From Kaylene: Here are some of my sermon and teaching notes.
January 8, 2023
January 15, 2023
January 15, 2023
January 8, 2023 “OUR BLESSED HOPE - WHY DO WE BELIEVE”
I. Introduction
A. Introduction
1. Online References:
a) Biblehub.com
b) Biblegateway.com
2. Print References:
a) Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspectiveby:Menzies & Horton
b) Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
c) Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation Editor: Max Anders
d) Living Insi
January 8, 2023 “OUR BLESSED HOPE - WHY DO WE BELIEVE”
I. Introduction
A. Introduction
1. Online References:
a) Biblehub.com
b) Biblegateway.com
2. Print References:
a) Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspectiveby:Menzies & Horton
b) Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
c) Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation Editor: Max Anders
d) Living Insights, NT Commentary:Revelation by: Charles R. Swindoll
3. I will be giving you a lot of scripture, all of it will be on the powerpoint. Let me know and I will email you a copy of my powerpoint.
4. Briefly explain the 16 Fundamental Truths of Assemblies of God (see Bible Doctrines book).
5. Highlight: New Slide Click within Slide
B. Notes
1. To the early Christians belief in the second coming of Christ was not a matter of speculation and controversy.
2. Rather it was a gospel to be proclaimed as making meaningful to the entire scope of the Christian message.
3. The preaching and writings of the Old Testament prophets focused always upon the promised Messiah in Jesus Christ as the event in history which would give purpose to their utterances.
4. So also the proclamations of the New Testament preachers and writers point ever to the second coming of Jesus Christ as the culmination of history as that “one far-off divine event, to which the whole creation moves.”
5. There is no book or message in the New Testament which does not expressly declare or imply the return of our Lord as that “blessed hope” of those whose trust is fixed in him.
C. Five Absolutes that Unite all of Us… Things We Believe About Christ’s Second Coming:
1. Jesus is coming again
2. The Rapture
3. The Great Tribulation
4. The Antichrist
5. The Time of Christ’s Coming
D. We study God’s Word (especially Revelations):
1. To be worthy - 2 Timothy 2:15 “to present ourselves to God, workmen who do not need to be ashamed and who correctly handle the word of truth.” (meaning the Scripture - the whole focus of 2 Timothy was to faithfully guard the Gospel)
2. To have the answer - 1 Peter 3:15 “Always be prepared to give an answer (defense) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
3. For blessings -
a) Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (present tense, the first of seven Beatitudes in the Book of Revelation currently relevant - all of them are present tense - even though the verses around them might not be)
b) Revelation 22:7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” (This is the last personal beatitude in Bible, the only other one is a corporate blessing “are”)
c) These two “blessed”s mean: rugged & tested assurance. It is the same “blessed” that Christ used in Matthew 5 for the Beatitudes at the Sermon on the Mount.
d) “take to heart” (vs 1:3) is the same word as “keep” (vs 22:7), it means to watch over & properly maintain - How can we be blessed if we don't know what we are to be “keeping?”
e) When we keep the words of the prophecy, we then become part of that prophecy - the word keep is present-active tense. It was present-active 2000 years ago and is present-active today.
E. With that as our background,
1. Why study, know and live the Book of Revelations?
2. How should it impact our lives today?
3. What does any of this mean for us today?
F. We study the Book of Revelations for (in my opinion) six truths we need to know:
II. Number 1: The Coming of Christ is PROMISED
A. The APOSTLESpromised He would come.
1. Hebrews 10:37 “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.” (quote from Habakkuk 2:3 & Isaiah 26:20 “In just a little while”)
B. The ANGELSpromised He would come.
1. Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
C. CHRIST promised He would come
1. John 14:1-4 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. You know THE WAY to the place where I am going.” (“THE WAY” as it is used here is the same phrase used in the other Gospels to describe salvation and God’s path to true righteousness - many early believers called themselves Followers of The Way - He comes back to this theme in verse 6 - not one of “many ways”, or “a way” but THE WAY)
2. *****THIS point is perhaps the most important thing you will hear today. Every word of prophecy in The Bible points to the fact that God keeps His promises. If you keep His commandments, you will be blessed; if you do not keep His commandments, there will be consequences. The Book of Revelations is the culmination of those promises.
III. Number 2: The Coming of Christ is PROCLAIMED
More than 300 times - an average of 1 verse in every 26 - the New Testament refers to the truth of the Second Coming of Christ.
A. Apostle JOHN
1. 1 John 3:2 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (This verse jumps back and forth between future and present. In the original Greek, it would have read more like, “then, at that time, we shall see Him as He is and has always been.” - prolonged form of a present tense verb - this negates the belief of an abstract God)
B. Apostle PETER
1. Acts 3:19-20 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. “
C. Apostle JAMES
1. James 5:8 “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
IV. Number 3: The Coming of the Lord is PLANNED
A. To be a BLESSED HOPE
1. Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”
B. To be a PURIFYING HOPE
1. 1 John 3:3 “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
C. To be a COMFORTING HOPE
1. Of all the scriptures you hear today, this one speaks the deepest to me. (Briefly explain why.) HERE is my hope. Here is our Blessed Hope. This is the first of three passages that I want to urge you to highlight in your Bible. Write them down, mark them, know them. These three will form the foundation to answer questions you might get about the “Hope that you have.”
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
V. Number 4: The Coming of Christ Has a PURPOSE
A. To FULFILL His PROMISE
1. John 14:27-28 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” (In the light of the chaos and persecution happening to the early church, this verse would have been hugely profound to them. It’s highly possible that, after John wrote this book - after Christ’s ascension - many early Christians heard this verse for the first time while in hiding, fearing for their lives. - For us, the persecution is still real but different and more subtle, perhaps.)
B. To RECEIVE His CHURCH / BRIDE
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
C. To REWARD the FAITHFUL
1. Revelation 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” (Remember from Rev 3:11? He said then, “Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” - “My reward” could be translated, “The reward of Me for you” - What is your reward? A crown…)
VI. Number 5: The Coming of Christ Has A PROCEDURE
A. First, There will be a SOUND FROM HEAVEN
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
B. Second, There will be a CHANGE IN THE DEAD AND LIVING SAINTS
1. 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?”
“Where, O death, is your sting?”
2. The Good News Translation says it like this,
51-52 Listen to this secret truth: we shall not all die, but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed. 53 For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die. 54 So when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: “Death is destroyed; victory is complete!” 55 “Where, Death, is your victory? Where, Death, is your power to hurt?”
C. Third, There will be a REUNION WITH CHRIST
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
VII. Number 6: The Coming of Christ REQUIRES PREPARATION
1. Romans 10:9-13 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
B. By REPENTANCE
C. By RECEIVING CHRIST
D. By LIVING FOR CHRIST
1. 1 John 2:28 “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”
VIII. So, Bottom Line, Why Study the Book of Revelations?
A. This doctrine is KEY TO HISTORY
1. Non-Christian religions have a CYCLICAL view of history
2. The Bible teaches a LINEAR view of history: there is a BEGINNING, a MIDDLE and an END
3. 1 John 3:2-3 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
B. This teaching is the HOPE OF THE CHURCH
1. He doesn’t pave the way from life to death with comfort.
2. Instead, we endure hardship, discipline, trials, and persecution while we wait for the blessed hope…
3. Here in this book, God’s final message to humanity remains clear: In the end, good will triumph over evil, wickedness will be judged, and the righteous will receive their rewards.
C. This teaching is AN INCENTIVE to HOLY LIVING
1. We train ourselves in godliness and develop a resistance to temptation and a distaste for the desires of our flesh while we wait for the blessed hope…
2. Our hope is in the reality of the “appearing” of Christ – that moment when the whole world sees him in all of his resurrection glory, coming to make all things right.
3. We live a holy life because more than any other truth: GOD IS GOOD AND HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES.
D. This teaching STIMULATES CHRISTIAN SERVICE
1. We minister to others, share the gospel, and tell as many people as possible the good news about the salvation found in repentance and a relationship with Christ while we wait for the blessed hope………..
2. We keep living, and going, and growing, and serving, and praying, and sharing, and caring, and getting closer to Jesus here and now while we wait for the blessed hope that is as certain as anything you’ve already experienced in your life.
3. The message of the second coming of Christ was never intended to intimidate you, to increase your anxiety, or to merely give you something to explore out of intellectual curiosity. No, the second coming of Christ – the appearing, our “blessed hope” – is a promise intended to entice you to keep on going and giving and growing until you see the fulfillment of every promise Jesus made about your eternity. We keep going, because of the blessed hope, that Jesus will come and fully save and heal us forever – just as he promised!
E. Let’s Pray
IX. In Closing - Next Week:
A. Overview of Revelation chapters 19 - 22
B. Revelation 19:1-2a “After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments.”
January 15, 2023
January 15, 2023
January 15, 2023
January 15, 2023
“The Big Finale: Overview of Revelation 19-22”
I. Introduction
A. These last four chapters of the Book of Revelation ushers in the end.
Analogy of “Final Battle” or “Epic Battle”
a) Star Wars (Death Star)
b) Lord of the Ring (Battle of Helms Deep or the Black Gate)
c) The Hobbit (Battle of the Five Armies)
d) Avengers (Endgam
January 15, 2023
“The Big Finale: Overview of Revelation 19-22”
I. Introduction
A. These last four chapters of the Book of Revelation ushers in the end.
Analogy of “Final Battle” or “Epic Battle”
a) Star Wars (Death Star)
b) Lord of the Ring (Battle of Helms Deep or the Black Gate)
c) The Hobbit (Battle of the Five Armies)
d) Avengers (Endgame)
NOTE: The Book of Revelation is one of the few books of the Bible that follows a literary pattern called PLOT. Others are the books of Ruth, Ester & Job (sort of). The idea of Plot is really important to understand the sequence of events in the Book of Revelation.
Plot Diagram (explain w/ diagram & rubber band)
B. Three last big events: (So far in this study, Kathleen has been teaching us through the exposition & rising action. We will see the Climax very soon.)
1. The Return of Jesus - Climax
2. The Millennial Reign of Christ - Falling Action (this does not mean less important action)
3. New Heavens and New Earth - Resolution
These three will be broken down into other important events
***Outline / Review
4. We’re going to look over it event by event - an overview, not an in depth.
5. Look at some specific wording to watch for and notice.
C. Some terms to know: NOTE - these terms are unique to Revelation when they are used in their superlative forms. Ex: good, better, best… etc
1. deuteros thanatos (δεύτερος θάνατος) -
a) second death,
b) (Rev 20:6, 21:8, 20:14)
c) Physical and spiritual death (Matt 10:8 - destroy both body and soul; here it means more dead than death ever was… no hope of 2nd chance or resurrection)
2. dikaiosynē (δικαιοσύνη)
d) righteousness , justice, fairness
e) (Rev 19:11)
f) the “rightness” of promised judgment (remember, God keeps His promises)
g) Righteousness of Christ to believers based solely on the grace of God (Romans 1:17, 3:22) Here in Revelation, it is the superlative form of the righteousness used in Romans.
3. kainos (καινος)
h) new, fresh
i) (Rev 21:1, 2, 5)
j) Something not merely different, but altogether superior, renders the “old” as obsolete, new is not to be equated nor compared to the old, old is completely done away with
4. Outline The red line is our starting point today. It is the beginning of the climax of the events recorded in Revelation.
Right there at that red line, you can almost feel the tension released, eternity takes a deep breath, evil is vanquished, the bright lights come on…. Remember: when Jesus shows up, things happen!
II. Three Big Events
A. “The Return of Jesus” (19:1-21) - This is one of my very favorite chapters in the Bible. I had so much trouble getting out of this chapter and preparing the last 3 chapters. There is so so much in this chapter.
1. First, A Prelude:
Rejoicing in Heaven ( 19:1–5 )
(1) “After this” - mirrors language used previously in this Book. It is also a Greek of a form of the words used in Genesis 1:1-1:2 “then/and/became”
(a) The idea is that out of chaos came perfection - in Genesis… foreshadowing of this happening again… The Hebrew listeners would have caught this… out of chaos will come perfection, they would have understood the foreshadowing evident in that phrase “after this.”
(b) We look at this through the lens of history and see the strings coming together. The first century Christians read this through the lens of their current culture. We can’t forget that.
(2) “Allelujah”
(a) Occurs 4x in the first part of this chapter
(b) No where else in the Bible except for 15 of the Psalms (only 28x in entire Bible)
(c) Literal translation: Praise Yahweh (contraction), Yahweh literally mean “I Am” - past present and future
(d) In original documents, it was written as a Hebrew word embedded in a Greek text… it would have been an untranslated Hebrew word.
(e) Babylon, the great prostitute, will not appear in this book again. Her judgment is complete. She is not even mentioned by name here… “her.”
(f) Three Groups cry “hallelujah”
(i) Saints (19:1-3)
(ii) Twenty-four elders (19:4)
(iii) Great multitude (19:6)
(g) Four reasons for celebration
(i) Power of God has vanquished evil (19-1-3)
(ii) Lord God reigns (19:4-6)
(iii) Marriage of the Lamb (19:7-8)
(iv) Marriage Supper begins (19:9)
1. The Lamb / His Marriage / The Marriage Supper (19:6-10) First Big Event
(3) It gets louder still!
(4) “rejoice and be glad” (vs 7) - “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”
(a) Only used like this parallel/synonyms 2 other times in NT - both refer to this timeframe:
(i) Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
(ii) 1 Peter 4:12-13 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (original Greek: But, rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ when his glory is revealed you will rejoice and be glad.)
(5) “His bride has made herself ready.” - This is Rev 19:7-9.
(a) Remember, in the Jewish tradition, a wedding was two-part:
(i) The Betrothal (called each other husband and wife, legally binding, remained faithful, groom prepared future living and provision, bride prepared herself to be a wife) - This corresponds to present church history
(ii) The Ceremony (bride is ready, groom brings bride to his home, wedding feast, the two are united forever) -
2. The Rider (Kings of Kings) on a White Horse (19:11-16)
(1) The last time we saw Jesus on a horse John 12:12-16 “On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Do not fear, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things for Him.”
(2) Here, we see Philippians 2:9-11 fulfilled: “For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
(3) His Name, written on his thigh: (Why in all capital letters? It was a publishing tradition that began in the Middle Ages, 9th/10th centuries, when lower case letters began to be used. Prior to this, Greek was written in all upper-case letters. The tradition has continued.)
(a) King of Kings - supreme earthly power
(b) Lord of Lords - supreme divine/spiritual power
(c) Meaning: full deity AND complete humanity
(4) Parallels: These parallels are only some that are in this chapter. One more reason this chapter is one of my favorites.
Things/Ideas Parallels
White Horse Deception (6:2) Faithful & True (19:12)
Crown One Crown: stephanos (6:2) Many Crowns - diadems (19:12)
Mysterious Name To believers (2:17) His own (19:12)
The Word Prophesied (John 1:1, 14) Fulfilled (19:13)
Sword of the Mouth: Judgment Promised (1:16; 2:16) Fulfilled (19:15)
Great Suppers (see more below) Marriage Supper (19:9) Supper of God’s Judgment (19:17-18)
3. Defeat of the Beast and False Prophet (19:17-21)
a) Chapter 19 pictures two great suppers (on chart)
(1) Marriage Supper of the Lamb (19: 9) “Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
(2) Great Supper of God’s Judgment (19:17-18) “And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”
b) At last, the fulfillment of the theme verse (1:7) for the entire Book of Revelation… the fulfillment of every promise (of consequences for not following God’s Word) -
(1) Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”
(2) Revelation 19:19-21 Then, POOF, the battle is over before it even begins!
B. The Millennial Reign of Christ (20:1-15) - Second Big Event
1. Twin Interludes -
We’ve seen this before between 6th & 7th Seals (7:1-17) & between 6th & 7th Trumpets (10:1-11:13). These verses also mirror or complete Rev 12:1-12
a) Interlude A: Martyrs Reward (20:4-6)
b) Interlude B The Devil’s Final Doom (20:1-3 & 7-10)
c) Rise & Fall of Devil: (This follows the Tell/Enhance/Repeat pattern first seen in Genesis with the creation story
Happening Enhancement / Completion
1 4
2 5
3 6
(NOTE: Don’t bother to write the following on your chart, I just want you to have an idea of the pattern.)
(1) The dragon begins in Heaven (12:3)
(2) It fails in its efforts to destroy Chris at His first coming (12:4)
(3) It is thrown down to earth for a little while to deceive nations (12:12)
(4) It is thrown into the Abyss for thousand years (20:3)
(5) It is released for a little while and deceives the nations (20:8)
(6) It is thrown into the fiery lake forever (20:10)
Happening Enhancement / Completion
1 The dragon begins in Heaven (12:3) 4 It is thrown into the Abyss for thousand years (20:3)
2 It fails in its efforts to destroy Christ at His first coming (12:4) 5 It is released for a little while and deceives the nations (20:8)
3 It is thrown down to earth for a little while to deceive nations (12:12) 6 It is thrown into the fiery lake forever (20:10)
2. The Judge at the White Throne (20:11-15)
1. Two books
What?
“books” - record of their life’s deeds
“Book of Life” - names of those saved by faith
b. Two creatures thrown into Lake of Fire
Who?
Death and Hades (vs 13 & 14)
C. The World to Come (21:1 - 22:5) - Third Big Event
Reminder: “new” here is the word kainos - which means different and previous unknown
1. A New Heaven and a New Earth (21:1)
2. The New Jerusalem (21:2-27)
3. The River of Life (22:1-2)
a) Return to the Perfection of Eden / “no longer any curse” (Genesis 3)
b) God is again with His people forever, just like in the garden
c) The Holy Bride City - New Jerusalem (21:1-8)
d) Description of the Heavenly City and Its Splendor (21:9-21)
e) The Lord as the Light of All Nations at Last (21:22-27)
4. Four times New Heavens & New Earth in scripture:
a) Isaiah 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.”
b) Isaiah 66:22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, Which I make, will endure before Me,” declares the Lord, “So will your descendants and your name endure.”
c) 2 Peter 3:13 “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
d) Revelation 21:1 “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.”
5. Twelve “No Mores” in the New Heaven & New Earth:
a) Sea - 21:1
b) Tears - 21:4
c) Death - 21:4
d) Mourning - 21:4
e) Crying - 21:4
f) Pain - 21:4
g) Thirst - 21:6
h) Wickedness - 21:8,27
i) Temple - 21:22
j) Night - 21:23-25
k) Closed gates - 21:25
l) Curse - 22:3
6. Application: “there will be no night there” - This chapter is a wonderful reminder that God’s goodness and greatness will conquer all.
7. Reminds me of the old hymn:
“What a Day That Will Be”
There is coming a day
When no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky
No more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forever more
On that happy golden shore
What a day, glorious day that will be
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon His face
The One who saved me by His grace
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be
There'll be no sorrow there
No more burdens to bear
No more sickness, no more pain
No more parting over there
And forever I will be
With the One who died for me
What a day, glorious day that's gonna be
D. The Last Word (22:1-21)
a. Jesus is Coming
b. Nothing May Be Added or Removed
1. River of Life (22:1-5)
a) Return to the Perfection of Eden / “no longer any curse” (Genesis 3)
b) God is again with His people forever, just like in the garden
2. Back on Patmos (22:6-16)
a) Divine Authority of the Prophecy
b) Parallel to the opening verses of the Book of Revelation
God → Jesus → angel → John → servants
c) Revelation 1:1-3 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
d) Revelation 22:6 “The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
3. Nearness of Christ’s Return (22:17-21)
a) These last few verses take a very personal first-person voice.
b) Revelation 1:1-8 & 22:9-21 are both epistle-like and almost parallel.
c) A lot of synonymic words and phrases
III. Closing
A. Application
1. Remember: Our God wins! He will reign!
2. Continue to live life daily “washing your robes.”
3. Only the Lamb (and God) is worthy of our worship.
4. Invite people to “come” while there is time.
5. Be careful to not distort the central teaching of Revelation
6. Get ready! Jesus is coming soon.
7. The Marriage Supper is being prepared and YOU are invited!
B. Until then, carry this Blessed Hope as comfort and incentive.
1. Revelation 22:17, 20-21 ”The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The GRACE of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”
2. The idea of GRACE takes on a whole new and bigger meaning than at the beginning of the book. The idea is bigger and deeper than ever before imagined.
C. Prayer
From Karolyn: Here are some of my sermon and teaching notes.
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