Why Study Revelation?

Because... What do you think? For curosity? To know what the future holds? To watch God work out His plan in our world today?

The Most Important Place in All the Earth!

As I finish with my personal study of the book of Revelation, and all things about the end of days I am struck by a new thought....in a few weeks I am going to visit Israel - aside from the Lord Jesus Christ, the land of Israel, and the Holy city of Jerusalem are the focus of all of end time prophecty!! Rev. 20 is about the Millinnium....1000 years with the center of it all in Israel and Jerusalem. WOW!! We are going to be there in less than a month (God willing) - we are going to be standing in the most holy place on earth, and the place where the Millinnium will take place.
My friends who know me well can hear me say right now..."Come back Jesus and get us out of this mess!"

Revelation 20

Revelation Chapter 20 – The Millennium
Chapter 20 of Revelation describes the Millennium reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. Read the chapter. Additional verses:

The KING is Coming! 1 Chron.16:31-33

Overview of the Millennium. For 1000 years we will have:

1. Perfect ‘One World Religion: Jer. 31:33, 34; Mal.1:11; Ezek 36:25-28

2. Perfect King – Perfect “One World Government”: Ps. 2:7-12; Jer. 23:5-6; Lu.1:32-33

3. Perfect Creation – The Garden of Eden Reclaimed:
a. Animals – Hos. 2:18; Is 11:6-8
b. Plants – Isa 30:23-26

4. Perfect City – Jerusalem: Isa 2:1-3; 60:10-14 (the world will be “Jewish” with
a “Jewish Leader”)

5. Perfect Work Environment: – Isa 65:21-23(we will want to work!)

6. Perfect Prosperity: Ezek. 47:12; 47:9-10; Mich. 4:4

7. Perfect Peace: Isa. 2:4

8. Perfect Joy: 1 Chron. 16:31-33; Jer. 33:10-11

9. Perfect Health and Long Life: Isa 35:5-6; 65:19, 20, 22

Additional Thoughts

I have used this site for several months for my notes on the study of the book of Revelation that I have been doing, but if you are interested in some of my 'general thoughts' about things spiritual go to my blog www.biblestudy2women.blogspot.com once in a while.

Revelation 18 - 19

Revelation 18 and 19

I used as a resource Dr. Jeremiah’s book..Escape the Coming Night

Use the Stop! Look! Listen! technique.

REV. 18.
Note all the verses that give us understanding with ‘because’ or ‘for’ when it means ‘because’. Vs 3, 5,7,8,9,10,11,15, 17, 19.

Note the information given to us in vs 14 and 20.

Why the judgment of Babylon? Vs 3, 5,12,13, 28.

Notice the very definite….the word “anymore” vs 21-23

Notice who/why morns for the fall of Babylon vs 9-10, 11-17

Notice the joy over the fallen Babylon vs 20, 24

What should our response be to “Babylon”…. “come out”. Vs 4-7 (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1)

How can we ‘come out’? Give specific examples…..

What are the titles given to Jesus in this chapter. If Revelation is about the unveiling of Jesus, what do we learn here?

Q. What if we did not have this info? Q What is God trying to teach us? Q How do we apply this to our lives today?

REV 19

Use our Stop! Look! Listen! technique.

Notice the praise vs 1-7…to who/what/why? What is this “Marriage Supper of the Lamb?”

Note all the verses that give us understanding with ‘because’ or ‘for’ when it means ‘because’. (Especilly vs 7b)

Verse 11….Here HE Comes!!

Vs 15…who is this ruling with Him?

Vs. 19 the mention of Armageddon….how much detail is given? What type of battle? Who? What? Where? When? Why? (Notice that not much info is given about this ‘battle’.)

What are the titles given to Jesus in this chapter. If Revelation is about the unveiling of Jesus, what do we learn here?

Q. What if we did not have this info? Q What is God trying to teach us? Q How do we apply this to our lives today?

NEXT WEEK….The End of the Story…Chapters 20 and 21.

Revelation 16 - 17

CHAP 16
1. What is the judgment and how does it correspond to the plagues of Egypt? :
First Bowl -
Second Bowl -
Third Bowl -
Forth Bowl vs 9…notice ‘they did not…’ -
Fifth Bowl – notice ‘they did not…’ -
Sixth Bowl -
Seventh Bowl (vs 17-21 is Armageddon) How did man respond? -

2.Why might God have used the same ‘plagues’ for both Egypt and the end times?

3.Notice that Jesus speaks in 16:15.

4.Notice that humans do not respond until vs 9….how?

CHAP 17
1. Who is this ‘scarlet woman’ and ‘scarlet beast’? (Vs15)

2. Who/what is Babylon (remember the first mention of Babylon in Scripture (Genesis)

3.What are the ‘seven heads’ and ‘seven mountains’

4.Notice the end of the Babylonian System in vs 16-18


What if Chap 16 and 17 had been left out?
What is God trying to teach us in Chap 16 and 17?
How can we apply this information to our lives today?

Revelation Chapter 14 and 15

STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!
Study Rev. 14 and 15

Use the basic Stop! Look! Listen technique on these two chapters.

STOP! Slow down as you read through these two chapters. There are many words/concepts/symbols that are difficult to understand. I don’t think I can study the book without getting some help from outside sources

LOOK ! There are many different ideas about what all this symbolism means… I try to remember…I don’t have all the answers! I will always use at least two different writers for my gathering of information.

These things I do know : 1) We don’t understand it all. 2) Something is going to happen. 3) It will be terrible 4) I don’t want to be here when it happens!

Where is the any ‘victory’ in these two chapters?

If the book of Revelation is the “unveiling of Jesus Christ” how do these two chapters describe, or ‘unveil’ Him? What titles or descriptions are given of Jesus?

Are these chapters sequential ? Concurrent? Perhaps a summary of what is to come?

CHAPTER 14
His titles…vs 1 , 4, 10 the Lamb; vs 14 Son of Man

Vs 4 There is much discussion about the description of the 144,000 -( needs research)

Vs 5 – What is ‘no gile.’ Who was this said about in the NT?

Vs 8 Notice the words “because”, “made” “fornication.”

Vs 9 This is the familiar verse about the ‘mark’. With technology today, what might this be? Notice that the mark is always associated with worship of the beast.

Vs 9 -11 Who is the ‘he’ that is mentioned?

Vs 13 Good news…notice that throughout the book of Revelation…so much doom and gloom is often interrupted by good news.

What is reaping? Who does it, to whom, why?

I notice the words ‘ the wrath of God' several times . (vs 10 and 19). How can our God be described this way?

CHAPTER 15
Again some good news in the midst of death and destruction…singing and praise.

Vs 1…I see the word ‘sign’ again. Here comes another 7 wraths! Notice ‘for in them the wrath of God is complete.’

Vs 2….Who are ‘those”? The verse states ”those who have victory…” over what ? 1) the beast 2) over his image 3) over his mark 4) over the number of his name….????

Verse 3-4. Notice the emphasis of the song. What is the theme? Verse 4 has three ‘because’ (for) statements – write them out.

Verse 5-8…here come the 7 angels! These have seven ‘plagues’.


LISTEN!

What is God trying to teach us in chapters 14 and 15?

What if these two chapters had been left out of Scripture?

How do these two chapters impact my life today? ???????????????

If I believe that I will be raptured off of earth and into the presence of God before all this takes place…why bother to study it?

Rev. 12 and 13

I have really enjoyed this study...fascinating stuff!! Here is the outline I used to study this.

STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!
Study Rev. 12 and 13

Use the Stop! Look! Listen technique on these two chapters. These chapters describe the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation.

STOP! Slow down as you read through these two chapters. There are many words/concepts/symbols that are difficult to understand.


LOOK! Research what is difficult to understand. Use reliable commentaries. This will be very time consuming with these remaining chapters of Rev. Questions I ask myself:

Is this all literal – or figurative? What about the ‘flood,’ the ‘hiding of the child in the wilderness’? etc…

Note “because’, ‘but’ and ‘for’ (when it means because) sentences.

As I study these two chapters I am struck by the fact that there are very differing opinions from the scholars about what some of these things mean; for instance…who is the ‘woman,’ who, or what, does ‘666’ mean?

Who is this one who is dead, with a head wound, and brought back to life?
Who is the woman?
Who is the child?

I also see where some of the things happening are being prepared or set up today: the world is calling for a one world leader, countries in Europe are forming a confederacy, computers are taking over business and banking, we have the capability to put a chip under a persons skin for ‘medical records’ purposes – what other ‘signs’?

These things I do know: 1) We don’t understand it all. 2) It is going to happen. 3) It will be terrible 4) I don’t want to be here when it happens! Glad I won't be there!

Where is the any ‘victory?’

LISTEN!

If the book of Revelation is the “unveiling of Jesus Christ” how do these two chapters describe, or ‘unveil’ Him?

What is God trying to teach us in these chapters?
What if these two chapters had been left out of Scripture?
How do these two chapters impact my life today? ???????????????

WOW!!!! I must keep my eyes open to what is going on in the world, and ‘looking up’ for the rapture!

Rev. 10-11 Study Guide

STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!
Study Rev. 10 and 11



STOP
I ask: Why no 7th trumpet until Rev. 11:15? The sixth trumpet sounded at the beginning of Rev. 6

Stop and read. Note any words that I do not understand. Mark verses with ‘because, for, and but.”

Note. I read today a commentary about Revelation that said….”Revelation should be called the 5th Gospel. Matt., Mark, Luke, and the Gospel of John all speak of the life, ministry and purpose of Jesus. Revelation is a continuation of that story…..it shows the outcome of each of the four other Gospels.” Hmmmm…a thought.


LOOK!
Read again. Ask/ answer questions.
Chapter 10 Some questions I ask:
Who is this one mentioned in 10:1+? Some think it is God, some think it is Gabriel.
10:7 what is the ‘mystery”?

Chapter 11
11:4 who are these two men? Why are they called “olive trees’ and “lamp stands” ?
11:8 Which city? Why called Sodom and Egypt”?
11:10 – how the people react to the deaths of these two men. No remorse… “because..”
11:13 which city?
11:15 are glorious words!!!! 11:16 “because….”


WOW! These verses have nothing but ‘bad news’ in them. It made me sad to read the terror and trauma that people will have to face. Do you think ‘the church’ will be on earth during this time (many think the rapture does not come until during or after the tribulation.)?


LISTEN!
If the book of Revelation is the “unveiling of Jesus Christ” how do these two chapters describe, or ‘unveil’ Him?

What is God trying to teach me in these chapters?
What if these two chapters had been left out of Scripture?
How do these two chapters impact my life today?

Great Site for Study Helps

Go to this site for a reliable commentary.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/

Two Posts - "Time" and Rev. 8 and 9

MAKING TIME FOR STUDYING: PART 1
Posted on | March 1, 2011
Sage Cohen
http://pathofpossibility.com


(This is a modified article by Sage Cohen “Making Time for Writing.” …she posts a blog to writers…giving them ideas for improvement. This one was about having enought time… I changed the words ‘write” to "study," etc…It is her article with the words changed. Iwill leave this on this site for only a few days.)


The universal chorus of complaint from Bible students of all stripes seems to be: not enough time. The truth is, Bible students make time for studying. And everyone does it her own way. Your job is to find your way. Every Tuesday for the next, six weeks I’ll be offering suggestions to help you investigate how your relationship with time is moving you forward or holding you back.(I will try to share them with you)

You have all dayThe fiction writer Grace Paley was once asked in an interview, “Grace, you are a mother, a teacher, a writer, and an activist. How do you find the time to do it all?” To which Grace replied, “Well, I have all day.”

Time is a level playing fieldWe all get the same twenty-four hours in a day. What you do with yours is up to you. You may believe that you have “no time,” but the fact is, you have just as much time as anyone else. What varies for every writer is our unique mix of work and family responsibilities, financial commitments, sleep requirements, physical and emotional space for studying, and perhaps most importantly, our ability and willingness to prioritize studying in this mix.

Consciousness is the first step toward changeBecause I don’t know you, I can’t tell you exactly how you can make time for studying; but I assure you that you can. I can also tell you that your relationship with time is far more subjective than you might imagine. The best way to get a handle on how much authority you actually have over our time is to start becoming aware of how you are spending it.

Pay attention to how you’re investing your time today, and you’ll develop a clear picture of the mix of mandatory and voluntary activities that shape your days. Once you become conscious that your relationship with time is not something that happens to you but a dynamic orchestrated by you through dozens of large and small choices you make every day, you can evaluate if you would like to choose to continue the pattern you are in, or to create a new one.



Revelation Chapters 8 and 9

Chapters 8 and 9 are difficult to read! They are filled with so much trauma and death! Woe Woe Woe to the people who have to live through it...and woe woe woe to those who will die during these times.

As I glanced at the last two verses of Chapter 9 I noticed how it sounds like TODAY!!! Drugs, death, sexual immorality etc...

Here is how I might study Revelation chapters 8 and 9.

STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!
Study Rev. 8-9 together

STOP!
Stop and read. Note any words that I do not understand.


LOOK!
Read again. Ask/ answer questions. For these chapters write a summary of the seals and trumpets:

Seventh Seal -

First trumpet 8:7 -

Second 8:8-9 -

Third 8:10-22 -

Forth trumpet 8:12-13 -

Fifth trumpet 9:1-12 -

Sixth trumpet 9:13-21 -

Seventh Trumpet is delayed until chapter 11

Read Chapter 9: vs 20-21. Chapters 8 and 9 are difficult to read! They are filled with so much trauma and death! As I glanced at the last two verses of Chapter 9 I noticed how it sounds like TODAY!!! Drugs, death, sexual immorality and greed!


LISTEN!
If the book of Revelation is the “unveiling of Jesus Christ” how do these two chapters descirbe, or ‘unveil’ Him?

What is God trying to teach us in these chapters?
What if these two chapters had been left out of Scripture?
How do these two chapters impact my life today?

Rev. Chapters 6 and 7

STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! Chapter 6

This is how I study each of these chapters...

STOP
Read Chap 6 Remember that the Book of Revelation is the ‘Unveiling of Jesus Christ” or the “Revealing of Jesus Christ."

Note any words I do not fully understand.

List any titles for Jesus. What do they represent?

LOOK! Read the chapter again.
How is this chapter “the unveiling of Jesus Christ?”

Look up/study any words or concepts I do not understand.

Lets begin to look at all the judgments upon the earth. The seals, bowls and trumpet judgments give me a summary of the Tribulation.

The Seven Seal Judgments
First seal 6:1-2
Second seal 6:3-4
Third seal 6:5-6
Forth seal 6:7-8
Fifth seal 6;9-11
Sixth 6: 12-17

The seventh seal is not opened right away. Go to 8:1-5 to see the opening of the Seventh seal. The seventh seal opening is really the beginning of the next judgments.

LISTEN!
What is God teaching us in this chapter?

What if this information had been left out of Scripture?

How can we use this information in our lives today here in Knoxville?

STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! Chapter 7


Right after the sixth seal is opened the topic changes…the seventh seal will have to wait till Chapter 8

STOP!
Chapter 7 Remember that the Book of Revelation is the ‘Unveiling of Jesus Christ” or the “Revealing of Jesus Christ


Read the chapter. List any titles for Jesus.

How is this chapter ‘the unveiling of Jesus Christ?’

LOOK! Read it again.

Why would God single out the 12 tribes? I often wonder what the day-to-day Jew thinks when he/she reads this chapter? Note the names….two tribes are ‘left out” – yes technically there are #14” sons of Jacob…what do I mean by that? Why were two tribes left out?

Again, God is focusing on the people of Israel. The 12 tribes must be important to God….I should study them more!

What does “sealed” mean? Why?

LISTEN!
What is God trying to teach us?

What if this information had been left out of Scripture?

How can we use this information in our lives today?

7:17 reminds me of the Gospel of John. Jesus is called the Good Shepherd, and says to the woman at the well that He is the water of life.

Revelation Chapter 5

Here are the notes I used to study Chapter 5 of Revelation:

STOP!
Read Chapter 5. Note all the titles for God/Jesus. The book of Revelation is the ‘unveiling’ of Jesus…we see it here.

LOOK!
Notice: Only Jesus has the ‘title deed’ to the earth, rolled up in a scroll with the official 7 seals as the Roman Empire required of wills. I know that Jesus lived during the time of the Roman Empire and all deeds/wills had seven seals on it. Jesus begins opening the seals in the next chapter. As Creator the earth is His!

What is “Lion of Judah”, “Root of David” and “The Lamb”? Here is a good research point ..go to a Stongs Concordance ****(or other full concordance) and see…in the book of Revelation, which is mentioned most often the “Lion” or the “Lamb”….why?

Again I see the “seven fold Holy Spirit.” (Is.11:1-5)

Notice…the ‘singing’ and ‘saying’

If this book is all about Jesus, how is He described in Chapter 5?

LISTEN!
What is God trying to teach us in this chapter?

What if this chapter had been left out of the book of Revelation?

How can we apply what we have learned in this chapter to our lives today?

**** this is a good time for you to ask….”What resources/books do I have to study Scripture?”

Study of "Rewards" in Heaven

As I studied chapter 4 and moved on to chapter 5 I realized that there really is no time divide between the two, and they both take place in heaven at about the same time. I also realized that many scholars seem to think that believers will receive the 'rewards' promised throughout Scripture during this time....so before I went on to chapter 5 I studied the 'rewards.' Here is a part of it.


We all will be judged/rewarded
2 Cor. 5:10

There are rewards for ‘works’:
Col 3:24

1 Cor. 3:-11-14



Heb. 11:16

God wants to give us rewards:
Luke 12:32


Jesus is preparing our rewards:
Jo 14:2


Description of rewards (note we will study ‘crowns’ and ‘reigning with Christ” together in our group)
Being with Christ – Jo 14:3


1 Thes. 4:17


Beholding the face of God - Matt 5:8


Being glorified with Christ 1 John 3:2


Sitting in Judgment with Christ Matt 19:28


Shall be given at the second coming of Christ
Matt. 16:27

Rev. 22:12

Chapter 4 Revelation (and a brief review of the 7 Churches Study)

As I study the Book of Revelation I am particularly interested in Chapter 4. Born-again believers will see the events of Chapter 4!! Here is the study outline that I am using for my personal study. Remember.....the book of Revelation is the "unveiling of Jesus Christ".

STOP! LOOOK! LISTEN!

STOP!
Read chapter 4. Always look for the words “because” ‘but” and ‘for’ (when it means ‘because). Note every time the word “like” is written…what does “like” mean? Also note every time the word ‘throne’ is mentioned (over 10 times). “Throne’ is the focus of this chapter.

LOOK! This is heaven!!!! There seems to be much that we do not understand. You will need to look at a few commentaries for some idea of what this all means.

Note what comes before this chapter, and what comes after this chapter. John goes directly from the letters to the seven churches right to heaven. Chapter 5 tells some things that happen in heaven. The book of Revelation does not mention the rapture in any detail (3:10). Why not?(We can only guess)

Vs 5…what/who are the ‘seven spirits of God” (See 5:6 also)(Read Is. 11:1-2)

Who are the 24 elders?

Who/what are the living creatures (if your translation says ‘beasts’ it is wrong.)

I always write down the ‘titles’ or ‘names’ for Jesus. Note: Jesus is only called “Lion” once in Revelation – He is called “Lamb” approximately 25 times in the book of Revelation. Ask yourself….why would John call Jesus “Lamb” so many times…and “Lion” only once?

Chapter 4 tells us what God looks like….what does God look like?

LISTEN!
What is God trying to teach us in this Chapter?

What if this chapter had been left out of the Book?

How can we apply what we have learned in this chapter to our lives today?



BRIEF NOTES ON THE STUDY OF THE 7 CHURCHES

As I began my study of the seven churches my thoughts were..."here I go again, the same old study of the churches, this will be boring!" Boy was I wrong! I was blessed by my study of the churches and came away with many new insights - in brief:

1. Church must be important to God - One and one half chapters are given over to the topic. This indicates to me that church membership is important...again...no individual, 'Lone Ranger' worship.
2. Each of the churches describes some aspect of God that is mentioned in Chapter One. I saw how his eyes of fire and feet of brass indicated judgment, etc...
3. There is much discussion and disagreement as to the seven churches. Is this just written to individual churches? Individual aspects of people? The seven periods of church development? etc... It does not matter...the messages of faithfulness, service and holiness, are the key.
4. What if these letters had been left out of Scripture? We would have missed so much color and instruction from God.
5. The church is not mentioned again after chapter 3. I agree with those scholars who indicate that the rapture must happen at this point, because as we go into chapter 4 the phrase "after these things' indicates immedately after "these things," the introduction to the book, the scene changes to heaven. The 24 'elderes' in chapter 4 may be desctibing elders of the church...again indicating that the church is removed from the earth before the Tribulation. (3:10).The church does not seem to go through any of the Trubulation - it is in heaven worshiping God and at the Bema Seat for rewards. At the end of the book it is at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

How can I apply this message to my life today?
1. I must watch my own life that I do not become 'lukewarm' or 'worldly' etc.... each of the messages of the 7 churches. I want to be commended...not corrected by what I do as I serve the Lord here on earth.
2. I must watch my own church and the message we give to the world....to be set apart, holy, active in Gods work, fervent in our love for God, and sticking to our holy, set apart lives.

(As I write this I hear on the t.v. behind me that another Christian church in Egypt has been attacked by Muslims. - the persecution of the Christian church goes on and gets worse).

Alpha and Omega at Christmas

The Alpha and Omega – Comes as a Baby to Bethlehem

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank You for coming in the form of a human to bring salvation to me.

I wonder if we have become somewhat desensitized to the story of the birth of Jesus.

Jesus. Yes Jesus came as a baby to save us from our sins. That is the wonderful message of Christmas. He had to come so that He could die for us.

We form the scene of the birth of Jesus in our minds. Perhaps we see a barn with a wooden manger in it. Perhaps a cave. A man and woman holding a newborn infant. We usually imagine cows or sheep on the perimeter – with shepherds, and perhaps the wise men bowing before them.

Now think of that Baby as the Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End.

Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, came as a human infant to a little village in Israel. The King of the Universe took on human flesh and became the child of a simple man and woman. From the glories of heaven, He gave His life over to their care – without control, totally dependent on human parents. He came, knowing what had gone on before, from the foundations of time, and knew how it would all end…the Alpha and the Omega.

With those thoughts in mind, Jesus as the Alpha and Omega, does the story of the birth of Jesus take on any new meaning to you? Does it cause you to look at Christmas, and we way we celebrate at church, at home, in our hearts, in a different way?

We can never really understand what the God of the Universe experienced as He became a human infant, but lets open our minds eye to a little fantasy.

Imagine standing in the bright summer sunshine and looking down at an ant hill. We tower over the little mound of dirt and watch the ants scurry in and out of the brown cone of dirt. We have knowledge and technology, they have none. They are humans and they are dirty little creatures. I wonder if that is somehow how God looks down at our lives.

What if you decided to change into the form of an ant and become one of them, live like them, speak with them, and try to tell them about human life. Does that stretch your imagination? Does the thought of taking on their form and lifestyle disgust you? To give up your warm and safe home, car, job, loved ones - to live as an ant for years.

Jesus is God, and God is perfect, so He did this all out of love for us….to give His life in exchange for the chance for us to spend eternity with Him. The Alpha and the Omega taking on the form of a human baby –coming for our good, not for His. The Alpha and Omega giving up the throne of Heaven, and constant worship of the angels, to come to earth for our good. What a thought!

Christmas and the Book of Revelation

Christmas and its Connection with the Book of Revelation

As I sat in my pew today, listening to a wonderful sermon about the baby Jesus I was struck with the thought that the Christmas story is really the prologue to the book of Revelation.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ” is what we call it. The ‘revealing’ of the King of Kings returning to the earth as He has promised. First He had to come as a baby.

His promise seems soon to be fulfilled. He said He is coming back, and I believe that He is coming back within our lifetime – the Christmas story was just the beginning. The prophecy was made that a virgin would give birth to a child and He would save us from our sins. He came to die for us….and then to come back for us to bring “HIStory” to an end.

WOW….I will see Christmas this year through different eyes…. The Book of Revelation is upon us….and the Christmas story was just the prologue.

12/20 The next day.....some one asked to see my notes on this topic ...this is what I responded..

The theme is ....if Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus and the end of the story....then the baby born in Bethlehem is the beginning. God humbled himself and came as a baby....an infant who depended on a human mother to care for him, as the Creator, a simple man and woman cared for all his needs....He was, even then, the King of Kings, but came to save us from the horrors of an eternity separated from Him. He promised to come back after He died for us.

The book of Revelation is all about the keeping of His promise....the baby has grown into the Majestic "King of Kings" as described in Rev. Chapter 1. From a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying in a manger, to God, wrapped in glory, with the glowing garments of a priest, white hair as the Ancient of Days, with the sword of truth and judment coming out of His mouth, His eyes piercing through us like flames of fire, His feet like bronze, and his voice like the mighty noise, similar to Niagra Falls or a Tsunami. The little baby is a baby no more!!

From little newborn baby to the Ancient of Days! And it all started in Bethlehem!

He is keeping His promise to come back to not only judge the world, but to take us home.

The God of all Creation came as a baby, taken care of by His creation….a simple man and women. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes that He created. The King of Kings, the King of the Jews, the King of the Holy Land….was worshipped by ‘three Kings.”

Old Testament prophecy pointed to the Messiah coming. The baby came.

Old Testament prophecy pointed to a Suffering Servant. The baby came.

The Messiah said He would come back for us, that He would come back to Judge the world……the book of Revelation is that unveiling….the unveiling of the little baby, now transformed into the King of Kings…finally returning.

That is sort of the outline off the top of my head.

PS I often wonder why the Shepherds and the Magi didnt stay around.....they were in the presence of the Messiah....came and left....???? Did you ever hear a sermon about that??

Amazing things about the Book of Revelation

Even before we actually sit down together and study Revelation I am finding some very exciting things in the book. I personally have never studied Revelation in detail, and knew that I was into many hours in the book as we undertook this subject.....as Chapter 1 promises...I am already blessed to be studying the book of Revelation. Here are two things that I have learned.

First of all...the Book of Revelation is a love story! Yes a love story! What a concept!

In Tim LaHays book "The Merciful God of Prophecy' he points out that all of prophecy is about love.... how God loves us enough to not only warn us about what will be taking place, but...warning us so that we might choose Him - choose salvation in the arms of Jesus. That is the God of love and mercy. If there is doom and gloom in prophecy it has to do with warning people, and showing the Almighty God in action. There is always the message of "choose God" before the final day of humanity comes to an end. God gives mercy upon mercy upon mercy, then He becomes the Judge. He loves us as long as He can. He warns us as long as He can. Judgment must come at some point.

The other thing I just read, and really enjoyed the thought...In Dr. David Jeremiahs book "Escape the Coming Night," a review of Revealtion, he discusses the seven churches in chapters two and three. He makes an interesting comment.....for those who say they do not have to go to church, do not have to attend group worship because they can worship at home alone, just reading chapters 2 and 3 discount this. God speaks directly to groups of people in churches. He focuses on people who have come together to live and worship. No where does God seem to speak to those ' lone ranger' Christians who chose not to be part of a body of believers. WOW! What a great thought.

Just these two toughts alone have greatly blessed my study. Can't wait to get into the following chapters, and to have a group of ladies to discuss this all with in a few weeks.

I highly recommend the two books that I have just mentioned.

Lets hope Jesus comes back before I get the opportunity to post my next blog!!! Keep looking up for His glorious appearing!!

Revelation Chapter 1 Overview

A thought provoking question before we begin. So many of us are studying the End Times. Many of us believe that we are the generation that will experience the Rapture...do you? If you answered yes ....then I ask myself, and you...."so what?" If we believe that our time here is limited, that the trumpet could blow in the next year or two....how is our life different? Do we act like we believe it? I am going to give some deep thought to that question in my own life.... Now On To Revelation.

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Here is an interesting prayer from Jimmy De Young “Lord help me to not study Your prophetic Word for knowledge only but for that which helps me to see the urgency of the moment and then to live expecting You to shout today for me to join You in Heaven." (Jimmy DeYoung’s Until Newsletter )

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­LESSON 1 – Revelation 1

The book of Revelation was written so that we might have “Jesus revealed” (1:1), so for each chapter we will see what is revealed about Jesus.

STOP! Read Chapter 1.
Look for those special words, “because” / “for” (when it means because), and “but”….also any other ‘word searches’ you might want to do. (If you are new to our studies, call me and I can explain this)

LOOK! Read the chapter again. Here is where we ask questions.
What titles are given for Jesus?
What does Jesus say?
What are the words of Jesus?
What does Jesus look like?
Give a short summary of the chapter.

Verse 3 is a blessing….write it out.

Verse 6: what about you and me? Are we kings (queens) and priests?

Verse 7:How is He coming back?

Pick one other verse (besides 7) that you like, or have a question about and write it out. (Writing helps us remember, I will often ask you to write out verses.)

LISTEN! Read the chapter again….perhaps using a different version. (Here it is ok to use one of the paraphrase Bibles because you have done your deep study already)

What is God trying to teach us in this chapter?_______________________

What if this information had been left out of Scripture?_________________

How does this chapter impact my life today here in TN? ____________________

Bring you notes to class with you. I will try to make the class more interesting and we probably will discuss other aspects of this chapter and not go back over this information in detail.

Before "Revelation 1" The Rapture (Overview)

RAPTURE
We don’t have all the answers….but….

The word "Rapture" is not in Scripture. It is coined from the Latin term “napiemur” to portray the experience of being ‘snatched away.’ This is what is going to happen one day soon as the people of God disappear from the earth and immediately meet Christ to stand before the judgment seat. (Jack Van Impe Dictionary pg 68).

Do you believe that we may be in the generation that is part of the Rapture?

If you believe we are the generation of the Rapture, how does this belief affect your life day to day? Your decisions about money? Buying a new car? Your job? Your calling from God to minister to those around us?

Just PRETEND that we could figure out the approximate time of the Rapture, and it was in 2012….if you believe in the Rapture…how would your life be different today? We always say that we should live EVERY day as tho Jesus might come back…how does that influence your life today…..or is it all just foolish talk….??


The Rapture is NOT the Second Coming of Christ(From “Popular Encyc. Of Bible Prophecy)
At the Rapture Christ comes in the air and does not touch the ground.
At the Rapture Christ gathers His own
At the Rapture Christ comes to reward his own (1 Thes. 4:17)
At the Rapture resurrection is the prominent theme.
At the rapture believers depart the earth.
At the Rapture unbelievers remain on earth.
At the Rapture Christ’s Kingdom is not mentioned.
At the Rapture, believers receive glorified bodies.


Review these verses 1 Cor. 15:51-52 Ithe Rapture – the mystery of the Old Testament - and described as "a change")

John 14:2-3 (Jesus prediction of the Rapture)

1 Thes. 4:13-18 (Paul’s description of Rapture)

Rapture: When? Before the tribulation:
The Rapture is not mentioned in the book of Revelation – but it is hinted at…..
Rev. 3:10; 1 Thes 5:9

The church is not mentioned after Chapter 3 in Revelation. Revelation Chapters 4-21 are tribulation, wrathful times…the church is not mentioned. Term “Father” not mentioned in Rev. “Father” is an NT term.

The church is in heaven participating in the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb while the tribulation is going on. Romans 14:10, 12

From Genesis to Revelation God provides a way of escape when there is wrath and they are innocent.(discussed below Noah, Lot, the Prophets)

Note: Only believers will hear the trumpet 1 Thes. 4:16

If the Rapture is a world shaking event – does God want us to know? Does God give us “hints” about the Rapture??
God warned man in time of Noah (Lu. 17:26-36; 2 Peter 2:7)
God warned man in time of Lot (same as above)
God warned man through his Old Testament Prophets. Warned for correction, repentance and escape.

1 Thes. 4:13
Mt. 24:36-44 (“but”…verse 37)

Additional self study: many people think that the Feasts of God that the Jewish community celebrate are an outline of history, or predictions. The Jewish religion believes that the Feast of Trumpets - Rosh Hashana is the time when the Messiah will return....study this topic for yourself and and see ...what do you think...do you think God could be giving us a hint as to the time of year that the Rapture might occur. ...What if it is 'next year' at the Feast of Trumpets?
Are you ready?
Would it change your life in any way if you believed that the Rapture was real, and that it might happen, say in the next two years? How would your life be different.