Overview of the Book of Revelation

We have been studying the book of Revelation for 9 months now. Most are afraid of it because of the imagery and symbolism. Don't be afraid. Here is a brief summary of the whole book. This is what God wants us to know. Don't worry about what he doesn't want us to know. If He wanted us to know He would have told us. The rest is called Faith.

The Book of Revelation is about Jesus. Its not about the end times or who the anti-Christ is or what 666 means. It is about Jesus. He is being Revealed.

There is nothing new in the Book of Revelation that hasn’t already been told elsewhere in the Bible.

1. Jesus is alive and well
2. Jesus oversees the church
3. The Cross is at the center of everything
4. Jesus will unravel God’s plan
5. God’s will will be done
6. Satan will be defeated
7. Christ will win
8. Those who are loyal and faithful will live with Him and He with them

The question of Revelation is:

Who or what will you worship

• Will you worship the world and its systems and structures.

Politics – Religion – Materialism

• Or will you worship the Lamb?

You will be persecuted
But Jesus will prevail

I WILL WORSHIP THE LAMB!

A Follow Up Thought to USA Today Article

A follow up scripture to this article

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-06-23-pew-religions_N.htm

Here is the lead paragraph,
Religion today in the USA is a salad bar where people heap on upbeat beliefs they like and often leave the veggies — like strict doctrines — behind.

Here is what the Bible says,
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2 Tim 4:4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

The Bible is always relevant

Great Article on our Troops in Iraq

I was surprised but pleased to read this in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/kevin_ferris/20080622_Back_Channels__Iraqis_now_know_al-Qaeda__not_U_S___is_the_real_enemy.html

One World Religion

On Wednesday nights we are studying the book of Revelation. In chapter 17 when it mentions the Great Harlot it is speaking of a world religion dating back to the Tower of Babel, through to Nebuchadnezzar, to our day to the end times. This world religion is based in the thought that there is not one way to God. Your way, my way they are all the same.
Here is a link to an article in USA today that shows how prevalent this thinking is in our day.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-06-23-pew-religions_N.htm

1 John 4:3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

2 John 1:7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
2 John 1:8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

The end of chapter 17 gives the "rest of the story" The anti-Christ will turn on the Harlot and kill her. He will set himself up as the only one to worship. This is what the devil has desired all along. He uses a water-down religious system to lead people toward worship of himself.