Hello and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel,
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I'm Jill Morikone and we
are so excited that you have
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joined us for the
study of the word of God.
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It is a brand new year 2019 and
we have a brand new Quarterly,
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a brand new book to study,
that's the Book of Revelation.
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I'm so excited to delve
into this book and to see
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what God has
for us in this book.
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I want to introduce to
you our panel at this time...
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To my left is Pastor Kenny
Shelton, Pastor John Lomacang,
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Pastor Ryan Day and
my Sister Shelley Quinn,
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and it's a privilege
to open up the word of God
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with each one of you.
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You are each a student
of the word and I'm excited
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to hear what God has for
us through each one of you,
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and through the word of God.
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We want to encourage
you, since it's a new quarter,
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you need to get your
own copy of the Quarterly,
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"The Book of Revelation"
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You can go to the website
that's: ABSG.Adventist.org
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That stands for Adult
Bible Study Guide.Adventist.org
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You can get your own
copy and follow along with us
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or we always encourage
you to visit your local
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Seventh-day Adventist
Church, they would give you one
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of these and they would
encourage you to join a class
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and to have discussion together.
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Before we go any further
into the Book of Revelation,
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we always want to open up
with prayer, so Pastor Kenny,
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would you pray for
us? Sure, absolutely.
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Gracious Heavenly
Father... What a privilege it is
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that we might come before Thee.
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Lord, we come before
Thee because we need Your help
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today and we need the
power of Thy Holy Spirit.
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We pray that You will clear
our hearts, clear our minds.
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Lord, forgive us of any
sin, anything in our heart
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and life that need not be there.
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We need direct
communication with heaven.
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These are very, very
important lessons in this
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quarter and I pray, once
again, that Your Holy Spirit
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will be with each individual;
many minds and hearts be
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opened as they
study along with us.
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May we here strive to enter
into that straight gate, Lord,
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and we pray by
presenting what is truth;
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we pray our hearts will
be uplifted and we will see
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Jesus in a very special way
and encourage and strengthen
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us along the way.
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These things we ask in Jesus
name, as we thank You... Amen
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Amen! Thank you
so much Pastor Kenny.
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Sometimes people look
at the Book of Revelation
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and there are beasts,
and there are symbols,
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and they could say...
"This is a little scarier,
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this could be a little
difficult but you know what,
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Pastor Kenny, Revelation first
and foremost is about Jesus.
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It's a revelation
from Jesus about Him.
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It reveals His
character, His love, His death,
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resurrection and ascension,
His heavenly sanctuary
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and throne room.
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In fact, each section
of the Book of Revelation
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begins with an
introductory vision of Christ
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and something taking
place in the heavenlies.
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It reveals His plan
of redemption for fallen
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humanity; His plan for
the future; His soon return;
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His home which is the
inheritance of the saints;
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His power; His glory; His honor,
and most of all His victory.
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Praise the Lord for
the Book of Revelation!
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We know it was
written by the Apostle John.
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He was exiled on the Island
of Patmos which is a really
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tiny island in the Aegean
Sea, just on the southwest side
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just off the coast of
Turkey and it's probably only
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13 square miles and it's
rocky, and it's barren...
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And he was exiled there,
in the time then, you know,
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the Roman Empire ruled
the world at that time.
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And criminals
were sent to Patmos,
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and John went to Patmos.
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This was probably written
about A.D. 95, give or take
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a few years and toward the
close of Emperor Domitian and he
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encouraged worship
of himself as a deity.
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They had compulsory
emperor worship at some of the
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locations; there was
suppression of Christianity.
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There was the beginning of
persecution for Christianity,
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and the Christians at
that time needed hope,
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needed encouragement and the
Lord gave to the Apostle John
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the Book of Revelation.
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There's much of the Old
Testament in the Book of
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Revelation and Revelation
contains citations from
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or allusions to 28 of the
39 books of the Old Testament,
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and there's probably
550 direct references to
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something in the Old Testament.
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As we look at the Book of
Revelation, just before we
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jump into Sunday, there's
different interpretations to the
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Book of Revelation -
this would be across many
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different
Christian denominations,
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there's the "idealist"
and they focus on ideas.
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They say Revelation
provides, in symbolic terms,
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broad principles for
everyday life and certainly,
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there are things in Revelation
that we can learn from them.
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There's the "preterist,"
they focus on the past.
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And they say Revelation
addresses specific first century
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churches, first
century things and there is
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some truth to that too.
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Then there's the "futurist"
who say the focus on the future.
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Revelation features
the second coming and those
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eschatological events
meaning end-time events.
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And, of course, there are some
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end-time events in
the Book of Revelation.
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But the focus of our
panel and our discussion
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for the next 13 weeks will
be the "historicist" viewpoint
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with the focus on
that flow of history.
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Revelation speaks to the
full range of Christian history
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from John's day, all
the way until the second
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coming of Christ and beyond.
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Our quarterly here is written
by Dr. Ranko Stefanovic...
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Shelley, can you pronounce it?
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"Stefanovich." Okay.
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And I know he is a
professor of the New Testament
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at Andrews University and
he also has a program on 3ABN,
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"Revelation of the Coming King"
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So let's jump into our
memory text and our topic today,
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Sunday, is: "The
Title of the Book"
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And our memory
text is: Revelation 1:3,
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so if you have your Bibles, open
up and follow along with us.
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I'll be looking at the first
three verses here in Revelation.
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Revelation 1:3... "Blessed is
he who reads and those who hear
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the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are
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written in it,
for the time is near."
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Now Sunday's lesson is
actually the title of the book
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which is, of course...
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ"
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So, look at the first
verse. It says, "The Revelation
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of Jesus Christ."
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The word "Revelation"
in Greek is Apocalypse.
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It means "an uncovering,
revealing or unveiling."
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So what John is saying is this
is an unveiling of Jesus Christ,
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a revealing of Jesus Christ.
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Who is He? These are all
found in the Book of Revelation.
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He is the faithful witness.
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He is the first
begotten of the dead.
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He is Prince of
the Kings of the earth.
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He is the Son of Man.
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He who lives and was dead.
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He who holds the seven stars.
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He who walks in the midst
of the golden candlesticks.
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He is the Son of God.
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He which searches
the reins and hearts.
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He that has the seven stars.
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He that is holy and true.
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He that has the key of David.
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He that shuts
and no man can open.
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He is the
faithful and true witness.
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The Amen, the beginning
of the creation of God.
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The Lord, the Lion of the
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tribe of Judah.
The Root of David.
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A Lamb as it has been slain.
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The Lamb. The King of Kings,
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and Lord of Lords.
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The faithful and
true. The Word of God.
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The Rider of the
white horse. The Christ.
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The Lord God of
the Holy Prophets.
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The Bright and Morning Star.
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Alpha and Omega.
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The beginning and the end.
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The first and the last.
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That is what Jesus Christ is.
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All of those references
are Jesus Christ in the
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Book of Revelation
and we'll be studying that
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as we go through that.
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What does
Revelation reveal about Jesus?
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It reveals many things,
but three things that I can
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think of... it
reveals He is victorious #1.
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#2... It reveals He is our King.
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3... It reveals He is our Judge.
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He is victorious - Of course
we know from many passages
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in the word of God that He
was victorious at the cross.
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I think of, He's victorious over
the condemnation of the law,
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specifically at the cross.
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Galatians 3:13... Christ
has redeemed us from what?
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The curse of the law,
the condemnation of the law.
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Romans 3:23-24... "All
have sinned and fallen short
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of the glory of God,
being justified freely by His
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grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus.
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So we know that He
was victorious over the
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condemnation of the
law, and because of His
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perfect life and
perfect sacrifice, you and I
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can be justified and sanctified.
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That's revealed in many
other portions of Scripture,
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as the Scriptures I just read.
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We also know He is
victorious over the power
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of sin that enslaves us. Amen!
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Matthew 1:21... "Thou
shall call His name "Jesus"
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for He shall save His
people not in their sins,
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but He saves
them from their sins.
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Romans 6:22... "We are
set free from sin and having
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become slaves of God,
you have your fruit to
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holiness in the
end everlasting life.
00:10:06.33\00:10:08.87
We also know He was victorious
over the power of Satan.
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Hebrews 2:14-15... "Inasmuch
then as the children have
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partaken of flesh and
blood, He Himself likewise
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shared in the same,
that through death He might
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destroy him who had the power
of death, that is the devil,
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and release those
who through fear of death
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were all their
lifetime subject to bondage."
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And we know all of that
from many passages of Scripture
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outside of the Book of
Revelation, but I believe
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Revelation shows us
clearly that Christ is
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victorious the final
triumph at the end of time.
00:10:43.64\00:10:47.51
It shows us He is victorious
over Satan in this thing
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we call "The Great Controversy."
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It shows us that sin will
eventually be annihilated;
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that death will be no
more and that Christ wins.
00:10:57.92\00:11:02.69
Revelation 21... "I saw a
new heaven and a new earth,
00:11:02.72\00:11:07.00
for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away.
00:11:07.03\00:11:10.03
Behold the
tabernacle of God is with men.
00:11:10.07\00:11:13.60
He will dwell with them
and they shall be His people.
00:11:13.64\00:11:16.44
God Himself will be their
God, and God will wipe away
00:11:16.47\00:11:20.74
every tear from their eyes.
00:11:20.78\00:11:22.18
There will be no more
death, nor sorrow, nor crying,
00:11:22.21\00:11:25.15
no more pain, for the
former things have passed away."
00:11:25.18\00:11:29.38
So Revelation tells us
Christ is victorious in the end.
00:11:29.42\00:11:33.56
Revelation also tells
us Christ is our King.
00:11:33.62\00:11:37.89
Now we know from many passages
in the Scripture that He is
00:11:37.93\00:11:40.76
our Savior and Lord, but
Revelation really shows Him
00:11:40.80\00:11:43.90
coming as King of Kings and Lord
00:11:43.93\00:11:46.17
of Lords with
majesty, glory and honor.
00:11:46.20\00:11:49.80
Revelation also shows that
He is our Judge and we know that
00:11:49.84\00:11:53.64
He is our merciful
and faithful High Priest.
00:11:53.71\00:11:56.44
But Revelation also shows that
He's coming to judge the wicked.
00:11:56.48\00:12:01.08
That that cup of iniquity will
reach its point of fulfillment
00:12:01.12\00:12:05.72
and that judgment
will be poured out.
00:12:05.75\00:12:08.32
So let's read the
rest of our verse here...
00:12:08.36\00:12:10.23
We're in Revelation 1:1...
"The revelation of Jesus Christ
00:12:10.26\00:12:14.56
which God gave Him to show
His servants things which must
00:12:14.56\00:12:17.60
shortly take place and
He sent and signified it
00:12:17.63\00:12:21.57
by His angel to His
servant John, who bore
00:12:21.60\00:12:24.41
witness to the word of
God, and to the testimony of
00:12:24.44\00:12:27.08
Jesus Christ, to
all things that he saw."
00:12:27.14\00:12:30.35
Now this is the first of
seven beatitudes in the Book of
00:12:30.41\00:12:33.15
Revelation... "Blessed is
he who read and those who hear
00:12:33.18\00:12:37.92
the words of this prophecy
and keep those things which are
00:12:37.95\00:12:41.79
written in it for
the time is near."
00:12:41.82\00:12:44.76
Blessed is he who reads,
in the Greek "reads" means
00:12:44.79\00:12:47.83
"to know again" through reading.
00:12:47.86\00:12:50.80
So blessed are we if we
study again; if we read again;
00:12:50.83\00:12:55.20
if we look at this Book again.
00:12:55.24\00:12:57.54
Blessed are those who
hear. It means to comprehend
00:12:57.57\00:13:01.68
by hearing, so not just
hear, but to understand.
00:13:01.71\00:13:05.68
And finally, blessed are those
who keep... in Greek it means,
00:13:05.71\00:13:10.52
"to watch over, to
guard, to observe."
00:13:10.59\00:13:14.69
So we are called not
only to read this Book,
00:13:14.72\00:13:18.19
because it reveals Jesus.
00:13:18.23\00:13:20.10
We're called not only to
hear the Book and to understand
00:13:20.13\00:13:23.73
what is in this Book,
but we're called to observe.
00:13:23.77\00:13:27.30
We're called to do
what is in this BOOK;
00:13:27.34\00:13:30.67
we're called to walk
in obedience to the truth
00:13:30.71\00:13:34.14
that the Lord Jesus
Christ shows us. Pastor Kenny!
00:13:34.18\00:13:38.01
Well I have Monday's lesson
and what I've just heard here
00:13:38.05\00:13:41.18
has been good - good
stuff kind of gets you excited,
00:13:41.22\00:13:43.75
doesn't it.
Praise God, I hope you're
00:13:43.79\00:13:45.12
getting excited
there at home too.
00:13:45.15\00:13:46.49
Monday's lesson, I want to
just do this... it talks about
00:13:46.52\00:13:49.36
the purpose of the Book and
I think they'll be some things
00:13:49.39\00:13:52.39
that will overlap but
it's always good, you know,
00:13:52.43\00:13:54.36
the more I hear of things,
the more it sticks in my mind,
00:13:54.36\00:13:56.80
I pray the same thing for you.
00:13:56.83\00:13:58.17
And I'm thinking about
not only the purpose of it,
00:13:58.20\00:14:00.77
but the importance of it.
00:14:00.84\00:14:02.17
So I just wanted to go
over just several things here
00:14:02.20\00:14:04.21
real quickly that we
will be going probably in
00:14:04.24\00:14:05.84
the coming weeks even that would
00:14:05.87\00:14:07.48
help us in the Book
of Revelation to see
00:14:07.51\00:14:09.31
the purpose of the Book.
00:14:09.34\00:14:10.98
1... Christ gave the message
to John... it's gotta be good.
00:14:11.01\00:14:15.45
It has to be good because why?
00:14:15.48\00:14:17.42
Because Christ gave
the message to John.
00:14:17.49\00:14:19.95
It also shows things
sometimes we don't want to see.
00:14:19.99\00:14:22.52
It shows the church
when it was backsliding...
00:14:22.56\00:14:24.39
But it also shows the
church when it's victorious.
00:14:24.43\00:14:27.20
These are the good
things but it compliments
00:14:27.23\00:14:29.30
the Book of Daniel - as we
read, we need to be studying
00:14:29.33\00:14:32.60
certainly the two together.
00:14:32.63\00:14:34.14
It tells what's going to
be has been mentioned here,
00:14:34.20\00:14:37.27
it's going to take
place in the last days.
00:14:37.31\00:14:39.07
We are all interested in that,
in what is soon to take place
00:14:39.11\00:14:42.88
what's taking
place even right now.
00:14:42.91\00:14:45.08
We realize that
it's not a sealed book,
00:14:45.11\00:14:47.22
it's an opened
book, praise God for that.
00:14:47.28\00:14:49.38
We need it to be
opened because it says simply,
00:14:49.42\00:14:52.02
reading - write the
blessing on those who what?
00:14:52.05\00:14:54.46
They hear and keep these
things - how wonderful that is.
00:14:54.49\00:14:58.03
It emphasizes and it will
emphasize, I think, through the
00:14:58.06\00:15:01.03
whole Book of Revelation,
the nearness of Christ coming.
00:15:01.06\00:15:04.27
I think that's so wonderful.
00:15:04.30\00:15:05.63
That's what gives us hope in
this hour that we're living in.
00:15:05.67\00:15:08.20
Anyone who studies
this, regardless of what
00:15:08.24\00:15:11.77
hmm, I'll just
say some people say...
00:15:11.81\00:15:14.08
There is a blessing that
will be to those who study
00:15:14.11\00:15:17.15
the Books of
Daniel and Revelation.
00:15:17.18\00:15:18.95
There's going to be a
blessing there for us.
00:15:18.98\00:15:21.05
Present truth is contained...
00:15:21.08\00:15:23.42
I hear people talk
present truth all the time.
00:15:23.49\00:15:24.95
Even in the Book of
Revelation, you're going to see
00:15:24.99\00:15:26.76
some real heavy
duty present truth.
00:15:26.79\00:15:29.09
You're going to see the rise
and fall of nations naturally.
00:15:29.12\00:15:31.89
And I'm going to say this
here because we've always,
00:15:31.93\00:15:34.46
and it's true, the Book of
Revelation, as far as I know
00:15:34.50\00:15:37.73
Pastor, has never been sealed,
it's always been an open book.
00:15:37.77\00:15:39.53
But, it's sealed to a
certain group of people who
00:15:40.54\00:15:44.67
refuses light and truth.
00:15:44.71\00:15:47.54
It's kind of
interesting to think about.
00:15:47.58\00:15:49.24
We can read more about that
in, I'm thinking it's the book
00:15:49.28\00:15:52.48
"Education" right now, you
can read some more on that.
00:15:52.51\00:15:54.95
Page 195- gives us
some insight on that.
00:15:54.98\00:15:58.19
It tells a special
work that God's people
00:15:58.22\00:16:00.19
has to do in the last days.
00:16:00.22\00:16:01.56
We have a special work
to do, a message to give
00:16:01.59\00:16:05.09
to the world is found
in what we will be studying
00:16:05.13\00:16:07.60
this quarter if you
haven't studied it before,
00:16:07.66\00:16:09.90
you're going to love it.
00:16:09.93\00:16:11.37
And certainly it reveals, I
think the triumphs, the joys,
00:16:11.40\00:16:15.54
and what the redeemed are
going to have in the new world.
00:16:15.57\00:16:19.47
These are just
things just barely touching
00:16:19.51\00:16:21.11
on some of the things
that's going to happen
00:16:21.14\00:16:22.48
in this quarter that you're
going to be excited about.
00:16:22.51\00:16:25.58
"The Purpose of the Book,"
00:16:25.61\00:16:27.52
God always has a
plan, doesn't He?
00:16:27.55\00:16:29.52
God always has a plan,
I'm glad that He has a plan,
00:16:29.55\00:16:32.05
and we need that - we
know He has and it makes me
00:16:32.09\00:16:34.52
feel good to know God has
a plan. Amen! That's right!
00:16:34.56\00:16:36.32
When I don't have a
plan, God has a plan,
00:16:36.36\00:16:38.23
and I'm very grateful
and thankful for that.
00:16:38.26\00:16:40.00
And He reveals prophecies,
things that have already taken
00:16:40.03\00:16:43.33
place and if we have
faith to believe these things...
00:16:43.37\00:16:46.43
we want, we
look, we study and say,
00:16:46.47\00:16:48.10
These thing have taken place."
00:16:48.14\00:16:49.47
It helps me to believe and
have faith enough to accept
00:16:49.50\00:16:52.64
those things that are in
the future which we need.
00:16:52.67\00:16:55.64
It's easy, it's easy to
believe these things as we see
00:16:55.68\00:16:59.31
them come to pass but we
need a faith that will help us
00:16:59.35\00:17:02.02
with those things that
are still yet in the future.
00:17:02.05\00:17:03.85
The Book of Revelation
simply does what? It guides us.
00:17:03.92\00:17:07.12
And I love it because it guides
us, notice... a step at a time.
00:17:07.19\00:17:10.86
I'm like a little child,
I don't need a giant leap,
00:17:10.89\00:17:14.10
sometimes a need a little step
at a time in my relationship
00:17:14.13\00:17:17.47
with Christ and when we
do that, He reveals things
00:17:17.50\00:17:21.37
that have taken place...
you know - past, historically.
00:17:21.40\00:17:24.37
He reveals things that
are personally good for us
00:17:24.41\00:17:27.38
that we need right
now that will help us,
00:17:27.41\00:17:29.04
and, certainly, we
said things in the future.
00:17:29.08\00:17:31.61
Each prophecy reveals
that God is in control, right?
00:17:31.65\00:17:36.69
You've said,
every prophecy reveals
00:17:36.72\00:17:38.62
that God is still in
control and with His people
00:17:38.65\00:17:41.86
from the very
beginning to the end.
00:17:41.89\00:17:44.43
Don't you like that?
From the very beginning
00:17:44.46\00:17:45.93
to the end - God is with
His people. That's right!
00:17:45.96\00:17:47.93
He doesn't do anything
until He reveals it, Amos 3:7,
00:17:49.66\00:17:52.23
look that up when you
have the opportunity to do so.
00:17:52.27\00:17:54.30
He doesn't have anything
to happen until it's revealed
00:17:54.34\00:17:57.27
to His people
first. That's right.
00:17:57.31\00:17:58.87
Certainly we look at the purpose
of the Book of Revelation.
00:17:58.91\00:18:00.64
Revelation reveals - we
were talking about prophecy
00:18:01.71\00:18:04.28
a while
ago...six important things:
00:18:04.31\00:18:05.71
#1... Things that have
already been fulfilled.
00:18:05.75\00:18:08.92
Things that are in the
process of being fulfilled.
00:18:08.95\00:18:11.89
And things that are going
to be fulfilled in the future,
00:18:11.92\00:18:14.59
things that are soon to be.
00:18:14.62\00:18:16.02
Also, I found this out in
studying this lesson quickly...
00:18:16.06\00:18:18.43
is that it teaches us,
right now, to live for today.
00:18:18.46\00:18:23.03
And it teaches - we
can look at it and say,
00:18:23.47\00:18:24.80
this is how we need, by the
grace of God, to live today.
00:18:24.83\00:18:26.33
It also teaches us how
to prepare for the future.
00:18:27.34\00:18:30.64
It's very important how
to prepare for the future
00:18:30.71\00:18:32.94
and one thing I sure like about
Revelation, the word of God,
00:18:32.97\00:18:36.44
it really reveals only
those things that we really
00:18:36.48\00:18:40.72
need to know to make sure
heaven is going to be our home.
00:18:40.75\00:18:43.69
There's a lot more, Pastor,
you think about, that could
00:18:43.72\00:18:45.72
be revealed in Scripture
that would blow our minds.
00:18:45.75\00:18:48.32
You know? You're right!
00:18:48.36\00:18:49.89
It's, I mean, heavy duty
stuff, but God has revealed
00:18:49.92\00:18:51.89
enough that's what we need
for this day and this time,
00:18:51.93\00:18:54.30
and I'm thankful for that.
00:18:54.36\00:18:56.10
It says it reveals
the deep things of God.
00:18:56.13\00:18:58.43
I think that's in
1 Corinthians 2:10.
00:18:58.47\00:19:00.57
You know, we talk about
the deep things of God...
00:19:00.60\00:19:02.70
The Spirit reveals
the deep things to us that
00:19:02.74\00:19:05.11
we certainly need in this
world that we're living in.
00:19:05.14\00:19:08.31
And just that statement really
alone, if you think about,
00:19:08.34\00:19:11.85
contradicts those things
that you write that you can't
00:19:11.91\00:19:14.52
understand Revelation,
that it's a sealed book
00:19:14.55\00:19:16.92
because He said, I'm going
to reveal those deep things,
00:19:16.95\00:19:19.35
the things of God.
00:19:19.39\00:19:20.72
"Adventist Home," p.558,
(we're moving just as quickly
00:19:20.79\00:19:23.56
as we can here)
It's interesting...
00:19:23.59\00:19:24.93
"Acts of the
Apostle," sorry, p.585 says...
00:19:24.96\00:19:27.93
"In Revelation, all the
books of the Bible what?
00:19:27.96\00:19:30.87
They meet and
they end, right? Yes
00:19:30.90\00:19:32.77
Everybody has
read that many times.
00:19:32.80\00:19:34.14
I'm sure you have, all
the books of the Bible,
00:19:34.17\00:19:35.87
they meet and end in
the Book of Revelation.
00:19:35.90\00:19:38.47
Here's some good
news... I love good news,
00:19:38.51\00:19:40.58
talk about good news...
Good news delights His people.
00:19:40.61\00:19:43.48
You know, if your heart is open,
I've heard many, many, many
00:19:43.55\00:19:46.21
and each one of you here
have heard many, many say,
00:19:46.25\00:19:47.62
"We just can't understand it."
00:19:47.65\00:19:49.15
Pastors will preach and teach,
you don't need to be in it.
00:19:49.18\00:19:51.19
You don't need to be reading
it, it's too much for us.
00:19:51.22\00:19:53.39
The truth will be
revealed if any heart is opened
00:19:53.46\00:19:57.53
and wants to know
what truth is. Amen!
00:19:57.56\00:19:59.86
As you study the Book of
Revelation, the Holy Spirit
00:19:59.89\00:20:02.13
will reveal those
things that we need to know to
00:20:02.16\00:20:05.07
understand and receive it.
00:20:05.10\00:20:06.43
It a blessing because that's
what Revelation 1:3, I think,
00:20:06.47\00:20:10.11
that you read right there
talking about the blessing.
00:20:10.17\00:20:12.17
Those that hear the
prophecy of this book and things
00:20:12.21\00:20:15.24
that are written
therein, certainly are those
00:20:15.28\00:20:16.85
that keep them.
00:20:16.91\00:20:18.61
The purpose of the book
centers around the theme
00:20:18.65\00:20:20.78
(notice) of the
Great Controversy.
00:20:20.82\00:20:23.45
I find this more
and more as I study it,
00:20:24.09\00:20:25.92
the whole theme of the
Great Controversy just goes
00:20:25.95\00:20:27.69
around and around
again for us to see.
00:20:27.72\00:20:29.59
Heavy focus, I found out here,
is upon the end time events,
00:20:29.62\00:20:34.40
naturally the coming of Jesus
and the work Jesus is doing;
00:20:34.46\00:20:39.17
the work that He is
wanting to perform in each
00:20:39.20\00:20:41.27
of our lives as perfecting
our characters that our
00:20:41.30\00:20:44.24
character may be like Him.
00:20:44.27\00:20:46.34
You know, that's why I
will say, "pray with kids,
00:20:46.37\00:20:48.48
we need that in our
hearts and our life.
00:20:48.51\00:20:50.78
Really if I think about it
here, I look at "Education,"
00:20:51.18\00:20:53.85
p.173, says this...
This just should give us
00:20:53.88\00:20:56.48
comfort and should give
us some encouragement...
00:20:56.52\00:20:58.95
"Education," p.173, says:
"Behind, above and through all
00:20:58.99\00:21:04.16
the play and the counterplay
of human interest and power,
00:21:04.23\00:21:08.93
and passions (notice
this) patiently working out the
00:21:08.96\00:21:12.63
counsel of His will." Amen!
00:21:12.67\00:21:15.67
All this is God's will, right?
00:21:15.70\00:21:17.11
He's revealing His will,
He's revealing His purpose
00:21:17.17\00:21:20.18
to us as we study in this
quarter, the Book of Revelation,
00:21:20.24\00:21:23.11
and I'm thankful for
that, that God does that.
00:21:23.14\00:21:25.61
Keep in mind, as we study
these things in this quarter.
00:21:25.65\00:21:28.22
John, in vision, saw
many fascinating events.
00:21:28.25\00:21:32.25
He saw things
that some of our minds,
00:21:32.29\00:21:34.12
I don't think we
could probably take...
00:21:34.16\00:21:35.96
Revelation was
given to guide us;
00:21:37.13\00:21:39.56
it's given to comfort us;
00:21:39.59\00:21:41.53
it's given to strengthen us.
00:21:41.56\00:21:43.90
Regardless of what the world
may teach or preach on this,
00:21:43.93\00:21:46.87
the Book of Revelation
will give you comfort,
00:21:46.90\00:21:49.04
even though you talk about
the beast and things that may be
00:21:49.07\00:21:51.17
kind of frightening,
God has an answer for all
00:21:51.21\00:21:53.71
these things - there's a
reason for all of these things.
00:21:53.74\00:21:56.34
And notice, it's
going to guide us;
00:21:56.38\00:21:58.18
it's going to comfort us;
00:21:58.21\00:21:59.55
it's going to
strengthen His people.
00:21:59.58\00:22:01.62
Again, not only in his
day, but I think it's more for,
00:22:01.65\00:22:04.29
don't you believe,
our day. That's right!
00:22:04.32\00:22:06.19
The Book of Revelation
is for that right now,
00:22:06.22\00:22:08.56
that all of us might have it,
I call it just an intelligent
00:22:08.59\00:22:11.76
understanding of all the
battles and the conflicts
00:22:11.79\00:22:15.56
and the struggles
that's going to go on,
00:22:15.60\00:22:17.07
and go on in this world
and even in our personal life
00:22:17.13\00:22:19.70
that God wants us to make
sure that we can understand.
00:22:19.73\00:22:22.10
You know, just to
mention quickly here before the
00:22:23.10\00:22:25.44
time is up, some people
say, "Well, all those things
00:22:25.47\00:22:28.01
are not fulfilled in Revelation.
00:22:28.04\00:22:29.38
I read some of the promises
and the threatenings of God,
00:22:29.41\00:22:32.58
remember the promises and
the threatenings of God...
00:22:32.61\00:22:35.28
they're conditional.
00:22:35.92\00:22:37.55
And if God's people are
faithful every one of them will
00:22:37.59\00:22:39.52
come to pass - those that
have not, will because God has
00:22:39.55\00:22:42.32
said that it will in
His word. That's right!
00:22:42.36\00:22:44.23
We call it "deferred."
00:22:44.29\00:22:47.60
Deferred until the
time because of the failure,
00:22:47.60\00:22:50.33
I'm going to say this
because of the failure of God's
00:22:50.40\00:22:52.50
people and the failure
of God's church to live up
00:22:52.53\00:22:55.14
to the privileges and
the opportunities that He's
00:22:55.17\00:22:58.27
given us, but I like
what you mentioned for it,
00:22:58.31\00:23:00.98
God is going to be victorious.
00:23:01.01\00:23:02.58
The church is
going to be victorious.
00:23:02.61\00:23:04.61
You can be
victorious, I can be victorious,
00:23:04.65\00:23:07.52
all in the grace of Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior.
00:23:07.55\00:23:10.89
So make sure you
have your Bibles;
00:23:10.92\00:23:12.69
make sure you study
along with us in this quarter
00:23:12.72\00:23:15.12
because we will get
into some stuff that will be
00:23:15.16\00:23:16.93
very, very heavy that we
all need to go over and over
00:23:16.96\00:23:19.59
all the time to try to
understand more thoroughly
00:23:19.63\00:23:22.00
what's about to
happen in this world,
00:23:22.03\00:23:24.30
and what is happening right now.
00:23:24.33\00:23:25.70
I'm convinced, I'm
convinced that Jesus is coming.
00:23:25.73\00:23:29.50
Amen! I'm
convinced that His word
00:23:29.54\00:23:32.07
is going to stand fast forever.
00:23:32.11\00:23:34.04
I'm convinced that He loves
me and Calvary proves that.
00:23:34.08\00:23:38.25
And I'm convinced
that He's coming soon,
00:23:38.28\00:23:41.72
and I'm convinced,
by the grace of God,
00:23:41.75\00:23:43.39
by His life, by His
sacrifice I can make it there,
00:23:43.45\00:23:47.42
and you can make it there too.
00:23:47.46\00:23:48.79
Just make sure
you're ready. Amen! Amen!
00:23:48.82\00:23:51.93
Powerful Pastor
Kenny, thank you so much.
00:23:51.96\00:23:54.20
Right now we're going
to take a short break.
00:23:54.23\00:23:55.56
We'll be right back.
00:23:55.60\00:23:57.50
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Welcome back to our study
of the Book of Revelation,
00:24:34.70\00:24:37.17
and Pastor John, you
want to pick it up with
00:24:37.21\00:24:38.94
"The Symbolic
Language of Revelation." Sure!
00:24:38.97\00:24:40.84
Thank you very much,
you know, I'm excited about
00:24:40.88\00:24:42.64
this book for a
number of reasons.
00:24:42.68\00:24:44.91
One of those is
Revelation is like a toy box...
00:24:44.95\00:24:48.35
People have
different toys in the book.
00:24:48.38\00:24:50.99
I want to make sure
that my toys don't interrupt
00:24:51.02\00:24:53.02
their toys but what I want
to do more than anything else
00:24:53.05\00:24:55.86
is stay true to the
full language and the full
00:24:55.89\00:24:58.49
message of Revelation
because there's so much
00:24:58.53\00:25:01.00
symbolism in the book, you
can get lost in the symbolism.
00:25:01.03\00:25:02.86
It's like defining all
the buttons on my coat,
00:25:03.80\00:25:06.13
but you never see me.
00:25:06.17\00:25:07.64
And so we don't want to
be so close to the building
00:25:07.67\00:25:09.40
that we're just
enamored by the architecture,
00:25:09.44\00:25:11.67
but we have never
entered the building.
00:25:11.71\00:25:13.41
So we're going to talk about
the architecture, the outside,
00:25:13.48\00:25:15.68
what the building is made
of; what the language is of
00:25:15.71\00:25:18.08
Revelation but we have to
find the message on the inside.
00:25:18.11\00:25:21.32
So bear with us... Pastor
Kenny alluded to something...
00:25:21.35\00:25:24.99
Amos 3:7... "Surely the
Lord God does nothing except He
00:25:25.02\00:25:29.02
reveals His secrets to
His servants, the prophets."
00:25:29.06\00:25:31.46
In Revelation 1 which
Jill began with, it says...
00:25:31.49\00:25:35.50
"He sent and signified that
is the message of Revelation
00:25:35.53\00:25:40.80
is signified in symbols and in
signs and in decoded language.
00:25:40.84\00:25:46.11
But something that's very
important when you decide to
00:25:46.14\00:25:48.71
interpret the Book of
Revelation... every symbol
00:25:48.74\00:25:51.41
that Revelation gives to us
has to be defined by the Bible.
00:25:51.45\00:25:56.52
Look at 2 Peter 1:19-21,
here is what we know for sure
00:25:56.55\00:26:03.22
because if we violate
the principles of Revelation,
00:26:03.26\00:26:07.13
if we violate the
principles of interpretation,
00:26:07.13\00:26:10.00
we come up with languages
that cannot be endorsed
00:26:10.07\00:26:14.77
or substantiated
by Scripture. Amen!
00:26:14.80\00:26:17.01
2 Peter 1:19... And so we
have a prophetic word confirmed
00:26:17.04\00:26:22.41
(or word made sure)
which you do well to take heed,
00:26:22.44\00:26:26.05
as a light that shines in
a dark place, until the day
00:26:26.08\00:26:28.85
dawns and the morning
star rises in your hearts;
00:26:28.88\00:26:32.45
(this is key) knowing
this first, that no prophecy of
00:26:32.49\00:26:36.12
Scripture is of any
private interpretation."
00:26:36.16\00:26:39.63
When you do not stay true
to the symbols in the Bible
00:26:39.66\00:26:42.50
defining those, it becomes
private and you could make
00:26:42.53\00:26:46.13
Revelation say
whatever you want if the Bible
00:26:46.17\00:26:48.87
doesn't define the
symbols, but how did the
00:26:48.90\00:26:51.24
symbols come into being?
00:26:51.27\00:26:52.71
Verse 21... "For prophecy
never came by the will of
00:26:52.74\00:26:56.38
man, but holy men of
God spoke as they were
00:26:56.41\00:26:58.98
moved by the Holy Spirit."
00:26:59.01\00:27:00.88
Case in point, John was a
holy man... the Lord did not put
00:27:00.95\00:27:06.12
an unholy man in the position
to handle a holy message.
00:27:06.15\00:27:09.96
So when people say the
Bible was written by a man,
00:27:09.99\00:27:12.19
I don't agree with that.
00:27:12.23\00:27:13.56
The Bible... God chose men
whose lives were sanctified,
00:27:13.63\00:27:17.27
and men's lives were
receptive to the Holy Spirit.
00:27:17.30\00:27:20.77
So they wrote down...
they were just the conduit,
00:27:20.84\00:27:22.87
the penmen - the
message did not come from John,
00:27:22.90\00:27:26.11
it came through John.
00:27:26.14\00:27:27.91
But if you look at
the progression of it,
00:27:27.94\00:27:29.44
it says, verse 2... "... who
bore witness to the word of God,
00:27:29.48\00:27:33.35
(are we back to Revelation?
Revelation 1:2, thank you Jill)
00:27:33.42\00:27:35.88
"... who bore witness to
the word of God, and to the
00:27:35.92\00:27:39.82
testimony of Jesus Christ
and to all things that he saw."
00:27:39.85\00:27:44.06
So John was given a
picture and then he was able to
00:27:44.13\00:27:47.10
now take that picture and
scribe it into the language
00:27:47.13\00:27:50.57
that we could understand today.
00:27:50.63\00:27:52.07
The other thing about
it... Not only is it signs and
00:27:52.10\00:27:54.24
symbols or significant
messages that are going to be
00:27:54.27\00:27:57.41
decoded by the Bible
itself, but the other thing is
00:27:57.47\00:28:00.84
symbolism is
governed by the context.
00:28:00.91\00:28:03.68
I want to say that because
you can read Daniel is the
00:28:03.71\00:28:07.25
sister book of Revelation.
00:28:07.28\00:28:08.68
Daniel introduces a symbol that
carries on through Revelation
00:28:08.72\00:28:14.12
and once that symbol is
introduced and identified
00:28:14.19\00:28:16.59
and defined, you cannot,
in the middle of the story,
00:28:16.62\00:28:19.69
change its definition. Amen!
00:28:19.73\00:28:21.26
That's what people often do.
00:28:21.30\00:28:22.63
But let me show you the
only time that that symbol
00:28:22.66\00:28:26.74
can mean something different
than what it was introduced
00:28:26.77\00:28:29.34
to mean because that
happens in the Bible.
00:28:29.37\00:28:30.97
Let's go to
Daniel very quickly...
00:28:31.01\00:28:32.91
I'll point out a few examples...
00:28:32.94\00:28:34.81
For example, in
Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar was
00:28:34.84\00:28:38.65
given a dream and Nebuchadnezzar
was given a dream in verse 38
00:28:38.68\00:28:42.45
of Daniel 2 which we
see the symbol doesn't
00:28:42.48\00:28:45.29
show up again in Revelation.
00:28:45.32\00:28:46.76
In Daniel 2, at the very
end of the passage when Daniel
00:28:46.79\00:28:50.63
is interpreting the vision
or the dream of Nebuchadnezzar,
00:28:50.66\00:28:53.40
he says, clearly - the
last six words, "You are
00:28:53.43\00:28:57.57
this head of
gold." Unequivocally!
00:28:57.60\00:29:01.04
So the leader of
the Kingdom of Babylon
00:29:01.07\00:29:04.44
represents the head of gold.
00:29:04.47\00:29:06.34
The Kingdom of Babylon
is the kingdom of gold,
00:29:06.37\00:29:09.18
very clear, the
Bible makes that clear.
00:29:09.21\00:29:11.21
So when you go down
to Revelation 17 and 18,
00:29:11.25\00:29:13.55
and Babylon is talked about
as having gold - the golden cup,
00:29:13.58\00:29:17.02
where did that come into being?
00:29:17.05\00:29:18.52
In Daniel that
symbolism carries on through.
00:29:18.55\00:29:21.96
But, we know that when
the Bible gives these symbols
00:29:21.99\00:29:24.76
in Daniel 2 and 7 and
it says, "After you shall
00:29:24.79\00:29:28.86
arise, another
kingdom inferior to you...
00:29:28.90\00:29:31.07
we know that the progression
of Babylon - there's another
00:29:31.10\00:29:34.07
kingdom after that,
another kingdom after that,
00:29:34.14\00:29:36.44
and the fourth
kingdom after that.
00:29:36.47\00:29:38.14
We know, historically,
Babylon and what's the next one?
00:29:38.17\00:29:40.28
Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.
00:29:40.31\00:29:43.45
That in the symbolism of
Babylon, then Medo-Persia
00:29:43.48\00:29:47.15
is silver (the chest
of silver), but in Daniel,
00:29:47.22\00:29:52.69
the Bible also gives
Medo-Persia another definition.
00:29:52.72\00:29:57.33
Let's go to Daniel 8:20-21.
00:29:57.36\00:30:04.27
I'm kinda laying some foundation
because of what I said,
00:30:04.30\00:30:06.47
"The symbolism is
governed by the context."
00:30:06.50\00:30:08.84
Here it is, verse
20... "The ram which you saw,
00:30:08.87\00:30:13.94
having two horns - they
are kings of Media and Persia."
00:30:13.98\00:30:19.11
What was defined as
silver is now defined as a ram."
00:30:19.15\00:30:23.95
So the context, the meaning
is governed by the context,
00:30:23.99\00:30:28.06
so don't pull something from
this context and try to fit it
00:30:28.09\00:30:31.23
into that context any
more than my shoes will fit
00:30:31.26\00:30:34.96
Kenny's feet or vice versa.
00:30:35.00\00:30:37.10
It has to be
governed by the context.
00:30:37.13\00:30:38.83
Another way
is... look at verse 21.
00:30:38.87\00:30:41.70
Because we know that in
the four kingdoms, Babylon,
00:30:41.74\00:30:44.34
Medo-Persia, Greece...
Greece was symbolized by which?
00:30:44.37\00:30:46.91
The leopard with
four heads and four wings
00:30:47.84\00:30:50.48
in the Book of
Daniel 2 and Daniel 7.
00:30:50.51\00:30:53.65
In Daniel 2, it was
symbolized by the bronze;
00:30:53.68\00:30:56.22
Daniel 7 by the leopard
with four heads and four wings.
00:30:56.25\00:30:58.95
But in Daniel 8:21,
you're seeing now a small
00:30:58.99\00:31:05.13
slice of the picture but
now they're showing the struggle
00:31:05.16\00:31:07.86
between Medo-Persia and
Greece and they're showing
00:31:07.93\00:31:10.53
how they are butting heads.
00:31:10.57\00:31:12.17
And verse 21 says, "And
the male goat is the kingdom
00:31:12.20\00:31:14.90
of Greece; the large
horn that is between its eyes
00:31:14.94\00:31:19.67
is the first king
(Alexander the Great).
00:31:19.71\00:31:22.98
So you find, right away,
these symbols are defined
00:31:23.01\00:31:25.65
and when you define the symbols,
00:31:25.68\00:31:27.38
you gotta stay true to it
in the context of that story
00:31:27.42\00:31:30.05
or that structure.
00:31:30.09\00:31:31.42
And so don't take
this ram and try to put him
00:31:32.12\00:31:34.42
in another chapter because
he's only pertinent to this
00:31:34.46\00:31:37.66
particular
structure of this story.
00:31:37.69\00:31:39.96
The other thing is,
when a symbol is introduced,
00:31:40.00\00:31:42.20
it's often defined.
00:31:42.23\00:31:43.90
Let's go to Revelation 9,
I want to show you something
00:31:44.50\00:31:48.04
because Revelation 9
and Revelation 12 introduces
00:31:48.07\00:31:53.04
symbols, then it
defines it immediately.
00:31:53.07\00:31:56.18
Once it's defined immediately,
00:31:56.21\00:31:58.88
you cannot
change it's definition.
00:31:58.91\00:32:01.15
That definition
carries all the way through.
00:32:01.18\00:32:03.25
Revelation 9:1, let me show
you a symbol that's introduced
00:32:03.28\00:32:05.92
that carries on through
the Bible and by the way,
00:32:05.95\00:32:08.46
there are some sevens
that are hidden in the Bible.
00:32:08.49\00:32:10.83
You know, we have seven plagues,
seven churches, seven angels,
00:32:10.86\00:32:13.16
seven stars and the angels
are messengers from the Greek
00:32:13.19\00:32:16.26
word "Aggelos" which
means messenger showing the
00:32:16.30\00:32:19.27
importance of the message.
00:32:19.30\00:32:20.64
Three angels flying are
not really angels flying
00:32:20.70\00:32:23.24
and yelling from the heavens,
but the importance of it is
00:32:23.27\00:32:25.71
handled by angels.
00:32:25.74\00:32:27.14
A very important message -
if an angel rang your doorbell
00:32:27.18\00:32:30.01
during Christmas
with a FedEx package,
00:32:30.05\00:32:31.68
I'm sure you'll say,
"This is an amazing package."
00:32:31.71\00:32:34.32
So the amazing
message is handled by angels
00:32:34.35\00:32:37.05
showing the
great importance of it.
00:32:37.09\00:32:38.72
But look at Revelation
9:1, it says... "The fifth angel
00:32:38.75\00:32:43.59
sounded and I saw a star
fall from heaven to the earth.
00:32:43.63\00:32:47.73
To him was given the
key to the bottomless pit.
00:32:47.76\00:32:50.20
By the way, that's the
first time in Revelation,
00:32:50.23\00:32:52.47
the bottomless pit is
introduced - the first time.
00:32:52.50\00:32:54.70
So what is talked
about and when you go through
00:32:54.74\00:32:57.84
Revelation, we'll talk about
this later - I'm not going to
00:32:57.87\00:32:59.57
get into it now, but
when we get to that particular
00:32:59.61\00:33:02.28
part of the prophecy, the
fifth trumpet, you'll understand
00:33:02.31\00:33:04.91
something - when the
symbol is introduced and
00:33:04.95\00:33:07.62
defined, it maintains
that definition all the way
00:33:07.65\00:33:10.59
through the
remainder of the book.
00:33:10.62\00:33:12.19
Bottomless pit, Revelation
9:1-2, Revelation 9:11;
00:33:12.22\00:33:15.86
it's spoken of more in
Revelation 9 than any other
00:33:15.89\00:33:18.56
book or any other
chapter in Revelation,
00:33:18.59\00:33:22.03
but then it comes
again in Revelation 11.
00:33:22.06\00:33:24.03
Then in Revelation 17, the beast
00:33:24.07\00:33:25.60
that ascends out
of the bottomless pit.
00:33:25.63\00:33:27.00
Then Revelation 20,
where we know that Satan is
00:33:27.04\00:33:29.67
thrown into the bottomless pit.
00:33:29.70\00:33:31.17
He comes out,
then he's thrown in.
00:33:31.21\00:33:33.07
And then in Revelation 20:3,
00:33:33.11\00:33:34.71
they cast him into
the bottomless pit.
00:33:34.74\00:33:36.71
So when the symbol is
introduced, it maintains
00:33:36.75\00:33:38.81
its clarity all the
way through the Bible.
00:33:38.85\00:33:40.92
And quickly,
lastly but not least...
00:33:40.95\00:33:43.69
I thought I had 99 minutes,
whatever happened... laughter
00:33:43.75\00:33:47.69
The other thing about it
is Revelation's symbols are
00:33:47.72\00:33:51.63
intended to conceal a
message from those who can do
00:33:51.66\00:33:55.30
harm if they understood
the context of it. Oooo
00:33:55.33\00:33:59.13
It's intended to conceal it from
the enemy, not to conceal it
00:33:59.17\00:34:02.34
from the people
of God. That's right!
00:34:02.37\00:34:03.81
The language is
symbolic, but the event to which
00:34:03.84\00:34:06.44
it points is literal.
00:34:06.47\00:34:08.11
Revelation is an
acknowledgment that God knows
00:34:08.14\00:34:10.65
and unfolds the future.
00:34:10.68\00:34:12.01
And in a case in point,
Revelation 7 is a condensed
00:34:12.05\00:34:15.98
version of Ezekiel 9
which is an expanded version of
00:34:16.22\00:34:20.29
the sealing prophecy.
00:34:20.36\00:34:22.92
And Revelation 17 talks
about water - when the Bible
00:34:22.96\00:34:27.73
talks about water, it's defined
in the context of Revelation,
00:34:27.76\00:34:31.10
we must maintain that
symbolistic definition
00:34:31.13\00:34:34.10
so the story can be clearly
understood. Amen! Pastor Ryan...
00:34:34.14\00:34:39.81
Amen! It's hard
to follow that one.
00:34:39.84\00:34:42.28
It's a lot of
information, but it was great.
00:34:42.31\00:34:44.35
I have Wednesday's
lesson, "The Godhead"
00:34:44.38\00:34:47.32
which is a very deep subject,
I don't know of any person
00:34:47.38\00:34:52.75
who knows ALL that there
is to know about the Godhead.
00:34:52.79\00:34:55.59
But what I'm going to
look at this evening as we're
00:34:55.62\00:34:58.66
going to study together
(or this morning, excuse me)
00:34:58.69\00:35:01.56
we're going to be
looking at the Godhead
00:35:01.60\00:35:04.07
within the Book of Revelation.
00:35:04.10\00:35:05.43
And so where I would like
to start is Revelation 1:11,
00:35:05.47\00:35:10.31
so we can just go
there, Revelation 1:11,
00:35:10.34\00:35:14.28
and I'm going to read that here.
00:35:14.31\00:35:15.71
Notice what the Bible
says, "Saying, I am the Alpha
00:35:15.74\00:35:20.12
and the Omega, the first
and the last; and What you see,
00:35:20.15\00:35:24.69
write in a book and
send it to the seven churches
00:35:24.72\00:35:28.96
which are in Asia:"
(and of course, then it lists
00:35:28.99\00:35:31.09
the seven churches there)
Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos,
00:35:31.13\00:35:34.10
to Thyatira, to Sardis, to
Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
00:35:34.10\00:35:37.80
But the part I want to focus
on here it says, "What you see,
00:35:37.83\00:35:39.90
write in a book and
send it to the seven churches
00:35:39.93\00:35:41.87
which are in Asia Minor.
00:35:41.90\00:35:43.24
So we know that the Book
of Revelation starts out with
00:35:43.27\00:35:46.51
this powerful message that
Christ, Himself, is delivering
00:35:46.54\00:35:49.68
to these seven churches
in Asia Minor - which we will
00:35:49.71\00:35:52.35
get in to in later lessons.
00:35:52.38\00:35:54.55
But, you know, who is
this message coming from,
00:35:54.58\00:35:57.25
and what kind of message is it?
00:35:57.29\00:35:58.62
And we're going to talk a lot
about that, but I just want to
00:35:58.65\00:36:00.89
confirm because when it says
that these messages are going
00:36:00.92\00:36:04.46
to the seven churches
in Asia Minor, I found this
00:36:04.49\00:36:07.03
quote in "Acts of
the Apostles," p.585,
00:36:07.03\00:36:10.40
notice what it says
here... "The names of the seven
00:36:10.47\00:36:13.57
churches are symbolic to
the church in different periods
00:36:13.64\00:36:17.67
of the Christian
era. And so it's kind of
00:36:17.71\00:36:19.37
playing off of what you
were saying, Pastor, is that
00:36:19.41\00:36:21.98
while, not all of the
Book of Revelation is symbolic,
00:36:22.01\00:36:25.35
there are some
literal elements to the Book
00:36:25.38\00:36:27.02
of Revelation, we are told
by inspiration that these seven
00:36:27.05\00:36:30.09
churches are, of
course, different periods of the
00:36:30.12\00:36:33.66
Christian era from, of
course, the first century A.D.
00:36:33.69\00:36:36.16
all the way down to
the end of the world.
00:36:36.19\00:36:38.23
And so it goes on to say
that number seven indicates
00:36:38.26\00:36:40.60
completeness and is
symbolic of the fact that the
00:36:40.63\00:36:43.43
messages extend to the
end of time, while the symbols
00:36:43.47\00:36:47.54
used revealed the condition
of the church at different
00:36:47.60\00:36:50.57
periods in the
history of the church."
00:36:50.61\00:36:53.38
So the message of the Book
of Revelation... excuse me,
00:36:53.44\00:36:55.88
history of the world,
that's a good point, thank you.
00:36:55.91\00:36:58.51
This powerful revelation
of Jesus Christ is being
00:36:58.55\00:37:03.18
revealed not to just
seven literal churches
00:37:03.22\00:37:05.99
while they were, but
rather to different eras,
00:37:06.02\00:37:09.22
different generations
all the way from the early
00:37:09.26\00:37:11.39
Christian period - all the
way down to the end of time.
00:37:11.43\00:37:13.93
Now we come to the greeting.
00:37:13.96\00:37:15.90
Now who is
delivering this message?
00:37:15.93\00:37:17.57
Who is sending this message?
00:37:17.60\00:37:19.90
We find this, I believe, in
the greeting found in Revelation
00:37:19.97\00:37:22.70
1:4, so notice what
the Bible says here...
00:37:22.74\00:37:25.87
Revelation 1:4...
"John, to the seven churches
00:37:25.91\00:37:30.35
which are in Asia:
grace to you and peace from...
00:37:30.38\00:37:34.48
and then begins to
identify or give us some insight
00:37:34.52\00:37:37.92
on who is greeting us
from the Book of Revelation.
00:37:37.95\00:37:41.69
It says... Grace to you
and peace from Him who is
00:37:41.72\00:37:45.43
and who was and who is
to come, and from the seven
00:37:45.46\00:37:49.93
Spirits who are before His
throne, and from Jesus Christ,
00:37:49.96\00:37:54.97
the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead,
00:37:55.00\00:37:57.37
and the ruler over
the kings of the earth."
00:37:57.41\00:38:00.64
So we have what appears to
be a person, and another person,
00:38:00.71\00:38:06.68
and another person.
00:38:06.75\00:38:08.08
So many people
would consider this
00:38:08.12\00:38:10.22
to be the Godhead
and what is the Godhead?
00:38:10.25\00:38:12.49
I just came up with my own
little definition while I also
00:38:12.52\00:38:16.09
looked and researched more
00:38:16.12\00:38:18.79
formal
definitions of the Godhead.
00:38:18.83\00:38:20.23
We're talking about the divine
persons within the Christian
00:38:20.26\00:38:24.50
deity that we call God
- the three persons of the
00:38:24.53\00:38:26.94
Godhead Father,
Son and Holy Spirit.
00:38:26.97\00:38:29.77
And so is this
complete Godhead present
00:38:29.80\00:38:32.91
within the Book of Revelation?
00:38:32.94\00:38:34.78
I believe so, there are
many, many examples given
00:38:34.81\00:38:36.85
throughout the Book of
Revelation where we find
00:38:36.88\00:38:38.88
the Godhead present indeed.
00:38:38.91\00:38:40.82
I want to start with this
first being that verse 4 says...
00:38:40.85\00:38:46.39
"Who is and who was
and who is to come."
00:38:46.42\00:38:49.79
This would, of course, be
the Father if you were reading
00:38:49.82\00:38:52.46
the context of this
particular verse because we see
00:38:52.49\00:38:55.03
right after that - the Spirit
is mentioned and, of course,
00:38:55.06\00:38:57.60
Jesus Christ is
mentioned separate.
00:38:57.63\00:39:00.10
And so, many people, as
we read this again notice
00:39:00.17\00:39:02.67
it says, "John, to the seven
churches which are in Asia,
00:39:02.70\00:39:04.91
grace to you and peace
from Him who is and who was,
00:39:04.94\00:39:08.91
and who is to come."
00:39:08.94\00:39:10.28
So we know that this has
to be the Father from within
00:39:10.31\00:39:12.81
what we call "the Godhead."
00:39:12.85\00:39:14.65
And so Revelation 1:8 gives
us some insight to this as well.
00:39:14.68\00:39:18.42
Notice what verse 8
or chapter 1 says...
00:39:18.45\00:39:21.16
"I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end,
00:39:21.19\00:39:24.36
says the Lord who is and who was
00:39:24.39\00:39:26.73
and who is to
come, the Almighty."
00:39:26.76\00:39:29.03
Now I remember reading
that many, many years and I've
00:39:29.10\00:39:32.60
always thought that that
was Jesus Christ and while I
00:39:32.63\00:39:34.80
still believe that it
is, to a certain extent,
00:39:34.84\00:39:37.51
I saw as I was studying this,
that there's evidence to show
00:39:37.54\00:39:40.08
that perhaps maybe the Father
00:39:40.11\00:39:41.44
is speaking in
this particular text.
00:39:41.48\00:39:43.48
For instance, Revelation 4:8,
there's a little bit of evidence
00:39:43.55\00:39:48.42
to support this claim.
00:39:48.45\00:39:50.19
If you go to Revelation 4, you
are in the throne room of God,
00:39:50.22\00:39:53.39
and we will get there eventually
but right there in the throne
00:39:53.46\00:39:55.96
room of God, Jesus is not
present yet - Jesus doesn't come
00:39:56.09\00:39:58.73
into the picture
until Revelation chapter 5,
00:39:58.76\00:40:01.50
and so you have this heavenly
scene in the throne room of God
00:40:01.53\00:40:04.93
where the Father is
apparently sitting on His throne
00:40:04.97\00:40:08.70
and, of course, the four
living creatures are singing
00:40:08.74\00:40:11.57
and praising and chanting
before the throne day and night
00:40:11.61\00:40:14.41
"Holy, Holy,
Holy," again this is
00:40:14.44\00:40:15.91
verse 8 of Revelation
chapter 4, "Holy, Holy, Holy,
00:40:15.94\00:40:19.48
Lord God Almighty,
notice the words here...
00:40:19.51\00:40:21.85
"who was and is and is to come."
00:40:21.88\00:40:24.59
The Lamb isn't present
yet, He comes in chapter 5.
00:40:24.62\00:40:28.26
There's a little bit of
support here that the Father
00:40:28.29\00:40:30.59
is most definitely, you cannot
deny that He is the Almighty.
00:40:30.63\00:40:35.73
He is the Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end.
00:40:35.76\00:40:38.53
But what about Christ?
00:40:38.57\00:40:39.90
Does that take the
spotlight off Jesus?
00:40:39.97\00:40:42.60
I don't think so and
I'm going to show you how
00:40:42.64\00:40:45.21
Christ is included
within that Alpha, that Omega,
00:40:45.24\00:40:48.91
the beginning and end concept,
00:40:48.94\00:40:50.48
the Almighty God
that He is indeed.
00:40:50.51\00:40:52.31
I'm going to show you
that in just a few moments.
00:40:52.35\00:40:53.98
But I want us to kind of
stick with the chronology
00:40:54.05\00:40:56.08
that we have in Revelation
1:4 where again it says...
00:40:56.12\00:41:00.26
"Him who is and who was
and who is to come," (but then
00:41:00.29\00:41:04.79
notice what it
says) "and" (so there is a
00:41:04.83\00:41:06.90
separation of thought
here) from the seven Spirits
00:41:06.93\00:41:10.07
who were before His throne."
00:41:10.13\00:41:12.67
So now the Spirit is
included in this conversation.
00:41:12.70\00:41:17.81
We see, again, in the
throne room in Revelation 4:5,
00:41:17.84\00:41:24.35
notice what the Bible says...
00:41:24.38\00:41:25.71
"And from the throne proceedeth
lightenings, thunderings
00:41:25.75\00:41:30.05
and voices. Seven
lamps of fire were burning
00:41:30.09\00:41:33.62
before the throne which
are the seven Spirits of God."
00:41:33.66\00:41:37.89
So these seven Spirits, of
course, would be none other
00:41:37.93\00:41:41.23
than that of the Spirit of God.
00:41:41.26\00:41:43.03
If you go over to one
chapter later, Revelation 5...
00:41:43.06\00:41:46.00
Now the Lamb has come into
the picture - we're going to
00:41:46.03\00:41:48.97
get to the Lamb in
just a few moments.
00:41:49.00\00:41:50.54
But notice what it says
here, verse 6, Revelation 5:6...
00:41:50.57\00:41:54.11
"And I looked and behold
in the midst of the throne
00:41:54.14\00:41:56.21
and of the four living creatures
and in the midst of the elders
00:41:56.24\00:41:58.91
stood a Lamb as though it
had been slain - having seven
00:41:58.95\00:42:02.22
heads and seven eyes (and then
it tells us what this represents
00:42:02.25\00:42:05.62
back to the symbolism
here, what do they represent?)
00:42:05.65\00:42:07.89
which are the
seven Spirits of God
00:42:07.92\00:42:10.46
sent out into all the earth."
00:42:10.53\00:42:12.23
I believe that
communicates the completeness
00:42:12.26\00:42:15.60
and the eternal concept that
the Holy Spirit is eternal along
00:42:15.63\00:42:20.40
with the Father and the
Son, but also is, in a universal
00:42:20.44\00:42:23.37
sense, doing the work of
God all over this world for it
00:42:23.41\00:42:26.47
tells us that He was
sent into all the earth.
00:42:26.51\00:42:30.91
Now the seven Spirits, you also
have to consider Isaiah 11:2
00:42:30.95\00:42:34.82
because many people ask,
"What are these seven Spirits,
00:42:34.85\00:42:37.25
why doesn't He just
say "the Holy Spirit."
00:42:37.29\00:42:39.09
I believe these seven Spirits,
as we believe this is the
00:42:39.12\00:42:41.96
Holy Spirit of God, communicates
the seven characteristics
00:42:41.99\00:42:45.76
of God, the beautiful,
wonderful character of God.
00:42:45.79\00:42:50.40
Notice Isaiah 11:2,
and if you count these up,
00:42:50.43\00:42:54.94
you will find there are
seven different Spirits that are
00:42:54.97\00:42:57.24
mentioned here in
this particular verse.
00:42:57.27\00:42:59.21
Notice what it says
here... "The Spirit of the Lord
00:43:00.21\00:43:03.04
shall rest upon
Him." There's one.
00:43:03.08\00:43:04.88
#2... "The Spirit of wisdom.
00:43:04.91\00:43:07.85
#3... An understanding.
00:43:08.15\00:43:10.89
#4... The Spirit of counsel.
00:43:10.92\00:43:15.12
#5... And might -
the Spirit of might.
00:43:15.16\00:43:17.69
#6... The spirit
of knowledge and...
00:43:17.73\00:43:20.50
#7... The fear of the Lord.
00:43:20.53\00:43:22.70
So this is kind of an
insight, a Scriptural insight
00:43:22.73\00:43:24.97
into what these
seven Spirits represent.
00:43:25.00\00:43:27.00
The different
characteristics of God in wisdom
00:43:27.04\00:43:29.30
and understanding,
counsel in might and knowledge,
00:43:29.34\00:43:31.67
the fear of the Lord -
all of this is comprised,
00:43:31.71\00:43:33.84
of course, and communicated
as the Spirit of the Lord.
00:43:33.88\00:43:36.91
Now we come to the Son...
00:43:36.95\00:43:39.31
We can't leave without the
Son, I have very little time to
00:43:39.35\00:43:42.15
communicate this, but I want
to go through this very quickly.
00:43:42.18\00:43:44.25
Revelation 1:4-6 says...
"John, to the seven churches
00:43:44.29\00:43:47.92
which are in Asia, grace
to you and peace from Him who
00:43:47.96\00:43:50.73
is and who was and who is
to come, from the seven Spirits
00:43:50.79\00:43:53.66
which are before His
throne and, (here it is)
00:43:53.70\00:43:55.53
Jesus Christ, the
faithful witness, the firstborn
00:43:55.56\00:43:58.37
of the dead and the ruler
over the kings of the earth."
00:43:58.40\00:44:01.64
Christ is no
doubt present throughout
00:44:01.67\00:44:04.51
all the Book of Revelation.
00:44:04.54\00:44:05.87
He is the epicenter of
the Book of Revelation.
00:44:05.91\00:44:07.74
And I just want to go back
to what I said earlier about
00:44:07.78\00:44:10.18
the Alpha and the Omega
not to take the spotlight off
00:44:10.25\00:44:12.78
Christ and put it on the
Father because we know that they
00:44:12.81\00:44:15.15
are coequal, they are
co-eternal in every sense
00:44:15.18\00:44:17.82
in the highest sense,
but notice verse 17-18
00:44:17.85\00:44:20.76
of Revelation, it
says... "And when I saw Him,
00:44:20.79\00:44:22.89
I fell at His feet as
dead, but He laid His right hand
00:44:22.92\00:44:25.86
on me - who is
He? That is Christ.
00:44:25.89\00:44:28.10
... saying to me, "Do
not be afraid, I am the...
00:44:28.13\00:44:31.70
first and the last.
00:44:31.73\00:44:33.50
What does alpha mean?
Beginning and, of course,
00:44:33.54\00:44:36.67
omega? The end. Okay, first
and the last - there it is.
00:44:36.71\00:44:40.28
I am He who lives
and was dead and behold,
00:44:40.34\00:44:43.41
I am alive forevermore."
00:44:43.51\00:44:44.95
If we study the
Book of Revelation...
00:44:45.01\00:44:46.51
now I'm running out of
time... you will see the Godhead
00:44:46.55\00:44:49.68
very present and very
much at work throughout
00:44:49.72\00:44:51.72
the entire book and
we'll continue to talk about
00:44:51.75\00:44:54.16
this as we continue through
our study of Revelation. Amen!
00:44:54.22\00:44:56.89
It's very difficult to discuss
the Godhead in 10 minutes!
00:44:56.93\00:45:06.07
I have Thursday's and this
is the keynote of Revelation.
00:45:06.10\00:45:13.61
The focus of Revelation
is the return of Jesus Christ
00:45:13.68\00:45:20.25
in power and glory and
what I'd like to do is, before I
00:45:20.32\00:45:26.86
get into my Scripture, let
me just set this up a little bit
00:45:26.89\00:45:29.36
because the Bible very
clearly shows us that Jesus
00:45:29.39\00:45:33.23
is going to return in
a visible bodily fashion
00:45:33.26\00:45:38.70
to complete His redemption.
00:45:38.73\00:45:40.90
And the Old Testament prophets
foretold the coming of the
00:45:40.94\00:45:45.01
Messiah, the anointed
One, who would be sent
00:45:45.04\00:45:48.58
from the Lord, from
within the nation of Israel
00:45:48.61\00:45:51.61
but He would be God Himself.
00:45:51.65\00:45:55.42
So let's look at Isaiah 9:6...
00:45:55.45\00:45:58.52
such a beautiful
Scripture and it says...
00:46:02.79\00:46:08.03
"For unto us a child is
born, unto us a Son is given;
00:46:08.63\00:46:15.17
and the government
will be upon His shoulder.
00:46:15.20\00:46:18.07
And His name (who are we
talking about here? Jesus!)
00:46:18.11\00:46:22.61
His name will be
called Wonderful, Counselor,
00:46:22.64\00:46:27.02
Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, and Prince of Peace."
00:46:27.05\00:46:34.69
Then Micah 5:2 is another
great Old Testament prophecy
00:46:34.72\00:46:41.36
about the
Anointed One, the Messiah.
00:46:41.40\00:46:44.17
And in Micah 5:2, Micah writes,
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
00:46:44.23\00:46:53.64
though you are little
among the thousands of Judah,
00:46:53.68\00:46:59.51
yet out of you shall come
forth to Me The One to be Ruler
00:46:59.55\00:47:05.05
in Israel, (and get this...)
whose goings forth are from
00:47:05.09\00:47:11.73
of old, from everlasting."
00:47:11.76\00:47:16.77
So the One who is
coming to us, the One who will
00:47:16.80\00:47:21.17
become the Son of
God, is God Himself.
00:47:21.20\00:47:24.51
I find it amazing!
00:47:24.54\00:47:26.47
Now, the Messiah is described
in the Old Testament both as the
00:47:26.51\00:47:31.51
Mighty Redeemer who is going
to come and bring salvation
00:47:31.55\00:47:35.28
and restore peace to His
people and destroy His enemies,
00:47:35.32\00:47:39.45
but He is also spoken of in the
00:47:39.49\00:47:42.16
Old Testament as
the suffering servant.
00:47:42.19\00:47:44.69
And when you get
to the New Testament,
00:47:44.73\00:47:47.20
it clearly delineates these two
separate roles distinguishing
00:47:47.50\00:47:53.50
between the two
comings of Jesus...
00:47:53.54\00:47:56.30
First, at His incarnation -
what role was He assuming there?
00:47:56.34\00:48:01.18
The suffering servant,
but second will be at the
00:48:01.21\00:48:05.05
end of the present age which is
what Revelation is addressing,
00:48:05.08\00:48:09.25
and He will return
as the Mighty Redeemer!
00:48:09.28\00:48:12.82
Jesus has promised Himself
that He would come suddenly
00:48:12.85\00:48:17.99
and unexpectedly like a thief
in the night to claim His own
00:48:18.03\00:48:23.06
and to reward them.
00:48:23.10\00:48:24.97
At His ascension, what did
the angel say as His disciples
00:48:25.00\00:48:31.27
were watching Him going up,
they said, "What are you doing?"
00:48:31.31\00:48:34.18
staring here men?
He's going to come back
00:48:34.21\00:48:37.15
in like manner so we
know, that's found in Acts 1:11,
00:48:37.18\00:48:41.42
that Jesus is coming back
bodily and then we certainly
00:48:41.45\00:48:45.82
see in the New Testament,
the apostles Paul, Peter and
00:48:45.85\00:48:50.46
John echo the certainty of the
literal, physical second coming
00:48:50.53\00:48:55.20
of Jesus in majesty and glory.
00:48:55.23\00:48:57.80
Now, I want to touch
on something that you all
00:48:57.83\00:49:00.57
have said and I love it!
00:49:00.60\00:49:02.67
I grew up in what was called
"The New Testament Church,"
00:49:02.70\00:49:06.07
but we were not
allowed to read Revelation,
00:49:06.11\00:49:10.48
and I finally figured out why.
00:49:10.51\00:49:13.08
If you don't know the
Old Testament, you can't
00:49:13.11\00:49:15.68
understand the Book of
Revelation. That's right!
00:49:15.72\00:49:20.19
There are 404 verses in
Revelation; 278 of those 404
00:49:20.22\00:49:27.03
nearly 70% of Revelation
alludes to the Old Testament.
00:49:27.03\00:49:33.57
Some Scriptures actually contain
multiple allusions and of the
00:49:33.64\00:49:38.67
39 books of the Old Testament,
Revelation alludes to at least
00:49:38.71\00:49:43.28
28 of them - we think
most specifically the prophetic
00:49:43.35\00:49:47.52
books of Isaiah,
Ezekiel, Daniel and Zachariah.
00:49:47.55\00:49:52.45
So let's look at Daniel 7:13...
and I'm doing all of this
00:49:52.49\00:49:59.93
to build up to show
you, as John talked about,
00:50:00.00\00:50:05.80
Revelation 1 and 2 said... "He
sent to signify (He's showing
00:50:05.83\00:50:11.81
everything in symbols because,
remember, this letter was
00:50:11.84\00:50:16.81
going to be distributed among
seven churches - this Book of
00:50:16.85\00:50:20.38
Revelation, and they
are under Roman domination
00:50:20.42\00:50:26.59
Rome is persecuting Christians,
so it's written in symbols
00:50:26.62\00:50:31.76
that all come
from the Old Testament.
00:50:31.79\00:50:33.86
A Christian could
understand it, but maybe a Roman
00:50:33.90\00:50:38.27
Centurion couldn't pick
up the book and understand
00:50:38.30\00:50:41.17
who they are talking about.
00:50:41.20\00:50:43.00
So Daniel 7:13-14...
Daniel says, "I was watching
00:50:43.04\00:50:46.84
in the night visions and,
behold, One like the Son of Man,
00:50:46.91\00:50:50.61
Coming with the clouds of
heaven! (and you're going to
00:50:50.68\00:50:54.75
see that language in
just a moment in Revelation)
00:50:54.78\00:50:58.65
He came to the Ancient
of Days and they brought Him
00:50:58.69\00:51:01.49
near before Him.
Then to Him was given
00:51:01.52\00:51:03.73
dominion and glory and a
kingdom, that all peoples,
00:51:03.76\00:51:07.30
nations and
languages should serve Him.
00:51:07.40\00:51:09.86
His dominion is an everlasting
dominion which shall not
00:51:09.90\00:51:13.54
pass away, His kingdom the one
which shall not be destroyed."
00:51:13.60\00:51:19.44
Okay, so remember that
language, "coming with clouds."
00:51:19.47\00:51:22.68
Zachariah 12:10 says...
"I will pour on the house of
00:51:22.71\00:51:28.75
David and on the inhabitants
of Jerusalem the Spirit
00:51:28.78\00:51:33.02
of grace and supplication;
then they will look on Me
00:51:33.05\00:51:39.96
whom they pierced. (we're
going to see that language
00:51:40.00\00:51:43.60
in just a moment in
Revelation) Yes, they will
00:51:43.63\00:51:47.17
mourn for Him (we'll see
that as well) as one mourns
00:51:47.20\00:51:51.81
for his only son,
and grieve for Him
00:51:51.84\00:51:54.91
as one grieves for a firstborn."
00:51:54.94\00:51:57.48
Now Jesus said in Matthew 24:30,
He says... "The sign of the
00:51:57.51\00:52:02.88
Son of Man will appear
in heaven, and then all the
00:52:02.92\00:52:06.89
tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see
00:52:06.96\00:52:10.33
the Son of Man coming
on the clouds of heaven
00:52:10.36\00:52:14.30
with power and great glory."
00:52:14.30\00:52:16.83
And then He said in Matthew
24:31... "He will send His
00:52:16.87\00:52:20.74
angels with a great sound
of a trumpet, and they will
00:52:20.80\00:52:24.27
gather together His
elect from the four winds
00:52:24.31\00:52:26.51
from one end of
heaven to the other."
00:52:26.54\00:52:28.44
So now... we are
ready for Revelation 1:7-8.
00:52:28.48\00:52:33.58
This is the conclusion of
the prologue of Revelation.
00:52:33.62\00:52:40.02
The true focus of
the Book of Revelation
00:52:40.06\00:52:44.09
is the return of Jesus.
00:52:44.13\00:52:46.03
So Revelation 1:7 says this...
"Behold, He is coming with
00:52:46.06\00:52:53.30
clouds, (we've just seen
that, have we not? We saw that
00:52:53.37\00:52:57.14
in Daniel; we
saw that in Matthew)
00:52:57.17\00:52:59.94
He's coming with
clouds, every eye will see Him,
00:53:00.08\00:53:04.78
even those who pierced Him.
00:53:04.81\00:53:06.82
(so see, we saw that was
coming from Zachariah 12:10)
00:53:06.85\00:53:12.79
And all the tribes of the
earth will mourn because of Him.
00:53:12.82\00:53:17.53
Even so, Amen."
00:53:17.56\00:53:18.89
He is coming, not
with a crown of thorns,
00:53:18.93\00:53:22.46
but with a crown of
glory and the same glory He had
00:53:22.50\00:53:26.47
before His
incarnation, right? Yes.
00:53:26.50\00:53:28.30
You know, the Bible
teaches (well, I've got to rush)
00:53:28.34\00:53:32.21
two general resurrections;
one of the righteous,
00:53:32.24\00:53:34.84
and one of the condemned.
00:53:34.88\00:53:36.21
Jesus said in John 5:28...
"Don't marvel at this because
00:53:36.24\00:53:39.81
the day is coming when all who
00:53:39.85\00:53:41.75
who are in the
graves will hear My voice."
00:53:41.78\00:53:44.05
Some will come up in the
resurrection of the righteous;
00:53:44.09\00:53:47.12
others will come up in the
resurrection of the condemned.
00:53:47.16\00:53:50.83
Daniel 12:2 talks about the
same thing - that some come up
00:53:50.89\00:53:55.50
to shame and everlasting
contempt, while others
00:53:55.53\00:53:58.67
come up to everlasting life.
00:53:58.70\00:54:00.74
And in Revelation 20:5-6...
He talks about a second
00:54:00.77\00:54:07.41
resurrection and a second death
that is mentioned four times
00:54:07.48\00:54:12.78
in Daniel.
00:54:12.81\00:54:14.15
So when it says "Every eye
will see Him, this indicates
00:54:14.22\00:54:19.95
that there's going to be
a special resurrection of
00:54:19.99\00:54:24.16
those who crucified Him right
before the return of Christ.
00:54:24.23\00:54:28.00
And in Revelation 1:8, you've
read this... "I'm the Alpha,
00:54:28.03\00:54:31.27
the Omega, the beginning
and the end, says the Lord,
00:54:31.30\00:54:34.04
who is and who was
and who is to come."
00:54:34.10\00:54:36.54
So what we see here, Jesus
says, "Behold I come quickly,
00:54:36.57\00:54:41.38
My reward is with Me,
He says in Revelation 22,
00:54:41.41\00:54:45.25
and He says, "This is all
this Book is about - the coming
00:54:45.28\00:54:51.09
of Jesus Christ. Amen!
00:54:51.12\00:54:52.65
God has kept every promise,
not one word has failed,
00:54:52.69\00:54:56.56
and we can count on the
second coming of Jesus Christ
00:54:56.59\00:55:00.96
in a bodily
physical form. Amen! Amen!
00:55:00.96\00:55:04.33
Thank you so
much each one of you.
00:55:04.37\00:55:06.23
We're just ending the prologue,
as it were, of the Book of
00:55:06.27\00:55:09.54
Revelation and I can't
wait to launch into each one of
00:55:09.57\00:55:12.77
the next weeks.
00:55:12.81\00:55:14.18
Revelation is really divided
into seven different pieces;
00:55:14.21\00:55:16.88
seven different
sections; the seven churches,
00:55:16.95\00:55:19.35
the seven seals,
the seven trumpets,
00:55:19.38\00:55:21.18
the wrath of the nations,
the wrath of God - that's the
00:55:21.22\00:55:24.35
seven plagues; the
final destruction of
00:55:24.39\00:55:26.52
evil and the New Jerusalem and
I'm excited about this study.
00:55:26.55\00:55:30.03
I want to give each one
of you a few moments to share
00:55:31.09\00:55:33.40
a closing thought about your
day or about something else.
00:55:33.43\00:55:35.66
Pastor Kenny. Well
I think of something
00:55:35.70\00:55:37.13
that was in my mind, you
know, as a people we believe in
00:55:37.17\00:55:39.83
prophecy - that's for
sure, and we use Revelation
00:55:39.87\00:55:43.91
as a marker that helps to
kind of mark what's going on
00:55:43.97\00:55:47.48
in history and
so on, and establish
00:55:47.54\00:55:49.74
end-time events
and so on and so forth.
00:55:49.78\00:55:51.98
And my prayer is that
God help us to balance it,
00:55:52.18\00:55:56.32
the Book of Revelation - to
be able to understand the Book
00:55:56.35\00:55:58.62
of Revelation and to
teach it to other people. Amen!
00:55:58.65\00:56:02.12
Secondly, God has not given
us the freedom to interpret
00:56:02.16\00:56:06.59
prophecy in the
context of our own preference.
00:56:06.63\00:56:10.57
But the prophecy is
history concealed and history is
00:56:10.60\00:56:14.57
prophecy revealed. Amen!
00:56:14.60\00:56:16.64
So it's a timeline that
let's us know where we are
00:56:16.71\00:56:18.87
as we prepare for the second
coming of Christ. Amen! Amen!
00:56:18.91\00:56:21.94
Amen! You know, when I
study the Book of Revelation,
00:56:21.98\00:56:24.78
I want to always remind myself
and others that this is the
00:56:24.81\00:56:28.32
revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:56:28.35\00:56:30.19
Studying the Book of
Revelation separate from Christ
00:56:30.22\00:56:33.69
is a very bad mistake and
so I want to be encouraged
00:56:33.76\00:56:38.03
and encourage others to look
to Jesus when you're studying
00:56:38.06\00:56:41.20
the Book of Revelation. Amen!
00:56:41.23\00:56:42.90
And when we think about
the second coming of Jesus,
00:56:42.93\00:56:47.10
we should be filled with
hope because this will be the
00:56:47.14\00:56:51.17
conclusion of this world's
history - all the pain and the
00:56:51.21\00:56:54.51
evil and it will be the
beginning of God's eternal
00:56:54.54\00:56:58.25
kingdom where there is no more
pain or suffering or sorrow.
00:56:58.28\00:57:01.58
But the one thing that I
have to say is... for those who
00:57:01.62\00:57:05.12
believe in Jesus, it's
hope, but the second coming,
00:57:05.15\00:57:08.39
those who spurned His love
and His mercy, they will face
00:57:08.42\00:57:12.26
His justice. Yes.
00:57:12.29\00:57:14.10
That is so true, Shelley,
and so important for each
00:57:14.13\00:57:17.47
one of us to make that decision
to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:57:17.50\00:57:21.57
To accept that rebuke, as
it were, as we get into the
00:57:21.60\00:57:24.54
seven churches - we will see
there are some rebukes coming...
00:57:24.57\00:57:26.98
to accept that and to
accept Jesus into your heart
00:57:27.01\00:57:31.15
and into your life and to
choose to walk in His way.
00:57:31.18\00:57:35.15
Thank you so much
Pastor Kenny, Pastor John,
00:57:35.18\00:57:37.42
Pastor Ryan and
Shelley Q, for joining us today
00:57:37.49\00:57:41.26
for our study of God's word.
00:57:41.29\00:57:43.29
Next week we're
going to look at:
00:57:43.32\00:57:45.29
"Among the Lampstands"
00:57:45.33\00:57:47.20
We begin the first section,
as it were, of Revelation
00:57:47.23\00:57:50.87
with the seven churches
and I think we're on that
00:57:50.93\00:57:53.03
a couple of weeks and
then we really launch into
00:57:53.07\00:57:55.80
our study of the
Book of Revelation.
00:57:55.84\00:57:57.91
Thank you so
much for joining us.
00:57:57.94\00:57:59.44
God bless you and keep you,
00:57:59.47\00:58:00.91
and we'll see
you again next week.
00:58:00.94\00:58:05.51