Revelation

Transcript

we'll be talking about the revelation the revelation so uh so uh let me just show a hands uh you know it let me just show a hands uh you know it seems like when you think about seems like when you think about the book of the revelation the book of the revelation there tends to be two two viewpoints two approaches to thoughts about the book thoughts about the book some people some people uh i think uh i think love it love it love to dive into the details sort of love to dive into the details sort of like try and unwind things and figure like try and unwind things and figure out what's going on and just sort of you out what's going on and just sort of you know love that stuff know love that stuff and other people look at the book of and other people look at the book of revelation and think well revelation and think well my bible ends in jude right my bible ends in jude right you know it's it's like too complicated you know it's it's like too complicated it's uh a bit of a con you know it it's it's uh a bit of a con you know it it's it's hard to understand right it's hard to understand right and i don't know where you tend to fall and i don't know where you tend to fall in that spectrum whether it's you know in that spectrum whether it's you know one or the other or somewhere in between one or the other or somewhere in between but i think the book of revelation and but i think the book of revelation and it's it is revelation singular by the it's it is revelation singular by the way not revelations way not revelations uh i think the book of revelation is a uh i think the book of revelation is a terrific book terrific book of encouragement of encouragement and what i would like to do in the next and what i would like to do in the next uh in the next couple of weeks is uh in the next couple of weeks is explore the book explore the book and in particular and in particular my goal is for us to hear my goal is for us to hear and understand the book of revelation as and understand the book of revelation as it would have been understood it would have been understood by by the very first readers of the the very first readers of the book do you know what i mean by that book do you know what i mean by that right so i don't want us to look at the right so i don't want us to look at the book of revelation and try and unwind book of revelation and try and unwind things from a historical perspective things from a historical perspective with 21st century eyes there's a place with 21st century eyes there's a place and it's appropriate to do that but for and it's appropriate to do that but for this particular class this particular class i want us to think about what those i want us to think about what those early brothers and sisters in the first early brothers and sisters in the first century would have understood century would have understood when the book of revelation was first when the book of revelation was first read aloud read aloud to them to them they wouldn't have been thinking about they wouldn't have been thinking about you know constantine they wouldn't have you know constantine they wouldn't have been thinking about you know the holy been thinking about you know the holy roman uh church things like that what roman uh church things like that what would they have been thinking about would they have been thinking about when it comes to the message of the book when it comes to the message of the book of revelation of revelation and so that's the approach that we're and so that's the approach that we're going to take and i think through that going to take and i think through that approach we can draw out lessons approach we can draw out lessons as to how we might understand the book as to how we might understand the book today but our focus primarily then today but our focus primarily then is to try to hear and understand the is to try to hear and understand the book as it would have been understood by book as it would have been understood by the churches the churches in asia in asia when it was first read when it was first read so a couple of couple of things that i so a couple of couple of things that i want to uh want to uh throw out there as sort of introductory throw out there as sort of introductory when we look at the bible when we look at the bible the bible has many different forms of the bible has many different forms of literature literature many different literary styles you might many different literary styles you might say say so one would be a narrative style a so one would be a narrative style a narrative style would be a story you narrative style would be a story you know we read about know we read about joseph and genesis that would be a joseph and genesis that would be a narrative narrative we look at we look at the teachings of the teachings of jesus and the me the pro the miracles jesus and the me the pro the miracles that jesus performed in the new that jesus performed in the new testament those would be narratives testament those would be narratives what's another literary style that we what's another literary style that we see in the bible see in the bible what do we see in the psalms poetry yeah that's right that's poetry and so i guess my question when we look and so i guess my question when we look at literature and we look at poetry as at literature and we look at poetry as bible students do we interpret bible students do we interpret literature and poetry the same way literature and poetry the same way no we we look at literature and we look no we we look at literature and we look at poetry and we understand that they're at poetry and we understand that they're different forms of writing different forms of writing and consequently they can be read and and consequently they can be read and understood differently understood differently literature uh that is in a narrative literature uh that is in a narrative form is literal is literal form is literal is literal poetry is poetry is you know flowery figurative often times you know flowery figurative often times now another type of uh now another type of uh literary style that we see in the bible literary style that we see in the bible is discourse this would be things like is discourse this would be things like letters for example or speeches letters for example or speeches where where a where where a letter writer or a speaker is trying to letter writer or a speaker is trying to get a point across and trying to get a point across and trying to persuade our minds towards certain persuade our minds towards certain actions actions and thinking and activities that's and thinking and activities that's that's a style of discourse that's a style of discourse when we come to the book of of when we come to the book of of revelation revelation i think we see three different literary i think we see three different literary styles styles so again this is real big picture stuff so again this is real big picture stuff right right so the literary styles that we see we we so the literary styles that we see we we see a letter see a letter this was this was a letter that was written to the seven a letter that was written to the seven churches in asia minor churches in asia minor and it begins like a traditional letter and it begins like a traditional letter and it ends like a traditional letter and it ends like a traditional letter and so that's one style that we see and so that's one style that we see within the book within the book we see prophecy in the book we see prophecy in the book and when we talk about prophecy this is and when we talk about prophecy this is where we get a message from god where we get a message from god typically something such as what we see typically something such as what we see in the old testament thus saith the lord in the old testament thus saith the lord right we know this is a prophetic right we know this is a prophetic message message but there was a different style of but there was a different style of literature that was very common in the literature that was very common in the jewish world jewish world and it was a style of literature that and it was a style of literature that was referred to as apocalyptic was referred to as apocalyptic apocalyptic apocalyptic literature literature and what differentiates apocalyptic and what differentiates apocalyptic literature from literature from you know what we might normally think of you know what we might normally think of as prophecy is this as prophecy is this a pop apocalyptic literature is one a pop apocalyptic literature is one where the writer receives some sort of where the writer receives some sort of vision vision uh and is brought to a place in heaven uh and is brought to a place in heaven and speaks in very figurative language and speaks in very figurative language that might be very different from what that might be very different from what we would normally see we would normally see in a in a in a prophetic message in a prophetic message okay okay the other thing that is interesting to the other thing that is interesting to know about this apocalyptic literature know about this apocalyptic literature is as i say it was very common and it is as i say it was very common and it was common not only in the old testament was common not only in the old testament the jewish scriptures the jewish scriptures we see it in the revelation we see it in the revelation but we see it throughout many different but we see it throughout many different styles of writing styles of writing within that time period in that area of within that time period in that area of the world the world enoch is a is a book it's not in the enoch is a is a book it's not in the canon of scripture it's referred to as canon of scripture it's referred to as apocalyptic literature it was something apocalyptic literature it was something that was normal in those days that was normal in those days when we think of the jewish scriptures when we think of the jewish scriptures and we think about apocalyptic and we think about apocalyptic literature there are two examples literature there are two examples that jump out at us right away and i'd that jump out at us right away and i'd like to go to the first one and that's like to go to the first one and that's in daniel chapter 7. in daniel chapter 7. the next one that we're going to see in the next one that we're going to see in the old testament is in ezekiel the old testament is in ezekiel but in daniel and ezekiel there were two but in daniel and ezekiel there were two things in common things in common and we see that same commonality in the and we see that same commonality in the book of revelation book of revelation and it has to do with the condition and it has to do with the condition of the people of the people to whom these to whom these words were written words were written so if you think about ezekiel so if you think about ezekiel and you think about daniel what was it and you think about daniel what was it that was held in common by these people that was held in common by these people what was the audience like how do we what was the audience like how do we understand the audience that ezekiel was understand the audience that ezekiel was writing to writing to and that daniel was writing to and that daniel was writing to what was going on what was going on in their lives in their lives and it was and it was this they were facing this they were facing significant persecution significant persecution they were in captivity they had been they were in captivity they had been pulled from their homes pulled from their homes and they traveled across a desert and they traveled across a desert seven 800 miles to a foreign land seven 800 miles to a foreign land and they were and they were lost lost figuratively lost figuratively lost but you know they walked outside their but you know they walked outside their homes they didn't know where they were homes they didn't know where they were nothing was familiar and they were nothing was familiar and they were worried they thought worried they thought we are the people of god we are god's we are the people of god we are god's chosen people and here we are in chosen people and here we are in captivity captivity how do i make sense how do i make sense of what's happened to me of what's happened to me and to my family and to my family and to my nation and to my nation because we always thought that we were because we always thought that we were god's chosen people god's chosen people god god chose you because he loved you chose you because he loved you we read in deuteronomy we read in deuteronomy and here they are and here they are weeping by the rivers of babylon weeping by the rivers of babylon not knowing what in the world has not knowing what in the world has happened to us has god abandoned us happened to us has god abandoned us so what's common in all apocalyptic so what's common in all apocalyptic literature is this sense of a literature is this sense of a superpower superpower that has completely that has completely overthrown the normality of life overthrown the normality of life and the words that are written in this and the words that are written in this style of literature style of literature might be referred to as resistance might be referred to as resistance literature literature in some ways it was written in a code in some ways it was written in a code language language so that the oppressors so that the oppressors should they get their hands on it should they get their hands on it wouldn't quite understand wouldn't quite understand what was being written they wouldn't what was being written they wouldn't understand that the beast understand that the beast was talking about was talking about nero nero or about the roman emperor or about the or about the roman emperor or about the babylonians who were oppressing the babylonians who were oppressing the jewish nation at the time jewish nation at the time so it is very much written in the so it is very much written in the language of resistance literature language of resistance literature and an example of that as i say is in and an example of that as i say is in daniel daniel and i'd like to look at daniel chapter and i'd like to look at daniel chapter 7. 7. so it's uh it begins in verse 1. it says so it's uh it begins in verse 1. it says in the first year of belshazzar king of in the first year of belshazzar king of babylon babylon daniel had a dream daniel had a dream and visions passed through his mind as and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed he was lying on his bed and he wrote down the substance of his and he wrote down the substance of his dream dream daniel said in my vision at night i daniel said in my vision at night i looked and there before me were four looked and there before me were four winds of heaven churning up the great winds of heaven churning up the great sea four grace great beasts each sea four grace great beasts each different from each other came up out of different from each other came up out of the sea the sea so we see this very so we see this very challenging language in the sense like challenging language in the sense like how do we make sense of all of this how do we make sense of all of this right right but the point is but the point is the people were struggling under the people were struggling under oppression by the babylonians and this oppression by the babylonians and this was a way was a way that these visions could help them that these visions could help them understand from a heavenly perspective understand from a heavenly perspective what was happening on earth what was happening on earth from an earthly ex from an earthly ex perspective they had no clue about what perspective they had no clue about what was going on was going on and they're now trying daniel now and they're now trying daniel now receives this vision and he's able to receives this vision and he's able to demonstrate to them demonstrate to them what god's perspective is what god's perspective is from their current everyday experiences from their current everyday experiences on earth on earth okay okay questions now i'm not going to go through the the through this uh this dan daniel chapter through this uh this dan daniel chapter seven but it's an example of apocalyptic seven but it's an example of apocalyptic literature literature and what makes it particularly helpful and what makes it particularly helpful for us for us is not only do we read about the vision is not only do we read about the vision that daniel received about all of the that daniel received about all of the different beasts and about all of these different beasts and about all of these these things that were taking place these things that were taking place but beginning in verse 15 of daniel but beginning in verse 15 of daniel chapter 7 daniel provides an chapter 7 daniel provides an interpretation interpretation of the dream of the dream in other words he cracks the code in other words he cracks the code if if um if the babylonians got a hold if if um if the babylonians got a hold of this of this and they read only verses 1 through 14 and they read only verses 1 through 14 they wouldn't have any understanding they wouldn't have any understanding about what was being written about here about what was being written about here but for the benefit of the jewish but for the benefit of the jewish audience audience who were in captivity who were in captivity daniel through inspiration now explains daniel through inspiration now explains the dream and explains what all these the dream and explains what all these different symbols mean different symbols mean so for example in verse 17 so for example in verse 17 daniel 7 verse 17 he says daniel 7 verse 17 he says the four great beasts are four kingdoms the four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth that will rise from the earth right so i mean we know that i i think right so i mean we know that i i think many of us from our sunday school many of us from our sunday school lessons remember the story of you know lessons remember the story of you know these these visions and these dreams and these these visions and these dreams and the you know nebuchadnezzar's image and the you know nebuchadnezzar's image and all of these things all of these things but i'm bringing it to you now as an but i'm bringing it to you now as an example of apocalyptic literature this example of apocalyptic literature this idea that they are getting a heavenly idea that they are getting a heavenly perspective perspective of what's happening on earth of what's happening on earth we see it also in the book of ezekiel we see it also in the book of ezekiel so if you turn to ezekiel chapter 1 we see a similar thing ezekiel chapter 1 ezekiel chapter 1 verse 1. verse 1. in the 30th year and the fourth month on in the 30th year and the fourth month on the fifth day while i was among the fifth day while i was among the exiles the exiles by the kibar river by the kibar river anybody remember what happened at the anybody remember what happened at the kibar river kibar river during the exile during the exile you might remember it was there that the you might remember it was there that the jewish nation jewish nation hung their harps hung their musical hung their harps hung their musical instruments and said we can no longer instruments and said we can no longer sing the songs of zion sing the songs of zion because we are mourning we no longer because we are mourning we no longer believe we no longer feel like we are believe we no longer feel like we are the chosen of god the chosen of god and they wept and they wept by the rivers in babylon by the rivers in babylon so what's common in both ezekiel and in so what's common in both ezekiel and in daniel is this tremendous oppression daniel is this tremendous oppression that the people were facing that the people were facing and again the messages of apocalyptic and again the messages of apocalyptic literature are designed to give a literature are designed to give a heavenly perspective of what's going on heavenly perspective of what's going on on earth on earth all right all right so that's sort of a broad picture of so that's sort of a broad picture of what the literary style is what the literary style is and now i want to fast forward to the and now i want to fast forward to the book of revelation book of revelation and we come to the book of revelation and we come to the book of revelation and we might ask ourselves okay so and we might ask ourselves okay so what's happening now to what's happening now to the first century hearer of this letter the first century hearer of this letter this letter now goes out by john it gets this letter now goes out by john it gets distributed among these seven churches distributed among these seven churches in asia minor in asia minor it's read aloud it's read aloud and our purpose in these studies this and our purpose in these studies this week this month week this month is to try to understand is to try to understand how these first century christians would how these first century christians would have understood what was being spoken have understood what was being spoken about okay what do we know about these people well the first thing we know is that at well the first thing we know is that at this point in history this point in history most if not all of the apostles most if not all of the apostles those who walked with jesus those who walked with jesus had died those people those early believers had been told those early believers had been told that christ would be returning that christ would be returning and had lived in this eager expectation and had lived in this eager expectation of the return of jesus from heaven where of the return of jesus from heaven where he would overthrow the roman empire he would overthrow the roman empire and where he would establish god's and where he would establish god's kingdom on earth kingdom on earth and all of a sudden and all of a sudden people are beginning to die people are beginning to die we read about that in thessalonians paul we read about that in thessalonians paul was paul in his letter to the was paul in his letter to the thessalonians wrote to provide thessalonians wrote to provide encouragement to the first century encouragement to the first century believers who were beginning to feel believers who were beginning to feel disillusioned disillusioned by the promise by the promise of jesus return because loved ones who of jesus return because loved ones who were baptized into christ who expected were baptized into christ who expected christ to return were dying christ to return were dying without having received the promise without having received the promise and so thessalonians was written in a in and so thessalonians was written in a in large part to encourage these people large part to encourage these people and the same can be said about the and the same can be said about the brothers and sisters in asia minor brothers and sisters in asia minor this point at this point in history some this point at this point in history some of them of them it appears it appears we're becoming disillusioned we're becoming disillusioned the other thing that we know is just the other thing that we know is just like the the like the the the captives in babylon the captives in babylon the brothers and sisters in asia minor the brothers and sisters in asia minor were were experiencing experiencing a tremendous amount of suffering a tremendous amount of suffering they were receiving persecution they were receiving persecution at the hands at the hands of the roman empire of the roman empire so depending on when you think the the so depending on when you think the the letter was written it's either during letter was written it's either during the time of nero which is uh like 60 a.d the time of nero which is uh like 60 a.d or during the time of emperor domitian i or during the time of emperor domitian i think his name is in in around 90 a.d think his name is in in around 90 a.d which is what i'm presuming at this which is what i'm presuming at this point okay point okay so this is later in life so this is later in life 90 a.d 90 a.d emperor domitian is in in charge and one emperor domitian is in in charge and one of the things that's happening in all of of the things that's happening in all of the roman empire the roman empire is they are requiring is they are requiring that the inhabitants of the roman that the inhabitants of the roman emperor empire emperor empire practice emperor practice emperor worship worship they are teaching that the emperor they are teaching that the emperor himself himself is god and in the past jewish christians were sort of given a jewish christians were sort of given a a pass they almost had like a get out of a pass they almost had like a get out of jail christians were almost had like a a jail christians were almost had like a a get out of jail free card get out of jail free card because they could because they could gather in the jewish temple gather in the jewish temple and the jewish and the roman empire and the jewish and the roman empire had provisions that allowed the jews to had provisions that allowed the jews to worship separately from the rest of the worship separately from the rest of the roman empire in 1870 the jewish temple was completely destroyed destroyed and no longer was there a place and no longer was there a place for the christians for the christians to gather to gather free from persecution free from persecution so as an aside i want you to turn with so as an aside i want you to turn with me to acts chapter 2. me to acts chapter 2. acts chapter 2 gives us a a acts chapter 2 gives us a a a brief accounting a brief accounting of the very first believers after the of the very first believers after the resurrection of jesus jesus has ascended resurrection of jesus jesus has ascended to heaven to heaven and the question is how did the first and the question is how did the first century believers practice century believers practice christianity christianity where did they practice christianity where did they practice christianity and acts chapter 2 gives us details and acts chapter 2 gives us details about that so i want to look at the at about that so i want to look at the at acts chapter 2 we're going to go down to acts chapter 2 we're going to go down to the 42nd verse and this is a passage the 42nd verse and this is a passage that may be familiar to you it's it it that may be familiar to you it's it it talks about the four pillars of talks about the four pillars of discipleship these are the things that discipleship these are the things that the first century believers in the the first century believers in the resurrected jesus did resurrected jesus did they devoted themselves to the apostles they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching that's the first thing they did teaching that's the first thing they did to fellowship to fellowship to the breaking of bread to the breaking of bread and to prayer okay and to prayer okay but let's keep reading but let's keep reading everyone was filled with awe and many everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles by the apostles all the believers were together all the believers were together and had everything in common selling and had everything in common selling their possessions and good they gave to their possessions and good they gave to anyone as he had need anyone as he had need every day and here's the point i want to every day and here's the point i want to emphasize as it relates to emperor emphasize as it relates to emperor worship worship and how the christians had a pass had and how the christians had a pass had this get out of jail free card were able this get out of jail free card were able to continue to worship god to continue to worship god and the risen lord jesus and the risen lord jesus without persecution they were able to do without persecution they were able to do that because of what we read next in that because of what we read next in verse 46. acts 2 verse 46 verse 46. acts 2 verse 46 every day every day they continued to meet together where they continued to meet together where in the temple courts in the temple courts which is fascinating to me which is fascinating to me right i mean these are believers in right i mean these are believers in jesus they're no longer following the jesus they're no longer following the the law of moses and yet they're the law of moses and yet they're continuing to go to the temple continuing to go to the temple to worship to worship and i believe that one of the reasons and i believe that one of the reasons they did that was so that they could they did that was so that they could worship worship without the fear of persecution without the fear of persecution but after ad70 when the romans came in but after ad70 when the romans came in and surrounded jerusalem and set fire to and surrounded jerusalem and set fire to the temple and broke down those city the temple and broke down those city walls walls there was no temple there was no temple in which the jews and the christians in which the jews and the christians could meet together free from could meet together free from persecution and now jews could meet freely in local jews could meet freely in local synagogues to worship yahweh their god synagogues to worship yahweh their god but where were but where were the christians to meet the christians to meet they began meeting in their homes they began meeting in their homes they began to meet they began to meet in in the homes of one another in in the homes of one another throughout different cities throughout different cities but because many of these christians but because many of these christians were were roman citizens were gentiles roman citizens were gentiles they no longer had the freedom to escape they no longer had the freedom to escape the rules that said emperor cult worship the rules that said emperor cult worship must be followed must be followed and therefore there came the problem and therefore there came the problem this is why this is why many of our early brothers and sisters many of our early brothers and sisters were persecuted were persecuted so badly so badly first by nero first by nero and later by emperor domitian and later by emperor domitian so our first decide was to go to acts so our first decide was to go to acts chapter 2 where we read about the early chapter 2 where we read about the early christians christians meeting together in the temple courts meeting together in the temple courts the next place that i'd like for us to the next place that i'd like for us to go go is in romans chapter 10. is in romans chapter 10. so this is paul's letter to the romans and in the 10th verse there's a there's an expression that we read and i think an expression that we read and i think we we you know we we read it and you know we we read it and i don't know that it has the same i don't know that it has the same importance to me today as it might have importance to me today as it might have had had to the first century believer to the first century believer and it's about this expression jesus is and it's about this expression jesus is lord lord so let's look at romans chapter 10 verse so let's look at romans chapter 10 verse 9. he's talking in in chapter 10 about his desire that all israelites would be desire that all israelites would be saved then he comes down and and he says in um in verse 9 um in verse 9 it's talking about salvation it's talking about salvation and he says in verse 9 that if you and he says in verse 9 that if you confess with your mouth confess with your mouth jesus is lord jesus is lord and believe in your heart that god and believe in your heart that god raised him from the dead raised him from the dead you will be saved you will be saved so what i want you to think about is so what i want you to think about is what does it mean for a first century what does it mean for a first century believer to say that jesus is lord believer to say that jesus is lord and it's it's really a question about and it's it's really a question about allegiance brothers and sisters allegiance brothers and sisters it's about to whom it's about to whom do i have demonstrate my allegiance do i have demonstrate my allegiance is my allegiance to the roman emperor is my allegiance to the roman emperor do i worship the roman emperor do i worship the roman emperor or is my allegiance to the risen christ or is my allegiance to the risen christ who will come and overthrow the roman who will come and overthrow the roman empire empire and this is the key and this is the key because in that first century our because in that first century our brothers and sisters were being brothers and sisters were being persecuted because they would not persecuted because they would not acknowledge acknowledge that domitian that domitian the emperor the emperor was their lord was their lord their allegiance was instead to jesus their allegiance was instead to jesus and for that reason and for that reason they were struggling they were struggling so now let's come to revelation chapter so now let's come to revelation chapter one i john okay okay i john i john your brother your brother and companion and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in and patient endurance that are ours in jesus jesus was on the island of patmos was on the island of patmos because because of the word of god of the word of god so what do we see here so john is so what do we see here so john is writing this letter to these seven writing this letter to these seven churches in asia minor and he starts out churches in asia minor and he starts out by saying by saying look i'm just like you look i'm just like you i'm sharing in your suffering so there's i'm sharing in your suffering so there's this acknowledgement that the readers of this acknowledgement that the readers of this letter are in fact this letter are in fact uh uh being tempted or not being tempted they being tempted or not being tempted they are they are in fact struggling are they are in fact struggling i just got a text from brian acts two i just got a text from brian acts two the believers were essentially all jews the believers were essentially all jews wouldn't they still be following the law wouldn't they still be following the law yes brian brian that's a uh yes brian brian that's a uh that's a good point uh acts two they that's a good point uh acts two they were all following the law yes but there were all following the law yes but there were there seems to have been were there seems to have been um this time of transition um this time of transition where where they began to step away from following they began to step away from following the law and maybe we can talk about that the law and maybe we can talk about that later later okay so back to revelation we see this okay so back to revelation we see this suffering there's this common suffering suffering there's this common suffering and this patient endurance and john is and this patient endurance and john is on the isle of patmos on the isle of patmos so it's sort of like you know an so it's sort of like you know an old-fashioned alcatraz you know old-fashioned alcatraz you know he was he was put in prison out there he was he was put in prison out there and the reason he was put in prison and and the reason he was put in prison and the reason he was suffering was because the reason he was suffering was because of of the word of god the word of god we come down to chapter 2 verse 10 we come down to chapter 2 verse 10 and we see in chapter 2 verse 10 a and we see in chapter 2 verse 10 a similar idea of about persecution this similar idea of about persecution this is uh the letter to the church or the is uh the letter to the church or the message to the church in smyrna message to the church in smyrna and he says to these brothers and and he says to these brothers and sisters do not be afraid of what you're sisters do not be afraid of what you're about to suffer about to suffer i tell you the devil i tell you the devil will put some of you in prison will put some of you in prison so we talk about this code language so we talk about this code language who do you think the devil is here who do you think the devil is here putting them in prison putting them in prison the emperor right the emperor right he's talking about the roman authorities he's talking about the roman authorities putting these believers in prison putting these believers in prison and he says he's going to do that to and he says he's going to do that to test you test you and you'll suffer persecution for 10 and you'll suffer persecution for 10 days days whether 10 is a literal number or just a whether 10 is a literal number or just a full you know a representative of a full full you know a representative of a full period of time there's discussion about period of time there's discussion about that that but i wanted to come to these two but i wanted to come to these two passages to sort of show you passages to sort of show you that it was it was written to people who were struggling struggling just as the apocalyptic literature in just as the apocalyptic literature in the jewish scriptures daniel and ezekiel the jewish scriptures daniel and ezekiel was written to people who were was written to people who were struggling struggling okay okay questions comments to say you know yeah you're suffering now you know yeah you're suffering now uh think of what you did uh think of what you did go back to deuteronomy where god said go back to deuteronomy where god said i'll bring the nations when you play the i'll bring the nations when you play the harlot harlot and uh but i haven't forgot those and uh but i haven't forgot those promises right because they were like promises right because they were like wow i thought we were yeah no i haven't wow i thought we were yeah no i haven't forgot you'll be back this is what i'm forgot you'll be back this is what i'm going to tell you going to tell you i think that's a i think that's such an i think that's a i think that's such an excellent point butch this idea that excellent point butch this idea that ezekiel ezekiel and daniel's and daniel's apocalyptic literature apocalyptic apocalyptic literature apocalyptic message was designed to encourage these message was designed to encourage these people people to hold fast is that what you're saying to hold fast is that what you're saying right right encourage them to hold fast and guess encourage them to hold fast and guess what what when we come to the book of revelation when we come to the book of revelation we see we see the same thing the same thing it's the same message it's one of it's the same message it's one of encouragement chapter one encouragement chapter one verse three verse three but you you've got a king james there but you you've got a king james there right right i should ask jim sullivan to read from i should ask jim sullivan to read from his king james because it's better than his king james because it's better than my niv he tells me my niv he tells me you gotta you gotta mess it you got a you gotta you gotta mess it you got a microphone uh read verse three three blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are prophecy and keep those things which are written in it for the time is at hand written in it for the time is at hand and the point is and the point is this book which while we admit is hard this book which while we admit is hard to understand to understand this book comes with a blessing this book comes with a blessing both to that first century both to that first century brother or that first century brother or that first century sister who heard the message as well as sister who heard the message as well as to us to us and the blessing is and the blessing is that we will be blessed if we hear it that we will be blessed if we hear it and do it and do it so it's not just about it's not about so it's not just about it's not about knowing what this is right i mean the knowing what this is right i mean the message is important message is important but the message is designed to create but the message is designed to create an effect an effect the effect is that we should do the effect is that we should do something with what we hear something with what we hear and what was the problem that these and what was the problem that these first first early brothers and sisters were early brothers and sisters were experiencing experiencing they'd been alive for a long time they'd been alive for a long time jesus was raised from the dead jesus was raised from the dead a long time ago maybe 60 years earlier a long time ago maybe 60 years earlier and now they're wondering is this real and now they're wondering is this real is jesus really going to return or should i just throw it all away should i just throw it all away and just get with the program and just get with the program why go through all of this why go through all of this turmoil why go through all of this turmoil why go through all of this persecution and suffering persecution and suffering why don't i just like get in line with why don't i just like get in line with everybody else everybody else and and acknowledge that the emperor is my lord acknowledge that the emperor is my lord and give up on my hope because life is and give up on my hope because life is hard right now hard right now and so the message in revelation and so the message in revelation is is that they should endure that they should endure that they should do it that they should do it they should hear this message they should hear this message so i've got a couple of notes i want to so i've got a couple of notes i want to revelation is not about the end of the revelation is not about the end of the world world it's about the renewed world it's about the renewed world where god and man where god and man will be united again will be united again it's it's about encouraging these people it's it's about encouraging these people that god has not given up on his that god has not given up on his original plan his original purpose to original plan his original purpose to fill the earth with his glory could you grab the mic honey i can't hear you butch was hogging it yeah yeah is it similar to building your um is it similar to building your um your house on the foundation of rock your house on the foundation of rock that you understand and do it that you understand and do it you know so you're not just you know so you're not just you're understanding you're understanding and you're acting on your faith say it again i'm not sure i understand where you're going where you're going when you were talking about seeing and understanding the signs and doing it and acting and doing it and acting and living a life is it similar to living a life is it similar to the parable of building your house and the parable of building your house and the foundation the foundation of rock that yeah perhaps any other wise of rock that yeah perhaps any other wise man that yeah understands and yeah so man that yeah understands and yeah so with that with that parable both the with that with that parable both the wise man and the foolish man heard the wise man and the foolish man heard the message right message right but only the wise man acted on it yeah but only the wise man acted on it yeah yeah okay yeah i think that's true and yeah okay yeah i think that's true and and i think the purpose here is not only and i think the purpose here is not only for us to understand what the book of for us to understand what the book of revelation is about revelation is about but it's for us to but it's for us to but it's for us to to take that message but it's for us to to take that message and have it have some meaningful impact and have it have some meaningful impact in our life in our life so mark hold on i just want to read one so mark hold on i just want to read one thing as it relates to that okay one author said calling revelation resistance literature resistance literature is appropriate okay so these people are is appropriate okay so these people are under oppression by a army by an empire under oppression by a army by an empire by people who want them to sort of give by people who want them to sort of give in in you know picture yourselves as uh you know picture yourselves as uh you know the people of ukraine you know the people of ukraine and you understand what's happening in and you understand what's happening in their lives and in their neighborhoods their lives and in their neighborhoods and you can imagine that you know we and you can imagine that you know we just give into this man to putin just give into this man to putin and and life will go back to normal right life will go back to normal right and this is a resistance literature this and this is a resistance literature this is telling these people don't give in is telling these people don't give in why and here's the i think here's the why and here's the i think here's the point point um it's to remind the church it's to remind the brothers and sisters both then and the brothers and sisters both then and now now not to give in to the demands not to give in to the demands or practices or practices of a system of a system that has already been judged by god that has already been judged by god right right god has told us god has told us that there are two ways in which we can that there are two ways in which we can go go we can follow we can follow godly thinking godly thinking or we can follow serpent-like thinking or we can follow serpent-like thinking we can follow godly ways we can follow godly ways or we can or we can serve the ways of flesh serve the ways of flesh we can serve babylon we can serve babylon the kingdom of god the kingdom of man the kingdom of god the kingdom of man which way are we going to who are we which way are we going to who are we going to have our allegiance to and god going to have our allegiance to and god has told us that the kingdom of man has told us that the kingdom of man is destined to be judged is destined to be judged and so this resistance literature is to and so this resistance literature is to remind us of that fact remind us of that fact and not to give in to this and not to give in to this and and recognize that the kingdom of and and recognize that the kingdom of man will eventually be destroyed despite man will eventually be destroyed despite your present day sufferings your present day sufferings despite your present day sufferings despite your present day sufferings god will establish a kingdom god will establish a kingdom and the book of revelation as we know and the book of revelation as we know ends with this promise that there will ends with this promise that there will be no more suffering there will be no be no more suffering there will be no more tears there will be this time where more tears there will be this time where god and man god and man walk together again when heaven and walk together again when heaven and earth are brought together earth are brought together and these are the hopes and the dreams and these are the hopes and the dreams and more than that and more than that these are the this is the promised these are the this is the promised reality of those who hear the words reality of those who hear the words and his butch read out of the king james and his butch read out of the king james and do it and do it right it's not about understanding what right it's not about understanding what this sign means or what this symbol this sign means or what this symbol represents represents it's about how it impacts our lives to it's about how it impacts our lives to remain faithful remain faithful to our lord to our lord jesus christ jesus christ and not the emperor whether it was and not the emperor whether it was domitian domitian or whoever is in power today or whoever is in power today right right that's the message that's the message mark i'm sorry go ahead oh no no you mark i'm sorry go ahead oh no no you touched on some of the points i wanted touched on some of the points i wanted to bring up if i'm not mistaken to bring up if i'm not mistaken uh peter uh peter and james were already killed and james were already killed before this before this revelation had come out so revelation had come out so you imagine with all the persecution the you imagine with all the persecution the extra stress of that extra stress of that knowing that that had happened and the knowing that that had happened and the boy if they if they can be boy if they if they can be killed killed you know why should i persevere so you know why should i persevere so you're you're right on about this you're you're right on about this you know um you know um i i find it very uplifting revelation i i find it very uplifting revelation uh and if you look at the 11th chapter uh and if you look at the 11th chapter there's a verse there there's a verse there that if you were to sum up and you that if you were to sum up and you summed it up beautifully summed it up beautifully the 15th verse of the 11th chapter could the 15th verse of the 11th chapter could you read it yeah it says uh in the you read it yeah it says uh in the seventh angel sounded and there were seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying the great voices in heaven saying the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our lord and of his christ kingdoms of our lord and of his christ and he shall reign forever and ever and he shall reign forever and ever and that's you know if you want to put a and that's you know if you want to put a message to the revelation i think that's message to the revelation i think that's it like you said i mean this was trying it like you said i mean this was trying to build up the people you know to build up the people you know throughout the bible we read of the be throughout the bible we read of the be strong and courageous strong and courageous you know from joshua or all the way to you know from joshua or all the way to the end of the book the end of the book and that's what the message is be strong and that's what the message is be strong and courageous and as you said persevere and courageous and as you said persevere right right yeah yeah right so when we think about the book of revelation revelation it's about encouraging those first it's about encouraging those first century believers to endure to the end century believers to endure to the end despite the turmoil and trials they were despite the turmoil and trials they were facing facing sometimes when we see sometimes when we see or hear about the apocalypse or hear about the apocalypse we think about the end of the world we think about the end of the world right i mean that's what that's what uh right i mean that's what that's what uh that's what sort of the modern word has that's what sort of the modern word has evolved to evolved to the apocalypse the end of the world the apocalypse the end of the world in the book of revelation doesn't talk in the book of revelation doesn't talk about that about that it talks about the renewal of the world it talks about the renewal of the world it talks about the restoration of all it talks about the restoration of all things it talks about how things it talks about how god god and man will be united you know it's and man will be united you know it's it's about this perfection brian just it's about this perfection brian just sent a text appreciate that brian sent a text appreciate that brian he says uh our motto just what i said he says uh our motto just what i said our modern sense of the word apocalypse our modern sense of the word apocalypse distorts this apocalypse equals end of distorts this apocalypse equals end of the world but the greek apocalypses in the world but the greek apocalypses in verse 2 means making fully known verse 2 means making fully known revealing revealing disclosure disclosure so that's what that word apocalypse so that's what that word apocalypse means it's a revealing means it's a revealing so we're going to end in a couple of so we're going to end in a couple of minutes and as we think about this idea minutes and as we think about this idea about the purpose of the revelation about the purpose of the revelation the purpose of the revealing the purpose of the revealing i want to go to two or three other new i want to go to two or three other new testament passages testament passages that show us the hope that show us the hope that these first century believers had that these first century believers had and how that hope is beginning to be and how that hope is beginning to be realized through this realized through this apocalyptic message of john through our apocalyptic message of john through our risen lord jesus in the book of risen lord jesus in the book of revelation revelation so we're going to look at uh we'll look so we're going to look at uh we'll look at three passages the first is romans at three passages the first is romans back in romans we're going to look at back in romans we're going to look at chapter 8 chapter 8 and again the reason we're coming to and again the reason we're coming to these three passages is to pick up on these three passages is to pick up on brian's comment brian's comment about the meaning of apocalypse the about the meaning of apocalypse the greek word means a a revealing and greek word means a a revealing and uncovering uncovering it it gives this idea of bringing it it gives this idea of bringing something to light something to light what did the first century believers what did the first century believers have to have brought to light have to have brought to light the fact that god was still in control the fact that god was still in control the fact that god hadn't given up on the fact that god hadn't given up on them the fact that jesus will in fact them the fact that jesus will in fact return return what's the revelation what needs to be what's the revelation what needs to be revealed romans chapter 8 revealed romans chapter 8 we're going to look at verse we're going to look at verse 19 this is the this is the verse that just follows that this is the verse that just follows that that that well loved passage that says i reckon well loved passage that says i reckon that the sufferings of this present time that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us glory that shall be revealed in us and you know this is to the this is and you know this is to the this is paul's writing to the romans who are paul's writing to the romans who are suffering now imagine yourself you know suffering now imagine yourself you know exiled on the isle of patmos or or you exiled on the isle of patmos or or you know facing persecution under this know facing persecution under this wicked emperor wicked emperor and the next passage in verse 19 acts uh and the next passage in verse 19 acts uh romans 8 verse 19 says the creation romans 8 verse 19 says the creation waits waits in eager expectation in eager expectation for the sons of god for the sons of god to be revealed to be revealed and we come to revelation that's the and we come to revelation that's the same word it's this revealing it's this same word it's this revealing it's this uncovering it's bringing to light uncovering it's bringing to light god's plan god's plan and god's message and god's message the next one we'll come to is in first the next one we'll come to is in first peter i i really uh enjoy uh peter and as as mark says at this point in history peter mark says at this point in history peter has likely already been uh executed for has likely already been uh executed for his beliefs so this again gives us an his beliefs so this again gives us an idea as to the challenges that these idea as to the challenges that these brothers and sisters went through brothers and sisters went through so in first peter chapter 1 verse 7 so in first peter chapter 1 verse 7 we read this it says these have come so we read this it says these have come so he's talking about trials right how he's talking about trials right how you're going to have to suffer all kinds you're going to have to suffer all kinds of trials in verse six of trials in verse six verse seven says these have come so that verse seven says these have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold your faith of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise glory and may result in praise glory and honor and honor when when jesus christ is jesus christ is revealed revealed this is that same word this is that that this is that same word this is that that bringing to light there was this bringing to light there was this expectation that there would be a expectation that there would be a revelation revelation and when we come to the book of and when we come to the book of revelation revelation this really brothers and sisters is what this really brothers and sisters is what it's about it's about so if you come to if your background is so if you come to if your background is one where you see the book of revelation one where you see the book of revelation and you think oh this is too hard to and you think oh this is too hard to understand understand this is something that is this is something that is confusing to me i want to avoid it confusing to me i want to avoid it know that you're not alone know that you're not alone but know this think about the words of but know this think about the words of peter we were in peter just a moment ago peter we were in peter just a moment ago i want you to go to 2nd peter and [Music] [Music] did i write it down ii peter chapter 3 did i write it down ii peter chapter 3 verse 16. peter now is writing about our good friend the apostle paul who's written so friend the apostle paul who's written so many letters and so much many letters and so much in our new testament canon right in our new testament canon right so much of paul's writings this is what so much of paul's writings this is what this is how peter this is how peter critiqued critiqued paul's message paul's message he says in verse 16 speaking about paul he says in verse 16 speaking about paul he says paul writes the same way in all he says paul writes the same way in all his letters speaking in them of these his letters speaking in them of these matters his letters contain some things matters his letters contain some things that are hard to understand that are hard to understand right right so peter's talking about paul writing in so peter's talking about paul writing in ways about things that are hard to ways about things that are hard to understand understand and if peter thought that way about and if peter thought that way about paul's writings paul's writings i think it's okay for us to feel that i think it's okay for us to feel that way about the book of revelation way about the book of revelation okay okay and our goal this next couple of weeks and our goal this next couple of weeks is to try to understand the message is to try to understand the message from the perspective from the perspective of those first century believers of those first century believers and we're going to see next week god and we're going to see next week god willing the structure of revelation willing the structure of revelation it's going to be broken down into four it's going to be broken down into four parts parts each one of these parts is described each one of these parts is described with a code phrase with a code phrase in the spirit in the spirit john is going to say i was in the spirit john is going to say i was in the spirit and we're going to see really four and we're going to see really four different distinct phases of the book different distinct phases of the book the first one the first one is where we see christ being revealed in is where we see christ being revealed in heaven as risen and alive heaven as risen and alive this is an act in revelation chapter one this is an act in revelation chapter one and then christ is going to give a and then christ is going to give a personal message personal message to these seven ecclesias in asia to these seven ecclesias in asia minor the second part of the book is minor the second part of the book is where we see where we see a vision a vision from heaven from heaven explaining what's happening on the earth explaining what's happening on the earth the people on the earth didn't the people on the earth didn't understand what was happening understand what was happening so the purpose of this apocalypse was to so the purpose of this apocalypse was to give them a heavenly perspective give them a heavenly perspective of their earthly reality we don't of their earthly reality we don't understand it understand it god is going to give them the view from god is going to give them the view from heaven so that they can have a better heaven so that they can have a better big picture understanding of his eternal big picture understanding of his eternal purpose purpose the third section of the book is where the third section of the book is where we see we see john being brought in spirit to see the john being brought in spirit to see the destruction of babylon which in the destruction of babylon which in the grand scheme of things grand scheme of things brings us right back to genesis where we brings us right back to genesis where we saw for the first time saw for the first time men men creating a kingdom for themselves at creating a kingdom for themselves at babel babel so we are now seeing the destruction of so we are now seeing the destruction of the kingdom of men the kingdom of men and finally in the last section of the and finally in the last section of the book we're going to see book we're going to see how god will dwell with man again and how god will dwell with man again and how there will be no more tears or how there will be no more tears or crying or suffering or pain crying or suffering or pain but all god will be all in all but all god will be all in all and this is the hope of the revelation and this is the hope of the revelation and its purpose is to encourage us to and its purpose is to encourage us to keep the faith and not to give up

Transcript

so um we're going to be talking about the book of revelation and we started to the book of revelation and we started to get into this last week and really what get into this last week and really what i what i'm trying to do in these classes i what i'm trying to do in these classes is present the book of revelation from is present the book of revelation from the perspective the perspective of those very of those very first generation christadelphians you first generation christadelphians you know those that the first generation of know those that the first generation of believers believers and this was a very challenging time for and this was a very challenging time for our early brothers and sisters because our early brothers and sisters because there was a a transition that was there was a a transition that was happening between the the first happening between the the first generation of believers and the second generation of believers and the second generation of believers and the generation of believers and the transition was this transition was this people were dying people were dying and this was unexpected and this was unexpected most of the early brothers and sisters most of the early brothers and sisters had this view had this view that they would be alive that they would be alive when jesus the risen jesus returned from when jesus the risen jesus returned from heaven heaven and so when they began to die and so when they began to die it created a crisis it created a crisis in their minds in the minds of those who in their minds in the minds of those who were saying were saying wait a minute what's happening here wait a minute what's happening here and so those are some of the things that and so those are some of the things that were were that were problematic to them that were problematic to them additionally additionally there was great persecution there was great persecution among that first group of believers among that first group of believers think about what happened in their lives think about what happened in their lives i mean we've just come through a period i mean we've just come through a period of trauma for so many of us having of trauma for so many of us having experienced experienced a pandemic for the first time a pandemic for the first time but imagine what it was like but imagine what it was like not for not for the people of ukraine the people of ukraine and you know you cannot only imagine how and you know you cannot only imagine how horrifying it is for these individuals horrifying it is for these individuals our brothers and sisters there our brothers and sisters there the the just the general population the the just the general population there how horrifying it is for them there how horrifying it is for them but similarly but similarly the men and women who the men and women who were receiving this message from john were receiving this message from john experienced experienced very similar very similar turmoil in their lives turmoil in their lives the roman empire the roman empire invaded their land invaded their land and they and they burned their homes burned their homes and they destroyed the temple of yahweh and they destroyed the temple of yahweh this is something that these people this is something that these people witnessed and experienced witnessed and experienced and more than that and more than that it's my view it's my view that at this point in history around 90 that at this point in history around 90 a.d when this book is being written a.d when this book is being written there's a new emperor on the scene not there's a new emperor on the scene not nero who burned their family members and nero who burned their family members and their friends at the stake who fed the their friends at the stake who fed the their christian brothers and sisters to their christian brothers and sisters to the lions the lions now there's a new emperor who's sort of now there's a new emperor who's sort of doing the same thing supposedly there's doing the same thing supposedly there's this emperor domitian who comes in and this emperor domitian who comes in and he too they say he too they say is persecuting the christians is persecuting the christians and this persecution and this persecution was in the form of economic persecution was in the form of economic persecution if you don't bow down and worship the if you don't bow down and worship the emperor as a deity as a god emperor as a deity as a god then you will be excluded from having then you will be excluded from having any economic position within our any economic position within our community community you can't buy and sell you can't trade you can't buy and sell you can't trade these were the problems these were the problems that our first century brothers and that our first century brothers and sisters were experiencing sisters were experiencing and much of this book of revelation was and much of this book of revelation was originally written to address issues and originally written to address issues and problems that they themselves were problems that they themselves were experiencing experiencing okay okay so that's the premise behind these so that's the premise behind these classes classes this is not to say that the view that this is not to say that the view that our community takes towards revelation our community takes towards revelation is is i mean i'm not saying anything is is i mean i'm not saying anything about about modern views on revelation and how the modern views on revelation and how the the symbols relate to modern error the symbols relate to modern error okay okay what we're trying to do is just what we're trying to do is just understand from the perspective of the understand from the perspective of the first century reader how they would have first century reader how they would have understood these messages okay any understood these messages okay any questions about that questions about that turn with me to first thessalonians turn with me to first thessalonians chapter 4. chapter 4. this is kind of an interesting passage this is kind of an interesting passage because this gives us a sense of what because this gives us a sense of what the brothers and sisters were the brothers and sisters were struggling with as it related to their struggling with as it related to their brothers and sisters their family brothers and sisters their family members members dying dying before the return of jesus before the return of jesus so in first thessalonians we and in so in first thessalonians we and in second thessalonians we see this second thessalonians we see this message that's repeated over and over message that's repeated over and over and over again and it's a message of the and over again and it's a message of the return of jesus return of jesus that it's going to happen that it's going to happen but look at the fourth chapter first but look at the fourth chapter first thessalonians chapter 4 verse 13. thessalonians chapter 4 verse 13. and here and here paul who's writing this letter is paul who's writing this letter is appealing to them and he says brothers appealing to them and he says brothers we don't want you to be ignorant about we don't want you to be ignorant about those those who who [Music] [Music] fall asleep fall asleep this is the point people were dying this is the point people were dying and there was this worry that the and there was this worry that the promises that god had made promises that god had made weren't going to come true he says we weren't going to come true he says we don't want you to be ignorant about don't want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep those who fall asleep or to the or to grieve or to the or to grieve like the rest of men like the rest of men who have no hope who have no hope you know just as an aside i was talking you know just as an aside i was talking to lindy uh in the other room linda and to lindy uh in the other room linda and we were talking about our brother arthur we were talking about our brother arthur who recently died who recently died and she said you know it's and she said you know it's i'm comforted knowing that he is at rest i'm comforted knowing that he is at rest and that his next waking moment will be and that his next waking moment will be that time when christ raises him from that time when christ raises him from the dead the dead and she says it's weird i don't feel as and she says it's weird i don't feel as though i'm mourning though i'm mourning because i take comfort in the fact that because i take comfort in the fact that he's no longer in pain or no longer he's no longer in pain or no longer stress suffering and this is what paul stress suffering and this is what paul is writing here to the thessalonians he is writing here to the thessalonians he says we don't grieve like the rest of says we don't grieve like the rest of men who have no hope men who have no hope we believe that jesus died we believe that jesus died and rose again and rose again and so we believe that god will bring and so we believe that god will bring jesus bring with jesus those jesus bring with jesus those who have fallen asleep in him who have fallen asleep in him according to the lord's own word we tell according to the lord's own word we tell you you that we who are still alive who are left that we who are still alive who are left till the coming of the lord will till the coming of the lord will certainly not precede those who have certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep fallen asleep and so this again is just i'm bringing and so this again is just i'm bringing this passage to you just to emphasize this passage to you just to emphasize the fact that this was a time of turmoil the fact that this was a time of turmoil in the minds of so many of those early in the minds of so many of those early believers believers and at the same time as i said our early and at the same time as i said our early brothers and sisters were facing this brothers and sisters were facing this terrible persecution because the roman terrible persecution because the roman empire at this point in time was empire at this point in time was beginning to enforce beginning to enforce among both gentiles and jews among both gentiles and jews this idea that they had to worship the this idea that they had to worship the emperor as a god emperor as a god now put yourself in the position of a now put yourself in the position of a jew a jewish christian one who believes jew a jewish christian one who believes that jesus was the messiah who grew up that jesus was the messiah who grew up knowing knowing that there was only one god the shema that there was only one god the shema this was the thing that they learned this was the thing that they learned from the their childhood hero israel the from the their childhood hero israel the lord lord our god our god is one is one think about the promises or or the think about the promises or or the commandments that were given on mount commandments that were given on mount sinai you thou shalt have no other gods sinai you thou shalt have no other gods before me before me and all of a sudden the roman empire and all of a sudden the roman empire comes in and says comes in and says domitian domitian this new emperor this new emperor you must worship him as a god. you must worship him as a god. it's like time out it's like time out how can we do that how can we do that but more than that as they're looking at but more than that as they're looking at these roman emperors who they are to these roman emperors who they are to deify who are they who they are supposed deify who are they who they are supposed to pay homage to they also recognize it to pay homage to they also recognize it it's these men it's these men who are who had destroyed the temple who are who had destroyed the temple it's these men who had created such it's these men who had created such turmoil in the lives of the jewish turmoil in the lives of the jewish nation and the lives of their family and nation and the lives of their family and friends how could they friends how could they give these people homage give these people homage and so they didn't and so they didn't and because of that they were oppressed and because of that they were oppressed and they were persecuted last week we and they were persecuted last week we looked at romans chapter 10 and we saw looked at romans chapter 10 and we saw that passage that speaks about that passage that speaks about saying that jesus is lord saying that jesus is lord and i don't know that we necessarily and i don't know that we necessarily understand the importance of what that understand the importance of what that meant meant to those early brothers and sisters to those early brothers and sisters when we say jesus is lord it's saying when we say jesus is lord it's saying our allegiance is to jesus our allegiance is to jesus our allegiance is not our allegiance is not to emperor domitian it was all about to emperor domitian it was all about allegiance it was to who it was who they allegiance it was to who it was who they would put their trust in would put their trust in so many of these uh many of these uh so many of these uh many of these uh brothers and sisters were struggling brothers and sisters were struggling with all sorts of things and we get a with all sorts of things and we get a sense of that in a couple of passages in sense of that in a couple of passages in revelation so revelation chapter 1 verse revelation so revelation chapter 1 verse 9 gives us an idea 9 gives us an idea of uh the consequences of pushing back of uh the consequences of pushing back against this emperor worship and here against this emperor worship and here john says uh john says uh revelation 1 verse 9 i john your brother revelation 1 verse 9 i john your brother in companion in the suffering in companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that and kingdom and patient endurance that ours in jesus was on the island of ours in jesus was on the island of patmos and i mentioned that this island patmos and i mentioned that this island of patmos i mean i i sort of view it as of patmos i mean i i sort of view it as sort of this modern-day alcatraz you sort of this modern-day alcatraz you know that john is is thrown there and know that john is is thrown there and and he's that's where he's in imprisoned and he's that's where he's in imprisoned almost almost and so there is this theme throughout and so there is this theme throughout revelation about the struggle that they revelation about the struggle that they will be experiencing will be experiencing so when we come to the book so when we come to the book we talk about this book and and as you we talk about this book and and as you can see on the screen here the book of revelation comprises three different types of literature three different types of literature the first type of literature that we see the first type of literature that we see is one that we're very common with and is one that we're very common with and it's just a letter it's just a letter the book of revelation is a letter the book of revelation is a letter it's it's really not much different than it's it's really not much different than the letters that were written to the the letters that were written to the corinthian ecclesias or to the the corinthian ecclesias or to the the ecclesias in rome ecclesias in rome it begins like like all of paul's it begins like like all of paul's letters and it ends like paul's letters letters and it ends like paul's letters and we see that with this prologue so i and we see that with this prologue so i don't know if you can read that but don't know if you can read that but revelation chapter 1 revelation chapter 1 verses 4 through 7 really give us this verses 4 through 7 really give us this idea that it truly is a circular letter idea that it truly is a circular letter that was to be read to the brothers and that was to be read to the brothers and sisters in these different house sisters in these different house churches churches and it begins this way and it begins this way john john to the seven churches in the province of to the seven churches in the province of asia asia grace and peace to you from he from him grace and peace to you from he from him who is and who was and who is to come who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits before his and from the seven spirits before his throne and from jesus christ who is the throne and from jesus christ who is the faithful witness the first born from the faithful witness the first born from the dead dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth and the ruler of the kings of the earth so this is in the form of a letter isn't so this is in the form of a letter isn't it just like you know i paul write this it just like you know i paul write this letter here we see i john letter here we see i john write this letter and when we come to write this letter and when we come to the very end of revelation chapter 22 the very end of revelation chapter 22 we see a very familiar sign off just we see a very familiar sign off just like so many of the letters that paul or like so many of the letters that paul or any of the other new testament writers any of the other new testament writers concluded theirs with so i'll have you concluded theirs with so i'll have you take a look at romans chapter 22 take a look at romans chapter 22 verse 21 and it simply says the grace of verse 21 and it simply says the grace of the lord jesus be with you the lord jesus be with you or be with god's people amen and that's or be with god's people amen and that's the same sort of sign off that so many the same sort of sign off that so many of paul's letters romans chapter of paul's letters romans chapter i think 16 concludes that way i think 16 concludes that way the grace of the jesus christ be with the grace of the jesus christ be with you it's it's the form of a letter so you it's it's the form of a letter so the first type of literature that we see the first type of literature that we see here here is this this idea that it is in fact is this this idea that it is in fact just that a letter just that a letter uh the second thing that we see in terms uh the second thing that we see in terms of literature is that this is a book of of literature is that this is a book of prophecy and we're certainly familiar prophecy and we're certainly familiar with the prophets of the jewish with the prophets of the jewish scriptures we see so often the jewish scriptures we see so often the jewish writers the jewish prophets writers the jewish prophets proclaiming proclaiming the word of the lord the word of the lord thus saith the lord this is not their thus saith the lord this is not their words these are the words that god has words these are the words that god has given them given them to share with the people to share with the people and when you think about prophecy and when you think about prophecy brothers and sisters i'll just ask well brothers and sisters i'll just ask well when i think about prophecy i think when i think about prophecy i think sometimes sometimes it's common for us to think that it's common for us to think that prophecy is about foretelling the future prophecy is about foretelling the future and in some cases it is and in some cases it is but more than that the primary objective but more than that the primary objective of prophecy of prophecy was to affect a change was to affect a change in the life in the life of the hearer of the hearer it wasn't just to say this is what's it wasn't just to say this is what's going to happen in the future it was to going to happen in the future it was to say this is what's going to happen in say this is what's going to happen in the future therefore the future therefore you must make changes in your life you must make changes in your life we see that in amos we see that in so we see that in amos we see that in so many of the old testament prophets many of the old testament prophets and the same thing is true here and the same thing is true here in revelation so look at uh chapter 1 in revelation so look at uh chapter 1 and now we're going to look at the first and now we're going to look at the first three verses we three verses we looked at verse 4 which showed how the looked at verse 4 which showed how the letter begins letter begins but there's this introduction or there's but there's this introduction or there's this prologue in the first three verses this prologue in the first three verses and it says the revelation and it says the revelation of jesus christ which god gave him to of jesus christ which god gave him to show his servants what must show his servants what must soon soon take place take place so this is an idea of prophecy so this is an idea of prophecy foretelling the future right it's foretelling the future right it's telling them what soon must take place telling them what soon must take place he made it known by sending john he made it known by sending john by sending his angel to his servant john by sending his angel to his servant john who testifies to everything he saw who testifies to everything he saw that is the word of god that is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ and the testimony of jesus christ here's the second point about prophecy here's the second point about prophecy it's designed not just to tell the it's designed not just to tell the future but to affect change in the life future but to affect change in the life of the hearer of the hearer and this is what's happening here in the and this is what's happening here in the third verse third verse blessed is the one who reads the words blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and blessed are those who hear it and take it to heart or who keep it who and take it to heart or who keep it who do it do it and that's the message here so we see and that's the message here so we see one it's a letter two it's a prophecy one it's a letter two it's a prophecy foretelling what soon must take place so foretelling what soon must take place so that they can endure that they can endure so that they can stick stay the course so that they can stick stay the course they were to stand fast they were to stand fast stand fast in the face of this roman stand fast in the face of this roman persecution persecution and not give in and not give in to the power and the influence of the to the power and the influence of the roman beast roman beast the third type of literature that we see the third type of literature that we see here in the book of revelation is what's here in the book of revelation is what's known as apocalyptic literature and we known as apocalyptic literature and we spoke about this last week it's a common spoke about this last week it's a common type of reading both in the old type of reading both in the old testament and in the new testament and in the new apocalypse is a greek word and it simply apocalypse is a greek word and it simply means means uncovering uncovering it's designed to make things clear it's designed to make things clear from god's perspective from god's perspective it's designed to help us understand a it's designed to help us understand a heavenly perspective heavenly perspective on earthly circumstances on earthly circumstances and wouldn't that be nice to know right and wouldn't that be nice to know right when we're struggling like when we see when we're struggling like when we see things that are really challenging in things that are really challenging in our lives like our lives like why is this happening to me why is this happening to me imagine what the people in the ukraine imagine what the people in the ukraine are saying right now why is this are saying right now why is this happening happening and to be able to sort of have and to be able to sort of have a prophetic vision where god now brings a prophetic vision where god now brings you to heaven so that you can see things you to heaven so that you can see things from hurt his perspective from hurt his perspective this is what apocalyptic literature is this is what apocalyptic literature is designed to do designed to do and we usually see apocalyptic and we usually see apocalyptic literature literature written to people who are facing great written to people who are facing great oppression oppression and in the jewish scriptures in the old and in the jewish scriptures in the old testament we see it most clearly testament we see it most clearly in places like daniel in places like daniel and ezekiel and ezekiel and isaiah and isaiah where the readers of this literature where the readers of this literature were undergoing were undergoing huge trials huge trials babylonian captivity babylonian captivity right why is this happening let me give right why is this happening let me give you god's perspective you god's perspective and the perspective is and the perspective is that in the end this is in general in that in the end this is in general in apocalyptic literature apocalyptic literature in the end in the end good good will overcome evil will overcome evil the kingdom of god will overcome the the kingdom of god will overcome the kingdom of men kingdom of men and this to me is one of the big and this to me is one of the big messages big picture views of whether messages big picture views of whether it's ezekiel or daniel or the it's ezekiel or daniel or the apocalyptic literature that we see here apocalyptic literature that we see here in revelation when we come to the book of revelation itself itself so much of the language that we see the so much of the language that we see the symbols that we read about the visions symbols that we read about the visions are drawn are drawn from old testament passages like ezekiel from old testament passages like ezekiel and like daniel and like daniel and this gives us an idea as to why and this gives us an idea as to why many scholars will look at many scholars will look at the revelation and say that it was the revelation and say that it was written written to protect the hearers to protect the hearers from from the roman empire and what i mean by that that and i and i think i quoted a passage um and i and i think i quoted a passage um i quoted a book that talked about the i quoted a book that talked about the language of revelation being language of revelation being this language of um resistance right right it's like because they're speaking so it's like because they're speaking so negatively about the oppressors they negatively about the oppressors they have to do it in a code form so that the have to do it in a code form so that the hearer can understand what's being said hearer can understand what's being said but the actual oppressors wouldn't it but the actual oppressors wouldn't it would go over their heads would go over their heads and by looking at old testament passages and by looking at old testament passages that speak about like the the that speak about like the the apocalyptic visions of daniel apocalyptic visions of daniel these hearers would have been familiar these hearers would have been familiar with that and they would have heard this with that and they would have heard this and said oh okay i think i get what it's and said oh okay i think i get what it's saying saying so in a modern day example right so in a modern day example right if i if i show you a picture of an if i if i show you a picture of an elephant elephant and a donkey and a donkey do you know what it's referring to corruption an elephant and a donkey what's it an elephant and a donkey what's it referring to referring to political parties in the united states political parties in the united states if i show you a picture of a a man with if i show you a picture of a a man with a top hat uncle sam a top hat uncle sam do we know what that is do we know what that is yeah it's referring to the united states yeah it's referring to the united states and there are political symbols that and there are political symbols that have been used throughout history and i have been used throughout history and i think that what we're seeing in the book think that what we're seeing in the book of revelation of revelation are just those same things when we see a are just those same things when we see a beast the readers beast the readers the original readers of this passage the original readers of this passage would have recognized this beast to be would have recognized this beast to be rome rome why do they use the word babylon i mean why do they use the word babylon i mean doesn't that seem bizarre doesn't that seem bizarre and i think the reason is because and i think the reason is because babylon was code babylon was code for rome it was the language of the for rome it was the language of the resistance resistance they could say babylon and they knew they could say babylon and they knew that it referenced wrong we see an that it referenced wrong we see an example of that in peter i think it's example of that in peter i think it's first peter 5 first peter 5 where he says that he's in babylon where he says that he's in babylon first peter chapter 5 verse 15. first peter chapter 5 verse 15. this is the final greetings he's this is the final greetings he's concluding his letter he says with the concluding his letter he says with the help of silas in verse 12 whom i regard help of silas in verse 12 whom i regard as a faithful brother i have written to as a faithful brother i have written to you briefly encouraging you you briefly encouraging you and testifying that this is the true and testifying that this is the true grace of god stand fast in it grace of god stand fast in it then he says she who is in babylon then he says she who is in babylon chosen together with you send you chosen together with you send you her greetings her greetings and so does my son mark well wait a and so does my son mark well wait a minute is peter writing about somebody minute is peter writing about somebody in babylon babylon had long been in babylon babylon had long been destroyed at this point in time destroyed at this point in time he's not what's he talking about he's he's not what's he talking about he's talking about the city of rome and so talking about the city of rome and so when we come to the book of revelation when we come to the book of revelation we see so much discussion about the we see so much discussion about the about the city of babylon about the city of babylon it's really that language of resistance it's really that language of resistance saying hey i'm saying babylon but you saying hey i'm saying babylon but you know we're talking about the roman know we're talking about the roman empire the roman empire who might come empire the roman empire who might come across this writing won't know that across this writing won't know that we're talking about them does that make we're talking about them does that make sense sense any questions secret codes and stuff like that yeah that was very common too that was very common too in the first century in the first century uh that the early christians had their uh that the early christians had their own secret way of communicating with own secret way of communicating with other christians like just for instance other christians like just for instance the fish right right that's yeah and the the fish right right that's yeah and the you know like the anchor and um you know you know like the anchor and um you know different words that had meanings just different words that had meanings just in a little circle and so i think that in a little circle and so i think that fits perfectly with what you're saying fits perfectly with what you're saying that revelation is full of those symbols that revelation is full of those symbols that only the that only the the group would know and be able to the group would know and be able to apply it to the surroundings of their apply it to the surroundings of their world like no one would know like what world like no one would know like what is a fish a roman who was a pagan be is a fish a roman who was a pagan be like i don't know it's a fish like i don't know it's a fish right that had a very so so why would right that had a very so so why would they why would they use that symbol of they why would they use that symbol of the fish do you think yeah so it it goes the fish do you think yeah so it it goes back to what you're saying with the back to what you're saying with the persecution like they're trying to make persecution like they're trying to make it in the roman pagan world that was it it in the roman pagan world that was it was everywhere and so they needed to was everywhere and so they needed to communicate they were they were being communicate they were they were being persecuted they needed to know who was a persecuted they needed to know who was a friend who was a foe and a lot of these friend who was a foe and a lot of these symbols they would put on their homes in symbols they would put on their homes in certain areas or in their workplaces as certain areas or in their workplaces as well like bakers they found a bakery well like bakers they found a bakery that had a fish and other um early uh that had a fish and other um early uh christian symbols christian symbols they're they're telling people secretly they're they're telling people secretly that hey we're a christian here it's a that hey we're a christian here it's a safe place to come if you want place to safe place to come if you want place to come safe place yeah and they're saying come safe place yeah and they're saying you know that's why they went you know that's why they went underground to do all you know the um in underground to do all you know the um in the catacombs and stuff like that and the catacombs and stuff like that and you know a lot of the art that came out you know a lot of the art that came out of there that we we talked about really of there that we we talked about really helpful yeah i don't and it all fits helpful yeah i don't and it all fits together like you said i think it does together like you said i think it does yeah i think it's a stay mentality you yeah i think it's a stay mentality you have to put yourself into their position have to put yourself into their position they were overwhelmed every day by they were overwhelmed every day by persecution and just by the culture of persecution and just by the culture of rome right overwhelmed by it right the rome right overwhelmed by it right the beast beast yeah so he so here's a more modern day yeah so he so here's a more modern day example of that so in the second world example of that so in the second world war war uh there were christadelphian brothers uh there were christadelphian brothers and sisters who lived in germany and sisters who lived in germany and there were some young men who were and there were some young men who were conscripted conscripted to fight to fight in hitler's nazi army in hitler's nazi army and they refused to do so and they refused to do so and they one of these brothers a 19 year and they one of these brothers a 19 year old old young man young man was was killed by a firing squad for his belief killed by a firing squad for his belief albert mertz was his name albert mertz was his name and his ecclesia stayed faithful despite that persecution despite that persecution and they had to be very careful and they had to be very careful about identifying themselves about identifying themselves as as christians or as christadelphians in christians or as christadelphians in particular particular and as a result they stopped meeting and as a result they stopped meeting together in their homes together in their homes but would instead but would instead on a sunday often go out on a sunday often go out to public restaurants to public restaurants where they would where they would share share a loaf of bread a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine and a bottle of wine among a meal that this faithful ecclesia faithful ecclesia could continue to meet to honor the could continue to meet to honor the memory of jesus memory of jesus and do so and do so safely safely and so what i get from that is is that and so what i get from that is is that is an example of the very thing that is an example of the very thing that rich is talking about rich is talking about you know with the the symbol of the fish you know with the the symbol of the fish and as a reason why and as a reason why john here describes this evil empire john here describes this evil empire using language that would be understood using language that would be understood by the readers of the jewish scriptures by the readers of the jewish scriptures the old testament readers of of daniel the old testament readers of of daniel and ezekiel and isaiah and ezekiel and isaiah but not understood by the roman but not understood by the roman oppressors okay oppressors okay thanks for that rich thanks for that rich okay so what i want to do now is uh i'm okay so what i want to do now is uh i'm going to show a another slide if you can going to show a another slide if you can throw that up throw that up phil or phil or jim that would be helpful the book of revelation is broken down i think into four distinct sections think into four distinct sections the first section is here and it's the first section is here and it's revelation chapter one and it begins in revelation chapter one and it begins in the ninth verse and the reason i'm the ninth verse and the reason i'm saying it's broken down into four saying it's broken down into four sections is because each section is sections is because each section is marked marked with a specific phrase with a specific phrase and that sort of uh you know picture and that sort of uh you know picture yourself as an early christian who is um yourself as an early christian who is um having this letter read to you while having this letter read to you while you're sitting in this congregation and you're sitting in this congregation and you're hearing and you hear this you're hearing and you hear this repeated phrase as repeated phrase as as it goes as it goes and the phrase is and the phrase is in in the spirit the spirit chapter 1 verse 9. chapter 1 verse 9. i john your brother and companion in the i john your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that ours that are ours in endurance that ours that are ours in christ jesus was on the island of patmos christ jesus was on the island of patmos because of the word of god because of the word of god and the testimony of jesus verse 10 and the testimony of jesus verse 10 on the lord's day on the lord's day i was i was in the spirit in the spirit and this and this section in the spirit is repeated section in the spirit is repeated here in revelation 1 here in revelation 1 the second section is in revelation 4 the second section is in revelation 4 the third section is in revelation 17 the third section is in revelation 17 and the last is in revelation 21. you and the last is in revelation 21. you don't need to know that for now don't need to know that for now but this is how i've divided the book but this is how i've divided the book into these four different sections into these four different sections so section one so section one is really is really john's view from the earth remember john's view from the earth remember we're talking about apocalyptic we're talking about apocalyptic literature giving us god's perspective literature giving us god's perspective on human issues on human issues why are we going through all of this why are we going through all of this turmoil and trouble and persecution and turmoil and trouble and persecution and oppression why are people dying without oppression why are people dying without having re you know seen the risen lord having re you know seen the risen lord return to overthrow the roman empire and return to overthrow the roman empire and establish god's kingdom why is this establish god's kingdom why is this happening happening and the first vision that john gets in and the first vision that john gets in this spirit this spirit is a view from the earth is a view from the earth this is an earthly view john's vision depicts jesus the son of man man walking walking among among the churches the churches so in the first section of the book the so in the first section of the book the seven churches are exhorted to endure seven churches are exhorted to endure and this is the theme remember and this is the theme remember the promise of revelation those that the promise of revelation those that listen to this prophecy and do it will listen to this prophecy and do it will be rewarded what are they to do be rewarded what are they to do the prophecy said i'm going to tell you the prophecy said i'm going to tell you about the things that are shortly to about the things that are shortly to come to pass what's about to happen come to pass what's about to happen what's about to happen i think is what's about to happen i think is there's going to be an increase there's going to be an increase in persecution in persecution and the question that these early and the question that these early brothers and sisters had to decide brothers and sisters had to decide is what am i going to do about it am i is what am i going to do about it am i going to compromise and give into rome going to compromise and give into rome am i going to throw away my hope am i going to throw away my hope or am i going to endure to the end or am i going to endure to the end am i going to stick it out am i going to stick it out and so so much of what we read in this and so so much of what we read in this first section of of the uh the first section of of the uh the revelation is one about remaining in revelation is one about remaining in remaining faithful remaining faithful about enduring about enduring it's really about it's really about overcoming and that's the word that just overcoming and that's the word that just repeats over and over and over again repeats over and over and over again you need brothers and sisters to you need brothers and sisters to overcome overcome so let's start by just taking a look at so let's start by just taking a look at uh chapter 1 uh chapter 1 verse 12. so verse 10 says on the lord's day i was in the spirit i heard behind me a loud in the spirit i heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet which said write on voice like a trumpet which said write on a scroll what you see a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches to and send it to the seven churches to ephesus smyrna pergamon thyatira sardis ephesus smyrna pergamon thyatira sardis philadelphia and laodicea philadelphia and laodicea verse 12 i turned around to see the verse 12 i turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me voice that was speaking to me and when i turned i saw seven golden and when i turned i saw seven golden lamp stands lamp stands and among the lampstands was someone and among the lampstands was someone like like a son a son of of man man someone like a son of man now someone like a son of man now put yourselves brothers and sisters into put yourselves brothers and sisters into the shoes into the clothes of a first the shoes into the clothes of a first century believer a first generation century believer a first generation believer who grew up believer who grew up reading and hearing from the synagogue reading and hearing from the synagogue the words of the prophets the words of the prophets this this quote the son of man is lifted directly quote the son of man is lifted directly from daniel chapter 7. from daniel chapter 7. jesus in his ministry referred to jesus in his ministry referred to himself as the son of man himself as the son of man and so again this is code language that and so again this is code language that will allow those first generation of will allow those first generation of believers and second generation of believers and second generation of believers to understand believers to understand who who it was that was giving this message it it was that was giving this message it was jesus was jesus questions about that and so what's the message to these early brothers and sisters in these seven brothers and sisters in these seven churches churches the message the message was to overcome was to overcome and on the screen here i've written down and on the screen here i've written down seven passages which relate to seven passages which relate to one one passage from each of the seven one one passage from each of the seven messages okay messages okay so let's just go through and i wanna so let's just go through and i wanna just just read these to you because it does read these to you because it does emphasize emphasize the struggle the struggle that our early brothers and sisters were that our early brothers and sisters were facing facing and and the encouragement that this letter the encouragement that this letter was designed to give them was designed to give them chapter two this is uh written to the chapter two this is uh written to the the ecclesia or the church that was in the ecclesia or the church that was in the town of ephesus and verse 7 says the town of ephesus and verse 7 says he who is an ear let him hear what the he who is an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches spirit says to the churches to him who overcomes to him who overcomes i will give the right to eat from the i will give the right to eat from the tree of life tree of life which is in the paradise of god which is in the paradise of god and their mind would go where and their mind would go where straight back straight back to the creation account in genesis that to the creation account in genesis that they were familiar with but which the they were familiar with but which the romans weren't romans weren't if you overcome i'll give you the right if you overcome i'll give you the right to eat from the tree of life you will to eat from the tree of life you will live forever live forever if you overcome you will be rewarded if you overcome you will be rewarded this was the message of overcoming to this was the message of overcoming to ephesus ephesus in smyrna chapter 2 verse 9 we'll read in smyrna chapter 2 verse 9 we'll read an extended passage here because this an extended passage here because this gives us more details gives us more details about the actual trials that our about the actual trials that our brothers and sisters were having to go brothers and sisters were having to go through through so chapter 2 verse 9 says i know your afflictions and your poverty remember their and your poverty remember their afflictions weren't simply being burned afflictions weren't simply being burned at the stake at the stake it was also an economic thing they were it was also an economic thing they were unable to buy they were unable to sell unable to buy they were unable to sell they were able to unable to participate they were able to unable to participate in the economy in the economy i know your afflictions and your poverty i know your afflictions and your poverty yet you're rich yet you're rich i know the slander i know the slander of those who say they're jews and are of those who say they're jews and are not but are a synagogue of satan not but are a synagogue of satan so what's the code language here so what's the code language here what's the synagogue of satan mean to what's the synagogue of satan mean to the first generation of believers the first generation of believers they're located where in smyrna they're located where in smyrna and within smyrna and within smyrna smyrna there is a synagogue that has smyrna there is a synagogue that has been built been built to the name and to the honor of the to the name and to the honor of the roman emperors roman emperors and jews are caving in and jews are caving in and he's drawing he's he's pointing to and he's drawing he's he's pointing to them saying don't be like those jews them saying don't be like those jews jews who are not but they're a synagogue jews who are not but they're a synagogue of satan don't be afraid of what you're of satan don't be afraid of what you're about to suffer about to suffer i tell you the devil i tell you the devil will put some of you in prison who is will put some of you in prison who is putting them in prison putting them in prison who's the devil here it's the romans who's the devil here it's the romans it's the roman authorities who had the it's the roman authorities who had the who had the authority to throw our early who had the authority to throw our early believers our early brothers and sisters believers our early brothers and sisters in jail in jail then he says be faithful then he says be faithful even to the point of death even to the point of death and i will give you and i will give you the crown of life the crown of life he who has an ear let him hear what the he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches he who spirit says to the churches he who overcomes overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second will not be hurt at all by the second death death again this emphasis on overcoming the again this emphasis on overcoming the persecution overcoming the trials persecution overcoming the trials we see it in verse 17 this is to the we see it in verse 17 this is to the church that was in pergamum he as an ear church that was in pergamum he as an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the let him hear what the spirit says to the churches to who him who overcomes churches to who him who overcomes i'll give him some of the hidden manna i'll give him some of the hidden manna just as god protected the israelites in just as god protected the israelites in the wilderness god can protect you the wilderness god can protect you from your economic turmoil from your economic turmoil you will receive the hidden manna if you you will receive the hidden manna if you overcome overcome verse 26 to thyatira verse 26 to thyatira to him who overcomes and does my will to to him who overcomes and does my will to the end i will give him authority over the end i will give him authority over the nations the nations he'll be a ruler right he'll be a ruler right all of these things the emphasis over all of these things the emphasis over and over again and over again is that they should overcome is that they should overcome last one we'll look at is chapter 3 last one we'll look at is chapter 3 verse 19 verse 19 those who i love i rebuke and discipline those who i love i rebuke and discipline so be earnest and repent here i am i so be earnest and repent here i am i stand at the door and knock if anyone stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice opens the door i'll come hears my voice opens the door i'll come into him he'll eat with him and he will into him he'll eat with him and he will be with me be with me to him who overcomes i'll give the right to him who overcomes i'll give the right to sit with me on my throne to sit with me on my throne just as i overcame and sat down with my just as i overcame and sat down with my father on his throne father on his throne okay okay the the prophetic message prophetic message was designed to foretell what would soon was designed to foretell what would soon take place take place you're going to suffer persecution you're going to suffer persecution but more than that it was designed to but more than that it was designed to encourage them to take action to hear encourage them to take action to hear the words and not give up on god's the words and not give up on god's purpose purpose and to know and to know that if they overcame that if they overcame they would be they would be rewarded shows in more detail the fulfillment of that reward that reward and uh revelation chapter 22 gives us and uh revelation chapter 22 gives us more descriptions of how more descriptions of how beautiful that reward will be verse 12 beautiful that reward will be verse 12 jesus says behold i'm coming soon my jesus says behold i'm coming soon my reward is with me and i'll give to reward is with me and i'll give to everyone according to what he has done everyone according to what he has done i'm the alpha and the omega the first i'm the alpha and the omega the first and the last the beginning in the end and the last the beginning in the end blessed are those who wash their robes blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have the right to the tree that they may have the right to the tree of life of life and may go through the gates into the and may go through the gates into the city the new jerusalem city the new jerusalem so that's the promise so that's the promise that's the encouragement that these that's the encouragement that these people are being offered people are being offered for for sticking with it sticking with it okay okay so what we've seen in that first section so what we've seen in that first section is is the uh is is the uh section one where in the vision in this section one where in the vision in this spirit john has a vision from the earth spirit john has a vision from the earth this is what you see and this is what this is what you see and this is what you need to do you need to do what we see next in the in this what we see next in the in this main section of the book of revelation main section of the book of revelation is um is um a vision from heaven a vision from heaven so the first vision was the earthly view so the first vision was the earthly view this next section of the book gives us a this next section of the book gives us a heavenly view heavenly view in other words this largest section of in other words this largest section of the book john is brought in vision to the book john is brought in vision to god's god's heavenly throne room heavenly throne room and here john's perspective changes and here john's perspective changes he's not seeing it from the standpoint he's not seeing it from the standpoint of those who are suffering here and now of those who are suffering here and now he's seeing it through god's eyes he's seeing it through god's eyes and he's seeing the grand scheme of and he's seeing the grand scheme of god's plan and purpose god's plan and purpose it's it's a widening of the of the it's it's a widening of the of the timeline it's a widening of the view timeline it's a widening of the view it's it's showing him it's it's showing him that god is in control despite what you that god is in control despite what you might see on earth might see on earth when you come to god's heavenly throne when you come to god's heavenly throne room you can see room you can see all of god's plan all of god's plan so the vision so the vision from um from um from this uh from this section the from this uh from this section the vision vision provides two things the first thing that we get is this promise of a reward promise of a reward for being faithful for being faithful god is saying to the people god is saying to the people that if you remain faithful that if you remain faithful you will be a kingdom you will be a kingdom of priests of priests just as israel was just as israel was this is that passage that we see in this is that passage that we see in revelation 5 and 10. revelation 5 and 10. you know brother bob eagles last week you know brother bob eagles last week spoke about his dad spoke about his dad right right talked about all the things that that talked about all the things that that his dad had shared with him and one of his dad had shared with him and one of the things that i remember from doug the things that i remember from doug is what he used to call the woolworth is what he used to call the woolworth verse verse you guys remember that you guys remember that what is it gail what is it gail the five and ten woolworth five and ten the five and ten woolworth five and ten he always had these little examples he always had these little examples things that would make it easy to things that would make it easy to remember important passages the remember important passages the woolworth verses revelation 5 and 10 woolworth verses revelation 5 and 10 that we will be a kingdom we will be that we will be a kingdom we will be kings and priests we will be a kingdom kings and priests we will be a kingdom of priests of priests okay okay and i think that that was a helpful and i think that that was a helpful thing for me and we see that here thing for me and we see that here in in revelation 5 verses 9 and 10. revelation 5 verses 9 and 10. they sang a new song this is the view they sang a new song this is the view from heaven uh he sees the heavenly from heaven uh he sees the heavenly throne room he sees these all of these throne room he sees these all of these uh creatures that are praising the the uh creatures that are praising the the uncreate god uncreate god you are worthy to take the scroll to you are worthy to take the scroll to open its seals because you were slain open its seals because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men and with your blood you purchased men for god for god from every tribe and language people and from every tribe and language people and nation you have made them to be a nation you have made them to be a kingdom kingdom and priests to serve our god so this was and priests to serve our god so this was what they were praising the lamb for what they were praising the lamb for okay okay how's the king james read there jim how's the king james read there jim sullivan sullivan you get it you get it who can quote it even better who can quote it even better so the niv says a kingdom of uh so the niv says a kingdom of uh you will be made to be you will be made to be a kingdom a kingdom and priests i think that king james has and priests i think that king james has a kingdom of priests is that right kings and priests and we shall reign where where on the earth on the earth so again this is the emphasis that so again this is the emphasis that christ will return don't give up on your christ will return don't give up on your faith yes people are dying but they will faith yes people are dying but they will be raised we don't mourn like other men be raised we don't mourn like other men we they will be raised we will be a we they will be raised we will be a kingdom kingdom of priests on the earth that's the of priests on the earth that's the message that's the message of hope message that's the message of hope but then what we see in the balance of but then what we see in the balance of the book the book the balance of this section of the book the balance of this section of the book revelation 4 through revelation 17 revelation 4 through revelation 17 are three are three series series of divine judgments of divine judgments three series of divine judgments each three series of divine judgments each series is comprised of seven series is comprised of seven ever increasing punishments ever increasing punishments that god is going to levy against the that god is going to levy against the oppressors oppressors and these and these are described as are described as seals seals trumpets trumpets and bowls and bowls so there are seven seals so there are seven seals there are seven trumpets there are seven trumpets and there are seven bowls the seals and let me just jump in here so and let me just jump in here so one of the things that makes it hard to one of the things that makes it hard to follow the book of revelation follow the book of revelation is that like a modern movie where is that like a modern movie where they're always sort of like interrupting they're always sort of like interrupting the the storyline the the storyline with like and here's a glimpse of what with like and here's a glimpse of what happened 20 years earlier right you've happened 20 years earlier right you've seen that in modern movies seen that in modern movies the same thing happens in the book of the same thing happens in the book of revelation revelation so we're going through and the reader so we're going through and the reader now knows that there are going to be now knows that there are going to be seven seals and there's a description seven seals and there's a description here's the first seal here's the second here's the first seal here's the second punishment here's the third punishment punishment here's the third punishment and all of a sudden there's like wait a and all of a sudden there's like wait a minute where's the fourth one minute where's the fourth one where's this fifth one where you know where's this fifth one where you know and there are these like parenthetical and there are these like parenthetical um um scenes that that provide further details scenes that that provide further details or answer different questions so i'm not or answer different questions so i'm not going to get into those details right going to get into those details right now what i'm trying to do is really just now what i'm trying to do is really just show the big picture show the big picture and the big picture in this section of and the big picture in this section of passages from chapter 4 through chapter passages from chapter 4 through chapter 17 17 are divine judgments are divine judgments seven seals seven seals seven trumpets seven bowls seven trumpets seven bowls later on god willing we'll get into some later on god willing we'll get into some of these of these side side dialogues okay these parenthetical dialogues okay these parenthetical dialogues dialogues but for now we're going to focus on the but for now we're going to focus on the seals trumpets and bowls we'll end here the seals represent the judgments of god judgments of god and those who persecute the saints and those who persecute the saints and as the and as we come here and start and as the and as we come here and start reading through the seals the first reading through the seals the first thing we see are the four horsemen of thing we see are the four horsemen of the apocalypse the apocalypse the four horsemen the four horsemen and for the original first generation and for the original first generation believer they would have heard this red believer they would have heard this red and their minds would have gone and their minds would have gone wait a minute where have i heard that wait a minute where have i heard that before before and it would have brought them straight and it would have brought them straight back back to zechariah or to joel or to isaiah to zechariah or to joel or to isaiah where these very same themes are where these very same themes are presented in the old testament presented in the old testament so this again was something that they so this again was something that they would have been familiar with but the would have been familiar with but the roman oppressors wouldn't have been roman oppressors wouldn't have been so the the idea here is these seals so the the idea here is these seals represent judgments of god on those who represent judgments of god on those who persecute the saints persecute the saints and oppose the truth and oppose the truth the trumpets the trumpets are the next of the seven and trumpets are the next of the seven and trumpets think of a shofar right when was a think of a shofar right when was a shofar blown in ancient israel it was shofar blown in ancient israel it was blown to announce important events blown to announce important events it was blown to announce war it was blown to announce war and so the trumpet sounded to announce and so the trumpet sounded to announce these things and here they they um these things and here they they um they represented this they represented this series of seven plagues series of seven plagues that would go out against those who that would go out against those who oppressed the first generation believers oppressed the first generation believers and if you're a first generation and if you're a first generation believer who grew up reading the jewish believer who grew up reading the jewish scriptures scriptures what are your mind what does your mind what are your mind what does your mind go to when you read about these plagues go to when you read about these plagues egypt right egypt right right back to egypt oh just as egypt was right back to egypt oh just as egypt was overthrown overthrown i can take hope i can take hope that the roman empire will be overthrown that the roman empire will be overthrown god will judge the romans just as he god will judge the romans just as he judged the egyptians before judged the egyptians before and so we see that with the trumpets and and so we see that with the trumpets and the same with the bowls the bowls are the same with the bowls the bowls are god pouring out his judgment and the god pouring out his judgment and the reader would have heard the you know the reader would have heard the you know the stories of running out of time um yeah we'll stop there

Transcript

so uh we're continuing our study in the book of revelation and what makes i book of revelation and what makes i think this series think this series perhaps unique or different from the perhaps unique or different from the traditional way we look at revelation is traditional way we look at revelation is we're trying to understand how this book we're trying to understand how this book would have been understood not by modern would have been understood not by modern readers readers not by readers who have the benefit of not by readers who have the benefit of hindsight looking at history and and how hindsight looking at history and and how the different nations have sort of you the different nations have sort of you know continuously been represented know continuously been represented through the book of revelation which is through the book of revelation which is sort of the the normal sort of the the normal routine of the normal study that we've routine of the normal study that we've had had uh instead what we're looking to do uh instead what we're looking to do is is understand the book of revelation from understand the book of revelation from the standpoint of the first the standpoint of the first generation generation of believers of believers how was it that the hearers of john's how was it that the hearers of john's john's revelation would have understood john's revelation would have understood these things these things would they have understood you know would they have understood you know about the french revolution no about the french revolution no would they have understood what's would they have understood what's happening in their time yes happening in their time yes and so the whole purpose of our studies and so the whole purpose of our studies this these last couple of weeks is is this these last couple of weeks is is just that it's to understand just that it's to understand the book of revelation the book of revelation from the view from the view of the first generation of believers of the first generation of believers and you'll remember that when we looked and you'll remember that when we looked at their at their circumstances we saw that they were circumstances we saw that they were really struggling really struggling and there were two things that they were and there were two things that they were struggling with one struggling with one they were struggling with their faith they were struggling with their faith because because these believers these believers fully understood and expected fully understood and expected that the risen jesus would return from that the risen jesus would return from heaven during their lifetime heaven during their lifetime they thought that christ would return they thought that christ would return and all of a sudden they're looking and all of a sudden they're looking around their congregations and they're around their congregations and they're starting to see starting to see believers believers die die fall asleep fall asleep and this is rocking their faith and this is rocking their faith we get a sense of that when we look at we get a sense of that when we look at the the paul's letter to the thessalonians and paul's letter to the thessalonians and he's and he says to them look you know he's and he says to them look you know we're not like those who die with no we're not like those who die with no hope and he goes on in the book of re hope and he goes on in the book of re the letters to the revelations to really the letters to the revelations to really explain explain that yes there is a that yes there is a day when christ will raise the dead so day when christ will raise the dead so don't lose hope don't lose hope but this was one of the things that the but this was one of the things that the first generation of believers were first generation of believers were struggling with it was this this idea struggling with it was this this idea wait a minute the lord has not returned wait a minute the lord has not returned we're starting to die is this promise we're starting to die is this promise real real and there was a temptation among the and there was a temptation among the believers to give up on their faith believers to give up on their faith the second challenge that they had was the second challenge that they had was really a challenge of living under the really a challenge of living under the oppression of rome oppression of rome roman oppression was a real thing to the roman oppression was a real thing to the jews who lived in jerusalem jews who lived in jerusalem but think now that this letter that but think now that this letter that we're reading in revelation as we said we're reading in revelation as we said was a letter was a letter this letter that we're reading was this letter that we're reading was written probably around the year 90 a.d and what's happened in the intervening years the years since the gospels were years the years since the gospels were written you know since jesus rather written you know since jesus rather walked on the earth is that the romans walked on the earth is that the romans have come into jerusalem have come into jerusalem and they have destroyed the temple of and they have destroyed the temple of god god and they have made life miserable and they have made life miserable for the jewish nation for the jewish nation and they've made life miserable for that and they've made life miserable for that sect of the jewish nation that was sect of the jewish nation that was following the lord jesus following the lord jesus and so this was the second challenge and so this was the second challenge that they faced that they faced do we continue to do we continue to you know hold to this faith and fee and you know hold to this faith and fee and face face ostracization ostracization uh face persecution face uh face persecution face oppression and opposition or oppression and opposition or do we give up on our faith and sort of do we give up on our faith and sort of go along with the romans go along with the romans so these were the challenges that the so these were the challenges that the book of revelation was designed to do book of revelation was designed to do john in chapter 1 says that this book of john in chapter 1 says that this book of a prophecy was designed to do a specific a prophecy was designed to do a specific thing and it was to bring a blessing to thing and it was to bring a blessing to those who hear this word of prophecy those who hear this word of prophecy and and remember the expression and do it remember the expression and do it it wasn't just like something that they it wasn't just like something that they were to fill their heads with knowledge were to fill their heads with knowledge it was something that was to to create a it was something that was to to create a change in their lives it was to impact change in their lives it was to impact the way they lived their lives the way they lived their lives and so on the screen here in this and so on the screen here in this masterful slide which which phil in particular gave me grief for uh grief for uh what we see is sort of the structure of what we see is sort of the structure of the book the book and the structure was that in the very and the structure was that in the very top we see that it was written as a top we see that it was written as a letter letter uh there's a prologue in the top left uh there's a prologue in the top left that begins in revelation 1 you know that begins in revelation 1 you know that sounds like the like any normal that sounds like the like any normal letter and then there's an epilogue at letter and then there's an epilogue at the end of the of revelation which is the end of the of revelation which is just how paul would conclude his letters just how paul would conclude his letters very normal letter sort of situation and very normal letter sort of situation and then we said that the book was broken up then we said that the book was broken up into four parts into four parts and each of those parts and each of those parts is signify we know that a new part is is signify we know that a new part is starting when john starting when john says i was you remember the expression says i was you remember the expression in the spirit in the spirit and that's sort of code word for us to and that's sort of code word for us to say okay we've got to pay attention here say okay we've got to pay attention here there's something that's different there's something that's different happening happening and so there were four periods during and so there were four periods during this letter where john was quote unquote this letter where john was quote unquote in the spirit in the spirit the first one on the left is revelation the first one on the left is revelation chapter one chapter one and that's verses nine ver one verse and that's verses nine ver one verse nine two through the end of chapter nine two through the end of chapter three and this is sort of the view from three and this is sort of the view from earth this is where earth this is where john in his in his revelation is john in his in his revelation is giving the giving the seven churches to whom he wrote seven churches to whom he wrote um um a view that jesus is walking among them a view that jesus is walking among them on earth on earth and that this is what they have to do and that this is what they have to do and there are these seven messages that and there are these seven messages that are presented then to each of the seven are presented then to each of the seven churches churches in chapter um in chapter um in chapter 4 we see the second section in chapter 4 we see the second section of the book and this is the biggest of the book and this is the biggest section of the book section of the book and i hope brothers and sisters that and i hope brothers and sisters that we'll spend some time here today we'll spend some time here today and it's here in chapter four where we and it's here in chapter four where we see not see not the earthly perspective with jesus the earthly perspective with jesus walking among the churches on earth and walking among the churches on earth and sort of saying this is your current sort of saying this is your current circumstance you know i want you to circumstance you know i want you to endure i want you not to give up on your endure i want you not to give up on your faith this is what we talked about last faith this is what we talked about last week in that first section week in that first section in in the second section jesus in in the second section jesus john is seeing the view from heaven he's john is seeing the view from heaven he's brought up to the heavenly throne room brought up to the heavenly throne room and now he's getting a heavenly and now he's getting a heavenly perspective perspective on earthly problems on earthly problems and i think this is really a key part of and i think this is really a key part of what we're going to be trying to what we're going to be trying to understand understand they're looking at the situation from they're looking at the situation from their point of view and from their their point of view and from their timeline timeline you know if you think about it we look you know if you think about it we look at things from from our timeline our our at things from from our timeline our our you know our expected lifetime and what you know our expected lifetime and what seems to us like a long time seems to us like a long time is but a moment for god is but a moment for god and so when we see this view from heaven and so when we see this view from heaven it's as though the whole picture opens it's as though the whole picture opens up up and that god and that god has a plan has a plan and that the plan will not and that the plan will not fall apart fall apart don't worry don't worry god has a plan we're going to talk more god has a plan we're going to talk more about that about that so i don't want to i don't want to recap so i don't want to i don't want to recap too much but this was the idea behind too much but this was the idea behind the class last week it was to sort of the class last week it was to sort of paint the structure and the main thing i paint the structure and the main thing i want you to take away where there were want you to take away where there were four sections of the book four sections of the book the main section there is chapter 4 the main section there is chapter 4 through chapter 17. and it's in this through chapter 17. and it's in this main section where at one point god main section where at one point god begins to deliver begins to deliver three series of divine judgments three series of divine judgments there were there were there were three series of seven there were three series of seven judgments there were seven judgments there were seven seals seals the seven scrolls that needed to be the seven scrolls that needed to be unsealed the wax seals had to be broken unsealed the wax seals had to be broken there were seven trumpets or shofars or there were seven trumpets or shofars or you know horns that that blew you know horns that that blew and there were seven bowls what i want and there were seven bowls what i want to do today in our class is focus on the to do today in our class is focus on the first series of judgments first series of judgments and we're going to be talking today and we're going to be talking today about the seven scrolls the seven seals about the seven scrolls the seven seals that had to be broken that had to be broken and and quote unquote unleashed upon the world quote unquote unleashed upon the world okay okay how's this for a slide how's this for a slide you're impressed butch you're impressed butch yeah i this is a copy and paste job this yeah i this is a copy and paste job this is not me is not me created by bibleinfo.com down on the created by bibleinfo.com down on the bottom okay i don't know anything about bottom okay i don't know anything about the website but i thought the what i the website but i thought the what i thought the uh the interpretation was thought the uh the interpretation was pretty good pretty good so there are seven seals that we're so there are seven seals that we're going to look at this morning going to look at this morning and we're going to try and understand and we're going to try and understand what these things would have meant what these things would have meant to the first generation of believers to the first generation of believers there were four horses today you know we there were four horses today you know we we hear the we hear the the expression the four horsemen of the the expression the four horsemen of the apocalypse you've heard that apocalypse you've heard that there's the white horse there's the white horse the red horse the black horse the pale the red horse the black horse the pale horse those are the first four seals horse those are the first four seals that needed to be opened that needed to be opened after that there is this seal that's after that there is this seal that's open and we see the souls of those who open and we see the souls of those who have died for their faith have died for their faith crying out crying out seeking vengeance seeking vengeance on their enemies on their enemies this is the fifth seal this is the fifth seal the sixth seal is where the there's this the sixth seal is where the there's this enormous earthquake enormous earthquake and the sun turns black and people are and the sun turns black and people are cowering in fear and caves cowering in fear and caves and they're asking the question who can and they're asking the question who can stand who can survive this sort of thing stand who can survive this sort of thing and then the seventh seal is one where and then the seventh seal is one where there is an unexpected answer there's there is an unexpected answer there's this unexpected event and that is as as this unexpected event and that is as as you know each one of these seals is is you know each one of these seals is is broken and as the contents of the uh of broken and as the contents of the uh of the of the scroll are unveiled there's the of the scroll are unveiled there's this expectation that seems to be this expectation that seems to be growing from one seal to the next that growing from one seal to the next that god will provide the answer god will provide the answer to all of their problems and they come to all of their problems and they come to the seventh seal to the seventh seal and there's nothing there and there's nothing there there's silence in heaven there's silence in heaven and so we're going to look at these and so we're going to look at these seven seals and try to understand seven seals and try to understand how the first generation second how the first generation second generation of believers would have generation of believers would have understood these things understood these things any questions any questions guys with me guys with me i know there's a lot here i know there's a lot here okay so the four horsemen or the four okay so the four horsemen or the four horses of the apocalypse horses of the apocalypse i wanted to put this picture on the i wanted to put this picture on the slide because when i see the the image slide because when i see the the image of the four horses of the four horses in my mind in my mind i see things like you know paul revere's i see things like you know paul revere's ride where there is a soldier that's ride where there is a soldier that's riding on a horse you know on bareback riding on a horse you know on bareback barreling through the woods you know barreling through the woods you know crying out and yelling and crying out and yelling and is that what you see or do you see is that what you see or do you see anything different when you think about anything different when you think about a rider on a horseback a rider on a horseback that's what i have in my mind that's what i have in my mind but what would but what would the first century believers have seen the first century believers have seen hey phil hey phil are you able to share that are you able to share that that video that i sent you okay that video that i sent you okay so from the perspective of a roman so from the perspective of a roman citizen citizen there was something that they would have there was something that they would have been well aware of during that point in been well aware of during that point in history i wish rich was here history i wish rich was here our resident scholar right there was our resident scholar right there was something that were known as roman something that were known as roman triumphs you heard of that expression a triumphs you heard of that expression a roman triumph it was like a parade roman triumph it was like a parade it was a way that they would honor the it was a way that they would honor the conquering heroes who came back from war conquering heroes who came back from war having expanded the roman empire having expanded the roman empire and these roman triumphs these parades and these roman triumphs these parades were designed in such a way that the were designed in such a way that the citizens would gather citizens would gather and they would pay homage to these men and they would pay homage to these men and they would worship them as though and they would worship them as though they were deities they were deities one of the things that we talked about one of the things that we talked about in this period of time was this in this period of time was this this growing sense of emperor worship this growing sense of emperor worship where the men and women of the of the where the men and women of the of the region would literally worship the region would literally worship the emperor as a god emperor as a god and so these roman triumphs were known and so these roman triumphs were known and understood by the hearers of the and understood by the hearers of the revelation revelation to be a parade in which in which the conquering hero would return being the conquering hero would return being pulled by pulled by four horses four horses through the through the city through the through the city streets and so what phil is going to streets and so what phil is going to show us right now is a clip from the show us right now is a clip from the movie ben hur movie ben hur okay okay and this clip is going to show us what a and this clip is going to show us what a roman triumph might have looked like to roman triumph might have looked like to those who lived in the region those who lived in the region phil are you able to show that now [Music] there's the godly there's the godly emperor who is seeking to be worshipped emperor who is seeking to be worshipped [Music] [Applause] one two three four one two three four white horses white horses [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] thanks very much i hope that our youtube channel doesn't get blocked as a result of that right get blocked as a result of that right for copyright infringement for copyright infringement um um so here's the thing i wanted to i wanted so here's the thing i wanted to i wanted to show that to you because i think this to show that to you because i think this is what is what the first century believer the first century believer would have immediately thought of would have immediately thought of when there is this language of the when there is this language of the jewish apocalyptic literature presented jewish apocalyptic literature presented to them to them there are four horses what would they there are four horses what would they have thought of oh have thought of oh this is this is code language code language that's talking about the roman empire that's talking about the roman empire this is language that because what we this is language that because what we see in the book of revelation is a very see in the book of revelation is a very scathing critique of the romans scathing critique of the romans and as john writes this revelation to and as john writes this revelation to the people he has to get this message the people he has to get this message across in such a way that they would across in such a way that they would change their lives for the better change their lives for the better but also but also so that they would not be punished by so that they would not be punished by those that john was writing about so those that john was writing about so negatively and that's why there was this negatively and that's why there was this this form of literature this apocalyptic this form of literature this apocalyptic literature was which was written it was literature was which was written it was the the language of resistance we said the the language of resistance we said so they would i think have recognized so they would i think have recognized that the horsemen here was designed to that the horsemen here was designed to get them thinking get them thinking about the romans the first of the four horsemen was the white horse was the white horse and we read about that in revelation and we read about that in revelation chapter 6 chapter 6 verse 2. verse 2. i left my glasses in the car i left my glasses in the car all right so all right so revelation 6 i'm going to read revelation 6 i'm going to read i'll read this section i'll read this section so that we can follow along john says i watched the lamb the lamb opened the first of the seven seals opened the first of the seven seals so let's just think now about the so let's just think now about the context of the book of revelation what context of the book of revelation what has happened at this point in time in has happened at this point in time in chapters four and five chapters four and five john is brought john is brought to the heavenly throne room to the heavenly throne room and there in heaven and there in heaven he is he is seeing a representation of god and the language that's used in and the language that's used in revelation chapter 4 revelation chapter 4 is language that is drawn directly from is language that is drawn directly from ezekiel's apocalyptic literature again ezekiel's apocalyptic literature again this is this is stuff that the hearers this is this is stuff that the hearers would have been familiar with would have been familiar with in revelation chapter 4 there's this in revelation chapter 4 there's this view of the heavenly throne room and of view of the heavenly throne room and of these creatures and i just want to as an these creatures and i just want to as an aside aside go here um go here um let's look at uh let's look at uh i got to turn a light on sandy do you i got to turn a light on sandy do you have any glasses honey i feel like such a rookie forgot my glasses thanks sandy's got some glasses thanks sandy's got some i know i know wait a minute wait a minute you you all right um so revelation chapter four okay the the brothers and sisters are struggling with brothers and sisters are struggling with their faith they're wondering what's their faith they're wondering what's going on people are dying has god given going on people are dying has god given up on his plan up on his plan and we see john being brought into the heavenly throne room and in chapter 4 heavenly throne room and in chapter 4 we see that there's in this vision there we see that there's in this vision there is this is this verse 8 each of the four living verse 8 each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around with eyes all around and there's this this idea that the god and there's this this idea that the god in the heavenly throne room is all in the heavenly throne room is all seeing seeing he sees everything he sees everything there's nothing that goes unnoticed by there's nothing that goes unnoticed by him him and this was i think designed to bring and this was i think designed to bring comfort to believers who thought comfort to believers who thought god has forgotten about me he doesn't god has forgotten about me he doesn't see the trouble that i'm in he doesn't see the trouble that i'm in he doesn't see the persecution that i'm facing see the persecution that i'm facing and the revelation the vision in in and the revelation the vision in in chapter 4 was no no chapter 4 was no no god is god is all seeing all seeing further furthermore further furthermore as we go through chapter five we see the as we go through chapter five we see the introduction now introduction now to the one that can to the one that can really solve the problems really solve the problems you know they're there and they're you know they're there and they're wondering who can open the seals no one wondering who can open the seals no one can do it no one can do it and look what can do it no one can do it and look what happens in uh happens in uh verse 5. verse 3 no one in heaven and earth or under the earth could open the scroll or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it even look inside it we see the travail that john is going we see the travail that john is going through thinking you know look this is through thinking you know look this is an an unsolvable problem unsolvable problem verse 4 i wept verse 4 i wept and wept because no one was found who and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look was worthy to open the scroll or look inside inside and then one of the elders said to me and then one of the elders said to me do not weep do not weep see the lion of the tribe of judah see the lion of the tribe of judah the root of david has triumphed the root of david has triumphed he's able to open the seven open the he's able to open the seven open the scroll and at seven seals scroll and at seven seals so the first part in chapter four was i so the first part in chapter four was i think to show the the readers or the think to show the the readers or the hearers that god sees everything hearers that god sees everything your problems are not being ignored by your problems are not being ignored by god he sees them chapter 5 tells us that god he sees them chapter 5 tells us that there is an answer to these problems and john hears and this is important brothers and sisters he hears an elder brothers and sisters he hears an elder in heaven saying in heaven saying look look the lion the lion of the tribe of judah of the tribe of judah and when we think of a lion we think of and when we think of a lion we think of what what the king of the jungle we think of you the king of the jungle we think of you know somebody who can forcefully know somebody who can forcefully come back come back and and destroy all of those who might be cr destroy all of those who might be cr causing problems for us causing problems for us does that make sense does that make sense like the first century believers are like the first century believers are looking for solutions to their problems looking for solutions to their problems their problems are that the romans are their problems are that the romans are oppressing them oppressing them and this elder says to john look the and this elder says to john look the lion is here he can solve the problems lion is here he can solve the problems and john turns he hears that there's a lion there he turns and what does he see turns and what does he see he sees a lamb he sees a lamb it's this shocking thing it's it's it's this shocking thing it's it's exactly the opposite i think exactly the opposite i think of what he expected or what the first of what he expected or what the first century believers expected they needed century believers expected they needed to be reminded to be reminded that the solution to their problems that the solution to their problems wasn't to overthrow the romans it wasn't wasn't to overthrow the romans it wasn't to to you know you know create this political environment where create this political environment where they could cr where they could align they could cr where they could align themselves with others or that they themselves with others or that they could somehow destroy the roman empire could somehow destroy the roman empire it was they needed to learn the lesson it was they needed to learn the lesson of christian power of christian power the christian power wasn't one that was the christian power wasn't one that was powerful by force powerful by force it was to follow the example of jesus it was to follow the example of jesus and jesus died as a lamb and in that and jesus died as a lamb and in that death there was great power death there was great power and that was the power that could save and that was the power that could save them them not from not from not necessarily from the the troubles in not necessarily from the the troubles in this life this life but could save them eternally but could save them eternally and so that was one of the things that and so that was one of the things that they needed to learn in that first they needed to learn in that first vision god was all seeing and in control and two the risen jesus could care for and two the risen jesus could care for them them the risen jesus the risen jesus was a lamb who had the power to open the was a lamb who had the power to open the seals and for that reason they seals and for that reason they worshipped and they sang a new song worshipped and they sang a new song chapter five you're worthy to take the chapter five you're worthy to take the scroll scroll and open its seals goes on worthy is the and open its seals goes on worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise these are the very and glory and praise these are the very things that those conquering heroes in things that those conquering heroes in rome were receiving rome were receiving but instead this is the heavenly chorus but instead this is the heavenly chorus that is giving honor to the slain lamb that is giving honor to the slain lamb and this was to be a lesson and this was to be a lesson to our first century believers to our first century believers that your strength is not in that your strength is not in overthrowing or aligning yourselves with overthrowing or aligning yourselves with powerful forces to overthrow the romans powerful forces to overthrow the romans your strength is in the slain lamb your strength is in the slain lamb that's how you are to live that's how you are to live questions comments about that the point i'm just going to read a couple of my notes the point is that couple of my notes the point is that while everything in their lives was in while everything in their lives was in chaos chaos god was in control god was in control chapter 4 verse 1 tells us that god chapter 4 verse 1 tells us that god could foretell the future could foretell the future after this i looked and there before me after this i looked and there before me was a door standing open in heaven and was a door standing open in heaven and the voice i heard the voice i heard was speaking to me like a trumpet and was speaking to me like a trumpet and said come up here said come up here and i will show you and i will show you what must take place after this what must take place after this so while their life was in chaos god so while their life was in chaos god could tell what was going to happen next could tell what was going to happen next god was all seeing nothing escaped his god was all seeing nothing escaped his sight that's what we looked at in verse sight that's what we looked at in verse six six and then in revelation chapter five five and then in revelation chapter five five john sees the re risen jesus john sees the re risen jesus ascended to heaven and surprisingly the ascended to heaven and surprisingly the lion turns out to be a slain lamb and lion turns out to be a slain lamb and this shows the readers that christian this shows the readers that christian victory doesn't come about by power victory doesn't come about by power strength or fear strength or fear in other words they were to learn the in other words they were to learn the lesson lesson to follow jesus to follow jesus that then brothers and sisters brings us that then brothers and sisters brings us to the actual opening of the seals to the actual opening of the seals chapter 6 the lamb begins to open the chapter 6 the lamb begins to open the seven sealed scrolls and he reveals seven sealed scrolls and he reveals god's divine judgment and as each one of god's divine judgment and as each one of these seals is opened i think that what these seals is opened i think that what we are seeing is we are seeing is the consequences the consequences of humans of humans mismanagement mismanagement of god's of god's kingdom kingdom from revelation from genesis chapter 1 from revelation from genesis chapter 1 man was given man was given the responsibility the responsibility to bear god's image to bear god's image and to be his representative and to go and to be his representative and to go out and bring his glory out and bring his glory to all of creation to all of creation god's plan from the beginning was that god's plan from the beginning was that all the earth would be filled all the earth would be filled with his glory with his glory his glory his glory not the glory of man not the glory of man but by the time the first believers in but by the time the first believers in revelation were on the scene revelation were on the scene the glory wasn't god's the glory wasn't god's the glory was the roman emperors the glory was the roman emperors the glory was the kingdom of god in the glory was the kingdom of god in opposition to the kingdom of man king opposition to the kingdom of man king that the kingdom of man was glorified that the kingdom of man was glorified and god was not and god was not and this was the lesson that they had to and this was the lesson that they had to learn learn so revelation chapter 6 verse 1 we see so revelation chapter 6 verse 1 we see the opening of this first seal the opening of this first seal and it's here that this rider wearing a and it's here that this rider wearing a crown was bent on conquering crown was bent on conquering so a lot of the so a lot of the art that we see in the world that art that we see in the world that depicts these visions will show things depicts these visions will show things like a metal crown as though it was like like a metal crown as though it was like the king of england the king of england but that's not what we're seeing here but that's not what we're seeing here that's not what the first believers that's not what the first believers would have understood would have understood the crown in their mind would have the crown in their mind would have looked more like what's worn at the at looked more like what's worn at the at the end the end of the boston marathon of the boston marathon it was a laurel wreath it was a laurel wreath it was the very symbol of roman victory it was the very symbol of roman victory and here is this emperor or this and here is this emperor or this conquering hero returning through the conquering hero returning through the streets on his way to rome where he's streets on his way to rome where he's going to have this audience with the going to have this audience with the emperor as we saw in ben hur emperor as we saw in ben hur he's coming through all of the towns all he's coming through all of the towns all of the villages getting all of this of the villages getting all of this praise praise so what's the what's the vision romans so what's the what's the vision romans revelation 6 i watched the lamb open the revelation 6 i watched the lamb open the first of the seven seals and then i first of the seven seals and then i heard one of the four living creatures heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder come say in a voice like thunder come i looked i looked and there before me was a white horse and there before me was a white horse its rider held a bow its rider held a bow and he was given a crown and he was given a crown and he rode out as a conqueror and he rode out as a conqueror bent on bent on conquest our this is what our first century believers would have gone to the roman believers would have gone to the roman triumph triumph then we keep reading then we keep reading and in verse 4 we come upon the second rider who's we come upon the second rider who's riding on a red horse riding on a red horse then another horse came out a fiery red then another horse came out a fiery red one its rider was given power to take one its rider was given power to take peace peace from the earth from the earth and to make men slay each other and to make men slay each other to him was given a great sword to him was given a great sword i'm told that the the word there in the i'm told that the the word there in the original for great sword is the same original for great sword is the same word that is that's used in greek word that is that's used in greek literature to describe literature to describe the roman dagger the roman dagger not great in the sense of length or size not great in the sense of length or size but great in the sense of power but great in the sense of power and if you're thinking about and if you're thinking about being a first century believer being a first century believer think about what they would have think about what they would have experienced in their lifetime experienced in their lifetime think about what would have happened in think about what would have happened in their recent history as it relates to their recent history as it relates to rome rome you've got things like you know in their you've got things like you know in their recent history the the story of julius recent history the the story of julius caesar caesar and brutus and brutus where brutus goes in and assassinates where brutus goes in and assassinates julius caesar with what julius caesar with what a roman dagger a roman dagger the very word that's described here in the very word that's described here in revelation chapter 6 verse 4. revelation chapter 6 verse 4. think about what was happening in their think about what was happening in their recent history recent history you've got nero who dies by suicide and you've got nero who dies by suicide and in one year there are four different in one year there are four different emperors one year emperors one year four different emperors take the scene four different emperors take the scene there's uh there's uh galba otho vitellius vespian galba otho vitellius vespian galba was executed in the forum with galba was executed in the forum with a sword otto committed suicide with a a sword otto committed suicide with a sword sword vitellius was murdered vitellius was murdered this guy was so corrupt that he would this guy was so corrupt that he would encourage his uh you know the people in encourage his uh you know the people in the roman cities to name him as the the roman cities to name him as the benef as beneficiary in their wills benef as beneficiary in their wills when i die when i die you o great emperor will receive my farm you o great emperor will receive my farm i want to pay homage to you i will write i want to pay homage to you i will write my children out of the will and my children out of the will and everything will be yours everything will be yours and so they do this as a way of honoring and so they do this as a way of honoring the emperor and how are they repaid by the emperor and how are they repaid by that that the emperor goes out and kills them as no sooner is the will drafted that says when i die you will receive my land says when i die you will receive my land he goes and kills them and takes their he goes and kills them and takes their land land and that didn't go over very well and that didn't go over very well and so what happens is this vitellius is and so what happens is this vitellius is murdered murdered with the sword vespian the same thing so with the sword vespian the same thing so the point is when we come to this the point is when we come to this language of the rider on the red horse language of the rider on the red horse carrying a great sword it means carrying a great sword it means something different to us today than something different to us today than likely it meant to the first generation likely it meant to the first generation of believers once again of believers once again their mind would have gone to rome then what happens is we come to the the third seal a black horse third seal a black horse and the black horse is carrying and the black horse is carrying merchants scales you know if you go to merchants scales you know if you go to the open market the open market there at the farmer's market there at the farmer's market there are scales there are scales and the scales will determine what you and the scales will determine what you pay for this much wheat pay for this much wheat and the point here and the point here is that just as is that just as let me just go back let me just go back we've got the white horse which is the we've got the white horse which is the conqueror that goes out conquering conqueror that goes out conquering seems great right oh great seems great right oh great he's a conquering hero he's a conquering hero but there are consequences to man's but there are consequences to man's inhumanity towards man inhumanity towards man it's not like you can just conquer it's not like you can just conquer without without consequence consequence there are real issues that result from there are real issues that result from these things the red horse was designed these things the red horse was designed to remind the people that conquering to remind the people that conquering included included the carrying of a sword and this rider the carrying of a sword and this rider would take peace away from the land we would take peace away from the land we don't have to look back like the like don't have to look back like the like the ancients we can look at our recent the ancients we can look at our recent history within the last month and see history within the last month and see how putin goes in how putin goes in to a foreign country to a foreign country and takes away the peace and takes away the peace and the devastation that's happening in and the devastation that's happening in ukraine right now ukraine right now this is the sort of thing that our first this is the sort of thing that our first century believers would have been well century believers would have been well aware of aware of one of the consequences of carrying the one of the consequences of carrying the dagger into your conquests dagger into your conquests is that there were real economic is that there were real economic consequences to it consequences to it supply chains are destroyed supply chains are destroyed all of a sudden the the wheat and the all of a sudden the the wheat and the grain and the the food that the oils grain and the the food that the oils that they lived on can no longer easily that they lived on can no longer easily be transported to the cities because the be transported to the cities because the supply chains are broken supply chains are broken our first century believers would have our first century believers would have seen that firsthand when they went to seen that firsthand when they went to the market and the market and significant inflation significant inflation i mean we're starting to see that sort i mean we're starting to see that sort of thing today aren't we of thing today aren't we you go and you go to the grocery store you go and you go to the grocery store and it costs you an arm and a leg and it costs you an arm and a leg this was one of the consequences of war this was one of the consequences of war and this is what's being described now and this is what's being described now by the revelation john's vision sees by the revelation john's vision sees this this rider on a black horse this this rider on a black horse carrying a pair of balances carrying a pair of balances chapter 6 verse 5. chapter 6 verse 5. when the lamb opened the third seal i when the lamb opened the third seal i heard the third living creature say come heard the third living creature say come and i looked and there before me was a and i looked and there before me was a black horse black horse its rider was holding a pair of scales its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand in his hand and then i heard that the sound then i and then i heard that the sound then i heard heard what sounded like a voice among the four what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures saying a quart of wheat living creatures saying a quart of wheat for a day's wages for a day's wages and three quarts of barley for a day's and three quarts of barley for a day's wages wages and do not damage the oil in the wine and do not damage the oil in the wine there's this idea that inflation is there's this idea that inflation is running rampant running rampant this this was um a consequence of the conquests and the wars that broke the supply chain and the wars that broke the supply chain and caused suffering caused suffering when grain and oil couldn't come to the when grain and oil couldn't come to the people people and that then brings us to the last of and that then brings us to the last of the four horses and it's this pale horse the four horses and it's this pale horse i don't know if you can see it here but i don't know if you can see it here but i like this picture it's not a white i like this picture it's not a white horse horse it's like that it's like that you know boy you look a little green you know boy you look a little green today you know when you're when you're today you know when you're when you're not feeling well when you got that not feeling well when you got that stomach bug i think that's what's being stomach bug i think that's what's being referenced here a pale horse referenced here a pale horse and here the rider represents death death that's caused by sword sword and famine and famine and plague and plague and wild beasts and wild beasts now remember brothers and sisters that now remember brothers and sisters that as john as john delivers this delivers this apocalyptic message apocalyptic message it was designed so that it was designed so that the hearers could recognize what he was the hearers could recognize what he was really talking about really talking about while protecting them from the people he while protecting them from the people he was being critical of was being critical of the language that's used here in the language that's used here in revelation 6 verse 8 was familiar revelation 6 verse 8 was familiar to the jewish audience to whom he wrote to the jewish audience to whom he wrote it was a direct reference it was a direct reference to joel to joel the prophet joel the prophet joel in the jewish scriptures in the jewish scriptures so i want to ask you to turn with me to so i want to ask you to turn with me to joel chapter 2. joel chapter 2. and it's here at the end of joel chapter and it's here at the end of joel chapter 2 we read about this coming 2 we read about this coming day of the lord day of the lord the day of the lord will come the day of the lord will come in the case of joel it was referencing in the case of joel it was referencing this judgment that was going to come this judgment that was going to come upon the nation because of their sin and upon the nation because of their sin and was going to be carried out by the was going to be carried out by the babylonians babylonians in revelation in revelation we're hearing about the problems they're we're hearing about the problems they're brought by the romans brought by the romans but there but the problem is one in the but there but the problem is one in the same same it's the kingdom of men it's the kingdom of men in opposition to the kingdom of god in opposition to the kingdom of god so joel chapter 2 ends so joel chapter 2 ends and it's describing and it's describing this coming day of the lord this coming day of the lord verse 28 verse 28 i will pour out my spirit on all people i will pour out my spirit on all people your sons and daughters will prophesy your sons and daughters will prophesy your old men will dream dreams your old men will dream dreams your young men will see visions even on your young men will see visions even on my servants both men and women i will my servants both men and women i will pour out my spirit in those days pour out my spirit in those days i will show wonders in the heavens and i will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth on the earth blood and fire and billows of smoke the blood and fire and billows of smoke the sun will be turned to darkness sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming and the moon to blood before the coming day day coming great and dreadful day of the coming great and dreadful day of the lord lord everyone who calls on the name of the everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved lord will be saved um i got ahead of myself uh joel that that's that's the passage uh joel that that's that's the passage for the next seal sorry about that you for the next seal sorry about that you guys guys um um i wanted to take you instead to ezekiel this is the one okay so ezekiel 14 this is language that would have been is language that would have been familiar again what i'm trying to do is familiar again what i'm trying to do is reference here the sword the famine the reference here the sword the famine the plague and the wild beasts all right plague and the wild beasts all right these four things this language would these four things this language would have been familiar to the first have been familiar to the first generation of hearers generation of hearers and it would have brought them to and it would have brought them to ezekiel 14 and we're going to look at ezekiel 14 and we're going to look at the 21st verse the 21st verse again speaking about the judgment again speaking about the judgment against the people for their sin against the people for their sin the judgment that would be brought by the judgment that would be brought by the powers it be the powers it be ezekiel 14 ezekiel 14 verse 21 verse 21 for this is how what the sovereign lord for this is how what the sovereign lord says how much worse will it be when i says how much worse will it be when i send against jerusalem send against jerusalem my four dreadful judgments my four dreadful judgments sword sword and famine and famine and wild beasts and plague and wild beasts and plague to kill its men to kill its men and their animals and their animals yet yet there will be some survivors sons and there will be some survivors sons and daughters will be brought out of it daughters will be brought out of it they will come to you and you will see they will come to you and you will see their conduct and their actions and will their conduct and their actions and will be consoled regarding the disaster i've be consoled regarding the disaster i've brought upon jerusalem brought upon jerusalem every disaster i've brought upon it you every disaster i've brought upon it you will be consoled when you see their will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions for you will conduct and their actions for you will know that i've done nothing in it know that i've done nothing in it without cause without cause declares the sovereign lord so the language that the apost that john is using here is using here is is a code a code designed to get them thinking designed to get them thinking would have caught that it would have would have caught that it would have caused them to think back to the same caused them to think back to the same issues that their earlier brothers and issues that their earlier brothers and sisters would have faced against sisters would have faced against at the hands of the babylonians at the hands of the babylonians ezekiel chapter 14 verse 21 references ezekiel chapter 14 verse 21 references the sword famine plague and wild beasts the sword famine plague and wild beasts and what's the point and what's the point the point to those to whom john was the point to those to whom john was writing writing the point to them the point to them was these things were to create a change was these things were to create a change in their behavior they weren't to give in their behavior they weren't to give up on their faith they were to do as up on their faith they were to do as ezekiel says ezekiel says as some of those would be saved they as some of those would be saved they those whose conduct and actions brought those whose conduct and actions brought consolation brought comfort during the consolation brought comfort during the disaster disaster remember in revelation he says those who remember in revelation he says those who hear the words of this prophecy and do hear the words of this prophecy and do it they needed to do something what they it they needed to do something what they needed to do needed to do was keep the faith was keep the faith this was the message that he was trying this was the message that he was trying to get across to get across so so the fourth seal was a reference then the fourth seal was a reference then in revelation in revelation to uh to what was happening years to uh to what was happening years earlier in babylon god was bringing earlier in babylon god was bringing judgment the same four means of death that we saw in ezekiel in ezekiel would kill a quarter of the population would kill a quarter of the population according to john in revelation according to john in revelation chapter 6 verse 8. so what we've just done is we've looked at the four horsemen of is we've looked at the four horsemen of the apocalypse the thing that we're to think about now as we see these four horsemen is the as we see these four horsemen is the roman triumph parade roman triumph parade where four horses are carrying the where four horses are carrying the conquering conquering hero and the lesson to the first century hero and the lesson to the first century believers the first generation believers believers the first generation believers was that while that image might look was that while that image might look powerful to you while it might look all powerful to you while it might look all great great there are real terrible consequences there are real terrible consequences that come come about by this conquest that come come about by this conquest there's death and there's you know there's death and there's you know there's problems with economics there's problems with economics there's you know all of the things that there's you know all of the things that we referenced here with these with these we referenced here with these with these four things right the sword the the you four things right the sword the the you know even the romans aren't protected know even the romans aren't protected but look at the problem within the roman but look at the problem within the roman empire it's not all it's all not all empire it's not all it's all not all great it's not all white horses and great it's not all white horses and parades parades these swords are creating turmoil even these swords are creating turmoil even within the roman empire itself within the roman empire itself the the uh the third seal you know it the the uh the third seal you know it brings uh economic problems the fourth brings uh economic problems the fourth seal it brings it brings uh death and seal it brings it brings uh death and destruction destruction and what we see here in this fourth seal and what we see here in this fourth seal is these four judgments of of sword of is these four judgments of of sword of famine of plague of wild beasts you know famine of plague of wild beasts you know invading marauders coming into the land invading marauders coming into the land um um these four things were going to be these four things were going to be were going to bring death to what does were going to bring death to what does it say it say one quarter one quarter of the population verse 8 chapter 6. of the population verse 8 chapter 6. so revelation 6 verse 8 i looked and so revelation 6 verse 8 i looked and there before me was a pale horse its there before me was a pale horse its rider was named death and hades was rider was named death and hades was following close behind him they were following close behind him they were given power over a fourth of the earth given power over a fourth of the earth to kill to kill now now when the next seal is open brothers and when the next seal is open brothers and sisters we discover sisters we discover that the believers that the believers the the early christians who were the the early christians who were devoting their lives to following jesus devoting their lives to following jesus weren't exempt from this death weren't exempt from this death they too were carried up in the problems they too were carried up in the problems of the world of the world this is a lesson that we experience in this is a lesson that we experience in our own lives our own lives in our own lives we have to remember in our own lives we have to remember that being a follower of jesus doesn't that being a follower of jesus doesn't necessarily protect us from the cares of necessarily protect us from the cares of this world this world we suffer sickness we suffer mental you we suffer sickness we suffer mental you know illness we suffer financial know illness we suffer financial collapse at times there are all sorts of collapse at times there are all sorts of problems problems that we face in life that we face in life being a follower of jesus doesn't being a follower of jesus doesn't protect us from these things and the protect us from these things and the fifth seal shows us fifth seal shows us that it didn't protect them either that it didn't protect them either at least in their temporal lives at least in their temporal lives so let's look at what happens in verse so let's look at what happens in verse nine chapter 6 verse 9 when nine chapter 6 verse 9 when he opened the fifth seal he opened the fifth seal i saw under the altar the souls i saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of of those who had been slain because of the word of god the word of god this was one of the big issues that they this was one of the big issues that they were facing were facing this is why this is why when the seven messages to the churches when the seven messages to the churches were delivered earlier in the book were delivered earlier in the book they were told to overcome if you they were told to overcome if you overcome you will be rewarded don't give overcome you will be rewarded don't give up overcome you will be rewarded this up overcome you will be rewarded this was the message time and time again was the message time and time again and here we're seeing that those who were killed and slain and martyred for their killed and slain and martyred for their belief belief are crying out in a loud voice are crying out in a loud voice they're crying out in vengeance they're crying out in vengeance they want vengeance on their oppressors they want vengeance on their oppressors they want vengeance on their enemies they want vengeance on their enemies verse 10 they called out in a loud voice verse 10 they called out in a loud voice how long sovereign lord holy and true how long sovereign lord holy and true until until you judge you judge the inhabitants of the the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood then each of them was given a white robe and they were told to wait and they were told to wait a little longer a little longer until the number of their fellow until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were before servants and brothers who were before them them until until a number of their servants and brothers a number of their servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been who were to be killed as they had been was completed was completed what they want vengeance and the message was no no death is going to continue death is going to continue but brothers and sisters but brothers and sisters this can be a message to us too how this can be a message to us too how often do we pray often do we pray for the return of jesus we desire the for the return of jesus we desire the return of our lord return of our lord today if not yesterday today if not yesterday but there is a benefit but there is a benefit to so many people to so many people because jesus has not yet returned because jesus has not yet returned and that benefit is and that benefit is that they that they a generation yet unborn can learn the a generation yet unborn can learn the gospel truth can devote their lives to gospel truth can devote their lives to jesus and can be saved from the jesus and can be saved from the temporary temporary temporal problems of life temporal problems of life it's what we see in in hebrews it's what we see in in hebrews these these did not receive the promise do you did not receive the promise do you remember that in hebrews 11 remember that in hebrews 11 the end of hebrews 11 the faith chapter the end of hebrews 11 the faith chapter none of these receive the promise why none of these receive the promise why that only together with us would they be that only together with us would they be made perfect made perfect and i think this was the lesson here in and i think this was the lesson here in this fifth seal this fifth seal they're crying out for vengeance how they're crying out for vengeance how long until you avenge our blood and the long until you avenge our blood and the message was message was hold on hold on it's not over yet it's not over yet there are more who will come there are more who will come who need to die who need to be clothed who need to die who need to be clothed with these white robes with these white robes and so you can imagine yourself as a and so you can imagine yourself as a hearer expecting with eager anticipation hearer expecting with eager anticipation the opening of the last of the seven the opening of the last of the seven seals seals you've got the fifth seal the sixth seal you've got the fifth seal the sixth seal is this great earthquake this darkening is this great earthquake this darkening of the sun we're running out of time from the perspective of those early believers what would they have thought believers what would they have thought of when they read this in chapter 6 of when they read this in chapter 6 verse 12. i watched as he opened the verse 12. i watched as he opened the sixth seal sixth seal there was a great earthquake the sun there was a great earthquake the sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair the whole moon turned blood red and hair the whole moon turned blood red and the stars fell from scot from the sky to the stars fell from scot from the sky to earth what happened in 79 a.d jerusalem has been destroyed by the jerusalem has been destroyed by the romans romans in 79 a.d in 79 a.d mount vesuvius erupted and this volcano spewed ash up into the and this volcano spewed ash up into the sky sky it darkened the sun it caused the moon it darkened the sun it caused the moon to turn red it caused to turn red it caused you know rocks and debris to fall from you know rocks and debris to fall from heaven the city of pompeii was heaven the city of pompeii was completely covered this was in the completely covered this was in the recent history of these people recent history of these people and they were fearful and they were fearful this was a message a coded message to this was a message a coded message to say yes say yes things like this have happened in the things like this have happened in the past and will continue to happen past and will continue to happen until that great until that great and fearful day and fearful day and look at how it ends chapter 6 and look at how it ends chapter 6 they call to the uh they call to the uh verse 15 chapter 6 verse 15. as the as verse 15 chapter 6 verse 15. as the as you know mount vesuvius erupts or in you know mount vesuvius erupts or in this vision as the as the earthquake this vision as the as the earthquake erupts the greatest earthquake of all erupts the greatest earthquake of all time the sun and the moon and the stars time the sun and the moon and the stars they draw dark that brings you back to they draw dark that brings you back to joel 2 that we read earlier what happens joel 2 that we read earlier what happens verse 15 the kings of the earth the verse 15 the kings of the earth the princes the generals the rich the mighty princes the generals the rich the mighty every slave every free man hid in caves every slave every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains and among the rocks of the mountains they called to the mountains and the they called to the mountains and the rocks fall on us and hide us from the rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of the wrath of the lamb for the face of the wrath of the lamb for the great day of their wrath has come great day of their wrath has come who can stand who can stand and there's this question that's just and there's this question that's just thrown out who can stand in this great thrown out who can stand in this great day of the lord's wrath day of the lord's wrath who can stand how about us those who who can stand how about us those who have been slain that are crying for our have been slain that are crying for our blood to be avenged blood to be avenged can we stand can our brothers and can we stand can our brothers and sisters stand and at this point you sisters stand and at this point you think that there's this anticipation think that there's this anticipation that the seventh seal would be opened that the seventh seal would be opened and everything will be made but and everything will be made but there's this surprise there's this surprise like the seventh seal doesn't get opened like the seventh seal doesn't get opened chapter seven is an entire interlude chapter seven is an entire interlude and it's a pause in the action and it's a pause in the action and it's to answer that question and it's to answer that question and we're going to conclude here this and we're going to conclude here this week brothers and sisters with this week brothers and sisters with this the hearers expected the last seal to be the hearers expected the last seal to be opened revealing the answer to their opened revealing the answer to their problems problems but what happens but what happens is john is given a vision of those who is john is given a vision of those who would be saved and just like that vision would be saved and just like that vision he saw in chapter 4 where he hears and he saw in chapter 4 where he hears and says says turn and you'll see the lamb and he turn and you'll see the lamb and he turns and he doesn't see the lamb he turns and he doesn't see the lamb he sees he doesn't see the lion he sees the sees he doesn't see the lion he sees the lamb lamb here here there's this unexpected thing that there's this unexpected thing that happens happens he says turn and you'll see a hundred he says turn and you'll see a hundred and forty four thousand people marked as and forty four thousand people marked as being saved being saved and he turns and he doesn't see the and he turns and he doesn't see the jewish nation jewish nation unexpectedly unexpectedly he sees a great he sees a great unmeasurable multitude unmeasurable multitude and that's the reason for the delay