Revelation Overview

People don’t read or study Revelation as much as other books of the Bible, because they don’t understand it or they are fearful of what it says.  BSF (Bible Study International) will begin a study of Revelation in the fall.  I will be posting my insights then, but for now I thought I would post an overview to get you interested.

Revelation means the act of revealing or disclosing something.  This is about Jesus revealing Himself to us.  Why study this book?  Jesus wants us to be encouraged, to know the ending, and be aware of what’s going to happen so we’re not afraid.  Then we can stand firm when the Anti-Christ comes and tries to deceive us.  He wants us to be steadfast in our Christian walk, have sound doctrine, and be separated from false teachings.

God the father gave God the Son the Revelation for Him in turn to give to His angel, then to John.  He wants to reveal what must soon take place.  John testifies to what he saw.  Revelation is written by the Apostle John while in he was in exile on the Island of Patmos.  This book was written to give hope and encouragement to Christians who need to know God is in control and will someday judge and punish evil.  Then He will establish His everlasting kingdom with a new heaven and a new earth.

It begins with letters of correction to 7 churches.  Then 7 Judgments are revealed – 7 Seals, 7 Triumphs, and 7 Bowl Judgments.   Rev. 1:3 is the only place in the Bible that blesses those who read it and heed it.  – “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near”.  This should be encouraging to us who study Revelation. 

The Key Verse or Outline of Revelation is Rev. 1:19 – “Write therefore the things which you have seen and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things.”

Chapter 1

Things you have seen.

Verse 1 – tells us that this book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ and is from God to Jesus to the angel and then to John and then to us.  Revelation means to unveil or disclose.

Verse 11 - The angel told John to write in a book what he sees, and send it to the seven churches.

Verse 13 – Lampstands are the churches – Jesus was in the middle of the churches to protect them.

Chapters 2-3 

Things which are (messages to the churches).

Chapters 4-22

Things which shall take place after these things.

Chapter 5

The Lamb (Jesus) is the only one worthy to break the seal of the scrolls.  God couldn’t open it, because He had given the right to man to rule the earth and Jesus was without sin and has overcome the devil so He had to be the one. 

Chapter 6

Start of the judgments – 6 seals broken. (John sees what the future holds.)

1^st seal – one on a white horse with bow, a crown is given to him, he went out conquering

2^nd seal – one on a red horse to take peace from earth, and that men should slay one another, he had great sword.

3^rd seal – one on a black horse with a pair of scales (sounds like famine to follow).

4^th seal – one on an ashen horse named Death and Hades followed him, he was given authority to kill with sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts.

5^th seal – John saw those killed during the tribulation.

6^th seal – there was great a earthquake, sun became black, moon became like blood, stars fell, sky was split apart, mountains and islands moved from their places.  Verse 17 – “great day of wrath has come…”

Chapter 7

144,000 sealed – these are the believing Jews with the seal of salvation, sealed during the Great Tribulation

Chapter 8

7^th seal broken – 7 angels with 7 trumpets

1^st angel – came hail & fire mixed w/blood, thrown to earth, 1/3 of

earth burned up, 1/3 of trees burned up and all green grass burned up

2^nd angel – something like a great mountain burning w/fire thrown into sea, 1/3 of sea became blood, 1/3 of the creatures in sea died, 1/3 of ships destroyed

3^rd angel – great star called Wormwood fell from heaven burning like torch, 1/3 fell on rivers & streams making waters become wormwood, men died from the water, made it bitter

4^th angel – 1/3 of sun and 1/3 of moon and 1/3 of stars were darkened so 1/3 of the day and night were darkened

3 WOES! - Last 3 angels’ trumpets were about to sound

Chapter 9

5^th angel – star from heaven fell to earth with key to bottomless pit which

opened, smoke went up like furnace, sun and air were darkened.  Out of the pit came locust as big as horses and power was given them as scorpions.  They could only hurt men who didn’t have the seal of God.  They could not kill anyone, only torment for 5 months.   

1^st WOE is past, 2 more to come.

6^th angel – told to release 4 angels who are bound.  They were released to kill 1/3 of mankind.  200 million horsemen with fire, smoke, & brimstone coming out of their mouths killed 1/3 of mankind. Rest of mankind did not repent.

Chapter 10 

Another angel with a little book, John told to eat book, book was bitter.

Chapter 11

2 witnesses given authority to prophesy for 1260 days. (Some believe that Elijah is one of the witnesses – (Malachi 4:1-5, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord”). They have power to shut up the sky, turn water to blood, and smite with plagues.

The Beast will come out of the abyss and attack them & kill them, their bodies lie in street 3 ½ days, God gives them breath, resurrecting them and they go to heaven.

Great earthquake – 1/10^th of city fell, 7,000 killed the rest were terrified and gave glory to God – but did not repent!  
2^nd WOE is past, 3^rd WOE is coming quickly.

7^th angel - starts 3^rd WOE. “Thou hast begun to reign”.  Nations enraged, God’s wrath has come, time for dead to be judged, saints rewarded, time to destroy those who destroy the earth.  Temple of God opened, Ark of Covenant appeared, lightning, thunder, earthquake, great hailstorm. 

Chapter 12

Signs in heaven – woman, which is Israel and red dragon, which is Satan.

War in heaven is with Michael and angels with dragon and his angels.  “The great dragon was Hurled down…” – Rev. 12:9.  Meaning the dragon (devil) could not go back and forth from heaven to earth anymore.  He was thrown down to the earth & sea, because he will have great wrath for he knows he has only a short time left.

Chapter 13

1^st beast, which is Anti-Christ given power & authority by dragon performs signs.  Tod gave him power for 42 months.
2^nd beast, which is False Prophet (Rev 19:20), makes earth worship the 1^st beast, can perform great signs also, deceives the earth, makes image of 1^st beast and makes earth worship him, gives breath to the image or be killed, makes people of earth take the mark of the beast – if not, they can’t buy or sell w/o the mark, 666.

Chapter 14

This chapter could be an overview of the bowls or 7^th trumpet.  

144,000 are now in heaven.

Another angel - “Fear God His judgment has come”

2^nd angel - “Fallen is Babylon the great”

3^rd angel – “Whoever takes mark will be tormented…”

4^th angel – “…hour to reap has come.” Son of Man on a cloud swung His sickle and earth was reaped.

5^th angel – also had a sharp sickle

6^th angel – had power over fire, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather vine of the earth.”

Blood from wine press up to horses’ bridles for 200 miles.

Chapter 15

7 angels with 7 plagues with them the wrath of God is finished, victory over the beast, they came out of temple, 7 angels given 7 bowls full of wrath of God.

Chapter 16

1^st bowl poured on earth became loathsome and malignant sore upon men with mark of Beast

2^nd bowl poured into sea, became blood, every living thing died

3^rd bowl poured into rivers & springs, became blood of the saints & prophets

4^th bowl poured upon sun and scorched men with fire, they refused to repent

5^th bowl poured upon throne of beast, his kingdom darkened/gnawed their tongues with pain, they blasphemed God & refused to repent

6^th bowl poured upon Euphrates River, it dried up, gathered kings for Armageddon

7^th bowl poured upon the air, voice said “It is done.”

Lightning, thunder, great earthquake, city split, cities of nations fell, Babylon remembered by God for His wrath, hailstones, men blasphemed God

Chapter 17

Woman (Babylon) sitting on scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names with 7 heads & 10 horns, drunk w/blood of saint & witnesses.

Beast – 7 heads = 7 kings goes to destruction, 10 horns = 10 kings receive authority for 1 hour, was war against the Lamb, but Lamb will overcome them.   

Chapter 18

Fall of Babylon

Chapter 19

Multitude in heaven rejoices, Marriage of Lamb, wedding supper of the Lamb, Lord comes on white horse who judges & wages war, armies in heaven follow Him.

Chapter 20

Angel with key to abyss, bound dragon (Satan) for 1,000 years, threw him into abyss so he couldn't deceive the nations until 1,000 years was complete, then he will be released for a short time.
1^st resurrection – those who did not receive the mark – Rev. 20:4

After 1,000 reign the unbelievers will be brought to life which is the 2^nd resurrection.

After 1,000 year reign, Satan released and will go out to deceive the world for a short time, then will be thrown in lake of fire with false prophet.

Great White Throne Judgment – dead judged if name not written in Book of Life, thrown into Lake of Fire.

Chapter 21

New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem

John saw New Jerusalem –

12 gates (name of 12 tribes on them

12 foundations stones (name of 12 apostles)

1500 miles – length, width, height

Wall – 72 yards

City – gold, adorned w/precious stones

Streets – pure gold

No temple – Lord God & Lamb are its temple

No sun or moon, the glory of God will illumine it; its lamp is the Lamb.

Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be there.

Chapter 22

River of life coming from throne of God & Lamb, Tree of Life, no longer any curse, no longer night, throne of God & Lamb shall be in it, they shall reign forever, behold I am coming quickly, my reward is with Me.

“Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” – Rev 22:7

“If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book” – Re. 22:19

           

I hope you will join me next time as we begin to study the book of Revelation.  Please let me know if this is helpful.

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The Fruit of the Spirit - Self-Control

The last attribute of the fruit of the Spirit, but certainly not the least, is the quality of self-control.  This is a BIG one!

Self-control implies the restraining of oneself.  What are we supposed to keep ourselves from doing or saying?  The Bible says we are to be in control of our thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5).  We are to guard our tongues (James 3:1-9).  We are to avoid sinning in our relationships with others by not murdering, coveting, engaging in adultery, stealing, cheating, or quarreling and fighting (James 4:1-2).

Self-control is to have power over oneself.  This is not possible until we surrender to Christ’s management on our lives.  Self-control is a form of worship of God.  It’s living out His commandments by doing what He wants us to do.  Then God will fully bless us.

Self-control is about temperance, impulses, personal desires and passions.  It calls for self-discipline life following Christ’s example.  It is a restraint exercised over one’s behavior.

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." - Prov. 25:28

 

“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper that one who takes a city.” – Prov. 16:32.

The world today is very self-centered and materialistic and many people have very poor impulse control.  They see something they want and will do anything to get it.  These people are very weak in self-control.  We humans are weak due to our fallen sinful natures.  This is why God gave us these 9 attributes of His Holy Spirit.  We need God’s self-control operating in our lives.

If you don’t have God’s self-control operating in you, you will never have victory over a bad temper, an unforgiving spirit, being judgmental, and lusts of the flesh.  If you are willing to yield to Him and allow Him to work in these attributes of the  Fruit of the Spirit, you will grow in many areas of your life you never thought possible.

Some examples of the lack of self-control in the Bible:

Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit - disobeyed God.

Cain killed Able – did not control his envy and jealousy.

Esau traded birthright for food – did not control his hunger.

Lot’s wife turned to salt – did not control longings.

David’s adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband – did not control sexual appetites.

Peter’s impulsive blow to soldier’s ear in Gethsemane – did not control his anger.

Some examples of self-control in the Bible:

Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife and did not give into sexual temptation.

Jesus resisted Satan’s temptation in the wilderness.

Jesus’ sinlessness.

This specific quality of self-control is one of the major keys in being able to have victory over lusts and desires of our flesh.

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” - 1 Peter 1:13.

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” – 1 Thess. 5:6.

Satan is the ruler of the earth and he wants us to fail.  He has designed ways of life that are fast-paced.  He makes many things appealing to us like entertainment, fashions, movies, computers, and gadgets of all kinds.  Our lifestyles are constantly busy.  We live on the edge most of the time.  We never seem to have control of our lives or our self-control.  

When possible, avoid temptation and you won’t have the pressure to sin and turn away from God.  Run from temptation.  Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife when she tempted him.  Don’t keep bad company.  We greatly decrease temptation by not associating with evil people.  It is impossible to avoid exposure to everything that is sinful.  So we must be strong enough to control our thoughts and actions and not give into temptations.

Where in your life do you need self-control?

Do you ask God to help you when you are tempted?

Someone who has learned the meaning of self-control and practices it is someone who is taking steps to be like Jesus.  Self-control in a Christian means instead of having our own way, we choose God’s way.  We look to Him and obey His commands.  We let the Holy Spirit live and work God’s will through us.  This brings us closer to God.

Have you learned self-control?

Do you choose your way or God’s way?

This last fruit of the Spirit is the most important of them all.  It is hard in this day and age to be a Christian of self-control.  It is hard to deny self and be self-sacrificing.  Being a true Christian is difficult, but can be done by trusting Christ.  We won’t be perfect, but Jesus makes it clear in Rev. 2 and 3 that overcomers (those who are steadfast and victorious over sin) will go into the Kingdom of God.  God gives us His Spirit to help us achieve the fruit of the Spirit.  His love will give us courage, strength, love and self-control.

What great lessons we have learned by studying the Fruit of the Spirit.  I hope you will put these into practice.  Next time I will be posting an overview of the book of Revelation.  You don’t want to miss it!  Hope to see you here.

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Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” – Matt. 5:5.  Meekness means to not be easily provoked.  It is being gracious and kind with controlled strength.  A person who is truly meek bears God’s likeness and is easily directed by God.  At the same time he has great spiritual strength.

Being gentle or meek is not a weakness.  A river under control has great power.  So does a fire.  Meekness is power and strength. (Billy Graham)

Meekness and gentleness is a form love.  It is one of Jesus’ qualities.  He handled people with gentleness, but was always truthful.  He is our perfect role model.  There were times for tough love and times for gentleness.  Whenever He was insulted or falsely accused, Jesus was a model of restraint.  He never lashed out in anger, but always had a gentle word to those who attacked Him.

If you are a gentle person, people with gravitate toward you.  We are to be humble and considerate of others and submissive to God and His Word.  We are to be even-tempered.  Don’t you love being around a gentle person?

In today’s world we think meekness is not a good quality.  This is a characteristic that best distinguishes Christianity.  It is an attitude toward God that shows in gentleness toward others.  It’s an attitude of submission.  It is love of the things of God and others.  The meek are not those who never feel angry, but those who control it.

How can we have gentleness?  Be submissive to the will of God.  We have to have a teachable spirit and be willing to learn.  We need to be considerate of others by putting ourselves in their shoes and empathizing with them.  We need to help those who are struggling.  We also need to be forgiving.  In everything we do, we should strive to display a gentle spirit.

Rewards for the Meek -

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” – Matt. 5:5

“But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” – Ps. 37:11.

“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live forever.” – Ps 22:26.

“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he will beautify the meek with salvation.” – Ps 149:4.

The fruit of gentleness will bring real blessings to us.  So use this fruit in you life.

Next time we will talk more about the last characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, which is self-control.  Hope to see you here.

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