session 6 slides

James 1.19-25

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the

righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word,

which is able to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and

goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and

perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

James: Word inDeed

1 Peter 2.4-9

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as

a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone

of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who

called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy,

but now you have received mercy.

1-2 Peter: Living Stones

2 Peter 3.9-13

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward

you,not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the

heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on

it will be exposed.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and

hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as

they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

1-2 Peter: Living Stones

1 John 5.1-5

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and

obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For

everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes

the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1-3 John: By This We Know

2 John 4-11

I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as

you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the

antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever

abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your

house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.


3 John 11-15

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has

received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them.


Jude 20-25

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And

have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment

stained by the flesh.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty,

dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude: The End Cometh

Revelation 21.1-22.5

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the

holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,

and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are

trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will

have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the

sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation: It Is Done!


Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming

down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the

names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates,

and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles

of the Lamb.

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the

same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144

cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass.



The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the

fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve

pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to

shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book

of life.



Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the

middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will

there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his

name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and

they will reign forever and ever.


Music from Unveiled Hope by Michael Card

aithfulto theF

E n d

RevelationIt Is Done!

to the one who overcomes…

week 6



faithful to the end • week 6

• The General Epistles: Faithful to the End• Behold! He Comes!: The Prologue (1.1-8)• For the Overcomers: The Seven Letters• The General Epistles At Zion

• The General Epistles: Faithful to the End

The General Epistles


Gospels Acts/Epistles Revelation

announces and establishes the story

of redemption

anticipates the end amid the continuing story of the mission of

God’s people, their successes, failures and challenges

awaits final consummation

The New Testament




the new testament

Our LocationTorah

(Instruction)Prophets

(Former/Latter)Writings

the old testament




the new testament

Our LocationTorah



the old testament

GE




the new testament

Our LocationTorah



the old testament

GE

you’ve read this far

you’ve read this far




the new testament

Our ContextTorah



the old testament

GE



Don’t expect to hear Paul (though don’t expect to hear him repudiated either)




With Hebrews as the pivot, we enter a new refrain in the canonical hymn




With Hebrews as the pivot, we enter a new refrain in the canonical hymn

We will argue that James in a sense provides an introduction and sets the tone for the GE



With James, the GE may then be generally letters about persevering through sin, suffering, and serpents by living faith unto the goal: salvation




Suffering will be the norm





Christ will be the motive & example






Faith will be what is practiced






Faith will be what is practiced

Salvation will be the hope that keeps you climbing

Doxology: God Will Do It!, 24-25


Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

This text concludes the General Epistles.





Everything that we have been called to do in the General Epistles, all the work which saints MUST do to persevere unto salvation, WILL be done.





Everything that we have been called to do in the General Epistles, all the work which saints MUST do to persevere unto salvation, WILL be done.

Because God is powerful to do it.




the new testament

Our ContextTorah



the old testament

GE




• The General Epistles: Faithful to the End• Behold! He Comes!: The Prologue (1.1-8)• For the Overcomers: The Seven Letters• The General Epistles At Zion

• Behold! He Comes!: The Prologue (1.1-8)

The Prologue


A note on reading Revelation:

The Prologue



(1) Don’t get bogged down in systematics;

The Prologue




(2) Don’t get distracted by the newspaper;

The Prologue




(2) Don’t get distracted by the newspaper;

(3) Rather, read Revelation as the consummation of canon.

The Prologue


Rev. 1.1-8, as the prologue to Revelation, introduces the book’s content and purpose.

The Prologue



Its content will be God’s word and Christ’s testimony concerning the last days and their completion as anticipated by the OT, the Gospels, and the Acts/ Epistles.

The Prologue



Its content will be God’s word and Christ’s testimony concerning the last days and their completion as anticipated by the OT, the Gospels, and the Acts/ Epistles.

Its purpose is exhortation and encouragement to overcome in light of the blessing for the reader and heeder of this book that tells the victorious completion of the biblical story.

Beginning the End, 1.1-3


The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

This kind of introduction should bring us out of our chairs, kind of like Matthew.

Beginning the End, 1.1-3


The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

This kind of introduction should bring us out of our chairs, kind of like Matthew.

There is a unique blessing associated with this text.

The Greeting, 1.4-6


John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This is an “epistolatory” greeting but the focus isn’t on the author nor the addressees.

The Greeting, 1.4-6



This is an “epistolatory” greeting but the focus isn’t on the author nor the addressees.

The verses are full of triplets.

The Greeting, 1.4-6



This text reverberates with canons(!).

The Prophecy, 1.7-8


Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

This text is highlighted in the prologue:

The Prophecy, 1.7-8




(1) No grammatical connections;

The Prophecy, 1.7-8





(2) (Almost) unique collocation;

The Prophecy, 1.7-8





(2) (Almost) unique collocation;

(3) Bracketed by Exodus allusions.

The Prophecy, 1.7-8



No grammatical connections

The text does not grammatically connect to what precedes or follows and it is structured differently than the rest of vv. 1-8.

The Prophecy, 1.7-8



(Almost) unique collocation

The Prophecy, 1.7-8




Zechariah 12

The Prophecy, 1.7-8




Zechariah 12

Daniel 7

The Prophecy, 1.7-8




Zechariah 12

Daniel 7

Matthew 24

The Prophecy, 1.7-8



Bracketed by Exodus allusions

What happened when God’s proper name was revealed to His people?

The Prologue, 1.1-8


The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Prologue


After reading Revelation’s prologue, the reader expects to be reading a book concerning the last days and their completion as anticipated by the OT, the Gospels, and the NT epistles, an epic that consummates the biblical canon.

The Prologue



“Given its character and its relation to the rest of the Christian canon of Scripture, the place which Revelation now occupies at the close of the whole canon could not be more appropriate. No other biblical book gathers up so comprehensively the whole biblical tradition in its direction towards the eschatological future. It draws out the sense in which the biblical history, not least its climax in the Christ event, points towards the universal kingdom of God, and it gives the whole canon the character of the book which enables us to live towards that future.” Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation (Cambridge: University Press, 1993), 146.

The Prologue



“Given its character and its relation to the rest of the Christian canon of Scripture, the place which Revelation now occupies at the close of the whole canon could not be more appropriate. No other biblical book gathers up so comprehensively the whole biblical tradition in its direction towards the eschatological future. It draws out the sense in which the biblical history, not least its climax in the Christ event, points towards the universal kingdom of God, and it gives the whole canon the character of the book which enables us to live towards that future.” Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation (Cambridge: University Press, 1993), 146.

In other words, Revelation functions not only as the fulfillment of its referenced OT texts but also consummates the expectations of the NT, which is drawing upon those same OT texts and anticipating their fulfillment. Thus, “it is done” (Rev. 16.17, 21.6) both concludes Genesis’ “beginning” and completes the Gospels’ “it is finished” (John 19.30).




• The General Epistles: Faithful to the End• Behold! He Comes!: The Prologue (1.1-8)• For the Overcomers: The Seven Letters• The General Epistles At Zion• For the Overcomers: The Seven Letters

For the Overcomers: The 7 Letters


Greg Beale (The Book of Revelation, (NIGTC; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999) contends that the letters have a chiastic-type structure



Greg Beale (The Book of Revelation, (NIGTC; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999) contends that the letters have a chiastic-type structure

X



Ephesus: losing lampstand




Smyrna: suffering and persevering





Pergamum: faithful but serpents






Thyatira: faithful but sin & serpents







Sardis: alive but dead; a few left








Philadelphia: kept word and persevered









Laodicea: vomited up



For the church, Christ’s return has two elements involved




HOPE: there is a victorious end and new beginning





FEAR: judgment starts with the Church





FEAR: judgment starts with the Church

These two combine so that eschatology has a “here and now” effect of holy living




• The General Epistles: Faithful to the End• Behold! He Comes!: The Prologue (1.1-8)• For the Overcomers: The Seven Letters• The General Epistles At Zion• The General Epistles At Zion

The General Epistles At Zion


So then how do we live?

session 6 slides

Documents