1. The Book of Revelation Introduction

2. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his bond- servants, the things which must shortly take place; and he sent and communicated it by his angel to his bond-servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia...

3. The Book of Revelation Introduction “... I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, ‘Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.’” (Revelation 1:1-4,9-11)

4. The Book of Revelation Introduction n AUTHOR: John, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples & author of 4th gospel & 3 letters n DATE: 85-95 AD, while exiled on Patmos during Emperor Domitian’s persecution n AUDIENCE: 7 churches in western Turkey

6. The Book of Revelation Introduction n AUTHOR: John, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples & author of 4th gospel & 3 letters n DATE: 85-95 AD, while exiled on Patmos during Emperor Domitian’s persecution n AUDIENCE: 7 churches in western Turkey n STYLE: Apocalyptic (highly symbolic visions of the end of the age) & based on Daniel

7. The Book of Revelation Introduction n STRUCTURE: 4 sequential visions -The glorified Jesus & his message to the 7 churches (1-3) -God’s judgmental & redemptive activity at the end of the age (4-16) -God’s judgment on “Babylon” & the victorious return of Jesus to establish God’s kingdom (17-20) -The “Bride of Christ” & the New Jerusalem (21,22)

8. The Book of Revelation Introduction n PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ authority over human history Evil will intensify as this age draws to an end... but Jesus will have the last word.

9. The Book of Revelation Introduction n PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ authority over human history The end of the age will be a time of intense judgment... but it will also be a time of intense evangelism.

10. The Book of Revelation Introduction n PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ authority over human history Christians can expect to suffer persecution... but Jesus will enable us to be “overcomers” & fully compensate us when he returns.

11. The Book of Revelation Introduction n PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ authority over human history Jesus is both the Savior who serves us & the King whom we are to serve.

12. The Book of Revelation Introduction “... from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and released us from our sins by his blood, and he has made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him.” Revelation 1:5-7 Revelation 1:5-7

13. The Book of Revelation Introduction “... I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across his breast with a golden girdle. And his head and his hair were white like white wool, like snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire; and his feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters...

14. The Book of Revelation Introduction “... And in his right hand he held seven stars; and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and his face was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as a dead man. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’” Revelation 1:12-18 Revelation 1:12-18

15. The Book of Revelation Introduction What if you only see Jesus as King & Judge?

16. The Book of Revelation Introduction What if you only see Jesus as Savior & Servant?

17. NEXT WEEK: Revelation 2,3 Jesus’ Priorities For His Church

18. Let’s Pray! Let’s Pray!