Bro Richard Friday Night 5/18/12

Bro Richard Friday Night 5/18/12

The outline of Revelation; the 50,000 foot flight over Revelation:

Part 1: Overview & Patterns

A. Chapter 1:

1. The Purpose Introduced

2. How to Understand is Presented

B. The "Sevens":

3. Seven: Characteristics of Christ, Spirits, Angels & Churches .

4. Seven: Seals, Trumpets, Vials of Wrath

C. The Exposure and Defeat of Babylon

D. The Triumphant Christ & His Army Defeat the Beast and the False Prophet

E. The Defeat of Satan

F. The Heavenly Jerusalem & Her Husband

Introduction to Revelation

Purpose: To Reveal Jesus Christ

• Bear record of the Word of God ...Rev 1:2

• Show things shortly to come to pass ...Rev 1:1, 22:6

• A call to action (things to be "kept") -Rev 1:3, 22:6-19

• Show how Jesus comes: "with clouds" ...Rev 1:7, 10:1,

14:4, Matt 26:63-64, Heb 12:1 ("cloud of witnesses")

Addressed to: Servants

Understood by: Symbols, Patterns & Lessons from Scripture

"Behind me...great voice as of a trumpet" -Rev 1:10, Isa 30:20-

21 (from the record of Word of God & history)

Most of All! (Rev 1:10,4:2,17:3,19:10,21:10)

Must be in the Spirit of True Worship to Understand

The Many "Sevens"

7 - Scriptural number of "completeness" or perfection

7 - Messages to the Churches:

• 7 Characteristics of Christ emphasized (chapter 1)

• 7 Spirits ...Rev 1:4, 4:5 & 5:6 (7 times, once to each church, he states: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.")

• 7 angel/messengers ...Rev 1:16 & 20

• 7 candlestick churches ...Rev 1:11-13 & 20 & chapters 2 & 3

7 - Seals, Trumpet Angels, Vials of Wrath

The “Sevens”

1.       The seven:  characteristics of Christ, Spirits, Angels, and Churches

2.       Seven:  seals, trumpets, and vials of wrath.

When Jesus gave the book of Revelations it was for a reason.  The church of God has had to bring forth children in the middle of a warfare and that is the most difficult way to bring forth. 

The purpose of Revelation is to reveal Jesus Christ and who He really is.  Hypocrisy and false religion have clouded that purpose.  The purpose is to defeat that deception and help souls give their life to Christ so that He might be King of kings and Lord of lords over not just the individual but over all people. 

The battle to defeat that deception and crown Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings is the battle that we are in.

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

It was sent by Jesus Christ and was His revelation.  If any is to receive this revelation, Jesus must reveal Himself to them.  We can preach until we are blue in the face and do our best but if Jesus doesn’t come down then we are laboring in vain.

This revelation is to be shown to His servants.  The heart of a servant: 70% of their world, in their day, was a servant actually owned by someone else.  Today, from the world that we live in, we don’t know this type of servant.  We need help with this knowledge. 

Just because we conceptually understand a word doesn’t mean that we know what it really means.  We have to be willing to let the Word of God work in us the experience of suffering and laboring and bearing the cross.

Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

When you bring Revelations fully then you have brought out all the Bible.  All of the symbolism seen in Revelation is seen in the rest of the Bible.  It bears record of the Word.  It convinces one because it brings it all together in a way that it doesn’t just deal with the organizations but with the condition that exists right in the heart of man. 

It is something to be kept, not a book just of interest and of filling up of knowledge but of things that must be followed and kept. 

Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

The message was sent to seven churches in Asia, there were seven churches at that time.  The epistle is also to us today.  Because it is a spiritual epistle it not only deals with a time in history and their needs, but it has dealt with the needs of every church age down through history and with the church today, 2012.

There is only one Holy Spirit so what is this trying to convey to us when he says, “seven Spirits which are before His throne”?

Revelations chapter 4:

Rev 4:5  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

 “To him that heareth let Him hear” is said to each of the seven churches. 

1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Co 12:5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

The seven Spirits refer to The Holy Spirit dealing with each of the churches differently.  How God operates here in Paradise will be different then it will be in Carmichael.  It will be even more different in another country or another time period.  It would be so different that it would seem strange to us but it is still the same church of God.  They are still living sin free and led of the Holy Spirit.  It is different so it seems to be different Spirits to us but it is the same Spirit.

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

This is at the end of time but Jesus told one that he was going to see this happen in his day.  It is both.  In this day we are compassed with a great cloud of witnesses.  This cloud of witnesses is people serving God and their testimony witnessing to us.   The cloud of people witnessing is God’s true people.

Mat 26:63  But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Mat 26:64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

On the Day of Pentecost an explosion of a cloud of witnesses was seen, the scribes and Pharisees gnashed their teeth and carried on because they couldn’t deny that the presence of God was there.  We need the presence of God.  If we are to have it we will have to overcome all these things ourselves. 

It is simply the presence of God that does that.  Others that do not submit will resist and it is the presence of God that does it.  Although God has worked in every age of time there has not always been the ability to break through in revival as happened in the day of Pentecost and at other times as well.

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Notice that he turned to see who was talking because the voice came from behind him.

Isa 30:20  And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

Isa 30:21  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Why is it talking about a word coming from behind?  What is behind is in the past, this Word is from the past.  The seven golden candlesticks were also from the past and no longer existed.  Everything in life is a lesson from history.  That which we hear from the past gives us the ability to know how to go forward. 

Today we not only have the scriptures but also what has happened in the church to this day to learn from.  He was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.  We must be in the Spirit of true worship in order to understand.  If we get distracted and caught up in the things of life then we will lose our ability to understand and to go forward.

The number seven is a number of completeness, of finishing, of wholeness.  There are seven days in the week and seven candlesticks.   There are seven characteristics of Christ emphasized in Chapter 1.  Seven churches, seven angel messengers found in Revelations.  The thought is of completeness.

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Rev 1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

In each of the messages to the churches there is one of the characteristics of Christ that is brought out.  To Smyrna the characteristic was “I am one who was dead and is alive.”  In everything that we go through Jesus Christ is the answer for that.  He uses one of His characteristics as He talks to them to emphasize: “I’ve gone before you and I am the answer.”

In addition, the seven churches give reference to seven time ages throughout history.  In each reference He is telling them that if you don’t take care of this issue then something will happen. 

Rev 2:8  And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Rev 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

To Smyrna he told them to take care of those that said that they were spiritual Jews but were not.  To Pergamos there were those of the synagogue of Satan that were among them.  A fulfilling of the prophecy to Smyrna can be seen in the prophecy to Pergamos. 

The message throughout Revelation is, “Have victory over Babylon, falseness, and corruption and crown Jesus King of Kings.”  The seven vials are a plan to get us from where we are to where we need to be.  They are a battle plan. 

There are seven seals that are opened up by Jesus Christ through salvation.  Jesus told Nicodemus that he could not understand unless he was born again.  The seven seals are opened by Jesus Christ to those that are saved and worship Him in Spirit.

When the seventh seal is opened then the seven trumpets are able to be sounded out.  After the seventh trumpet, seven vials of wrath are poured out against falseness.

Like the Plan to Defeat Jericho

Jericho was the great walled city that stood in the way of God's people conquering the promised land

The Battle Plan of Sevens to Defeat Jericho (Joshua chapter 6):

• 7 days: Once around city of Jericho each day for 6 days

• Then on 7th day: 7 times around in one day

• Then there was to be a long blast of the trumpet

• Then all the people would shout in judgment against the city Jericho

• Then the walls of the city fall, the city is exposed, and the army of God's people destroy the city

So is the Plan to Defeat Babylon

Babylon today is the great walled city that stands in the way of God's people obtaining the promised land

The Battle Plan of Sevens to Defeat Spiritual Babylon:

• 7 seals: One for each period of time -Rev 6 - 7

• All in the 7th seal: 7 trumpet angels +Rev 8 - 11

• Then the long "kingdom" blast of the trumpet -Rev 12 - 14

• Then with all saints gathered as one: the pouring out (shouting) the 7 vials of wrathful judgment against the city Babylon (-Rev 15 & 16)

• Then the walls of deception fall. Babylon is exposed, and the spiritual army of God's people destroy the city (r-Rev 17 - 18)

There is this pattern seen in the Old Testament when Joshua and the Children of Israel marched around the walls of Jericho seven days and on the seventh day they marched around the walls seven times.  Joshua didn’t see the reason for the pattern it didn’t make sense to him.  It seemed illogical in the sense of fighting the battle.  The Captain of the Host of the Lord told Him to do it.

The walled city had to be removed first in order for them to move in and conquer the promised land.  It was impossible in themselves to remove the wall. 

This was two kingdoms coming to battle.  Joshua was instructed that all the men of war had to be involved in this.  It was not just Joshua and the priest doing this thing.  It is not just the preacher and a few doing fighting the battle we are in today.  It was to be all the people. 

Jos 6:1  Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

Jos 6:2  And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

Jos 6:3  And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

It was a seven day plan.  Just like the Revelation is a seven seal plan: a seven gospel days plan.  In the seventh day they went around seven times in one day.  Then the priest blew the trumpets.  In the seventh seal time seven trumpets are blown.

Jos 6:4  And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

Jos 6:5  And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

Jos 6:6  And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

Jos 6:7  And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.

The last blast of the trumpet was to be a long sounding trumpet.  In this day, we are in the last age, the last trumpet it is to be a long blast.  It is the sounding of the trumpet against the kingdom of the beast.  The people were then to shout against the city.  It was saying, “Your kingdom is to end.”  It was wrathful shouting against Jericho. 

When they completed it all the walls fell.  The city was destroyed.  At the end of the last blast there are seven vials of wrath poured out against Babylon.  The cities fell and Babylon was divided into three parts. 

When literal Babylon was destroyed the handwriting on the wall,

Dan 5:24  Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

Dan 5:25  And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

Dan 5:26  This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

Dan 5:27  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

Dan 5:28  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

At the end of Revelation then Babylon is destroyed and divided into three parts.

This is an Attack Plan

- not a Defense League Plan

Babylon is not just a "church orqanlzation" that is "out there" that we need to plan defenses against.

* It is a spirit that knows no church boundaries!

1. The seals open up with horses, a symbol of warefare.

2. The trumpets were used to gather the people together to battle.

3. The "vials of wrath" (descriptive name speaksfor itself)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) -2 Cor 10:3-4

Babylon is a strong hold on many hearts and minds!

This battle against Babylon is not a church self defense plan or a survival plan; it is an announcement that their kingdom is ended.  It is a cry of war.  This warfare is not carnal or of the flesh.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

When that young man got saved in Athol, there was a strong hold that had to be gotten out of the way to get to the soul.  It is the same for any soul. 

When the seals first open there are horses that are a symbol of warfare.  Trumpets are used to gather the people together to fight.  Vials of wrath describe the warfare itself. 

It is not, “Babylon, have a nice day.”  The Battle plan is followed and Babylon is destroyed first.  When Babylon is moved out of the way then the Beast is destroyed.  After that Jesus is crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. 

In Revelations 20 there is a summary of all that has been said already in the preceding chapters.  It is a description of the gospel day.  The only part that is missing is Babylon and the Beast and we see just Satan is there.  All deception is removed.  It is just a battle between Satan and the church anyway but Babylon and the Beast are in the way to confuse and to distract.  When the confusion is removed then we say it and see it the way it is. 

Jesus & His Bride Triumph!

The Triumphant Christ & His Army Defeat the Beast and the False Prophet -Rev 19, and then also Satan -Rev 20

Note the Order: .

1. Harlot Babylon - Unfaithful spiritual condition had to be defeated first and Jesus crowned "Kinq of kings and Lord of lords" before beast and false prophet could be destroyed -Rev 19: 11-21

2. Then the story of the "gospel day" is retold without the deception of Babylon and beasts - Satan is exposed as "Satan" and saints are honored as true saints, and then

Satan is fully defeated -Rev 20th chapter

•, .

Heavenly Jerusalem & Jesus

We now see a faithful city, one "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" -Rev 21 :2

• Heavenly Jerusalem -Rev 21: 10

• Established on good foundation -Rev 21 :14 & 19-20

• Gates of righteousness -Rev 21: 12-13 & 21

• God in the midst of it -Rev 21 :23

• Only pure and holy enter into it -Rev 21 :24-27

It took one of the final "vials of wrath" angels to show the true bride, the "Lamb's wife" -Rev 21:9

After the confusion is removed we see the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

This takes an anointing of the church for the vials of wrath to be poured out.  It is not just a job for the pastor. 

Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Pro 16:31  The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

The white hair represents a person that has been through some things so knows some things and has wisdom because of it.  Jesus has gone before us and knows the way that we take. 

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Eyes of a flam of fire:

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

He sees through everything and we are open and without covering before Him in His sight.

Because this is a Spiritual message, it has applied to many ages in many different ways.  We may not recognize the scriptures as speaking of the same conditions that they did because spiritual conditions may not be recognized the same on the outside but they are the same on the inside.  This is a spiritual book and has been applicable to every age. 

When God told Joshua to walk around Jericho he was thinking of us.  That is amazing.  On the seventh day they were to walk around the city seven times.  After the seventh seal was opened the trumpet blew seven times. 

In this seventh seal age we have seen the same spirits that resisted the church through history resist us again.  All of them have been seen again and must be resisted.  In the seventh seal all that has happened in all the seven seals has happened again.  All are gathered together against the saints.  This is the same pattern seen in Joshua where they went around the wall seven times the seventh day.

Jericho had one wall, Babylon had two walls.  Babylon was huge, the river Euphrates went through the middle of it and the wall went around the whole city.  The walls were tall and thick. 

Nothing is too hard for God to crumble.  Some cases look so hard to us that they seem impossible but all things are possible with God.  They are impossible for us but with God nothing is impossible.

Rev 16:17  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Seven seals, seven trumpets, seven vials, and it is done.

Rev 16:18  And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Rev 16:20  And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Rev 16:21  And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

When the walls fall then everything that is inside is revealed.  When He poured out the wrath it wasn’t poured on anything particular but into the air. 

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

In times past we walked according to the prince of the power of the air. 

Our obedience has to be finished.  If we don’t complete the work then the walls will not fall.  This message is not an optional message.  We must be in the Spirit of God to do it.  This message must be brought and it must be finished.