Sermon: Revelation 7:4-12, The 144,000 of IsraelMain Point: Who are the 144,000?

I.The Narration of the 144,000 – 7:4-8.

See also Revelation 14:1

II.The Vision of the 144,000 – 7:9-17.

“Those marked as God’s treasure by the seal of his name are securedand sheltered from his burning wrath to come. They are the people of hiscovenant, portrayed as twelve complete tribes. But now that the Lamb hasconquered through his death, God’s covenant embraces all nations, tribes,peoples, and tongues. The Israel secured by God’s seal is a multiethnic multitude, dressed in robes washed white in the Lamb’s blood and praising himfor his salvation.” – Dennis Johnson

Application: 

Sermon delivered by Jonathan Hood

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:49-64

O Great God (35)

Christ, the Sure and Steady Anchor (406)

Sermon: Luke 8:4–15, A Parable of Kingdom Reception

“When you come to Christ, bring your ears with you, ears to hear, so that hearing, you might understand; understanding, you might remember; remembering, you might practice; and practicing, you might continue. In this way, God’s seed will be sown in good ground and bring forth fruit, in some thirtyfold, in some sixtyfold and in some a hundredfold.”

– John Boys (1571–1625)

Sermon: Revelation 6:12-17, The Seal of JudgmentThe day of judgment is a just and fearful thing, so give all diligence to being sure you are ready.

I.Heed the Fearful Symbols of Judgment – 6:12-14.

See also Nahum 1:5; Ezekiel 32:7-8, 38:20b; Isaiah 34:4; Matthew 24:29

II.Flee the Fearful Reality of Judgment – 6:15-17.

See also Ecclesiastes 12:13; Deuteronomy 27:26; Isaiah 2:19-21

III.Find Refuge in the Glorious Reality of Grace!

Application

1)Think deeply about the judgment to come.

See also 1 John 1:8

2)Repent & Trust Jesus alone.

See also Hebrews 12:25-29

Main Point: Prioritize and proclaim Jesus, and rest in God’s sovereignty over your life.

I. The Cause of the Martyrs – v. 9.

See also Romans 12:1

“When God calls a man, he bids him come and die.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

II. The Cry of the Martyrs – v. 10.

See also Psalm 94:1-5

II. The Comfort of the Martyrs – v. 11.

“Faith wraps the soul up in the bundle of life with God; it encloses it in the righteousness of Jesus, and presents it so perfect in that, that whatever Satan can do, with all his cunning, cannot render the soul spotted or wrinkled before the justice of the law. Yea, though the man, as to his own person and acts, be full of sin from top to toe, Jesus Christ covers all… The man, therefore, standing here, stands shrouded under that goodly robe that makes him glisten in the eye of justice.” –John Bunyan

Application: 

“He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” – 2 Cor 5:15

“The martyrs are more glorious than the sun, more brilliant than light. For when the sun sets, the martyrs shine with their own light, ever bright in the heavens.” – John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 A.D.)

Sermon: Revelation 6:3-8 – Seals 2-4, No Peace, No Bread, No Breath

Through these seals we are introduced to God’s righteous judgment, so repent and rest in His grace in Christ our Savior & Lord. 

I. Overview of the Seals, Trumpets, & Bowls.

II. The Last Three Horses: Bright Red, Black, and Pale.

See also Isaiah 2:4; Ezekiel 14:21

“We do not live in a world as God created it, but as sin spoiled it. Yet even the red horse and its rider are under the Lord Christ’s control.” – Joel Beeke

Application

1) Flee from the judgment of Christ.

2) Rest in the grace of Christ.

Conclusion

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord..” – Romans 8:35-39

Sermon: Revelation 6:1-2, The Lamb and the White Horse

Jesus is risen and reigning on His throne to perfectly judge evil and establish a righteous earth for His redeemed people.

I. The Lamb on His Throne – 6:1.

See also Acts 2:32-36; Eph. 1:20-23; 

II. The Lamb on His Horse – 6:2.

See also Rev. 19:11; Rev. 19:16; Psalm 145:3-7

“It is Christ in the power of His gospel who is galloping across the plain of history. Let us be comforted by knowing that the greatest force – the leading power in this world – is Christ and His gospel. … This horse and its rider have advanced throughout history through the preaching of the apostles, the early church fathers, the Reformers, the Puritans, and missionaries in China, Africa, and around the world. Nothing can prevent the white horse and its rider from advancing throughout the world… Christ, the Captain of our salvation, rides forth to conquer.” – Joel Beeke

Application

1) Live in resurrection confidence. 

2) Proclaim the cross and resurrection. 

3) Live in anticipation of the final victory.

Sermon: Revelation 5:10, A Kingdom of Priests

As a believer in Christ, own your dual identity. In Him, you have both a kingly authority and a priestly role in His kingdom. 

I. The Priesthood of the Believer.

See also Heb. 10:1; Col 2:17; Heb 10:14; 1 Tim 2:5

II. Our Reign with Christ.

See also Rev. 22:5

“Through their prayers they are priests who serve God. Although severely disadvantaged and entirely powerless within their society they actually reign on earth. They reign in the way Christ ‘reigned’ during the crucifixion. It is a reign of courage, of love, of truth and of hope; qualities that come from God himself and which are greater than death. The person possessed of these qualities, though poor and powerless, has the dignity of Christ the king.” – Paul Barnett

Application

1) Christian, you are a priest in God’s kingdom.

2) Christian, you reign with Christ now and you will reign with Him forever. 

Conclusion

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” – 1 Peter 2:9

Main Point: Jesus, the prophesied Lion of Judah and Lamb of God, is worthy to reign over all and be worshiped by all!

I. The Lamb is Worthy to Rule – 5:7.

See also Matt. 28:18-20; Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 2:8

II. The Lamb is Worthy of Worship – 5:8-14

See also Psalm 95:6

“The Bible tells us that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10). When you were saved, tens of thousands burst into song. They were happy – perhaps happier than you were, because you hadn’t fully understood at that point all that had happened to you. They rejoiced!” –Joel Beeke 

Application: 

I.What is this scroll? – 5:1

See also Hebrews 1:1-2

II.Who is worthy to open it? – 5:2-6

See also Genesis 49:9-10; Daniel 7:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“This Lion-Lamb is not only at the center of heaven; He is the centerof heaven. All heaven is focused on Him, All the worshipers surroundHim and look to Him, beginning with the Father, whose deepest delight is in His Son.” – Joel Beeke

I. In What Sense is Jesus a Father?

See also Heb. 2:10-13; Eph. 1:3-4

II. The Everlasting Nature of Jesus’ Fatherhood

“He was so from everlasting; for regeneration and faith don’t make men children, but make them appear to be so; God’s elect are children previous to the Spirit’s work upon them…..adoption is an act of the will of God in covenant from eternity: and Christ is a Father to these unto everlasting…”– John Gill

III. Soak in Who Your Everlasting Father is for you Christian

See also Rom. 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-10; Jer. 17:9; John 3:36; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:11-18; Luke 13:22-30; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; Matt. 4:1-11; Gal. 4:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:21-31; Col. 2:8-15; Mark 1:15; John 6:37; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Thess. 1:4-5; Acts 11:18; Acts 13:48; Eph. 4:1-16; Phil. 1:19-26; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:50-58; Rev. 21-22:5