Revelation Epilogue

“We just finished working through the book of Revelation and there we saw a repetitive call to turn in repentance from living for ourselves, for comfort or safety from persecution in this life, and instead follow Jesus in obedience.  That our love for Jesus would so rule us and our passions that it would be like we did not even love ourselves. Revelation encouraged us that to live for eternity rather for the now will lead to great reward. Revelation also warned us that to fail to do so and “overcome” puts us in a very different camp, and that while we might attend church and call ourselves Christians, if our lives are not centered around obedience to Christ, we will not receive the promised reward granted to those who overcome. One thing I felt like I was light on in preaching through Revelation, was a practical approach to living this out in our day and age; ‘what does it mean to live as an overcomer today?’”

(Originally preached on August 12, 2018)

Revelation 22:6-21

“There is an emphatic highlighting of the unique truth and trustworthiness of the message that has been relayed throughout Revelation. The Bible begins and ends with: God said!”

(Originally preached on August 5, 2018)

Revelation 21:1-22:5

“The climax of Revelation is seeing the result of God’s plan revealed.  As we near the end of his visions, John sees the very thing Christ would suffer on the cross for — what the Spirit is at work in preparing the church for. Jesus’ death and resurrection had already struck the mortal blow against death, the final enemy of God’s people. And deaths final judgement will lead to a renewal of the entire created order. God’s plan from before he lay the foundations of the world to eliminate the fatal infection of evil from his people. The old order was bondage and death, but the new is freedom and safety in Christ Jesus.”

(Originally preached on July 29, 2018)

Revelation 20:1-15

“These are some of the most controversial verses in Revelation; responsible scholars hold to various views on the meaning of the thousand years. The message of the text, however, is very simple; it is the message of Revelation: those who oppose Jesus will be destroyed.   Even members of the churches who through compromise and self-seeking join the world in rebellion against the King of kings and Lord of lords, will suffer the ultimate punishment unless they turn in repentance and in obedience to Christ become faithful witnesses, even if it cost them their lives.”

(Originally preached on July 22, 2018)

Revelation 19:1-21

“Our passage this morning contrasts the fate of the faithless prostitute with that of the faithful people of God, those who have been consistently described as overcomers or conquerors because they overcome by the blood of the lamb and by bearing faithful witness according to their testimonies. Both events are met with praises in heaven as God reveals his righteous judgements which result in the prostitute dying and being burned at the hands of her estranged lovers and, by contrast, the bride is welcomed, clothed in white, by Jesus Christ, the Lamb.”

(Originally preached on July 15, 2018)

Revelation 18:1-24

“Revelation 17 and 18 are one unit together; the vision of a woman sitting a scarlet beast with seven heads representing both seven hills and seven rulers. We learned from chapter 17 that the woman represents Rome, the city of seven hills, ruling over the nations as the capital city of the empire; the beast which the woman rides. She is drunk on the blood of the saints and exports her immorality to the provinces. Because she lives lavishly on the backs of the people of the empire, this beast together with local rulers would turn on the prostitute and cause her to suffer the very judgements God had pronounced over her in a majestic show of the sovereignty of God. Now in chapter 18, John records something dangerous and astonishing; a funeral dirge for the great city while it still stands.”

(Originally preached on July 1, 2018)

Revelation 17

“We have yet another astounding vision which seems intimidating to interpret but to which Jesus, through his angel, immediately provides a clear explanation to the first audience…”

(Originally preached June 17, 2018)

Revelation 15:1-16:21

“Revelation has been urging its readers to conquer or overcome, and we have been told multiple times that the saints, the obedient church, will conquer by way of the cross, ‘by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,’ which would ultimately require that ‘they love not their lives even unto death.’ (Rev. 12:11) How is it that the saints conquer the beast and the beast conquers the saints ? How can both be true?”

(Originally preached on June 10, 2018)

Revelation 14:1-20

“Revelation 13 took us behind the scenes, laying bare the strategy of our enemy so that the church can be prepared to withstand his assault.  He will utilize world systems which will make it uncomfortable, oppressive and even dangerous to keep one’s allegiance to Christ by obedience and boldly proclaiming the gospel. Revelation 14 provides insights into how they overcome the beast and his plans. Now the visions of Revelation move away from the beast and the mark his worshippers bear to remind us that God’s people bear a mark as well and both marks have serious implications going forward…”

(Originally preached on June 3, 2018)

Revelation 13:1-18

Unfortunately, the sermon on Revelation 12 was lost in the archives. A brief recap is covered at the start of this sermon on Revelation 13:1-18.

“The Christians of this particular time and place were headed directly into at least one period of intense persecution where they might be imprisoned and killed for their allegiance to Christ.  There was a very current pressure to assimilate to the ways of the empire. To do business in the pagan system was already just about impossible for the Christians.  The trade guilds each had their own deities and their gatherings normally entailed the eating of meat offered to idols with the company of temple prostitutes.  To offend or withdraw from the trade guilds constituted economic suicide. Later, a mid-third century emperor would demand certificates of sacrifice to the emperor in order to participate in commerce and avoid outright execution! We are talking current pressure, not some far off thing thousands of years later. Imagine you are a Christian in the ancient world and are offered freedom and financial comfort if you would simply engage in a ritual act of sprinkling incense on a fire to Caesar; but the act constitutes an even greater rebellion to our Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine you are a Christian in the ancient world and are offered freedom and financial comfort if you would simply engage in a ritual act of sprinkling incense on a fire to Caesar.  The act constitutes a greater rebellion to Christ….”

(Originally preached on May 27, 2018.)