Rather than speculation or sensational headlines, this study focuses on Scripture interpreting Scripture. You’ll discover how Revelation connects to Daniel, how its symbols unfold across history, and why its central message is ultimately about Christ, worship, and allegiance.

<p>Rather than speculation or sensational headlines, this study focuses on Scripture interpreting Scripture. You’ll discover how Revelation connects to Daniel, how its symbols unfold across history, and why its central message is ultimately about Christ, worship, and allegiance.</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

HopeLives365

Mark Finley

Revelation Explained in 35 Minutes

When you think of the Book of Revelation, what's the first thought that comes to your mind?

Somebody said, Pastor Mark, first thought that comes to my mind is those scary beasts.

Somebody else said, the first thought that comes to my mind is a time of trouble, and I am so frightened about that time.

Somebody else said, what comes to my mind are confusing images that I can't understand.

What is the central theme of the book of Revelation?

In today's presentation, we're gonna look deeply into the heart of Revelation.

Father in heaven, as we look at Revelation and we see the big themes from Revelation chapter 1 to Revelation chapter 22, help our hearts be filled with hope.

The book of Revelation is a book of hope.

The word revelation in the Greek language is apocalypse.

And that word means an unveiling, a revealing.

So in the book of Revelation, we have God's plans revealed for an end time generation.

Revelation chapter 1 verse 1 says, the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This book, Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is about Jesus.

It says, which God gave to him to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass.

And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.

So Revelation originates in the heart of God and God gives it to Jesus and Jesus gives it to the angel and the angel wings his way from worlds afar, gives it to John and John writes it down.

John exiled him, the island of Patmos, writes down the messages that have come from the heart of God through Jesus and the angel and you and I hold in our hands a revelation of what's to come.

The world wonders what does the future hold.

The book of Revelation reveals those amazing events that will take place.

And the theme of the book of Revelation is that Christ will triumph in the controversy between good and evil.

He will triumph in the battle between righteousness and unrighteousness, between right and wrong, between Christ and Satan.

In the book of Revelation, there are 2 central themes.

First, Jesus as the Lamb of God, the Christ that died for us, the Christ that saves us, the Christ that redeems us, the Christ that is interceding for us as our great high priest.

In Revelation, Jesus is the Lamb that dies and he's the priest that lives.

In Revelation, Jesus is the Lamb of God, as mentioned around 28 times.

Numbers in the book of Revelation make a difference.

7 is always a symbol of perfection or completeness.

So you have 7 churches, the complete revelation of God about his church through history.

You have 7 seals, the complete revelation of God on the impact of the world upon the church and how the church is battling in this world between good and evil and how Christ's church will be triumphant.

And then you have the 7 trumpets, the seals of judgment, the judgments of God revealed in the trumpets.

You have the seven-branched candlestick, the perfect work of the Holy Spirit.

And so throughout the book of Revelation 7 indicates perfection.

The Lamb of God 28 times, the universal perfect Christ dies for humanity.

But in Revelation also, in chapter after chapter, theme after theme, as a golden thread that runs through the book is the second coming of Christ.

And what I want to share with you in this presentation is how the coming of Jesus, the triumph of Christ over the principalities and powers of hell is the central theme of the book of Revelation.

We start here with verse 3, Revelation 1, blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things that are written therein for the time is at hand, a triple blessing.

As you read the book of Revelation, you will be blessed.

As you hear the words of Revelation and deeply understand them, you will be blessed.

But the reason that we read, the reason that we hear is so that we will do, so that Revelation is a book that changes our life.

Revelation is a book that transforms us if we understand it because it gives us hope.

Revelation is a book that keeps pushing us to look till tomorrow, pushing us to look toward eternity, pushing us to look toward the day that Christ will come.

Every chapter directs us to this grand and glorious theme of the coming of Christ.

Revelation chapter 1 verse 7, Behold, he comes with clouds, and every eye will see him.

They also which pierced him, and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.

Revelation describes Jesus coming in glory, Jesus coming in power, Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven.

Remember what it says in Acts chapter 1 verse 9 to 11?

This same Jesus, the angel said to the disciples, that you've seen go up into heaven so shall come in like manner as you've seen him go.

Christ is not coming secretly he came as a babe in Bethlehem's manger once And very few people understood that this was the Messiah.

But he's not coming secretly again, not as a babe born in Bethlehem's manger.

He is coming this time as lightning shines from the east according to the west.

The heavens will be illuminated with the brightness of His glory.

So this theme, the triumph of Christ, this theme, the victory of Christ, all through the book of Revelation.

In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 we have the 7 churches.

These are churches that existed in the days of John in the first century but the lessons to these churches are for every century.

You have Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.

Look at every 1 of these churches ends the message to them is to him that overcomes, to him that overcomes.

And the promise to the overcomer is always to be with Christ in his kingdom.

I'll give you 2 examples Revelation 2 and verse 7.

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God what encouragement Christ is going to win Overcomers by his grace and through his power can live with him in paradise But then you go to the last of these 7 churches in the book of Revelation chapter 3 and you go to the last of these churches and again verse 21, to him that overcomes who I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his throne." Now the battle between good and evil, the battle between Christ and Satan is a battle for the throne of God.

Let's go back to Isaiah chapter 14 verse 12 to 14.

There's a battle for the throne in the universe.

Isaiah chapter 14 looking there at verse 12.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning?

How art thou cut down to the ground that weakens the nations?

For thou hast said, in thine heart, I will ascend to heaven.

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

I will sit upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north.

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.

Yet you will be brought down to hell, to the grave, to the sides of the pit." Look what the Bible says.

There is a battle for the throne, but yet to the overcomers it is promised.

Revelation 3 verse 21, I will grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set with my Father on his throne.

Through the grace of Christ, we can sit on the throne with Jesus and participate in the rulership of the universe.

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Revelation Explained in 35 Minutes

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