Roots of Revelation: Recent Episodes
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Join Jon Nettles as he studies the New Testament book of Revelation while looking back at the scriptures behind the scriptures. Revelation includes hundreds of Old Testament allusions and references and it helps to know about them as we strive to understand Revelation.
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More than anything else the Lamb wants people to love God and love each other. Some refuse to do so by:
- Rejecting God or having a hard heart towards him
- Committing idolatry by putting things in the place of God
- Persecuting followers of the Lamb
- Powerful people oppressing weaker people
- Those who are blessed who don't help the poor
- Religious leaders who help themselves but lead people astray
- Putting barriers between God and people
Because of these things, the Lamb opened the 7th seal of the scroll to initiate events that bring about God’s judgement on those who refuse to love God and love people.
Roots
Revelation 5:1-5
Revelation 6:9-11
Exodus 7:20-25
Exodus 9:22-25
Exodus 10:14-15
Exodus 10:21-23
Jeremiah 9:15
Jeremiah 23:15
Amos 5:6-7
Habakkuk 2:20
Joshua 5-6
Revelation 6:9-11
Ezekiel 33:1-6
Joel 2:1
Matthew 11:20
Matthew 18:2-7
Luke 17:1
Matthew 23:13-39
Matthew 26:24
Mark 14:21
Luke 6:20-26
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If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find Jon at @JonNettles on x.com (formerly Twitter)
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In Chapter 6 the people of the earth all asked a question about who can stand when the wrath of the God and the Lamb comes. The answer is in chapter 7 when we are told that those who follow the Lamb will be able to stand in his presence and receive his spiritual protection. Join me and my friend Amos Jones as we discuss this topic.
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Key ThoughtThe Lamb Opens the Seals of the Scrolls and begins to dispense God’s justice. Those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb will be spared.
Roots
Leviticus 26:18-28
Proverbs 20:8
Ezekiel 14:12-23
Matthew 6:10
John 14: 3
1 John 3:8
John 1:29
Matthew 24:29-30
Zechariah 6:1-8
Revelation 1:17-18
Romans 12:19
Visit here at http://www.rootsofrevelation.com
If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find Jon at @JonNettles on x.com (formerly Twitter)
Key Point
The ironic message of Revelation is that a slain Lamb defeats a dragon. He conquers sin and brings eternal life to a fallen world. He alone is worthy to take the scroll of God’s will and carry out its directives because he was slain and with his blood purchased for God people from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Roots
Revelation 5
Ezekiel 2-3
Daniel 12
Revelation 10:8-10
Genesis 49:9-10
Isaiah 53
Psalm 22
Proverbs 20:22
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John the Baptist Announces the Lamb of God Has Arrived
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29-36)
Roots
John 3:16
1 John 1:5
Romans 6:23
Genesis 4:4
Genesis 22:1-11
1 Chronicles 21:18-27
2 Chronicles 3:1
Exodus 12:1-13
Exodus 26:33
Leviticus 16
Hebrews 9-10
Isaiah 53
John 1:29-36
Romans 5:6-8
1 Peter 1:2
Matthew 27:51
1 John 4:14
2 Corinthians 5:19
1 John 5:11-12
Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 2:38
Who is the Son of Man? The Son of Man is the term Jesus used to describe himself time and again throughout his time on earth. Why did he call himself this? As always, the answer is in the scriptural roots throughout the Bible.
What does the Son of Man expect from us?
- Love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). Are we loving, merciful, and forgiving of others? (Hosea 6:4-6, Matthew 5-7, Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:28)
- Be a public witness for Jesus. “whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)
- Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:17-19)
Roots
Genesis 2:26-28
Genesis 3-4
Isaiah 7:14
Daniel 7:9-11
Hosea 6:4-6
Matthew 7:21-23
Matthew 8:20
Matthew 9:2-8
Matthew 12:1-8
Matthew 12:40
Matthew 16:13-18
Matthew 17:22
Matthew 19:28
Matthew 20:18-28
Matthew 24:26-44
Matthew 25:31
Matthew 26:64
Matthew 28:18-19
Mark 2:28
Mark 8:31
Mark 8:38
Mark 12:30-31
Mark 14:21
Mark 14:60-64
John 1:1-3
John 1:14
John 3:13-21
John 3:36
John 4:6-7
John 5:17-27
John 5:45
John 6:27-29
John 12:31-36
John 14:15
John 19:28
Luke 5:24
Luke 9:22
Luke 19:10
Luke 21:27
Luke 22:44
Luke 24:6-7
Acts 7:5-6
Philippians 2:5-8
Colossians 2:9
Hebrews 4:15
Revelation 1:7-18
Revelation 3:5
Revelation 14:14-20
Revelation 19
Key Point
God the Father’s will is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ (Ephesians 1:3-10). Jesus, The Alpha and the Omega, will unify all things in heaven and on earth under himself so he can restore them back to the Father.
Key Verse
Revelation 1:7-8
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[b]
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”[c]
So shall it be! Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Roots
Ephesians 1:3-10
Genesis 2:8-17
Genesis 3:17-24
John 15:26
Colossians 1:15-20
1 John 3:8
Matthew 10:8
Acts 10:38
Philippians 2:10-11
Revelation 19:11-16
Revelation 1:1-8
John 1:1-3
Luke 22:42
Hebrews 1:1-4
Revelation 2:8
Revelation 22:1-5
Key Points
1) God loves us and wants us to live in His presence eternally in a new holy city, the new Jerusalem. It will be within a New Heaven and New Earth.
2) God cannot and will not be around sin. This means that the city, the the New Heaven, the New Earth, and all of its inhabitants must also be made holy.
3) God sent his one and only Son to be a sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin for those who follow Him and for all creation itself.
This year our walk through Revelation will focus on the cast of characters. The very first character we encounter is the most important one of all, God. You may be thinking “the title of the podcast referenced the trinity and you are now saying we are talking about God?” That’s true. The Bible doesn’t use the term trinity. Many times it just says God. It will speak about The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit individually but many times as they work in harmony together it just says God. For instance it talks about God creating the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1 but all three members of the trinity were involved. In any case, today’s cast of characters begins with God which includes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Encounter Verse: Revelation 1:4-6
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Key Point: God has so many amazing qualities for which we should praise him. However, The most important thing for us to know about him is that God loves us. He wants you to love him. He wants us to love each other.
Other Points:
- God is One God One
- God Has 3 Equal Persons Who Are Fully God
- God is Sovereign Over Time, Space, & Matter
Roots of Revelation 1:4-6
Revelation 1
1 John 4:7-16
Matthew 22:36-40
Romans 11:33-34
Deuteronomy 6:4
1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Ephesians 4:4-6
John 10:37-38
John 14:9-26
Matthew 27:46
Isaiah 61:1-2
Luke 4:1-21
John 5:19
Genesis 1:1-2
1:26, 11:7
Isaiah 6:8
Matthew 1:20-21
Isaiah 7:14
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Colossians 1:15-19, 2:9-13
Hebrews 1:1-4
Philippians 2:5-11
John 6:27
Revelation 5:1-14
Matthew 28:18
John 14:31
John 20:21-22
John 1:14
John 1:1-3
Jeremiah 23:23-24
Exodus 3:14
John 8:57-58
This episode gives a summary of each of the previous 25 episodes of Roots of Revelation and also gives a preview of 2024. In 2024 we will switch from telling the story of Revelation sequentially into breaking down the cast of characters. We want to get to know them in more detail so we can better understand who is doing what in the book of Revelation.
Why should you read Revelation? What's in it for you? For a year now I have been telling you that reading Revelation would bless you. Now that I have recorded 24 podcast episodes covering all 22 chapters, I asked my friend Mark Bell we he thought I should do next. He said this would be a good time to take a break from topical study and just share with you how reading it has blessed me. You need to know that because you are likely wondering if it will really bless you. For that reason, I challenged myself to get real and honest, and tell you plainly about the blessing I have received so far. So here it is, daily transformation is the blessing of reading Revelation.
Main Question
What should we do while we wait for Jesus to come back?
Main Verse: Revelation 22:17-20
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
The Roots
2 Peter 3:1-14
1) Trust That Jesus is Coming Back
2) Be Ready
3) Live Godly Lives
Matthew 6:10
Revelation 6:10
Revelation 8:1-6
Key Takeaways
- Keep the faith in Jesus’ promise that he is coming back
- The Day of the Lord Will come like a thief. No one can accurately predict when that will be. We must be ready and stay ready.
- We need to focus on godly living and prayer until Jesus returns
More Roots
Isaiah 47:10-11
Isaiah 40:10-11
Isaiah 62:10-12
Revelation 22:12-14
Malachi 3:1-5
Matthew 5:48
Matthew 24:36-25:13
Matthew 24:14
Luke 12:35-40
Acts 1:7
1 Thessalonians 1:10
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
2 Timothy 4:8
Titus 2:13
Revelation 1:1
Revelation 1:7
Revelation 3:1-3
Revelation 3:11
Revelation 5:9-10
Revelation 11:18
Revelation 22:7, 16
Revelation 22:18-20
023- Worship God
Main Question
God made us to worship Him and Him alone. Are we worshipping anything instead of, or along side, Him?
Main Verse: Revelation 22:8-9
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
The Roots
Exodus 20:3-6
Hebrews 1:1-6
Luke 19:36-40
Revelation 5:13-14
John 16:13-15
Matthew 17:1-8
Philippians 2:3-11
Galatians 1:8
Colossians 2:6-15
Colossians 2:16-23
Matthew 4:1-4
Matthew 4:5-7
Luke 22:24-27
Matthew 26:31-34
Matthew 4:8-11
Mark 13:9-13
Matthew 16:21-23
Key Takeaways
- Our worship should be reserved for God and God alone.
Please note that the entire show notes are listed in greater detail at www.rootsofrevelation.com.
Main Question
Scripture repeatedly refers to “The Nations” as adversaries of God’s people. Who are they? Can this toxic relationship be saved?
Main Verse: Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
The Roots
Genesis 1:28
Genesis 3:5
Genesis 4:8
Genesis 4:23
Genesis 6:1-5
Genesis 6:11-13
Genesis 9:1
Genesis 9:6-7
Genesis 9:8-17
Genesis 9:18-27
10:6-14
Genesis 10:21
Genesis 11:1-10
Ephesians 6:12
Deuteronomy 12:30-31
Daniel 10:12 & 20
Daniel 12:1
Genesis 14:13
Genesis 12:1-7
Genesis 17:1-22
Exodus 19:3-6
Psalm 9:20
Psalm 33:12
2 Samuel 7:12-13
Isaiah 42:6
Isaiah 49:6
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Daniel 7:13-14
Matthew 1:1
Matthew 1:20-22
Matthew 25:31-33
Matthew 26:26-29
Matthew 28:18-20
Romans 1:16
Romans 3:29
Romans 10:12
Galatians 3:28
Ephesians 2:14
Colossians 3:11
Revelation 1:5
Revelation 5:9
Revelation 7:9-10
Revelation 21:23-27
Isaiah 2:4
Key Takeaways
- God’s plan was for all people to follow Him
- He wanted men to fill the Earth and walk humbly with Him as their God as he blessed them.
- Men rejected God over and over. They didn’t want God to tell them how to live. They wanted to decide their own personal right and wrong.
- They chose not to do right, but the wrong and the Earth was filled with violence.
- They didn’t want God, they wanted to be gods.
- They wanted personal pride, security, and prosperity at ANY COST.
- Men then realized they weren’t sufficient so they followed gods who promised to meet these needs if men would worship them and sacrifice to them. They did not bring the things they promised but only death.
- God would not impose his will on men. He wanted them to have a choice to choose Him or not. He allowed the nations of the world to have it their way with themselves and other gods.
- God made a plan to redeem people through one man named Abraham.
- From Abraham’s descendants would come a string of people through whom God would lead his people. There was Moses, then David, but they all paled in comparison to Jesus.
- Jesus had many titles such as Immanuel (God With Us), the Savior of the World, the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Son of God.
- Jesus died for the sins of all who choose Him as their Lord and Savior. There is no longer a dividing line between the people and God and The Nations. All who accept Christ are now the people of God! This is the “healing of the Nations”.
All throughout the Bible, we see garden imagery that show that God is the source of all life. In Episode 20 we discussed that the River of the Water of Life flows directly from God’s throne and is full of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit infused river waters the Tree of Life. Because of this, every atom, every cell, every leaf, and all the fruit of the tree is bursting with life. The branches have leaves that heal the relationship between God and humanity and they yield fruit each month to bring nourishment for eternal life. Like Adam and Eve, we must choose to accept God’s offer of healing, nourishment, and eternal life or to choose our own death by trying to make ourselves a god who decides our own personal good and evil.
Main Question
Will you let God’s life giving Spirit flow through you so you can bear fruit for the kingdom of God?
Main Verse: Revelation 22:1-5Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
Roots of Revelation
Genesis 2:8-10
Genesis 2:15-17
Genesis 3:1-17
Genesis 3:22-24
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
Galatians 3:10-14
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
1 Kings 6:18,29
1 Kings 7:18-19
Psalm 1:1-3
Proverbs 11:30
Isaiah 51:3
Ezekiel 41:20
Ezekiel 47:12
Matthew 13: 31-32
Matthew 26:36
Mark 11:13-14
Luke 13:19
John 15:1-8
John 19:41
John 20:14-15
Acts 5:30
I Peter 2:24
Revelation 2:7
Revelation 2:14
Revelation 22:2-3
Revelation 22:14-15
Revelation 22:18-19
LAHAINA BANYAN TREEhttps://lahainatown.com/banyan-tree-park.php
Key Takeaways
- Nature was and is important to God because it is His creation. always had it in mind that He would commune with mankind in a garden setting. That has not changed.
- Man decided he wanted to usurp God’s place and this led to God’s curse upon mankind.
- Before the fall there was peace and harmony with God. After the fall came the curse and men became violent and sinful in a world ravaged by death.
- God made a plan to restore mankind to Himself by using one man, Abram, and his family.
- Through his line came Jesus our Savior who took the curse of death upon Himself. Those who choose Jesus are freed from the curse forever.
- Freedom from the curse means that Christians will be able to be healed and nourished by the Tree of Life in the New Heaven and New Jerusalem.
- We are saved by grace rather than by works. However, Jesus expects us to be transformed because of His free gift. We are supposed to bear fruit for His kingdom and share the good news of Jesus with others without changing the perfect message of the gospel.
Revelation TopicPeople have been looking for a fountain of youth since the time of the greeks with Herodotus down to the Spanish with Ponce de Leon looking for it in Florida. Today celebrities are still searching for it but, like De Leon, they won’t find it this side of heaven. In Revelation 22:1-2 we are told of the river of the water of life. How is this water and the river it makes up unique? How will God bless us with it?
Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.
Roots of Revelation
Genesis 2:8-15
Psalms 23:1-3, 36:7-9, 46:4
Isaiah 41:17-20, 41:17-20, 43:18-21, 44:3-4, 66:12
Ezekiel 36:24-27, 47: 1-5
Joel 3:18
Zechariah 14:8
Matthew 11:28
John 4:10-13, 7:37-39
I Corinthians 10:1-4
Revelation 7:17, 21:6, 22:17
Key Takeaways
- De Leon’s Fountain of Youth never existed but God’s does! He has the fountain of life mentioned in Psalms 36!
- We can make great memories in the outdoors but they will pale in comparison to what is to come!
- Beginning with the river in the Garden of Eden in Genesis and through Revelation we are told that the water of life blesses God’s people with cleansing, peace, righteousness, and restoration of our souls.
- The Lord gives the water of life to provide for our needs and give us an abundant life for which we should praise Him.
- We’re told in Matthew 11 that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist and told Him that it was to fulfill all righteousness. Directly after doing so, God spoke from heaven and said that Jesus was his beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. As this happened the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove.
- When we accept Christ in baptism we are cleansed and made right with God. We are also filled with the Holy Spirit and like Jesus we become beloved children of God in whom he is well pleased!
- Jesus says that he will give those who ask him living water which we are told in the gospel of John is the Holy Spirit. When we drink this living water, this spiritual drink, mentioned in I Corinthians 10 we will never again be thirsty.
- In a single, unique, and eternal day that doesn’t have a night God will do a new thing. He will make a new heaven and and a new earth, and will extend peace like a river in the holy city, the new Jerusalem.
- The Holy City will have a crystal clear River of Life that will flow from the Throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street through the city bringing life, joy, and refreshment to everyone and everything it touches in all of God’s eternal creation.
- In Eden there was only one tree of life. In the Holy City there will be trees of life on each side of the river.
- With not only the indwelling of the Spirit but also immersion IN the Holy Spirit / River of Life we will experience His gladness and joy. We will have no sorrow or sadness. In fact, we are told God will wipe away every tear from our eyes for all eternity.
- The water is free to us but it wasn’t cheap. Jesus died and rose again to get us to the River. He is the ONLY way we can get to the Holy City. He is the beginning and the end of everything. The very purpose of our lives is praising Him. If you have been thinking about allowing Jesus into your life and haven’t done it yet, do it now. Take the plunge in baptism into the water of life. It is to good to miss!
Main Question
What would it be like to be in the presence of God? The answer may both leave you awestruck and fill you with joy all at once.
Key Takeaway
Being in the presence of God will fill us with amazement and joy. Eternal life itself will flow from His presence to those who follow the Lamb. His servants will worship Him forever. Unlike Moses they will be able to see His face and His glory. They will be granted his divine protection by having His name on their foreheads. Night will be no more. There will be no need for light, or lamp, or sun because His glory will be their light. They will reign forever and ever!
Main Question
What will you do with Christ? Will you choose Him or reject Him? The choice is yours.
Key Takeaway
In the end, it comes down to one choice set before us. Will we chose Christ? Since Christ is the author of life, to chose to be apart from him means death. Our choice is final once we either die or Jesus comes back. Jesus wants to cleanse us of our sins so that we can live with God in heaven forever where “nothing unclean will ever enter”. He wants to make us new. He wants to wipe every tear from our eyes. He wants to dwell with us. He wants to give us eternal life. However, he won’t kidnap us. He also gives us the right to chose to reject Him and chose eternal, spiritual death. “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling o sinner come home”. Come home to the new heaven, the new earth, and the holy city.
This episode is an overview of chapter 19. We see the reaction of the multitudes in heaven to the destruction of Babylon, the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the Rider on a White Horse defeating the Beast and the False Prophet. Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords and he is amazing!
This episode is and overview of chapter 18. We discuss how the Babylon the Great was destroyed leaving behind enormous societal devastation. Kings, merchants, and ship captains all saw their prospects for becoming wealthy destroyed in the smoke of her burning. There was a call from heaven to Christians saying "come out of her my people." They were to leave behind their old lives focused on selfishness, materialism, greed, immorality, and ungodliness and to put their focus and their trust in God.
What do we need to leave behind from our old lives? What have we already left behind that we need to remind ourselves not to look back upon?
This episode is and overview of chapter 17. It discusses the Babylon the Great Prostitute (symbolizing lust, greed, godlessness, and pleasure) and its alliance with and later destruction by The Beast (symbolizing governmental and military power). We discuss that many things in our society match up with what we read. However, we always must remember that Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords and he is already victorious. Since we are with Him, His victory is also ours!
This episode is an overview of chapters 15-16. The previous episode, Episode 13, gave an overview of chapters 8-14. The following episode, Episode 15, will give a summary of chapters 17-19.
In this episode we give a broad overview the the first 7 chapters of Revelation.
In the first chapter we review past episodes 1-5 where we discussed the introduction of Revelation, its order, blessings, and that the time was now near to give the Revelation from Jesus to us. We also discussed symbolism in episode 5.
We then discuss "Things that are" which is in present tense for Jesus' report card to the 7 churches in Asia. Some of this all occurred in the spiritual realm but chapters 2-3 occur mostly in the physical realm. This was a review of things we covered in episodes 6-11.
Finally, we go into new territory in giving an overview of chapters 4-7. This covers the throne room of God through the sealing of those who were following the Lamb.
- Don’t let the things of this world blind you of your need for God.
- We must not rely on the things of this world to give us peace and comfort. Christ is the source of our true riches and He is all we need.
- Are we spending enough time with Him in prayer so He can heal our spiritual blindness and show us what true wealth looks like in His kingdom?
Main Question: Can we remain faithful to the gospel in the midst of persecution and not deny the name of Christ?
Key Takeaway
Jesus commended the church in Philadelphia for their faithfulness in the midst of persecution and he encouraged them to keep going. He promised to reward them with eternal life with him in the temple of God in the new Jerusalem.
He next told them that those who were persecuting them would be shown that they were wrong and that they would be vindicated from slander as Jesus revealed to the persecutors that he loves his church.
He then told them that they would be kept from an hour of trial of God’s wrath being poured out that was to come upon the whole world and promised them that in eternity they would continually be in God’s presence.
Main Question: Do we need a wake up call so that we will strengthen weak areas in our Christinan walk that we have negligently and incorrectly assumed are no big deal?
Key Takeaway: We can appear pious and holy on the outside to others but God knows our hearts. He wants our best and he knows when we are taking the easy way out. He also knows that doing so can indicate a lack of love on our part for Him. We can’t allow negligence to erode our spiritual life. We must wake up and strengthen our relationship with God.
Main Question
Can we remain faithful when things go badly for us and courageous in the midst of persecution?
Key TakeawayJesus didn’t promise that following Him would be easy. In fact He tells us we must take up our cross and follow Him. Our struggles will come in lots of different forms but we must bear them and remain strong for His glory. If we do, we will have an eternal reward far greater than any sacrifices we make now.
Main QuestionDoes Jesus want his church to be doctrinally strong or loving? He tells us in Revelation chapter 2.
Key TakeawayChrist wants his church to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” We are also to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Part of loving Him as our Lord means that we also must obey His teachings. He is sovereign and we are not have anyone or anything before Him. If we do this then our reward will be great in heaven.
About The GreetingsIn Revelation 1:4-8 John gives a greeting to seven churches in Asia from God the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. The greeting lists attributes of all three members of the Trinity. It also tells us rewards for those who follow Jesus but also gives a warning to those who do not. TakeawayAs awesome and majestic as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are they love and care about us. They sent greetings to the seven churches of Asia, perhaps all Christians, that not only do they love us, but that those who accept Jesus also become part of his kingdom and even priests within it. However, there is no sugar coating that even those who do not accept him will come to know that he is the Almighty.
Main Question: Why does the Bible use symbols, including symbolic numbers, and how can it help us know more about God?
Takeaway 1- Symbolic Numbers Are Not a Treasure Map
We shouldn’t take symbols beyond their intended descriptive purpose and use them to tell fortunes or interpret omens. God tells us that His thoughts are far beyond ours and that there are things too “wonderful” for our minds to comprehend. It is prideful to take symbols and think we can use them to unlock all knowledge about our almighty God. This is the same prideful spirit that led Eve to eat the fruit in the Garden of Eden so that she could be like God. The warning about this is clear from Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
Takeaway 2- There Is a Place for Both Literalism and Symbolism
We need to pray for the Spirit to lead us in knowing when numbers are literal and when they are symbolic so that we don’t confuse the two. Sometimes numbers might be totally straightforward and should be taken literally at face value. However, There are times when we shouldn’t take the symbolism too literally or we will miss the point. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in knowing which is which.
In Daniel chapters 2, 7, and 12 we are told that Daniel was given a vision of things that would happen in the distant future but that he was told to seal up the vision. However, in Revelation 1:1-3 and again in 22:10 John tells us the time is now near and that he has been told not to seal it up but to share it. What happened in the middle that caused this shift?
Thanks for listening and come back for Episode 5- Symbolism
Summary
Read the word and obey it. Try reading it out loud and see how that changes things.
Endure any and all hardships even to the point of death
Stay vigilant at all times to your walk with Christ
There is an incredible eternal reward for those who patiently endure suffering for the name of Jesus
Christians may die once but will receive everlasting life
Jesus blood cleanses us so we can have the intimate relationship with God that he planned when He created the world.
God chooses throughout scripture to do things in an orderly way. He passes authority and communicates via a chain of command. This episode gives examples of when this happened and discusses why that might be His preference.
1)Revelation is a book with a lot of references to other scriptures and ideas from both the Old and New Testament scripture. These are Revelation’s Roots. I will discuss Revelation specifically but I will also spend a lot of time on the “root” scriptures that helps us to understand Revelation better.
2) I am not an expert with any advanced biblical degree. I am merely a fellow traveller who has read the book multiple times and took notes, nothing more. I am learning as I go and you are welcome to come along for the journey. With that said, I ask for an environment where we can lovingly help each other grow rather than an environment of contentious debate.
3) If you understand all the mysteries of Revelation at the end of this study it won’t be because you learned it from me. I don’t have that breadth of knowledge, so I can’t dispense it. However, it is also possible that you will know more about Revelation at the end than you know now.
4) Many Christians have avoided Revelation for too long. Whether it seems too complex or too controversial it is still the word of God. Let’s get started!