Signs, Trumpets, the Rapture, Reward and Punishment

Ridgecrest Baptist Church-University of Life

© 2007 Ron Williams© 2007 Ron Williams

Study of the Book of Revelation-Week#4

Week Chapter Focus

1 none an overview2 1:1-20 the Son of Man and John's vision3 2:1-3:22 letters to the 7 churches4 4:1-5:14 heavenly throne room5 6:1-8:5 7 seal judgments6 8:6-11:19 7 trumpet judgments7 12:1-14:20 Satan, antichrist, and false prophet8 15:1-16:21 7 bowel judgments9 17:1-19:5 fall of Babylon10 19:6-22:5 return of Christ11 22:6-22:21 1000 year reign

• Key Truth: God is worthy to be praised. It is a natural act for all heavenly creatures and all redeemed mankind. We will want to worship when we come directly into His presence.

• 4:1-3

- Future event relative to John’s day

- God’s presence is indescribable. John could only describe the essence of God’s being

- The throne is mentioned 45 times in Revelation. Why do you think this is so significant?

• The rainbow around the throne is a full circle as compared to the half rainbow we see on earth. This shows the completeness of God and His faithfulness.

Note what surrounds or is positioned around God (the throne, His rainbow, the four living creatures, the glassy sea (some say this represents all of redeemed mankind), the 24 elders. Each is significant in that they symbolize the vindication of all old and new testament scripture and the completion of God’s plan for the redemption of man.

• 4:4-8

- the 24 elders might be:

- 24 divisions of priests and levites who led Israel in worship (1 Chron 24-25)

- the 12 patriarchs plus the 12 apostles (old and new testament figures= Jew +gentile redemption)

- individuals clothed in white to represent purity

- wearing crowns of gold to shown royalty (heirs with the King)

• 7 lamps of gold = Holy Spirit in His perfection

- 4 living creatures (Ezekial1, Ezekial 10)- eagle is mightiest bird- ox is the mightiest domesticated animal;

- lion mightiest of the wild animals- man is mightiest of all created beings. These four showing the entire order of creation

• These creatures are guardians of the throne and and its King

- Holy, Holy, Holy, always repeated in 3’s because there is the need to praise the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. One praise for each of them.

- God has the title of “Lord (master) God (Jehovah) Almighty (El Shaddai) who was, who is, who is to come. Note the change in tense.What does this tell you about God and His relationship with those on the earth?

• 4:8-11

- These verses note the “Song of Creation”

- The holiness of God

- The sovereignty of God

- The eternity of God

- The worthiness of God

- The mightiness of GodWhy do you think that all of creation will

voluntarily lay prostrate before God and offer their crowns back to Him?

• V5:1

- Scroll normally made of papyrus and written on only one side due to how the fibers were laid down (difficult to do on both sides).

- Contract scrolls would sometimes have writing on the outside of them to indicate what they contained (since they were sealed).

• Wax seals or clay were used to close documents and authenticate who had the right to open then.

- 7 seals indicates the completeness of the sealing process and that any the authorized owner of the documents would be able to open the scroll/

- the scroll itself represented the completion of God’s plan for mankind and the events in store to complete his plan.

• The scroll has been considered as a deed to the kingdom, a contract (title) to heaven or similar symbolic expression of ownership.

• 5:2-3

- All of creation has been waiting in anticipation of the completion of God’s plan.

- No created creature of any age, place or stature was worthy to open the scroll

• The inability of someone to be worthy to open the scroll was terrible. Here is God’s blessing ready to the poured out for the completion of His plan but no one is seen worthy. What a horror to think that no one was found worthy to act on God’s behalf and take ownership of the scroll (deed).

• 5:4-5

- Jesus is acknowledged as the only one capable of taking ownership of the scroll

- He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

- The Root of David

• These fulfill O.T. prophesy about the Messiah King who would establish the eternal kingdom

• 5:6-8

- He is seen as the living Lamb who had been sacrificed but is again alive

- Having 7 horns (all powerful or power in perfection)

- Having 7 eyes (all knowing or omniscience)

• The Prayers of the saints- our prayers are poured out before God as a sweet smelling sacrifice.

Consider that the scroll entitles the owner to receive authority and power. What had Jesus done to deserve such an honor?

- Left heaven to be incarnated in the flesh

- Lived a sinless life in a sin-filled world

- Sacrificed himself for mankind

- Perfectly obeyed the directions of his Father

- Sacrificed himself to validate God’s plan and submit to His authority

• Rejected the guile’s of Satan and instant gratification and power

• In other words, Jesus rejected the easy way, humiliated himself and took on a role that he was not deserving of. He chose to obey the Father and in doing so was willing to wait for God to give him the kingdom rather than circumvent God’s plan. Even at the expense of his own life.

- Jesus has redeemed all of mankind

- All tongues

- All kindreds

- All peoples

• All nations

- This verse validates that the Messiah shall return once the entire earth has been evangelized and the Great Commission fulfilled.

- Shows that we are being made into priests to serve God so that we can:

- Offer praise

- Interdict for others (lead them in worship and praise)

• Offer sacrifices to a Holy God)

• Note that it states that we will reign on earth. This indicates that in the new heaven and new earth or even possibly during the millennium that we will have governing responsibilities.

• 5:11-12

- Jesus is worthy to receive:

- Power

- Riches

- Wisdom

- Strength

- Honor

- Glory

- Blessing

• (all of the above comes from God the Father to his son).

5:13-14

• All creation shall worship him because He and only He was able to complete the plan!