Introduction:
Many get caught up in the details of Revelation and ask questions like:
Who are the Nicolaitans mentioned in Revelation 2:6, 14-15? Who are the four living creatures in Revelation? What is the sea of glass mentioned in Revelation 4:6 and 15:2? Who are the twenty-four (24) elders in Revelation? Who or what is Abaddon/Apollyon? What is the prophecy of 1,260 days in Revelation?
What about the rapture? What is the Great Tribulation? What is the meaning of wormwood in Revelation? What is the mark of the beast (666)? Who are the two witnesses in the book of Revelation? Who are the 144,000? What is the whore of Babylon / mystery Babylon? What is the abomination of desolation? What is the battle of Armageddon? What are Gog and Magog? Did Jesus have a tattoo (Revelation 19:16)? Why is God going to release Satan after the 1000 years? Will there literally be streets of gold in heaven?
So many questions that we miss the main message of Revelation. Many books of the Bible contain a verse(s) that help us unlock the main meaning of the book. Revelation does not disappoint in this regard. Read Revelation 1:9-10
We find here 5 key ideas being developed by John in the Revelation.
Suffering 2) Kingdom 3) Patient endurance 4) Word of God and the testimony of Jesus 5) The Lord’s, specifically the Lord’s Day, the Lord’s Spirit, and the Lord’s Voice
We have 5 Wednesday nights until Dr. Cottrell comes and is with us. Cover these 5 themes, one each night. In April going to try something different and get more involvement, discussion.
Who wrote this? John the apostle. Some debate about this a few hundred years after the writing of Revelation and this debate goes through today. However, 2,000 year old tradition that John the apostle gave us Revelation should not be abandoned until evidence is found to the contrary.
Where was this written? Island of Patmos, only thing there was a penal colony.
When was this written? Most likely date is 96 AD. This explains why John is there on Patmos. The Emperor Domitian insisted that everyone in the empire address his as “Lord and God.” Those who spoke these words about Domitian were free, those who said that Jesus is Lord and God were punished. 40,000 Christians were martyred during Domitian s reign and many more were exiled to places like Patmos.
The style is symbolic apocalypse. This is a symbolic form of literature depicting the struggle between good and evil, with a climactic victory for the good.
Why is this written? To trace the progress of the church from the beginning of the mission to the end of time. The Lord will be with his church throughout the struggles and opposition. I’ve read the back of the book and we win.
Tonight we talk about the word of God and the testimony of Jesus
Thesis: More specifically we talk about God’s world, God’s word and God’s workers
For instances:
God’s world- have someone read Revelation 7:9
A. Tribes
Tribe is found 31 times in NT, 21 in Revelation. This refers to family or blood relatedness.
Revelation 7:4-8 introduces us to the 144,000 God has sealed from among the 12 tribes. 12 tribes in OT. Meet these tribes in Revelation 7 and 14.
Read Revelation 7:4. This number- 144,000- is obtained by squaring the number 12 and multiplying by the cube of 10. This number, said to be “sealed” in chapter 7 are shown to be “redeemed from the earth” in chapter 14. Have someone read Revelation 14:3-4. Also termed as firstfruits.
The Jewish farmer in OT would begin his harvest with a swath from some corner of his field. This he would bind together and wave the sheaf before the Lord as the offering of firstfruits. That cutting from the field was not the total harvest, but only the first swath. What is being said is that already the world harvest of souls has begun and the 144,000 are the first swath.
B. Nations
Nations is the world that is the source of our own word ethnic. It is also used in the Great Commission. The “ethnics” are to be discipled. People who live together sharing common customs, who constitute a unity through massing together.
Revelation 21:24- Christ’s coming not only made possible the blotting out of sin, it made necessary the blotting out of tribal and national pride. God’s gift of salvation is open for all nationalities.
C. Languages
We find at Pentecost the barrier of languages was overcome. The apostles were proclaiming the wonders of God in every ones own language, tongue.
Modern missionaries find it essential to study to acquire the language and dialect of the people to whom they go. Since people congregate in common language groups, God’s Word must be translated from the Hebrew and Greek into words humans can understand.
D. People- This is referring to humans of a common race or stock. The church is meant to be international, intercultural and multilingual. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight.
God’s Word
The world God wants is the entire world. The word he desires them to hear is the whole gospel. Both of these are affirmed in Revelation. In the early part of Revelation (1:16) and toward the end (19:15), Jesus is pictured as what in his mouth? Have someone read Revelation 19:13-15.
We can understand this imagery as meaning that when the church follows Christ into the world to win it for Him, the words from their lips, backed up with the holiness of their lives, will win the battle.
A. OT and NT- “His servants the prophets”- Revelation 10:7 are met 8 times in Revelation. Since in all but 14 of the 143 times prophets are mentioned in the NT the reference is speaking of the OT prophets, it can be assumed that some many of the references in Revelation are talking about OT prophets. What OT prophets said was coming, the recent apostles declared had come. “Twelve apostles of the Lamb” Revelation 21:14 were foundation stones. God’s apostles and prophets bear reliable witness to Christ. Probably these are the two witness of Christ mentioned in Revelation 11:3, apostles and the prophets.
B. Sweet and bitter- As Ezekiel before him (Ezekiel 3:1-3), John was invited to take and eat the “little scroll” received from the angel’s hand (Revelation 10:8-10). The effects of sweetness and sourness suggest the consequences that flow from God’s Word. The results are sweetness to those who accept His teaching. The results are dreadful, sourness, to those who reject His teaching. In other words, the sword is two edged. It saves and destroys. It brings redemption and judgment. It offers hope if received and hopelessness if refused- good news and bad news. Revelation proclaims the whole gospel. It paints the New Jerusalem in all its glory, where the saints enjoy the presence of their “Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.” It also describes the agony of the lake of fire for those who follow the dragon and bear the mark of the beast. The Jesus of Revelation is consistent in nature with the Jesus of the Gospels. Both grace and judgment are promised by the Lord.
C. Personal and social- Some say that Jesus is only concerned with social justice. Some say that Jesus is only concerned with personal salvation. The real Jesus calls for social justice and personal salvation. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27, NIV. Looking after orphans and widows is the right oar. Keeping “oneself from being polluted by the world” is the left oar. No progress can be made without both oars. John in Revelation makes constant reference to the Lamb’s blood that washes stained lives white. He likewise reflected God’s awareness of the world’s injustices. He was not blind to social strife, war and poverty (Revelation 6). He was not deaf to the cries of victims of murder, adultery, sorcery, and theft (Revelation 8). God knows that some governments keep people from buying and selling (Revelation 13), while His creation suffers from pollution of every kind (Revelation 16). Where has Christ’s gospel gone without contributing to improved social conditions? We find gospel by products everywhere. Clinics, hospitals, schools, and orphanages are everywhere “soldiers of the cross” have gone. Hungry people have been taught how to get more returns of food from the plots of land. Sanitary practices have led to longer and more fulfilling lives. Best of all, those learning that they are children of God can accept any kind of bondage by cruel dictators or inhumane land owners because they know these conditions are only temporary. In Christ, they are eternally free.
God’s Workers
Pay attention to the six symbols that picture the church from God’s viewpoint in Revelation
1. Martyr- In Revelation 1:1-2 we meet a martyr. This Greek word has been translated as “witness”. By verse 5 of Revelation 1, Jesus is described as, read it. Later in Revelation 6:9, we see this, read it. Originally this Greek word only meant witness, but since so many of Christ’s witnesses were put to death, the word has come to imply dying for one’s convictions. Apostles like John were witnesses unto death.
2. Angel- This means a “messenger.” In some of the 76 instances of its use in Revelation, the reference is to Heavenly beings. These “ministering spirits” the Hebrews’ author defines as creatures “sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). But the “angel” referred to in association with the individual congregations in Asia Minor (Revelation 2-3) was the preacher in each case. God brought the letters to the appropriate messenger who would read them to the gathered congregation.
3. Minister- This is the generic term for priest. Revelation 1:6 informs us that Christ has made us “priests to serve His God and Father.” This term is common today to emphasize the Biblical teaching of the priesthood of believers. The Latin word for priest is pontus. Roman Catholics refer to their pope as the Pontifex Maximus, meaning the big bridge. Biblically speaking, every Christian is a bridge. Do we see ourselves as bridge builders? Not simply to enjoy the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ, but to build bridges over which the world’s present unbelievers may come to their Savior
4. Mainstay- Through Christ’s eyes, His disciples are martyrs or witnesses, messengers or angels, ministers of priests, and mainstays or supporters of the truth. Churches are God’s lampstands or candlesticks (Revelation 1:12,20). Their God given purpose is to uphold the light or the gospel truth. The emphasis is that the congregations exist in communities where darkness abounds. Sin, despair, and ignorance can only be removed by the light. It is encouraging to note that John saw Jesus walking “among the lampstands” (Revelation 1:13). As long as His churches are at the task of spreading the gospel, as He assigned, He is with them, as promised (Matthew 28:20). One of the greatest of all NT passages is 1 Timothy 3:15-16. The church is not so much the light as people upholding the light. John called each congregation a lampstand. “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:15, NIV.
5. Militant- The army dressed in white following the one called the Word of God was brought to victory by the sword of His mouth (Revelation 19:11-16). Jesus, in his earthly ministry, foresaw the future church aggressively entering Satan’s domain to set its captives free. He promised that “the gates of Hades will not overcome” that marching body (Matthew 16:18). Truth is stronger than error. God’s army will see the rout of evil. Revelation 11:15
6. Mother- As we look at the glorious woman portrayed in Revelation 12, we ask, who is she? I lean toward the church, the Bride of Christ, who brings convert after convert into the world. She is said to have, Revelation 12:17. If we follow this thinking, the church’s “crown of 12 stars” reminds us that she was first led by the 12 apostles. The “moon” is “under her feet,” for she is overcoming the realm of darkness. She is the Lord’s chosen entity to bring new life into the world. That is her mission.
The church needs to be interested in “word of God and the testimony of Jesus” Revelation 1:9
