APPROACHING REVELATION-II—Revelation 1:1-3
Need:
We are frightened of studying the book of Revelation
Its symbolism confuses us.
We cannot be dogmatic about some portions of it.
We are uncomfortable about uncertianties because they make us feel a sense of separation from God.
We feel as if it is not meant for us to understand....That we can lead perfectly healthy Christian lives apart from those things which are unveiled in this prophecy.
But that would be to deny its opening verses & thus all that follows.
Revelation must be approached in a specific manner or rather with a particular attitude.
The proper attitude toward the book of Revelation determined its value for its recipients.
A particular attitude toward the book of Revelation is necessary to discovering its worth.
What attitudes should govern a practical approach to the book of Revelation?
4 attitudes governing a practical approach to the book of Revelation are...
1. Anticipation(:1a-b)
2. Thankfulness(:1b)
3. Timeliness/Urgency(1c)
4. Communication(:1-2)
5—This revelation must be approached with an attitude of
KNOWLEDGE(:2) Trust
—Explanation:(:2)
“...to His bond-servant John, who bore witness to the word of God & to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.”
“Bond-servant”—
“Bore witness”—
“The word of God”—
“Testimony”—
“All that he saw”—
—Argumentation:
Php. 3:8-11—“More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, & may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, & the power of His resurrection & the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Col. 4:6—“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”
1Tim. 3:15—“but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar & support of the truth.”
Col 2:1-3—“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, & for those who are at Laodicea, & for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, & attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge.”
Eph. 1:15-19—“For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, & your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom & of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, & what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”
—Illustration:
Landscaping/Knowledge of needs(sun, soil, fertilizer, water), growth habits(height, width, depth)/KNOWLEDGE
—Application:
?You Approaching Revelation with KNOWLEDGE in mind?
?You Approaching God’s Revelation with a proper Attitude?
6—This revelation must be approached with an attitude of
MATURITY/Growth(:3) Potential/Advancement
—Explanation:(:3)
“Blessed is he who reads & those who hear the words of the prophecy, & heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
—Argumentation:
Col. 3:1-3—“If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died & your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Rom. 12:2—“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good & acceptable & perfect.”
1Cor. 2:6-10—“Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.”
Heb. 6:1—“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works & of faith toward God,...”
1Cor. 14:20—“Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature.”
Eph. 4:15-16—“but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted & held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
—Illustration:
New Euro/European news reporter stated it would aid Europe’s growth beyond petty ethical differences as the United States does/European MATURITY
—Application:
?You Approaching Revelation with MATURITY/GROWTH in mind?
?You Approaching God’s Revelation with a proper Attitude?
7—This revelation must be approached with an attitude of
PREPAREDNESS(:3)
—Explanation:(:3) Entry
“...for the time is near.”
—Argumentation:
Mat. 25:13—“Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”
Lk. 12:40—“You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
Rom. 13:10-12—“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, & the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness & put on the armor of light.”
1Thess. 5:4-6—“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light & sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert & sober.”
—Illustration:
Boy Scouts/Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance— Be prepared.
College/Undeclared major/PREPAREDNESS
—Application:
?You Approaching Revelation with PREPAREDNESS/ENTRY in mind?
?You Approaching God’s Revelation with a proper Attitude?
CONCLUSION:
God’s Revelation must be approached with an attitude of...
EXPECTANT UNVEILING(:1a)
THANKFULNESS(:1b)
TIMELINESS/Urgency(1c)
COMMUNICATION(:1-2)
KNOWLEDGE(:2)
MATURITY/Growth(:3)
PREPAREDNESS/Entry(:3)
Presented 01/06/02pm to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 31797
