REVELATION LESSON 3

REVELATION

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES

LESSON 3

Matthew 24:4-8      ⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

⁶ And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.

All these things in verse six are happening now. Hardly anyone doubts that now is the time when knowledge has increased, both secular knowledge and prophetic knowledge have increased tremendously in this century alone.

I believe we are on the verge of obtaining even greater prophetic insights than any other time in the last two millennia.

I really believe this is why God has instructed me to try to get people to focus on the certainty of God in these uncertain times. Prophecy explains Gods plan for the future.

It is the truth about the church age (which we are living in now) living righteous and obedient before God. Also about the rapture ( which means caught up.).

1 Thessalonians 4:17    ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

This is full assurance that we will be with the Lord

The communications of your faith may be effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus

Revelation 3:20-22   ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

²² He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

When revelation in chapters one, two and three speaks of the seven churches, he is also speaking to the churches of today. The challenge of the former church is a promise to simply share his throne as he shares his Father’s throne.

This is a promise that we as overcomers or born-again believers will rule and reign with Christ Jesus in his coming kingdom. The ultimate victory of the Christian is not seen in this life but in the life to come.

He that has an ear let him hear what the spirit is saying to the churches. It is no wonder our Lord asked of this age, when the son of man cometh, shall he find faith on earth?

Who can deny the movings of this day clearly fulfils this prediction. We have come to the close of the messages of Jesus to the seven churches. It is the burden of my heart that people will take heed to the invitation of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

It is sad for me to say but so true that we are living in the end of the church age at this time in this lesson and the rapture has happened. All believers have been caught up to heaven. There is no mention of the church after revelation chapter four.

Revelation 4:1   4 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

John saw a door opening to heaven, then he heard a voice that sounded like a trumpet inviting him to come in and see the things that will take place after this… (after the church age)

The voice John heard was like a trumpet. It was the same kind of voice the bible says will rapture the church. When the rapture happens, the church will ascend into heaven Just as John did.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17     ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Revelation 4:2    And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

John saw the door, heard a voice and suddenly he was in the spirit. That is, his spirit left his body, he was changed by the Holy Spirt. Just as believers will be at the rapture.

Revelation 4:4   ⁴ And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

Because human words of that age made it so hard to describe what John saw, he used symbols to help us understand. We will see the same things John saw when we are caught up to heaven.

At one time the entire nation of Israel was represented by twenty-four special priests. Just as these priests represented all of Israel, twenty-four elders will one day represent all believers from Pentecost to the rapture.

Revelation 1:5-6   ⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

They will surround the throne of God to represent a nation of Kings and Priests. They will stand in for all overcomers.

Won’t it be great to witness all of that and know you are a part of it for all eternity. All you need to do is make Christ Jesus Lord of your life and be obedient to His word.

Roman 10:9-11   ⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

¹¹ For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Do it today, don’t wait!!!

REVELATION CHAPTER ONE LESSON 2

REVELATION CHAPTER ONE

LESSON 2

Revelation 1:3   ³ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

The word revelation means the uncovering, the unveiling or the disclosing of Christ Jesus, as the revealing of the person of Christ, or the revealing of what he intends to do, starting with the church age, and running through to the end of time.

The church age is that period of time that the church is on earth the church is of course the followers of Christ Jesus, the church age started fifty days after Jesus was raised from the dead, on that Jewish holy day called Pentecost.

It will end when the church is raptured. The word rapture refers to the catching away, or caught up, Joining Jesus in the air.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-16   ¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

First of all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves, then together with them, we who are still alive and remain on earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. We are to comfort each other with these words.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself on this study so lets reveal what was said to these seven churches in chapter one.

Revelation 1:4   ⁴ John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Jesus speaking vs 11, ¹¹ Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 

Jesus is forewarning the seven churches.

Revelation 3:21-22   ²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

²² He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

He is also warning the churches of today to be ready for his appearance in the clouds to take us away.

Mark 13:30-33   ³⁰ Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

³¹ Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

³² But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

³³ Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Jesus went away in the clouds and he is coming back in the clouds. Jesus told the seven churches to wake up and stay awake, that there was certain aspect of their faith that they were backslid in and needed to return to his teachings.

Revelation 3:2   ² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

He was saying the steps have not yet reached Gods standards. It is not enough for a church to hold right doctrines or go through a form of worship. For a church (believer) to have a valid relationship with God, it must be backed up by His word and receiving his son Christ Jesus as Lord and savior.

Many people confuse the book of life with the Lambs book of life. They are completely different. The book of life is a list of all who were born once, every person who has ever lived. The Lambs book of life is a list of all who are born twice. In other words, all who have truly accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, born of the spirit.

Jesus also promised to acknowledge the names of the saved before God and his holy angels. Wouldn’t it be great to hear your name called out in Heaven? Jesus said in

Matthew 10:32-33   ³² Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

³³ But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

I think that gets right to the point.

Revelation 3:10   ¹⁰ Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Jesus promised to keep believers out of the hour of trial that would come in the future. He will not permit his church or the one who follow him go through the tribulation period.

It will be a time of famine, natural disasters, epidemic sickness, war and murder. It will come upon the whole world. Believers should rejoice that faithful church members won’t have to go through that. This is why John began the next chapter with the example of the rapture.

This next period is so important to understand that I will do my best to break it down very carefully.

Revelation 3:15-16   ¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Cold signifies formal or without spiritual life. Lukewarm means indifferent or one foot in church and the other foot in things of the world. Hot means you are passionate to serve God, in total obedience.

I will have more on this subject next week.

Stay in the word,

Brother Andy

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES? lesson 1

REVELATION
lesson 1

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

For the last twenty-three years I have been preaching-teaching and sharing with the bible studies I have had, everything from being saved to living righteous before God.

Since I believe with all my heart and with what the world situation is that there is very little room for doubt that we are living in the end times.

This series of lessons will take the bible and make it fun and educational. It is a straight forward overview and will change your outlook on prophecy.

Revelation is Gods message to all who are concerned about the future. It reveals that the world will get better, but only after it goes through a series of terrible judgements.

Jesus promised a blessing to all those who read and hear and keep the things written in revelation. We are living in perilous times. The constant talk of bad news has many people wondering about the future.

There is more prophecy being fulfilled today than any other time in history. Today more Christians believe Jesus could return in their lifetime.

Revelation reveals that God is the one who is really in control. It encourages faith and warns against making certain mistakes. It tells us how to gain eternal life.

Revelation 1:1-3   1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

² Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

³ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation is the inspired word of God. Jesus told us to watch for signs of things to come. It reveals Gods plan for the future. Revelation will change your life. If prophecy is being fulfilled Gods people should want to know the details.

As we go through this study of revelation, keep in mind that it is the worded in three main divisions. Part one is called the church age. We are now living in the church age. I feel this age is almost over. Revelation 1:1-3

Part two is called from the rapture to the second coming. Revelation 4-19

After chapter four of revelation the church age is not mentioned any more until chapter 19.

From chapter four to nineteen it will be a terrible time in which to live. However, if you are saved (excepted Jesus Christ as your lord and savior) you don’t need to worry.

Many prophetic signs indicate that it is drawing closer every day, we need to learn what to watch for and what to do.

Part three is called the millennium and beyond chapters 20-22 some of the greatest verses in the bible are found. These chapters are filled with inspiration and hope for the future.

Revelation is filled with symbols; these symbols make most people believe you need certain qualifications to understand Revelation. It mostly requires a lot of study to understand.

I have been reading and studying prophecy since 1961 and God still amazes me with new insight as times fulfill.

Just ordinary people will love it and get a lot out of it. You just have to want to. It is good for all of us to have some knowledge of this book of revelation.

Even though through the next several lessons you will learn things about signs, wonders, and symbols, don’t be tempted to date the events found in revelation. Many have tried and many have failed.

Matthew 24: 33-36   ³³ So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

³⁴ Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

³⁵ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

³⁶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Part one, THE CHURCH AGE, is our next study. One study every week.