BibleSF

BSF Global Lecture provided by BSF HQ.

These words in Revelation are works of hope and a future. They are for the believers, not the world. These are not for those who do not know Jesus, who do not have a context for understanding why this message is a message of joy, of hope, and of confidence that God’s justice and righteousness prevails. It is meant as it says in vs 16 as a testimony for the Churches.
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
Jesus calls us His friends, and He reveals to us all that He has planned for us, His Bride, in His eternal gloried Kingdom.
 Revelation is a book of encouragement for God’s people regarding significant things to come for which we pray with Him, Thy Will Be Done. Come, Lord Jesus, We work and testify as we await His return!

AIM: Believers are called to be prepared for Christ’s imminent return.

I. Prepared Hearts Revere God's Word (22:6–11)

A. True and Reliable Word (6–7)

B. A Response of Worship (8–9)

C. Real Change happens through Gospel, not by knowledge of revelation (10–11)

Principle: Believers prepare for Christ’s return by believing and obeying God’s Word.

II. Prepared Lives Reflect Christ’s Work (22:12–21)

A. Work of Becoming like Him (12–16)

B. Work of Invitation/our lives as witnesses proclaiming (17)

C. Work of Unadulterated Discipleship, Learning and Teaching (18–19)

D. Work of Faithfulness, just as He is Faithful and True (20–21)

Principle: Prepared lives reveal Christ, share hope, and guard truth.

This is the Global Lecture from Bible Study Fellowship provided by the staff at BSF Headquarters.

Doctrine: New Heaven and Earth

Aim: CATL...God’s heavenly promise for tomorrow motivates His people to live for Him today.

I. Heaven Tomorrow

A. Eternal City (Hebrews 11, Revelation 3:21)

B. Eternal People (Genesis 17:5, Matthew 28:18-20, John 17, Revelation 7:9)

C. Eternal Temple (Exodus 25:8, Revelation 3:12)

D. Eternal Worship (Revelation 4-5)

Principle: Heaven most important characteristic is that God is central to everything over there. God’s heavenly presence creates perfect unity and a ceaselessly worshipful life.

II. Heaven Today

A. Earthly View (Exodus 24, Isaiah 6, Acts 11, Revelation, John 14:2, Matthew 25)

B. Heaven’s Reality and Promise (2 Cor. 5:8, Philip.1:22-23, Matthew 17:22, Rev.6:9, 21:22)

C. Garden to Garden (Genesis 1-2, Romans 8, Revelation 22)

D. Heavenly Minded (Genesis 1:28, John 17, Colossians 3:1-2)

Principle: God’s heavenly presence generates passionate and productive people that expands and extends all the wonder of God's nature into the expanse of eternity.

The City of God - Revelation 21:9- 22:5

Have you been in a place that felt like home? People find it hard to imagine home in heaven because heaven is so unfamiliar to our minds rooted in this things we cling to in this life. But God wants us to know when God's people live in the City of God, we will be living into a place with Him that feels the most like home, the most we ever felt in the embrace of love, peace, joy, hope, and gladness. We were made for Him. He built into our lives the purposes for which we were to live into. And He has made a place for us perfectly suited to carrying out our purposes under His loving care. Let's look at what this means in this week's lesson.

Division I: Made for Him Revelation 21:9-21

A. 9-11 Reflective of God’s glory

B.12-14 Structured by God’s plan

C. 5-17 Measured by God’s perfection

D. 18-21 Decorated with God’s splendor

Principle I: The ultimate motive of God’s City and Citizen is the worship and glory of God

Division II: Made for us 21:22-22:5

A. 22-24 The Temple and the Light

B. 25-27 The Nations and the Citizens

C. 1-2 The River of Life and the Tree of Life

D. 3-5 The Freedom to Serve and Live

Principle II: God’s constant abiding presence gives clarity, light, life, hope, and joy.

Aim: God’s people will dwell with Him in a new city and creation forever.

Doctrine: Humanity: Creation and Purpose

Revelations 20:11-21:18

If you're watched enough real crime shows, you know people are very delusional when it comes to their own innocence. People have an overly exaggerated view of their own goodness and regularly blame or find fault in others for their problems. That's makes human courts and investigation very difficult. But in at the great and final judgment of God at his Great White Judgement Throne, the books will be open and people won't need to say a word. Instead God in His omniscience will explain to them who they've been and what a they've done. And unless Jesus was their Atonement into a repentance in Jesus that surpasses the righteousness of human action, they will be disqualified from being included in God's Book of Life. Let's look at what comes next in the His New Beginning.

AIM: God’s final judgement will bring His promises to their long awaited fulfillment

I. Judgment Day: The Great White Throne Judgement (Rev 20:11-15)

a. The Final Accounting, whose book (Rev 20:11-12)

b. The Sentence Executed (Rev 20:13-15)

Principle: In the face of God’s inescapable justice, Christ is our only hope. OR You’re either writing your own book, of you’re going to be part of Jesus’s Book of Life.

II. New Beginnings: All Things Made New (Rev 21:1-18)

a. New Creation for the Redeemed (Rev 21:1-2)

b. God’s Presence Restored (Rev 21:3-5)

c. A Sure & Eternal Inheritance (Rev 21:6-8)

Principle: Only the redeemed of God will dwell with Him forever in perfect joy. OR All things are dispensable and unworthy of God’s future plans, except those who are entirely made indispensable in Jesus.

Revelations 20:1-10 BSF Global Lecture Talk

Local SF Lecture will be provided mid-week. Please check back then.

Key Verse: Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with im for a thousand years. (Rev 10:6)

Outline:

Aim: Whether people live in good or bad empires, superficial belief or acceptance of God is no substitute for real worshippers and lovers of God in Christ

I. The Temporary Chaining of Satan, restricting his influence (20:1-3)

Principle 1. God’s sovereignty and infinite power prevails over Satan.

II. Christ’s Righteous Reign through His People (20:4-6)

A. God’s People Raised to Life (20:4-6)

B. God’s People Reign in Christ (20:6)

Principle 2. Jesus’ faithful believers are priests mediating His rule over the earth

III. Satan’s Eternal Defeat (20:7-10)

A. Satan's deceives and enlists the nations to Gog and Magog (20:7-8)

B. Fire from heaven devours myriad readily deceived by satan (20:9)

C. Satan’s Eternal Condemnation (20:10)

Principle 3. Satan and his followers are destined for final and eternal ruin.

This is the Local San Francisco BSF Lecture to accompany Lesson 24

Have you ever arrived someplace where people were celebrating something but you had no clue what all the joy and gladness was about? There are people dancing in the streets, cheering, climbing trees and statues singing their hearts out. Others waving flags and hugging strangers and joining hands. What’s going on? What’s all the hubbub about? If you’re not invested, you’re just a spectator.

If you’re not affected by it, such a grand and joyful occasion can feel irrelevant to you. Sure, you can smile and be happy for them, but you’re not really invested in the celebration as they are. Are you aware of the concerns of Christ in the world in these present times and participating in what God is doing? Are you so invested in the work of Christ today, so that in the day of victory your rejoicing arises as a participant and not a spectator to God’s Rule and Reign over the World?

Aim: Jesus will return to conquer His enemies and claim His people as His bride.

Attribute of God: Glorious, Worthy of our Praise

I. Here Comes the Bride! (Rev. 19:1-10)

A. Resounding Praise to God (1-5)- God paves the way for his bride through judgment

B. Robed in Christ’s Righteousness (6-8)- Jesus clothes His bride “given for her to wear.”

C. Reserved for Jesus (9-10)- God alone is worthy of praise

Principle: Christ’s bride will revel in the brilliance of God’s glory forever.

God deserves all praise because all of God’s actions are just and true.

II. Here Comes our King! (Rev. 19:11-21)

A. Contrast with His 1st Entrance (v 11) doctrine – it's always gloriously unexpected!

B. Contrast with His Earthly Life (v 12-16) – see the full sum of His glory!

C. Contrast with Supper of the Lamb (17-21) –reminder that the church today feeds on the body and blood of Christ, see how He gave all to conquer all?

Principle: King Jesus gave His all in order to reign over all who believe on Him.

The certainty of Jesus's return and victory is the source of all believers' hopes.

Revelation 19 Praise for God's Triumph Lesson 24

"I saw heaven open and there before me was a white horse, whose Rider is called Faithful and True. With Justice, he judges and wages war."

How do you respond to the thought of God's righteous judgment? Mankind is always trying on many fronts and in many different ways to solve the problem of evil in the world, but evil continues to grow and find new ways to extend its influence through all our devices, communication tools, and means of interaction. What can curb or stop the relentless wickedness in the world? What hope does for the future does humanity have when we are so destructive to our very lives?

Revelation 19 tells us the answer. Only Jesus can address the problem of sin and the insidious spiritual forces that manipulate and control humanity's corruption and demise. The heaven's and all God's people rejoice in the Conquering King of Kings. His is the True and Faithful Judge over all the earth. He judges and identifies rightly all that has been wrong and our complicity in the mayhem we all have profited from. Jesus is our only Hope for True Deliverance.

AUDIO GLOBAL LECTURE by BSF Headquarters for this week.

Lesson 23: Babylon's Destruction. Revelation 18

Focus Verse

“They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’” (Revelation 18:14)

Aim: CATL This world' seductive strongholds lead to ruin & await God's ultimate judgment.

Outline

● Downfall Announced – Revelation 18:1-8

● Destruction Mourned – Revelation 18:9-20

● Doom Confirmed – Revelation 18:21-24

Doctrine: Sanctification

Lesson 22: The Prostitute & the Beast, Revelation 17

Why is the kingdom of mankind symbolized as a prostitute riding a red beast? God's achieving justice in the world doesn't just involve humanity, but it also involves satan and the demonic forces of evil in he spiritual realms. This passage today gives us a composite view of the beast and its evil influence in the world which crescendos unabated in strengthen and resolve until Christ Himself destroys them forever. He alone has the power and the authority to demolish the false kingdoms of darkness and the systemic spiritual hold it has had on the earth.

Focus Verse

“They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (Revelation 17:14)

Aim: CATL All who choose to stand against God will experience destruction.

1. Alluring Deception in the Beast’s Seduction

a. Her position is insecure 1

b. Her nature is based on excess and love of self elevation 2-6

-as prostitute, blasphemer 2

-in wilderness of truth, beauty, and God’s goodness 3

-empty beauty/mystery = “hidden” 4-6

Principle: The devil’s system of rule may appear powerful and alluring, but they are ultimately corrupted and depraved.

2. Alluring Deception in the Beast’s Intention

a. Ten kings yield up their powers to the beast 7-13

b. Triumphant Lamb, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Cross for a believer 14

c. Destroyed prostitute- the great city (organized structures & systems devoted to achieving man’s greed, evil, violence against God’s ways); God's purposes fulfilled 15-18

Principle: No matter the opposition, God’s ultimate victory over evil is assured.

Revelation of God's Justice and Mercy - various passages.

In order to understand God's Judgments correctly, it is vital to have a Biblically rooted understanding of God's Justice and Mercy. Otherwise, any reader will see God's judgments are disconnected unfair, irrational acts of divine wrath and anger. God's condemnation of unmitigated, ballooning sin is based on mercy for all. The violence and evil we see in the world arise from mankind but also targets mankind with endless violence, pain, and ruin. Let's review a proper understanding of God's Justice which is rooted in His Mercy and Love.

Aim: God’s justice and mercy perfectly express His abiding love for a world that desperately needs Him.

Divisions:

I. God’s justice and mercy reflect His character (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 36:5-6; John 1:17; 2 Peter 2:4-9; 3:9).

Principles: God displays His justice by judging sin and His mercy by saving sinners.

II. God’s justice and mercy are revealed throughout Scripture (Genesis 6; 18:20–19:29; Exodus 32–34; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 18:9-14).

Principles: Jesus perfectly satisfied God’s justice and offers mercy to sinners who receive His gift of salvation.