1. Evil Triumphs—Or So It Seems! (Rev 5: 1-6) Agenda: Revelation 3. The Onslaught of the Evil Trio: The Dragon (Rev 12: 1-6) 2. What does the future hold for us? (Rev 7: 9-17) 4. The Onslaught of the Evil Trio: The Antichrist (Rev 13: 1-10) 5. The Onslaught of the Evil Trio: The False Prophet (Rev 13: 11-18) 6. Another Strategy of the Evil Trio (Rev 17: 1-6) 7. From Paradise to Paradise (Rev 22: 16-21)

A P P L I C A T I O N Message to the original receiver 21 st Century COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING Revelation 22 The GPS DIFFERENCES of Language Tradition Time Situation History

The First Process: Understanding 1. S ituation 2. T ype of literature 3. A nalyze the passage 4. R elate the message to the rest of the Bible 5. T est your findings S.T.A.R.T. Message to the original receiver UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING

The Steps of Understanding 1. Situation

Art used by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated” site, New Jerusalem Foundations "The Foundations of the City” Revelation 21

With the revelation of the New Jerusalem comes God’s promise of restoration – everything made new. It is the holy city in which God will make his home among his people, where there will be no more death, suffering, crying or pain. It is the place that is like a precious jewel – so brilliant – that shines with the glory of God.

It is the place every human heart longs for – even if this longing isn’t expressible with words or even understood. It is the city of which is stamped on every Believer’s spiritual passport: CITIZEN. We are given a glimpse of this city – the city of those whose names are found in the Lamb’s book of life – in the passage of Revelation 21.

Art used by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated” site,

In chapter 21, John is given a preview of the city of the redeemed, the New Jerusalem. The city is of immense proportions containing the saved of all generations. Chapter 22 gives us a peak inside the city, and the incredible relationship between God and humanity for the rest of eternity.

The Steps of Understanding 2. Type of literature 1. Situation PROSE Narrative ProcedureExplanationInstruction POETRY in PsalmsProphets Wisdom Literature S.T.A.R.T. Apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic.

A Ch 1-3 Christ, and his battling church and suffering church on earth B Ch 4-7 Persecution and trials of the church C Ch 8-11 Unbelievers are warned and punished D Ch The Church is Victorious because of Christ’s Victory C’ Ch Unbelievers are judged B’ Ch Those who persecuted the church are judged A’ Ch Christ and his victorious church on the new earth and heaven

3. Analyze the passage 3.1 Look out for symbolism and contrasts 3.2 Mark the main themes 3.3 Conclude and summarize the message to the original receiver

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. The anticipation of a Savior is evident throughout the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah where the prophet wrote, “A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch” (11:1, MSG). Jesus applied Isaiah 11:1–10 to Himself. He made the expectations in the Old Testament real.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. The anticipation of a Savior is evident throughout the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah where the prophet wrote, “A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch” (11:1, MSG). Jesus applied Isaiah 11:1–10 to Himself. He made the expectations in the Old Testament real. To call someone a morning star was to class the person very high among the heroes. The rabbis called Mordecai by that name. More than that, this would recall the great Messianic prophecy: ”A star will come out of Jacob; (Numbers 24:17 NIV). Jesus is the star promised by God.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. The anticipation of a Savior is evident throughout the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah where the prophet wrote, “A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch” (11:1, MSG). Jesus applied Isaiah 11:1–10 to Himself. He made the expectations in the Old Testament real. Water that quenches thirst. This image was also used in John 4:10– 15, in which Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that He would give her living water that would quench her thirst forever. To call someone a morning star was to class the person very high among the heroes. The rabbis called Mordecai by that name. More than that, this would recall the great Messianic prophecy: ”A star will come out of Jacob; (Numbers 24:17 NIV). Jesus is the star promised by God.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. The warning is aimed at those who want to distort the message of Revelation. It was the custom in those days for an author to include a curse at the end of his work to serve as a warning to people not to falsify, steal or distort the document.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. A Invitation Jesus makes the OT expectations real B

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. The warning is aimed at those who want to distort the message of Revelation. It was the custom in those days for an author to include a curse at the end of his work to serve as a warning to people not to falsify, steal or distort the document. C Warning D Jesus is on his way

3. Analyze the passage 3.1 Look out for symbolism and contrasts 3.2 Mark the main themes 3.3 Conclude and summarize the message to the original receiver The world is not heading towards an aimless end, but to an endless hope in God’s company.

4. Relate the message to the broader Biblical and theological framework? 5. Test your findings STARTSTART “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14– NIV) 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24- NIV) The world is not heading towards an aimless end, but to an endless hope in God’s company. Message to the original receiver

The world is not heading towards an aimless end, but to an endless hope in God’s company. A P P L I C A T I O N Essential = Moral Essential = Moral COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING 21 st Century Incidental = Cultural, Ceremonial & Civil Message to the original receiver

A P P L I C A T I O N 21 st Century The GPS COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION Small Group Message to the original receiver UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING

Please answer the following questions. 1. What (do you think) does this passage proclaim?W 2. Despite our failures, suffering and hardships, our history ends with us being in paradise once again. How did this happen? (Read Day 366 of the Bible as your GPS.) 3. Revelation lifts the veil on the end of time. We could act like a naughty child and ask, “So what? What does this mean to me today while I’m struggling with all my pain, trying to keep my head above water amidst all the chaos in the world?” (Read Day 366 of the Bible as your GPS.)