Revelation Sermon - 27

Lars Janssen

Revelation Series • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

0 ratings

· 6 views

Notes

Transcript

Revelation: Review and Remind

Revelation 1-11

1. Introduction – Two confessions to start this morning. I changed my mind mid-course this week.

a. We were going to look at Revelation 12 today, but as I was studying and preparing I decided on a different course of action.

i. Which leads me to confession number 2. Since April I have been preaching 2 different sermons at each church. Somehow ISBC got a week behind, then another week behind.

1. And it is getting quite difficult to keep track of which church is on what passage.

b. So, here’s my new plan. Here at DBC, you are going to get 2 bonus sermons! There are 2 Sundays before I go on holidays, so I am going to use these 2 Sundays to catch ISBC up.

i. When I come back from holidays in September everyone will be in the same spot in Revelation – chapter 12.

c. We’re actually at a good point in our study to stop and review a little bit. I said from the outset that I am in no hurry to get through this book.

i. In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve been taking our time. We started in January – its now the end of July, so in 7 months we’ve covered 11 chapters.

1. We’re taking our time because it’s a letter that requires taking our time, but the content of this book is so important that its worth it for us to slow down and take it all in, instead of rushing through it say we finished.

a. I also said from the outset that after each major section of the book we would stop, review and remind ourselves of what we’ve just studied.

d. We’ve finished the section containing the breaking of the 7 seals and the blowing of the 7 seven trumpets. Actually, we’ve finished the first half of the letter.

e. This week we’re going to have a bit picture overview. I’ll quickly walk us through what we’ve looked at so far.

i. I’ll remind you of some of the main themes we have seen along the way, and most important of all, we’ll see how all of these visions fit together.

1. Next week, we’ll take a different approach. Throughout the whole series I’ve been saying that Revelation isn’t only a letter of crazy and confusing visions – Revelation is also a discipleship manual.

a. Maybe more than any other book in the Bible, Revelation teaches us how to be a Christian while living in a world that is actively rejecting Christ.

i. How we need the message of this book to grip us and guide us as we journey through life on this earth. But that’s next week.

f. This week, big picture, how do all of these crazy visions fit together, and what does it all mean?

2. Where We’ve Been – Since our last review week, it was in March by the way – we have been on an epic journey.

a. I want to take this opportunity to remind us that this Revelation is the Revelation, the unveiling, the pulling back of the curtain – of Jesus Christ.

i. Nowhere in Scripture do we get a clearer picture of Jesus as he is right now, then we do in Revelation.

b. But this is a Revelation of Jesus Christ in that it is about Jesus Christ. He is the main subject of the book, and if at the end of our study we are not throwing ourselves at Jesus’ feet – we’ve read it wrong.

i. But this is a Revelation of Jesus, about Jesus, and it is given by Jesus.

1. We know these words can be trusted and the outcome secured because these words were given to Jesus by God the Father, Jesus spoke them to an angel, the angel spoke them to John, and John wrote them down.

c. So, what have seen since our last review? A lot! The large section we just studied started in chapters 4-5, the epic throne room scene. It is the central and centering vision of the letter.

i. Everything flows out of the throne room of God.

1. There is a throne in heaven, and it is occupied by God, the holy and Almighty One.

d. Remember all these visions started when Jesus, depicted as the Lamb, took the scroll of history from the right hand of God and began to break its seals.

i. The seals start a cycle of events that are depicted in 3 sets of 7. No, these are not 21 sequential events that we need to be on the lookout for. Some of these things are already happening around us.

1. These 3 sets of 7 are the same events described over and over again, but from different perspectives and giving us more details.

a. Each of the 7, seals, trumpets, and bowls, show us what happens when God’s kingdom comes closer to earth, and it is resisted by humanity.

i. But each of these seven, also reminds us that God’s people will be held secure by the Lord God Almighty.

e. As Jesus began to break the seals on the scroll, we were introduced to 4 ominous figures – the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse.

i. Conquest, war, famine and death – all the result of sinful humanity resisting the in breaking kingdom of God.

1. In the 5th seal we are introducing to Christian martyrs…and they cry out to God to judge those who persecuted and killed them.

a. It’s a cry that actually moves the narrative along.

f. In seal 6, we come to an end of sorts. In a very quick, short on details scene, God judges the unrepentant, and they would rather have mountains fall on them then turn to God.

i. After seal 6, we have what’s known as the interlude. The interlude answers a question posed in seal 6 – who is able to survive to God’s wrath?

1. And the answer comes in the interlude – those who have received the seal of God. Who is able to survive? God’s people. Wonderfully encouraging news.

g. And at the end of chapter 7 we come to a glorious ending in the book – where all of God’s people are gathered around God’s throne worshipping him.

i. When the 7th seal is broken, there is silence in heaven for half an hour. Silence as preparation and anticipation for God is about to do.

1. But out of the 7th seal also come the 7 trumpets.

a. Not 7 new events, but a retelling of the same events from a different perspective.

h. Trumpets 1-4 sound off, and again we see judgment on the created order.

i. There’s judgment on vegetation, ocean water, drinking water and on the sun, moon, and stars.

1. Very reminiscent of seals 1-4 and even seal 6.

i. Trumpets 5&6 also expand on seal 6 – how will God avenge his peoples’ death?

i. By torturing the torturers. By tormenting the tormenters. By persecuting the persecutors.

1. By killing the murderers.

a. The 6th trumpet is a replaying of the 6th seal – showing humanity’s propensity and bent toward sin.

i. Even when God makes himself powerfully and clearly known – even when evil is tormenting and even killing its own followers – people still refuse to repent and turn to God.

1. Instead turning to lifeless idols.

j. This section with the trumpets also has an interlude – and it again answers a very important question. What is the church to do?

i. And in the second interlude of Revelation we learn that as the church, as God’s people, we are to internalize God’s Word and keep on preaching.

1. Even though humanity refuses to repent…

a. Even though humanity still turns to idols, even though persecution and death may come our way…

i. The answer to the question is made loud and clear…keep on preaching.

ii. What this interlude, along with seals 5&6 show us that even though there is hardship and persecution and maybe even death in store – the gospel of Jesus Christ still goes out.

1. There are still those faithful ones, willing to count the cost, take up the mantle of the gospel and preach to the nations about salvation through the blood of Jesus.

k. And then in the 7th trumpet we come to the glorious highs of the Hallelujah Chorus.

i. The kingdom of this world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ…and he shall reign forever and ever!

3. Fit Together – So, how does all of that fit together? And how does all of this point to Jesus?

a. Those two questions are interrelated and by answering the first we’ll begin to answer the second.

b. How do the seals fit with the trumpets fit with the interludes?

i. Well to help us with that, I want you to focus on where they all end up.

1. Multiple times throughout this section we come to the end of time.

a. And no matter what happens in the visions – the breaking of seals or blowing of trumpets – no matter what happens the end result never changes.

c. When the horsemen come and wreak havoc, when crops and water and the sun are judged…

i. The end result never changes.

1. When demonic locusts torture and a demonic cavalry rides…the end result never changes.

d. When God’s people cry out for justice, when they are persecuted and even killed for their faith and witness…guess what – the end result never changes.

i. And what is the end result that we have seen? Well, what have we seen in those times when we have come to the end of time?

1. There are 2 things that consistently happen whenever we reach end….and what happens depends on which side of the battle you are on.

e. When we come to the end, the people of God will be vindicated and they will spend eternity worshipping around God’s throne.

i. We will sing songs like “Worthy is the Lamb!” Blessing, honour, glory, power be to the only wise king!

1. Salvation belongs to our God!

ii. But whenever we come to the end we also see judgment for the unrepentant.

1. And no matter what happens in these visions, we can know that the end result never changes.

a. And we’ll see it again, because at the end of the 7 bowls, we’ll come to the end again and it will be even more glorious and joyous then it was previously.

f. And we’ll see as we make our way through the second half of the book, as the action intensifies and as the visions become more vivid…

i. We’ll that the end result never changes.

1. Worship around the throne of God for the people of God…eternal damnation for those who refuse to repent.

a. And why is it – that no matter which way we get there, why is it that the end result never changes???

i. Well, in order to answer that question, we have to answer the other question I posed.

4. Jesus – The end result never changes because of Jesus. Because this Revelation is his – about him and by him.

a. Because Jesus died and is alive forevermore, because Jesus holds he keys to death and the grave…

i. Because Jesus is the Lamb who was slain.

1. Jesus is the Lamb that ransomed people for God through his blood.

a. The end result never changes because history finds its purpose and completion in Jesus.

i. It’s a glorious glorious section of the book. One that repeatedly brings us back to the throne room of God – worshipping God the Father and Jesus the Lamb.

5. Why? – But maybe the age-old question, a question people have been asking for centuries is this… “Why does John write this way?”

a. Why so many images and why so many times around the same events to repeatedly come to the same end?

i. We have to remember why this letter is being written.

b. John is writing this letter as a persecuted Christian to persecuted churches.

i. And he’s writing to encourage them to stand strong in the face of trial.

1. John writes to them to give them hope in the face of trials.

a. To give them the tools they need in order to overcome.

i. To give them the knowledge that no matter what this world throws at them – God will be victorious.

c. John writes to these 7 churches to show these Christians in Asia Minor that following Jesus is worth it.

i. Despite the persecution and obstacles thrown their way…following the path that the Lamb has laid out is the only path that leads to victory and eternal life.

d. Oh, how we need the message of Revelation today.

i. In a world that is increasingly hostile towards Christians, in a world full of allure, temptations and distractions…

1. How we need this reminder that, even the road is marked with suffering, persecution and maybe even martyrdom… how we need to be reminded that following Jesus is worth it.

e. It is worth it to be wholeheartedly sold out for the ways of God, because it will lead to vindication and eternal life spent worshipping around the throne.

6. Next week – But how does Revelation do this? How does it encourage Christians to live a sold-out life for God?

a. Well, that’s a topic for next week. Next week, we’ll look at how Revelation encourages Christians to overcome…

i. How Revelation teaches Christians not to be passive and apathetic in their faith…

1. And how Revelation teaches Christians how to live a life of worship as a way of practicing for the eternal worship we will participate in in eternity.

a. Next week, Lord willing, we’ll look at how the letter of Revelation is also a practical discipleship manual.