Girard Bible Church: Recent Episodes

Girard Bible Church

The preaching ministry of Girard Bible Church.

Review

(1:1-6) Theme of the Book: It’s time to repent

Eight visions in chapters 1–6 reveal God’s big picture plan for what will be in the end. “Chiastic structure”: Visions push forward to the central components in chs. 3–4

A. (1:7-17) 1st Vision: God remembers His plan (reconnaissance horses report of peaceful earth)

B. (1:18-21) 2nd Vision: God remembers His scheme for history (four horns and four craftsmen)

B. (2:1-13) 3rd Vision: God remembers His promises that His relationship with them will facilitate a relationship between God and the nations (Measuring Man measures Jerusalem)

C. (3:1-10) 4th Vision: God will accomplish His promises through the Angel of the Lord who is the atonement-offering Priest-King (Joshua’s clothes)

C. (4:1-14) 5th Vision: God will accomplish His promises through His authority-exercising King-Priest (lampstand, bowl, and olive trees)

B. (5:1-4) 6th Vision: God refines His people through judgment (flying scroll)

B. (5:5-11) 7th Vision: God prepares for future Babylon (woman in a basket)

A. (6:1-8) 8th Vision: God will fulfill His agenda (Four chariots)

(6:9-15) Application of the Book: Fulfill your role in the agenda

Chapters 7–8: How to live now because of what will be in the end

A. (7:1-7) Be Genuinely in Mourning because Exile is still a Reality

B. (7:8-14) Learn what the Real Problem is: Externalism and Superficiality

C. (8:1-23) Live Today according to What God will Do in the End

(8:1-8) God’s Plan to Renew His Relationship with Israel in the End
(8:9-13) Therefore, Be Strong to Trust & Obey God Today because God will Save in the End
(8:14-15) Therefore, Reject Paralyzing Fear over Today’s Circumstances Because God will Do Good in the End
(8:16-17) Therefore, Implement Truth Now because God Loves Truth
(8:18-23) Do It All Today because It Contributes with God’s Plan in the End

Overview of chapters 9–14

These chapters bring together the vision of ch. 1–8 in one synthesized and cohesive storyline. God reveals how everything is going to work.
“Burden” serves as a structure marker
- Chapters 9–11 deals with the era of the Gentiles/nations (see Luke 21:24)
- Chapters 12–14 deals with the end and the return of the King-Shepherd

Overview of chapter 9

Chapter 9 is a panoramic glimpse into the era of the Gentiles/nations
9:1-10 predicts Alexander the Great’s conquest of the area 150 years after Zechariah (ca. 333 BC) and his inexplicable preservation of Jerusalem
That prediction is used to show what the result of Jerusalem’s preservation will be in the end
9:11-17 God is still faithful to Israel throughout this era
(9:1) Overview of the Two Eras: Judgment and Salvation
(9:2-6) Judgment against the Nations
(9:7) Salvation for a Remnant from the Nations
(9:8) Protection for Israel
(9:9-10) Salvation for Israel and the nations because of the Savior-King’s Coming

Click here for this session’s handout.

Review

(1:1-6) Theme of the Book: It’s time to repent

(1:7–6:8) Eight visions revealing God’s big picture plan for what will be in the end. “Chiastic structure”: Visions push forward to the central components in chs. 3–4

A. (1:7-17) 1st Vision: God remembers His plan (reconnaissance horses report of peaceful earth)

B. (1:18-21) 2nd Vision: God remembers His scheme for history (four horns and four craftsmen)

B. (2:1-13) 3rd Vision: God remembers His promises that His relationship with them will facilitate a relationship between God and the nations (Measuring Man measures Jerusalem)

C. (3:1-10) 4th Vision: God will accomplish His promises through the Angel of the Lord who is the atonement-offering Priest-King (Joshua’s clothes)

C. (4:1-14) 5th Vision: God will accomplish His promises through His authority-exercising King-Priest (lampstand, bowl, and olive trees)

B. (5:1-4) 6th Vision: God refines His people through judgment (flying scroll)

B. (5:5-11) 7th Vision: God prepares for future Babylon (woman in a basket)

A. (6:1-8) 8th Vision: Four chariots

(6:9-15) Application of the Book: Obey

Theme: God really is at work to fulfill His agenda, so fulfill your role in His agenda.

(6:1-8) Chariots of God’s Wrath Sent to Fulfill His Agenda
(6:9-15) God Will Fulfill His Agenda, So Fulfill Your Role in His Agenda

Click here for this session’s outline.

Review

(1:1-6) Theme of the Book: It’s time to repent

(1:7–6:15) Eight visions revealing God’s big picture plan for what will be in the end. “Chiastic structure”: Visions push forward to the central components in chs. 3–4

A. (1:7-17) 1st Vision: God remembers His plan (horses among the myrtle trees and a report of a peaceful earth)

B. (1:18-21) 2nd Vision: God remembers His scheme for history (four horns and four craftsmen)

B. (2:1-13) 3rd Vision: God remembers His promises that His relationship with them will facilitate a relationship between God and the nations (Measuring Man measures Jerusalem)

C. (3:1-10) 4th Vision: God will accomplish His promises through the Angel of the Lord who is the atonement-offering Priest-King.

Background

Priest and King presented in chs. 3–4
- Joshua clothed in royal robes (3:4; see also Psalm 110)
- Branch (3:8) refers to royal functions (see also (Isa 4; Jer 33:14-18, esp. 15)
- “Vine and fig tree” (3:10) found in Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:25)
- How does Priest work?
- Atonement
- Relationship in God’s presence
- How does King work?
- Rule
- Authority of God’s presence via anointing of God’s Spirit
- Kings are temple builders (see 1–2 Kings; Psa 132)

Theme: 5th Vision: God will accomplish His promises through His authority-exercising King-Priest.

(1-7) His Presence and Power in the Coming King
(8-10) His Person as the Word of the Lord
(11-14) His Ability to bring together King and Priest

Review

Ch. 4–5: The Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and fulfill God’s plan for the Day of the Lord.
Ch. 6: The Lamb breaks 6 seals, which begins God’s judgments against the world, culminating in panic on the earth because it is clear that the Day of the Lord has come.
Ch. 7: An interlude that answers the question asking “Who can stand in the Day of the Lord?” The sealed of Israel and the redeemed of the nations are able to stand!

Trumpets Overview

Trumpets are associated with the Day of the Lord in Zephaniah 1:14-16
Obviously supernatural judgments that originate in heaven and strike different parts of creation with increased severity in comparison to the seal judgments.
The references to striking “⅓” of intended object(s) indicate that these plagues are not the ultimate judgments. There is worse to come!
Trumpets are divided into two sets (4, then 3, with the final trumpet in 11:15-19 announcing the imminence of the final judgments and the beginning of God’s kingdom on earth). First four trumpets strike natural objects and have indirect effect on mankind. Fifth and sixth strike mankind with direct affliction.

Theme: The six trumpets of Revelation 8–9 announce that this is God’s world.

1A. (8:1-5) The Seventh Seal: Seven trumpets and the saints’ prayers in heaven

1B. (8:1) The 7th seal and silence in heaven

2B. (8:2) Seven angels receive seven trumpets

3B. (8:3-5) All the saints’ prayers in heaven and omens of judgment on earth

Application: God hears our prayers; He is not too busy to take notice of the plight of His people; He answers according to His sovereign timing.

2A. (8:6-12) Four Trumpets

1B. (8:6-7) 1st Trumpet: Destruction on the earth

2B. (8:8-9) 2nd Trumpet: Destruction on the sea

3B. (8:10-11) 3rd Trumpet: Poisoning the waters

4B. (8:12) 4th Trumpet: Partial darkening

Application: This is my Father’s world.

3A. (8:13) Three woes because of three remaining judgments

4A. (9:1-12) The Fifth Trumpet and First Woe: Man Destabilized by Demonic Locust Plague

1B. (9:1-2) Opening the bottomless pit

2B. (9:3-6) The severe impact of the demonic locust plague

3B. (9:7-12) The characteristics of the demonic locusts

5A. (9:13-19) The Sixth Trumpet and Second Woe: Man Destroyed by Demonic Cavalry Attack

6A. (9:20-21) Man Refuses to Repent

Applications

God is sovereign over history (see 9:15)
Unrepentant sinners are without excuse because they refuse to acknowledge God and worship idols (see also Rom 1:18-32)
A departure from worshipping the true God leads to false worship and moral debauchery (see 9:20-21)

Review

Ch. 4–5: The Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and fulfill God’s plan for the Day of the Lord.
Ch. 6: The Lamb breaks 6 seals, which begins God’s judgments against the world, culminating in panic on the earth because it is clear that the Day of the Lord has come.
Ch. 7: An interlude that answers the question asking “Who can stand in the Day of the Lord?” The sealed of Israel and the redeemed of the nations are able to stand!

Trumpets Overview

Trumpets are associated with the Day of the Lord in Zephaniah 1:14-16
Obviously supernatural judgments that originate in heaven and strike different parts of creation with increased severity in comparison to the seal judgments.
The references to striking “⅓” of intended object(s) indicate that these plagues are not the ultimate judgments. There is worse to come!
Trumpets are divided into two sets (4, then 3, with the final trumpet in 11:15-19 announcing the imminence of the final judgments and the beginning of God’s kingdom on earth). First four trumpets strike natural objects and have indirect effect on mankind. Fifth and sixth strike mankind with direct affliction.

Theme: The six trumpets of Revelation 8–9 announce that this is God’s world.

1A. (8:1-5) The Seventh Seal: Seven trumpets and the saints’ prayers in heaven

(8:1) The 7th seal and silence in heaven

(8:2) Seven angels receive seven trumpets

(8:3-5) All the saints’ prayers in heaven and omens of judgment on earth

Application: God hears our prayers; He is not too busy to take notice of the plight of His people; He answers according to His sovereign timing.

2A. (8:6-12) Four Trumpets

(8:6-7) 1st Trumpet: Destruction on the earth

(8:8-9) 2nd Trumpet: Destruction on the sea

(8:10-11) 3rd Trumpet: Poisoning the waters

(8:12) 4th Trumpet: Partial darkening

Application: This is my Father’s world.

Review

(1:1-6) Theme of the Book: It’s time to repent
(1:7–6:15) Eight visions revealing God’s big picture plan for what will be in the end. “Chiastic structure”: Visions push forward to the central components in chs. 3–4

A. (1:7-17) 1st Vision: God remembers His plan (horses among the myrtle trees and a report of a peaceful earth)

B. (1:18-21) 2nd Vision: God remembers His scheme for history (four horns and four craftsmen)

B. (2:1-13) 3rd Vision: God remembers His promises that His relationship with them will facilitate a relationship between God and the nations (Measuring Man measures Jerusalem)

Background

The temple of God does two things, which involves two different individuals.
- Demonstrates God’s presence with His people, mediated by God’s priest
- Demonstrates God’s rule over His people, mediated by God’s king
- The priest is the representative of the people before God
- God called Israel to be His “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod 19:6)

Theme: (3:1-10) 4th Vision: God will accomplish His promises through the Angel of the Lord who is the Priest-King.

(3:1-2) Intercession
(3:3-5) Cleansing
(3:6-7) Fulfillment
(3:8-10) Catalyst

Review

Ch. 4–5: The Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and fulfill God’s plan for the Day of the Lord.
Ch. 6: The Lamb breaks 6 seals, which begins God’s judgments against the world, culminating in panic on the earth because it is clear that the Day of the Lord has come.

Background

Salvation in the Day of the Lord: The Day of the Lord is consistently depicted as a time when God judges His enemies and saves His people (Joel 2–3; Obad 15).
“Parenthetical” or “Interlude” Sections in the Book of Revelation: In chapters 4–16, Revelation’s story plotline is carried forward by the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments. Chapters 7 and 10–15 (except for 11:15-19) consist of “parenthetical” or “interlude” sections in the plotline. These sections pause the plotline and provide background information that helps readers understand the significance of certain elements in the plotline. The background information provided by chapter 7 answers the question asked in 6:17, “Who is able to stand” before God as He carries out His wrath against the world? Another way to ask this question is: “Is there any salvation happening in the midst of this judgment?”

Theme: The Sealed of Israel and the Redeemed of the Nations are able to stand.

1A. (7:1-8) The Sealed of Israel can stand

1B. (7:1-3) Restraint of judgment until protection applied

See Ezek 9:1-11––protection from and preservation through God’s judgment

2B. (7:4-8) Israel’s purpose fulfilled through 144,000 sealed

On the tribes’ arrangement––There are at least 19 different arrangements of the names in the OT that differ from one another. So, differences in listings are normal. This list in Rev 7 matches no other list.
On the absence of Dan––Possibly due to its history of idolatry (see Deut 29:18-21)
On the absence of Ephraim––Possibly due to history of rejecting David and Judah (2 Sam 2:9; Isa 7:2, 5, 9, 17)
On the inclusion of Manasseh––Possibly due to faithfulness to rest of Israel during conquest of land (Josh 17:16-19)
This listing of the tribes affirms the Jewish expectation of the regathering of the nation in the end (Deut 30:1-5; Isa 11:10-16).

2A. (7:9-17) The Redeemed of the Nations can stand

1B. (7:9-12) They are able to stand because God saves

These redeemed stand in heaven before God and the Lamb victorious, triumphant, secure, and righteous.
Note: these are not a replacement, reconstitution, or fulfillment of Israel (see esp. “After this” in v. 1 and “after these things” in v. 9 for rebuttal of view that compares “I heard… I saw” with 5:5-6)
These are victorious because of God’s activities of salvation despite persecution (see 6:10). Note other places where God’s salvation is extolled: over the dragon (12:10); over Babylon (19:1).

2B. (7:13-17) They are able to stand because God does indeed save

Question asked to say “Don’t miss the significance of this vision.”
Where are they from? The great tribulation (see Dan 9:27; Matt 24:21; Rev 3:10; 6:17).
Who are they? Washed robes and made white in blood of the Lamb (Exod 19:10; Psa 51:7; Isa 1:16-18; Rev 5:9), serving God as priests in His temple (Lev 8:35; 1 Pet 2:5).
They are before God because of His faithfulness to fulfill His promises: to dwell with them (Lev 26:11; Ezk 37:27); to comfort them (Isa 49:10, see vv. 5-6, 8-13); to protect them in the midst of opposition and death (Psa 121:5-6; 23:1-2); to bless them beyond death (Isa 25:8, see vv. 6, 7) for His glory (Isa 25:8, see vv. 1-5, 9).

Applications

God is able to save through (see 144k) and in (see the unnumbered multitude) His judgment.
God saves because of His power to protect from His wrath (144k).
God saves because of His power to deliver despite death (unnumbered multitude).
God saves to fulfill promises that you remember and even the promises you don’t remember.

Review

(1:1-6) It’s time to repent
(1:7–6:15) Eight visions revealing God’s big picture plan for what will be in the end
“Chiastic structure”: Visions push forward to the central components in chs. 3–4
(1:7-17) 1st Vision: God has not forgotten His promises (horses among the myrtle trees and a report of a peaceful earth)
(1:18-21) 2nd Vision: God remembers His scheme for history (four horns and four craftsmen)

Third Vision (2:1-13): God remembers every nuance of every promise He has made to Israel

(2:1-5) Build Jerusalem with the guarantee of God’s fulfillment and protection
(2:6-7) How to respond to this guarantee of fulfillment and protection
1. (2:6) Return from the judgment of exile
2. (2:7) Restore your relationship with God
3. (2:8-9) How to know God guarantees this outcome of fulfillment and protection
4. (2:8) God’s Servant will produce glory in His people
5. (2:9) God’s Servant will promote the plunder of His people’s oppressors
6. (2:10-11a) The ultimate outcome of God’s fulfillment and protection
7. (2:10) Joy from a profound relationship with God
8. (2:11a) Israel’s international impact because of its profound relationship with God
9. (2:11b-12) How to know God guarantees this ultimate outcome of fulfillment and protection
10. (2:11b) Their obedience paves the way for this ultimate outcome
11. (2:12) They are God’s prized possession and exclusive choice
12. (2:13) God is resolved to act

Implications

Faith-filled obedience based upon God’s promises
What God will do in the end demands faith-filled obedience now
Beware of the comforting distractions of life in exile (see 1 Pet 1:1-9; 4:7-19)
The church possesses a profound relationship with God because of the Spirit’s presence, but there is a relationship with God coming that is even more profound!
God remembers every nuance of every promise
Don’t mess with Israel!
Everything depends upon the Servant

Review

Ch. 1 — John’s preparation to be shown the visions
Chs. 2–3 — the seven churches moral preparation necessary to avoid the horrors of “the hour of testing” (3:10)
Chs. 4–5 — Throne room from where the Lamb took the scroll in order to open it
Ch. 6 — “the things which must soon take place” (see 1:1; 4:1) begin to unfold.

Background: The six seal judgments are the initial expression of God’s judgment and redemption. As background, they tie in OT passages that discuss the “Day of the LORD” and parallel statements in Jesus’ “Olivet Discourse.”

Day of the LORD: the central period when all expectations of God’s judgment and salvation converge. It is the time when God’s wrath applies extended pressure on His enemies in order to save His people Israel. See Obad 15; Joel 2:1, 31; 3:14.
Olivet Discourse (Matt 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21): Jesus’ major sermon preached on the Mount of Olives about the end of the age and the destruction of the temple. The seals generally follow the order of Jesus’ outline of end-times events in the Olivet Discourse.
Zechariah’s vision of horsemen (1:7-17): Horses and riders returned from reconnaissance (“all is quiet and at peace”). Here the symbolism shows that the horses and riders are on the move to execute God’s plan (see the 8th vision in Zech 6:1-8).

Theme: The worthy Lamb sovereignly opens the seals to begin to show what must soon take place.

(6:1-2) 1st Seal: Total Sovereignty over Impostors and Peaceful Conquest
(6:3-4) 2nd Seal: Total Sovereignty over War and Carnage
(6:5-6) 3rd Seal: Total Sovereignty over Desperate Scarcity
(6:7-8) 4th Seal: Total Sovereignty over Disease and Death
(6:9-11) 5th Seal: Total Sovereignty over Persecution, Martyrdom, and Salvation
(6:12-17) 6th Seal: Total Sovereignty over Universal Judgment

Applications

Jesus alone resolves everything: He initiates the judgments which have devastating consequences for human beings. His judgments have purposeful consequences for believers. His judgments have a terrifying universal impact upon creation.
Jesus and the Day of the LORD: This is a period of time when God acts in a complex series of events that serves to judge His enemies and to save His people. Jesus, the Lamb who redeems His people by His sacrificial death, is also the Judge who executes judgment against His enemies.

The Six Seals: This is the Day of the LORD
Revelation 6

Review

Ch. 1 — John’s preparation to be shown the visions
Chs. 2–3 — the seven churches moral preparation necessary to avoid the horrors of “the hour of testing” (3:10)
Chs. 4–5 — Throne room from where the Lamb took the scroll in order to open it
Ch. 6 — “the things which must soon take place” (see 1:1; 4:1) begin to unfold.

Background: The six seal judgments are the initial expression of God’s judgment and redemption. As background, they tie in OT passages that discuss the “Day of the LORD” and parallel statements in Jesus’ “Olivet Discourse.”

Day of the LORD: the central period when all expectations of God’s judgment and salvation converge. It is the time when God’s wrath applies extended pressure on His enemies in order to save His people Israel. See Obad 15; Joel 2:1, 31; 3:14.
Olivet Discourse (Matt 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21): Jesus’ major sermon preached on the Mount of Olives about the end of the age and the destruction of the temple. The seals generally follow the order of Jesus’ outline of end-times events in the Olivet Discourse.
Zechariah’s vision of horsemen (1:7-17): Horses and riders returned from reconnaissance (“all is quiet and at peace”). Here the symbolism shows that the horses and riders are on the move to execute God’s plan (see the 8th vision in Zech 6:1-8).

Theme: The worthy Lamb sovereignly opens the seals to begin to show what must soon take place.

(6:1-2) 1st Seal: Total Sovereignty over Impostors and Peaceful Conquest
(6:3-4) 2nd Seal: Total Sovereignty over War and Carnage
(6:5-6) 3rd Seal: Total Sovereignty over Desperate Scarcity
(6:7-8) 4th Seal: Total Sovereignty over Disease and Death
(6:9-11) 5th Seal: Total Sovereignty over Persecution, Martyrdom, and Salvation
(6:12-17) 6th Seal: Total Sovereignty over Universal Judgment

Applications

Jesus alone resolves everything: He initiates the judgments which have devastating consequences for human beings. His judgments have purposeful consequences for believers. His judgments have a terrifying universal impact upon creation.
Jesus and the Day of the LORD: This is a period of time when God acts in a complex series of events that serves to judge His enemies and to save His people. Jesus, the Lamb who redeems His people by His sacrificial death, is also the Judge who executes judgment against His enemies.

The Worthy One on the Throne and the Worthy LambRevelation 4–5

Theme: God is the only one worthy of praise because of His glorious nature and powerful creation. Jesus is the only one worthy to fulfill all history because of His identity and His work.

1A. (4:1-11) The Worthy One on the Throne

1B. (4:1-6a) Behold the One Seated on the Throne and His Magnificent Court

1C. (4:1-2a) Second Vision Introduced

2C. (4:2b-6a) The Throne

2B. (4:6b-11) Praise to the One Seated on the Throne by His Magnificent Court

1C. (4:6b-8) The Four Living Creatures

1D. (4:6b-8a) Their appearance

2D. (4:8b) Their ceaseless praise

PRAISE to God for His essential nature–– Holiness (“Holy, holy, holy”), Power (“Lord God, the Almighty”), Eternality (“who was and is and is to come”).

Implication: Unceasing praise–– In one sense, the date of what John sees is irrelevant because this praise is always happening because God always is.
Implication: Be encouraged–– God is always this God and always worthy of praise. He never ceases to be worthy!

2C. (4:9-11) The Twenty-Four Elders

1D. (4:9) Catalyst for praise to the One who lives forever

2D. (4:10) Posture for praise to the One who lives forever

3D. (4:11) Praise to the One who created all things

PRAISE to the God who is worthy to receive praise because of His work of creation.

Implication: He has the right to judge His creation.

Evil, human rebellion, and nature’s groaning (Rom 8:19-23) is not uncontrolled and unrestrained.

2A. (5:1-14) The Worthy Lamb

1B. (5:1) The Sealed Scroll (cf. Isa 29:10; Dan 12:4; Ezk 2:9-10)

2B. (5:2-5) Who is Worthy to Open the Scroll?

History apart from Christ is futile and meaningless.

Only the Gen 49 and Isa 11 Man is worthy to open the scroll (OT question & answer).

3B. (5:6-10) The Lamb is Worthy! Part 1

Our prayers matter!

Jesus is worthy to open the scroll because He died to redeem sinners from all over the earth (see Dan 7:14), make them a kingdom and priests, and to see to it that their destiny to reign on this earth with Him will be fulfilled (see Dan 7:27).

4B. (5:11-14) The Lamb is Worthy! Part 2

Jesus receives worship with the One seated on the throne.

This is a glimpse of God’s perspective on the course and meaning of world history. The cross of Jesus is the central and exclusive connecting point of history. Jesus is the only one who can fulfill all history.

The Four Horns and the Four Craftsmen: God Will Accomplish His Agenda
Zechariah 1:18-21

Review

(1:1-6) It is time to repent
(1:7-17) Even though everything is quiet and it seems like nothing is happening, God has not forgotten His promises. He will act.

Zechariah 1:18-21 is the 2nd of 8 visions that Zechariah sees in one night. This second vision of four horns and four craftsmen reveals that God remembers His plan for history which He revealed to Daniel and He will certainly do it.

Background

Daniel 2 – Four parts of the statue represent kingdoms; crushed by a stone (2:34)
Daniel 7 – Horns represent kings (7:7-8, 24); horns persecute God’s people, but they are removed by God (7:9-12, 25-27)

Outline

1A. (1:18-20) Content of the Vision

2A. (1:21) Significance of the Vision

Revelation 4–5 is a vision of God in His glory and on His throne

Other visions
- Isaiah 6:1-7
- Ezekiel 1:3-28
- Daniel 7:9-14
- Look at the world through the Bible
- James Hamilton (Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches, 134): “We need to be able to look at the world, filter it through the whole Bible, and then describe the world that we have seen the way the Bible describes it. This is what it means to have a Biblical worldview. Too many Christians have a Hollywood worldview, or a Madison Avenue worldview… If that’s your worldview, or if you don’t recognize the difference between the worldview generated by the Bible and the worldview embraced by Washington D.C., you need to spend more time reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Bible.”

Theme: God is the only one worthy of praise because of His glorious nature and powerful creation.

1A. (4:1-6a) Behold the One Seated on the Throne and His Magnificent Court

1B. (4:1-2a) Second Vision Introduced

2B. (4:2b-6a) The Throne

Two central features of vision: Place of Authority, Person of Authority (ID’d in vv. 8-11)

1C. (4:2b-3) One seated on the throne

2C. (4:4) Elders surrounding the throne

Representative Humans
*Angels
In the end, nothing revealed about their being or identity

3C. (4:5a) God’s awesome presence manifested from the throne

God’s Presence (Theophany)––Exod 19:16; Ezk 1:3; cf. Ps 18:13-15

4C. (4:5b) Holy Spirit’s full presence before the throne (Rev 1:4; Isa 11:2; Zech 4:1-10)

5C. (4:6a) A separating sea before the throne

2A. (4:6b-11) Praise to the One Seated on the Throne by His Magnificent Court

1B. (4:6b-8) The Four Living Creatures

1C. (4:6b-8a) Their appearance

Cf. Ezk 1:4-25 (MacArthur: “Divine war machine”); Isa 6:1-3
“Faces” = Represent different aspects of creation? Represent angelic beings who are used by God to execute His rule and will in all orders of creation? Reflect God’s glory?
Six wings → swiftness of movement → cf. Isa 6; Ezk 1 (4 wings)
Full of Eyes → complete vigilance, unlimited intelligence

2C. (4:8b) Their praise

“Holy” = utter and complete separation from unclean, evil, death (cf. role in judgment in 1 Sam 6:20; 2 Sam 6:9; Isa 6:5)
“Almighty” = utterly devoid of weakness (Isa 40:28; 46:10; Dan 4:35; Job 9:19; Ps 115:3)
Eternality = transcends time (Exod 3:14; Pss 90:2; 93:2; 102:24-27; Isa 57:15; Dan 4:34; 6:26; 12:7; Micah 5:2; Hab 1:12; 1 Tim 1:17; 6:15-16)

PRAISE to God for His essential nature–– Holiness (“Holy, holy, holy”), Power (“Lord God, the Almighty”), Eternality (“who was and is and is to come”).

Implication: Unceasing praise–– In one sense, the date of what John sees is irrelevant because this praise is always happening because God always is.
Implication: Be encouraged–– God is always this God and always worthy of praise. He never ceases to be worthy!

2B. (4:9-11) The Twenty-Four Elders

1C. (4:9) Catalyst for praise to the One who lives forever

Acknowledgment of rightful possession of attributes
Deserving of gratitude
“One who lives forever and ever” repeated in Dan 4:34; 6:26; 12:7 → major theme of Daniel is universal scope of God’s dominion

2C. (4:10) Posture for praise to the One who lives forever

If these elders are angelic beings, there is no doubt about who is sovereign and who is a servant

3C. (4:11) Praise to the One who created all things

“Worthy to receive” → extols God’s perfections he possesses and displays
“Created,” “existed” → God has exclusive rights over creation
“Will” → creation was according to His intent and timing

PRAISE to the God who is worthy to receive praise because of His work of creation.

Implication: He has the right to judge His creation.

Evil, human rebellion, and nature’s groaning (Rom 8:19-23) is not uncontrolled and unrestrained.

Click here for the handout.

Main Theme: In His 7th letter Christ rebukes the church at Laodicea for its uselessness and self-sufficiency, offering His own exclusive provision for what they lack, and appeals to them to repent and be restored to fellowship with Him.

1A. (14a) Church

Laodicea had explosive population growth in 1st century
City recovered from a devastating earthquake (AD 60) by its own financial means, turning down the emperor's offer to help

2A. (14b) Christ

1B. The true evaluator (cf. Isa 65:16)

See esp. 1:5
“Faithful and true” (cf. 22:20) → accept Jesus’ evaluation

2B. The Sovereign

“Origin of creation” (but Christ is never presented as Creator in Revelation)
OR “ruler over creation” (see 1:5; 2:26-27; 3:21; 12:5; 17:14; 19:15-16; 20:4-6)
- Sovereign either way
- Prepares for vision in chs. 4–5

3A. (15-16) Evaluation

1B. Knowledge of general conduct

Stative verb → “I am in the full state of knowing”
Refers to drinking water condition

2B. Evaluation of existing state: useless and repulsive

Often “hot” and “cold” considered along spiritual spectrum
- Key Question: Does Christ prefer open hostility to indifference?
- Often compared to water situation of the area
- Collosae → cool, fresh water (refreshment)
- Hierapolis → hot mineral water (healing)
- Laodicea → tepid
- Point of this position––Laodecia is half-hearted, indifferent, useless, and ineffective
- BUT note emphasis on the water → drinking water
- Water is spit out because of its tepid temperature
- Compare this sense to broader cultural drinking practices
- Preference for cold drinks for some meals and in some seasons (i.e., Summer)
- Preference for hot drinks for other meals and other seasons (i.e., Winter)
- This background suggests NOT half-hearted commitment BUT repulsive conduct
- See vv. 17-18 → self-sufficient, satisfied with material wealth

4A. (17-18) Wise counsel for a critical decision

1B. (17) Reasons for Counsel: Conflicting Evaluations

1C. (17a) Confident self-evaluation

Utter misapprehension of condition
Self-perception governed by wealth (contrast Smyrna [2:9]; cf. Babylon’s materialism [18:7-8, 16-19])

2C. (17b) Revealed self-evaluation

Laodecians self-evaluation is contrary to Christ’s evaluation
True condition is bankrupt, ignorant, shameful

3B. (18) Counsel: Depend on Christ to supply what you lack

“Advise” → wise advice to someone facing a critical decision
Cure for their condition is beyond their resources to meet––source is Christ Himself (“buy from Me”; cf. Isa 55:1)

1C. True wealth (cf. 1 Pet 1:7; 1 Tim 6:18-19) (contrast “poor”)

2C. True righteousness/purity (cf. 3:4-5; 16:15; 19:8; contrast “naked”; cf. 17:16)

3C. True relief from blindness (contrast “blind”)

Lack of knowledge and understanding of truth (Acts 26:18; 1 Pet 2:9)
Cf. enlightenment from conversion and instruction, 2 Cor 4:4
Revelation as a whole opens eyes to see present and future realities that are otherwise hidden from view (cf. 1:1; 4:1; 22:6; all “I saw” statements)

5A. (19a) Christ’s motivation for message

Motivation → loving concern for welfare
ὅσους ἐὰν → general or indefinite → every person whom Jesus loves, He reproves and instructs
Christ’s action is the basis for commanded zeal and repentance

6A. (19b) Command––Earnestly attend to this and repent

7A. (20) Gracious offer

1B. He’s here (cf. Luke 12:35-38)

“Behold” and perfect verb “I stand” → emphatic of invitation

2B. Fellowship

Resumes “fellowship dinner” theme (cf. “hot,” “cold,” “lukewarm”) → appeal to renew intimacy
Warmth of reconciled relationship offered
- NOT “I will come into him” (εις αυτον), i.e., entering and indwelling
- BUT “I will come in (εισερχομαι) to him” (προς αυτον), i.e., entering someone’s home and proceeding to where the person is in order to share a meal together

8A. (21) Promises to the Overcomer

Share Christ’s sovereign authority
- Look forward to the consummation of God’s salvation (cf. Dan 7:9-14, 22, 26)
- Overcomers are Christlike (cf. John 16:33; Ps 110:1)

9A. (22) Command––Listen

APPLICATIONS

Self-confidence is…
- Useless and repulsive (16)
- Self-deceiving (17)
- Grounded in materialism (17a)
  - Materialism is a form of idolatry (cf. Babylon, 18:16-19)
    - Christless (20a)
  - Christ is…
- The true Evaluator (15a)
- The exclusive Provider (18)
- Sweet fellowship (20)

1A. (7) Authority

1B. The Holy One (see Isa 6:3)

2B. The Genuine One

“Christ is true to His word and can be trusted to keep His promises. His reliability derives from His being the genuine Messiah who can be relied upon.” – Robert Thomas

3B. The Davidic One (see Isa 22:22)

2A. (8) Security

1B. Access to God secured

“Christ’s own divine authority guarantees that their access will never be taken away.” – Buist Fanning

2B. Reasons: Overall, God’s strength must supply what they lack in their own spiritual resources (see 1 Cor 1:26-29; 2 Cor 12:9-10; Phil 4:13)

1C. Little power

2C. Faithful to Jesus’ word

3C. Faithful to Jesus’ name

“Consistent Christian obedience and loyalty despite human weakness” – Buist Fanning

3A. (9) Vindication

1B. Their enemies (see Rev 2:9; Rom 2:28-29)

“In their opposition to the gospel they were actually allied with God’s enemy, Satan.” – Buist Fanning

2B. The future reversal (see Isa 43:4; 45:14; 49:23; 60:14)

4A. (10) Protection

1B. Reason for protection: They kept Jesus’ word about endurance (see Luke 8:15; 21:19; 1 Tim 6:11; Titus 2:2; Heb 10:36; 12:1; 2 Pet 1:6; James 1:3-4)

2B. Assurance of protection: Jesus will keep them from the hour of testing

General trials and testing (see Acts 14:22; 1 Pet 4:12-18; John 17:15)
Intense trials of final period (see Matt 24:21, 29; Mark 13:19; Rev 7:14; Jer 30:7; Dan 12:1)
- “Clearly some followers of Christ will suffer terribly in the judgments of this final intense period. E.g., the great multitude before God’s throne in Rev 7:14 are the blessed dead who have come “from the great tribulation,” and they seem to be identified with… the martyrs slain because of their witness for Christ who cry out for vindication in 6:9-11. These seem to have suffered earth during the outpouring of divine wrath signified by the six seals (cf. 6:16-17). So it is difficult to argue… that 3:10 promises preservation “in the midst of” or “through” the cataclysmic judgments rather than exemption from them. At best this would mean “protecting” them so that they die faithfully in these trials rather than denying their Lord.” – Buist Fanning
- Exemption from the hour (see 2 Pet 2:6-9; 1 Thess 4:16-17)

3B. Specifics about protection from the hour

“the hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” → not merely general trials and tests, but specific tests that are yet future to the time of writing
“Earth-dwellers” see Rev 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6; 17:2, 8

5A. (11) Exhortation

1B. Promise: “I come quickly”

2B. Hold fast (see v. 8c; continue to be faithful to Christ; Matt 10:22; 24:13; Col 1:22-23)

3B. Purpose: “so that no one takes your crown” (see 2 Tim 4:8; 2 John 8)

6A. (12) To the Overcomer

1B. Pillar in the temple

2B. Always present with God (see Rev 22:15)

3B. “Write on him” → Ownership (God’s name), Relationship (City’s name), Vindication (Jesus’ new name)

7A. (13) Listen all you churches

“Here it is significant to note that what is promised to the Christians in Philadelphia (3:10) is addressed more broadly to the other churches in Asia Minor as well as those in other places and times down to the present day.” – Buist Fanning

APPLICATIONS

Verse 8—Develop a theology of getting fired
Verse 9—Trust that Jesus will vindicate
Verses 10-11—Eternal security set side-by-side with perseverance (Col 1:22-23; 1 John 2:19)

See here for the handout.

Sardis: The “So-Named” Church

1A. (3:1a) Introduction

1B. Jesus, the One having the Seven Spirits of God (cf. Rev 1:4)

2B. Jesus, the One having the Seven Stars (cf. Rev 1:16)

2A. (3:1b) Knowledge of the Church’s Condition: A Church with Life “So-Called”

3A. (3:2-3) Exhortations to the Church

1B. (3:2) Exposure of Wrong: Spiritual Alertness and Strengthen Godly Conduct

2B. (3:3a) Pathway to Right: Remember, Keep, Repent

3B. (3:3b) Warning for Failure: Unexpected and Hostile Coming

4A. (3:4) Assurance to the Few who are Pure

1B. (3:4a) Knowledge of the faithfulness of a few

2B. (3:4b) Assurance of the future purity of these few

3B. (3:4c) Reason for this assurance

5A. (3:5) Promises to the Overcomer

1B. Clothed in white garments––cleansed from sin and possess God’s holiness and purity

2B. Always and unconditionally included among those who will live forever with God

3B. Christ’s personal loyalty and association

6A. (3:6) Command for the Churches to Listen

APPLICATIONS

(1-2) Spiritual Life is Life in the Spirit: There is no life without dependence upon the Spirit (cf. Gal 5:16-25, esp. v. 25; Eph 5:18-33)
(3) Warning of Judgment: Jesus warns of His coming to judge before He comes to judge (cf. His patience with Jezebel in 2:21)
(4-5) Assurance and Eternal Security
- (4) From the vantage point of the Believer’s Responsibility: Faithfulness to Christ (Luke 12:8-9; Col 2:6–3:4; 1 John 3:18-24), growth in Christian virtue (2 Pet 1:5-11), bearing spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22-25), and love of fellow believers (1 John 3:14-17) are practical sources of assurance for the believer.
- (5) From the vantage point of God’s Choice: Jesus promises to never-ever-ever wipe out the name of the overcomer from the Book of Life. The overcomer will always be among those who live forever with Jesus. Jesus bases these assuring words on His mercy, grace, and love expressed in election and predestination, which is almost always the setting in which election and predestination are taught (Rom 9:22-24; Eph 1:3-6, 9-12; Col 3:12; 1 Thess 1:4; 2 Tim 1:9; Titus 1:2; 1 Pet 1:2).
- Two passages that bring these vantage points together (2 Tim 2:19; Phil 2:12b-13)

Review

(1:9-20) Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, is the Sovereign and the Hope of His churches
(2:1-7) Ephesus: Loveless Orthodoxy
- Commends faithful endurance in the true faith
- Commands repentance for failure to love God and people
- Repent or face the judgment of removal of the church
- To the Overcomer: You will eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God
- (2:8-11) Smyrna: Persecution
- Remain faithful in present afflictions in view of future reward
- To the Overcomer: You will not be hurt by the second death
- (2:12-17) Pergamum: False Teaching Allowed Access to the Church
- Commends faithful in the midst of extreme opposition
- Commands repentance for tolerating idolatrous and syncretistic false teaching
- Repent or face the Judge
- To the Overcomer: You will be provided for and admitted to the great Messianic feast

1A. (2:18) Introduction: Son of God (King; 2 Sam 7:14; Ps 2:7), eyes like a flame of fire (penetrating vision; Dan 10:6), feet like gleaming bronze (purity for His people; Ezk 1:7)

2A. (2:19-23) Knowledge of the church’s condition

1B. (2:19) Commendation: Growth in Christian Virtue

2B. (2:20-23) Rebuke: Toleration of idolatrous teaching

1C. (2:20) His Accusation: You tolerate Jezebel (note OT Roots; cf. “Babylon the Great” Rev 14:8; 17:1-5; 18:3, 9)

2C. (2:21a) His Initial Response toward her (church discipline)

3C. (2:21b) Her Unwilling Response

4C. (2:22-23a) His Sentencing without Repentance

5C. (2:23b) Implications for the churches:

1D. Don’t tolerate false teaching because nothing is hidden from Jesus.

2D. Don’t tolerate false teaching because Jesus will recompense each one’s works.

3A. (2:24-25) Exhortation to the Rest in the Church

1B. (2:24a) Character: Faithfulness of the Recipients of this Exhortation

2B. (2:24b-25) Command: Do nothing more than hold fast until Jesus comes

4A. (2:26-28) Promises to the overcomer

1B. (2:26b-28a) Share in “Son of God” ruling authority over the nations (cf. Ps 2:7; Luke 19:16-19)

2B. (2:28b) Share in God’s complete redemption in Christ (Gen 49:10; Num 24:17; Isa 60:1-3; cf. 11:9-10)

5A. (2:29) Command for the churches to listen

Implications from Pergamum and Thyatira:

Passages that address the theme of false teaching and its effects (2 Cor; Gal; 2 Tim 3; 2 Pet 2; Jude)
What produces toleration of false teaching?
- General fear of man (Gal 2:12)
- Neglect of contending for the faith (Jude 3)
- Neglect of practicing church discipline (3 John 9-10; 1 Tim 5:19-20; 2 Cor 12:11b cf. 11:4, 21 [Paul should’ve been commended, but because the false teachers had made such inroads, the church kicked him out!])
- Partiality (cf. 1 Tim 5:21)
- Ignorance about what produces genuine unity (Eph 4:15-16; John 17:17, cf. vv. 20-21)
- Underestimating the importance of sound doctrine (Eph 4:13-14)
- Spiritual laziness (contrast Col 2:8; Heb 3:12ff; cf. Heb 5:11-14)
- Underestimating Jesus’ desire for a pure church (2 Cor 11:2)
- Being unaware of Satan’s schemes (i.e., he doesn’t often slip in false teaching via essential doctrines, but more often via secondary doctrines; 2 Cor 11:3; cf. Gal 2:12-14)
- Desire to be liked and commended by the world (but see 2 Cor 6:14-18)
- How do we protect ourselves against false teaching?
- Faithful teaching that brings clarity (2 Cor 4:2), is grounded in conviction (2 Cor 4:13), and gives attention to detail (2 Tim 2:15)
- Attentive listening that joins what is heard with faith (Heb 2:1) and puts self under the microscope of God’s word (cf. Heb 4:12-13)
- Appoint Titus 1:9 elders: “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”
- Do not neglect to receive or to give correction (2 Cor 3:12-13; Eph 4:15)
- What are the benefits of sound doctrine?
- Stability in life (2 Thess 2:1-2; Titus 2; 3:1-3)
- Strength of faith (2 Tim 2:14b, 18)
- Assurance of salvation (1 Tim 4:16)
- Enjoyment of life (1 Tim 4:1-5)

Review

(1:9-20) Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, is the Sovereign and the Hope of His churches
(2:1-7) Ephesus: Loveless Orthodoxy
- Commends faithful endurance in the true faith
- Commands repentance for failure to love God and people
- Truth and love are interdependent (cf. Eph 4:14-16)
- Beware of being “Christian-ish”
- (2:8-11) Smyrna: Persecution
- Remain faithful in present afflictions in view of future reward
- Prepare now for future affliction
- Live today according to eternal life

(2:12-17) Pergamum: False Teaching from the Outside Allowed Access to the Church

1B. (2:12) Introduction: Sharp two-edged sword (authority to pronounce judgment; cf. Isa 11:4)

2B. (2:13-15) Knowledge of the church’s condition

1C. (2:13) Commendation: Faithful in the midst of extreme opposition

2C. (2:14-15) Rebuke: Toleration of idolatrous teaching

On Balaam and the product of his teaching, see 2 Pet 2:13-15

3B. (2:16) Exhortation: Repent or face judgment

4B. (2:17a) Command for churches to hear the Spirit’s message

5B. (2:17b) Promises to the overcomer

1C. “Overcomer”: cf. 1 John 5:4––i.e., the true believer. Therefore, the rewards promised to “overcomers” are rewards for all genuine believers.

2C. “Hidden manna”: Provision of everything needed for life in the New Heavens and New Earth (Rev 7:16-17; note link to Exodus).

3C. “White stone… (qualitatively) new name… written on the stone”: Personal “admission pass” to the great future Messianic feast (cf. Rev 19:9), with personal identification of transformation in the New Heavens and New Earth.

Click here for our working outline of Zechariah.

Notes on Temple Theology

Gen 2 --> Eden
- Num 8 --> Levites “serve and keep” the Tabernacle
- Coverings for Adam/Eve (Gen 3)
- Gen 28 --> Bethel
- Exod–Lev --> Tabernacle
- Points to Corporate Nature of God dwelling with his people
- Exod 19 --> “kingdom of priests”
- Exod 32 --> Levites are priests
- Exod 40 --> Glory of the LORD, Spirit
- Num --> Tabernacle in the center
- Deut --> choose a place for my name to dwell (Jerusalem)
- David (2 Sam 6) --> Tabernacle relocated to Jerusalem
- David (2 Sam 7) --> Not you, but your son
- Solomon (1 Kings 8:15-19) --> builds the temple
- David collects material for building
- Royal line of David is tied to the temple
- David --> Solomon --> Jesus
- Solomon Problems --> Gold, gals, and giddy up (Deut 17)
- Kings supposed to protect and promote temple worship
- 1–2 Kings ends in exile
- Ezekiel 1
- “living creatures” --> Gen 1
- Faces represent birds of the air (eagle), beasts of the earth (lion), the cattle (ox), man --> Day 6
- Expanse --> Gen 1
- Chariot --> creation patterned after the chariot
- one like a son of man --> Jesus
- Ezek 2-3
- Ezekiel falls down, only gets up when the Spirit enters
- Temple of the Spirit
- Ezekiel and the Temple
- Chariot-Throne = God’s Presence in the cosmos (cosmic presence)
- Ezek 40–48 = Temple building (corporate presence)
- Ezek 2–3 = Individual temple of the Holy Spirit (individual presence)

Overview: Much like other letters in the New Testament, Revelation contains indicative assertions and imperative commands. The difference with Revelation is that the imperatives primarily come at the beginning of the book (chs. 2–3) while the indicatives are primarily contained in the second part of the book (chs. 4–22). However, the second half of ch. 22 returns to giving commands. In chs. 2 and 3, the letters to the churches contain commands to heed in light of the statements that follow in the narrative storyline of chs. 4–22. They also contain key themes that make appearances in the rest of the book, especially in chs. 19–22. This pattern of introducing themes with later significance is witnessed by the description of Christ’s appearance to John in ch. 1 being used to address the churches in chs. 2–3.

1A. (1:9-20) Christ the Source of Hope and Judgment in His Churches

1B. (1:9-16) Hope in Christ because He is sovereign in the midst of suffering

1C. (1:9-10a) John’s suffering

2C. (1:10b-16) The Sovereign’s introduction

Son of Man = Absolute authority (Dan 7:13)
Clothed in a robe = Mercy (Ezek 9:2)
Sash across chest = Messenger of judgment (Dan 10:5; Rev 15:6)
White hair = pre-existence (Dan 7:9)
Eyes like flame = fierceness against adversaries; penetrating vision (Dan 10:6)
Feet like bronze = purity for His people (Dan 10:6; Ezek 1:7)
Voice = glory of God returning to dwell with His people (Ezek 43:7)
Hand = sovereign control of His churches (Rev 1:20)
Mouth = authority to pronounce judgment against His enemies (Isa 11:4)
Face = glory of God for His people and against His enemies (Matt 17:2; Judges 5:31)

2B. (1:17-18) Hope in Christ because His resurrection assures our resurrection

3B. (1:19) Hope in Christ because He will finish the agenda

4B. (1:20) Hope in Christ because He interprets the agenda

2A. (2:1–3:22) Christ Commends and Commands His Churches

1B. (2:1-7) Ephesus: Loveless Orthodoxy

Commends faithful endurance in the true faith
Commands repentance for failure to love God and people
Truth and love are interdependent (cf. Eph 4:14-16)
Beware of being “Christian-ish”

2B. (2:8-11) Smyrna: Persecution

Remain faithful in present afflictions in view of future reward
Prepare now for future affliction
Live today according to eternal life

3B. (2:12-17) Pergamum: Temptations to spiritual compromise

Commends faithfulness despite persecution
Commands repentance for tolerating teaching that promotes idolatry and perversity
Jesus has personal knowledge of plight
False teaching is a source of real harm
Identify false teaching: pattern of deceptive, self-serving ministry; promotes false religion/syncretism

4B. (2:18-29) Thyatira: Toleration of spiritual compromise

Commends growth in Christian character (19; contrast Ephesus); Exhorts to hold fast (25)
Rebuke for compromise with teaching that promotes syncretism (contrast Ephesus) (Jezebel: cf. Ahab’s wife [1 Kgs 16:31-32; 18:4;19:1-3; 21:17-26]; Babylon “the Great Harlot” Rev 14:8; 17:1-5; 18:3, 9)
False teaching produces evil living (20, 22)
Christ exercises church discipline (21)
Today’s faithfulness will be rewarded with a share in Jesus’ future world-wide kingdom and God’s complete redemption (26-28)

5B. (3:1-6) Sardis: Nominalism

Rebukes most of them for nominalism
Commands to wake up or face judgment
Promises the faithful few will experience holiness with Christ
Nominalism is appearance-driven
Nominalism is a product of spiritual laziness and complacency
Nominalism tends to be a product of relying heavily on “trellis-features” (programs, events), while neglecting “vine-cultivation”
Christ remembers and values the faithful few; The power of a faithful few

6B. (3:7-13) Philadelphia: Consistent obedience and loyalty despite weakness

Commends for fidelity despite weakness
Promises vindication for present faithfulness
Promises deliverance out of future tribulation
Weakness and dependence upon Christ is where hope and security reside (contrast Laodecia)

7B. (3:14-22) Laodecia: Self-sufficiency

Rebukes self-sufficiency, which produces uselessness
Commanded to repent and renew fellowship with Christ
Real friends don’t coddle us, but gently and firmly tell us the truth
Hypocrisy in life is an offense to the faithfulness of Christ
Faithfulness in life is the path to victory and assurance in death

1A. (1:1-3) The Nature of this Book

1B. (1:1-2) It provides vivid certainty for God’s people

“What must happen” cf. 4:1; 22:6
- (1:1-20) Christ
- (2:1–3:22) Church
- (4:1–22:21) Consummation
- Phrase is allusion to themes in Dan 2 (see 2:28-29 for use)
- God is only revealer of the mysteries of the future (Dan 2:18-19, 28-29, 47)
- God has predetermined all events of earthly history, i.e., “must” (Dan 2:21)
- God’s kingdom will crush and sweep away all other kingdoms (Dan 2:44, 47)

2B. (1:3a) It promises blessing for attentive obedience

(“blessed” 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14)

3B. (1:3b) It emphasizes imminency (anytime, without delay)

2A. (1:4-8) Themes of this Book

1B. (1:4-5a) The fullness of God: Father, Spirit, Son

2B. (1:5b-6) The fullness of God’s work

3B. (1:7) The focal point: The Coming of Jesus Christ

4B. (1:8) The authoritative foundation

Click here for this session’s handout.

Click here for the notes for this session.

Click here for this session’s handout.

Click here for this session’s handout.

Click here for this session’s handout.

Click here for the handout.