithful to Rome and its paganism. Followers of Christ were severely persecuted because they did wear such a crown. John’s word of Admonition “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” must have carried a tremendous meaning to the suffering Christians. Polycarp, a disciple of John, was martyred in Smyrna in
A.D. 155. Faithful to the end after being asked to recant his faith in Christ, he died saying: “Eighty and
six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me!!!”
c. Pergamos - 2:12-17 - The city was a religious “seat” for several cults. Most notably was “Emperor worship” and “Asklepios (the god of healing).” The Temple of Zeus was also in Pergamos, which housed the room “Where Satan’s seat is.” In such an atmosphere, John encouraged Christians to remain
true to Christ, to reveal in their lives, not religion, but what “true” salvation is all about.
d. Thyatira - 2:18-29 - The incarnated son of Zeus, Apollos, the sun God, was the cheif deity and guardian
of this city. In all his brightness, has was no comparison to Christ, the “incarnate Son of God, who hath
eyes like a flame, and feet like fine copper” vs. 18. John’s message to believers in Thyatira was to keep their eyes on the One who kept his eyes on them.
e. Sardis - 3:1-6 - This city, supposedly impregnable, had failed to watch, and was defeated by the Persians
in 564 B.C. This incident had lived with the inhabitants. When John wrote to believers there, he
instructed them not to neglect the Lord but to watch, lest the Lord come and overtake them like a thief.
f. Philadelphia - 3:7-13 - This city was the doorway into Phrygia through which Grecian culture was to
advance eastward. John used the expression “open door” in verse 8 for the Philadelphia saints to advance
the gospel to those in the “synagogue of Satan” (Zeus’ Temple)
g. Laodicea - 3:14-21 - This city was one of the of the richest of it’s day. Financial aid was rejected when Rome sought to help after a devastating earthquake. The Laodiceans were noted for their glossy black cloth, a salve to cure weak eyes, and a medical center. The Laodicean Christians had succombed to the ways of the day and were guilty of material compromise. In a lukewarm state, they knew the meaning of “nakedness,” white raiment,” and “eye salve.” They understood that they were in spiritual poverty, that their money could not buy what their hearts needed vs. 18.
2. The Summary given by the Lord of the Seven Churches.
a. The Lord’s Commendation of the Churches
1. Ephesus - Sound Doctrinely: 2:1-6
2. Smyrna - Faithfulness: 2:8-9
3. Pergamos - Faithfulness: 2:12-13
4. Thyatira - Faithfulness: 2:18-19
5. Sardis - Faithful Few: 3:1-4
6. Philadelphia - Faithfulness: 3:7-10
7. Laodicea - None
b. The Lord’s Charge to the Churches
1. Ephesus - Left first Love: 2:4
2. Smyrna - None
3. Pergamos - Compromse: 2:14-15
4. Thyatira - False Teaches: 2:20
5. Sardis - Hypocrisy: 3:1-2
6. Philadelphia - None
7. Laodicea - Lukewarm: 3:15
c. The Lord’s Challenge to the Churches
1. Ephesus - Remember and Repent: 2:5
2. Smyrna - Continue in faithfulness: 2:10
3. Pergamos - Repent: 2:16
4. Thyatira - Hold Fast: 2:25
5. Sardis - Be Watchful and Repent: 3:2-3
6. Philadelphia - Hold Fast: 3:10-11
7. Laodicea - Repent and get right with God: 3:17-19
d. The Lord’s Condemnation of the Churches
1. Ephesus - Testimony Lost: 2:5
2. Smyrna - None
3. Pergamos - Opposed by God: 2:16
4. Thyatira - Burdens: 2:24
5. Sardis - His Sudden Appearance: 3:3
6. Philadelphia - None
7. Laodicea - Chastisement: 3:19
e. The Lord’s Compensation to the Churches
1. Ephesus - Spiritual Fruit: 2:7
2. Smyrna - Crown of Life: 2:10-11
3. Pergamos - Spiritual Food and Acceptance: 2:17
4. Thyatira - Power: 2:26-29
5. Sardis - Robe of Righteousness: 3:5
6. Philadelphia - Tower of Strength: 3:12
7. Laodicea - Position: 3:21
C. Recognizing the Prospects - Chapters 4-22
1. The Future includes the Rapture of the Church - 4:1-3
2. The Future includes the Redemption of the Church - 4:4 -5:14
3. The Future includes the Review of the Church - During the Tribulation on the Earth
4. The Future includes the Retribution on the Earth - 6:1-18:24
5. The Future includes the Reception of the Bride - 19:1-10
6. The Future includes the Revelation of Christ - 19:7-20:10
7. The Future includes the Rejection of the Lost - 20:11-15
8. The Future includes the Reign of Christ - 21:1-22:21
