Don't miss the pictures of the zoo days. The Lord willing, Creation Creature Features soon.

Review: (Gen 1-21) See the previous sermon notes on the Web -

Every warning, struggle, temptation, 
promise, strategy, and victory in the Revelation 
can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
           The choice is yours ................

The Text ("Blue Letter Bible"): Revelation
(Strong's numbers, Hebrew-Greek lexicons, cross references, etc., can be accessed from the above link)

Background:

- Written by the Apostle John, after AD 90 (the last NT book written).
- Written  (After he wrote Gospel of John, & 1st, 2nd, 3rd Epistles of John).
-  Written while John was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos.
- John was there due to persecution against him for preaching the gospel.

Introduction:

-  Genesis, the first book, begins all of history, and every doctrinal subject.
    Means you are not your own boss, or protector, or provider.  
    You're accountable to the Creator & His Purpose and Plan.

*  The genesis of a perfect creation without dysfunctional entropy.  The rebellion of Adam (Gen 3) and the subsequent escalation of "entropy" (disorder, death, & decay - dysfunctional 2nd law of thermodynamics) is the reason for imperfections as well as the selfish competition, violence, pain, suffering, fear, and death we see in the "wild kingdom" now.  *  The second law of thermodynamics was functional before Adam sinned, such as in the process of digestion, chemical processes, etc., but death and disease were not.
*  The genesis of sin, separation from God, & suffering (exponential escalation of entropy).
*  The genesis of Physical & moral/spiritual/social decay and death.
*  The genesis of God's Way of redemption/salvation begins (submissive faith in His work alone).
*  The genesis of prophecy, Gen 3:15 Seed of Woman - Savior (Messiah) . . . . 

-  The Revelation the last book ties together all of history & every doctrine, soli deo gloria!
    It's the only NT prophecy book.
    An end means that time marches toward a judgment which we cannot escape. 
    Not even a new age hope for time travel into the past, 
    or reincarnation in the can stop God's coming judgment.
- 22 chapters, 404 verses (over 250 allude to OT, yet no direct quote).
- 25% of all references to angels are found in The Revelation.

-  Apokalupsis is used 18x in the NT, and all mean "unveling", "uncovering", not obsuring.  

*  Reveals end of sin, separation, & suffering 
    All rebels will be removed from God's presence.
    Even death will be swallowed up in absolute entropy.
    J. Vernon McGee calls it "total separation" from God.
*  Reveals God's new beginning of a new Cosmos, without tears or suffering. (Rom 8; 1 Pet 3)

-  Apokalupsis in the NT is used for a person "becoming visible" (Luke 2:32; Rom 8:19; 1 Co 1:7; 1 Pe 1:7). 
-  The curtain pulls back to reveal the spiritual battle behind the virtual reality we see every day.
-  Jesus is contrasted against Lucifer the pseudo-Christ, along with their angelic warriors:

* Numerous descriptions for Jesus are listed in The Revelation.
* They reveal a lot about His Person & His Plan:

"the faithful witness" (1:5); "the firstborn of the dead" (1:5); "the ruler of the kings of the earth" (1:5); "the Alpha and the Omega" (1:8; 21:6); "the first and the last" (1:17); "the living One" (1:18); "the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands" (2:1); "the One who has the sharp two-edged sword" (2:12); "the Son of God" (2:18); the One "who has eyes like a flame of fire, and … feet … like burnished bronze" (2:18); the One "who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars" (3:1); the One "who is holy, who is true" (3:7); the holder of "the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens" (3:7); "the Amen, the faithful and true Witness" (3:14); "the Beginning of the creation of God" (3:14); "the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah" (5:5); "the Root of David" (5:5); the Lamb of God (e.g., 5:6; 6:1; 7:9–10; 8:1; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7; 21:9; 22:1); the "Lord, holy and true" (6:10); the One who "is called Faithful and True" (19:11); "The Word of God" (19:13); the "King of kings, and Lord of lords" (19:16); Christ (Messiah), ruling on earth with His glorified saints (20:6); and "Jesus … the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star" (22:16). 
(The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Revelation p. 2)

Outline of The Revelation:  Key verses = Rev 1:8 & 19

I.  Character of Christ  for His Father's Glory (Who Was) (Things You've Seen) Chapter 1
What about your character, & your family's character, & that of your church?
Can other people see Jesus' goodness, unselfishness, & humility through each one?
  A.  Introduction (1:1-8) Of Jesus to His servants (1:4 Church)  (see also 6:1 Israel)
  B.  Post-Incarnate, glorified Jesus (1:9-18)

II.  Counsel of Christ for the Church (Who Is)  (Things Which Are)  Chapters 2-3
This counsel also applies to you personally, your family, your local church, & all of "Christianity".
  A.  Command to Prophesy (1:19)
  B.  Seven Churches Counseled (1:20) ESP-TS-PL  (Praise before correction!)
  C.  Ephesus (2:1-7)                Loveless
  D.  Smyrna (2:8-11)               Persecuted
  E.  Pergamos (2:12-17)          Compromising
  F.  Thyatira (2:18-29)             Corrupt
  G.  Sardis (3:1-6)                   Dead
  H.  Philadelphia (3:7-13)        Faithful
   I.  Laodicea (3:14-22)          Lukewarm (no praise)

III.  Consequences of Christ for the Church, Israel & the World  (Chapters 4-22)
         (Who is to come again!) (Things which will happen soon!)
Are you ready for your future?  The judgment seat of Christ?
  A. Raptured Church (Jesus Rescues His Bride) in Heaven (4:1-5:14)
  B. Tribulation of Israel (Jacob's) Trouble on Earth (6:1-18:24) (Daniel's 70th Week)

1.  Seals (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:2)
2.  Trumpets (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 8:2-11:19)
3.  Players (Seven) on the Tribulation Stage (Rev 12-14)
     * These three chapters are an interlude, zooming in for a personal look at the people.
4.  Bowls (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 15-16)
5.  Babylon's Final Fall (Rev 17-18)

  C.  Christ's Wedding & War (19:1-21)
  D.  Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6)
  E.  Final Futile Rebellion (20:7-10)
  F.  Great White Throne & Second Death (20:11-15)
  G.  New Heaven & Earth Coming (21-22:15)
  H.  Jesus' Promise & Warning for YOU, your family, & your church (22:16-21)

How does all of this apply to me?

Every warning, struggle, temptation, 
promise, strategy, and victory in the Revelation 
can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
             The choice is yours ................
What do you need to change?

(The final question to ask God, whenever you study God's Word)
Lord, how am I doing on your conflict meter, for your glory?
Giving Up < < < < < < < Standing Firm > > > > > > > Blowing Up

Return to related articles from "The Bible:  One Bite at a Time" -

Biblical Prophecy:  A Jigsaw Puzzle with Pieces Throughout the Bible
How to Interpret Prophetic Passages: Four Different Views with Important Consequences
Why "Normal" Interpretation is the Key to Prophetic & Apocalyptic Passages
Daniel's 70 Weeks: The Heart of God's Prophetic Puzzle 
      (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Mat 24, 2 Th 2)
Introduction & Outline of The Revelation
 . . . . . . .