God’s Plan in the Book of Revelation
Handouts
I. The Basic Outline of Revelation – A message of Victory
Revelation 1:19 - Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
| Revelation 1 | “Things which you have seen” | Vision of the risen Christ 1:9-20 |
| Revelation 2-3 | “Things which are” | Letters to the 7 churches |
| Revelation 4-22 | “Things which will take place after these things” | Discussion on the future things |
II. Repentance and Passionate Commitment: The pathway to Victory
| Church | Description of Risen Christ | Good | Not Good | Proper Response |
| Ephesus | The one who holds the lampstands | Worked hard, judge rightly | Lost your first love | Repent and Love Jesus first |
| Smyrna | The first and last, one who was dead and now alive | Suffered faithfully | ///// | Remain passionately committed to the end |
| Pergamum | Has the sharp two edged sword | Kept the faith in the den of Satan | Accepted false teaching | Repent and learn the truth |
| Thyatira | Son of God with eyes like fire and feet like bronze | Worked hard | Accepted false teaching | Repent and passionately hold on to the truth |
| Sardis | Has the seven spirits of God | Good reputation | You are fakes … you do not steward what God has given you | Repent and passionately get after it |
| Philadelphia | Holy, true, has the key of David | Kept the Word faithful | ///// | Remain passionately committed |
| Laodicea | The Amen, the faithful, and True Witness | ///// | Trusted in riches | Repent and trust in Jesus, the ruler of the World |
A. In each case, the church is called to repentance and/or passionate commitment
B. It is possible to be doing things for God without developing your relationship with God
C. Test EVERY truth claim against the truth in Scripture
III. Rejoice in and Enjoy the Victory of the Risen Savior
| Revelation 4-5 | A Vision of Heaven where the Risen Savior is praised for being creator (ch 4) and redeemer (ch 5) |
| Revelation 6:1-8:5 | The Seven Seal Judgments (the seventh seal represents the later judgments) |
| Revelation 8:6-:19 | The Seven Trumpet Judgments (the seventh trumpet is the 7 bowls) |
| Revelation 12:1-14:20 | There are seven events showing the rivalry between the Risen Savior and the Legions of Satan |
| Revelation 15:1-16:21 | The Seven Bowl Judgments |
| Revelation 17:1-1:8 | Victory of the Risen Savior over all the forces of evil |
| Revelation 21:9-22:21 | Enjoying the Victory of the Risen Savior in the New Jerusalem for all eternity |
A. We should focus on the victory in Christ because it eases the suffering of the present day
B. We should be motivated to share our faith because intense judgment is on the way
Revelation 16:17-21 - Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.
C. We should rejoice over the victorious future that awaits
D. We should steward the opportunities until the Lord comes
Revelation 22:18-19 - I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
