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Woodland Hills Church of Christ episodes

January 14, 2024 Revival From An Unlikely Source
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40 min
January 14, 2024 1 & 2 Thessalonians Lesson 2
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48 min
January 11, 2024 Esther- The Unseen God- Intro Part 2
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41 min
January 08, 2024Revelation Introduction Part 2
Revelation Introduction #2
Introduction: In our first lesson we talked primarily about how to read Revelation. In this lesson we want to become familiar with the scope of the book and the character of the message. In other words, what are the elaborate scenes of the book and the declarations of God supposed to do for us as listeners?
To give us a foundation for the Revelation message we must refer to Psalm 2.
Psalm 2 and the Message of Revelation
In the reading of the Psalm, we immediately see a battle. It is a war between God and the kings and rulers of the earth. The battle is for the souls of men and for ruling over the kingdoms of men. They resist God’s determination to set his Messiah on the throne because he will reign in righteousness.
This is not a battle between two despots. This is a battle for righteousness and justice. Satan and his beastly rulers are abusers who bring misery on the earth. The weak and the innocent cry out for deliverance, to live in peace and goodness, and to bring some sense and order to the world.
Psalm 110 begins with the words, “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’” The whole point of the Kingdom of Christ is to crush Satan and his kingdom, which controls the kingdoms of the world. Do you remember Satan’s temptation to Jesus? “The devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, ‘To you I will give all these authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:5-7).
Revelation depicts the culmination of this battle.
Every generation that has lived on the earth has had those who were like those in 6:9-10 crying out, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
12:7 begins with the words, “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated…”
Again in 17:14, “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called chosen and faithful.”
Therefore, we will witness and series of judgments that come out of opening the scroll that is in the hand of the one who sits on the throne.
First, seven seals of the scroll are opened in which a quarter of the earth is affected.
Upon the opening of the seventh seal, seven trumpets sound in which a third of the earth is affected.
Then the sounding of the seventh trumpet leads to “seven angels with seven last plagues” carrying bowls of wrath from the throne of God. These do not affect part of the earth, but are complete, final, and unlimited. In this case, when the seventh bowl is poured out, a loud voice comes from the throne saying, “It is done!” (See 16:17-21)
Following the pouring out of the seventh bowl are depictions of Rome, the world city, as a prostitute with the blood the saints dripping from her mouth. And then a judgment on the kings of the earth who have committed adultery with her and the final end of the beast and the false prophet.
Ultimate victory is proclaimed twice:
In 11:17-18. Notice especially the reward of the God’s servants both small and great and “destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
In 19:1-2. Notice “he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality.”
Then the beautiful scene when a great multitude gives glory to God because the marriage of the Lamb has come and the saints have made themselves ready to meet him “adorned in fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (19:6-8).
The conclusion is depictions of incredible beauty. The dragon and all who followed him are cast into the lake of fire, after which appears a new heavens and a new earth. The new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven made ready as a bride for her husband. The proclamation is made, “Now the dwelling place of God is with man.” The distinction between heaven and earth has been abolished, and “all the former things have passed away.
“Things That Must Soon Take Place…The Time Is Near”
Verses 1-3 give us three clues to understanding the book we have already noticed the first two: (1) this is a revelation, and (2) this is written in signs or symbolic language. Now the third is, these are things that must soon take place and the time is near. Obviously those terms are somewhat relative. How soon? How near? And, are all these things revealed going to happen soon, or are we to see this as the beginning of the judgments of God fulfilling the promises of the prophets?
To help us understand this, consider:
Daniel 12:4-13
Notice that Daniel is twice told that the words of the scroll/book are sealed up until the time of the end. Daniel wants to know more, but he is told it is sealed up until the end.
Verse 13 assures Daniel he will rest and stand in his allotted place at the end of the days.
Notice the angel in verses 6-7. He stands above the waters and answer the question of “how long till the end of these wonders?” He raises his right and left hand and swore that it would be for a time, times, and a half a time, until the shattering of the power of the holy people.
Revelation 10:5-11
We see the same picture of the angel.
This time he swears that “there would be no more delay” and “the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
This time the scroll is not sealed but opened and John is told to eat it.
Finally, John is told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”
Now consider the scope of the time period.
Daniel’s angel spoke of the “shattering of the holy people” as the “end of all these things,” which in the context of Daniel 12 was the destruction of Jerusalem.
In connection with this, it is important to note that both to the church at Smyrna and Philadelphia, the present persecution was being waged by Jews. To Philadelphia (3:10), a future persecution is spoken of that “is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.”
Therefore, In 10:5-11, there are judgments that have been concluded specifically referencing the shattering of the holy people, and then judgments to come concerning “peoples and nations and languages and kings.” These later judgments are pictured on the world city, Rome (17:18).
Now, how soon is “soon?” Well, judgment on Jerusalem would be very soon. Judgment on Rome would follow, but not as soon – though there would be judgments against her leading up to her final fall. Remember, that Daniel 7 and 9:24-27 foretold not only the destruction of Jerusalem, but also the destruction of the fourth beast – the abomination that makes desolate. To the original reader, it doesn’t matter how soon. It just matters that it is going to happen, and the Lord is not sleeping, he’s is acting. (2 Peter 3:9).
Final caution: We need to be careful when reading “time markers” in apocalyptic literature.
Daniel 9:24-27 declares the time of the end (of Jerusalem) will be “70 weeks.” We can look back and know that “weeks” were not literal, but how would the original reader interpreted this?
Haggai 2:6–9, “Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory… The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former…” Cf. Hebrews 12:26-29
We may not like this answer, but instead of trying to figure out exactly when these time markers will be fulfilled, we should instead recognize two messages:
The turning point is at hand. God is about to act and there is no more delay.
When it feels like the world is out of control and in complete chaos, God has an orderly timeframe in which he will judge the world and restore all things.
Berry Kercheville
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52 min
January 07, 2024Revelation Introduction Part 1
Revelation Introduction #1
Introduction: We, as a brotherhood of believers, have neglected Revelation. It is certainly not the only book in scripture we have neglected, but it is certainly in the top five least studied books by the individual Christian. When is the last time you decided to devote yourself to understanding Revelation?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 plainly tells us the danger of neglecting any of the writings of scripture. When we do, we miss a key part of what God wants us to know about himself and what we need to know to survive the attack of Satan and our world culture and attain eternal life.
Most of our lessons will be on Sunday evenings where there will be opportunities of questions, but as appropriate, there will be some on Sunday mornings. I hope you will dedicate yourself to knowing this book with me. My goal is for you to become comfortable with reading and rereading this great letter to the churches so that you are thoroughly equipped for every good work.
What Kind of Book Is Revelation?
The challenge with any book of the Bible is reading it correctly. When any part of the Bible is read with preconceptions, the message will never be discovered. The religious world, including us, is loaded with preconceptions about this book. Therefore, our purpose this morning is to allow John to explain to us how we ought to approach the reading of this book.
How does John describe this book?
Verse 1: “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” God is revealing (not hiding) a message. The message follows a chain of revealing from God to Christ to an angel to John, and then to “servants” of God.
Verse 3: the book is referred to as “prophecy.” We must issue a warning: prophecy is not just “foretelling,” but “forth-telling.” We should not immediately think that God is about to reveal the history of the world till the end of time. This prophecy is intended to be read aloud to the church in the context of worship. It is intended to give comfort, instruction, and warnings as well as events that will affect the Christians of the first and second centuries. Note 1:19 “Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.”
Verses 4-6: the book is also intended to be a “letter.” John introduces the letter just like so many letters that Paul has written. It is a personal letter to seven churches.
This is made plain in verse 11: “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches.” This applies to everything written in the book – all the visions and revelations are to be given to the seven churches. Therefore, it is misleading for us to refer to chapters 2-3 as the seven letters to the churches. Instead, the whole book of Revelation is one circular letter to the seven churches.
In 22:21, we see that John’s ending also fits into the pattern of New Testament letters: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.”
Further, this letter is not just information or prophetic utterances, there are commands to keep in the letter. Verse 3 pronounces a blessing on those who “keep” what is written in the letter.
We should also not think that this letter is only for 7 churches. The seven churches are to be seen as a composite of all churches and Christians. In fact, at the end of every one of the seven individual messages are the word, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” We must give careful attention to the words given as if they were placed in our mailbox yesterday and appreciate that though the letter is not written to us, it is written for us.
What Is the Purpose of “Revelation?”
Revelation (apokalypsis) from which we get our word, “apocalypse.” When we think of apocalypse, we think of end times or judgment. You have also probably heard of “apocalyptic language/literature.” We would say that Daniel and Ezekiel have a lot of apocalyptic language.
However, our connotation of the word is misleading. The word simply means “to reveal,” to made something known that was unknown. For example, when Jacob came back to Bethel where he had dreamed of the ladder and angels of God ascending and descending, he built an altar, “because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother.” Paul also used the term in Galatians 1:16 saying that “God had revealed his Son to me.”
Thus, the word is not uncommon and speaks of God unveiling that which his people do not know. In this case it is an unveiling of “the things which must soon take place.”
Let’s be more specific about what God is revealing. It is not that he is just “telling” things that we do not know. Instead, John is taken up into heaven (4:1) in order to see the world from heaven’s perspective. Consider how wonderful that is! We only see from an earthly perspective. If you will, we see things from the dragon’s perspective. We have a false view of reality. But God wants us to see what really is happening! By seeing God’s perspective, we are able to see the earth and its events the same way God sees it. We are also able to “see down the road” concerning what God will do and the end result of his purposes.
Just think, in the book of Revelation we are transported into the very throne room of God. We see him on the throne and we see the Lamb, the Lion of Judah, reigning with him. We see angelic mediators, visions of political powers, coming judgments, and a new creation. In other words, we are comforted to know that everything we see is not out of control, but that God is active and ruling in the kingdoms of men, watchful for his people, and assuring a victory to come for the saints.
Consider also another critical purpose: God assures the Christian of victory in the end, but it is important that each Christian “conquer” in order to be victorious. These words are used at the end of each of the seven messages to the individual churches. Further in Revelation, God will boldly call out those who have compromised with Satan and his empire-based prostitute.
The Symbolism of Revelation
Verse 1: “He sent it and signified it through his angel to his servant John” (KJV, NKJV, ASV, HCSB). This word signified comes from the same word used in John’s gospel in referring to the “signs” Jesus gave to prove he is the Son of God. You will remember that a sign is not just a miracle, but a picture-miracle. In other words, it is a miracle that is to be interpreted as a message beyond what is seen in the supernatural event. And so in Revelation, pictures are given to cause us to see more clearly the events and peoples that are part of a great war taking place in heaven and on earth.
As a parallel, it is like reading poetry that does not directly state the point but uses picturesque language to move our emotions and making an imprint on our hearts. It is like watching a Chinese parade. In so doing, you do not concentrate on the minutia of the pictures, but look at the message. For example, Satan is a dragon and his allies are beastly creatures that come out of the sea and the earth.
Consider that our minds soak in thousands of visual pictures of our present culture. Those visual pictures frame the way we believe things are. But God brings us to see a heavenly reality with pictures that are counter-images to the false messages that we see in the daily pictures we get on this earth. In so doing, God tears away the present veneer so that we can see the ugliness of the Dragon’s world.
For example, Rome in the first century was a picture of glory that was exalted through its architecture worshiped in its temples throughout Asia. But John sees her as a prostitute, a seductive whore and scheming witch who uses her power and wealth to deceive the world into giving her honor and worship. How does that compare to a Lamb that was slain in order to ransom people for God?
Revelation for Us
In concluding our preparation for the book, we must not read this as if all that is being said applies exclusively to the first two or three centuries in which Christians were persecuted. In other words, do not read the book as history as if the message of the book is over and done with. Consider, we would not read any other book of the Bible that way, and God never wrote any book that did not have a timeless message and application. We need to place ourselves in the midst of this historical symbolic story because the Dragon is still alive, and his allies, the beast and the false prophet still wield their power. 12:17 – “the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
In Isaiah 24 there is given a picture of a “world-city” with whom God will one day conquer and destroy. In that world city are all who will not confess their allegiance to King Jesus and who practice the deception of the Dragon and the Beasts. That world city still exists and the battle is still on. Therefore, we should not remove ourselves from the message of this book.
To confirm this, see Revelation 18:24. Speaking of Rome as Babylon, when an autopsy is done on her, “in her was found the blood of the prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” Wow! This clearly goes beyond Rome and represents all who follow her pattern. The message is relevant until the end of time!
Berry Kercheville
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36 min
January 07, 2024 1 & 2 Thessalonians- Background and Intro
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47 min
January 04, 2024 Esther- The Unseen God
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40 min
December 31, 2023 Developing the Heart of the Father
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20 min
December 31, 2023 Philippians – Bringing the Sources of Joy Into Our Lives
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44 min
December 28, 2023 Daniel Recap
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46 min