Revelations 6

Why does Jesus the Lamb of God unseal the scrolls? What are the horsemen of the Apocalypse and what can we learn about God's righteousness and goodness through this terrible description of difficult things to come for humanity? We will learn that God is just and cannot allow evil to continue unmitigated to humanity's demise. We'll see today God has a plan and purpose in revealing His perfect Judgment when we have witnessed the height of wickedness and sin reign in the world.

Outline:

I. God’s Wrath: What happens when God lifts His hands from in human life and affairs (6:1-8)

A. Loss of Freedom (6:1-2)

B. Loss of Peace (6:3-4)

C. Loss of Provision (6:5-6)

D. Loss of Life (6:7-8)

P: Even as God’s wrath executes justice, Jesus still calls

II. God’s Sovereign Consolation: What happens when God gives us His perfect consolation (6:9-11)

A. Awaiting Justice (6:9-10)

B. Awarded for Faithfulness (6:11)

P: Believers can trust Jesus’ sovereign timing for His justice and His very great reward.

III. God’s Wrath: What happens when God lifts His hand from His Creation (6:12-17)

A. When Released on the Planet (6:12-14)

B. When Released on People (6:15-17)

P: God’s love is displayed when Jesus endured God’s wrath on the cross.

Revelation: What is the Day of the Lord?

Lesson 11: The Day of the Lord, Joel 1–3; 2 Peter 3

In previous lessons, we looked at how all reality is centered around God who is have complete sovereignty and authority over all things in the cosmos before every power and dominion. But the pivotal revelation we learned in Revelation 5 is that the Reign of the slain Lamb of God, the Savior, is the One who leads all humanity into all reality of the Future forever. In Him and through Him are all things of God fulfilled in His promises and plans. In this lesson, we see that His unfolding plan must deal with the just judgment of all sin. What is sin and why must God deal with it? That's what we'll review and reflect on further today.

Focus Verse

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)

AIM: The day of the Lord will bring Justice through Judgment. God’s righteousness demands justice. His love compels salvation through His Atonement.

1. Call for sinners to private and public repentance, before the Day of the Lord – Joel 1-3

A. 1-2:11 Righteous God - Internal infestation, External weakness to defend

B. 2:12-17 Merciful God - gracious response, promise of blessing

C. 2:18-3:21 Trustworthy God - Dispersed into nations, judgment, and promise of deliverance

Principle: God's righteous judgement is an urgent call for all sinners to repentance.

2. Call to live by larger realities of God’s Plans and Promises by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 3)

A. 3:1-2 Right thinking - expanded, clarified, and purposeful

B. 3:3-7 Right Expectations - eternal view of God’s Kingdom

C. 3:8-14 Right Conduct - members of One Family

D. 3:15-18 Right Preparation - always ready and steady, on behalf of others

Principle: God calls His people to countercultural witness to the Gospel of Salvation.

Doctrine: Righteousness

Attribute: Righteous

Guest Lecturer: Hollie Roberts - Executive Director of BSF International shares her reflection on our current lesson.

The Book of Revelation reveals the higher order and reign of God above all things. He is high and lifted up, and there is profound worship and praise through the cosmos. So why is John weeping as he sees a Scroll with Seven Seals that no one can open? What's the significance of the Scroll and its implications for mankind's present and future?

Aim: Jesus is uniquely worthy to accomplish God’s plan of redemption.

I. Jesus is Worthy to Resolve History v 1 – 7

A. The Scroll in God’s Hand (v1)

B. The Search for a Worthy One (vs. 2-4)

DOCTRINE: v.2-4, it’s as if the weight of the entire worlds redemption hangs in the balance here; what is redemption?

C. The Lion and the Lamb (vs.5-7)

DOCTRINE: v.6, the Lamb who was slain; the great cost of redemption; Jesus paid it in full

Truth: Jesus conquered death and is uniquely worthy to consummate history.

II. Jesus is Worthy to Receive Worship v 8 – 14

A. The Worship of the Lamb (v.8 )

B. The New Song of Praise (vs.9-10)

DOCTRINE: v.9, the Lamb has purchased people from every tribe/language/nation through His sacrificial death

C. The Heavenly Worship (vs.11-14)

DOCTRINE: v.12, the worship of the Lamb for His redemptive sacrifice

Truth: Jesus redeemed the unworthy and is uniquely worthy of worship.

Lesson 9: The Throne Room of God, Revelation 4

The Book of Revelation is a Vision of a much much greater reality. The Vision is meant to enlarge your small view of God's plans and purposes. This begins with your view of God's sovereign rule. If we don't have a proper view of the cosmic, and boundless greatness of God's Rule and Reign above all things, we will not have a property view of ourselves, our purposes, and our future with Him. We will instead cave in and crumble under every wind of false. teaching and pressure on our faith. So it is vital we have a proper, right view of God's sovereignty over all things in order for us to understand what we as believers must be and do.

Focus Verse

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11)

Aim: CATL God's majestic glory inspires ceaseless worship.

I. God is in Complete Sovereign Control from His Throne (4:1-6a)

A. God’s Invitation to see what must take place (4:1)

B. God’s majestic authority and rule (4:2-3)

C. Court of heaven arrayed ready to worship (4:4-6a)

Principle: All Creation in Heaven and Earth Gives Worship to God in His Supreme Authority.

II. All Creation exists to worship God on His Throne (4:6b-11)

A. Worship God for Who He is (4:6b-8)

B. Worship God for What He Does (4:9-11)

Principle: Worshipping God Puts All Things in Their Real, Larger Perspective

Lesson 8: God's Kingdom: His Plan for History, Daniel 1–2; 6–7

The world has always known kingdoms in conflict. The Bible describes kingdoms of mankind in the form of rapacious beasts ferocious in their exploitation and abuse of all that God has made, destructive and unheeding to repentance or submission to God. What is God's plan then for humanity and what puts an end to all the evil we see in human forms of government?

Focus Verse “But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.” (Daniel 7:18)

Aim_CATL We can be assured that God’s kingdom reigns now and forever.

I. God makes us His witnesses in various worldly opportunities and appointments – Daniel 1-2

a.) God allowed Daniel to be taken to Babylon – 1:1-2

b.) God empowered resolve to remain faithful in Babylon – 1:3-21

c.) God orchestrated Daniel's rise to fame in the Babylonian Kingdom– 2:1-49

PRINCIPLE: God as ruler ordains the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms, but His kingdom endures forever

II. God gives courage and protection, wonder and life-changing witness through His People– Daniel 6

a.) God supplied strength and courage – 6:1-10

b.) God protected Daniel in danger – 6:11-24

c.) God honored and recognized by King Darius – 6:25-28

PRINCIPLE: God transforms the world now through His faithful kingdom citizens.

III. God gives vision of His judgment over the Empires of Man – Daniel 7

a.) Daniel’s dream of four predatory animals – 7:1-8

b.) Daniel’s vision of God’s court, book of Records – 7:9-14; 23-28

c.) Daniel’s troubled spirit – 7:15-17; 26-27

PRINCIPLE: Citizens of God’s kingdom can live with total confidence in God’s absolute reign in every circumstance

Doctrine: Fait

Attribute: Omnipresent

What happens to people who don't have a plan or road map for their lives? How is a good life, a deeply meaningful life tied to having an understanding of one's purpose within God's plan. Today, we're looking at why God specifies the plans and the promises He outlines in the Bible for His people. God assures us that His promises are True and Never Fails. We can rest assured that despite the passing of history, cacophonous events of noisy humanity, and the roller-coaster ride of our individual lives, God has called us to be faithfully living into His Great Purpose in Christ Jesus.

So out outline is:

Aim: CATL God’s plan is to unite & perfect His people

I. Salvation: (Acts 2, Rom 11) Through the unifying work of the…

A. Father (Rom 11, Gen 1-3, 11-12): Messianic Covenant (God moves towards us)

B. Son (Acts 2, John 17:) Substitutionary Atonement (God with us)

C. Holy Spirit (Acts 2, Eph 4): Spirit’s Indwelling (God in us)

Doctrine: 1A, 1C

     Principle: Father, Son & Holy Spirit implement a unified plan to unite with believers.

II. Sanctification: Eph 4, Rev 21-22 Partnering in God’s perfecting work…

A. Maturity: God’s work in you

B. Mission: God’s work through you

C. Matriculation: God’s work completed (Rev 21-22)

Doctrine: 2B, 2C

    Principle: God plans to unite and perfect His people through service and obedience.

Does Jesus care what's going on in the Church? What might He have to say about believers in our generation? How does suffering for Christ produce in believers strength and hope? Contrastly, how does a lukewarm church remain so complacent and self-righteous, it fails to understand its own position, be self-reflective and repentent?

Doctrine: Works

Aim: CATL…Jesus assures the steadfast and warns the self-sufficient.

I. The Steadfast Church (3:7-13)

 A. Jesus: His Person (3:7)

 B. Jesus: His Perspective (3:8)

 Doctrine v. 8

 C. Jesus: His Promise (3:9-13)

 Doctrine v. 12

Principle: Jesus assures his church that obedience is always worth it.

II. The Self-Satisfied Church (3:14-22)

 A. Jesus: His Person (3:14)

 B. Jesus: His Perspective (3:15-17)

 C. Jesus: His Plea (3:18-19)

 Doctrine vv. 18-19

 D. Jesus: His Promise (3:20-22)

Principle: Jesus calls the self-satisfied to repentance and dependence on Him.

Revelation 2:12-3:6

Does the Church need to be overly anxious about heresies and heretics? What does God do with the occults and false religions? God is a faithful Father who will retain the fidelity of His Faithful Children to the end. He will always have Lampstands ready throughout the world, trimmed and bright among His people and angels who are His divinely directly and managed messengers that He holds in His grasp which He sends to teach, admonish, and strengthen His Church. When the Lampstand is removed, He removes it for a reason.

Rev 2:12-3:6 Doctrine _ Repentance

Aim _ CATL walking with Jesus requires responding to His call to repent.

I. [2:12-17] Fooled; but promised Food for the Faithful but - How does Spiritual Food help us?

A. [2:12-13] Faithful despite Persecution

B. [2:14-15] Fooled by False Teachers

C. [2:16-17] Treatment and Promise

P: God’s Spirit helps God’s people to hold to God’s truth.

II. [2:18-29] Seduced; but promised Sceptre for the Serving - What does a Sceptre represent for us here?

A. [2:18-19] Serving with Perseverance

B. [2:20-21] Seduced by False Prophet

C. [2:22-29] Treatment and Promise

P: God’s Spirit matures God’s people towards uncompromising faith.

III. [3:1-6] Asleep and complacent; but promised Attire and Acknowledgement before the Father - Why is finishing what we started important?

A. [3:1] Active in the Community

B. [3:2] Asleep on the Job

C. [3:3-6] Treatment and Promise

P: God’s Spirit helps God’s people prioritise God’s purpose in our lives.

What does it mean to forsake your first love?

Why does God allow suffering among His people - faithful ones like John the Baptist, the prophets of the OT, and even the Apostles and early church believers? What does it achieve?

We will reflect on these as it applies to us today.

Jesus's Letters to the Churches, Part 1 Revelation 2:1-11

Why does Jesus tell the Ephesian Church they had forsaken their first love. What is a first love and how might it matter for our relationship with Christ? Today, we explore issues that appear at first quite small but can have consequential and detrimental impact on the witness and power of the Church to testify of Christ.

Aim: CATL Christ offers all we need for persevering patiently as His faithful Church in a hostile world

I. Loving God with an true, complete, undivided heart 2:1-7

A. In Truth (Pronouncement): v.1-3 Jesus knows the truth about all things

B. In Love (Problem): v.4-6 Love for Jesus transforms actions and affections

C. In Victory (Promise): v.7 Overcoming faith perseveres in truth AND love

Principle: Persevering love for Christ empowers impactful witness

II. Persevere in Suffering knowing you are never alone 2:8-11

A. The Paradox (Pronouncement): v.8-9 Jesus identifies with you in your struggles

B. The Prediction (Problem): v.10a For believers, suffering is temporary and life is eternal

C. The Prize (Promise): v.10b-11 The Crown of Life, Radiant testimony to share in His Kingdom reign

Principle: An eternal perspective enables us to live in victory over circumstances, fearless faith, and lifelong witness.