Sermon Tone Analysis

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Blessed Is the One Who Reads This Prophecy

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Theme: Blessed Is the One Who Reads This Prophecy

Theme: Blessed Is the One Who Reads This Prophecy

Date: 09/24/2017 File Name: Revelation_01.wpd

ID Number:

Date: 09/24/2017 File Name: Revelation_01.wpd

ID Number:

I wasn’t exactly sure I would get to preach this morning’s message considering the world was supposed to end yesterday.

But, considering we are here this morning … I’m going to assume the world did not end.

In fact, I was pretty sure I would have to preach this morning.

Fakenews — especially about the end of the world — has been around for two millennia now.

Here are a few of the more notable examples from among the hundreds of end-of-world predictions over the last two millennium:

I wasn’t exactly sure I would get to preach this morning’s message considering the world was supposed to end yesterday.

But, considering we are here this morning … I’m going to assume the world did not end.

In fact, I was pretty sure I would have to preach this morning.

Fakenews — especially about the end of the world — has been around for two millennia now.

Here are a few of the more notable examples from among the hundreds of end-of-world predictions over the last two millennium:

The Jewish Essene sect of ascetics saw the Jewish revolt against the Romans in A.D. 66–70 in Judea as the final end-time battle which would bring about the arrival of the Messiah.

• Martin of Tours, a French bishop, believed that the world would end around A.D. 400, writing, “There is no doubt that the Antichrist has already been born.”

Martin of Tours, a French bishop, believed that the world would end around A.D. 400, writing, “There is no doubt that the Antichrist has already been born.”

• Pope Sylvester II predicted that January 1 of the year 1000 would usher in the millennium.

Pope Sylvester II predicted that January 1 of the year 1000 would usher in the millennium.

• Between 1346-1351 — a mere five years — almost 50% of Europe’s population died from the bubonic plague.

Thousands of Christians believed this was the end of the world.

Between 1346-1351 — a mere five years — almost 50% of Europe’s population died from the bubonic plague.

Thousands of Christians believed this was the end of the world.

• The Protestant reformer, Martin Luther thought the world would end by 1600, believing theat the invading Muslim Turks were the historical fulfillment for the last beast in , and would usher in the apocalypse.

He believed the Papacy to be the Antichrist.

The Protestant reformer, Martin Luther thought the world would end by 1600, believing theat the invading Muslim Turks were the historical fulfillment for the last beast in , and would usher in the apocalypse.

He believed the Papacy to be the Antichrist.

• In his Book of Prophecies (1501), Christopher Columbus predicted that the world would end in 1656.

In his Book of Prophecies (1501), Christopher Columbus predicted that the world would end in 1656.

• The Puritan minister Cotton Mather, one of the most respected Colonial preachers of his day, (and a man who should have known better) predicted the world would end in 1697.

When the world did not end that year he revise the date to 1716.

When the world did not end in 1716 he again revised the date to 1736.

He died in 1728, and so was unable to revise it a fourth time when the third date also proved wrong.

The Puritan minister Cotton Mather, one of the most respected Colonial preachers of his day, (and a man who should have known better) predicted the world would end in 1697.

When the world did not end that year he revise the date to 1716.

When the world did not end in 1716 he again revised the date to 1736.

He died in 1728, and so was unable to revise it a fourth time when the third date also proved wrong.

• John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was convinced the millennium would begin in 1836.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was convinced the millennium would begin in 1836.

• Charles Taze Russell predicted the return of Jesus would occur in 1874, and when it didn’t happen, he reinterpreted the prediction to say that Jesus had indeed returned ... in invisible form.

(How convenient)

Charles Taze Russell predicted the return of Jesus would occur in 1874, and when it didn’t happen, he reinterpreted the prediction to say that Jesus had indeed returned ... in invisible form.

(How convenient)

• Edgar C. Whisenant predicted in his book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988 that the Rapture of the Church would occur between September 11–13, 1988.

After his September predictions failed to come true, Whisenant revised his prediction date to October 3. When the rapture failed to occur on October 3 he once again revised his date to September 30, 1989.

We are still here.

Edgar C. Whisenant predicted in his book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988 that the Rapture of the Church would occur between September 11–13, 1988.

After his September predictions failed to come true, Whisenant revised his prediction date to October 3. When the rapture failed to occur on October 3 he once again revised his date to September 30, 1989.

We are still here.

• Just last year a group called End Times Prophecies announced the end of the world for July 29 2016 when the magnetic poles would shift, and President Obama would reveal himself to be the Antichrist.

North is were it’s always been.

Just last year a group called End Times Prophecies announced the end of the world for July 29 2016 when the magnetic poles would shift, and President Obama would reveal himself to be the Antichrist.

North is were it’s always been.

Christian doomsdayers have always been with us.

If you have been watching the news — or cruising the Internet — you have probably run into the name David Meade.

He is a research scientist, and author, who has “discovered a secret Bible code” predicting that “Planet X” a giant unknown planet will pass closely by Earth triggering volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis that will usher in the Apocalypse.

(Steve, you’re our resident astronomer ... why haven’t you been warning us about this?)

This was all to have happened yesterday.

Any time someone begins a conversation with “I’ve discovered a secret Bible code predicting …” That’s a conversation you probably need to walk away from, and quickly.

Wikipedia lists almost 200 known end-time predictions.

They all have one thing in common — they’ve all been wrong.

And God laughs.

Do I believe that the world as we know it will someday end with the return of Christ and the establishment of his kingdom?

Yes, absolutely.

But I also believe that trying to predict the date of that event is folly.

This morning we begin our journey through the Book of Revelation.

Over the centuries, Revelation has been misunderstood, ignored, and neglected.

This is a mistake.

It’s a mistake because the author expressly tells us that there is a blessing in hearing it, and in reading it, and in taking it to heart.

Is it a book of the Bible difficult to understand?

Well, it’s certainly is not the easiest, but we neglect it to our spiritual detriment.

Without the book of Revelation there is no judgment of sin.

• Without the book of Revelation there is no story of how this world ends.

Without the book of Revelation there is no story of how this world ends.

• Without the book of Revelation there is no hope for the righteous.

Without the book of Revelation there is no hope for the righteous.

• Without the book of Revelation Christ never reigns, the kingdom is never established, and there’s never a summing up of all things in Christ.

Without the book of Revelation Christ never reigns, the kingdom is never established, and there’s never a summing up of all things in Christ.

• Without the book of Revelation we are left in the dark as to God’s redemptive conclusion for the world.

Without the book of Revelation we are left in the dark as to God’s redemptive conclusion for the world.

• Without the book of Revelation we are at the mercy of false teachers who say, “I have a concluding word from God about the end of the world.”

Without the book of Revelation we are at the mercy of false teachers who say, “I have a concluding word from God about the end of the world.”

Let’s begin our journey by opening our Bibles to Revelation chapter 1. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

(, NIV84)

t’s begin our journey by opening our Bibles to Revelation chapter 1. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

(, NIV84)

I. GOD’S REVELATION

1. the book of Revelation is our Lord’s message to his Church meant to encourage us in difficult days

difficult days

a. the message comes near the end of the first century

1) the apostle John, the author of this letter, is an old man, and the last of the original 12 apostles remaining alive