MESSAGE 9

Introduction• The book is not “Revelations”

• The apocalypse of Jesus Christ• The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ

• Think about what you think when you hear “Revelation”• Anti-Christ• Tribulation• God’s Judgement• End of the World• Saints barely hanging on

• WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON THAT?

Unveiling of What?• The Book of Revelation is to “Unveil, reveal” Jesus• What does this mean? Wasn’t he revealed when he was

resurrected?

• WHAT WAS VEILING A FULL REVELATION OF JESUS?

2 Corinthians 3:7-18• 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was

engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

2 Corinthians 3:7-18• 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very

bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Is about the removal of the Old Covenant and the fully unveiled New Covenant

1 Peter 1:6-7• 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little

while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

• 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Who were the authors talking to?• Why would he tell them to be ready for the Revelation of

Jesus Christ if they wouldn’t have a chance to see it?

• It would be like someone telling us today to get prepared for the Space Shuttle excursions to Alpha Centuri 2000 years from now.

OR

It would be like us currently reading about Paul Revere shouting “the British are coming, the British are coming” and we run into our houses, blow out our candles and get our guns to fight”

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7• 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Romans 2:4-64 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:

ARGUMENT:Why would the Romans care? Rome wasn’t affected by AD 70

Romans 2 was written to whom?

Hebrews 8:13• 13  When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old Is ready to disappear.

How this translates in Revelation• Revelation 2-3 – Details the History of Israel in light of the

7 churches.

• Revelation 4-19 – Details the destruction of the Old Covenant

• Revelation 20-22 – Details the finalization of the New Covenant as the only one in existence

• NOW READ REVELATION 1:1 and it should make sense

Revelation 1:1• 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him

to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Another View• Revelation was written to seven first-century churches as

a spiritual wake-up call because of events that were “about to take place upon the whole world [oikoumenē]” (Rev. 3:10).

• The use of oikoumenē instead of kosmos indicates that the events that were about to unfold were confined to the Roman Empire. The same word is used in Matthew 24:14, Luke 2:1, andActs 11:28.

• Revelation is not describing a worldwide apocalyptic conflagration. Revelation is a prophetic symbolic description of what Jesus prophesied would happen to the temple, the capital city of Israel, and the old covenant world made of things that were destined to pass away. Jesus is the new everything. He’s the better temple, sacrifice, priest, and guarantor of a new covenant:

• But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb. 9:11–12).

Futurist view

• The church at Ephesus describes the church during the apostolic period until about 100 A.D.

• Smyrna represents the church from 100 – 313 A.D. as it suffered under a succession of Roman emperors.

• Pergamos characterizes the carnal and false-doctrine-riddled church from Constantine’s Edict of Toleration (313 A.D.) until the rise of the Papacy (about 500 A.D.).

Futurist View

• Thyatira is seen as the Papal church until the Reformation (500 – 1500 A.D.).

• Sardis is the church during the Reformation (1500 – 1700 A.D.).

• Philadelphia depicts the missionary-minded church from 1700 A.D. – present.

• And Laodicea describes the lukewarm, liberal and backslidden church of modern times.

SQUARE PEGROUND HOLE

Futurist- Look back and make fit to fit their theology

This is different than looking back to see what actually happened.

Preterist View- History of Israel

• Ephesus- Symbolic of the Garden of Eden• Smyrna – Symbolic of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Issac and

Jacob and being Egypt’s control• Pergamum – Symbolic of the Wilderness Journey• Thyatira – Symbolic of the Monarchs• Sardis – Symbolic of the Prophets• Philadelphia- Symbolic of the rebuilding of

Jerusalem/Temple• Laodicea – First Century Jews

The Churches

The Church Message

• Ephesus- Garden• Smyrna- Patriarchs/Egypt• Pergamum – Wilderness

• Thyatira – Monarchs• Sardis – Prophets

• Philadelphia –Rebuilt Temple• Laodicea-I am rich and in

need of nothing

The OT References

• Left first love, Tree of Life• 10 Days of persecution • Balaam, Hidden Manna a

New Stone• Quotes about David• Remnant in the time of

the prophets• Pillar in the temple• Condition of jewish nation

Poor Laodicea• I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you

were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

HOT SPRINGS

Ice Cold WaterOR God would rather have you

be a atheist and go to hell than a mediocre Christian

Arrive lukewarm, putrid and Nauseating

Conclusions about the letters• 1. These were actual churches with real issues• 2. Whether or not they refer symbolically to Israel’s history

matters not• 3. To make them fit each church age is really stretching it• 4. There is a desire from Jesus for relationship in each of

the churches.• 5. Quit picking on Laodicea!

• WHY WOULD JESUS TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE TO THEM IF IT DIDN’T MATTER TO THEM?