REVELATION 2012: #9 – AN EAGLE’S EYE OVERVIEW OF REVELATION
THE BIG IDEA:
We have journeyed through Revelation. Today, we conclude this topic by giving you an eagle’s eye overview of the entire book of Revelation, which is all about Jesus.
1. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
i. “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.” (1:3). There is a blessing to those who read and obey Revelation.
2. JESUS IS IN HIS CHURCHES
i. “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (2:4). Christianity is first of all about a personal relationship with Jesus.
3. JESUS SPEAKS TO HIS CHURCHES
i. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (3:20). Jesus passionately seeks a personal relationship with you!
4. GOD OUR POWERFUL CREATOR ENTHRONED
i. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (4:11). One of the main themes of Revelation is WORSHIP.
5. JESUS IS OUR LOVING REDEEMER
i. “saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (5:12). Jesus is the one who died on the Cross for our sins.
6. JESUS OPENS THE SEVEN SEALS
i. “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (6:17). Today, we’re living in grace, but one day Jesus will come as judge.
7. JESUS WILL SAVE COUNTLESS MULTITUDES
i. “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.” (7:15). One day, the multitude will worship Jesus before His throne.
8. JESUS OUR GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS
i. “And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.” (8:4). God answers prayer!
9. SEVEN TRUMPETS OF GOD’S WRATH
i. “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols…” (9:20). Even on this day, sinful mankind does not repent.
10. THE ANGEL AND THE BOOK
i. “Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.” (10:10). God’s Word promises blessings to believers but judgment and wrath to those who reject Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
11. THE TWO WITNESSES OF JESUS
i. “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"” (11:15). Right now we are witnesses for Jesus on the Earth. He is King forever!
12. ISRAEL, JESUS AND THE DEVIL
i. “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” (12:5). The devil tried to kill Jesus but couldn’t, so now he persecutes the church.
13. TWO BEASTS AND THE MARK
The Sea Beast: “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” (Revelation 13:1).
• The Sea Beast = worldly political powers that persecute the church (v.7); ‘antichrist’.
The Land Beast: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.” (Rev. 13:11).
• The Land Beast = the false religions and philosophies of the world.
• This beast is also called the ‘false prophet’ (see Revelation 19:20).
• Parallel passage: “Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” (Matt. 24:11).
• The Bible says there will be MANY antichrists as well: “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18).
• These two beasts together represent all political and religious persecution of the church.
The Mark of the Beast: “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Rev. 13:16-17).
• The ‘mark’ is not a microchip or something that a believer might ‘take’ accidentally.
• See Revelation 14:9-10: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God…”
• NOTE: The mark is always linked to WORSHIP of the BEAST.
What then is this mark? NOT an actual physical mark – it is worship of the beast:
• HAND – with your actions (what you do); FOREHEADS – (mind, emotions and will)
14. JESUS AND THE LAST HARVEST
The 144,000: “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.” (Rev. 14:1). This is not the actual number of people going to Heaven (JW’s false teaching).
• 144,000 = 12 x 12 x 1,000 = the complete number of all of God’s people.
“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.” (Rev. 14:14).
• Jesus is getting ready to harvest the earth. The wheat harvest (God’s people) taken to Heaven (v.15-17) and the grapes of wrath = unbelievers punished (v.18-20).
15. SINGING THE SONG OF MOSES
“They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!” (15:3). A song of deliverance, reminding us of the Exodus from Egypt.
• Revelation is God’s final deliverance of His people from the wicked Earth.
16. THE SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” (16:1).
• One day soon, God is going to judge all wickedness on the Earth.
17. THE JUDGMENT OF GREAT BABYLON
“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.” (Rev. 17:1).
• The city of Babylon represents the evil world system, just like the city of New Jerusalem represents the people of God (Rev. 21).
18. “COME OUT OF THE WORLD!”
“And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons… And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:2a,4).
• God is calling His people to come out of the wicked world system.
19. THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS
“Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Rev. 19:6-7).
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” (Rev. 19:11-13).
• The first time Jesus came as Lamb; now He’s coming as Lion!
20. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
“10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:11-16).
21. THE NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4).
• A glimpse of the Heaven that awaits the people of God.
22. JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev. 22:7).
• Jesus is coming back soon – are you ready?
CLOSING CHALLENGE: Have you made your peace with God? Are you ready for Heaven?
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
