The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation) fascinates and takes me through all kinds of emotions. There is joy in thinking about the future when GOD WINS, but there are also feelings of hurt and pain for the suffering it describes for those who reject Christ. I promised to supplement my talks with some thoughts in this blog. I will include my thoughts and then some helpful links to help you go further up and further in to God’s story. In regards to these links, please understand that I do not necessarily agree with everything their respective authors propose, but they are inserted so that you can give thoughtful interpretation to this book.
Some of the GREATEST things about Revelation:
1. It features the current and future words of Christ.
2. It demonstrates God’s complete power over every age and His constant defeat of evil in the face of constant conflict throughout the ages.
3. Jesus Christ will return again and we should look forward to it expectantly.
4. GOD WINS in the end and regularly along the way even though evil appears to be winning at times.
5. There are a variety of views on Revelation. The one I lean towards, is commonly called the FUTURIST Perspective.
Chapter 1 – JESUS CHRIST (Front and Center, “Was, Is, Is To Come, I Am”)
Jesus is THE all-powerful Savior, the Alpha and Omega-the beginning and the end of God’s story. Life begins with Christ in Creation and ends in Re-Creation as He makes all things new. He was and is and is to come. That means Christ was there before what we call the beginning. The Bible tells us that He was the agent through whom God created the world and the universe. He comes to the Apostle John in a real vision and leaves specific messages to the church THEN and NOW! John is told to listen up, observe carefully, and write it down. Jesus assures John and us that He has defeated death and lives forever. He speaks to 7 Churches that existed at that time, to 7 ages of the church from the first century until now, and to churches like them here and now. So prophecy can have meanings in every generation.
Chapters 2 and 3 – “LISTEN UP AND LOOK OUT!”
Jesus tells John about 7 specific churches and gives them very specified messages.
The summary of those messages is found here: http://www.bibleexplained.com/revelation/r-seg01-3/rev03c-smaller-table.html
Keep in mind that these 7 churches are symbolized by 7 lamp stands and Christ is walking among them. It is important for us to remember that Christ has a message for all churches of all types and all times. We can pay specific attention to the fact that Jesus has a clear message for us individually and the church together if we listen up and look up to hear and see what he is saying to us. These are messages for THEN and for NOW.
Essentially, God reminds us through Christ to:
1. …Return to our first love – Him
2. …Be faithful even if it means dying for Him
3. …Avoid compromise, turn to good, do the next right thing, and overcome for Him
4. …Follow good leaders and avoid evil ones and hold fast to Christ and his true leaders in the church
5. …WAKE UP and do the right thing regularly for Christ.
6. …Keep My Word and do not deny My Name.
7. …Be zealous for Me and not half-hearted in ANY way.
KEEP IT REAL AND LIVE IT OUT!
Some Helpful Resources For Further Study (Reources are numbered for your convenience.):
1. davidjeremiah.org (teaching from David jeremiah)
2. A specific article about Armageddon and the Return of Christ can be found here; http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/content.aspx?id=2096&terms=revelation
3. lproof.org (teaching from Beth Moore)
4. HELPFUL CHARTS can be downloaded here: http://www.jesuswalk.com/revelation/ (NOTE: You do not have to purchase the Bible Study. Simply scroll to the bottom of the pdf charts for quick visibility.)
A GREAT Q & A ABOUT THE FINAL BATTLE AND THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST:
5. http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/content.aspx?id=2096&terms=revelation
THE BEST TWO RESOURCES TO PURCHASE THAT CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR REVELATION JOURNEY ARE:
6. Escape The Coming Night By David jeremiah
7. Here and Now… There And Then By Beth Moore
FREE HELPFUL SUMMARY:
8. “A Jet Tour Of Revelation” By John Macarthur can be accessed here: http://www.biblebb.com/files/mac/gc1290.htm
ANOTHER HELPFUL SUMMARY:
(I include this summary for intellectual honesty. There are good and righteous people who love God who differ with me about the perspective. Again, I do not concur with all of these conclusions. They are included as a useful and honest intellectual comparison.
9. http://www.apocalipsis.org/rev-int.htm
(All pictures included in this post are artist renderings from The Revelation Of Jesus Christ. Obviously, we don’t know exactly how these images actually look.)
10. Revelation: Four Views: A Parallel Commentary Edited By Steve Gregg
http://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Four-Views-Parallel-Commentary/dp/0840721285/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279745569&sr=1-1