Summit Ridge Church

Revelation 17 & 18 declare the fall of Babylon and the destruction of the great Prostitute. So what? How are these chapters of Revelation relevant to believers today? Do they serve as only a prophecy of what's to come or do they have a practical purpose? Do they speak into our current fears, hopes, sins and sufferings? Yes!

The gospel stands in the midst of this great judgement, beckoning believers to further repentance and offering salvation to a broken and sinful world. There are two paths available for all people: Following the Prostitute into utter destruction or King Jesus into eternal life. Listen as Pastor John guides us through this practical and relevant portion of Scripture.

Who deserves the wrath of God? Who can possibly live up to His holiness? How are Christians supposed to hold two seemingly contradictory notions of God's eternal love and His plan to exact wrath on the very people He created? Finally, how can this possibly be good news?

Pastor John explores the good news of God's wrath as we continue to on in our study of Revelation. The stark reality is that all people have to account for the holy, just and righteous wrath of God. Either that wrath will be upon our own heads or we will accept that it was already poured out on our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The morning of the Resurrection was bathed in tears. Often overlooked, this momentous, earth-shattering, history-defining, universe-changing reality was actually deeply inefficient, painfully slow, and not what we would expect. As the Apostles remained scattered, a weary and weeping woman encountered Christ first... and one word from the Resurrected Lord changed everything.

What does Revelation 12-14 say to us today? How are we to understand the beasts, the dreaded 666 mark and should we be afraid of them? Pastor John explores not only what these things are but what they also clearly aren't. In the midst of Satan's temporary reign over this world, believers are called to remain vigilant and faithful. As we face into the fearful circumstances of the Apostle's vision, believers are encouraged that they have already been sealed by their Father in heaven and their names written in the Book of Life. We can face honestly into the tribulation this world brings because the One who sealed us has already overcome it.

Throughout the book of Revelation, God reveals his cosmic plan for the end of all things. Amidst the destruction, judgement, hostility, pain and anguish, Revelation 10 and 11 speaks to the Christian's call to remain faithful during persecution, reminding them that their true hope, found only in their Savior will sustain them as they eagerly await to go home to be with him. Listen to Pastor John explore and guide us through the halfway point of Revelation.

Does Jesus understand our suffering? Does he know what it's like to be one of us? While Christians are well acquainted with the message of Christ's sacrifice, we often forget that we have a Savior who identifies with all of our sufferings. Listen to Pastor Jeremy Cooper as he exposits Hebrews 4:15-16. Lean about the about our Savior who was a man of sorrows and well acquainted with grief.

As we move into the middle section of Revelation, chapters 8 & 9, the judgement of God begins to take center focus. As the seals, trumpets and eventual bowls of wrath are poured out upon an unrepentant world, the God of heaven continues to warn his creation of the wrath that is coming.

Pastor John preaches on why God's warning of impending judgement is given because He loves his creation and wants them to seek repentance. The restoration of our relationship to God is only found in his resurrected Son, Jesus Christ who died to forgive sinners.

As we continue our study in the book of Revelation, we arrive at chapters 6 & 7. In John's vision, he observes the Lamb breaking 6 of the 7 seals seen in the previous chapters and the beginning of the Lamb's wrath being poured out on a wicked world. He also sees the countless multitude of the saints in white robes, sealed by the Lamb.

Pastor John reminds us that while we can expect to experience suffering in this world, Jesus remains our Sovereign Lord throughout and will, one day, wipe the tears from our very eyes.

Revelation 4 and 5 serve as the anchor for the entirety of the rest of the book. Pastor John explores what the Apostle John saw in Heaven's Throne Room and how the central focus is always God's glory completed through the finished work of our Slaughtered Lamb, Jesus Christ. In these chapters, God is worshipped and glorified, setting the stage for his full redemption to be enacted.

This week, Summit Ridge hosted the leadership of one the outreach programs we support: Not Forgotten. This ministry is located in Peru, serving 40 children who are housed, fed, counseled, ministered to and taught the skills needed to enter adulthood. These kids are often placed with the ministry from the Peruvian government and kept until the age of 18. Hear from founder Tyler Fuqua and associate Gene Idlett about their ministry and what God is doing in Peru.