A Glimpse of the Kingdom Revelation 1 Understanding

A Glimpse of the Kingdom Revelation 1

Understanding Revelation Let’s distance ourselves from the commercialism and sensationalism. n Yet this is not an academic study! n A Challenge and a Promise: God blesses the one who reads this prophecy to the He has made us his Kingdom and his church, and he blesses all who listen to it and priests who serve before God his Father. obey what it says (Rev. 1: 3) n Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen! – Rev. 1: 6

Revelation 1: 1 -4, 9 -11 n “The Written by John, found one ofby. Jesus’ 12 meaning…is comparing it with disciples previous prophetic and apocalyptic revelation Author 4 th Gospel (John) & 3 many letters inn the Old of Testament. This has led n interpreters Written 85 -95 ADthe Book of Revelation as to view n While exiled on predictions Patmos presenting realistic of the future… During Emperor Domitian’s persecution ansensible view of the future in harmony with n Written to 7 familiar churches the rest of Scripture” n Ultimately inspired by God (1: 3) —Walvoord, Revelation, pp. 23 -30 n A book of Prophecy (1: 3; 22: 7, 10, 18, 19) n Not alone: 25% of the Bible is prophecy n Apocalyptic Style: using highly symbolic visions of the end of the age. n Not wild-eyed hallucinations:

STRUCTURE: 4 sequential visions 1 -3: A Church, a Growing Menace “All Diminishing national institutions of churches…appear to n The speaks to His churches. me no glorified other than. Jesus human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize 4 -16: Intense Upheaval, War and Spiritual They will act as if they are religious, but they will I power heard aand loud shout from the throne, saying, profit. ” - Thomas Paine, political Activity reject the power that could make them godly. You "Look, the home of God is now among his people! theorist. nmust The Kosmos achieves ultimate POWER stay away from people like 2 Timothy He will live with them, and they willthat. be his people. …while itthunders spirals out of control! The cannon … limbs fly in 21: 3 all directions 3: 5 God himself will be with them. Rev. n God and redeems amidst it all. … one strives: can hearjudges the groans of victims and the 17 -20: God the “Mystery Babylon” howling of Ends those performing the sacrifice … it’s n An Alternative andof. Realistic Kingdom: Humanity in search happiness. the victorious return French of Jesus. Poet – Charles Baudelaire, 21 -22: Resolution and an Eternal Future

PURPOSE n To finish the prophetic picture of the Bible n Reveals the events surrounding the 2 nd Advent n Application: Calls Christians to be faithful witnesses despite a hostile world… Evil will intensify as this age draws to an end The end of the age will be a time of. . intense. but Jesus will have the last word. judgment Christians suffer persecution. . . …but can alsoexpect a timetoof intense evangelism. but Jesus will enable us to be “overcomers”

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ. . . from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and released us from our sins by his blood, and he has made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 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. Rev. 1: 5 -7

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ Suddenly, I heard a loud voice behind me, a voice that sounded like a trumpet blast…When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. standing in the middle of the. Omega, ” lampstands was the “I And am the Alpha and the says Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold across. God, his chest. His head and his hair were thesash Lord “who is and who waswhite like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright and come, likewho flamesisofto fire. His feetthe were. Almighty. ” as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like Rev. 1: 8 mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. Rev. 1: 10 -17 a

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as a dead man. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. ’” Revelation 1: 17 b-18

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ 1. 2. n The Savior who serves. The King to be served. Why Important? n n n Jesus Christ really is this way! Else, an impersonal, feriocious enemy! Else, Jesus the Emasculated Servant

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, ” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. ”

Why So Important? Jesus Christ really is this way! n Otherwise, an imbalanced view: n n Jesus the Emasculated Servant