It has stood the test of time.
00:00:07.43\00:00:12.30
God's book.
00:00:12.30\00:00:13.60
The Bible.
00:00:13.60\00:00:17.23
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:17.23\00:00:22.20
It is written sharing
hope around the globe.
00:00:22.20\00:00:28.80
Thanks for joining me today
You know, I'll never forget
00:00:36.70\00:00:40.13
how dark the darkness was.
00:00:40.13\00:00:42.93
My family and I went caving,
and while we loved seeing
00:00:42.93\00:00:46.96
the incredible beauty of rock
formations and while we enjoyed
00:00:46.96\00:00:49.96
clambering around on
great rocks and seeing the
00:00:49.96\00:00:53.23
stalagmites and stalactites
and squeezing through those
00:00:53.23\00:00:56.80
narrow gaps , to be
honest with you, that's the part
00:00:56.80\00:00:59.40
I really don't enjoy -
while we were doing all that
00:00:59.40\00:01:02.46
we also discovered just
how dark darkness can be.
00:01:02.46\00:01:07.06
When you turn off
your flashlight, it's DARK
00:01:07.06\00:01:10.26
down there.
00:01:10.26\00:01:11.13
Darker than the
darkest night, it's a darkness
00:01:11.13\00:01:13.56
you can almost feel!
00:01:13.56\00:01:15.63
It - is - dark!
00:01:15.63\00:01:19.00
I remember us all
agreeing how thankful we were
00:01:19.00\00:01:21.70
to have light.
00:01:21.70\00:01:23.33
We realized that without it
we'd be in very big trouble -
00:01:23.33\00:01:26.03
even with our
experienced friends guiding us.
00:01:26.03\00:01:28.96
There was be no way in the
world we could get have got
00:01:28.96\00:01:31.43
out of that dark
place without out light.
00:01:31.43\00:01:34.50
What a relief it was to know
that we had light to guide us
00:01:34.50\00:01:37.16
out of there.
00:01:37.16\00:01:38.46
As long as we turned
on the light we'd be okay.
00:01:38.46\00:01:42.06
But without the light,
we were helpless, stuck
00:01:42.06\00:01:45.33
in the darkest darkness a
person could ever experience.
00:01:45.33\00:01:49.86
You know, we're
living in a dark world,
00:01:49.86\00:01:52.96
perhaps the darkest it has
ever been since time began.
00:01:52.96\00:01:56.73
This is an age of
materialism, post-modernism,
00:01:56.73\00:01:59.20
cynicism and spiritualism.
00:01:59.20\00:02:01.90
Our societies are darkened
by crime and vice, substance
00:02:01.90\00:02:04.66
abuse and child abuse,
aggression, depression,
00:02:04.66\00:02:08.10
oppression and recession.
00:02:08.10\00:02:11.10
Financially the planet seems
to be teetering on the brink
00:02:11.10\00:02:12.70
of absolute ruin.
00:02:12.70\00:02:14.30
It isn't surprising anymore
to hear of whole countries
00:02:14.30\00:02:16.96
whose economy has tanked,
and the resulting shockwaves
00:02:16.96\00:02:20.43
affect financial
markets all around the world.
00:02:20.43\00:02:24.30
It's tempting to think
that there's no way out of the
00:02:24.30\00:02:27.30
darkness enveloping the world.
00:02:27.30\00:02:29.10
Except for one thing.
00:02:29.10\00:02:30.63
The light.
00:02:30.63\00:02:31.96
God has left us with a light.
00:02:31.96\00:02:33.90
Jesus, the Light of the
world, came to Planet Earth
00:02:33.90\00:02:38.73
two millennia ago to save
humanity from its depravity
00:02:38.73\00:02:42.53
and to reveal to the world
the character of His heavenly
00:02:42.53\00:02:44.46
Father.
00:02:44.46\00:02:46.16
And He left us with His holy
word, the Bible, which David
00:02:46.16\00:02:51.23
described in Psalm
119:105 as being "a lamp...
00:02:51.23\00:02:54.73
and a light".
00:02:54.73\00:02:56.33
The Old Testament tells the
story of the creation of the
00:02:56.33\00:03:00.40
world, the calling of God's
people, the lives and examples
00:03:00.40\00:03:04.26
of the patriarchs and
the prophets, the giving
00:03:04.26\00:03:07.46
of God's law and the
journeying of the Israelites.
00:03:07.46\00:03:10.80
The New Testament introduces
us to Jesus, His life and
00:03:10.80\00:03:14.16
ministry, and the story of
the early Christian Church -
00:03:14.16\00:03:17.93
how a dozen men brought
the message of salvation
00:03:17.93\00:03:20.46
to an entire planet.
00:03:20.46\00:03:22.33
But what about the
days in which WE live.
00:03:22.33\00:03:25.63
Does the Bible speak to
an age when economies are
00:03:25.63\00:03:28.33
failing and people
are searching for answers?
00:03:28.33\00:03:32.23
Does the Bible talk to the
time in earth's history when
00:03:32.23\00:03:35.50
the majority of the
signs of Christ's return
00:03:35.50\00:03:37.73
have been fulfilled?
00:03:37.73\00:03:39.00
Does the Bible speak
specifically to a world of
00:03:39.00\00:03:41.23
which it could be
said is "in the dark"?
00:03:41.23\00:03:44.46
Well - yes it does.
00:03:44.46\00:03:46.83
God's word, the Holy Bible,
has special light for people
00:03:46.83\00:03:51.23
living in the last
days of earth's history.
00:03:51.23\00:03:53.63
The final book of the
Bible is the book of Revelation,
00:03:53.63\00:03:56.23
which God says was
written to show His people,
00:03:56.23\00:03:59.46
things which must
shortly come to pass.
00:03:59.46\00:04:02.36
Revelation 1:1.
00:04:02.36\00:04:04.03
As God guided the Old
Testament church and the
00:04:04.03\00:04:06.56
early Christian church,
God seeks to guide His church
00:04:06.56\00:04:09.13
today with what is written
in the Book of Revelation.
00:04:09.13\00:04:12.63
So what is the Book of
Revelation actually all about?
00:04:12.63\00:04:17.43
For the uninitiated,
the Book of Revelation
00:04:17.43\00:04:19.30
can be hard going!
00:04:19.30\00:04:21.80
I remember as a boy
deciding I was going to read and
00:04:21.80\00:04:24.56
understand the
Book of Revelation.
00:04:24.56\00:04:27.40
So I took down the big family
Bible my Dad had bought from
00:04:27.40\00:04:30.10
Readers' Digest and I
turned to book of Revelation
00:04:30.10\00:04:33.93
and started reading.
00:04:33.93\00:04:36.63
The plan was to read it
through and figure it out.
00:04:36.63\00:04:40.23
Do I need to tell you
it didn't quite work out
00:04:40.23\00:04:42.23
that way...
00:04:42.23\00:04:44.93
I read about seven
churches I'd never heard of.
00:04:44.93\00:04:47.70
I read about seals
and trumpets and locusts,
00:04:47.70\00:04:50.76
and water turning to blood,
thunders, horns, seven plagues,
00:04:50.76\00:04:53.93
people coming back
from the dead, beasts,
00:04:53.93\00:04:57.53
something that came up
from the bottomless pit...
00:04:57.53\00:04:59.93
whatever that was.
00:04:59.93\00:05:01.80
I didn't have a clue.
00:05:01.80\00:05:04.10
I put the Family Bible
back on the bookshelf and hoped
00:05:04.10\00:05:08.40
that maybe one day
I'd be able to understand
00:05:08.40\00:05:10.33
the Book of Revelation.
00:05:10.33\00:05:11.93
I hoped, but I
sure wasn't confident.
00:05:11.93\00:05:15.23
Well, years later I
discovered that the Book
00:05:15.23\00:05:17.16
of Revelation, while
clothed in symbols and signs, is
00:05:17.16\00:05:19.96
a book that
actually CAN be understood.
00:05:19.96\00:05:24.70
Now I'm not going to claim
to have the inside track on
00:05:24.70\00:05:26.70
every last word and phrase
in the book of Revelation, but I
00:05:26.70\00:05:29.70
want to tell you today that
the major themes of the Book
00:05:29.70\00:05:31.80
of Revelation can be clearly
understood, and that they'll
00:05:31.80\00:05:34.33
lead you to a very good place.
00:05:34.33\00:05:39.76
In fact, the very first
verse of the Book of Revelation
00:05:39.76\00:05:43.76
helps us to understand
God's purpose in giving us
00:05:43.76\00:05:46.36
that book.
00:05:46.36\00:05:47.90
I'll tell you more
about it in just a moment.
00:05:47.90\00:05:51.46
?(music)? It Is
Written is dedicated
00:05:51.46\00:05:52.66
to sharing the
gospel around the world.
00:05:52.66\00:05:55.06
To discover more about It Is
Written, I invite you to visit
00:05:55.06\00:05:57.60
our website, itiswritten.com,
and browse the dozens of pages
00:05:57.60\00:06:01.70
that describe what
we do and how we do it.
00:06:01.70\00:06:04.36
Let's get to know
each other better.
00:06:04.36\00:06:06.13
Visit our website
itiswritten.com today.
00:06:06.13\00:06:09.96
In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God
says "It is written 'Man shall
00:06:12.50\00:06:16.46
not live by bread alone but
by every word that proceeds out
00:06:16.46\00:06:20.20
of the mouth of God'."
00:06:20.20\00:06:21.80
Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:06:21.80\00:06:24.80
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:06:24.80\00:06:28.13
especially for
busy people like you.
00:06:28.13\00:06:30.40
Look for Every Word on selected
networks or watch it on-line
00:06:30.40\00:06:34.06
everyday on our
website itiswritten.com.
00:06:34.06\00:06:37.73
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:06:37.73\00:06:39.43
Watch Every Word.
00:06:39.43\00:06:41.03
You'll be glad you did.
00:06:41.03\00:06:42.63
Here's a sample.
00:06:42.63\00:06:44.33
One of the great themes in the
Bible is the Second Coming of
00:06:53.53\00:06:55.96
Jesus and again and again the
Bible urges us to be ready for
00:06:55.96\00:06:59.13
that day.
00:06:59.13\00:07:00.40
But notice what Paul
wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
00:07:00.40\00:07:04.56
He said, "For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the
00:07:04.56\00:07:07.10
Lord so comes as a
thief in the night.
00:07:07.10\00:07:09.93
Thieves come unexpectedly.
00:07:09.93\00:07:11.63
Usually, when people are
not anticipating them and most
00:07:11.63\00:07:14.20
often when people
are not ready for them.
00:07:14.20\00:07:16.73
Paul says that for those
who are not ready, the return of
00:07:16.73\00:07:18.76
Jesus will come as a surprise,
something for which they are
00:07:18.76\00:07:21.86
not prepared, like
a thief in the night.
00:07:21.86\00:07:24.53
The whole purpose of this life
is to get ready for the life
00:07:24.53\00:07:26.86
to come.
00:07:26.86\00:07:28.26
What are you spending
your time on or devoting your
00:07:28.26\00:07:30.90
energies to.
00:07:30.90\00:07:32.73
Don't let the return of
Jesus catch you unawares.
00:07:32.73\00:07:37.90
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:07:37.90\00:07:40.23
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:07:40.23\00:07:44.26
I'm glad you've joined me today.
00:07:46.83\00:07:48.63
We're discussing the Book
of Revelation, a book that is
00:07:48.63\00:07:51.13
often confused
and misunderstood.
00:07:51.13\00:07:54.06
What's it really all about?
00:07:54.06\00:07:56.36
A few years ago a man told me
that his Sunday School teacher
00:07:56.36\00:07:58.83
reckoned that the
Book of Revelation was
00:07:58.83\00:08:00.53
nothing more than a Stephen
King book tucked into the
00:08:00.53\00:08:03.53
back of the Bible.
00:08:03.53\00:08:04.83
Imagine - the book of
Revelation on the same level
00:08:04.83\00:08:07.76
as Cujo and The Shining!
00:08:07.76\00:08:09.86
If you want to know what
the Book of Revelation really is
00:08:09.86\00:08:11.86
all about, all you have to
do is open it up and read the
00:08:11.86\00:08:16.40
very first verse.
00:08:16.40\00:08:18.43
It says, The Revelation of
Jesus Christ, which God gave
00:08:18.43\00:08:22.23
unto him, to shew unto
his servants things which must
00:08:22.23\00:08:28.06
shortly come to pass.
00:08:28.06\00:08:29.80
Revelation 1:1 The Book of
Revelation is the "Revelation
00:08:29.80\00:08:34.80
of Jesus Christ." The Book's
purpose is to reveal Jesus!
00:08:34.80\00:08:39.70
And how important is
that in a world where Jesus is
00:08:39.70\00:08:41.70
largely unknown and
hugely misunderstood.
00:08:41.70\00:08:45.63
While Planet Earth is
coming apart at the seams,
00:08:45.63\00:08:48.36
God points us to a book
He inspired to be a light
00:08:48.36\00:08:51.70
in the dark.
00:08:51.70\00:08:53.26
In fact, the third verse of
the book of Revelation says,
00:08:53.26\00:08:57.26
"Blessed is he who reads,
and they that hear the words of
00:08:57.26\00:09:00.13
this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written
00:09:00.13\00:09:02.63
therein.
00:09:02.63\00:09:03.76
For the time is at hand."
00:09:03.76\00:09:05.70
With respect to Stephen King,
I'm not sure it could be said
00:09:05.70\00:09:08.40
that a person who reads his
books is going to be "blessed".
00:09:08.40\00:09:12.26
The apostle John wrote
Revelation to help us focus
00:09:12.26\00:09:14.76
on what's really important
down here in the end of time.
00:09:14.76\00:09:18.90
You know that John was
very close to Jesus, and you see
00:09:18.90\00:09:21.96
that reflected in what he wrote.
00:09:21.96\00:09:24.13
Throughout the Book
of Revelation he presents
00:09:24.13\00:09:26.00
a number of portraits of Jesus,
insights into the person and
00:09:26.00\00:09:31.06
character of Jesus Christ.
00:09:31.06\00:09:33.30
And these portraits help us
understand the key themes of
00:09:33.30\00:09:35.86
the Book of
Revelation - they're like a
00:09:35.86\00:09:39.70
"light in the dark".
00:09:39.70\00:09:41.10
Now just five verses into
the book of Revelation is the
00:09:41.10\00:09:44.43
first portrayal of Jesus
found in the 404 verses that
00:09:44.43\00:09:47.90
make up the Book of Revelation.
00:09:47.90\00:09:50.10
John writes, "Unto Him
who loved us, and washed us
00:09:50.10\00:09:54.80
from our sins in His blood..."
00:09:54.80\00:09:58.43
Just this far into
the Apocalypse, this book
00:09:58.43\00:10:01.53
that some still claim is
a "closed" or "sealed" book,
00:10:01.53\00:10:05.73
John introduces us to his
friend Jesus as the Saviour
00:10:05.73\00:10:09.43
of the world.
00:10:09.43\00:10:11.46
He describes Jesus - "in
the book of Revelation" - as One
00:10:11.46\00:10:14.56
who has loved the world.
00:10:14.56\00:10:17.03
Even that much is important,
pointing out that Jesus takes
00:10:17.03\00:10:20.83
a personal, loving interest
in this world and what takes
00:10:20.83\00:10:23.96
place here.
00:10:23.96\00:10:25.10
He isn't detached from the
reality of our daily lives.
00:10:25.10\00:10:27.86
He loves us.
00:10:27.86\00:10:29.30
And He "washed us from
our sins in His blood."
00:10:29.30\00:10:32.93
Here's a key point.
00:10:32.93\00:10:34.43
One of the very first
things done by the writer of the
00:10:34.43\00:10:37.13
Book of Revelation is
to introduce Jesus as the
00:10:37.13\00:10:41.03
Saviour of the world, and
explain the means by which
00:10:41.03\00:10:44.76
salvation can be
possessed by the believer.
00:10:44.76\00:10:47.46
Jesus is the
Saviour of the world -
00:10:47.46\00:10:49.80
He "washed us from our sins."
00:10:49.80\00:10:52.56
He did that for everyone.
00:10:52.56\00:10:54.43
And this good news is found
in the 5th verse of the Book
00:10:54.43\00:10:58.46
of Revelation.
00:10:58.46\00:11:00.13
Jesus is the
Saviour of the world.
00:11:00.13\00:11:04.20
You know, the world
over there are people whose
00:11:04.20\00:11:06.60
religion is a form of
slavery, to be honest.
00:11:06.60\00:11:09.43
In many pagan
religions people must appease
00:11:09.43\00:11:13.00
"hard-to-please" gods.
00:11:13.00\00:11:15.00
In many Christian faiths
believers aren't sure how to
00:11:15.00\00:11:18.43
they can be sure
eternal life is theirs.
00:11:18.43\00:11:24.63
They try to be good enough
to go to heaven, or they think
00:11:24.63\00:11:26.33
salvation comes by penances
or pilgrimages or good works
00:11:26.33\00:11:29.00
or offerings made.
00:11:29.00\00:11:30.96
As good as those things might
be, they are not what brings
00:11:30.96\00:11:34.53
cleansing into our lives.
00:11:34.53\00:11:37.00
Jesus, the Light of a Dark
World, brings salvation to us
00:11:37.00\00:11:40.80
through His blood.
00:11:40.80\00:11:43.00
That is, by His death He
paid the penalty for our sins.
00:11:43.00\00:11:47.13
We can't pay that penalty
ourselves and we certainly
00:11:47.13\00:11:50.20
cannot earn salvation.
00:11:50.20\00:11:52.13
It's a gift, and we receive
it by faith from the Saviour
00:11:52.13\00:11:57.03
of the book of Revelation.
00:11:57.03\00:11:59.70
So the Book of Revelation
is a book of Salvation through
00:11:59.70\00:12:03.16
Christ.
00:12:03.16\00:12:04.36
Revelation 3:21 has Jesus
knocking on the door of the
00:12:04.36\00:12:07.73
human heart, seeking
admission so that He can come
00:12:07.73\00:12:10.16
into the heart
and change the life.
00:12:10.16\00:12:13.53
Revelation 7 has the
saved being sealed with
00:12:13.53\00:12:16.20
the seal of God.
00:12:16.20\00:12:17.76
Revelation 14 talks about
God's saints, and the Book of
00:12:17.76\00:12:21.56
Revelation ends with God's
people reigning with Him in a
00:12:21.56\00:12:24.86
land where there is no more sin.
00:12:24.86\00:12:26.93
What's Revelation about?
00:12:26.93\00:12:28.43
Revelation is a
book of salvation.
00:12:28.43\00:12:31.80
God knew how much we'd
need assurance down here in the
00:12:31.80\00:12:34.50
close of time
regarding salvation from sin.
00:12:34.50\00:12:37.16
In a time when there has
never been so much sin, God
00:12:37.16\00:12:40.53
tells us that there is a
way out of sin and and a way out
00:12:40.53\00:12:44.43
of guilt and a way out
of shame - and that way is
00:12:44.43\00:12:47.03
through Jesus.
00:12:47.03\00:12:48.43
How do I know?
00:12:48.43\00:12:49.76
Because the Book of
Revelation tells us that.
00:12:49.76\00:12:53.00
Now then just two verses
later, in Revelation 1:7,
00:12:53.00\00:12:56.33
there's presented
another portrait of Jesus.
00:12:56.33\00:13:00.26
Let's look at that
verse, Behold, he cometh with
00:13:00.26\00:13:04.56
clouds; and every
eye shall see him.
00:13:04.56\00:13:09.66
Revelation 1:7 We're just
seven verses into the book of
00:13:09.66\00:13:12.53
Revelation - remember, a book
that many people, many Bible
00:13:12.53\00:13:15.96
teachers, many whole churches
maintain is a closed book and
00:13:15.96\00:13:19.10
is not for us today -
just seven verses in there's a
00:13:19.10\00:13:23.30
portrayal of the greatest
event in all of human history
00:13:23.30\00:13:27.73
since the incarnation of Christ.
00:13:27.73\00:13:31.06
Another key theme of the
Book of Revelation is the return
00:13:31.06\00:13:33.66
of Jesus Christ.
00:13:33.66\00:13:35.70
The Second Coming of Jesus
is mentioned in the Book of
00:13:35.70\00:13:38.90
Revelation in its 7th verse
and then a little bit later
00:13:38.90\00:13:42.46
in Revelation chapter 14.
00:13:42.46\00:13:44.53
I'll read verses 14 and
16 where the Bible says,
00:13:44.53\00:13:51.20
Revelation 14:14, 16,
they say this, And I looked,
00:13:51.20\00:13:53.40
and behold a while cloud,
and upon the cloud one sat like
00:13:53.40\00:13:56.30
unto the Son of man, having
on his head a golden crown,
00:13:56.30\00:14:00.56
and in his hand
a sharp sickle...
00:14:00.56\00:14:03.76
And he that sat on the cloud
thrust in his sickle on the
00:14:03.76\00:14:07.20
earth; and the earth was
reaped. Revelation 14:14, 16
00:14:07.20\00:14:11.76
Again, this is
the Second Coming of
00:14:11.76\00:14:14.06
Jesus.
00:14:14.06\00:14:15.10
Now, this time, it is
mentioned in the context of
00:14:15.10\00:14:17.10
the Three Angels' Messages,
the last gospel message to be
00:14:17.10\00:14:20.36
proclaimed to the world.
00:14:20.36\00:14:21.96
The Second Coming of Jesus,
spoken of 7 verses into the
00:14:21.96\00:14:25.20
Book of Revelation
is emphasized again in
00:14:25.20\00:14:28.56
Revelation 14.
00:14:28.56\00:14:29.73
And then in Revelation
19, another picture of Jesus
00:14:29.73\00:14:34.00
coming back to the world.
00:14:34.00\00:14:35.70
This is one of the
most stunning passages of
00:14:35.70\00:14:37.93
Scripture you'll find.
00:14:37.93\00:14:39.56
It says, starting in
verse 11, Revelation 19:11,
00:14:39.56\00:14:44.53
And I saw heaven opened,
and behold a while horse;
00:14:44.53\00:14:48.23
and he that sat upon him
was called Faithful and True,
00:14:48.23\00:14:50.96
and in righteousness he
doth judge and make war.
00:14:50.96\00:14:54.26
His eyes were as a flame
of fire, and on his head were
00:14:54.26\00:14:57.10
many crowns; and he had
a name written, that no man
00:14:57.10\00:15:00.93
knew, but he himself.
00:15:00.93\00:15:03.16
And he was clothed with a
vesture dipped in blood: and
00:15:03.16\00:15:06.33
his name is called The
Word of God. Revelation 19:11-12
00:15:06.33\00:15:10.13
And now I'll
jump to verse 16 where
00:15:10.13\00:15:11.93
it says, And he hath on
his vesture and on his thigh a
00:15:11.93\00:15:15.33
name written, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
00:15:15.33\00:15:20.80
Revelation 19:16 Did God
know that in the 21st Century,
00:15:20.80\00:15:24.16
with all of its difficulties
and burdens and complexities
00:15:24.16\00:15:28.20
and pressures that
people would need hope?
00:15:28.20\00:15:31.53
Did God know that the hope
of the return of Jesus would
00:15:31.53\00:15:34.20
help a person see beyond the
darkness and the difficulties
00:15:34.20\00:15:36.60
of this world?
00:15:36.60\00:15:38.06
Yes, He did.
00:15:38.06\00:15:39.33
And so He made the subject
of the Second Coming of Jesus a
00:15:39.33\00:15:43.40
major point of emphasis
in the Book of Revelation.
00:15:43.40\00:15:45.63
He hasn't forgotten
about this world, He hasn't
00:15:45.63\00:15:48.20
forgotten about you, and
He is coming back soon to end
00:15:48.20\00:15:51.36
the sin and the tragedy and
the heartbreak experienced in
00:15:51.36\00:15:55.73
a world where sin
has done a deadly work.
00:15:55.73\00:16:00.16
Revelation tells us that.
00:16:00.16\00:16:02.46
Now if you want to, you
can be intimidated by seals and
00:16:02.46\00:16:05.40
trumpets and you can do
battle with thunders and
00:16:05.40\00:16:08.03
plagues.
00:16:08.03\00:16:08.93
And I'm not saying those
things are not important.
00:16:08.93\00:16:10.70
They are - very important.
00:16:10.70\00:16:11.36
That's why God had them
put in the Book of Revelation.
00:16:11.36\00:16:14.36
But before you write off
Revelation and put it in the
00:16:14.36\00:16:16.80
"too tough" basket,
remember what its about.
00:16:16.80\00:16:20.83
A major theme of
Revelation is the Second Coming.
00:16:20.83\00:16:23.60
God tells us today there is
hope, because Jesus is coming
00:16:23.60\00:16:28.06
back soon.
00:16:28.06\00:16:29.90
There's another portrait of
Jesus I'd like to show you in
00:16:29.90\00:16:32.46
the Book of Revelation,
one that is designed to refute
00:16:32.46\00:16:36.66
Satan's major
last-day's deception.
00:16:36.66\00:16:40.56
I'll tell you about
that in just a moment.
00:16:40.56\00:16:42.00
[Music] Eyes for India is giving
00:16:43.40\00:16:51.90
sight to the blind and you can
be a part of this amazing work
00:16:51.90\00:16:56.00
that God is doing.
00:16:56.00\00:16:57.70
Fifteen million blind people
live in India, more than any
00:16:57.70\00:17:00.93
other country in the world,
and many of the blind in India
00:17:00.93\00:17:03.83
could see again, if only
they could have simple cataract
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surgery.
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It Is Written is
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Would you
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Call 1.800.253.3000 to donate
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00:17:33.63\00:17:37.43
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00:17:37.43\00:17:40.26
You will also find
Eyes for India on-line
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at It Is Written.com.
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Every $75 you give gives
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Eyes for India, doing the work
of Jesus in opening the eyes
00:17:50.20\00:17:53.93
of the blind and opening
hearts to the love of God.
00:17:53.93\00:17:59.53
I'm glad you joined me today.
00:17:59.93\00:18:01.70
The book of Revelation:
what's it really all about?
00:18:01.70\00:18:05.36
Is there more to it than
bloody water, blisters, boils
00:18:05.36\00:18:07.96
and beasts?
00:18:07.96\00:18:10.26
The Book of Revelation opens
with John writing that it is
00:18:10.26\00:18:12.83
"the Revelation of
Jesus Christ." Right from the
00:18:12.83\00:18:15.36
get-go God tells us that
the purpose of this book is to
00:18:15.36\00:18:18.36
help us to know Jesus,
and understand God's plans
00:18:18.36\00:18:21.73
for the final days
of earth's history.
00:18:21.73\00:18:23.66
So who is this Jesus who
is revealed in the Bible's
00:18:23.66\00:18:26.20
last book?
00:18:26.20\00:18:28.06
Revelation calls Him
the Alpha and the Omega.
00:18:28.06\00:18:31.06
Alpha and Omega are the first
and last letters of the Greek
00:18:31.06\00:18:33.43
alphabet - and Revelation was
written originally in Greek -
00:18:33.43\00:18:36.76
so John is calling Jesus
the "A" and the "Z" if you like,
00:18:36.76\00:18:40.16
the 'beginning and the end'.
00:18:40.16\00:18:41.96
That's in Revelation.
00:18:41.96\00:18:43.33
Jesus is called in Revelation
"The Bright and Morning Star"
00:18:43.33\00:18:46.16
in Revelation.
00:18:46.16\00:18:47.66
The Lion of the tribe of
Judah - the great, mighty
00:18:47.66\00:18:49.76
conquering One.
00:18:49.76\00:18:50.86
The Lamb as it had been slain
- the humble servant who went
00:18:50.86\00:18:54.16
meekly to His death so
that we could live forever.
00:18:54.16\00:18:58.56
He's the One who walks in
the midst of the churches.
00:18:58.56\00:19:01.40
He's the Son of God.
00:19:01.40\00:19:02.50
He's the Faithful
and the True Witness.
00:19:02.50\00:19:04.53
He's the Amen.
00:19:04.53\00:19:06.10
And remember, in Revelation
He's the King of Kings and
00:19:06.10\00:19:09.30
Lord of Lords.
00:19:09.30\00:19:10.53
You see, that's what
Revelation is all about.
00:19:10.53\00:19:13.93
Amidst the symbols and signs,
there's a Saviour, Jesus, who
00:19:13.93\00:19:17.10
wants to be known, because
if people only got to know Jesus
00:19:17.10\00:19:20.93
for themselves, they'd
experience peace and blessing.
00:19:20.93\00:19:25.73
Let's just look at one more
portrait of Jesus found in the
00:19:25.73\00:19:29.30
Bible's last book.
00:19:29.30\00:19:31.30
In Revelation 14:7 John
writes, Worship him that made
00:19:31.30\00:19:37.43
heaven, and earth, and
the sea, and the fountains of
00:19:37.43\00:19:40.60
waters.
00:19:40.60\00:19:42.03
Revelation 14:7 Now keep in
mind: the final great crisis
00:19:42.03\00:19:45.30
in the book of Revelation
centers on the question of
00:19:45.30\00:19:48.40
worship, with the
beast calling for worship in
00:19:48.40\00:19:51.60
Revelation 13, and the
Lamb seeking worship in the very
00:19:51.60\00:19:56.50
next chapter.
00:19:56.50\00:19:57.90
So why is it that Jesus
is worthy of worship at all?
00:19:57.90\00:20:03.20
Now you find the answer in
Revelation 14:7, I'll read it
00:20:03.20\00:20:06.50
again.
00:20:06.50\00:20:10.16
It says, Fear God and give
glory to him; for the hour of
00:20:10.16\00:20:12.93
his judgment is come: and
worship him that made heaven,
00:20:12.93\00:20:17.03
and earth, and the sea,
and the fountains of waters.
00:20:17.03\00:20:23.70
Revelation 14:7 In earth's
last conflict we are reminded
00:20:23.70\00:20:26.40
in the Book of Revelation
that Jesus is the Creator.
00:20:26.40\00:20:28.66
Remember that John 1:3 says
that, All things were made by
00:20:28.66\00:20:31.36
him, and without him was
not anything made that was made.
00:20:31.36\00:20:36.23
John 1:3 You read virtually
the same thing in Colossians
00:20:36.23\00:20:38.43
chapter 1.
00:20:38.43\00:20:40.26
Now that's not to say
Jesus did all of creation
00:20:40.26\00:20:42.36
independent of the
Father and the Spirit.
00:20:42.36\00:20:45.20
But it is to say that according
to the Bible, Jesus was
00:20:45.20\00:20:47.40
the active Agent in creation,
and when we're called to worship
00:20:47.40\00:20:51.03
Him we are called to
worship Him as the Creator.
00:20:51.03\00:20:57.10
Now this is God's reassurance
to a skeptical world,
00:20:57.10\00:21:01.20
to a post-modern world,
to an unbelieving world,
00:21:01.20\00:21:03.60
that "No, that we
didn't get here by accident".
00:21:03.60\00:21:06.36
We're not the result of
random processes, a chance
00:21:06.36\00:21:08.33
Big Bang that took
place independent of any real
00:21:08.33\00:21:11.63
purpose.
00:21:11.63\00:21:13.93
It's in the Book of
Revelation, this hard to
00:21:13.93\00:21:15.70
understand, this mystical,
shadowy revelation, that
00:21:15.70\00:21:18.60
Jesus helps us
understand our true value.
00:21:18.60\00:21:24.36
Revelation reassures us
that we were formed in the image
00:21:24.36\00:21:26.43
of God, created to
live forever, "fearfully and
00:21:26.43\00:21:28.73
wonderfully made" as David
wrote in the Book of Psalms.
00:21:28.73\00:21:32.70
The idea that humanity is
simply the result of a freak,
00:21:32.70\00:21:35.36
chance occurrence robs you
of your true identity and your
00:21:35.36\00:21:39.30
real worth.
00:21:39.30\00:21:41.13
It was William Jennings
Bryan is quoted as having said,
00:21:41.13\00:21:44.80
"All the ills from
which American suffers can be
00:21:44.80\00:21:47.33
traced to the teaching of
evolution." I'm not sure it's
00:21:47.33\00:21:50.36
necessary to go that far,
but when you teach young people
00:21:50.36\00:21:54.10
that they're nothing more
than animals, why should you
00:21:54.10\00:21:56.03
be surprised when
they act that way.
00:21:56.03\00:21:58.63
A comedian once said that if
evolution were true, how come
00:21:58.63\00:22:00.56
mothers only have two hands?
00:22:00.56\00:22:02.56
Well, argue all you want,
but in the last book of the
00:22:02.56\00:22:04.43
Bible, the often-confused
Book of Revelation, God
00:22:04.43\00:22:10.16
emphasizes in the Book of
Revelation that Jesus is the
00:22:10.16\00:22:14.36
Creator, and we are to
worship Him as the Creator.
00:22:14.36\00:22:18.60
We are the works of
His hands, we're made for a
00:22:18.60\00:22:21.36
purpose, and that purpose
is to know and serve God, to
00:22:21.36\00:22:24.16
realize our full potential
in Christ, to put off sin and to
00:22:24.16\00:22:27.16
put off all things that
are destructive, and to put on
00:22:27.16\00:22:31.03
Jesus and live a life of
eternal worth where we are
00:22:31.03\00:22:35.10
kept by the love of a
merciful, loving Saviour.
00:22:35.10\00:22:40.20
In 2003 Elizabeth Gibson
was walking one morning in
00:22:40.20\00:22:42.53
Manhattan - New York City
when she s spotted something
00:22:42.53\00:22:45.90
brightly coloured wedged
between two large trash bags
00:22:45.90\00:22:49.06
on a sidewalk near
Broadway and 72nd Street.
00:22:49.06\00:22:53.83
Curious about this, she
examined the trash a little
00:22:53.83\00:22:57.13
more closely and discovered
that what was left as trash
00:22:57.13\00:23:00.10
was actually a painting.
00:23:00.10\00:23:01.86
She said, "It didn't seem
right for any piece of art to
00:23:01.86\00:23:04.90
be discarded like that,"
so just 20 minutes before the
00:23:04.90\00:23:08.10
garbage truck came she took
it home and hung the painting
00:23:08.10\00:23:11.96
- a little bigger than 3
feet by 4 feet - on the wall of
00:23:11.96\00:23:16.26
her apartment.
00:23:16.26\00:23:17.86
It turned out to be a
painting by Mexican artist
00:23:17.86\00:23:20.40
Rufino Tamayo that had
been stolen 20 years before.
00:23:20.40\00:23:25.13
Ms Gibson contacted
authorities and the painting
00:23:25.13\00:23:28.60
was eventually sold at
auction for more than a
00:23:28.60\00:23:32.16
million dollars.
00:23:32.16\00:23:33.80
And it had been
languishing in the trash.
00:23:33.80\00:23:39.36
Too many people consider
the Book of Revelation to be
00:23:39.36\00:23:41.93
little more than trash, and
they go right past it without
00:23:41.93\00:23:46.10
taking the time to look at
it and understand it's true
00:23:46.10\00:23:48.96
value.
00:23:48.96\00:23:50.23
Valuable it is: it's the
"Revelation of Jesus Christ",
00:23:50.23\00:23:54.56
and it exists to point us
to the One who offers peace and
00:23:54.56\00:23:58.13
freedom and salvation and
eternal life to all who want
00:23:58.13\00:24:03.20
it.
00:24:03.20\00:24:04.10
Don't make the mistake of
failing to see Jesus in the
00:24:04.10\00:24:06.10
Book of Revelation.
00:24:06.10\00:24:07.30
We've seen today portraits
of Jesus from the book of
00:24:07.30\00:24:10.00
Revelation.
00:24:10.00\00:24:11.30
He is our Savior.
00:24:11.30\00:24:12.90
He tells us in
Revelation how we can be saved.
00:24:12.90\00:24:16.50
He's coming back soon to take
us home and he is the Creator
00:24:16.50\00:24:19.33
of the world.
00:24:19.33\00:24:21.46
Now, as important as
they are, there's more to
00:24:21.46\00:24:24.56
Revelation than
beasts and horns.
00:24:24.56\00:24:27.10
Revelation isn't the book
of the beast, it's the book of
00:24:27.10\00:24:29.13
the Lamb.
00:24:29.13\00:24:30.73
Read Revelation to find Jesus.
00:24:30.73\00:24:33.30
And you'll meet Him
there, and He'll transform your
00:24:33.30\00:24:35.36
life.
00:24:35.36\00:24:40.50
An ancient city rises (music)
00:24:40.50\00:24:49.40
the most wicked city on earth.
00:24:49.40\00:24:57.10
The prophets said
it would be destroyed
00:24:57.10\00:25:02.86
they were right.
00:25:02.86\00:25:08.20
It has never been rebuilt.
00:25:08.20\00:25:12.80
Yet the ancient
prophets saw her rising.
00:25:12.80\00:25:18.23
And then the world
ends (music) Babylon Rising
00:25:18.23\00:25:34.20
Do you know what's coming?
00:25:34.20\00:25:39.10
Babylon Rising is a dynamic
book by Pr. John Bradshaw
00:25:39.10\00:25:41.86
that describes the significance
of Babylon in Bible Prophecy.
00:25:41.86\00:25:46.00
Right now, this powerful book
is available free from It Is
00:25:46.00\00:25:48.76
Written.
00:25:48.76\00:25:51.20
Just call 1.800.253.3000.
00:25:51.20\00:25:53.26
Ask for the book
Babylon Rising or write to It Is
00:25:53.26\00:25:57.23
Written, Box O, Thousand
Oaks, California 91359 and we
00:25:57.23\00:26:01.13
will mail a copy to your
address in North America.
00:26:01.13\00:26:04.36
Please note this free book
is limited to the supply on
00:26:04.36\00:26:06.56
hand.
00:26:06.56\00:26:07.53
For even faster access,
you can download a free,
00:26:07.53\00:26:09.66
electronic version of the
book Babylon Rising from our
00:26:09.66\00:26:12.10
website.
00:26:12.10\00:26:13.53
Babylon Rising is also a
four part seminar presented by
00:26:13.53\00:26:15.13
John Bradshaw.
00:26:15.13\00:26:15.96
For details, please visit
our website: itiswritten.com and
00:26:15.96\00:26:19.76
discover more about
Babylon Rising and many other
00:26:19.76\00:26:22.93
inspirational resources.
00:26:22.93\00:26:25.03
It Is Written is a
faith-based outreach made
00:26:25.03\00:26:27.33
possible by viewers like you.
00:26:27.33\00:26:29.06
Thank you for
your continued support.
00:26:29.06\00:26:31.16
Our toll-free number is
1.800.253.3000 and our web
00:26:31.16\00:26:34.73
address is itiswritten.com.
00:26:34.73\00:26:38.96
Thanks for joining me today.
00:26:38.96\00:26:39.53
It's in the Book of
Revelation that Jesus says He
00:26:39.53\00:26:42.46
knocks on the
door of our hearts.
00:26:42.46\00:26:44.93
Let's pray together right now
and invite Him to be the Lord
00:26:44.93\00:26:48.36
of our hearts today.
00:26:48.36\00:26:50.66
Father in heaven, I thank
you for the Book of Revelation
00:26:50.66\00:26:53.46
and even though there are
some things in the Book of
00:26:53.46\00:26:55.86
Revelation that cause us to
scratch our head, really they
00:26:55.86\00:26:58.83
are put there to
drive us to study deeper.
00:26:58.83\00:27:01.90
I pray that we can see the
key topics, the main things,
00:27:01.90\00:27:05.63
all you wish for us to
see and grab a hold of.
00:27:05.63\00:27:09.00
In Revelation, I pray you'll
help us find Jesus and I ask
00:27:09.00\00:27:13.23
you that this Revelation
of Jesus Christ would truly
00:27:13.23\00:27:15.96
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]
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I look forward to
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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