10/3/2011 The Message of the Revelation “Blessed is he that readeth and those that hear” “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” “Blessed is he that watchest and keepeth his garments” “Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book”

The Message of the Revelation “And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.” Rev 6:9-11

The Message of the Revelation The Conflict Dragon…Satan 12:9  First Beast 13:1  Second Beast 13:11 versus Man Child 12:5 Seed of the Woman 12:17

The Message of the Revelation Prophecy Provides Basis for Understanding by Establishing the Historical Timeframe – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Dan 2:1-45  Four kingdoms  Babylon the first Dan 2:38  Medo-Persian the second Dan 8:20 (Daniel’s Dream)  Greece the third Dan 8:20

The Message of the Revelation Prophecy Provides Basis for Understanding by Establishing the Historical Timeframe – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Dan 2:1-45  Four kingdoms  Roman Empire the fourth Dan 2:44; Dan 7:23-27  Jesus’ birth Luke 2:1-7  John the Baptist begins teaching (AD 29) Luke 3:1

The Message of the Revelation

The Speaker and the Audience  Christ revealed to the apostle John as the First and the Last, One who had died, but was now alive forevermore Chapter 1  “which must shortly come to pass” Rev 1:1  The immediate audience, the 7 churches of Asia, receive the encouragements and warnings of the revelation revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos Chapters 2-3

The Message of the Revelation

God on His Throne and the Worthy Lamb  God appears on His throne as the Omnipotent One who controls all things Chapter 4 In a moment John goes from exile on Patmos to viewing God on His throne!!!  Jesus presented as the Worthy Lamb, the Lion of Judah Chapter 5 From apparent despair to assurance of victory as seals are opened

The Message of the Revelation The Seven Seals are opened to reveal the victory for the Lamb and God’s faithful servants and judgment for Satan and his allies Chapters 6 & 8:1  1 st four seals reveal Four Horses  Victorious Christ  War  Famine  Death & Pestilence

The Message of the Revelation The Seven Seals are opened to reveal the victory for the Lamb and God’s faithful servants and judgment for Satan and his allies Chapters 6 & 8:1  5 th seal reveals martyred saints  6 th seal reveals judgment emanating from wrath of God  7 th seal followed by silence in heaven and introduction of the angels with seven trumpets Rev 8:1

The Message of the Revelation The assurance of God’s providence over the saints Chapters 7  The sealing of the 144,000 Rev 7 “Hurt not the earth… till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads” Rev 7:3  Note Rev 7:9-17

The Message of the Revelation The Seven Trumpets warn of the impending judgments of God upon the enemies of the Lamb and His faithful servants Chapters 8-9 & 11:15  1 st trumpet affects 1/3 of the earth  2 nd trumpet affects 1/3 of the seas  3 rd trumpet affects 1/3 of the fresh waters  4 th trumpet affects 1/3 of sun, moon and stars  5 th trumpet introduces Abaddon, king of the abyss  6 th trumpet unleashes four angels with plagues that kill 1/3 of mankind  7 th trumpet declares God as ruler over the kingdom of the world and ultimate victory for the saints

The Message of the Revelation The battlefield is drawn for the spiritual warfare between the Dragon, the man child and the seed of the woman Chapters  Man child is Christ, the Lamb  Seed of the woman are the saints  Dragon is Satan, the abaddon  First beast is the Roman Empire and its persecuting emperors  Second beast is the Roman Concilia, persecuting arm of the emperors

The Message of the Revelation God’s answer for the enemies of the saints  Lamb standing with the 144,000 Rev 14:1  “The hour of His judgment is come” Rev 14:7  “Fallen, fallen is Babylon” Rev 14:8  “If any man worshippeth the beast” Rev 14:9  “Send forth thy sickle to reap: for the hour to reap is come” Rev 14:15

The Message of the Revelation “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God” Rev 15:1 Note Rev 15:3-4

The Message of the Revelation The Seven Bowls of God’s wrath are poured out upon the enemies of the Lamb Chapter 16  Babylon the great had received the fierceness of God’s wrath Rev 16:19 The fall of Rome, the Great Harlot, provides hope and assurance of victory for God’s faithful servants Chapters Note Rev 17:5-6 & Rev 18:7-8 &21

The Message of the Revelation Victory over Satan and his allies culminates with notice of the eternal destruction in the lake of fire of the first beast and the false prophet (2 nd beast) Chapter 19  “and He hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand” Rev 19:2

The Message of the Revelation Victory over Satan and his allies culminates with notice of the eternal destruction in the lake of fire for the first beast and the false prophet (2 nd beast) Chapter 19  “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:” Rev 19:20

The Message of the Revelation Judgments of Satan and all mankind Chapter 20  “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Rev 20:10 Heaven the saints reward Chapters 21-22