Abingdon Community Church God’s Big Picture The Perfected Kingdom Sunday 20th January 2019

God’s plan throughout the big story…

Living in the ‘Last Days’ The kingdom is NOW and NOT YET This is the age of the SPIRIT This is the age of the CHURCH This is the age of MISSION

1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:2 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

The Final book…

The Book of Revelation ‘Revelation’ = ‘Apocalypse’ (1:1) = ‘unveiling’ NB 2 Cor 4:18: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Author: John Style: “Apocalyptic” – importance of symbols & OT imagery Purpose: to strengthen believers experiencing persecution (1:9) “what is now and what will take place later” (1:19) - Prophecy

Key themes of Revelation There IS someone on the throne! Rev 4:2 The Lion & the Lamb (5:5ff)

Key themes of Revelation There IS someone on the throne! There IS suffering, persecution & judgement 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls Past, present or future?

Key themes of Revelation There IS someone on the throne! There IS suffering, persecution & judgement There ARE those opposed to God’s kingdom & rule The Dragon, the ancient serpent – Satan Babylon the great / the beast from the sea - human empires/powers under Satan’s influence The beast from the earth / the false prophet - false religion / spirituality promoting the above Death & the grave

Key themes of Revelation There IS someone on the throne! There IS suffering, persecution & judgement There ARE those opposed to God’s kingdom & rule God DOES preserve His people – despite suffering. The 144,000 The great multitude from every people & nation The woman of chapter 12

Key themes of Revelation There IS someone on the throne! There IS suffering, persecution & judgement There ARE those opposed to God’s kingdom & rule God DOES preserve His people – despite suffering. There WILL be a final judgement Rev 19:19-21, 20:10-15

Key themes of Revelation There IS someone on the throne! There IS suffering, persecution & judgement There ARE those opposed to God’s kingdom & rule God DOES preserve His people – despite suffering. There WILL be a final judgement There WILL be a new creation Rev:21:1-22:6

New heavens & a New earth Things missing! New realities Sea / Suffering (21:1, 3-4) LIFE! Fruitfulness, healing = BLESSING! (22:1-2) A Temple / Sun & Moon (21:22-23) Free & perfect relationship with God (21:22-23, 22:3-4) Impurity / Night (21:27, 22:3,5) Perfect relationships between God’s people from all nations (21:24-26)

Why this matters: our response! There is always HOPE Patient endurance (1:9, 2 Cor 4:16-18) We are careful how we live (2 Cor 5:9-10, 2 Peter 3:10-15) We must be discerning about human powers (2 Peter 3:17-18) Press in to God in prayer & worship “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life… He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” Rev 21:17, 20-21