http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com Bible Study in the Book of Revelation Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:47:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 This website is an attempt to cut through so much of the fear and confusion that surrounds the book of Revelation. Brent Kercheville no Brent Kercheville joebotha@gmail.com joebotha@gmail.com (Brent Kercheville) Brent Kercheville This website is an attempt to cut through so much of the fear and confusion that surrounds the book of Revelation. Revelation Bible Study http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/144-rss.png http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com Brent KerchevilleRevelation Bible StudyReligion & Spirituality/ChristianityRevelationMadeClearhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/r1lQzYb2mr8/tree-of-life.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/tree-of-life.html#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:00:33 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=319 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/tree-of-life.html/feed 0 heaven,heavenly jerusalem,holy city,new jerusalem,revelation 22,river of life,tree of life In the first five verses of chapter 22 belong with the description of the bride, New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, recorded in Revelation 21:9-27. New Jerusalem is a picture of the people of God in their perfected state, In the first five verses of chapter 22 belong with the description of the bride, New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, recorded in Revelation 21:9-27. New Jerusalem is a picture of the people of God in their perfected state, receiving the eternal rewa... Brent Kercheville clean 44:39 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/tree-of-life.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation22.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/lHzwi3ScGHQ/city-of-god.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/city-of-god.html#comments Sun, 06 Mar 2011 19:00:53 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=314 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/city-of-god.html/feed 0 heavenly jerusalem,revelation 21 The first eight verses of chapter 21 described the new heaven and the new earth. We noticed that the new heaven and new earth are symbolic images just like the rest of the book. The new heaven and new earth are not geographic concepts suggesting that w... The first eight verses of chapter 21 described the new heaven and the new earth. We noticed that the new heaven and new earth are symbolic images just like the rest of the book. The new heaven and new earth are not geographic concepts suggesting that w... Brent Kercheville clean 32:50 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/city-of-god.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation21b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/OBcmzyOsx_Y/new-heaven-new-earth.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/new-heaven-new-earth.html#comments Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:00:45 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=309 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/new-heaven-new-earth.html/feed 0 heaven,heavenly city,heavenly jerusalem,revelation 21 Introducing the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem (21:1-2) The previous chapter has concluded with the image of final judgment. Satan has been thrown into the lake of fire. All the dead are standing before the throne and the books were opened. Introducing the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem (21:1-2) The previous chapter has concluded with the image of final judgment. Satan has been thrown into the lake of fire. All the dead are standing before the throne and the books were opened. ... Brent Kercheville clean 35:24 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/new-heaven-new-earth.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation21.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/YskZ1xdOifE/millennial-kingdom.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/millennial-kingdom.html#comments Sun, 20 Feb 2011 19:00:05 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=290 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/millennial-kingdom.html/feed 0 revelation 20 Revelation 19 concluded with the judgment of the great prostitute (19:2), the beast (19:20), and the false prophet (19:20). Rome and her empire, along with all the rulers and provinces associated with the empire, have been brought under judgment. Revelation 19 concluded with the judgment of the great prostitute (19:2), the beast (19:20), and the false prophet (19:20). Rome and her empire, along with all the rulers and provinces associated with the empire, have been brought under judgment. Revelation 20 reveals what happens next. The Dragon and The Abyss (20:1-3) John sees an angel coming down from heaven. In his hand is the key to the abyss (bottomless pit) and a great chain. We read about the abyss in Revelation 9:1 where we saw Abaddon/Apollyon (Satan) open the abyss and release locusts. Those locusts represented Satan unleashing the Roman Empire as the destroyer of the Jewish nation. The angel seizes the dragon and binds him for 1000 years. We are reminded that the dragon is Satan. Satan is thrown into the abyss, shut it, and sealed it for the 1000 years. It is important to read the meaning of this binding. The binding means that Satan "might not deceive the nations any longer." It is important to consider that the angel does not say that Satan is no longer deceiving people. Satan is the great deceiver and will continue to tempt people to sin until Christ returns (1 Peter 5:8). The angel is pointing to something different when we are told that Satan can no longer deceive the nations. What has Satan been doing in the book of Revelation that he will no longer be able to do for the 1000 years? It seems evident from our study that the dragon has lifted up a world power to make war on those who follow Jesus (12:17) and deceive the world to worship it rather than God (13:13-15). This is what the dragon has been causing in the second half of the book of Revelation. As Daniel prophesied in Daniel 2:44 the kingdoms of the earth have been brought to an end by the kingdom of God that shall never be destroyed. The deception of the nations by the dragon will be expanded on toward the end of this chapter. We also need to examine the 1000 year period. As we have noted throughout our study, we are taking these numbers as symbols unless something in the text demands otherwise. There is nothing here to suggest that the 1000 years are a literal 1000 years. Further, the 1000 years seems to be in contrast to what will happen after the 1000 years. Satan will be released "for a little while." Satan is going to be sealed in the abyss for a significant duration of time while his release will be for a very short amount of time. We will be given more details about the 1000 years in the next few verses. New Testament scholar, G.K. Beale argues for the 1000 years to be understood figuratively. "The events in vv 1-3 and vv 4-6 occur during the same period, which is referred to as '1000 years.' That this is not a literal chronological number is apparent from: (1) the consistently figurative use of numbers elsewhere in the book, (2) the figurative nature of much of the immediate context ('chain,' 'abyss,' 'dragon,' 'serpent,' 'locked,' 'sealed,' 'beast'), the predominantly figurative tone of the entire book (so 1:1), (4) the figurative use of '1000' in the O.T. and (5) the use in Jewish and early Christian writings of '1000' years as a figure for the eternal blessing of the redeemed. The overall analysis of vv 1-6 supports a figurative meaning. 1000 is the third power of ten, and if figurative here, might represent a long era and, at least, would signify an ideal epoch" (Beale, New International Greek New Testament, 995). Reigning With Christ (20:4-6) John sees thrones and those seated on the thrones who were given authority to judge. We will speak more about this image in a moment. John sees the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and the word of God. These are the ones who had not received the mark of the beast and did not worship the image of the beast. These are also the souls that we saw under the altar in Revelation 6:9. Remember that the souls under the altar were told that more servants of God would be killed before their blood was avenged (6:11). Brent Kercheville clean 47:05 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/millennial-kingdom.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation20.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/HqUOSi50utk/victorious-christ.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/victorious-christ.html#comments Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:00:13 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=292 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/victorious-christ.html/feed 0 revelation 19 Chapter 18 describes the wailing of the world when the Roman Empire fell. The economic impact of its fall was amazing. The warning was given to God's people to come out from the wickedness and worldliness and be separate. Chapter 18 describes the wailing of the world when the Roman Empire fell. The economic impact of its fall was amazing. The warning was given to God's people to come out from the wickedness and worldliness and be separate. God's people must maintain holy lives even when the world is full of immorality. Revelation 19 continues to describe the impact of Rome's fall. Rejoicing In Heaven (19:1-5) John hears what sounds like a great multitude in heaven crying out, "Hallelujah!" The English word is a transliteration of the Greek word, which in turn is a transliteration of the Hebrew word. It is a compound word. "Hallel" means praise and "Jah" is Yahweh. Hallelujah means "Praise the Lord." Or as our songbook has it, "Hallelujah, praise Jehovah." Praise the Lord because salvation, glory, and power belong to our God. They are praising God because God's judgments have been executed. He has judged the great prostitute who has corrupted the earth with her immoralities. He has judged the great prostitute, avenging the blood of his servants. Wickedness will receive its due judgment. We grasp the difficulty of looking at the world who rejects God yet seems to prosper despite its evil acts. Sometimes we cannot understand why the righteous suffer while the wicked succeed. In the context of Revelation we are reading that the servants of God are going to suffer and be slain. Meanwhile those who worship the beast and its image have no consequences whatsoever. They will not die while the Christians will die. For many chapters we have read that those who are in Christ will be victorious and those who worship the beast will be judged. Justice has finally come. Judgment has finally come. Vindication has finally come. God will be just and God will judged. Praise the Lord because the smoke rises forever and ever. The nation has collapsed and the people are judged. Isaiah used the same language of Babylon. Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever. (Isaiah 34:10 ESV) The 24 elders and the four living creatures that we read about in Revelation 4 are praising the Lord along with the voice of the great multitude. From the throne we hear the words, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great." These words come from the Hallel section of the Psalms (Psalm 113:1; 115:13). No words can be better than "Praise the Lord." Marriage of the Lamb (19:6-10) Then the voice of a great multitude has another reason to praise the Lord. The sound is described like the roar of many waters and like the sounds of mighty peals of thunder. Friends, this is quite a loud sound, a nearly terrifying sound. The call is to praise the Lord. Rejoice, exalt, and give God glory because the marriage of the Lamb has come. A wedding is taking place. The Lamb is pictured as the groom. The bride is pictured as the people of God. The bride has made herself ready through their righteous deeds. The people of God have remained pure through this tribulation period, remaining faithful to the Lamb and refusing to worship the beast. This is a picture used in other places in the New Testament to show the relationship of God's people with the Lamb. "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV). Jesus also describes the kingdom of God in terms of a wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14). This matches the words of the angel in verse 9, "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." These are the true words of God. Being joined to the Lamb is the most important thing and it is the great promise of God to be in relationship with him. Brent Kercheville clean 42:29 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/victorious-christ.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation19.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/ZRoBOSTfnWw/fall-of-babylon.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/fall-of-babylon.html#comments Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:00:54 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=295 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/fall-of-babylon.html/feed 0 judgement,revelation 18,roman empire Revelation 17 showed us the fall of Rome. Revelation 17:16 showed the great prostitute made desolate and naked. She is stripped of her power and authority and is burned up with fire. God is the one who purposed this fall to occur. Revelation 17 showed us the fall of Rome. Revelation 17:16 showed the great prostitute made desolate and naked. She is stripped of her power and authority and is burned up with fire. God is the one who purposed this fall to occur. Revelation 18 describes the impact and meaning of the fall of Rome. Fallen Is Babylon (18:1-3) Another angel comes down from heaven, carrying great authority and full of glory. He calls out the message of judgment. Babylon is fallen because of its great immoralities. Once again the angel speaks with prophetic certainty. Though Rome has not fallen yet at the time of the writing of Revelation, the angel declares its fall in the past tense to show how surely Rome and her empire will fall. Rome has become a dwelling place of wickedness and evil. Not only has Rome been the heart of wickedness, but the nations "have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality." The nations are not innocent. They also have been participants in the immorality of Rome. The merchants of the earth has prospered through the immorality of Rome. History reveals the luxurious living that took place in Rome over the centuries because of its extensive trade routes. Trade extended well past the border of Rome's empire, which was millions of square miles. Trade routes also existed to India and China. Archaeology has found many pottery sherds from the far east. The merchants were made rich by buying, selling, and trading goods with Rome. Call To God's People (18:4-8) Another voice calls out from heaven for God's people to come out from her. This is a prophetic reference from Jeremiah and Isaiah's ministries. Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, "The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!" (Isaiah 48:20 ESV) Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD. (Isaiah 52:11 ESV) "Flee from the midst of Babylon; let every one save his life! Be not cut off in her punishment, for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her. Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD's hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad. (Jeremiah 51:6–7 ESV) The call of the voice from heaven is for the people of God to remove themselves from the ways and immoralities of Rome. Do not participate in the sinfulness of that world. Otherwise, you will share in the plagues that are coming upon Rome and her empire. The judgment of the seven bowls showed seven plagues being poured out on the beast and its throne. God gives an important warning. If you act like the world, you will be judged with the world. Come out from the world and separate yourselves from the Roman ways and sins. They have heaped up their sins as high as the heavens and God has remembered those sins. God is going to pay her back. God is going to pay her double for her deeds. This is just because its sins were so severe that it not only affect them, but also carried the whole world into sinfulness with its idolatry and paganism. God calls for a double portion to be mixed for her in the cup. Recall that we saw this cup as the cup of God's anger poured full strength (Revelation 14:10). The voice from heaven says that we need to make it a double. Double up the portion in the cup of God's anger. Verses 7-8 continue to explain why God's wrath is so violent against Rome and her empire. Rome glorified itself and lived in luxury. No one gave glory to God for their prosperity. They elevated themselves and glorified themselves. Further, they think they will never fall. They think that these times will never change. They think this prosperity will never end because they think they did it all. They rule and think that rule will never end. God says in verse 8 that this is the reason that they will be struck down suddenly. Brent Kercheville clean 31:11 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/fall-of-babylon.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation18.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/qGSDyUusd8c/great-prostitute.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/great-prostitute.html#comments Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:00:16 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=287 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/great-prostitute.html/feed 0 revelation 17,the beast,the harlot Revelation 16 described the fall of Babylon the great. We noticed in chapter 13 that the beast called Babylon the great refers to the Roman Empire that ruled from approximately 27 BC to 476 AD. Chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation reveal the details of the... Revelation 16 described the fall of Babylon the great. We noticed in chapter 13 that the beast called Babylon the great refers to the Roman Empire that ruled from approximately 27 BC to 476 AD. Chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation reveal the details of the collapse of the Roman Empire. The details concerning the pouring out of the seven bowls of wrath are now given and explained in chapters 17-18. This is the point of the first two verses of Revelation 17. One of the seven angels who had poured out one of the bowls tells John that he "will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters." The image of the great prostitute sitting on many waters immediately indicates for us what the great prostitute represents. The harlot/prostitute image is used of wicked cities by the Old Testament prophets. Ninevah (Nahum 3:4), Tyre (Isaiah 23:16-17), and Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:15) are a few cities that are called harlots because of their great immoralities. This great harlot in Revelation 17:1 is described as "sitting on many waters." Verse 15 tells us what this image means. "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages." The great harlot is the city that is ruling over the peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages of the earth. Therefore, the wicked city in view is Rome. This fits our context well. Remember that the angel is explaining the details of the judgment in the seven bowls of wrath. The seven bowls of wrath were judgments against the Roman Empire, the beast. It would not make sense to see the great prostitute as another worldly city. Rather, the city of Rome is the heart of the problem and the center of the immorality and idolatry. This is the image of verse 2 concerning the great prostitute. She is the one whom "the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk." We have noted throughout this study that sexual immorality is a symbol for the idolatry that is being committed (Hosea 4:11-12; Ezekiel 6:9; Ezekiel 16:15-17; Revelation 2:14,20). Notice that Revelation 17:2 is the same description that was given in Revelation 14:8. "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality" (Revelation 14:8 ESV). This is Rome that has been causing the world to worship the emperor and be involved in idolatry. Therefore, we know the great prostitute is the city of Rome and the beast is the empire that Rome ruled. The rest of this chapter is going to give us the details about these two entities and their coming judgment. Describing The Prostitute and The Beast (17:3-6) John is carried away in the Spirit. We noted this image back in Revelation 1:10. Being in the Spirit means that John is seeing a vision, an inspired message from God (cf. Ezekiel 2:2). The scarlet beast has the same description as the first beast in Revelation 13. The beast is full of blasphemous names (13:1) and has seven heads and ten horns (13:1). The woman in verse 4 is dressed like a prostitute. And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life. (Jeremiah 4:30 ESV) The same language used of Babylon of ancient times is applied to Rome. Notice the language that Jeremiah used of Babylon back in his day. Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD's hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad. Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; wail for her! (Jeremiah 51:7–8 ESV) The descriptions emphasize the great immorality generated from this city. It is appropriate to describe Rome with similar language because of its great immoralities and idolatries. The name of the great prostitute is, "Babylon the great, Brent Kercheville clean 49:27 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/great-prostitute.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation17.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/4q5wCiO2kNM/pouring-out-gods-wrath.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/pouring-out-gods-wrath.html#comments Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:00:49 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=280 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/pouring-out-gods-wrath.html/feed 0 judgement,revelation 15,revelation 16,seven bowls,wrath of god In chapter 14 we read about the coming doom for the Roman Empire. Three angels have predicted its judgment: "The hour of judgment has come" (14:7), "Fallen, fallen in Babylon" (14:8), and "Drink the wine of God's wrath poured full strength" (14:10). In chapter 14 we read about the coming doom for the Roman Empire. Three angels have predicted its judgment: "The hour of judgment has come" (14:7), "Fallen, fallen in Babylon" (14:8), and "Drink the wine of God's wrath poured full strength" (14:10). Th... Brent Kercheville clean 43:22 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/pouring-out-gods-wrath.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation15.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/wIrNNuDNHQU/three-angels.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/three-angels.html#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:00:03 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=274 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/three-angels.html/feed 0 false worship,lamb of god,one hundred and forty-four thousand,revelation 14,the lamb Chapter 13 revealed Satan raising two beasts to make war with the Christians. The first beast is the beast of the greatest concern. The first beast, as identified from Daniel 7, is the Roman Empire which ruled from approximately 27 BC to 476 AD. Chapter 13 revealed Satan raising two beasts to make war with the Christians. The first beast is the beast of the greatest concern. The first beast, as identified from Daniel 7, is the Roman Empire which ruled from approximately 27 BC to 476 AD. The em... Brent Kercheville clean 44:57 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/three-angels.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation14.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/67ntzZmc9cI/666.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/666.html#comments Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:00:10 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=268 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/666.html/feed 0 beast,mark of the beast,revelation 13 Describing the Beast (13:11-12) After seeing this terrifying beast rising out of the sea that blasphemes God and makes war on the Christians, we seeing the rising of another beast. This beast rises out of the earth. Describing the Beast (13:11-12) After seeing this terrifying beast rising out of the sea that blasphemes God and makes war on the Christians, we seeing the rising of another beast. This beast rises out of the earth. The beast had two horns like a lamb but it spoke like a dragon. This is an interesting beast because it is trying to look like the lamb but it is not the lamb. The words the beast speaks reveals he is like the dragon and from the dragon. Though trying to look like the lamb, the beast is not like the lamb or from the lamb. This beast seems to have a religious role. This religious role is implied by it trying to mimic to the true lamb of God. Verse 12 reveals this religious role even further. The beast carries all the authority of the first beast. This point is emphasized by the authority being exercised in the presence of the first beast. Notice the role of this second beast. It compels the earth and its inhabitants to worship the first beast. In the first ten verses of Revelation 13 we saw the first beast representing the Roman Empire, its military might, political power, and its emperors who speak blasphemies against God and God's people. This second beast represents a religious aspect. They carry the authority of the empire, compelling people to worship the beast. The second beast shows that in the various provinces and localities throughout the Roman Empire the inhabitants are going to be forced to engage in emperor worship and worship of the empire. When we examined chapters 2-3 we noted that these cities in Asia had a very strong center of imperial worship there. This beast is giving another title in the book of Revelation. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. (Revelation 16:13 ESV) Notice we have our three main characters at work in Revelation 16. The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. The second beast is given the title, "The false prophet." This is why the description of this beast is having two horns like a lamb. He is like a false prophet. It deceives people into worshiping false gods, not the true God. Acts of the Second Beast (13:13-17) The second beast is described as performing great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to the earth. What is the point of these great signs? Verse 14 tells us the purpose. These signs are what the second beast uses to persuade the inhabitants to worship the first beast. These religious guilds are calling for the people to pay homage to Caesar and to the empire, to worship Caesar as divine. Asia Minor was a center of imperial worship. By the end of the first century, every city of the seven churches had temples dedicated to the deity of Caesar. We also know that there was a priesthood of the imperial cult. Further, there was a "Commune of Asia." This was a council representing the major cities of the province of Asia. This group especially promoted the imperial cult and demanded that citizens participate in it. We also know that Emperor Domitian especially encouraged this, calling himself, "our Lord and God" (Osborne, 513). It is these descriptions that are in parallel to Paul's "man of lawlessness" in 2 Thessalonians 2. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 ESV) The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 ESV) This is the same deceiving power that the Roman Empire was exerting. Brent Kercheville clean 43:16 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/666.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation13b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/oHxT8TSMRZo/beast.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/beast.html#comments Sun, 26 Dec 2010 19:00:05 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=262 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/beast.html/feed 0 beast,daniel 7,dragon,revelation 13,roman empire Who Is The Beast? (13:1-2) Chapter 13 reveals the most amazing and terrifying image of a beast. The dragon takes his stand on the sand of the sea (12:17), and a beast rises out of the sea. The beast has ten horns and seven heads with ten diadems on it... Who Is The Beast? (13:1-2) Chapter 13 reveals the most amazing and terrifying image of a beast. The dragon takes his stand on the sand of the sea (12:17), and a beast rises out of the sea. The beast has ten horns and seven heads with ten diadems on its horns. Blasphemous names were written on its heads. The similar number of heads and horns reveals that the beast is from the dragon and like the dragon in wickedness. The symbolism of the heads and horns is the same as with the dragon. The beast has great power, authority, and strength. The beast's appearance is like a leopard with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion. Further, the dragon gave his power, throne, and great authority to the beast. Futurists see this description of the beast as a prophecy about the coming Antichrist. This chapter is where much of the speculation comes from concerning the Antichrist controlling the earth and the earth worshiping him. However, we cannot forget what we read at the beginning of the book. The book of Revelation is revealing "things that must soon take place" (1:1) and "the time is near" (1:3). There is nothing soon or near about 2000 years passing by. We have seen the immediacy of the prophecy contained in chapters 6-11, fulfilling the declaration that these things must soon take place. Chapter 13 reveals what is going to happen next. It is not revealing what is going to happen next 2000 years later but what will happen next immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The image of this beast comes directly from Daniel with the intention for the readers to see that this beast is Revelation 13 is the fulfillment or arrival of the beast predicted in Daniel 7. Daniel 7:3 shows four great beasts coming up out of the sea, just as the beast in Revelation 13 comes out of the sea. Notice that the first three beasts in Daniel 7 are a lion, bear, and leopard, the same three animals that make up the beast in Revelation 13. It is the fourth beast (Daniel 7:7) that is of interest in this chapter. The fourth beast is not like the other beasts and it has ten horns, just like the beast in Revelation 13. Daniel sees this vision and wants to know the interpretation of these things (Daniel 7:16). The answer given is that the four beasts represent the four kingdoms that arise out of the earth. We stand at a time where we know the order of the four kingdoms/empires that arose over the earth. Daniel 2:37-38 tells us that we begin with the Babylonian Empire. Therefore the Babylonian Empire is the first beast. The second beast is the empire that conquered the Babylonians, which was the Persian Empire (also called the Medo-Persian Empire). The third beast is the empire that conquered the Persians which was the Grecian Empire. The fourth beast is the empire that conquered the Greeks and that was the Roman Empire. The fourth terrifying beast that Daniel prophesied about and about which Revelation 13 is referring to is the Roman Empire which ruled from around 44 BC to 476 AD. To show that Daniel and John are seeing the same beast let us quickly look at the parallels in their descriptions. We have already noted that both come out of the sea (Daniel 7:3; Revelation 13:1) and both have ten horns (Daniel 7:7; Revelation 13:1). Both beasts speak blasphemous words (Daniel 7:8,25; Revelation 13:1,5-6). The duration of power is the same for both beasts. Daniel records the power would last for "a time, times, and half a time" (3 ½ years) and John notes the power would last for 42 months (3 ½ years) (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5). The most important parallel is found in the actions of the beast. Daniel 7:21-22 records that the beast will make war with the saints and prevail over them. Revelation 13:7 records the same point, "It was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them." The beast is Daniel 7 and the beast in Revelation 13 refer to the same kingdom, the Roman Empire. With this interpretation set, Brent Kercheville clean 44:47 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/beast.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation13.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/v2Si8bME3EY/dragon.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/dragon.html#comments Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:00:21 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=255 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/dragon.html/feed 0 battle in heaven,child,dragon,jesus,revelation 12,satan cast down,woman We were told in Revelation 10:11 that John still had to prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings. Now that the fall of the Jewish nation has been detailed in Revelation 11, our attention is turned to the next object of God's judgment. We were told in Revelation 10:11 that John still had to prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings. Now that the fall of the Jewish nation has been detailed in Revelation 11, our attention is turned to the next object of God's judgment.... Brent Kercheville clean 39:29 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/dragon.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation12.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/HC06Udzq-9s/two-witnesses.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/two-witnesses.html#comments Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:00:11 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=249 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/two-witnesses.html/feed 0 jesus,judgement,revelation 11 In the first two verses of Revelation 11 we were shown that the temple of the Lord, representing the holy people of God, would be spiritually spared and remain safe with God through the coming national judgment. However, In the first two verses of Revelation 11 we were shown that the temple of the Lord, representing the holy people of God, would be spiritually spared and remain safe with God through the coming national judgment. However, it was not going to go well for those who were not the people of God. Revelation 11:2 tells us that the holy city, Jerusalem, would be trampled by the Gentiles for 42 months. This statement parallels Jesus' words in Luke 21:20-24 where Jesus described the destruction of Jerusalem that the Romans would inflict in 70 AD. Revelation 11 has shown us that the physical Jewish nation was about to be judged for its sinfulness. The rest of the imagery continues in verse 3. The Two Witnesses (11:3-6) God grants authority to his two witnesses to prophesy for 1260 days clothed in sackcloth. As we noted in our last lesson, 1260 days is the same as 42 months and a time, times, and half a time. This time marker reveals that it would going a limited time of tribulation, distress, and persecution. Further, the two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth. Sackcloth was used for times of mourning and distress (Job 16:15; Esther 4:1-3; Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31). The witnesses are mourning over the judgment message they are preaching. They are mourning for the sins of the nation and the judgment that will result (Joel 1:8; Amos 8:10). We want to know who the two witnesses are. The next few verses describe who the two witnesses. We are told that the two witnesses are, "The two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth." This is a reference to Zechariah 4:2-14. Unfortunately, Zechariah 4 is a difficult text to understand which does not help us much in understand who the two witnesses are in Revelation 11. However, the force of the teaching is that the Spirit of God was going to accomplish his word. The obstacles would be removed and the temple would be rebuilt by the power of God accomplishing the prophecy of God. It is likely that the two anointed ones is referring to the Joshua and Zerubbabel who would be the tools God would use to rebuild the temple. This is the message in Revelation 11:4. The word of God is going to be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit, represented by the two witnesses. Verses 5-6 will give us more clarity about who the two witnesses are. Verse 5 tells us that recompense will fall upon those who harm the two witnesses. The language is reminiscent of the divine protection God offered to the prophets (2 Kings 1:10; Jeremiah 5:14). When Ahaziah sent his army to take Elijah back to him, Elijah called for fire to come down and the fire consumed the army. The fire pictures judgment against those who resist these two witnesses. Verse 6 reveals who these two witnesses are. The witnesses have the power to shut the sky that no rain may fall while they prophesy and they have the power to turn the waters to blood and strike the earth with plague. The one who was able to shut the sky was Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) and the one who brought the plagues was Moses (Exodus 7:17-21). To match what we were told in verses 4-5 we must see Elijah and Moses representing the Law and the prophets. Remember that we saw that the two olive trees and two lampstands represent the word of the Lord being accomplished through the power of the Spirit of God. The Law and the prophets foretold these events concerning the destruction of the Jewish nation. Moses prophesied these things would happen in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Notice verses 52-57 particularly. "They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the LORD your God has given you. 53 And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you. Brent Kercheville clean 56:41 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/two-witnesses.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation11b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/YYwd5D7ZXk4/measure-temple.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/measure-temple.html#comments Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:00:49 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=244 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/measure-temple.html/feed 0 holy city,revelation 11,temple Revelation 10 revealed that when the seventh trumpet sounded the things spoken by the prophets would be fulfilled. The book of Revelation has shown us partial judgments occurring against a nation for its sins. Revelation 10 revealed that when the seventh trumpet sounded the things spoken by the prophets would be fulfilled. The book of Revelation has shown us partial judgments occurring against a nation for its sins. Chapter 9 revealed the Roman Empire being unleashed by Satan to be the instrument of this destruction. Chapter 10 showed us the angel who took an oath about this disaster saying there would be no more delay. In Daniel 12:7 the angel said that there would be "a time, times, and half a time" before the shattering of the power of the holy people would be complete. Revelation 10 told us that this shattering would be fulfilled when the seventh trumpet sounded. Measure The Temple (11:1) John is instructed to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. John is given a measuring rod to do this measuring. The image of measuring is used in a number of places in the scriptures. Sometimes the imagery is used of a plumb line as the people are measured against the standard of God's laws. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. (2 Kings 21:13 ESV) Sometimes the imagery is used to measure those who are righteous. And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length." 3 And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, "Run, say to that young man, 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.'" (Zechariah 2:1–5 ESV) At the end of the book of Revelation we will see the city called New Jerusalem, representing the people of God, being measured. And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. (Revelation 21:15–17 ESV) In Ezekiel 40:3 the prophet Ezekiel sees a vision of a person with a measuring reed in his hand. He is measuring the new temple of God and Ezekiel is to prophesy about the coming glory of the new temple. The temple in the New Testament represents the true, holy people of God. In Revelation 3:12 we read that those who conquer will be made "a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it." Paul also repeatedly taught that the people of God are God's temple. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV) What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16 ESV) This is one of the great interpretative failures of those who take a futurist method of interpretations to the book of Revelation. They see the images of the temple in Ezekiel 40-48 and Revelation 11 and declare that a physical temple will have to be rebuilt one day to fulfill these prophecies. They fail to see that what Ezekiel prophesied had found its fulfillment through Christ and being joined to him. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Brent Kercheville clean 35:56 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/measure-temple.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation11.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/e0wuACQhjh8/little-scroll.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/little-scroll.html#comments Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:00:37 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=217 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/little-scroll.html/feed 0 apostle john,judgement,lamb of god,revelation 10,scroll,the lamb The Mighty Angel (10:1-2) John sees another mighty angel coming down from heaven. The description of this angel shows us that he is not like the previous angels we have read about in this book. This mighty angel is wrapped in a cloud. The Mighty Angel (10:1-2) John sees another mighty angel coming down from heaven. The description of this angel shows us that he is not like the previous angels we have read about in this book. This mighty angel is wrapped in a cloud. Clouds consistently carry the symbolism of judgment in the scriptures. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (Revelation 1:7 ESV) Behold, he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles— woe to us, for we are ruined! (Jeremiah 4:13 ESV) For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. (Ezekiel 30:3 ESV) Therefore, this angel is coming to declare judgment on the earth. Further, this angel is described with a rainbow over his head. The rainbow carries the symbolism of God's covenant. God's judgment is about to be unleashed in keeping with God's covenant that he made with his people. The angel has a similar description to the description of the Son of Man in Revelation 1:15-16. However, we should not think that this angel is Christ. If Revelation wanted to tell us that this is Christ, then the book would not have called this spiritual being an angel. Christ is not an angel and is extensively argued in the scriptures to be different and greater than all the angels (Hebrews 1). The similar language is simply intended to show us that this angel is sent by God to carry out judgment according to God's word and covenant. The mighty angel has a little scroll open in his hand. We will explain what this scroll is and why the scroll is described as little later on in this chapter. The mighty angel comes down to the earth and sets his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. We will see the meaning of this imagery later in this chapter also. Seven Thunders (10:3-4) The mighty angel calls out with a loud voice and the sound was like a lion roaring. When the angel called out with this loud voice, there were seven thunders than sounded. The seven thunders are apparently similar to the seven seals and the seven trumpets, containing messages of judgment. John is about to write down what the seven thunders said, but a voice from heaven calls down to John. The voice tells John, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." This is the only picture we have in the book of Revelation of some piece of information remaining sealed. It was not for humanity to know the things that the seven thunders revealed. We are not given any clues or any further information about the message of the seven thunders. The Mighty Angel's Oath (10:5-7) The scene returns to the mighty angel who has taken his stand on the sea and on the land. The angel raises his right hand to heaven and swore that there would no longer be delay. What would no longer be delayed? The mystery of God announced by the prophets would be fulfilled. When would this happen? The angel says in the days when the seventh angel blows his trumpet. Remember that we have been listening to the seven trumpets blasting judgment. We have read of six trumpets sounding so far. The mighty angel declares that when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet then it is done. The mystery of God as declared by the prophets will be fulfilled. To gain further clarity about what is being told to us, we must recognize that this picture is found in Daniel 12. In Daniel 12:7 we see the same angel taking the same stand and taking the same oath. And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. (Daniel 12:7 ESV) Brent Kercheville clean 39:01 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/little-scroll.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation10.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/DfF02dAsqg8/destroyer.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/destroyer.html#comments Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:00:56 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=211 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/destroyer.html/feed 0 revelation 9 Revelation 8 has revealed devastating images of judgment as God unleashes his wrath because of the sins of the Jewish nation. These were partial judgments intended to bring about their repentance (a point that is made clear in Revelation 9). Revelation 8 has revealed devastating images of judgment as God unleashes his wrath because of the sins of the Jewish nation. These were partial judgments intended to bring about their repentance (a point that is made clear in Revelation 9). Revelation 9 is going to reveal where these judgments are coming. That is, we are going to learn who is doing the destroying against the Jewish nation. The Fifth Trumpet (9:1-12) The fallen star (9:1-2). The fifth trumpet sounds and John sees a star fallen from heaven to earth. This star that falls was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. The pit is literally the abyss (see HCSB, NIV, and NET). We immediately want to know who is this star that has fall from heaven (notice that the star is called a "he"). A single star falling from the sky to the earth is a common picture in scriptures of a mighty king or ruler. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:12 ESV) Isaiah 14:4 tells us that Isaiah was prophesying against the king of Babylon. Revelation uses similar imagery in Revelation 12:7-9 shows Satan and his angels being thrown down to the earth. In Luke 10:17-18 we see Jesus using the same imagery also. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (Luke 10:17–18 ESV) In all of these cases the imagery symbolizes a mighty king or ruler losing his power to some degree, if not completely. We will learn who this king is in verse 11. Before we get to the description of who is causing this trouble, we are going to learn the devastation that comes from this judgment. The fallen star opens the shaft of the abyss and billows of smoke come out of the shaft and darken the sun. The darkening of the sun represents the doom and destruction of a nation. The end is coming for a nation. Smoke also represents divine judgment. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah used the same language. And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.  (Genesis 19:28 ESV) Locusts (9:3-6). With the abyss open and the smoke rising John sees locusts coming from the smoke. We know these locusts are symbolic for something because the locusts are told not to harm the grass, any green plant or tree, or those who have the seal of God on their foreheads. True locusts destroy plants, grass, and trees. The locusts are symbolic and locusts are used as a symbol in the Old Testament. In Joel 1:4-7 we read Joel describing a locust invasion that had struck the land of Israel. Based on this event, Joel describes a nation that will come against Israel like a locust invasion. Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near, 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations. 3 Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run. 5 As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle. (Joel 2:1–5 ESV) Notice that the locusts sound like a powerful army coming against the nation of Israel. Verses 4-5 make the connection that the locusts are an army very clear. The locusts have the appearance of horses and they leap like the rumbling of chariots. Brent Kercheville clean 41:26 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/destroyer.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation9.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/zKewmYTNz1Y/seven-thunders.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-thunders.html#comments Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=206 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-thunders.html/feed 0 revelation 8 The Seventh Seal (8:1-5) Revelation 8 begins with the seventh seal opening. When the seventh seal was opened by the Lamb, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. What does this silence represent? The Seventh Seal (8:1-5) Revelation 8 begins with the seventh seal opening. When the seventh seal was opened by the Lamb, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. What does this silence represent? In the prophets there is a call for silence because God is acting in judgment. Notice Zechariah 2:13 — "Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling." In Habakkuk 2 judgment is pronounced and the images of judgment conclude with a call for silence. "But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him" (Habakkuk 2:20). God is acting. Sit silently and watch. The scene then reveals seven angels who stand before God. We have not read about these seven angels before. Jewish apocalyptic writings declare that there were seven angels before the throne and even name these angels (1 Enoch 20:2-8). Each of the angels are given a trumpet and these trumpets will bring judgment on the earth. Verses 3-5 depict a beautiful picture. Another angel takes incense and puts it in his censer. The smoke of the incense rises up to God. The prayers of all the people of God are shown rising before God. The incense is a symbol showing that their prayers are acceptable to God. Then the angel takes the censer, fills it with fire from the altar, and throws it on the earth. God is responding to the prayers of all the saints. God in action are often depicted as thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and earthquakes (see Mount Sinai; Exodus 19:16-19). Therefore, these judgments are in response to the prayers of the holy people of God. The First Trumpet (8:6-7) The first angel blows his trumpet and hail and fire mixed with blood are thrown upon the earth. The imagery is similar to the Egyptian plague of hail and fire (Exodus 9:22-25). Hail and fire are common symbols of God's judgment. "With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him; and I will pour down torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur, upon him and his troops and the many peoples that are with him." (Ezekiel 38:22 NRSV) Sodom and Gomorrah along with the cities of the plains were destroyed by raining fire and sulfur. Notice the destruction that occurs when this first trumpet sounds. Only one-third of the earth is burned up. Only a third of the trees and green grass are burned up. Saying that a third is destroyed is God's way of saying that a portion are destroyed. Notice another place in prophecy where God speaks of thirds in judgment. "In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" (Zechariah 13:8–9 ESV) These are images of partial judgments. In each of the first four trumpets we will read that only one-third are destroyed. These partial judgments were predicted in the first four seals of Revelation 6. Now those partial judgments are occurring. The Second Trumpet (8:8-9) The second angel blows his trumpet and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. Then a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died and a third of the ships were destroyed. This image of judgment is also patterned after the Egyptian plague when the Nile was turned to blood (Exodus 7:20-21). A great mountain is symbolic for the overthrow of a kingdom. In speaking about Babylon's coming judgment, Jeremiah prophesied: "Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, declares the LORD, which destroys the whole earth; I will stretch out my hand against you, and roll you down from the crags, and make you a burnt mountain." (Jeremiah 51:25 ESV) Remember also the first prophecy of Daniel with the large statue of different metals. Brent Kercheville clean 31:19 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-thunders.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation8.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/4HPlq27jxG4/washed.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/washed.html#comments Sun, 07 Nov 2010 19:00:43 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=197 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/washed.html/feed 0 revelation 7 In our last lesson we saw the image of the 144,000. We are told that the 144,000 are the servants of God (7:3). They are sealed in spiritual protection from the tribulation events. The sealing also pictures that they are owned by God because they are f... In our last lesson we saw the image of the 144,000. We are told that the 144,000 are the servants of God (7:3). They are sealed in spiritual protection from the tribulation events. The sealing also pictures that they are owned by God because they are faithful to him. After seeing the 144,000 John turns to see a new image of a great multitude. The Unnumbered Multitude (7:9-10) John sees a great multitude, so great that no one can number them. They come from every nation, peoples, and languages and they are standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Further, the great multitude is clothed in white and have palm branches in their hands. We have seen the imagery of the white robes many times in this book. In Revelation 6:11 we see the servants of God who have been slain for the word of God are each given a white robe. We observed in Revelation 6 that the white robes picture conquering and victory (6:2). Just as we saw with the servants of God who had been killed, the picture is victory because they have remained pure and faithful to God. In a similar way, palm branches were also a symbol of victory. In John 12:13 we read about Jesus and his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The people are crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed in he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!" Remember that the people who are crying out these words are holding palm branches. In John 12 the palm branches denote the victory of Christ as the ruling king. In Revelation it is the great multitude that is pictured victorious. They are wearing white robes and holding palm branches signifying the victory this unnumbered multitude has obtained. This victory and deliverance is not because of themselves or because of who they are. Verse 10 tells us why this unnumbered multitude has victory. The multitude is crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" The multitude recognizes that their victory is really God's victory. Salvation belongs to our God and because of this truth we experience salvation and deliverance. Calling this large group, "a great multitude that no one could number" is the picture of God fulfilling his promise to Abraham. Recall the promises God gave to Abraham. When Abraham questioned if he would have any offspring, notice God's response. And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Genesis 15:5 ESV) Then when Jacob fears for his life because Esau is going to kill him, Jacob prays to God and counts the promise that was made to his grandfather Abraham. But you said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.'" (Genesis 32:12 ESV) Revelation 7 is picturing this innumerable multitude. We will see this further explained in verses 14-17. Worship God (7:11-12) Verse 11 brings back the scene revealed to us in chapter 4. All the angels around the throne of God fall on their faces before the throne and worship God. They worship God declaring that God is worthy of worship. Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to God forever and ever. Verse 12 is  a statement about who has the power. God has the power. Nations do not have the power, even though they are killing the people of God. God brings salvation and deliverance. God has power and is in control. Who Is The Unnumbered Multitude? (7:13-17) Verse 13 draws the question to the forefront that we have wondered while reading this text. Who are these that are clothed in white robes and where have they come from? One of the 24 elders asks John this question. It is not that the elder does not know because is going to give an answer in a moment. Rather, the elder is wanting John to consider this question. Who are this people? John reveals that he does not know but that the elder does. Brent Kercheville clean 39:09 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/washed.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation7b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/BVKqkvtkmLM/lukewarm-christianity.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/lukewarm-christianity.html#comments Sun, 31 Oct 2010 10:00:57 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=191 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/lukewarm-christianity.html/feed 0 church in Laodicea,letter to seven churches,revelation 3,seven churches of asia Do you make our Lord Jesus want to vomit? The church at Laodicea is the last church that Jesus writes to in his letters to the seven churches of Asia. This is the church that made God sick. This is a terrible thought. Do you make our Lord Jesus want to vomit? The church at Laodicea is the last church that Jesus writes to in his letters to the seven churches of Asia. This is the church that made God sick. This is a terrible thought. Here are people who are claiming to follow Jesus but their actions make Jesus sick. The problem is that these Christians practiced lukewarm Christianity. Let's look into the letter and see why they are lukewarm and what we can learn from their sins. Jesus' Self-Description (3:14) Jesus calls himself, "The Amen." This seems to be an unusual description for our Lord. The word, "Amen," means, "a strong affirmation of what is stated" (BDAG). Jesus used this word many times at the beginning of his teachings when he said, "Truly, truly I say unto you." The words, "Truly, truly" are the same Greek word repeated, "Amen, amen." The saying is faithful, trustworthy, and will assuredly happen. The apostle Paul spoke of Christ as the Amen. For every one of God's promises is "Yes" in Him. Therefore, the "Amen" is also spoken through Him by us for God's glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20 HCSB) Christ is the fulfillment of God's promises. He is the "yes" to God's promises. Jesus also calls himself, "The faithful and true witness." This description amplifies the truthful and fulfilling nature of Jesus in the title, Amen. Not only is Jesus the truth, but everything he speaks is faithful and true. What he says will happen. Finally, Jesus calls himself, "The beginning of God's creation." This does not mean that Jesus was the first created. That is not what we are being told. Rather, Christ was at the beginning of creation. One Greek lexicon (BDAG) uses the word,  "Commencement" to communicate the point. The idea is that Jesus is first in rank and power over God's creation. Therefore, some translations render these words to communicate better this idea. Some translations read, "The Originator of God's creation" (HCSB, NET), "the origin of God's creation" (NRSV), "the ruler of God's creation" (NIV, TNIV) and "the source of God's creation (God's Word). It is the same Greek word used in John 1:1 where we read that the Word was in the beginning with God. To sum up what Jesus is calling himself, he is saying that he is faithful and trustworthy in accomplishing all things. What he says will happen because he is the ruler and authority over all creation. Their Works (3:15-17) Jesus knows their works. I hope we have noticed that he knows the works of everyone. They are not hot or cold, but lukewarm. Often a mistake is made in thinking that Jesus is saying that he would rather a person be fully devoted to God (hot) or not devoted at all to God (cold) rather than lukewarm. However, there is not a spiritual advantage before God to be a completely rebellious sinner. To understand the imagery we need to understand a little bit about the city of Laodicea. The city of Hieropolis, seven miles to the north, was known for its hot springs. The city of Colosse, less than 10 miles to the south, was known for its cold waters that were pure and drinkable. Laodicea had the unfortunate circumstance of having neither. When trying to pipe in the hot waters from Hieropolis, the water was lukewarm after the seven mile distance. The water was also dirty and impure once the water got to Laodicea. The picture Jesus is giving is that they are useless and valueless. Hot water has use and value. Cold water has use and value. But you, O Laodicean church, are lukewarm. You are not fit for healing or for drinking. Jesus is not saying, "Be saved or be lost." Rather, Jesus is revealing the current useless state of these Christians just like their water supply. Why are these Christians useless? What has happened that the Lord says that he wants to vomit them out of his mouth? They think they are rich because of their physical possessions that they have. However, they are not rich toward God. They are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Brent Kercheville clean 47:15 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/lukewarm-christianity.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation3c.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/hPEQ6ovrejM/sealing-the-144000.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/sealing-the-144000.html#comments Sun, 24 Oct 2010 19:00:56 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=181 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/sealing-the-144000.html/feed 0 revelation 7 Chapter 6 has revealed that judgments are about to be unleashed. The four horsemen revealed war, famine, and death. The souls of the slain believers are crying out how long until God brings justice and righteousness. Chapter 6 has revealed that judgments are about to be unleashed. The four horsemen revealed war, famine, and death. The souls of the slain believers are crying out how long until God brings justice and righteousness. They are told to rest a little while longer and that more are going to die before judgment is unleashed. Revelation 6:12-17 showed us that a nation is about to fall. We have not been told specifically what nation is the object of God's wrath at this point. There have been many clues, but nothing definitive yet. The point thus far is that it will be "lights out" for this nation and the rest of the earth is to see God's wrath and learn from it. Before these judgments begin there is something that must happen first. This brings our study into Revelation 7. Restraining The Winds (7:1-3) Verse 1 reveals four angels restraining the four winds so that no wind might blow on the earth. The imagery is that these judgments we have read about in chapter 6 are being restrained temporarily. The earth, the sea, or any tree is not allowed to be affected yet. The angels are restraining sweeping judgment. The reason the winds are restrained is explained in verses 2-3. The servants of God must be sealed before these judgments are unleashed. An angel is pictured with the seal of the living God declaring that the earth must not be harmed until the servants of God are sealed on their foreheads. Before we can continue we must examine what it means for the servants of God to be sealed. Ezekiel 9 reveals similar imagery. Ezekiel 9:1 records that judgment is coming against the city of Jerusalem. "Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand" (Ezekiel 9:1). Before this judgment is brought against the city, the people of God are to be sealed first. And the LORD said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it." 5 And to the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. 6 Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house. (Ezekiel 9:4–6 ESV) The sealing has many meanings. God sealing his people pictures protection, security, ownership, and preservation. As we return to Revelation 7 we must consider which aspect of God's sealing is being emphasized. Could the sealing mean that the people of God would not suffer physical harm or death during these judgments? The reason is because of what we learned in Revelation 6:11. The slain saints were told that there were more servants of God that were going to be killed as they had been killed. Also, the letters to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3 also predicted suffering and death for those Christians (Revelation 2:10,13; 3:10). The sealing is not physical protection. However, Revelation 9:4 shows that the sealing is for protection. Those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads are going to be harmed along with earth. Therefore, the nature of God's protection must be spiritual. This spiritual protection will be further illustrated in Revelation 7:9-17 and will be explored further in that upcoming study. There is one other aspect of the sealing of God's people that cannot be overlooked. The other important function of the sealing in Revelation is to identify those who are God's. The sealing represents authentication and ownership. The sealed are those who are truly the people of God. This will be contrasted later in Revelation 13 where we will read about those who have the mark of the beast (13:16-17). That marking shows that those people belong to the beast. Those who have the seal of the living God are belong to God. The 144,000 (7:4-8) Brent Kercheville clean 36:28 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/sealing-the-144000.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation7.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/L6QRcYwlZh8/secure-in-christ.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/secure-in-christ.html#comments Sun, 24 Oct 2010 10:00:55 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=180 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/secure-in-christ.html/feed 0 christ,church in Philadelphia,letter to seven churches,revelation 3,seven churches of asia We all want to have a feeling of security. From home alarms to seat belts we want to feel secure in the things we are doing. Christ also wants to give his people a feeling of security. In this message to the church of Philadelphia, We all want to have a feeling of security. From home alarms to seat belts we want to feel secure in the things we are doing. Christ also wants to give his people a feeling of security. In this message to the church of Philadelphia, Christ tells them about the sure promises they have by being his devoted followers. Jesus' Self-Description As Jesus opens his message to the church in Philadelphia he calls himself the holy one and true one. Further he says that he has the key of David. Whatever he opens no one will shut and whatever he shuts no one will open. This is a curious beginning mainly because this is not how Christ is described in the first chapter. Up to this point Christ's description has used imagery found in the first chapter of Revelation in each of the letters to the seven churches. This is the first time that Jesus' self-description does not use a previously used image of Christ in Revelation. What is Christ saying about himself? The holy one and true one are both messianic titles (Mark 1:24; John 6:69). Christ is the one they are to put their hope and trust in. He is the holy and true Messiah. Christ also says that he has the key of David. This image comes from Isaiah 22:22 where the key represents authority over the kingdom. Christ has complete authority concerning his kingdom. If he opens doors, then those doors stay open. If he closes doors, then those doors stay closed. Jesus holds power over salvation and judgment. This imagery will be important in Christ's message to the church in Philadelphia. Christ's Open Door Christ begins by noting that he knows their works. In fact, Jesus does not have any condemnation for this church. Everything Christ says is in praise and encouragement of these Christians. Christ says that they have little power. This probably indicates that this is a church that is smaller in number and in impact in the community. Nevertheless, these Christians have kept Christ's word and had not denied him. These Christians were small in number and presence, looked down on and persecuted, but they were faithful. This point is an important reminder for us in a world that glorifies mega-churches. People today often look merely at the size of a church, assuming the bigger the better. Some even think that something is wrong if you are not a large church. Christ's message is that physical size is not important. Faithfulness is what is important. The church in Philadelphia apparently is small in its power to make an impact in their city. However, this church does not have any condemnation against them. While every church desires to grow numerically, size does not necessarily define faithfulness. Christ says that he set before them an open door which no one is able to shut. There are many different ways commentators have viewed what is being told to these Christians. But we need to tie this point to the context of verse 7. Christ has the key of David and what he opens cannot be shut. Christ has opened a door for the Christians in Philadelphia. The key of David refers to Christ's kingdom. Christ is the holy and true Messiah who has authority as he rules in his kingdom. He has opened the door for entrance into his kingdom which no one can shut. This is a picture that Jesus repeatedly used while he taught on the earth to help us understand that he was opening the way to salvation and participation in the kingdom. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:7–9 ESV) And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:23–24 ESV) Christ has established an open door to salvation. Brent Kercheville clean 32:19 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/secure-in-christ.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation3b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/mxbvw1Ee1Ug/seven-seals-2.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-seals-2.html#comments Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:00:40 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=168 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-seals-2.html/feed 0 judgement,lamb of god,revelation 6,scroll,the lamb The first four seals have been opened and what has been revealed is sweeping judgment. Four different colored horses have been unleashed to conquer, wage war, bring famine, and kill with sword, pestilence, famine, and wile beasts. The first four seals have been opened and what has been revealed is sweeping judgment. Four different colored horses have been unleashed to conquer, wage war, bring famine, and kill with sword, pestilence, famine, and wile beasts. We noted in our last lesson that these seals have parallel to the imagery Jesus reveals in Matthew 24 concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. We also noticed in our last lesson that these four tools of death (sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts) were the tools promised by God to use against Israel if they were disobedient. With these thoughts in our minds, let us continue to read as the seals continue to open. The Fifth Seal (6:9-11) The Lamb opens the fifth seal and we have a change of imagery. The four horsemen have been unleashed to conquer, to make war, to send famine, and bring death. Our attention is turned to the souls who have been slain because of the word of God and for their witness. The souls of Christians who died under persecution for Christ are seen under the altar. The altar depicts their sacrificial suffering because of their faith and their witness. This is a sad scene. A picture of the people of God who have been killed for the word of God and for their testimony. Their physical bodies were killed but their souls are seen under the altar crying out in a loud voice. They are crying out these words, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" They are crying out for justice. This is an appeal to God's justice. It is a cry that is similar to the words of the prophet Habakkuk. Look at the wickedness that is going on throughout the earth. How long, Lord, until you judge and bring justice? The answer given is rather interesting and somewhat depressing. The slain people of God are pictured as being given a white robe. The white robe is a picture of purity and faithfulness. The greater image is that these souls are victorious. The white robe represents they are victorious because of their purity and faithfulness. At a Roman triumph the conquering general would wear a white robe (Osborne, 288). These saints are conquerors because they have been faithful (see the end of each letter to the seven churches of Asia). The answer continues that these martyred souls were to rest for a little longer. Judgment was not going to happen immediately. They must rest a little long "until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been." There are more who are going to be slain for Christ before these judgments unfold. The answer seems to be that God is not stopping the death of his people right now. More are going to die for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus before judgment is unleashed on the earth. Before we leave this point we must remember that the scriptures tell us that the persecutor of Christians in the first century is the Jews. The book of Acts reveals that Stephen is killed by the Jewish authorities. Paul is persecuted, stoned, and left for dead by the Jews. The Jews chase Paul and his companions from city to city stirring up the crowds against them. It is the Jews that raid Jason's house in Thessalonica. Too often we focus on the Roman persecution of Christians and forget that the Jews are also persecutors of the people of God. To wrap this point, go back to the seven churches of Asia and notice who are persecuting the Christians. It is those who say they are Jews but are not. They are a synagogue of Satan. This is stated to the church in Smyrna and the church of Philadelphia. The Jewish people are claiming to be God's people, but Christ says they are not. The Sixth Seal (6:12-17) The sixth seal is opened and devastating things happen. There is a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood and the stars fell from the sky like a fig tree losing its fruit in a windstorm. Brent Kercheville clean 40:35 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-seals-2.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation6b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/Dyg8yI5sKlM/dead-or-alive.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/dead-or-alive.html#comments Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:00:11 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=166 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/dead-or-alive.html/feed 0 church in Sardis,letter to seven churches,revelation 3,seven churches of asia Introduction: From time to time I see in the newspaper that bands of my childhood come to town to play. Some of the bands that are still touring today that were touring in the 1980s and I am shocked to see it. I will think to myself, "Wow, Introduction: From time to time I see in the newspaper that bands of my childhood come to town to play. Some of the bands that are still touring today that were touring in the 1980s and I am shocked to see it. I will think to myself, "Wow, those guys are still touring?" The reason it is strange to me is because these bands are not putting out any new songs or any new music. They are simply playing the hits that were so great 20-30 years ago. They are living on the reputation that they made for themselves decades ago. But they are not creating any new, fresh music. In Christ's letter to the church in Sardis, he gets directly to the point and gets immediately to the heart of the problem. Christ describes himself as the one who is in charge, holding the seven stars and has the seven spirits of God. Christ knows the works of the church at Sardis and they are dead. This is a dead church. In the other letters to the seven churches so far, Christ knowing their works has been a good thing for the church. Christ sees what the Christians are doing in their love, faith, and service. Christ also knows the works of the church in Sardis and those works are not good. Even more interesting is the fact that no one knew they were a dead church. The church in Sardis had a reputation of being alive, but they were not living up to the reputation. The problem that Christ exposes is superficial Christianity. They claim to be of Christ but they do not live like they are of Christ. They are fake Christians. They claim to be Christians. They seem to be Christians. But they are dead. They are not putting what they know in the scriptures into practice. IGNITE: Are we fake Christians? Do we really have the love and devotion that Christ is looking for in his followers? Or are we simply wearing the name but our actions do not reflect the name we claim? It is time to stop being fake. It is time to strip the facade and get real with Jesus. We will never grow or catch fire when we are faking it. We will not be devoted followers until we get real about what we are doing. Stop going through the motions. Stop mentally checking out. Stop being bystanders in worship. Mentally and physically participate in a relationship with Jesus. As we go through this lesson we will explore things we can do to strip the facade and have a real relationship with Jesus. Wake Up! (3:2-3) Christ calls for them to wake up. It is time to show themselves to be watchful and ready because right now they are simply sleeping. They are dead. Strengthen what little remains. It is not too late to turn things around but what little faith you have left is about to die. Their works are not complete before the Lord. They are coming up short. Christ is calling for them to act quickly because they are at the point of no return. Christ further calls for them to remember what they had received and heard. They were asked to remember the teachings they had heard. Keep those words that had been taught to them and repent. You have received the teachings from Christ and the apostles. Remember what you have heard and keep those teachings. IGNITE: Was your week any different because of the teachings you heard? Does anything in our lives change week to week? We come together and hear the word of the Lord read and taught. Does anything change? Is anything in our lives different? Or are we dead? In our last lesson we examined "acceptable sins." Did we stop doing those sins? Did anything change in our lives? Are we still doing the same thing that we were doing the week before? Friends, do not call yourself a Christian if you are not walking away from your sins. We are showing ourselves to be as dead of a church as the church in Sardis if we come here week after week, hear the word of the Lord, and change nothing in our lives. Jesus' call to commitment is clear: he wants all or nothing. The thought of a person calling himself a "Christian" without being fully devoted to Christ is absurd. Brent Kercheville clean 39:58 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/dead-or-alive.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation3.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/IJYbHiE0vqk/seven-seals.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-seals.html#comments Sun, 10 Oct 2010 19:00:47 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=153 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-seals.html/feed 0 lamb of god,matthew 24,revelation 6,the lamb The Lamb is the one worthy to open the scroll. The Lamb has gone to the one who sits on the throne and has taken the scroll from his hand. All of creation is praising the Lamb because he is worthy. Now the scroll is about to be opened, The Lamb is the one worthy to open the scroll. The Lamb has gone to the one who sits on the throne and has taken the scroll from his hand. All of creation is praising the Lamb because he is worthy. Now the scroll is about to be opened, one seal at a time. The first five chapters of Revelation have been in preparation for the unveiling of this concealed scroll. Chapter 6 begins to reveal the "things which must soon take place" (1:1). First Seal (6:1-2) The Lamb opens the first seal. When the seal is opened, one of the four living creatures said with a voice that sounded like thunder, "Come!" The first seal reveals a white horse. On the white horse was a rider holding a bow. A crown was given to the rider and he came out conquering and to conquer. These first four seals reveal what has been commonly called, "The four horsemen of the apocalypse." We read about these horses and riders in Zechariah 1:7-11 and Zechariah 6:1-8. In chapter 1 of Zechariah these horses and riders are shown to be the sent by the Lord to patrol the earth. In chapter 6 of Zechariah we see these horses and riders commanded to patrol the earth. The key to understanding this image is found in Zechariah 6:5. The four horses and riders are going out to the four winds of heaven. What does this mean? What do the four winds of heaven represent? The scripture use the four winds to refer to a sweeping judgment. Notice a few passages where the four winds are used. And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. (Jeremiah 49:36 ESV) And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these. (Daniel 11:4 ESV) Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the LORD. (Zechariah 2:6 ESV) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31 ESV) After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. (Revelation 7:1 ESV) In Zechariah, the four horsemen are going to the four winds of heaven to unleash this sweeping judgment. In Revelation they are doing the same thing. The image of the four horsemen is repeated to call to the readers' mind that this is an image of the coming of sweeping judgment. We need this knowledge so that we make the proper interpretation in this chapter. When we learn the role of the four horsemen in the Old Testament we see that we are not compelled to make each individual rider have a particular meaning. For example, many see the first rider on a white referring to Christ and many see the rider as the antichrist. However, this is not the intention of Revelation. In Zechariah there is a white horse with a rider, but it is not referring to Christ. It is just one of four horses that together are unleashing sweeping judgment. The picture in verse 2 is straight forward and is not intended to be made complicated. The rider of the horse is given a crown, that is, he is given authority. What does the rider have authority to do? He has authority to conquer and continue conquering. Christ has unleashed the power to conquer. The Second Seal (6:3-4) The Lamb opens the second seal and the second living creature also says, "Come!" The opened seal reveals a bright red horse. Its rider was given authority to take peace from the earth so that people would kill one another. Christ has unleashed the removal of peace and the bringing of war. The Third Seal (6:5-6) Brent Kercheville clean 36:51 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seven-seals.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation6.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/nSO7VICBugI/acceptable-sins.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/acceptable-sins.html#comments Sun, 10 Oct 2010 08:00:29 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=152 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/acceptable-sins.html/feed 0 church in Thyatira,letter to seven churches,revelation 2,seven churches of asia There are certain sins that we have the tendency to overlook. Jesus Knows (2:18-19) Jesus describes himself with words of fearful judgment. He has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze. There are certain sins that we have the tendency to overlook. Jesus Knows (2:18-19) Jesus describes himself with words of fearful judgment. He has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze. Jesus is shown with penetrating discernment a... Brent Kercheville clean 36:46 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/acceptable-sins.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation2d.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/GZgj3O4m06Q/worthy-is-lamb.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/worthy-is-lamb.html#comments Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:00:51 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=139 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/worthy-is-lamb.html/feed 0 christ,jesus,lamb of god,revelation 5,the lamb The cry has gone throughout heaven and earth looking for the one who is worthy to open the scroll. John looks and sees the Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. We noted in our last lesson that this shows the way the Lion of the tribe of Judah wo... The cry has gone throughout heaven and earth looking for the one who is worthy to open the scroll. John looks and sees the Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. We noted in our last lesson that this shows the way the Lion of the tribe of Judah would conquer. The Christ will not conquer by physical force or military might but through his sacrificial death on the cross. The Lamb (5:6-8) The Lamb has many unique characteristics that we need to observe. First, the Lamb has seven horns. We will notice throughout the book of Revelation that the number seven represents completeness and perfection. A horn on one's head represents power and strength, like an animal that has horns on its head shows power (cf. Daniel 7:7,20). Christ is the Lamb that was slain, but he is seen with perfect power and strength. This is not a defenseless lamb. This is not a weak lamb. This lamb has complete, sovereign power. Further, the Lamb has seven eyes. John tells us the meaning of the seven eyes, "which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth." This is the third time we have read about the seven spirits of God. Revelation 1:4 and Revelation 4:5 are the other places where the book also refers to the seven spirits of God. In our previous studies in mentioned that we would wait until Revelation 5:6 before we fully explored the meaning of this symbol. "The seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth" comes from Zechariah 4:10. Zechariah 4:10 says, "These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." The prophetic picture in Zechariah is the promise that God would accomplish the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The word of the Lord tells Zerubbabel, who was the leader of the people of the first return from Babylonian captivity, that it would not be by physical might or power, but by God's Spirit that these things would be accomplished. God sees all that is happening (hence the seven eyes representing perfect knowledge and perfect sight) and will accomplish his plans and purposes. Remember that the people were prevented from rebuilding the temple when they first returned. Thus, the temple of the Lord remained desolate. God is declaring in this prophecy that he sees all that is going on in the earth. God knew that their plans of rebuilding had been frustrated. But God had decreed for the temple to be rebuilt and therefore it will be rebuilt by the power of God's Spirit. Bring this meaning into Revelation 5. God knows and sees all that is happening on the earth. God knows their persecution and suffering. However, God's plans will not be thwarted. The Lamb will rule. The Lamb will conquer. God's Spirit is at work and God will fulfill his promises and prophecies. The Lamb is the instrument through which all of God's plans will be fulfilled. In verse 7 we read the Lamb takes the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. When he took the scroll, look at what happens. The four living creatures and the 24 elders fall down before the Lamb. Remember in chapter 4 that the four living creatures and the 24 elders were worshiping the one who sits on the throne. The 24 elders were falling down before God as he sits on the throne. Now the four living creatures and the 24 elders are falling down and worshiping the Lamb. The point is simple yet powerful. The Lamb is divine. The Lamb is God. The Lamb is worthy of worship. We are shown one other interesting aspect concerning the 24 elders. Verse 7 tells us that the 24 elders are holding a harp and the golden bowls of incense. John tells us the golden bowls of incense represent the prayers of the saints. We see prayer pictured as the smoke of the incense rise up to God in Psalm 141:2 and Luke 1:9-10. The saints are not special people, as sometimes thought of by those in religion. Rather, in scripture the saints is a shorthand way of speaking about God's people who have been set apart and made holy. A beautiful picture is placed before us. Brent Kercheville clean 37:54 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/worthy-is-lamb.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation5b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/Und_EExxyN0/the-scroll.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/the-scroll.html#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:00:20 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=132 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/the-scroll.html/feed 0 lamb of god,revelation 5,scroll Revelation 4 revealed the scene in the throne room of heaven. God is sitting on the throne in splendor and glory. The four living creatures and 24 elders are praising and worshiping God because he is worthy and deserving of honor. Revelation 4 revealed the scene in the throne room of heaven. God is sitting on the throne in splendor and glory. The four living creatures and 24 elders are praising and worshiping God because he is worthy and deserving of honor. The focus shifts from the throne and the one who sits on the throne in chapter 4 to the scroll in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne in chapter 5. In this lesson we are going to examine the scroll and its meaning in Revelation and its meaning in Old Testament prophecy. The Scroll's Writing There are a couple unique attributes about this scroll. The first unique characteristic is its seven seals. In its simplicity, the seven seals reveal that the scroll is perfectly and completely sealed. As we are going to notice, no human can open the scroll. The scroll is fully sealed until the proper time and the proper person to open the scroll. We will also notice as we continue our study of Revelation in future lessons that as each seal is broken, an event happens on the earth. This imagery will be important to keep in mind as we study through the book. The other unique aspect of the scroll is that it has writing on both sides. Usually a scroll had writing on only one side. The simple meaning of the image presents itself to us. A scroll with writing on both sides pictures a complete message. The whole scroll has writing, even on both sides. Therefore, God's complete message is ready to be revealed. The image of a scroll with writing on both sides is not unique to the scriptures. In Ezekiel 2:9-10 we read that in Ezekiel's vision he is given a scroll that has writing on both sides. And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. (Ezekiel 2:9–10 ESV) Notice the scroll given to Ezekiel has the same characteristic of having writing on the front and back. Ezekiel also notices that the scroll is full of words of lamentation, mourning, and woe. I think we have an indication of the things we are going to read in the Revelation scroll when we are told that it has writing on both sides. It is a scroll of judgments and woes. The Scroll's Identity Before we can move forward, I think we must ask an important question. What is this scroll? Where did this scroll come from? There are two choices: either we know nothing about the scroll and we are going to find out the meaning of the scroll now, or this scroll is the same scroll that we have seen elsewhere in the scriptures.   Typically, the book of Revelation has been studied as if this scroll has no reference to any scrolls in the Old Testament. Many scholars and writers do not examine the significance of this scroll in the scriptures. However, there are many reasons to consider that this scroll in Revelation 5 is the same scroll found in the book of Daniel. We mentioned at the beginning of our study of the book of Revelation that the word "revelation" means an unveiling of things previously concealed. The name of the book has the very idea built into it that this book is revealing previously concealed information. The scroll in Revelation 5 is the visualization of this truth. The scroll, something that has been sealed with seven seals, is now opened. The scroll has writing on both sides, but no one knows what the scroll says until the scroll is opened. The scroll in Daniel 12 appears to be the same scroll that is in view in the book of Revelation. Turn to Daniel 12:4-9. Daniel is told that the words of the book are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Then we see a man clothed in linen standing above the waters of the stream. He raises his right hand and left hand toward heaven and makes an oath that it will be a time, times, and half a time when "all these things would be finished. Brent Kercheville clean 39:12 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/the-scroll.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation5.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/kAHgqsrujCw/stand-for-truth.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/stand-for-truth.html#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:00:33 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=134 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/stand-for-truth.html/feed 0 church in Pergamum,letter to seven churches,revelation 2,seven churches of asia Have you seen this new symbol on t-shirts called COEXIST? Each letter in COEXIST is a symbol representing a religion or belief. The C is for Islam with its crescent moon. The O is for peace with the peace symbol that we have seen for decades. Have you seen this new symbol on t-shirts called COEXIST? Each letter in COEXIST is a symbol representing a religion or belief. The C is for Islam with its crescent moon. The O is for peace with the peace symbol that we have seen for decades. The E rep... Brent Kercheville clean 40:58 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/stand-for-truth.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation2c.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/-uhUSx9YaIY/holy-holy-holy.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/holy-holy-holy.html#comments Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:00:17 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=121 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/holy-holy-holy.html/feed 0 heaven,revelation 4 Revelation 4 has drawn our attention to the throne of God as we look into heaven. God is seated on the throne and he is active. From the throne come flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. These images symbolize God's action, Revelation 4 has drawn our attention to the throne of God as we look into heaven. God is seated on the throne and he is active. From the throne come flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. These images symbolize God's action, in particular his judgments, against the earth. The brilliance of the throne room is overwhelming. We have seen the glimmer of crystals and fiery red colors on the throne. John sees a rainbow around the throne that shines like an emerald. There is a sea of glass like crystal before the throne and there are 24 elders seated on 24 thrones that are around the throne. Also around the throne are four living creatures. They have the faces of a lion, an ox, and human, and an eagle in flight. This brings us to verses 8-11 for the rest of our study. The Lord Is Holy (4:8) As John looks he sees the four living creatures around the throne. Each of them have six wings and are full of eyes all around and within. But turn your attention away from what they look like and listen to what they say. "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." How often do these four living creatures say these words? John tells us that these creatures say these words day and night. They never stop saying these words. Can you visualize the scene? Can you hear the repetition? A double repetition signifies an emphasis on the word. A triple repetition designates a superlative and calls to our attention the infinite holiness of God. It must not be lost upon us this is the only characteristic of God that is repeated three times. We never read, "Love, love, love, is the Lord God Almighty." We never read, "Anger, anger, anger, is the Lord God Almighty." We never read, "Mercy, mercy, mercy, is the Lord God Almighty." Consider how many characteristics of the Lord that could have been used to describe him. The quality that the four living creatures ascribe to the Lord is his holiness. We must not pass this thought by too quickly. Three times the holiness of God is repeated. This is not an isolated incident. In Isaiah 6 these four living creatures are called seraphim. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:2–3 ESV) We learn that when we think about the Lord, we must have his holiness firmly placed in our minds.  The attribute of his holiness that is emphasized is not his sinlessness. Rather, the emphasis is on his authority and power. Notice that when his holiness is described, God's power and authority is described with it. In Revelation 4:8 we read, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty." The one with all power, all authority, and all might is holy. In Isaiah 6 notice the same refrain, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts" or "Lord of armies." Psalm 99 ties these two concepts of holiness and power together also. The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! 4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them. 7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. 8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! (Psalm 99:1–9 ESV) Notice that the Lord reigns, is enthroned, Brent Kercheville clean 32:20 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/holy-holy-holy.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation4b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/6mSUXT63Aow/faith-under-fire.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/faith-under-fire.html#comments Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:00:26 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=122 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/faith-under-fire.html/feed 0 church in Smyrna,letter to seven churches,revelation 2,seven churches of asia Are you rich? One of the ways that we lose our fire for the Lord is in our failure to see how rich we are. This is the focus that the Christians in the city of Smyrna are to have concerning the suffering they are about to experience. - Are you rich? One of the ways that we lose our fire for the Lord is in our failure to see how rich we are. This is the focus that the Christians in the city of Smyrna are to have concerning the suffering they are about to experience. The city of Smyrna had imperial cult temples to Emperor Tiberius and later to Emperor Hadrian. The cities in the province of Asia competed for the privilege to have this temple to Tiberius established and Smyrna won the competition (similar to how cities compete for the right to host the Olympic Games). Smyrna claimed to be the first in the province in Asia in beauty and emperor loyalty. The city was also the first in Asia to build a temple to the goddess Roma (195 BC). Smyrna is a city that is very loyal to Rome and the emperors. Each year the citizens had to offer sacrifices to Caesar. This would be a problem for Christians who would not be willing to offer sacrifices in honor of the emperor, as many emperors demanded worship. Emperor Domitian is one such emperor who demanded that he be worshiped and Smyrna would certainly have been a city to enforce such worship. We also read in the book of Acts that the Jews were creating a persecution against Christians. Paul himself, before he became a Christian, was one of the lead persecutors of Christians. The book of Acts reveals the Jews using the Roman authorities to bring about imprisonment, suffering, and sometimes even the death of those who believed Jesus to be the Messiah. It is a world we do not understand but a world that many Christians experience outside of the United States. These are the factors that we need to have in mind as we approach Jesus' letter to the church in the city of Smyrna. Jesus' Self-Description (2:8) How Jesus describes himself indicates the kind of message he is going to give to the church in Smyrna. These are the words of the one who has died and has come back to life. Keep that description in mind as we read about what is going to happen to these Christians. I Know (2:9) Jesus says that he knows the tribulation and persecution the Christians are suffering. He knows that they are currently enduring suffering where they live. It is likely that the strong Roman loyalty and spirit in this city caused conflicts and suffering for the Christians who live there. Further, Jesus knows their poverty. The Greek word for poverty indicates they are not simply poor, but they have real deprivation. It is not that they are living poor because they are not being paid well or do not have a job. It is a word that means they had nothing. However, Smyrna was a wealthy city. Therefore, the reason these Christians are in poverty is implied. They have lost their wealth and possessions for Christ. They are suffering economically because they will not show their loyalty to the emperor or to Rome. Economic pressure was an easy way to begin harming Christians in the first century. I wonder if we would have the same patient endurance that these Christians displayed if we suffered economic loss because we were Christians. I wonder this because many lose their faith in Jesus when they suffer economic loss and the loss is not for the cause of Christ. The loss is simply a matter of the economy, a lost job, or poor decision making. Would we be Christians if wearing the name of Jesus meant you would lose your house, your car, and your possessions? Would we be loyal to Jesus even in the face of economic loss? Are our hearts so in love with God that someone could take everything else away and we would still love and serve God? Or are our hearts so in love with this world that if someone were to take away everything, we would be crushed, despondent, and forfeit our faith? I asked you earlier in the lesson if you thought you were rich. The Christians in Smyrna were in poverty. They had their goods and possessions taken away. Jesus even declares that they truly are in poverty. But Jesus tells that they they actually are rich. Brent Kercheville clean 36:26 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/faith-under-fire.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation2b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/BeAVxUkmnEo/view-of-heaven.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/view-of-heaven.html#comments Sun, 12 Sep 2010 19:00:30 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=114 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/view-of-heaven.html/feed 0 heaven,revelation 4,revelation of jesus christ Do you wonder what heaven looks like? Wouldn't it be great to have the opportunity to peer into the throne room of God and see what is going on in heaven? John gets the opportunity and he tells us what he saw. Do you wonder what heaven looks like? Wouldn't it be great to have the opportunity to peer into the throne room of God and see what is going on in heaven? John gets the opportunity and he tells us what he saw. There are three key texts that give us a p... Brent Kercheville clean 40:13 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/view-of-heaven.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation4.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/6LThC-Z5R8I/rekindle-your-love.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/rekindle-your-love.html#comments Sun, 12 Sep 2010 10:00:39 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=106 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/rekindle-your-love.html/feed 0 church in Ephesus,letter to seven churches,revelation 2,seven churches of asia There is something missing in our lives. There is something missing in our Christian walk. We know what we are supposed to do. We know that we are to serve God by staying away from various sins. Why is this so hard? There is something missing in our lives. There is something missing in our Christian walk. We know what we are supposed to do. We know that we are to serve God by staying away from various sins. Why is this so hard? Why does serving God seem so difficult? What inevitably happens is that serving God becomes a bunch of "don'ts." "Don't do this" and "don't do that." Is that all there is to this? Is that really what the Christian life supposed to be about? In this series of lessons we are going to look at what has gone wrong and see how change our perception of the Christian life from religion to love. Our base text for our studies will be the second and third chapters of Revelation. Even in the first century we will read of Christians who had similar problems. If Jesus wrote you a letter, what do you think he would say? If Jesus wrote this church a letter, what do you think he would say? In Revelation 2-3 Jesus is speaking to seven congregations. In this series of lessons we will look at how to ignite our lives for Jesus. Jesus Knows Your Good Works (2:2-3,6) Verse 1 tells us that this is Jesus speaking. He is the one we saw in chapter 1 who holds the seven stars in his right hand and is walking among the seven golden lampstands. The messenger of the church of Ephesus was to write these words down from Jesus. The city of Ephesus was a cosmopolitan city, with many similarities to our cities today in terms of morality. The city was known for its widespread sin and sexual immorality. We learn from verses 2-3 that the church at Ephesus is not an apostate church. These Christians are not engaged in worldliness. They are not participating in sexual immorality like the people around them in that city. The church had not rejected the teachings of Christ. They have the right doctrine. They do not bear with evil. They are testing teachers to make sure that what is being taught are the very words of God. They are patiently enduring, as we studied in James 5:7-12. They are holding fast to the faith and are not giving up on God in the face of suffering and difficulties. This is a church that is sound in the truth, not caving into sin, and not giving up on God. They do not tolerate evil. They even hate the teaching and the works of the Nicolaitans, a false teaching about which we do not have information. I believe we would be very pleased with this church. I think we would be happy to members of the church of Ephesus. But everything is not good. Abandoned The Love (2:4) Imagine that Jesus wrote you a letter. Imagine that Jesus wrote a letter to this church. These should be chilling words to our ears. "But I have this against you." There is a problem. They have abandoned the love they had at first. When did we turn God into a to do list? The call of the Christian is not some sort of checklist that must be completed to make God happy. Following Jesus is not a life of rule keeping. How boring and mundane to turn having a relationship with God into a "don't do this" list! What is the first and greatest commandment? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37; ESV). What is the second commandment? "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39; ESV). Have we lost that? Are we missing the need to love God? The commandment is the love the Lord. Jesus writes to the church of Ephesus as says that you are doing all these things but you do not have the love for me. Where is the love? "On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:40; ESV). What we do for God is based on love, not a list. How much would you appreciate your spouse telling you that you are going to keep all of your spousal duties, but I do not love you anymore? We don't want people to do things just to do them. We want love to be the basis as to why we act. Jesus says that they had lost the love they had at the first. The fire for the Lord was gone. Their love had grown cold. Brent Kercheville clean 40:59 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/rekindle-your-love.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation2.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/zqj_QXxWnS4/seeing-jesus.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seeing-jesus.html#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:00:10 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=88 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seeing-jesus.html/feed 0 letter to seven churches,revelation 1,revelation of jesus christ,seven churches of asia As we read what John sees, I ask you to visualize and imagine the descriptions given. The book of Revelation is a picture book. The images are intended to teach and to spark an emotion upon seeing the things John sees. John tells his audience that he is on Patmos, suffering for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. It is the first day of the week, Sunday, which John calls the Lord's day and John is seeing a vision. John hears a loud voice behind him and the voice sounds like trumpets. Imagine the sound of the trumpet in your mind. Hear that powerful sound in your mind. The voice instructs John to write the things he sees in a book and send it to the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. As we read what John sees, I ask you to visualize and imagine the descriptions given. The book of Revelation is a picture book. The images are intended to teach and to spark an emotion upon seeing the things John sees. What John Saw (1:12-16) John turns to see who is speaking. When he turns, John sees seven golden lampstands. Recall that we learned in verse 1 that these images represent something. This is a book that is written in symbols and we must understand what the symbols mean. In verse 20 we are told what this symbol means. The seven lampstands represent the seven churches who were to receive this letter. In the middle of the seven lampstands is one like the son of man. We mentioned in our last lesson that the voice of trumpets reminds us of Exodus 19 when there was a loud sound like trumpets as God came to Mount Sinai to give the ten commandments. We know the divine is speaking. With the additional statement that John sees one like the son of man, we know what John sees the Messiah, Jesus. Recall in Daniel 7:13-14 we read about the Messiah, called "one like the son of man," who comes in the clouds to the Father, called "the Ancient of Days." The one like the son of man, Jesus, is standing in the middle of the seven lampstands, wearing a long robe with a golden sash around his chest. This is clothing that is similar to the description of the clothing for the son of man in Daniel 7. However, it is also the same description of the clothing of angels when they appear in a vision (Daniel 10:5-6; Ezekiel 9:2). This clothing is also similar to the priestly attire of the old covenant. This makes for an interesting combination since these clothes were worn by the high priest, but also worn by dignitaries, rulers, and heavenly beings. This is an image of authority in all cases. Jesus is pictured with authority in the midst of these seven churches. Christ is not absent, but stands in the middle of the churches. He knows what they are going through (as will be specifically stated in chapters 2-3) and he is with them in their tribulation. The description of Christ continues. Continue to visualize the imagery of Jesus. The one like the son of man is seen with white hair on his head, eyes like a flame of fire, his feet like burnished bronze, and his voice like the roar of many waters. These descriptions continue to copy the imagery found in Daniel 7:13-14 and Daniel 10:5-6. His eternal nature is revealed with the white hair, just as it is symbolized in Daniel 7. The eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze emphasize the coming of judgment (see Revelation 2:18). Fire pictures his righteous wrath and his feet as having been fired in a furnace are ready to trample the enemies. His voice as the roar of many waters reflects the power Christ possesses. Christ is seen with power, rule, authority, and ready for judgment has he stands in the middle of the seven churches. The powerful image continues in verse 16. In Christ's right hand are seven stars. Coming from Christ's mouth is a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at full strength. We will examine these descriptions in reverse order. You know what it is like to look into the sun at full strength. The sun is immediately blinding and causes us to look away. We cannot stand the heat nor the brightness of the sun at its full strength. This is why we are so fascinated with an eclipse. It is the only way to get a glimpse of the sun because some much of it is covered. Brent Kercheville clean 40:14 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/seeing-jesus.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation1d.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/9Rn3RdbMc_Q/tribulation.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/tribulation.html#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:00:47 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=6 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/tribulation.html/feed 0 apostle john,introduction to revelation,revelation 1,revelation of jesus christ As we approach Revelation 1:9, John is beginning his explanation as to why he is writing this book. John is going to let his readers know that he did not sit down and decide to write a letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Rather, As we approach Revelation 1:9, John is beginning his explanation as to why he is writing this book. John is going to let his readers know that he did not sit down and decide to write a letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Rather, John was instructed to write these words. John begins his explanation for writing in verse 9 of the first chapter. John, Your Partner (1:9) John does not begin this letter by announcing his credentials. John could say, "I, John, the apostle of the Lord." John identifies himself as their brother and their partner. John is joining himself with the Christian readers in three areas. John is a sharer in the suffering, in the kingdom, and in the patient endurance. John's sharing in the tribulation seems to be explained in the rest of the verse. John was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. This is all that is told to us. It is believed that the island of Patmos was used by the Roman Empire as a place of exile, but there is little evidence of anyone being banished there. So we must be careful not to make too much of John's condition while on the island of Patmos. John appears to be telling his readers that he is on Patmos because he is suffering on account of the word of God and testimony of Jesus. John's preaching of the word of God concerning Jesus has landed him in trouble. This persecution could have been brought about by the Jews or by the Romans. We read through the book of Acts that the Jews were trying to use the Roman authorities against Christians (see Jews take Jesus to Pilate for trial, Jews take Christians for judgment with the city authorities in Thessalonica, Jews take Paul to the Roman tribunal in Corinth). We also read Paul and Silas getting into difficulties with Roman authorities in Philippi because, "They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice" (Acts 16:21). John could be on Patmos because of the Romans directly dealing with him or because of the instigation of the Jews. Either way, John is telling the Christians that I am with you in the suffering. We are together in this. Not only does John share in the suffering, but he shares in the kingdom with them. You are suffering but you are in Christ's kingdom. It is hard to feel that truth of being in the kingdom of Christ when we are suffering. John says that he is suffering with us and we are partners and partakers in the eternal kingdom. John also shares with his audience their steadfastness. John has not given up but continues to serve the Lord in the face of suffering. In The Spirit (1:10) What happens to John was extraordinary and special. It is the Lord's day. By the second century, "the Lord's day" was the customary way of referring to Sunday. Sunday was the day when Christians gather for worship and for partaking the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7). It was Sunday when our Lord Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:1). It was on Sunday when Jesus made his appearance to his disciples (John 20:19). Sunday is the Lord's day. John is in the Spirit. This is the way the scriptures speak of someone having a divine vision. One example is in Ezekiel. "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones." (Ezekiel 37:1 ESV) Ezekiel did not physically transport to a valley because he was in exile in Babylon. The scriptures are telling us that Ezekiel is in a visionary state. So also with John. John is in the Spirit which tells us that the divine vision has begun. Command To Write (1:10-11) Finally, John is commanded to write what he sees in this vision in a book and send it to the seven churches. Notice the power with which the command comes. John hears a loud voice like a trumpet. We read this event happening at Mount Sinai in the giving of the ten commandments (Exodus 19). This is the voice of the Lord, speaking with authority and power. Brent Kercheville clean 15:58 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/tribulation.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation1c.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/Qew6k0J9l5o/coming-with-the-clouds.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/coming-with-the-clouds.html#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:00:20 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=4 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/coming-with-the-clouds.html/feed 0 apostle john,revelation 1,revelation of jesus christ Verse 4 begins the book and you will notice that it begins in a typical first century Greco-Roman letter format. The author of the letter (not of the Revelation, which is from Jesus Christ) is John. The letter is written to the seven churches that are ... The first three verses of the book of Revelation contain the preface. These verses told us the interpretative grid we need to apply to the book to appropriately understand it. (1) This book is the revelation. It is the unveiling of things that were previously concealed. (2) The book is written in symbols. The angel signified the book and the first three verses point out that these things are seen, not heard. Symbols and signs represent a historical, literal fulfillment. Since the book is written in symbols, we need to understand what the symbols represent and not be caught up with the symbol itself. (3) The time in near. These are things "that must soon take place." Therefore we must look for the message of the book of Revelation to directly impact its first century audience. (4) The book is revealing things that were about to happen shortly to the first century audience. It is not describing thing before when the book was written. It is a book of prophecy and it is speaking of things to come. First Century Letter Format (1:4-6) Verse 4 begins the book and you will notice that it begins in a typical first century Greco-Roman letter format. The author of the letter (not of the Revelation, which is from Jesus Christ) is John. The letter is written to the seven churches that are in Asia. Recall what we learned from the preface of the book of Revelation. The book is written in symbols. Therefore, we must read the book as written in signs and symbols unless something in the text demands a literal interpretation. Most understand the seven churches symbolically. That is, each of the seven churches represent a possible condition of any local church. The conditions of the seven churches of Asia are quite applicable today and we learn about how a local church ought to be and ought not to be. However, there is a very strong reason as to why we must understand that this letter was written to seven literal churches. The reason is that the churches are named in verse 11 as well as in chapters 2-3. The naming of the churches is the flag in the context that tells us that these are not symbolic seven churches, but actual churches in Asia Minor. The salutation is the next part of a first century letter. This letter is no different. "Grace to you and peace…." Nearly every letter has a salutation with the words, "Grace and peace." Paul most often use this kind of salutation. Grace and peace is always given from God. The same is true in the book of Revelation. The one "who is and who was and who is coming" refers to God the Father. We also see this salutation from Jesus Christ in verse 5. The question then is who are "the seven spirits who are before his throne." It is important to note the location of "the seven spirits" in this salutation. "The seven spirits" are sandwiched between God the Father and Jesus Christ. This is the first reason to understand "the seven spirits" to refer to the Holy Spirit. The second reason to understand "the seven spirits" as the Holy Spirit is because every salutation and blessing has a divine source. Salutations are not from created beings, but from the divine. Why is the Holy Spirit called "the seven spirits" in Revelation? The most satisfying answer is to connect the reader to the similar description given in Zechariah 4:1-10. The book of Revelation is immediately using images from Old Testament prophecies to show that this book is interacting with those symbols. Revelation uses language that is found in previous prophecies so that the readers can connect the message of Revelation to the prophecy in the Old Testament. Zechariah 4 will be referred to in Revelation a couple times, and we will examine Zechariah 4 in more detail at that time. It is enough at this point to observe that the Spirit of God has the number seven tied to it in Zechariah 4:2 and 4:10. Seven has the symbolic meaning of perfection. Therefore, the salutation to the churches is from God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. Brent Kercheville clean 44:30 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/coming-with-the-clouds.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation1b.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RevelationMadeClear/~3/BgcdlRS40-8/unveiling-the-future.html http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/unveiling-the-future.html#comments Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:00:52 +0000 Brent Kercheville http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/?p=35 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/unveiling-the-future.html/feed 0 apostle john,introduction to revelation,revelation 1,revelation of jesus christ The book of Revelation is the book in the Bible that is considered to be shrouded in mystery. Many people think that the book of Revelation cannot be understood. Many think that the book is intended to be hard. Before we begin our study, Introduction The book of Revelation is the book in the Bible that is considered to be shrouded in mystery. Many people think that the book of Revelation cannot be understood. Many think that the book is intended to be hard. Before we begin our study, I am going to encourage you with the same words that I always offer. Please enter this study with an open mind. Try to erase any preconceived notions you may have. Study the book of Revelation for yourself. I believe this is one of the primary reasons that people have difficulty with the book. Many do not read and study the book of Revelation for themselves. Instead, they just listen to what everyone else has to say about the book. This leads to great confusion because everyone says something different about the book. You must read the book for yourself. If you have a question or disagree with what is said concerning the book, you will have an opportunity in the Wednesday night study to voice your question or disagreement and we can work together in our studies for a solution. I presented a study of Revelation (http://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/bible_studies/revelation_study.html) back in 2002-2003. I have changed my position on some of the aspects of the book since then. I am not arrogant to think that I will not learn more and change my thoughts again down the road. Therefore you need to rely on God's word and your own study of the book, rather than just on my teachings. As noted in the introduction material to the class, one of the frustrating aspects of studying Revelation is determining the date of the book. The debate on when the book was written continues to rage. There are many persuasive arguments on both sides of the discussion. I encourage you to read both sides of the discussion. One of the frustrating parts of dating the book is that scholars disagree over when it was written. In the last 100 the predominant view has been a late date for the book (95-96 AD). However, during the previous 100 years the predominant view was an early date for the book (65-69 AD). My encouragement for you in your study (and the basis of our study) is to not begin Revelation with a date in mind. Beginning your study with a date in mind will color how you read the book. Instead, let the book tell you when it was written. Let the images and symbols speak and interpret them in the most natural way, regardless of the date. Once we are done and have read the images, only then let us determine when it was likely for Revelation to have been written. We will have much more to say about the date of the book as we study Revelation. Let's get started with our study. The Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1) "'Revelation' (apokalypsis) means to expose in full view what was formerly hidden, veiled, or secret" (Expositor's Bible Commentary). This is a significant beginning to our study. The book of Revelation is revealing something that previously was concealed. Revelation is not code. Revelation is not hidden language. To suggest such violates the very name of the book. This is the book of unveiling. This is the book of revealing, not concealing. This information also set up our filter for our interpretation method. This book is explaining things that were previously hidden. While we do not know for certain yet, our most likely source would be Old Testament prophecies that were shrouded in mystery that the book is going to make plain. It is noted by all scholars that Revelation borrows heavily from the images of the Old Testament. Therefore, our interpretative model should be that the book of Revelation is an explanation of those Old Testament images. When we read language in Revelation that is found in the Old Testament, we need to go back to the origin of the image and understand it in its proper context. Then we can see how the book of Revelation is shedding light or revealing information about that prophecy. It is not "Revelations," but "Revelation. Brent Kercheville clean 45:47 http://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/unveiling-the-future.htmlhttp://media.blubrry.com/revelationclear/thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/audio/Revelation1.mp3 Brent KerchevillenonadultThis website is an attempt to cut through so much of the fear and confusion that surrounds the book of Revelation.