Understanding Revelation Part one (1:1-3:22) : Preparation of Churches 7 Letters to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea

Part two (4:1- 22:5) : Prophetic Message Introduction, vision of Heaven and Lamb to open seals (last week) Three Sevenfold Visions of the time from Christ’s Ascension to the End of time (snap shots from Ascension to End) Conclusion, New Heaven and Earth! Understanding Revelation

Part three (22:6-21): Epilogue Understanding Revelation

Today’s Message First 4 seals of the first sevenfold vision Opened by the Lamb

Four Horsemen of Revelation

Revelation 6 and Matthew 24 Identity of the Lamb Basic Principles: Scripture Interprets Scripture Clear passages interpret unclear

Matthew 24 3 … “Tell us, when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Revelation 4 1 “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this.”

Matthew 24 :5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Revelation 6 :2 White horse and rider with a bow, “given” a crown, “bent on conquest” Identity Tyranny and religious deception

Matthew 24 :6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. … But the end is not yet. :7a “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Revelation 6 :3-4 Red horse and rider with a sword, taking peace from the earth and causing people to kill one another. Identity War, destruction, and resulting death

Matthew 24 :7b “And there will be famines, …” Revelation 6 :5-6 Black horse and rider with scales to weigh scarce food supplies. Identity Famine and scarcity of food.

Matthew 24 :7c “…pestilences” Revelation Pale horse (literally chloros, a pale green color) and rider named “Death.” Identity Pestilence (disease on a large scale, i.e., epidemics and pandemics) increases around the world. Wars and famines contribute to pestilence..

No scroll is re-sealed Four Horsemen ride together from Ascension to End

What does it mean for you? Be READY… Mt. 24:43 …if the owner of the house had known what hour of the night the thief was coming he would have kept watch….

What distracts you? Problems Things People

What Distracts you? Jesus says distractions are like weeds that grow up in your mind and heart, just as weeds grow in a garden. There are three types of weeds that will keep you from hearing God’s voice: Worries – The Greek word for worry is merinma, which means “pulled in different directions.” When you are pulled in different directions, you are worried. And when you are worried, you can’t hear God. Riches – You can be so busy making a living, trying to make money to pay the bills and get out of debt that you can’t hear God. Pleasures – God gives you pleasures, and they are a good thing. But you can get so busy pursuing pleasures and fun that you forget to pursue God as well.

DANGER OF DISTRACTION FAITH IS CHOKED OUT OF OUR LIFE WE ARE NOT “READY” WITH FAITH WHEN OUR LAST HOUR COMES

What does it mean for you? Live VICTORIOUSLY

“The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) “Christ took on human nature that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14) * “God disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15) Revelation 20:10 says, “The devil... [will be] thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone... and will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

“Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies!” (Romans 8:33) “Neither angels nor principalities nor powers nor anything else shall separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.” (Romans 8:38) “He who is in us is stronger than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) “We conquer him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.” (Revelation 12:11) “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!”(James 4:7) He has been defeated, and we have been given victory. Our task now is to live in that victory and make Satan know his defeat.

Satan has been defeated, and we have been given victory. Our task now is to live in that victory and make Satan know his defeat.