REVELATION 2012
INTRO TO TOPIC: Is this the end of the world as we know it?
Discuss Y2K (2000), last year’s prediction that Jesus was coming back, and the fervor surrounding 2012. There’s a lot of confusion around this topic!
• Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matt. 24:36).
• No one knows the day or the hour of Jesus’ return, but we can recognize the season:
OPENING TEXT:
“1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thess. 5:1-6).
• As Christians, Jesus said that we would recognize the season of His soon coming!
REVELATION CHAPTER ONE:
IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS:
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place.
• “Revelation” = the Greek word apokalypsis = an uncovering of a truth, revealing Jesus!
• It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, not the Riddle of Jesus Christ!
• The first five words of the first verse tell us who Revelation is all about: JESUS.
o It’s not about the devil, the beast, or the antichrist.
o Like the other 65 books of the Bible, it is about Jesus!
o If you forget this, you’ll end up being a weird person. “Don’t use the barcodes…”
1b And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
• The Revelation is ‘signified’ – in other words, signs = prophetic symbols.
• Jesus gave this to an angel to give to John. John didn’t make this up while smoking weed!
THE BLESSING:
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
• There is a blessing to those who will read, hear and OBEY this prophecy. Read this book!
A REVELATION OF GOD:
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace…
• v.4a: Revelation is about grace and PEACE, not wrath, gloom, despair and agony!
4b 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 from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
• The Bible is designed to teach us something about the NATURE of God.
• v.4b: Here we see a picture of the Trinity:
o The Eternal Father, Perfect Holy Spirit (seven = perfection), and the Faithful Son.
• v.5: We also learn some things about Jesus, too:
o Jesus is the one who loved us and washed us from our sins.
A REVELATION OF GOD’S CHILDREN:
5b To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father,
• the Bible also teaches us something about who we are in Christ:
o We are LOVED by God, FORGIVEN, and we are KINGS and PRIESTS
o Kings = royal authority (children of God) and Priests = access to God
MAIN THEME IN REVELATION #1 = WORSHIP:
6b to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
• one of the main themes of Revelation = WORSHIP. Why do we worship Him?
• Because of His grace – because He loves us and rescued us from our sins!
MAIN THEME IN REVELATION #2 = THE SECOND COMING:
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
• v.7: Another main theme in Revelation = the SECOND COMING of Jesus.
• There’s a lot of debate about how it will take place but the important thing = get ready!
BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHOR:
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Background info: The Beloved Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation.
o John also wrote: The Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John & 3 John
• Location: The Island of Patmos, where John was exiled.
• John was the only faithful disciple not martyred
• Three more themes in Revelation = TRIBULATION, KINGDOM & PATIENCE.
THE VISION OF JESUS:
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
• Background to receiving the revelation = John was “in the Spirit”
• It is often when we are ‘in the Spirit’ (in worship, prayer, etc.) when we receive prophetic revelation in our lives, too.
Colours and numbers in Revelation are symbolic and prophetic:
v.13 - golden band = ROYALTY
v.14 - hair white like wool = AUTHORITY & DIGNITY
- eyes like a flame of fire = WISDOM
v.15 - feet like refined brass = JUDGMENT
- voice like many waters = POWER
v.16 - seven stars in hand = see v.20 below…
- sharp two-edged sword = THE WORD
- face like the sun = GLORY
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
• Jesus encourages John with the words, “Do not be afraid!” As we are discussing the end times, we don’t have to be afraid. God’s Word is designed to comfort us!
• More revelation about Jesus here: First & Last, died on the Cross, raised from the dead…
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
In many places in Revelation, the prophetic symbols are interpreted for us:
• The Seven Stars = the ANGELS of the seven churches
• The Seven Lampstands = the seven CHURCHES
• Jesus is found in the midst of His church – church is very important to Jesus!
• Note – the word angel comes from the Greek word angelos which simply means messenger. Some believe the ‘angel’ of the church refers to the PASTOR.
CHALLENGE: Read through the entire book of Revelation on your own this month.
CLOSING BENEDICTION:
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23).
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
