It has stood the test of time.
00:00:07.33\00:00:12.20
God's book.
00:00:12.20\00:00:13.50
The Bible.
00:00:13.50\00:00:17.13
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:17.13\00:00:22.10
It is written sharing
hope around the globe.
00:00:22.10\00:00:36.60
You know, I'll never forget
how dark the darkness was.
00:00:36.60\00:00:42.83
My family and I went caving,
and while we loved seeing
00:00:42.83\00:00:46.86
the incredible beauty of rock
formations and while we enjoyed
00:00:46.86\00:00:49.86
clambering around on
great rocks and seeing the
00:00:49.86\00:00:53.13
stalagmites and stalactites
and squeezing through those
00:00:53.13\00:00:56.70
narrow gaps , to be
honest with you, that's the part
00:00:56.70\00:00:59.30
I really don't enjoy -
while we were doing all that
00:00:59.30\00:01:02.36
we also discovered just
how dark darkness can be.
00:01:02.36\00:01:06.96
When you turn off
your flashlight, it's DARK
00:01:06.96\00:01:10.16
down there.
00:01:10.16\00:01:11.03
Darker than the
darkest night, it's a darkness
00:01:11.03\00:01:13.46
you can almost feel!
00:01:13.46\00:01:15.53
It - is - dark!
00:01:15.53\00:01:18.90
I remember us all
agreeing how thankful we were
00:01:18.90\00:01:21.60
to have light.
00:01:21.60\00:01:23.23
We realized that without it
we'd be in very big trouble -
00:01:23.23\00:01:25.93
even with our
experienced friends guiding us.
00:01:25.93\00:01:28.86
There was be no way in the
world we could get have got
00:01:28.86\00:01:31.33
out of that dark
place without out light.
00:01:31.33\00:01:34.40
What a relief it was to know
that we had light to guide us
00:01:34.40\00:01:37.06
out of there.
00:01:37.06\00:01:38.36
As long as we turned
on the light we'd be okay.
00:01:38.36\00:01:41.96
But without the light,
we were helpless, stuck
00:01:41.96\00:01:45.23
in the darkest darkness a
person could ever experience.
00:01:45.23\00:01:49.76
You know, we're
living in a dark world,
00:01:49.76\00:01:52.86
perhaps the darkest it has
ever been since time began.
00:01:52.86\00:01:56.63
This is an age of
materialism, post-modernism,
00:01:56.63\00:01:59.10
cynicism and spiritualism.
00:01:59.10\00:02:01.80
Our societies are darkened
by crime and vice, substance
00:02:01.80\00:02:04.56
abuse and child abuse,
aggression, depression,
00:02:04.56\00:02:08.00
oppression and recession.
00:02:08.00\00:02:11.00
Financially the planet seems
to be teetering on the brink
00:02:11.00\00:02:12.60
of absolute ruin.
00:02:12.60\00:02:14.20
It isn't surprising anymore
to hear of whole countries
00:02:14.20\00:02:16.86
whose economy has tanked,
and the resulting shockwaves
00:02:16.86\00:02:20.33
affect financial
markets all around the world.
00:02:20.33\00:02:24.20
It's tempting to think
that there's no way out of the
00:02:24.20\00:02:27.20
darkness enveloping the world.
00:02:27.20\00:02:29.00
Except for one thing.
00:02:29.00\00:02:30.53
The light.
00:02:30.53\00:02:31.86
God has left us with a light.
00:02:31.86\00:02:33.80
Jesus, the Light of the
world, came to Planet Earth
00:02:33.80\00:02:38.63
two millennia ago to save
humanity from its depravity
00:02:38.63\00:02:42.43
and to reveal to the world
the character of His heavenly
00:02:42.43\00:02:44.36
Father.
00:02:44.36\00:02:46.06
And He left us with His holy
word, the Bible, which David
00:02:46.06\00:02:51.13
described in Psalm
119:105 as being "a lamp...
00:02:51.13\00:02:54.63
and a light".
00:02:54.63\00:02:56.23
The Old Testament tells the
story of the creation of the
00:02:56.23\00:03:00.30
world, the calling of God's
people, the lives and examples
00:03:00.30\00:03:04.16
of the patriarchs and
the prophets, the giving
00:03:04.16\00:03:07.36
of God's law and the
journeying of the Israelites.
00:03:07.36\00:03:10.70
The New Testament introduces
us to Jesus, His life and
00:03:10.70\00:03:14.06
ministry, and the story of
the early Christian Church -
00:03:14.06\00:03:17.83
how a dozen men brought
the message of salvation
00:03:17.83\00:03:20.36
to an entire planet.
00:03:20.36\00:03:22.23
But what about the
days in which WE live.
00:03:22.23\00:03:25.53
Does the Bible speak to
an age when economies are
00:03:25.53\00:03:28.23
failing and people
are searching for answers?
00:03:28.23\00:03:32.13
Does the Bible talk to the
time in earth's history when
00:03:32.13\00:03:35.40
the majority of the
signs of Christ's return
00:03:35.40\00:03:37.63
have been fulfilled?
00:03:37.63\00:03:38.90
Does the Bible speak
specifically to a world of
00:03:38.90\00:03:41.13
which it could be
said is "in the dark"?
00:03:41.13\00:03:44.36
Well - yes it does.
00:03:44.36\00:03:46.73
God's word, the Holy Bible,
has special light for people
00:03:46.73\00:03:51.13
living in the last
days of earth's history.
00:03:51.13\00:03:53.53
The final book of the
Bible is the book of Revelation,
00:03:53.53\00:03:56.13
which God says was
written to show His people,
00:03:56.13\00:03:59.36
things which must
shortly come to pass.
00:03:59.36\00:04:02.26
Revelation 1:1.
00:04:02.26\00:04:03.93
As God guided the Old
Testament church and the
00:04:03.93\00:04:06.46
early Christian church,
God seeks to guide His church
00:04:06.46\00:04:09.03
today with what is written
in the Book of Revelation.
00:04:09.03\00:04:12.53
So what is the Book of
Revelation actually all about?
00:04:12.53\00:04:17.33
For the uninitiated,
the Book of Revelation
00:04:17.33\00:04:19.20
can be hard going!
00:04:19.20\00:04:21.70
I remember as a boy
deciding I was going to read and
00:04:21.70\00:04:24.46
understand the
Book of Revelation.
00:04:24.46\00:04:27.30
So I took down the big family
Bible my Dad had bought from
00:04:27.30\00:04:30.00
Readers' Digest and I
turned to book of Revelation
00:04:30.00\00:04:33.83
and started reading.
00:04:33.83\00:04:36.53
The plan was to read it
through and figure it out.
00:04:36.53\00:04:40.13
Do I need to tell you
it didn't quite work out
00:04:40.13\00:04:42.13
that way...
00:04:42.13\00:04:44.83
I read about seven
churches I'd never heard of.
00:04:44.83\00:04:47.60
I read about seals
and trumpets and locusts,
00:04:47.60\00:04:50.66
and water turning to blood,
thunders, horns, seven plagues,
00:04:50.66\00:04:53.83
people coming back
from the dead, beasts,
00:04:53.83\00:04:57.43
something that came up
from the bottomless pit...
00:04:57.43\00:04:59.83
whatever that was.
00:04:59.83\00:05:01.70
I didn't have a clue.
00:05:01.70\00:05:04.00
I put the Family Bible
back on the bookshelf and hoped
00:05:04.00\00:05:08.30
that maybe one day
I'd be able to understand
00:05:08.30\00:05:10.23
the Book of Revelation.
00:05:10.23\00:05:11.83
I hoped, but I
sure wasn't confident.
00:05:11.83\00:05:15.13
Well, years later I
discovered that the Book
00:05:15.13\00:05:17.06
of Revelation, while
clothed in symbols and signs, is
00:05:17.06\00:05:19.86
a book that
actually CAN be understood.
00:05:19.86\00:05:24.60
Now I'm not going to claim
to have the inside track on
00:05:24.60\00:05:26.60
every last word and phrase
in the book of Revelation, but I
00:05:26.60\00:05:29.60
want to tell you today that
the major themes of the Book
00:05:29.60\00:05:31.70
of Revelation can be clearly
understood, and that they'll
00:05:31.70\00:05:34.23
lead you to a very good place.
00:05:34.23\00:05:39.66
In fact, the very first
verse of the Book of Revelation
00:05:39.66\00:05:43.66
helps us to understand
God's purpose in giving us
00:05:43.66\00:05:46.26
that book.
00:05:46.26\00:05:47.80
I'll tell you more
about it in just a moment.
00:05:47.80\00:05:51.30
???(music)??? My
question is to do
00:05:51.30\00:06:10.66
the 10% Tithe, is it 10%
of my gross pay or my net pay?
00:06:10.66\00:06:17.10
Now, there4s a
practical question.
00:06:17.10\00:06:18.50
God asks us to return to
him a tenth of our increase.
00:06:18.50\00:06:25.63
His people did it in both
Old and New Testament times
00:06:25.63\00:06:28.16
and the intent of the
tithe was to support the Levites
00:06:28.16\00:06:31.20
to support the priests,
the work of the ministry.
00:06:31.20\00:06:33.80
Here is what we read
in Malachi chapter 3:8,
00:06:33.80\00:06:41.13
"Will a man rob God?
00:06:41.13\00:06:42.13
Yet you have robbed Me!
00:06:42.13\00:06:42.90
But you say, 'In what
way have we robbed You?'
00:06:42.90\00:06:44.53
And the answer: "In
tithes and offerings."
00:06:44.53\00:06:47.20
So that's interesting.
00:06:47.20\00:06:48.43
To not return the tithe
to God is to steal from God.
00:06:48.43\00:06:52.40
Verse 10 Bring all the
tithes into the storehouse,
00:06:52.40\00:06:55.73
That there may be food in
My house, And try Me now in
00:06:55.73\00:06:58.93
this," Says the LORD of
hosts, "If I will not open
00:06:58.93\00:07:02.43
for you the windows of
heaven And pour out for you such
00:07:02.43\00:07:05.43
blessing That there will not
be room enough to receive it.
00:07:05.43\00:07:08.16
We don't tithe so that God
will bless us, but we tithe
00:07:08.16\00:07:11.86
knowing God will do so.
00:07:11.86\00:07:14.10
He has promised.
00:07:14.10\00:07:15.66
And in case you're tempted
to think tithing was just for
00:07:15.66\00:07:17.80
the Old Testament church,
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians
00:07:17.80\00:07:20.50
9:14, "Even so the Lord
has commanded that those who
00:07:20.50\00:07:26.10
preach the gospel
should live from the gospel."
00:07:26.10\00:07:28.16
He's referring to tithing.
00:07:28.16\00:07:30.03
So, do we tithe on
our gross or net pay?
00:07:30.03\00:07:34.33
Now that is, on what you
get before or after you pay tax?
00:07:34.33\00:07:38.60
Here's something to remember.
00:07:38.60\00:07:39.60
Jesus ought to come before
the taxman, just like you'd
00:07:39.60\00:07:43.30
tithe on what you earn before
you pay your rent or before
00:07:43.30\00:07:45.00
you pay your phone bill.
00:07:45.00\00:07:46.26
Dont worry.
00:07:46.26\00:07:48.76
You're not
going to be worse off.
00:07:48.76\00:07:50.06
God has said, Them
that honor me, I will honor.
00:07:50.06\00:07:51.86
You cannott out-give God.
00:07:51.86\00:07:54.93
Put Him first.
00:07:54.93\00:07:56.36
He puts you first all the time.
00:07:56.36\00:07:59.56
Thanks for your questions.
00:07:59.56\00:08:01.23
If you'd like me to answer
your Bible question on this
00:08:01.23\00:08:02.70
program, go to It Is Written.com
00:08:02.70\00:08:04.16
and you'll be able to
submit your question there.
00:08:04.16\00:08:05.96
I look forward to doing
my best to answer your Bible
00:08:05.96\00:08:07.93
question in a future program.
00:08:07.93\00:08:10.00
If you have a Bible question
for pastor John Bradshaw,
00:08:10.00\00:08:16.03
please write to It Is Written,
P.O. Box O, Thousand Oaks,
00:08:16.03\00:08:19.40
California 91359
or visit our website
00:08:19.40\00:08:22.90
itiswritten.com and send
us your questions on-line.
00:08:22.90\00:08:28.80
I'm glad you've joined me today.
00:08:28.80\00:08:30.60
We're discussing the Book
of Revelation, a book that is
00:08:30.60\00:08:33.10
often confused
and misunderstood.
00:08:33.10\00:08:36.03
What's it really all about?
00:08:36.03\00:08:38.33
A few years ago a man told me
that his Sunday School teacher
00:08:38.33\00:08:40.80
reckoned that the
Book of Revelation was
00:08:40.80\00:08:42.43
nothing more than a Stephen
King book tucked into the
00:08:42.43\00:08:45.43
back of the Bible.
00:08:45.43\00:08:46.73
Imagine - the book of
Revelation on the same level
00:08:46.73\00:08:49.66
as Cujo and The Shining!
00:08:49.66\00:08:51.76
If you want to know what
the Book of Revelation really is
00:08:51.76\00:08:53.76
all about, all you have to
do is open it up and read the
00:08:53.76\00:08:58.30
very first verse.
00:08:58.30\00:09:00.40
It says, The Revelation of
Jesus Christ, which God gave
00:09:00.40\00:09:04.20
unto him, to shew unto
his servants things which must
00:09:04.20\00:09:10.03
shortly come to pass.
00:09:10.03\00:09:11.76
Revelation 1:1 The Book of
Revelation is the "Revelation
00:09:11.76\00:09:16.76
of Jesus Christ." The Book's
purpose is to reveal Jesus!
00:09:16.76\00:09:21.66
And how important is
that in a world where Jesus is
00:09:21.66\00:09:23.66
largely unknown and
hugely misunderstood.
00:09:23.66\00:09:27.60
While Planet Earth is
coming apart at the seams,
00:09:27.60\00:09:30.33
God points us to a book
He inspired to be a light
00:09:30.33\00:09:33.66
in the dark.
00:09:33.66\00:09:35.23
In fact, the third verse of
the book of Revelation says,
00:09:35.23\00:09:39.23
"Blessed is he who reads,
and they that hear the words of
00:09:39.23\00:09:42.03
this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written
00:09:42.03\00:09:44.53
therein.
00:09:44.53\00:09:45.66
For the time is at hand."
00:09:45.66\00:09:47.60
With respect to Stephen King,
I'm not sure it could be said
00:09:47.60\00:09:50.30
that a person who reads his
books is going to be "blessed".
00:09:50.30\00:09:54.16
The apostle John wrote
Revelation to help us focus
00:09:54.16\00:09:56.66
on what's really important
down here in the end of time.
00:09:56.66\00:10:00.80
You know that John was
very close to Jesus, and you see
00:10:00.80\00:10:03.86
that reflected in what he wrote.
00:10:03.86\00:10:06.03
Throughout the Book
of Revelation he presents
00:10:06.03\00:10:07.90
a number of portraits of Jesus,
insights into the person and
00:10:07.90\00:10:12.96
character of Jesus Christ.
00:10:12.96\00:10:15.20
And these portraits help us
understand the key themes of
00:10:15.20\00:10:17.76
the Book of
Revelation - they're like a
00:10:17.76\00:10:21.60
"light in the dark".
00:10:21.60\00:10:23.00
Now just five verses into
the book of Revelation is the
00:10:23.00\00:10:26.33
first portrayal of Jesus
found in the 404 verses that
00:10:26.33\00:10:29.80
make up the Book of Revelation.
00:10:29.80\00:10:32.00
John writes, "Unto Him
who loved us, and washed us
00:10:32.00\00:10:36.70
from our sins in His blood..."
00:10:36.70\00:10:40.33
Just this far into
the Apocalypse, this book
00:10:40.33\00:10:43.43
that some still claim is
a "closed" or "sealed" book,
00:10:43.43\00:10:47.63
John introduces us to his
friend Jesus as the Saviour
00:10:47.63\00:10:51.33
of the world.
00:10:51.33\00:10:53.36
He describes Jesus - áin
the book of Revelationá - as One
00:10:53.36\00:10:56.46
who has loved the world.
00:10:56.46\00:10:58.93
Even that much is important,
pointing out that Jesus takes
00:10:58.93\00:11:02.80
a personal, loving interest
in this world and what takes
00:11:02.80\00:11:05.93
place here.
00:11:05.93\00:11:07.06
He isn't detached from the
reality of our daily lives.
00:11:07.06\00:11:09.83
He loves us.
00:11:09.83\00:11:11.26
And He "washed us from
our sins in His blood."
00:11:11.26\00:11:14.90
Here's a key point.
00:11:14.90\00:11:16.40
One of the very first
things done by the writer of the
00:11:16.40\00:11:19.10
Book of Revelation is
to introduce Jesus as the
00:11:19.10\00:11:23.00
Saviour of the world, and
explain the means by which
00:11:23.00\00:11:26.73
salvation can be
possessed by the believer.
00:11:26.73\00:11:29.43
Jesus is the
Saviour of the world -
00:11:29.43\00:11:31.76
He "washed us from our sins."
00:11:31.76\00:11:34.53
He did that for everyone.
00:11:34.53\00:11:36.40
And this good news is found
in the 5th verse of the Book
00:11:36.40\00:11:40.43
of Revelation.
00:11:40.43\00:11:42.03
Jesus is the
Saviour of the world.
00:11:42.03\00:11:46.10
You know, the world
over there are people whose
00:11:46.10\00:11:48.50
religion is a form of
slavery, to be honest.
00:11:48.50\00:11:51.33
In many pagan
religions people must appease
00:11:51.33\00:11:54.90
"hard-to-please" gods.
00:11:54.90\00:11:56.90
In many Christian faiths
believers aren't sure how to
00:11:56.90\00:12:00.40
they can be sure
eternal life is theirs.
00:12:00.40\00:12:06.60
They try to be good enough
to go to heaven, or they think
00:12:06.60\00:12:08.30
salvation comes by penances
or pilgrimages or good works
00:12:08.30\00:12:10.96
or offerings made.
00:12:10.96\00:12:12.93
As good as those things might
be, they are not what brings
00:12:12.93\00:12:16.50
cleansing into our lives.
00:12:16.50\00:12:18.96
Jesus, the Light of a Dark
World, brings salvation to us
00:12:18.96\00:12:22.76
through His blood.
00:12:22.76\00:12:24.96
That is, by His death He
paid the penalty for our sins.
00:12:24.96\00:12:29.10
We can't pay that penalty
ourselves and we certainly
00:12:29.10\00:12:32.16
cannot earn salvation.
00:12:32.16\00:12:34.10
It's a gift, and we receive
it by faith from the Saviour
00:12:34.10\00:12:39.00
of the book of Revelation.
00:12:39.00\00:12:41.66
So the Book of Revelation
is a book of Salvation through
00:12:41.66\00:12:45.06
Christ.
00:12:45.06\00:12:46.26
Revelation 3:21 has Jesus
knocking on the door of the
00:12:46.26\00:12:49.63
human heart, seeking
admission so that He can come
00:12:49.63\00:12:52.06
into the heart
and change the life.
00:12:52.06\00:12:55.43
Revelation 7 has the
saved being sealed with
00:12:55.43\00:12:58.10
the seal of God.
00:12:58.10\00:12:59.66
Revelation 14 talks about
God's saints, and the Book of
00:12:59.66\00:13:03.53
Revelation ends with God's
people reigning with Him in a
00:13:03.53\00:13:06.83
land where there is no more sin.
00:13:06.83\00:13:08.90
What's Revelation about?
00:13:08.90\00:13:10.40
Revelation is a
book of salvation.
00:13:10.40\00:13:13.76
God knew how much we'd
need assurance down here in the
00:13:13.76\00:13:16.46
close of time
regarding salvation from sin.
00:13:16.46\00:13:19.13
In a time when there has
never been so much sin, God
00:13:19.13\00:13:22.50
tells us that there is a
way out of sin and and a way out
00:13:22.50\00:13:26.40
of guilt and a way out
of shame - and that way is
00:13:26.40\00:13:29.00
through Jesus.
00:13:29.00\00:13:30.40
How do I know?
00:13:30.40\00:13:31.73
Because the Book of
Revelation tells us that.
00:13:31.73\00:13:34.96
Now then just two verses
later, in Revelation 1:7,
00:13:34.96\00:13:38.30
there's presented
another portrait of Jesus.
00:13:38.30\00:13:42.16
Let's look at that
verse, Behold, he cometh with
00:13:42.16\00:13:46.46
clouds; and every
eye shall see him.
00:13:46.46\00:13:51.56
Revelation 1:7 We're just
seven verses into the book of
00:13:51.56\00:13:54.43
Revelation - remember, a book
that many people, many Bible
00:13:54.43\00:13:57.86
teachers, many whole churches
maintain is a closed book and
00:13:57.86\00:14:01.06
is not for us today -
just seven verses in there's a
00:14:01.06\00:14:05.26
portrayal of the greatest
event in all of human history
00:14:05.26\00:14:09.70
since the incarnation of Christ.
00:14:09.70\00:14:13.03
Another key theme of the
Book of Revelation is the return
00:14:13.03\00:14:15.63
of Jesus Christ.
00:14:15.63\00:14:17.66
The Second Coming of Jesus
is mentioned in the Book of
00:14:17.66\00:14:20.86
Revelation in its 7th verse
and then a little bit later
00:14:20.86\00:14:24.43
in Revelation chapter 14.
00:14:24.43\00:14:26.50
I'll read verses 14 and
16 where the Bible says,
00:14:26.50\00:14:33.16
Revelation 14:14, 16,
they say this, And I looked,
00:14:33.16\00:14:35.36
and behold a while cloud,
and upon the cloud one sat like
00:14:35.36\00:14:38.26
unto the Son of man, having
on his head a golden crown,
00:14:38.26\00:14:42.46
and in his hand
a sharp sickle...
00:14:42.46\00:14:45.66
And he that sat on the cloud
thrust in his sickle on the
00:14:45.66\00:14:49.10
earth; and the earth was
reaped. Revelation 14:14, 16
00:14:49.10\00:14:53.66
Again, this is
the Second Coming of
00:14:53.66\00:14:55.96
Jesus.
00:14:55.96\00:14:57.00
Now, this time, it is
mentioned in the context of
00:14:57.00\00:14:59.00
the Three Angels' Messages,
the last gospel message to be
00:14:59.00\00:15:02.33
proclaimed to the world.
00:15:02.33\00:15:03.93
The Second Coming of Jesus,
spoken of 7 verses into the
00:15:03.93\00:15:07.16
Book of Revelation
is emphasized again in
00:15:07.16\00:15:10.53
Revelation 14.
00:15:10.53\00:15:11.70
And then in Revelation
19, another picture of Jesus
00:15:11.70\00:15:15.96
coming back to the world.
00:15:15.96\00:15:17.66
This is one of the
most stunning passages of
00:15:17.66\00:15:19.90
Scripture you'll find.
00:15:19.90\00:15:21.53
It says, starting in
verse 11, Revelation 19:11,
00:15:21.53\00:15:26.50
And I saw heaven opened,
and behold a while horse;
00:15:26.50\00:15:30.20
and he that sat upon him
was called Faithful and True,
00:15:30.20\00:15:32.93
and in righteousness he
doth judge and make war.
00:15:32.93\00:15:36.23
His eyes were as a flame
of fire, and on his head were
00:15:36.23\00:15:39.06
many crowns; and he had
a name written, that no man
00:15:39.06\00:15:42.83
knew, but he himself.
00:15:42.83\00:15:45.06
And he was clothed with a
vesture dipped in blood: and
00:15:45.06\00:15:48.23
his name is called The
Word of God. Revelation 19:11-12
00:15:48.23\00:15:52.03
And now I'll
jump to verse 16 where
00:15:52.03\00:15:53.83
it says, And he hath on
his vesture and on his thigh a
00:15:53.83\00:15:57.23
name written, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
00:15:57.23\00:16:02.76
Revelation 19:16 Did God
know that in the 21st Century,
00:16:02.76\00:16:06.13
with all of its difficulties
and burdens and complexities
00:16:06.13\00:16:10.16
and pressures that
people would need hope?
00:16:10.16\00:16:13.50
Did God know that the hope
of the return of Jesus would
00:16:13.50\00:16:16.16
help a person see beyond the
darkness and the difficulties
00:16:16.16\00:16:18.56
of this world?
00:16:18.56\00:16:20.03
Yes, He did.
00:16:20.03\00:16:21.30
And so He made the subject
of the Second Coming of Jesus a
00:16:21.30\00:16:25.36
major point of emphasis
in the Book of Revelation.
00:16:25.36\00:16:27.60
He hasn't forgotten
about this world, He hasn't
00:16:27.60\00:16:30.16
forgotten about you, and
He is coming back soon to end
00:16:30.16\00:16:33.33
the sin and the tragedy and
the heartbreak experienced in
00:16:33.33\00:16:37.70
a world where sin
has done a deadly work.
00:16:37.70\00:16:42.06
Revelation tells us that.
00:16:42.06\00:16:44.36
Now if you want to, you
can be intimidated by seals and
00:16:44.36\00:16:47.30
trumpets and you can do
battle with thunders and
00:16:47.30\00:16:49.93
plagues.
00:16:49.93\00:16:50.83
And I'm not saying those
things are not important.
00:16:50.83\00:16:52.60
They are - very important.
00:16:52.60\00:16:53.26
That's why God had them
put in the Book of Revelation.
00:16:53.26\00:16:56.26
But before you write off
Revelation and put it in the
00:16:56.26\00:16:58.70
"too tough" basket,
remember what its about.
00:16:58.70\00:17:02.80
A major theme of
Revelation is the Second Coming.
00:17:02.80\00:17:05.56
God tells us today there is
hope, because Jesus is coming
00:17:05.56\00:17:10.03
back soon.
00:17:10.03\00:17:11.86
There's another portrait of
Jesus I'd like to show you in
00:17:11.86\00:17:14.43
the Book of Revelation,
one that is designed to refute
00:17:14.43\00:17:18.63
Satan's major
last-day's deception.
00:17:18.63\00:17:22.56
I'll tell you about
that in just a moment.
00:17:22.56\00:17:27.06
In Matthew 4:4 the Word of
God says "It is written 'Man
00:17:27.06\00:17:30.23
shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that
00:17:30.23\00:17:34.43
proceeds out of the mouth
of God'." Every Word is a one
00:17:34.43\00:17:37.23
minute Bible-based
daily devotional presented by
00:17:37.23\00:17:40.30
Pastor John Bradshaw and
designed especially for busy
00:17:40.30\00:17:42.90
people like you.
00:17:42.90\00:17:44.10
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:17:44.10\00:17:47.76
on-line everyday on our
website itiswritten.com.
00:17:47.76\00:17:51.96
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:17:51.96\00:17:54.33
Watch Every Word.
00:17:54.33\00:17:55.76
You'll be glad you did.
00:17:55.76\00:18:00.96
I'm glad you joined me today.
00:18:00.96\00:18:02.66
The book of Revelation:
what's it really all about?
00:18:02.66\00:18:06.33
Is there more to it than
bloody water, blisters, boils
00:18:06.33\00:18:08.93
and beasts?
00:18:08.93\00:18:11.23
The Book of Revelation opens
with John writing that it is
00:18:11.23\00:18:13.80
"the Revelation of
Jesus Christ." Right from the
00:18:13.80\00:18:16.33
get-go God tells us that
the purpose of this book is to
00:18:16.33\00:18:19.33
help us to know Jesus,
and understand God's plans for
00:18:19.33\00:18:22.70
the final days
of earth's history.
00:18:22.70\00:18:24.96
So who is this Jesus who is
revealed in the Bible's last
00:18:24.96\00:18:27.50
book?
00:18:27.50\00:18:29.36
Revelation calls Him
the Alpha and the Omega.
00:18:29.36\00:18:32.36
Alpha and Omega are the first
and last letters of the Greek
00:18:32.36\00:18:34.73
alphabet - and Revelation was
written originally in Greek -
00:18:34.73\00:18:38.06
so John is calling Jesus
the "A" and the "Z" if you like,
00:18:38.06\00:18:41.46
the 'beginning and the end'.
00:18:41.46\00:18:43.26
That's in Revelation.
00:18:43.26\00:18:44.63
Jesus is called in Revelation
"The Bright and Morning Star"
00:18:44.63\00:18:47.46
in Revelation.
00:18:47.46\00:18:48.96
The Lion of the tribe of
Judah - the great, mighty
00:18:48.96\00:18:51.06
conquering One.
00:18:51.06\00:18:52.16
The Lamb as it had been slain
- the humble servant who went
00:18:52.16\00:18:55.46
meekly to His death so
that we could live forever.
00:18:55.46\00:18:58.86
He's the One who walks in
the midst of the churches.
00:18:58.86\00:19:01.70
He's the Son of God.
00:19:01.70\00:19:02.80
He's the Faithful
and the True Witness.
00:19:02.80\00:19:04.83
He's the Amen.
00:19:04.83\00:19:06.40
And remember, in Revelation
He's the King of Kings and
00:19:06.40\00:19:09.60
Lord of Lords.
00:19:09.60\00:19:10.83
You see, that's what
Revelation is all about.
00:19:10.83\00:19:14.23
Amidst the symbols and signs,
there's a Saviour, Jesus, who
00:19:14.23\00:19:17.40
wants to be known, because
if people only got to know Jesus
00:19:17.40\00:19:21.23
for themselves,
they'd experience peace and
00:19:21.23\00:19:24.70
blessing.
00:19:24.70\00:19:26.03
Let's just look at one more
portrait of Jesusfound in the
00:19:26.03\00:19:29.60
Bible's last book.
00:19:29.60\00:19:31.60
In Revelation 14:7 John
writes, Worship him that made
00:19:31.60\00:19:37.73
heaven, and earth, and
the sea, and the fountains of
00:19:37.73\00:19:40.90
waters.
00:19:40.90\00:19:42.33
Revelation 14:7 Now keep in
mind: the final great crisis
00:19:42.33\00:19:45.60
in the book of Revelation
centers on the question of
00:19:45.60\00:19:48.70
worship, with the
beast calling for worship in
00:19:48.70\00:19:51.90
Revelation 13, and the
Lamb seeking worship in the very
00:19:51.90\00:19:56.80
next chapter.
00:19:56.80\00:19:58.20
So why is it that Jesus
is worthy of worship at all?
00:19:58.20\00:20:03.50
Now you find the answer in
Revelation 14:7, I'll read it
00:20:03.50\00:20:06.80
again.
00:20:06.80\00:20:10.46
It says, Fear God and give
glory to him; for the hour of
00:20:10.46\00:20:13.23
his judgment is come: and
worship him that made heaven,
00:20:13.23\00:20:17.33
and earth, and the sea,
and the fountains of waters.
00:20:17.33\00:20:24.00
Revelation 14:7 In earth's
last conflict we are reminded
00:20:24.00\00:20:26.70
in the Book of Revelation
that Jesus is the Creator.
00:20:26.70\00:20:28.96
Remember that John 1:3 says
that, All things were made by
00:20:28.96\00:20:31.66
him, and without him was
not anything made that was made.
00:20:31.66\00:20:36.53
John 1:3 You read virtually
the same thing in Colossians
00:20:36.53\00:20:38.73
chapter 1.
00:20:38.73\00:20:40.56
Now that's not to say
Jesus did all of creation
00:20:40.56\00:20:42.66
independent of the
Father and the Spirit.
00:20:42.66\00:20:45.50
But it is to say that
according to the Bible, Jesus
00:20:45.50\00:20:47.70
was the active Agent in
creation, and when we're
00:20:47.70\00:20:51.33
called to worship Him we
are called to worship Him as the
00:20:51.33\00:20:55.56
Creator.
00:20:55.56\00:20:57.40
Now this is God's reassurance
to a skeptical world, to a
00:20:57.40\00:21:01.50
post-modern world, to an
unbelieving world, that áNo,
00:21:01.50\00:21:03.90
that we didn't
get here by accidentá.
00:21:03.90\00:21:06.03
We're not the result of
random processes, a chance
00:21:06.03\00:21:08.63
Big Bang that took
place independent of any real
00:21:08.63\00:21:11.20
purpose.
00:21:11.20\00:21:19.53
It's in the Book of
Revelation, this hard to
00:21:19.53\00:21:21.36
understand, this mystical,
shadowy revelation, that
00:21:21.36\00:21:23.03
Jesus helps us
understand our true value.
00:21:23.03\00:21:24.66
Revelation reassures us
that we were formed in the image
00:21:24.66\00:21:26.73
of God, created to
live forever, "fearfully and
00:21:26.73\00:21:29.03
wonderfully made" as David
wrote in the Book of Psalms.
00:21:29.03\00:21:33.00
The idea that humanity is
simply the result of a freak,
00:21:33.00\00:21:35.66
chance occurrence robs you
of your true identity and your
00:21:35.66\00:21:39.60
real worth.
00:21:39.60\00:21:41.43
It was William Jennings
Bryan is quoted as having said,
00:21:41.43\00:21:45.10
"All the ills from
which American suffers can be
00:21:45.10\00:21:47.63
traced to the teaching of
evolution." I'm not sure it's
00:21:47.63\00:21:50.66
necessary to go that far,
but when you teach young people
00:21:50.66\00:21:54.40
that they're nothing more
than animals, why should you
00:21:54.40\00:21:56.33
be surprised when
they act that way.
00:21:56.33\00:21:58.93
A comedian once said that if
evolution were true, how come
00:21:58.93\00:22:00.86
mothers only have two hands?
00:22:00.86\00:22:02.86
Well, argue all you want,
but in the last book of the
00:22:02.86\00:22:04.73
Bible, the often-confused
Book of Revelation, God
00:22:04.73\00:22:10.46
emphasizes in the Book of
Revelation that Jesus is the
00:22:10.46\00:22:14.66
Creator, and we are to
worship Him as the Creator.
00:22:14.66\00:22:18.90
We are the works of
His hands, we're made for a
00:22:18.90\00:22:21.66
purpose, and that purpose
is to know and serve God, to
00:22:21.66\00:22:24.46
realize our full potential
in Christ, to put off sin and to
00:22:24.46\00:22:27.46
put off all things that
are destructive, and to put on
00:22:27.46\00:22:31.33
Jesus and live a life of
eternal worth where we are
00:22:31.33\00:22:35.40
kept by the love of a
merciful, loving Saviour.
00:22:35.40\00:22:40.50
In 2003 Elizabeth Gibson
was walking one morning in
00:22:40.50\00:22:42.83
Manhattan - New York City
when she s spotted something
00:22:42.83\00:22:46.20
brightly coloured wedged
between two large trash bags
00:22:46.20\00:22:49.36
on a sidewalk near
Broadway and 72nd Street.
00:22:49.36\00:22:54.13
rious about this, she
examined the trash a little
00:22:54.13\00:22:57.43
more closely and discovered
that what was left as trash
00:22:57.43\00:23:00.40
was actually a painting.
00:23:00.40\00:23:02.16
She said, "It didn't seem
right for any piece of art to
00:23:02.16\00:23:05.20
be discarded like that,"
so just 20 minutes before the
00:23:05.20\00:23:08.40
garbage truck came she took
it home and hung the painting
00:23:08.40\00:23:12.26
- a little bigger than 3
feet by 4 feet - on the wall of
00:23:12.26\00:23:16.56
her apartment.
00:23:16.56\00:23:18.16
It turned out to be a
painting by Mexican artist
00:23:18.16\00:23:20.70
Rufino Tamayo that had
been stolen 20 years before.
00:23:20.70\00:23:25.43
Ms Gibson contacted
authorities and the painting
00:23:25.43\00:23:28.90
was eventually sold at
auction for more than a
00:23:28.90\00:23:32.46
million dollars.
00:23:32.46\00:23:34.10
And it had been
languishing in the trash.
00:23:34.10\00:23:39.66
Too many people consider
the Book of Revelation to be
00:23:39.66\00:23:42.23
little more than trash, and
they go right past it without
00:23:42.23\00:23:46.40
taking the time to look at
it and understand it's true
00:23:46.40\00:23:49.26
value.
00:23:49.26\00:23:50.53
Valuable it is: it's the
"Revelatúon of Jesus Christ",
00:23:50.53\00:23:54.86
and it exists to point us
to the One who offers peace and
00:23:54.86\00:23:58.43
freedom and salvation and
eternal life to all who want
00:23:58.43\00:24:03.50
it.
00:24:03.50\00:24:04.40
Don't make the mistake of
failing to see Jesus in the
00:24:04.40\00:24:06.40
Book of Revelation.
00:24:06.40\00:24:07.60
We've seen today portraits
of Jesus from the book of
00:24:07.60\00:24:10.30
Revelation.
00:24:10.30\00:24:11.60
He is our Savior.
00:24:11.60\00:24:13.20
He tells us in
Revelation how we can be saved.
00:24:13.20\00:24:16.80
He's coming back soon to take
us home and he is the Creator
00:24:16.80\00:24:19.63
of the world.
00:24:19.63\00:24:21.76
Now, as important as
they are, there's more to
00:24:21.76\00:24:24.86
Revelation than
beasts and horns.
00:24:24.86\00:24:27.40
Revelation isn't the book
of the beast, it's the book of
00:24:27.40\00:24:29.43
the Lamb.
00:24:29.43\00:24:31.03
Read Revelation to find Jesus.
00:24:31.03\00:24:33.60
And you'll meet Him
there, and He'll transform your
00:24:33.60\00:24:35.66
life.
00:24:35.66\00:24:40.80
An ancient city rises (music)
00:24:40.80\00:24:49.70
the most wicked city on earth.
00:24:49.70\00:24:57.40
The prophets said
it would be destroyed
00:24:57.40\00:25:03.16
they were right.
00:25:03.16\00:25:08.50
It has never been rebuilt.
00:25:08.50\00:25:13.10
Yet the ancient
prophets saw her rising.
00:25:13.10\00:25:18.53
And then the world
ends (music) Babylon Rising
00:25:18.53\00:25:34.50
Do you know what's coming?
00:25:34.50\00:25:39.40
Babylon Rising is a dynamic
book by Pr. John Bradshaw
00:25:39.40\00:25:42.16
that describes the significance
of Babylon in Bible Prophecy.
00:25:42.16\00:25:46.30
Right now, this powerful book
is available free from It Is
00:25:46.30\00:25:49.06
Written.
00:25:49.06\00:25:51.50
Just call 1.800.253.3000.
00:25:51.50\00:25:53.56
Ask for the book
Babylon Rising or write to It Is
00:25:53.56\00:25:57.53
Written, Box O, Thousand
Oaks, California 91359 and we
00:25:57.53\00:26:01.43
will mail a copy to your
address in North America.
00:26:01.43\00:26:04.66
Please note this free book
is limited to the supply on
00:26:04.66\00:26:06.86
hand.
00:26:06.86\00:26:07.83
For even faster access,
you can download a free,
00:26:07.83\00:26:09.96
electronic version of the
book Babylon Rising from our
00:26:09.96\00:26:12.40
website.
00:26:12.40\00:26:13.83
Babylon Rising is also a
four part seminar presented by
00:26:13.83\00:26:15.43
John Bradshaw.
00:26:15.43\00:26:16.26
For details, please visit
our website: itiswritten.com and
00:26:16.26\00:26:20.06
discover more about
Babylon Rising and many other
00:26:20.06\00:26:23.23
inspirational resources.
00:26:23.23\00:26:25.33
It Is Written is a
faith-based outreach made
00:26:25.33\00:26:27.63
possible by viewers like you.
00:26:27.63\00:26:29.36
Thank you for
your continued support.
00:26:29.36\00:26:31.46
Our toll-free number is
1.800.253.3000 and our web
00:26:31.46\00:26:35.03
address is itiswritten.com.
00:26:35.03\00:26:39.26
Thanks for joining me today.
00:26:39.26\00:26:39.83
It's in the Book of
Revelation that Jesus says He
00:26:39.83\00:26:42.76
knocks on the
door of our hearts.
00:26:42.76\00:26:45.23
Let's pray together right now
and invite Him to be the Lord
00:26:45.23\00:26:48.66
of our hearts today.
00:26:48.66\00:26:50.96
Father in heaven, I thank
you for the Book of Revelation
00:26:50.96\00:26:53.76
and even though there are
some things in the Book of
00:26:53.76\00:26:56.16
Revelation that cause us to
scratch our head, really they
00:26:56.16\00:26:59.13
are put there to
drive us to study deeper.
00:26:59.13\00:27:02.20
I pray that we can see the
key topics, the main things,
00:27:02.20\00:27:05.93
all you wish for us to
see and grab a hold of.
00:27:05.93\00:27:09.30
In Revelation, I pray you'll
help us find Jesus and I ask
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you that this Revelation
of Jesus Christ would truly
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reveal him to us and help
us to have faith in Jesus, that
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will see us out of this world
and into the world to come.
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Keep us now, we
pray, in Jesus' name, amen.
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[Music] I look forward to
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seeing you again next time.
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Until then, Remember, It
Is Written, Man shall not live
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by bread alone, but by every
word that proceeds from the
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mouth of God.
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