September 1, 2008

• Revelation 1:1-6

  I pray that the study of this book will increase our desire to show people the way of the Lord. Our desire to see people come to God and know Him while there is still time.

  The book of Revelation contains more then 500 allusions to the Old Testament and more then 278 of the 404 verses in Revelation (that’s almost 70%) make some reference to the Old Testament.

  You have John in 90ad trying to describe the world… full of stuff he had never seen before. John had no knowledge of cars, electric, TV’s and all that stuff.

  It would be like traveling back in time to 1902 and trying to explain Microwaves to them.

  There are a few different ways that people approach Revelation

  The Preterist View: This approach believes that Revelation deals only with the church in John’s day. In the Preterist approach, the Book of Revelation doesn’t predict anything. John simply describes events of his current day, but he puts them in symbolic “code” so those outside the Christian family couldn’t understand his criticism of the Roman government. In the Preterist view, the Book of Revelation was for then.
  
  The Historicist View: This approach believes that Revelation is a sweeping, disordered panorama of all church history. In the Historicist approach, Revelation predicts the future, but the future of the “church age” – not the future of end-time events. In the Historicist view, Revelation is full of symbols that describe now.

  The Poetic View: This approach believes that Revelation is a book full of pictures and symbols intended to encourage and comfort persecuted Christians in John’s day. In the Poetic or allegorical view, the Book of Revelation isn’t literal or historic. Revelation is a book of personal meaning.
  
  The Futurist View: This approach believes that beginning with chapter four, Revelation deals with the end times, the period directly preceding Jesus’ return. In the Futurist view, Revelation is a book that mainly describes the end times.

  Revelation 1:1-3 KJV  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:  (2)  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  (3)  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

  It is the book of the Revelation of Jesus not the Revelation of John as some people mistakenly call it.

  This book is an unveiling of truth concerning the future.

  Blessed is he who readeth – That would be you right now you are reading it.
  They that hear – Ones who have it read to them
  They the keep those things.

  The blessing is pronounced on those that read, hear and keep the things written in Revelation.

  There is a very common belief that only a few are able to read and understand Revelation. God says that ALL who read, hear and obey it are blessed.
  
  Revelation 1:4-6 KJV  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;  (5)  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,  (6)  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  Were there more then seven churches in Asia (Asia minor)? Yes.

  Which is, which was, which is to come = He has always existed.

  Seven Spirits
  Isaiah 11:2-3 KJV  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;  (3)  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

  He washed us from our sins in His own blood. He loved us and washed us. We were purchased with His blood.
  
  Romans 5:8 KJV  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
  
  1 John 1:9 KJV  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

  How precious are you to God? He loved you and died for you.

  He will make us (believers) kings and priests. We are kings because we will rule with Him when He comes back. We are priests because we act as a go between to help people come to know Him.

  To Him be glory, dominion and power forever and ever amen.

  Recognizing that He has power and dominion. Praise God for all that He has done.

  To God be the glory!

  God bless

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