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HopeLives365

Studies in the Book of Revelation

Mark Finley

Revelation 1

Welcome to Studies in the Book of Revelation.

I am just so delighted that you have joined us.

Over a thousand people have signed up for our class tonight.

I am thrilled with a large group of people that are anxious to study the book of Revelation.

Let me tell you a little bit about the class.

Our class will meet Wednesday evenings, 8 o'clock.

We will go precisely for an hour from 8 to 9.

If you have not yet signed up for the handouts for the class, I really encourage you to do that.

The handouts you can get at hopelives365.com forward slash weekly Bible study.

So each week I'll prepare a handout for you that'll summarize the things we've gone over in our class.

Now this class is being streamed on YouTube, the Hope Lives 365 YouTube channel, on Hope Lives 365 Facebook, Twitter, and Rumble.

Now the question is, how can you get the most out of class?

Since this isn't a lecture, it's a Bible study.

So if you have your Bible sitting at a table with a notebook and a pen to take sufficient notes, I know you will get the most out of class.

If you have questions, The way we will handle questions is this.

You can send the questions in to our Hope Lives 365 website the next week as I get questions.

So you will want to send your questions again.

We just put it up on the screen, info at hopelives365.com.

So you'll want to send your questions there if you have any questions about what we've studied this evening.

When I begin next Wednesday night's class, I will then take some time the first 5, 10 minutes or so to answer questions that have come in.

So I really want you to get your notebook out, your Bible out, get your Bible pen, you'll be underlining words, etc.

Father in heaven, thank you so much for the opportunity of technology to study the Bible with people all over the world.

I pray that as we study tonight, our hearts would be open, that Jesus would be near us.

You are the Christ of the book of Revelation.

So come, speak to our hearts, lift our spirits, encourage us in Jesus' name.

Now the book that we're studying, of course, is Revelation.

I'll give you a little background that will help us understand the book more.

Revelation was written by John from the island of Patmos in about 96 AD.

What brought John to the island of Patmos?

Titus was the Roman ruler ruling at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Titus died quickly, suddenly, unexpectedly in 81 AD.

His younger brother Domitian took over the throne.

Now, Domitian was not a friend of Christianity at all.

It was tolerated because Christians did not make much conflict in the Empire.

Why were Christians persecuted in the Empire?

Not because they were Christians, but because they would not worship those emperors that declared to be God.

John of course, the last of the living apostles in his 90s, would not fall for this state religious political union, and therefore John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos.

Now that tells us something about Revelation.

The very reason John was exiled is because he refused to go along with the political religious coalition that Domitian had forced upon them.

We are going to read in the book of Revelation, Revelation chapters 13 and 17 and 18 in this study, but a time that's coming where church and state again will be united and they'll be coerced to worship.

But That's for another night, another time, but just remember that.

Now, there are those people that say you cannot understand Revelation.

That's rather strange because what does the word Revelation mean?

The literal word is apocalypse, apocalypsia in Greek, and it means an unveiling.

So the book of Revelation unveils the controversy between good and evil.

Now the book of Revelation has a major theme.

Jesus is mentioned in a number of titles in the book of Revelation.

He is the Son of Man, he is the Lamb of God, he is the Word of God in the book of Revelation.

Throughout the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ speaks to us in powerful, powerful terms.

He is the coming king in the book of Revelation.

Revelation chapter 1 starts with the coming of Christ.

Revelation chapter 22 ends with the coming of Christ.

If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do for this Bible study, we're going to look at Revelation chapter 1 written by John, the last of the living Apostles writes the last book of the Bible for a final generation of men and women living upon earth.

Now the principles of Revelation apply to every generation, but it especially deals with the controversy between good and evil in the latter days.

And so we look, the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Verse 1 still, to show his servants things which must shortly take place.

And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ to all these things.

God has an eternal message that he wants to give to mankind.

John is exiled by Domitian because he's refused to worship the Emperor on the island of Patmos.

But there, on that rocky barren island, there, when John is all alone, There, when John is in exile, an old man, deeply etched lines upon his face, gray hair, hand trembling.

There God illuminates that island with the glory of heaven, and John writes down a message that comes directly from God.

As you and I take the book of Revelation in our hands, we take it in our hands sacredly.

We take it in our hands recognizing that this is not a common book, a human book.

And it is given to us about things that must shortly take place.

Now here in verse 3, God gives to us a special blessing.

How many of you want a blessing from God?

Do you want the blessing of the Spirit to touch your life?

Highly favored is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things that are written in it for the time is near.

As we read the book of Revelation, we'll be highly favored by God, we'll be blessed.

So as you take your Bibles during these Wednesday night studies, and as you read with me the book of Revelation, And as your eyes follow along as I read the passages, God is going to bless you in a special way.

You'll sense yourself drawn closer to Jesus.

Revelation 2

I am so delighted that you've joined us tonight.

The Book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible and we're studying it chapter by chapter, going over the verses together.

This is an in-depth Bible study on the Bible's last book to prepare a people in the last generation for the coming of Jesus.

The book of Revelation begins with these words, the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.

And he sent and he signified it unto his servants by his angel John, by his angel to his servant John.

Blessed is he who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, who reads the prophecy, who keeps the things therein.

You know, there are many people that feel the book of Revelation is too difficult.

Now the word revelation itself means an unveiling.

It means a revealing something that God unfolds to us.

So the book of Revelation is a revealing of God's plan in history.

It's a revealing of what's going on behind the scenes in the cosmic conflict between good and evil.

It is a revelation of God's plan to defeat Satan and triumph over the principalities and powers of hell.

Now remember last week we said that Revelation could be summarized in 4 words.

We said if you have any questions, send them in.

And I do have a few questions that have come in.

And so I'll begin by answering those questions.

And if you have any questions, you can send them to hopelives365.com.

When you write your questions in or send them into our website, then the next week, the following week, I'll answer them.

So here are a few questions from last week.

Pastor Mark, in Revelation 1.4, it talks about the 7 spirits.

In the book of Revelation, numbers are significant.

The number 3 in Revelation indicates the Godhead, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

But then you have the counterfeit Godhead, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.

Number 4 in the Book of Revelation indicates universality, the 4 winds.

That's North, South, East, West, universality.

12 in the Book of Revelation indicates completeness.

For example, the 12 tribes of the Old Testament represent the complete Old Testament believers.

12 patriarch, 12 apostles represent the 12, represent all of the New Testament believers.

You have 7 seals, 7 churches, we'll study tonight, 7 trumpets, 7 branch candlestick.

You have the seventh day of the week, the seventh day Sabbath.

So 7 is a significant number indicates perfection.

So 7 spirits are not introducing an individual spirit, but the perfect work of the Holy Spirit.

Because that very verse, and let me look at it with you.

Revelation 1 verse 4, John to the 7 churches, which are in Asia, grace to you and peace from him who is and was and who is to come, who is, was and is to come.

From the 7 spirits, we'll leave that for a moment, who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness.

So you have the Father, the Son, and the perfect work of the Holy Spirit.

Now, why does it give you the number 7 there?

We do get a little insight into that in the book of Isaiah.

So if you have your Bible, go back to the book of Isaiah.

You're going to look at that in Isaiah chapter 11 and verse 2.

All the Bible and the books of the Bible meet and end in the book of Revelation.

There are 404 quotes from the Old Testament in Revelation.

So notice the sevenfold ministry of the Holy Spirit.

In other words, Jesus said, when the Holy Spirit comes, he'll testify of me.

So it's the Spirit of the Lord, Jesus' personal witness on earth that testifies of him.

That is 1 work of the Holy Spirit, testifies of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom in the decision making process as we seek God.

The Holy Spirit gives us deep understanding as we study the Word of God.

It is only as we have the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds that we can understand the Word.

The Holy Spirit gives us counsel on right and wrong.

The Holy Spirit gives us power to transform our lives.

The Holy Spirit is the source of knowledge.

Remember the Bible says all scripture is given by inspiration of God.

Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

So the knowledge of the eternal in the Bible comes by the Holy Spirit and the fear of the Lord.

That is respect for God that leads to obedience.

Notice those 7 things, Spirit of the Lord, 1, wisdom, 2, understanding, 3, counsel, 4, might, 5, knowledge, 6, fear of the Lord, 7.

So when Revelation used the expression, the 7 spirits, it's talking about the complete, perfect work of the Holy Spirit that works in the heart of the believer.

Pastor Mark, how long will this class continue?

Well, there are 22 chapters in the book of Revelation and if I'm speeding along we might get through a chapter a week and do 22 weeks.

But sometimes these chapters are so comprehensive that it's going to require more than a week.

Now it might be that I got on a speed racetrack and we go through a couple chapters a night, but that's kind of doubtful.

So my guess is, and don't hold me to this please, but my guess is that we'll do 24-25 weeks to get through the entire course.

If you have to miss a Wednesday evening, we are archiving them for you to go back to.

Somebody asks, I would really like the handouts.

We don't post the handouts before the class.

We post them after, because once I teach the class, then you can take notes, and then you can look at the handouts after.

So I'm gonna give you a website to go to if you wanna get the handouts.

If you want the handouts, go to hopelives365.com forward slash weekly Bible study.

Hopelives365.com forward slash weekly Bible study.

This will be the last 1 we'll do for tonight.

It says, Who are the 24 elders mentioned there in Revelation 1, the 24 elders?

Revelation 3

I am so delighted you're joining us for another Bible study in the book of Revelation.

This is our third in a series of studies.

We will actually go through each chapter of Revelation.

We're looking at it almost verse by verse.

Tonight we're studying Revelation chapter 3.

Before we launch into this study, let's pray.

Father in heaven, how thankful we are for the Bible, how thankful we are for these prophetic messages in the book of Revelation.

We know this is a revelation of Jesus Christ to us, his personal message for his people, living on the knife edge of eternity.

His personal message to us to be ready for his soon return.

Throughout the book, Jesus himself says, surely I come quickly.

Lord, our hearts are burning within us to learn from your word.

So come and teach us by your Holy Spirit in Christ's name, amen.

We have asked you to send in questions and I do have a few questions that have come in And let me just read them to you as they've come, and then I'll answer just a few questions and we'll launch right into our study.

Somebody writes, Pastor Mark, I really want to know more about Revelation.

Is there anything that you can do to help me to understand the book of Revelation more clearly.

First, don't miss 1 of these classes on Wednesday night.

Be sure that you're here because we will go through every single chapter.

On that website, there are multiple courses.

The course that you will want to take is Revelations Ancient Mysteries.

The course you'll want to take and register for is Revelations ancient mysteries.

There are lectures, there are videos, and there are Bible lessons.

So that will really help to anchor you in the great truths of the book of Revelation.

Somebody says, What is your opinion of the new international revised version translation?

I will tell you some of its benefits and some of its liabilities.

Benefits, you have more modern English that's easier to understand.

But honestly, I do have some hesitation, particularly in the prophetic areas.

There is an attempt to reinterpret some of the prophetic areas, particularly the time periods of Daniel and some of the things of Revelation.

It seems to me that at times, it becomes not so much a translation or as an interpretation.

So I would much rather personally use the New King James Version.

You have the benefit of some of the more modern English, but the translation in my view is more accurate.

Next question, will our pets be in heaven?

Well, let me tell you what we know, what we don't know.

What we do know is that there were animals in the Garden of Eden, and we do know that there'll be animals in heaven.

In fact, Isaiah 65 talks about the new heaven and the new earth.

It talks about the lion and the lamb lying down together.

There'll be nothing that hurts or destroys in God's holy mountain.

God has created us as rational thinking human beings.

Joshua 24, verse 15 says, choose you this day who you'll serve and let it be the Lord.

Philippians 2, verse 5 says, let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

So salvation is a matter of personal choice.

Dogs, cats, elephants, giraffes, don't have the capacity to make positive moral choices.

So, but yet again, I realize 1 Corinthians 2, verse 9 says, eyes not seen or ear heard, the things that God has prepared for them that love him.

Deuteronomy 29, verse 29 says, the secret things belong unto the Lord our God.

So In my view, there will not be our own pets in heaven, but there will be animals there.

But yet somebody may think differently on that.

And I just leave that to the hands of the Lord because there are many, many more things that we don't know about heaven than we do know about heaven.

Well it's time to launch into our Bible study for this evening.

Let's talk a little bit about what we did last week.

Last week we studied Revelation chapter 2, the 7 churches.

We studied Ephesus and Smyrna and Pergamos and Thyatira.

You'll remember that we looked at those churches from 3 specific viewpoints.

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