Latest / Journey Elgin / Revelation Review Part 2- Rev 1

Transcript

Revelation Review Part 2- Rev 1 · Journey Elgin

• speaker-0: All right. It's good to see you today. My name is Philip Thomas, pastor of Journey Church here in Elgin. This is Tom Burns with the Redeemed Idiot. This is our kind of revelation recap. we're looking forward to getting started back in Revelation chapter seven, right? Because we made it through chapter six. but that's been like over a year ago. And so in January, we're gonna start Wednesday on Wednesday nights. Tom will do his preaching through Revelation. Then we'll continue to have our Revelation recap podcast, kinda like this. But building up to that time, we're kind of doing a big picture look back at all the way up to to Revelation six and kind of what you've talked about. So if you if you haven't, we we had one come out last Wednesday. and so if we'd love for you to go back and listen to this. hopefully you hear something a little bit different, even if you listen to it all before. You know, I there's so much to this and it really it really is all about Christ. And man, if you're wondering who this Jesus guy is, this this gives you a pretty good glimpse, right? And so especially since it's all about that, right? Yeah. you can watch this on Redeemed Idiot YouTube page. You can also watch it through anything associated with Journey Church of Elgin. it's our church app and we also have a YouTube page as well. and so you can watch us any anywhere, watch or listen. So we made it through kind of an introduction of you know, kind of how you got interested in in Revelation. you've spent a lot of hours kind of going through Revelation. we got into chapter chapter one. specifically kind of that idea of things that are happening soon and and we kind of looked at you know that that doesn't that doesn't mean five minutes from now it's that we're in the season. Things are imminent speaker-1: The eminency, yes. Yeah. speaker-0: that that it we're we're in that time. And and we've been in that time for a long time, right? and so now we're just we're we're waiting for it to all conclude whenever Christ does does return. So so so we're gonna go through at least through the rest of chapter one. So I just wanna read so we kinda had that introduction, and then this tells us a little bit more about what's happening in Revelation. So ch verse four says, John, so to the seven churches that are in Asia, grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and is is to come. And from the seven spirits who are before the throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. All right. Just real quickly, this is just kind of a a an opening greeting, right? But there's kind of some some cool cool things in here, right? So who is, who was, and is is to come is pretty self explanatory, I guess, right? speaker-1: should be. so this whole introduction is really just an introduction to who Christ is. and within here yeah, so the one who the the one part that kind of gets it can be mis said is because it says the one who is and the one who was and the one who is to come. then the last part of it is the what's the last part again? speaker-0: Who who is, who was, and who is to come. Right. And then it goes and from the seven spirits who are before his throne and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on the earth. speaker-1: There it is. That that was the last part. The first born of the dead and speaker-0: The and the ruler of of kings all. speaker-1: So those those two aspects actually marry each other. And a lot of times some they'll they'll think this like, well, Christ isn't really ruling, and they'll kind of turn this into being a Satan thing. Like this is actually talking about Satan. It's not talking about it about Satan, obviously, and we we talked about this. But this whole part that John is describing is letting us know that the actually the one sitting on the throne is not just God and then there's like a throne next to him and Jesus kind of hanging out being his right hand man, it's actually speaking of Christ is the actual literal true God. Yeah. And that's why he l it also speaks of him being the Alpha, the Omega, the Lord Jesus Christ. All those words come together and it still says the term Jesus Christ as being the one true living God. And that's the beauty of this is it's about Christ, who is God. Yes. speaker-0: Yes, and and I think this you know, y th we talk a lot about the idea of the Trinity, God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Completely understand we we see elements of that throughout scripture. The danger is is that if if we s if we emphasize or if we make the mistake of making it seem like they're three totally separate things, right? Because that's that's the the Islamic Criticism is, y'all believe in three gods. Okay, we we know we don't, but sometimes our Trinity language leaves open that door of attack, if you will. And I think what what Revelation is or here that John, as he's writing this and inspired to write, is he's just it's a good solid reminder. There is only one God, his name is Jesus. Right? And he is the one sitting on the throne. Yes, we can To better understand him, we can kind of talk about him as God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, to to try to wrap our minds around something that you can't wrap your mind around. Right. Right. But it is always important for us to remember there is only one God and his name is Jesus Christ. Right. Is that fair fair statement? speaker-1: And what's funny is that's that's the name we know him by right now. Yes. Because later, I think in Revelation twenty one it says when he comes down, his name that no one knows is actually gonna be upon him. Yeah. so and it I have to say that my assumption is, because it doesn't actually specifically say this, and even when I taught this, I say my assumption is is because whatever that word is is his name is something we can't even comprehend who Christ really is, being God and what God really is. It's more than just a dude floating around in space and sitting on a throne and doing his little things. He's everything. And that's why I did talk about the Trinity. I'm not a big proponent of it. And I'll and one of the reasons because it seems to minimalize him. Right. And as I was and I'm not gonna go into it, but as we finish chapter one when I was teaching this, he's more like an infinity. Yeah. because you you'll be reading here a little bit. There's a lot of things that describe who he is, but it's it's describing the role he is playing of who he actually is. And interesting that you mentioned Islam, and and because they will argue and they will make a great case that there is one God and one God only. They do not believe Christ is God. They just believe in Allah, this entity called Allah, God. But they also have for Allah, he has 99 different names. These 99 different names of Allah in the Quran Is similar to what we're reading now, what we're gonna read is different things that God did throughout the Old Testament. This is who he was, he did this, so he is this, and they actually call it his name. So a name, even biblically, this is like Jesus Christ is just the anointed Messiah. That was the role he was playing at that particular time. But he is still the God himself. But I'm doing this, and so Islam is really good at going. Well, hold on, you have a father, son, the Holy Spirit, there's a God, and there's Jesus, and there's this Holy Spirit, so you guys are worshiping three things. Now you can talk to someone in Islam and go, no. They go, Okay, then then what is that? Now try to explain that to them. When they'll go, No, we just worship one God. Yeah. His name is Allah. That's it. Three and stories. We are monotheistic. You are not. And it will trip people up because they get hung up on the Trinity thing. And it's hard not to picture in your head Father, son, always like three different things, and your brain doesn't want to wrap around it, even though, yes, it's one. But to explain that is nearly impossible. Very difficult. Yeah. But to explain a single God like Islam does with Allah, it's monotheistic, they don't have to explain nothing. Right. There's one. Yeah. And and I'll bring it up when I was getting ready for this deployment. I know we already talked about this, just the one thing we had a person from Islam there that was teaching. the culture of Islam, because that's where we're going. And he veered it in a way where he's actually trying to get people to change their belief. But he makes this statement, he goes, If you believe there's only one God, you're you're Muslim. And people there was probably a hundred people in this area and they're like, they almost like afterwards they were applauding this guy. And like, no. huh. Everybody thinks they're maybe Muslim now because what he said is actually a factual statement to them. There's only one God. Well, I believe in a Trinity that's one, so therefore I speaker-0: Yeah. My mouse on there? Yeah. speaker-1: mean, it was really, really kind of a a weird concept that is happening. But to the point of this, I'm sorry, I went off track on this. Is there is one God. And his name we call him right now, we know him by the name of Jesus Christ. speaker-0: Yes. And that and that I think that is what this is making very clear, right? Yes. And and it's also we're gonna get there, it's also connecting the the Old Testament with the New Testament, right? That it's the same God throughout. And we w we make the same mistake. Sometimes we talk about, well that's the God of the Old Testament. He's the wrathful God, he's the mean God and stuff, and then Jesus is the the nice, forgiving right. No One God. Same God, right? speaker-1: And God's just a title. speaker-0: Right. It's just the title. Exactly. So it all right. So then he goes on, to him who loves us, has freed us from our sins by his blood, has made us a kingdom, priest to his God and Father, to him be glory, dominion forever and ever. Amen. J again, this is just kind of simple redemptive language, right? It's this is what the whole Bible has been about. Yep. Right. and then he says, 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 wail on account of him. Even so, amen. So is this a little glimpse into the the ultimate future? Is that what this is is doing? speaker-1: This is the introduction to him, and it's kind of creating some summaries, if you will. Yeah. And these things you actually get to read in Revelation that happened. Exactly. speaker-0: How we get there. speaker-1: So it's actually, that's exactly what it's doing. He's just kind of painting the picture that this goes out to those seven churches in Asia. Who this is from, it's Jesus. This is the guy. This is who he is, the first last and the almighty. And that those are good that pierced him is talking about. literally his point of return when he comes down and puts his feet what we s what we know now is the Mount of Olives, there's gonna be some people there'll be like, that really is the Messiah. And I'm gonna tell you that people group that's being specifically kind of rounded out about this, not meaning others won't, is the Jews. speaker-0: Jewish people. Yeah. Sure. And yeah, and because the Jewish and this is where people, you know, we live in a fallen world, so things get messed up really quickly, right? We we all crucified Christ, right? He died for all of us. The reason that he was crucified is because of the sinfulness and the fallenness of mankind, all of humankind. That's why he went to the cross. However, Literally, he used his his people group, right, that he established, right? He used that group, and and they are the ones who pushed for his crucifixion, which had to happen so that all of us could be saved, right? And and and so we should not there are Christians today, and unfortunately there's a rise of this, of of blaming the Jews for killing Jesus. And and that that's used to justify basically Jew hatred, right? No, we all are responsible. But yes, there was this people group that were used by God that that pushed for this. The Romans are ac are involved too, because they're the ones who actually did the crucifixion, right? But it was because the Jewish leaders were pushing because they didn't like what Christ was was preaching. But the reason that they didn't like what Christ was preaching is because he was doing this for all of his creation and all of humankind. So and and this is kind of giving that picture that eventually all will see, even those who pierced him. Yeah. Right. And it's talking about that people group. Yep. there. So I d I think that's just really cool. it it says then then a the very familiar passage, I'm the Alpha, the Omega. says the Lord God who is, who was, who is to come, the Almighty. So that's clear God language. And now we're having it connected very specifically to Jesus Christ. Exactly. Right. So so then that leads to to kind of even even more of this. So so John wrote that part, right? kind of as the the introduction. And then that leads us into the vision part. speaker-1: It's leading up to yes. Yeah, yeah. speaker-0: Yep, exactly. So so now in verse nine, I, John, your brother, partner in in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account 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 a trumpet saying, I want you to give this to to the these these churches. So real quick, kind of What's going on? It talks about John being a partner in tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, right? so so what what's going on here? What's John? speaker-1: So this is during the period of time we're obviously gonna talk more about it, but this is the period of time that persecution was happening. they're in Rome. And he is imprisoned because of his belief and his profession. speaker-0: Which is yeah. speaker-1: Because of his faith and his belief in Christ and professing who he really was, that he did come off the cross or out of the tomb alive. He is the living God. and that created a big problem because there was a lot of pagan beliefs in, and it was Counterculture to them. so John got thrown in there in prison, I think it was right around ninety AD. Prison, the island. Yeah. Yeah. And then so he's writing this to the churches that are basically today for the most part would be what modern day Turkey. Turkey. That we'll be getting into. And the point of just being in tribulation doesn't a lot of times we think tribulation and this meant that everybody was just being killed. I mean, that's a even a persecuted kind of thing. But no, they're just persecution or tribulation can ha come up in different forms. It can just be you're ousted or you can't buy food or whatever's going on or you can be killed. So he's just saying how bad it is because we're believers. And he's writing this to the churches about Jesus Christ of what he is now going to see is pretty much and be have patient endurance. We talk about that a lot. I mean he's like saying, Yeah, it sucks, guys. I got it. Trust me. I've been boiled in oil. I'm hanging out an island. I'm making big rocks into little rocks long before Leavenworth. And it kinda sucks. But I am patiently enduring the promise of what Christ said that he is going to return. We will be redeemed, and we won't live in this type of a world anymore. It'll be his kingdom that will speaker-0: Yeah, and and just that connection with with Jesus who patiently endured the cross for us. Correct. and and that you know that's a theme in in all of Jesus' teaching. He he says, take up your cross and follow me. That that is not a good image, right? That means we're going to have to patiently endure, right? And and that's what John is just kind of setting that out. He's he's making a connection between himself and the the the hearers of this that he's writing to. Right. Hey, we're we're in this together. We're we are experiencing the tribulation and and it's it it is because of Christ, right? It's because of our belief in Christ, but he was willing to patiently endure and so therefore we we should be willing to patiently endure as well. So so then it gives the seven churches, Ephesus, Smyr, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyratar, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. Then verse twelve, then I turned to see. So so now we're really getting into the the the vision. Yeah right? So then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. All right. So remember he's he's heard this voice from behind him telling him to to give these to these churches, right? So now he turns, and I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. So just r real quick, what are what is what's going on here? What are these lampstands that that John has seen? speaker-1: So the lampstands represent what you'll find at the end of Revelation one here, but is the churches. which he's writing the seven churches. And to to broaden that a little bit more, the the word is ecclesia in the original language. And it actually talks about a citizen or a group of people, is what it's talking about. so it's the citizens of Christ or those who follow Christ. These churches also are literal buildings as well, because people go to church. But not everybody goes to a building. Yeah. Some especially during the periods of persecution, they could just assemble out in the middle the desert someplace. It's the people he's talking about. And so as he's entering this vision, I I do wanna point out, you know, when it talks about the spirit, you know, a lot of people kind of don't get that concept of the spirit and or we hear a lot today, the spirit this and speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: we touch foreheads and people fall over and healed from cancer and broken limbs. And I'm never gonna dis Say that God can't do things through people. I'm not saying that. But the vision we get, we kind of overdo this spirit piece to it. This year was a concept that I can't remember the word it comes from, but ecstasis, which we get ecstasy from. So he would and the Bible speaks of it to others. Peter was one that had it. but he this is a a point where you go into a different, almost place in your mind. You can still see. You can still act, but you're not seeing the same things you would as if you weren't in the spirit thing. so it's it's it's very elaborate. It it's it's you're in a different place because of Christ, because of this angel that came, like you're in my spirit right now and I'm gonna show you some things. speaker-0: But I maybe a good way to explain this is is right now, you know, if if you're a Christian, you believe there is a spiritual world of some sort, right? We cannot see that. We do not w we are physical, we are we we cannot do it. God can reveal that to us. That's what he's doing, right? He and it it is kind of in a it's a different way in order to be able to see things that are that are spiritual in nature. And so this isn't John just having a dream, right? He i he is he is aware of what's going on, right? That the and and this this is this part is, you know, the the spiritual power of of Christ to be able to do this, right? So he has kind of brought John to this different place in a in a in a way. So that he can see all of this. Right. But it's literally happening. speaker-1: Very literally happening. Yeah. And it's not a dream, because even throughout Revelation he's John's told twelve or thirteen times to write. speaker-0: Write this down. speaker-1: So he's not just dreaming, he's actually physically writing what he is saying. I can't even contemplate that. speaker-0: Yes. And I think that's no, no. and and so I'm gonna go out on the limb and say no one listening to us has ever experienced what John has experienced. You you may have you may have had impressions, you may have had dreams and God can s speak through lots of different things. This is very specific. It is for a s very specific purpose. Right. So it so it so we have this vision we have the lampstands and then I I love the I think this is an important part. He sees one like a son of man. Right. Now that's that's important because John knows exactly what Jesus looks like. Right? I mean he was with Jesus for a long time. But in this vision, the first thing is I'm I'm seeing someone like the son of man. Is that a pretty big speaker-1: It's extremely important and it you you're gonna read on the next part to it, so but yes, John seen the the person, the the the visual aspect if you will, of the person he was pretty much best friends with with when he was a disciple for Christ. They were they were super close. speaker-0: Course, John wrote John, so he said the the disciple whom Jesus loved. Exactly. speaker-1: Exactly. speaker-0: No, I think he was doing that kind of yeah, I had a better relationship. May speaker-1: Yeah, could be yeah. speaker-0: have been a little bit of that, but he clearly had a struggle. It was John who Christ said, Now my mom is your mom, right? from the cross, you know, telling him to take care of his earthly mother, Mary. Yeah. Right? So for him to say He sees one like the Son of Man indicates that there's something different. speaker-1: Hundred percent. Right. So this goes to most people know Jesus is referred to as the Son of Man. We can see that in places in the New Testament, the Son of Man. but since the word like is in is is injected here, that means it's not he's not saying the son of man as as he recognized him. And the easiest way to put this so we don't go into a massive theological or biblical explanation is the difference now. when Christ was here, he was the Lamb of God. He was the Lamb. He was the one that was slaughtered. He was the one that was crucified. He was here speaker-0: He was here to die. He was here speaker-1: to die. Exactly. Now what's flipping and why revelation is important, he's now the lion. and we get more into this. So he's no yeah, he's no longer here to rescue people. He's already done that through his blood. He's now decon here to condemn. Meaning, you either follow and get on board with me, or what's gonna happen is going to be bad for you. He's now kinda like going to war with the evil of the world. That's why he's one like the son of May. Is that the nice little guy anymore? He's like, yeah. And that's why the next phrase he uses speaker-0: That's exactly right. And I I'll read a a few here, right? He's like the son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. So that's referring to the high priests. speaker-1: high priest. And that is where it comes out, I think it's where he's considered the better covenant or the new covenant, where he is now the high priest. There's no need for a high priest anymore. Mm-hmm. He's now the high priest. So he's imaging he is now the ultimate speaker-0: Yes. And and and so all of the readers who were reading this at that time would recognize exactly what's happening. Right. Right. This is connecting that this is Jesus, this is God, this is this is who's been being talked about through all of our scriptures, right? And then it continues to do that. It says the hairs of his head were white like white wool, like snow. Right? So it speaker-1: Pure and like a lamb. speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: There's more to it, but this comes from Old Testament. speaker-0: Yes, but it but it's it's a pretty simple concept, right? I mean but we see that throughout the Old Testament, you know, with wool and snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. So we see that also in the Old Testament, right? Kind of that that refining fire, that you know, all of that Yeah, yes speaker-1: Judgment, yeah. speaker-0: yes, and it's definitely connected with judgment. Again, all of these are connected with the God of the Old Testament. That's a term that we would use today. Right? But but that God of the Old Testament is who? The Son of Man, who is Jesus, right? then his feet were burnished bronze, refined in a furnace. Okay, what what's that imagery getting at there? speaker-1: So his back in the day, but his feet are pointed in it was a wartime thing with a lot of statues were built, but his feet are demonstrating he's heading for something. His feet back then is a directional thing. And then you've got the the fiery furnace. It's heading for judgment. He's taking he's kinda past judgment. It's it's just the the fact that part. speaker-0: Yeah, we we we we like talking about the lovey dovey Jesus. Yep. Jesus still loves you here. yeah. But he's coming he's making things right. You know, he's he's resetting things now. And everyone Yes. He and it's okay to say and it's okay to hate evil. Right? In fact, we should hate evil because it is the opposite of of God and it is drawing people away from God and it is condemning people you know, forever. And and so Christ is coming back to ch to change all of that. and his voice was like the roar of many waters. And I I think is that in Ezekiel? speaker-1: Ezekiel and when you break it down what that means, he's the glory of the Lord. speaker-0: Yes. It's it's just it it it's really cool language and and again, but it's it's very intentional because it is bringing things that it described God in the old testament and it's bringing them to now and making sure we understand it's it's Jesus Christ. Right. And yeah I know we've we've hashed that out, but just that's very important, right? And I think it's gonna be very important. As we move forward, you know, understanding Revelation. But if we ever find ourselves in the times that Revelation talks about, it's very important for us to make sure we know, no, Jesus Christ is He's the one that's coming back, right? and that we put our focus in him. It says, then in his right hand he held seven stars. from his mouth came a sharp two edged sword and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. So just real real quick, seven stars. What are what are we looking at there? speaker-1: So the seven seven stars are the leaders of the church. speaker-0: Yep. The yes, 'cause it it's gonna explain that a little bit here in minute. yeah, 'cause again, we have these seven churches, there are seven leaders of the of the churches. but then his from his mouth came a sharp two edged sword. Right? What are we getting at there with that imagery? speaker-1: that's kind of a big expansion one on there, but it's used a lot. But it's basically essentially you can give life, he can take life, but you can also see the literal inside of what your heart is beyond what you speak. And that kind of goes back to Romans 10, isn't it? Romans 10, where it says, believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, confess your mouth that Jesus that God raised him from the dead, that you will be saved. So there's that part, you can speak all you want, but the hard part He can see the truth 'cause you get a lot of people like, I'm Christian and this and they'll they'll play the game, but their heart isn't really set on him. You know. He knows. And that's why speaker-0: Yeah. Well he he knows. That's right. speaker-1: I do make the argument a lot and that like in our introduction, it was driving me nuts. And people like, That person saved, that person not. That one's going to hell. And like, how do you know what their heart it really truly is? You don't know the pain they're in or if they're lying or they're deceiving or what. And that's kind of the thing. He knows what your heart is. Yeah. You can not be look like the best person on the outside, but your heart's truly for him. But you could be suffering a pain or or loss or whatever. So that that's I don't worry more. speaker-0: But but it but and it's that sharp two edged sword, you know, that that does pierce, pierce deeply. But it's also the same imagery. It's all this is a different type of Jesus. He's he's he's taking a different role, if you will. and because this is a very offensive weapon, right? Again, he's he's he's coming to separate. and it says, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. It's just just kind of speaker-1: And we see that the the Mount of Transfiguration pointing out and then that's a New Testament thing. Mm-hmm. Look like there's Jesus' face is shining like the sun. Yeah. So now we actually have the physical thing like that's Christ. It's just repeating that that speaker-0: Yeah. and so then John, when I saw him, I fell as at his feet as though dead. I love I love that. Which 'cause we see that in multiple encounters that that people have with even when Paul you know, God he saw at the time, right? it appears to him people were blinded, he was literally blinded for a while, but but they were nearly as as dead, right? They're They're facing something that is just completely overwhelming. And and then God does what God does, right? He says, Fear not, I am the first and the last, the living one. I died, behold, I'm alive forever and more, and I have the keys of death and Hades. So again, he's just reassuring John of who he is. Mm-hmm. Right. And that he does have the key keys of death and Hades. What what what's that little part part about? How how deep do we want to get into speaker-1: Yeah, that goes a deep but I mean essentially y because he is the creator of everything. He controls everything. boy this goes really deep if you talk about the doors and the keys and the locks and I'll but No. He controls it all. Yes. You know, it really comes down to that judgmental pie that judgment piece that he's going to do. If you go in to the bad place, you don't get out. speaker-0: And that's and and to make clear, what he's talking about here is death, right? So so life and death come you know is in the in the hands of God, right? In the hands of Christ. But Hades, he is talking about that eternal separation, right? That that that if we do not accept Jesus Christ, there we will be separated from him, right? And and he is in control of that. Yeah. but he's given us the opportunity. We better take it. Yep. That's essentially what's happening here. Says write there the th write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are, and those that are to take place after this. All right. So just ri real, real quick, what what is he's just preparing John for what he is to do, right? Correct. speaker-1: So this is a past, present, future. That's why what you have seen, the things that are, the things that are going to take place. This is the prophetic book of Revelation, obviously. And so when he's saying, write those things that you have seen. Now, what you'll when you read through Revelation, John never refers to anything back when he was hanging out with Jesus. You know, like, I remember we wouldn't know did this and did that. He's only s so the things that he's seeing is the things he's seeing right now. What you have seen. Is Jesus, the the one like the Son of Man. And he now wrote that down. Here's the different things I seen in Christ, who he is, he's actually just God, etc., etc. all the way down. And then things that are. This goes back to Revelation 1 when it's speaking about the things that'll soon take place, and soon being the word imminent, meaning things that have already started. It's in your face. So this being written around the 100 eight or 96 AD. Between ninety and ninety five AD wrote, and it's probably put out into churches by ninety-six to a hundred AD, somewhere in there. That now these things, the things that are are what we'll see in the next two chapters, the churches. These are the things that are taking place that be after Christ rose from, rose from the came out of the tomb alive. So those are present tense, and then the things that are to soon take place. And that word soon is telling us it's a season. So you have the things he's seen as Christ, that which is right now, and that is the church age that we are gonna that we will be going through, and then the season that's gonna take place that'll soon take place is what we call the tribulation and what Christ is gonna return. His season of return. speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: I hope it made any sense. No, no, I speaker-0: I think and and we'll get into that just a little bit more. we're we're gonna stop with Revelation chapter one. We're not gonna get into detail of the churches yet, but we're gonna talk more about the churches before we but because I think it's important and that's as y you started to open that door with with looking at this, right? So those and then it but then verse twenty, this this is just where it kind of reconfirms some of the things we've already said. And mind you, this is Christ talking to John, right? So he's hearing him, and he's seeing him and one like the Son of Man, right? So they're having a conversation. it says, as for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. Seven lampstands are the seven churches. Really, the only thing we need to hit here, it says Angels. y most people they think of, you know, something with wings and a little little halo. But what what are we what are we talking about here? speaker-1: So the word angels in the original Greek to this is is angelos and that actually means I mean it does have two in context. Yes. and interestingly when when it was first in the Koine Greek, it only meant messenger. So it meant a it was talking about a person who was delivering a message. It could be a pastor, it could be someone working for a government and like a what do they call it? Like a speaker-0: courier. speaker-1: like a courier, yeah. He would be an Angelos in that language. So this is talking about a messenger that he's sending this letter to that that he's writing right now to these churches. Well, who is the messenger of a church? That would be the person behind all say the word pulpit. Yeah. That's the messenger. So he's sending this to them, and that's who he's holding Christ is holding his hand saying, get it right. Yeah. speaker-0: Yeah. So it couple couple things as we as we wrap up here in the next five minutes or so. one, I think they're very instructive here, 'cause we we understand Revelation th people are all over the place on it, right? And but the way that we are are approaching this and the way that you have approached this is kind of this is a good example of it. Many things in Revelation are clarified. In Revelation, what it was talking about, right? Like if you just stopped at the first part and said, the stars in his hand, like we could come up with all kinds of different things. But scripture interprets scripture. It tells us these things, right? And and so while this is a very obvious one, you know, that that you know, just a few verses before, right? And then it clarifies, that's that general process. principle is true for all of Revelation, right? It just we just have to look back through all of scripture. speaker-1: Exactly. Right. No, no, you're you're right. And it I'm glad you said that. because as we're doing this, my brain is just doing ninety miles an hour. It's like 'cause there's so 'cause it it you like you said, you see it more in Revelation as we go forward. It isn't just like once spoke once. It's introducing the rest of the book. Yeah. And so when you're we're talking, you're asking questions and we're going through this, my brain is racing all the way forward, like, No, we don't want to get that far yet. I need to come back and That's like when we first started, I like, okay, one like the hold on the part that was like, you know, the the one who was, who isn't to come, is the next one, like, man, what was that next verse? Okay, I ha okay, I don't want to talk about Revelation twelve right now. I gotta keep coming. So I apologize if I sound like I'm kinda chatterboxing here 'cause you're right. My brain is doing ninety trying to take this and compartmentalize it like I want to tell the whole. But speaker-0: Story. Yes. Yeah. speaker-1: you are a hundred percent correct. This revelation one is so vitally important because if you don't fully understand it, the rest of Revelation is gonna be you're not gonna it's not gonna make sense. Yeah. But everything pretty much in Revelation one pops back up throughout the rest of Revelation. And interesting, you get the answers of Revelation one from the rest of the Bible. Yeah. So speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: you have to understand both sides and then it's not hard. And then you start having a stupid head like mine is like, I want to talk about this, I want to talk about this, and it doesn't work 'cause we wanna keep this in a chronological where we're going. Yeah. Well people go, Where did you get that? Right. So I apologize if I've been speaker-0: Right. But I but that's a very important thing. You know, we are we are trying to approach this and and you know like just looking at what does scripture the whole of scripture say to that's our interpretive process, right? And you know, not not what does the Schofield Bible say, not what does the left behind series of books say, right? Y those are interpretations as well. And and there's gonna be things that we probably agree with and things that we disagree with. We are trying to the best of our ability to only use scripture to to interpret itself. Right. speaker-1: Scripture, language, history, speaker-0: Yes. speaker-1: artifact things. And we'll be using a lot of things that are just in your face. You can't, it's undeniable what it says and where it comes from. But you get it, you get you have the freedom to make your mind up like, and I I I said this when we first saw this what year and a half ago, two years, however long it was, that my hope, my prayer, my desire is by the time we finish the book of Revelation. That two people could sit at a coffee table in Starbucks and talk about it and both go, yep, that's exactly what that book, the Bible says, exactly what it says. It's just one may believe in it and the other one go, yeah, that's exactly what it says, but I still don't believe. Yeah. If we can get to that point and and get rid of the contradictions from it and just present what it says, now you just make your own choice. I'm not here to force anybody to believe something I want them to believe. I just here's the book. Yeah. And that's my hope. That's my prayer. There's just everybody goes, Yeah, it says that, but I still don't believe in that Jesus, dude. Yeah. speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: That that's on you. speaker-0: Yep. You have that you have that ability, right? Yeah. So well that so that's that's chapter one. And and so what's what's about to come is the next two chapters and we'll it we may take two weeks to go through all the the churches, but there's seven different churches. And and and we'll reiterate this, but I think this is important because you kind of brought this up with the things that you have seen. Right. So the Son of Man in the in the midst of the lampstands. So write write this down. That's what you have seen. And then those that are, and that's that's these churches. These were literal churches, right? that that were having some issues that we're gonna see, right? So the the churches kind of follow a a pattern, right, that that that Christ gives. So what what's that general pattern that that as as Christ is gonna be talking about these churches? the outline part? Yeah, yeah. speaker-1: so it it'll start off with like identifying Christ, but it won't say his name. But if you read Revelation one, you'll speaker-0: You'll see. speaker-1: see what it's talking about, you know it's talking about Christ. And then it'll go in and it'll talk about the things that that he likes about the church. Then he'll talk about the things he does not like about the church, then he's gonna give you a little bit of a warning. If you don't change these things, it's gonna you don't change the things he doesn't like. And then it goes down to for those that do recognize, oops, doing this wrong. Then there is a redemptive plan already in place for you. speaker-0: For you. Yeah. speaker-1: But you need to get on the redemptive plan because there's only one other alternative for those that don't. Right. So it it it's laid out, I think, like six different ways. It's outlined. Each church pretty much has all six, but there are two churches that are a little bit different. Yeah, speaker-0: have much criticism. speaker-1: and then there's one church. It doesn't have anything good at all. Right. But we'll get into the outline of how it is. But it makes a lot of sense when you look at it and how it's struck. speaker-0: Yes. And and so what we're going moving forward, we're now going to be talking. John is going to be talking about these literal churches with all of these literal problems, and all of them apply to us today. There are people that that fall into fall into all the ditches that are going to be talked to. speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-0: And then at the same time, these churches coincide historically with how the church ecclesia has moved throughout history, right? Right. So it it it's it's showing both of those. It's it's the churches were there then, but it it's also kind of giving us a roadmap of, hey, this is this is how things are going to move throughout history. Right. And you some people will disagree with that. however it's I don't think you can disagree much with the fact that these churches do fall in the right order of church history. I they they just do. speaker-1: No, th th they they do. And and and and two points to comment on that. One How much sense would it make? I mean, if you non-believer God, this guy Jesus isn't Lauron, if it if it didn't was not a historical thing to us, history now, future then. And the reason being is why would Christ come, do all he did, go ahead and die for us, rise and go go up to up into heaven, into the throne room and all that? Why would he do all that and say, okay, I'm gonna come back? Win? Give me a colour, give me a sign. No, I'm just gonna show up. It's on you now. It wouldn't make sense if he is out of love, he's willing to die for us. He's gonna lay a roadmap out. And as we study Daniel, which we'll get into later, I showed a specific roadmap that lasted four hundred and eighty-three years specifically, pointing to I'm on my way, guys, speaker-0: According to the Messiah. speaker-1: pointing to the Messiah. And the Jews like, whatever, you're a moron. Yeah. But it what the logic side to it makes sense on how it is because it is talking about seasons. So these churches actually represent seasons of the church age and the season to meet when he comes back. So that we, in all fairness, from him, gives us a clues, gives us signs, pay attention. And he's not just gonna all of a sudden appear and surprise us. Right. Like, here I am, you're dead, you're alive, let's go. Yeah. No, come on, man. So people that deny it, you guys. speaker-0: Cause it it it again speaker-1: Doesn't make sense. speaker-0: all of all of Revelation, all of Scripture is about redemption. His desire, Christ's desire, is that none should perish. Exactly. He's giving us as many options as possible. So right now. Right now. When he returns, he's actually preparing us So that we can see the signs of the times, so that we can prepare others and say, Hey, listen, here's something that's coming. You better, you better make your choice. You better make your decision. Because once he does come back for the final time, there's no opportunity to make make a decision. Right. But he gives us the signs so that it doesn't just happen, all of a sudden it's no no more chances. No, he even Gives us a clue, if you will, and he Jesus tells us this, pay attention to the signs, right? Because he wants people not to be shocked when it happens. Yeah. Right? And I and and we have to be careful with this. He's because in our stupid humanness, there have been people that have come and and said, it's going to be in the year 2012, or it's going to be in the year 1988. Or that's not what he's saying to prepare for. He's just saying You can recognize the season that you're in. And and man, use that as a tool to point people to Christ. Right? And that's what we're trying to do do here. speaker-1: Right. And no, that that that's perfectly perfectly clear. And because we keep using the term church, it kind of molds your brain into a certain thing. And it is churchy or churchish. But if if you were to move this into an ecclesia age, meaning a type of people, the way people are, think, believe, or what is hierarchical or what's in power, whatever, it kinda changes a little bit. It's like that's exactly how our history has actually ran. Yes. Based upon our people, our governments, our religions. This, that, and the other thing. So, and as we do go through the churches, and I just want to emphasize, because like you said, there are like, that's not about the church age. You know, this 2,000 years roughly of right now, they're wrong. And that's why we'll bring up history, we'll bring up science, we'll we'll break up things in in one church specifically that go back hundreds of years, even before Christ this prophesies and it comes out. And when you see it's like, wow, it came from that and it still exists. Yes. Yeah. It's so we can understand and see and prepare ourselves so it's not a surprise. Yeah. Like if Christ were to come back and surprise you just kill everybody that was wrong and save all those are right, I would think that would be an evil move. That would be seriously evil. It's just like being a a parent, not telling your kid something and just beating him because he did something I didn't tell I didn't warn him. I didn't warn him. Yeah, yeah. speaker-0: I yes, I speaker-1: On speaker-0: ex you know, and again, hopefully as we go through this, you recognize revelation is not something to be feared. No. Right? Just as John, his initial thing was fear. So it's that's normal, right? But what does Christ do? He says, No, pay attention. I'm on your side. You know, if we are on Christ's side, revelation is not something to be feared. Right. If we're not, yes, it is to be feared. But as believers, we should not be fearful of this at all. we should be strong and courageous and and sharing this with others. that's why it's important to kind of have a glimpse and a an understanding of of revelation so that we can use that to help people come to know Christ. Exactly. That's what it's about. So Hundred percent. All right. Well th this is on every Wednesday. So you'll get this on Wednesday and for the next about ten weeks. and then in January we look forward to getting started again as we keep moving through. So hope hope you wrestle with this, right? It this is a great way to get to know Christ even more. Yeah. And then you can take that and share it with. with your your friends and the people that God puts in your path. So speaker-1: Yeah, exactly. I just wanna add, you know, 'cause we are talking in very layman terms and broad expanse of all this. if it does interest you, go back and watch the videos that are live on YouTube, for instance. As we go into the scriptural language, we dive deep so it's not like we're just up here talking, making things up. Right. Yeah. Yeah. We bring it out in a way it's like, that's basically what it says. Yeah. So speaker-0: And that that's Redeemed Idiot, his YouTube page. or you can find find that on our church app. and and all of these will be on on our church YouTube page as as well moving forward. So that's Journey Elgin Church. Just start start searching and use the wonders of the web. And then you can find it. All right. We'll see ya, see you next Wednesday. Thanks for joining us. Yep.