Why Revelation Series

Prelude

With all the things that have happened in the past few months and the fact that we are approaching a new year, I believe that there is an urgent need to look into the Book of Revelation.

You might ask why Study Revelation? Within the words of this last book of the Bible there is a message for all of us today. A profound message that has an impact on each and every person’s future.

It is a message that declares and confirms to us that it is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing to those that listen, read, and study it.

The Book of Revelation is shied away from, ignored, and misinterpreted.

It is not the Book of Revelations, as some say, teach or preach, but the Book of Revelation.

The word Revelation means the unveiling of, thus being the unveiling of Jesus Christ or the uncovering of Jesus Christ.

There are not several unveilings of Jesus Christ, only one unveiling.

The book of Revelation is an amazing book, a book that can capture ones imagination and yet it is a complex book.

It is a book of mystery, wonder, excitement, drama, and horror.

The book of Revelation along with rest of the Bible gives us a step-by-step account of all the events that has happened, that is happening, and is going to happen.

It cannot be interpreted one its own but must be interpreted using the whole Bible. There are 845 verses not including Revelation concerning end times and 10,854 verses that explain these verses.

Is about the past, present, future and everlasting; Write the things, which thou hast seen, and the things, which are, and the things, which shall be hereafter; Revelation 1:19 (KJV)

Scripture

Please stand and honor God’s written Word as we read from Revelation 1:1-3.

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:1-3 (KJV)

Introduction

Hang on to those words I just said concerning Revelation and as we start out the new year we will go on an exciting adventure as we walk through the pages of the book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelation has been misunderstood, misrepresented, and misinterpreted by many, it has been avoided because many seem to believe that it cannot be understood and that reading it, studying and preaching from it will only lead to confusion.

That is sad, because anyone who takes the time to study the Revelation will soon discover that it is not hard to comprehend.

The fact is that it is only be unclear to the unbeliever, And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Luke 8:10 (KJV)

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)

A Christian that is lead by the Holy Spirit will soon discover that Jesus Christ is more clearly revealed than He is anywhere else in the Word of God.

This is not a book to be avoided, but a book to embrace, read, and study.

John wrote Revelation at the end of the Emperor Domitian’s reign, between 81-96 AD.

John refused to worship the Roman Emperor (which was the custom of his day).

Just refusing to worship Domitian and add the fact that he helped convert the Emperor's wife to Christianity, led to his exile on the Isle of Patmos.

Everything that we touch, smell, hear, or feel will come to and end, but the spoken word of God will never change of come to and end. God’s spoken word endures though out eternity.

Scriptures tells us what God has spoken does not change.

The Word of God is forever and ever, heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of God shall never pass away. Psalms 119:89; Matthew 24:35 (MB)

So if God’s spoken word is so powerful and eternal, then how does one understand what God has spoken?

We can be assured that God has promised us in Revelation says; “to show his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.”

“To show” means by word pictures, by symbols, by direct and indirect representations.