Sept 12, 2006

Bible Study: Introduction to Revelation

 

            What gives you hope in troubled times? What gives meaning to your life?

            If we asked a hundred people those questions, we might get a hundred different answers: my bank account and stock shares, my hobbies and pets, my family and friends, my church and ministry.

All the above have merit and a place in our lives. However, all the above can be taken from us in the blink of an eye.

What provides hope and gives meaning to our lives? If we are true believers of God’s word, His promise to spend eternity with Him is the answer. It is the only thing we possess that cannot be taken from us. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. (John 10:27-30 NIV emphasis mine)

There have been times when everything seemed fruitless and empty. Without the hope of eternal life, I would have even giving up on the LORD. That promise was the only thing that sustained me.

Even without personal hardships and trials, the world as a whole looks extremely empty and hopeless. Despair flashes in our faces each time we turn on the TV or internet. Wars, diseases, floods, earthquakes, and inflation threaten our stability.

Wait a minute! That sounds familiar. Prophecies in Revelation predict such times as these just before the LORD’s return. REJOICE! Be exceedingly glad. We are privileged to witness the fulfilling of God’s promises.

The book of Revelation is Jesus’ Revelation to the world given to John as an encouragement as well as a warning of what is to come.

Although John was a prisoner on the island of Patmos, he sought to comfort and strengthen the suffering Christians in the churches in Asia. His was not a ministry of self-gratification, but of trusting God to meet his needs while ministering to the needs of others. Thereby, John allowed God to use him as His instrument of Revelation.

When we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations, do we question God? Why does He have us here? What good are we in a place like this? How quick can we get out of here?

I don’t know about you, but those are usually among the questions I ask.

As a prisoner on an island, John could have spent his time brooding over his circumstances. If he would have thought like me, his conversation with the LORD would have been something like this:

Jesus: I’m going to tell you the things to come.

John: Why tell me? I’m a prisoner on this island, remember?

Jesus: I want you to show my servants what will soon take place.

John: Like I said: island, manual labor. Hello.

Jesus: I am sending you my angel who will show you many things.

John: And what exactly am I supposed to do with this knowledge?

Jesus: Write it in a book and send it to the seven churches.

John: I’m not writing a word until you get me off this island.

Jesus: I need you here to testify to everything you are about to see.

John: You could transport me. You transported Philip from the desert to Azotus.

Jesus: You are here to give hope to many and for God’s glory and great pleasure.

 

Thankfully, John was not like me. He surrendered completely to God’s will. He is Romans 8:28 personified. (We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.) I believe God could have protected John from imprisonment on Patmos. I believe that since God transported Philip (Acts 8:39-40), He could have transported John off the island to some resort. But, God left John on Patmos to receive the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Because of John’s submission, Jesus gave him His Revelation in which we find these crucial doctrinal truths: 1. God’s sovereignty, 2. Jesus: the suffering, atoning, ascending, and returning Messiah, 3. the Holy Spirit, 4. Christ’s kingdom, 5, Christian hope, 6. heaven, 7. hell, 8. judgment, 9. sin, 10. Satan, 11. humanity, 12. history, 13, the Christian life, 14. priesthood of believers, 15. the church, 16. biblical inspiration, 17. angels, 18. victory through perseverance.

 

 

Conclusion and Challenge:

             Last winter, we studied the beginning of the church as recorded by Luke in the book of Acts. This winter, we will study the end of the church age and history as we know it as recorded by John in the book of Revelation.

            Before we even begin this year’s study, we have learned that God uses us in the diverse situations. We may not be where we want to be or where we think we should be; but if we completely surrender our lives to Him, God will use us where we are.