The Revelation of Jesus Christ

A study through the book of Revelation

A little bit of BackgroundFocus: Second coming of Jesus Christ

and the establishment of God’s Kingdom at the end of time

Outline: Chapter 1- The things you have seenChapters 2-3 – The Things which areChapters 4-22 – The Things to come

The seven churches of Revelation 2-3

EphesusSmyrna

Pergamum (os)Thyatira

SardisPhiladelphia

Laodicea

A shifting in Focus

Chapters 2-3 focus on earth and the 7 churches.

Chapter 4 begins a shift in focus to heaven.

“come up here” is transitional. It is a change of location.

“a door was opened” is an invitation for John to see the

splendor of heaven

A shifting in Focus

In Chapter’s 4-5 we see John’s recording of his vision of God’s

throne. John describes God the Father

sitting on the throne. 24 elders sit around the throne

praising God.4 Seraphim lead worship in heaven.Jesus Christ is the only one worthy

to take the scroll from God.

What does our life and our Church say about Christ’s

Worthiness?

Do we lift Him up with our lives like He deserves to be praised?

Or do we ignore He exists by the way we live?

Or do we bring shame to His name?

What is the purpose of tonight’s study?

To increase our understanding of the style and function of apocalyptic

literature.Begin to clarify how God’s gift of free

will allows human beings either creative faithfulness, which brings

God’s rewards, or sinful disobedience to divine power, which brings God’s

judgment.

Chapters 6-11

These chapters go back and forth between Heaven and Earth

They illustrate the struggle of the church amidst persecution

The detail the judgment of God against the enemies of the church

A pattern emerges

With each of the seven scenes that John writes, there is a specific

pattern that they follow.The first 4 scenes are revealed at

once to make 1 pictureThe 5th and 6th scenes are revealed

together to make 1 pictureThe 7th scene is a transition to the

next set of scenes

The 4 horsemen

The first 4 seals on the scroll are the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse

They are mentioned (borrowed) from Zechariah 6:1-5

Each description is concise and brief

Before going in depth with the first 4 seals, we need to understand certain

basic truths1. All power comes from God

2. God is the absolute ruler of the world

3. God gave man a free will, thus it is possible to misuse the portion

of power given to us4. When this happens, it doesn't

mean that God is helpless or frustrated.

The misuse of power that God gives brings suffering and disaster

WarsStarvationDevastation

Power abused is still under God’s control

These are the judgments of God

Revelation 6:1-21And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Revelation 6:3-43 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Revelation 6:5-65 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Revelation 6:7-87 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Artist rendering of 4 horsemen

The White Horse

Represents career and conquest

Rider holds a bowThis is a representation of the Parthian Riders to the East of

RomeThis vision suggests a

successful conquest of the Roman empire and eventually

a collapse of many nations

The Red Horse

Represents War and BloodshedRider holds a sword

He will take peace from the earth

People will slaughter each other

The Black Horse

Represents possible death and Economic collapse

Rider holds a pair of scalesWar will be followed by famine

and monetary inflationA denarius was a days wage

The Pale Horse

Represents deathRider’s horse has decaying

fleshAftermath of war will bring

famine, pestilence, wild animals overrunning human

habitat

Revelation 6:9-119 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

The 5th Seal

Martyred Saints crying for vengeance on those that spilled their blood

They are told to wait on God’s timingWhile awaiting vindication, martyrs are permitted to enjoy their time in

heaven.They are given white robes

representing purity, victory and service

Revelation 6:12-1712 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Revelation 6:12-1715 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The 6th Seal

God’s punishment of the wickedJohn draws from Old Testament

prophetical writers1. Earthquake (Haggai 2:6)

2. Sun black/ Moon blood (Joel 2:31)3. Stars fall from sky (Isaiah 34:4)

4. Sky rolled like a scroll (Isaiah 34:4)Some would suggest that these are symbolic for political and economic

calmity

The 6th Seal

God’s punishment of the wickedJohn draws from Old Testament

prophetical writers1. Earthquake (Haggai 2:6)

2. Sun black/ Moon blood (Joel 2:31)3. Stars fall from sky (Isaiah 34:4)

4. Sky rolled like a scroll (Isaiah 34:4)Some would suggest that these are symbolic for political and economic

calmity

Two comforting visions

Between the 6th and 7th seal John shares 2 visions with the reader

The vision of the 144,000And the vision of a

great multitude robed in white

Revelation 7:1-81 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Revelation 7:1-85 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Who are the 144,000?

Are they Jehovah’s Witnesses?Are they all Christians ON THE

EARTH?Are they literally 144,000 Jews on the earth during the tribulation?

They will be sealed against Spiritual harm but not necessarily from

physical harm.They will have the mark of the King

on their forehead.

Revelation 7:9-179 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 7:9-1713 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The Multitude in Heaven

So large a crowd, it cannot be numbered

Those who came through trials and tribulation

They will wear white robesThose robes are washed in the

blood of the Lamb

The 7th Seal

A transition into the next set of judgments

After the seal is opened there is silence in Heaven

(calm before the storm)The next set of Judgments are seven

trumpets blown by seven different angels.

What can we learn?

When we ignore God’s laws, judgment will come

If we are faithful we will be rewardedGod is does not enjoy punishing the

wicked but will punish those that break His laws or hurt His people