Lessons for the ChurchFrom the Book of Revelation

Introduction

• Rev 1:1-3– A “revelation”, “to show”

•A book with a series of visions– Visions are best imagined– Overall thoughts can be seen

•In-depth studies can be informative– But often lose the BIG picture

– What were the visions about?– When would they be fulfilled?

•“must shortly take place”, “the time is near”

What is it about?

• Rev 1:4-10– A quick series of pictures that

foreshadow the outcome of the book•Christ: eternal, faithful witness, resurrected, king of kings, loving, forgiving (1:5-6)

•Christ the prophesied Messiah (1:7)– “coming with the clouds” - from Daniel– “...pierced...will mourn...” from

Zechariah

What is it about?

• Theme: Victory in Jesus (1:8)– Jesus has already WON, He is the Almighty

• Each vision will focus on the basic fact that we can overcome and achieve victory– No matter the trial or temptation– John 16:32-33

•Jesus overcame and so can we

• When will these visions be fulfilled?– Jesus' words (1:8) divide all time into

three parts “is”, “was”, “is to come”– Present, past, future

Revelation

• The pattern of the visions– Each vision has a starting and ending

point•Some start and end with the present•Some start in the past and end in the present or future

•Some start in the present and end in the future

•Some start in the future and end farther into the future

Revelation

• Visualizing the pattern of the visions

PASTPAST PRESENTPRESENT FUTUREFUTURE

Revelation

• The first vision is one that rests entirely in the present, but what “present”?– The “present” at the time of writing– But in larger terms “the present” is

the time after Christ left earth, and before His return•The “past” would be before His ascension

•The “future” will be His return and thereafter

Christ and the Churches

Revelation 1:9-20

Introducing Christ• Rev 1:9-20

– Christ standing amidst the lampstands•Dressed as a high priest

– The lampstands represent individual local churches (Rev 1:20)

– Christ is watching each church•He knows their strengths•He knows their flaws•He tells them what they need to do

• Although He only addresses 7 churches– We’ll see they are a good cross-section

of churches of all times

4 Things All Churches Need to Hear

1. To the angel of the church• Christ is directly concerned• Christ has ALL authority over the

churches2. I know your deeds

– God is NOT deceived

3. To him who overcomes• Blessings for success• Punishment for failure

4. He who has an ear, let him hear• The choices are laid out clearly• But God forces no one

Conclusion

• Our Lesson: What does Christ know about every church?

The Complete TruthThe Complete Truth– Including the part you played in

making it that way“For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor 5:10